Bishop's Angel by Tory Richards Read Free Book Online Page A

Boy’s body looked just like a
real bull, minus the legs. His enormous head was adorned with two
massive horns. Just as she was digging in her front pocket for some
change the guy, from the nearby table moved into her line of
vision.
    “I’ll get it, Angel.” He quickly slipped
four quarters into the slot, and the bull took off before Angel was
ready.
    She let out a squeal and she said a prayer
when the bull started out in slow speed. As quickly as she could
she slipped her hand beneath the strap around its girth to hold
onto.
    “A baby could ride that bull as slow as
you’re going!” Jody yelled out, laughing.
    Before Angel could reach forward and change
the speed someone else did it for her. Bully Boy rapidly switched
to the buck-and-spin speed and she clamped her legs to him tightly
and held on, throwing her other arm in the air. She let her body
relax until she was flowing with the gyrations of the bull and not
straining against them. She’d ridden the buck-and-spin speed
before, but not after downing three glasses of wine.
    “That’s more like it!” She heard Cora
laughing. The other girls joined in but it was hard to make out
what they were saying because they were all speaking at the same
time.
    As always it didn’t take Angel long to get
caught up in the fun of riding Bully Boy. She was vaguely aware of
Marty coming over to take a picture of her, and then returning to
the table.
    “You have to stay on for two minutes like
the rest of us!” Jody called out.
    Angel already knew that. Sometimes they rode
longer, sometimes shorter, but no matter what time they agreed on
everyone had to do the same time, or pay the tab for the night. As
she spun around she glanced in the direction of her table and could
see that her friends were finishing their drinks and gathering up
their belongings. It was later than they usually stayed out, but it
was the last time they were getting together until school began
again.
    During one of her trips around she caught
sight of a small group sitting at the bar. Seeing Bishop with them
caught her by surprise, even though he’d told her he had plans with
friends. He hadn’t given her the specifics, and she hadn’t told him
her plans, so his being there was an obvious coincidence. Has he
seen me? Angel got her answer the next time she glanced his way
again. Looking directly at her, and smiling, he nodded her way.
    She smiled back, and tried to ignore the
flutter inside her belly. He looked so handsome in jeans and a
pull-over sweater that was the color of his eyes. “How much
longer?” she called out to no one in particular.
    “One more minute, honey,” said the same man
who’d paid for her ride.
    She was conscious of him standing off to the
side and watching her. She smiled because he smiled, and she didn’t
want to seem unfriendly. Under normal circumstances she would find
him interesting, but how could she now, after what she and Bishop
had shared? Hopefully the guy would keep it on friendly terms and
not make a pass at her. She hated awkward situations.
    “Times up!” Ann, who was also a kindergarten
teacher, called out.
    Thank goodness! The room was beginning to
spin and not because of Bully Boy. Angel reached forward and hit
the switch. Only she leaned over too far and lost her balance. She
instinctively cried out, her eyes rounding when she felt herself
slipping over the bull’s head. She made a wild grab for the massive
horns.
    “Someone help!” she laughed, trying to push
her bottom back into place. Oh, God! I’m going to fall and make
a fool of myself. And right in front of Bishop! She glanced at
the bar, and just when she was about to thank God he wasn’t
looking, he turned to see her dilemma. Shoot!
    She was aware her friends were rushing in
her direction but the guy from the other table was already there,
and all he had to do was reach up and pull her down from the bull.
She automatically put her hands on his shoulders for support until
her feet touched the