Sunday Snippet: On the Circuit

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, father figures, and mentors out there. The weather has been wet and chilly and, honestly, I'm okay with that. When it's ninety in October and I'm complaining… remind me how the temperatures were in June.

Not a bad week of television. Had some deadlines to meet so a little lighter than usual.

Caught Banshee's fourth episode and loved the interaction with Job and Hood. Also liked entire theft scene and Carrie's rescue of Lucas. Very cool visuals there.

I've watched about three more episodes of Blue Heelers and still enjoy the show. I'm a little frustrated with Roz and finding a job. First, she did the mobile beauty thing, which was terrific. Then, when she lost her license, she was offered a job with a cosmetics firm but turned it down to supposedly take a job in the city. When Wayne got shot, she decided to stick around and now she applied for the office staff job at the station. I'm aware that's how things work sometimes, but it's a little whiplashy for me.

Caught Chicago Fire and loved the episode. I've got two more left of season seven and I'm really excited to see where things go. I'm very interested in how the situation with Casey and Brett plays out.

Episode two of Daredevil delivered another solid viewing experience. Again, my favorite parts were with Karen and Foggy. But I enjoyed Matt's story a lot more this week.

Watched another classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how funny Max and Kyle were in the episode where Liz gets to go on a blind date with someone else. And I'd also forgotten how terrific Maria sounded when she finally got to sing.

Frankie Drake Mysteries had a good episode. I'm glad Trudy is sticking around and I loved Mary and Flo's road trip. Also like the mystery this week.

Caught another episode of Riverdale. Gotta say Gladys might be even crazier than Hiram. And, honestly, I'm this close to being done with Hiram. The best part of the episode was Archie and Fred and FP and Jellybean and Jughead. Seriously, loved those scenes. I also loved, loved, loved Betty and Ethel teaming up to brig-break the creepy sisters' home.

Watched another episode of Arrow and, I'll say it again, I'm going to miss this show so much when it's gone. No one does flashbacks and flash forwards better than Arrowverse.

The premiere of Krypton's season two ended up being awesome. I missed this show! Colin Salmon truly seems to be relishing his role as Zod and he's quite good at being smarmy yet evil. I like that about his character. I'm so excited to see what else happens.

Also caught In the Dark. Man… talk about a crazy episode. It's seriously messed up when I'm rooting for the drug dealers to win the day, right? Yeah, I love this show. LOL

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from On the Circuit, a novella that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The popularity of breaking dragons on the rodeo trail lures Reggie Pitch to test her mettle as a bullfighter. She works her way up from green recruit and tries out for the big show with Dwight Merlyn as her trainer, which proves intimidating because not only is he attractive as hell, he's a third generation handler and his family breeds the rankest, meanest beasts on the circuit.

And a preview snippet…

The rider went sailing through the air and landed with a bone-crunching thud in the arena.

"And down he goes." Reggie launched into action, darting to the center of the ring.

She made a big play out drawing the dragon's attention by wiggling her hips, the red hankies tied to her belt loops flouncing up and down. The big beast snorted and ambled its huge body in her direction, tossing its head. The rider had a chance to scurry up and get through the chute and to a safe location. Good.

"Now it's showtime." Reggie did a handstand, keeping a careful eye on the snarling, blue-scaled creature lumbering toward her.

Its golden gaze followed the motion of the red bandanas. Springing into a tumble, she flipped end over end three times getting close to the holding pens. Two more bullfighters came out, looping lassoes around the dragon's neck to help guide it out of the arena.

Reggie did a little exaggerated dance, swinging her hips and kicking up her feet then stood and blew kisses to the retreating animal. The crowd went wild, cheering and shouting their approval for her flirtatious show. Reggie basked, but also paid close attention to the huge, dangerous animal… just like Dwight taught her.

When its tail made a long, slow swish, Reggie drew in a breath, ready for anything. The crowd gasped when the dragon made a quick snap and sent the barbed projectile directly toward her. Dwight had prepared her for such an occurrence and Reggie didn't take her eyes off the incoming blur of motion. She leapt high in the air and did a backward flip, landing well out of reach of the hazardous zone. Wobbling a little on her landing, she made a show of cowering, covering her head for a three count then peeking over her shoulder. The gate slowly closed behind the big dragon and she jumped up and made a dramatic eye roll, dusted off her hands, and made spinning pirouette before holding her arms out to her sides.

The crowd roared, filling the arena with thunderous applause and shrill whistles. Reggie bowed once then turned and ran toward the chutes so the next ride could begin. She had to sit this round out, which didn't bother her a bit. Her heart raced and the blood pumped heavily through her veins.

The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, our newest bullfighter, Reggie Pitch! A welcome addition to tonight's entertainment. Next up…"

I did it! And they loved it!

Reggie cleared the gates and the chute three opened with a red and orange dragon hopping and roiling in circles with the rider clinging to his rope.

Reggie accepted her chilled bottle of water when someone pressed it into her hand. Twisting the lid off, she downed most of the container then paused to thank whoever had given it her. Her gaze met Dwight's and her eyes went wide. Did he approve of her performance?

Did he like the show I put on?

The slow curving half-smile his lips twisted into showed his appreciation, even under the silver and black clown face painted to resemble a snarling wolf. She'd passed his final test. She had a spot in the big show.

Recapping the bottle, she gave him a quick nod. "Thank you." She waited a beat. "For everything."

His chin lifted and a touch of something primal slid into his gaze. A shivery jolt of awareness trickled down her spine. She barely registered the announcer calling out the score for the completed ride.

Dwight pushed away from the stall behind him. "You're up again in two. Chute six." His head jerked toward the last stall on the end.

She lifted her hand and started down the aisle to get ready for the rider's launch. Dwight climbed up on the back of chute four and took his post on the pole next to the gate. He crouched into readiness, his thighs flexing under the shredded trousers of his costume.

Reggie took one moment to admire his physique before shaking her head clear. "Get your game face on, Reg. You can admire his ass when this is all over." Dwight would have her head in a vice if she screwed things up now.

Both of their reputations were on the line and Reggie didn't want to tarnish either one.

But she'd definitely drink to her success—and Dwight's—after the event.

This story is so much fun! I'm still getting the details nailed down but I'm excited about where this one is going.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye