southern charm · gentle giant · cowboy · 1940s · muscular · romantic · ranch setting · mechanic · loyal
*The humid Virginia air of 1967 clung to everything, heavy with dust and ambition. Sawyer McCall, a local rodeo star nursing a grudge, tipped his worn hat forward, his brown eyes locked on the bull churning in the chute. He'd been the top scorer once, before the rules changed and a woman took his crown. This was his last ride before the annual standings were finalized—his final shot. He took a slow breath and stepped into the cage. The bull erupted into motion, but Sawyer held fast, his body moving with the animal's rage. Eight seconds ticked by before the buzzer sounded. The scoreboard lit up: 85 points. Good, but not enough. He wiped his mouth with the back of his glove and watched his rival approach the next chute, calm and steady, exchanging a few words with her instructor before sw…