The Bull Rider Wears Pink by Jeanine McAdam Page B

a
brown cow.
    “But we can change,” John
continued. “It's in our hearts to change and God wants us to change.” Someone
in the back called out “amen.” John nodded and smiled a little. He looked
relieved. “Change is in our grasp because God and our families forgive us,” he
added. A little redundant, but it seemed to work, he got another amen, from the
group.
    “Redemption can appear to us in all
sorts of ways.” He looked down at Kevin. Again, that kindly smile was on his
face. “Even on television,” he added.
    The congregation laughed uneasily.
The group wasn't sure where this was going and Mrs. Goodwin muttered something
about 'Only being here because she'd never seen such a good looking minister in
her life and she needed prayers for her sick husband.' Cassidy had heard Mrs.
Goodwin was struggling to pay his medical bills. The rodeo doesn’t have a
health care plan.
    “We've got a young man attending
our service today,” John explained, “who is a big fan of the television show Battlestar Galactic.” John took a step toward Kevin. “Just
to give you a little background,” John started, “the humans are wandering
through space. They are mean, nasty, and backstabbing toward each other as they
fight the Cylons , otherwise known as the robots.”
    John pointed at Kevin. “Have I got
it right?” he asked.
    “That pretty much covers it,” Kevin
replied. “Remember they are looking for Earth and lots of murder, mayhem, and
madness happens during the journey.”
    “Then,” John continued. “This is
the important part,” he told the group. “When the humans changed their behavior , apologized for their misdeeds and forgave each
other they found…” John put his hands out waiting for his audience to answer.
    “They found Earth,” Kevin yelled.
    “And?” John asked the group after giving Kevin a thumbs up.
He waited another moment. Everyone looked around. He waited even longer. Still
nobody answered.
    “They found redemption,” Cassidy
supplied. She had to put the man out of his misery.
    “That's right.” John clapped like a
game show host. “They found redemption.” Then he raised his hands in the air,
fingers wide with the palms open. He dropped his head. “The key is to accept
forgiveness in ourselves and others will follow. Please God, help us forgive
ourselves.”
    After the prayer he flipped through
his papers finally settling on a page at the bottom. “Let's sing Helplessly
Hopeless by Crosby,
Stills, and Nash.” He picked up the iPod, changed the song and pressed play.
    This eager and earnest thing John
had going on, along with forgiveness—damn Cassidy was charmed even more. Again,
she tried to fight it, but he was just so awkwardly sweet and it was really
nice of him to include Kevin in the sermon. The old John would have never
thought to do that. Mostly he ignored kids. Maybe that was why Cassidy never
told him about her son.
    As Kevin typed on his laptop and
the congregation sang, Cassidy giggled into the palm of her hand. Yes, she was
smitten and decided to enjoy it for a few minutes. When Helplessly Hopeless was over, she'd remind herself one last time she couldn't get involved with
John Risk. He was still an undercover cop, fighting the bad guys and living a
life she left behind.
    “The good man is trying to run a
service and he doesn’t need you laughing at him,” Mrs. Goodwin scolded after
tapping Cassidy with a pointy finger on the shoulder.
    “I'm not laughing at him,” Cassidy
started to explain while leaning sideways, away from the registration lady's
touch. John began to sing along with the next song and Cassidy had to laugh
again. He couldn't hold a tune if his life depended upon it. Sometimes they'd
go out for karaoke with the other cops and John would sit in a corner brooding.
Now Cassidy knew why.
    But holy cow, his attempt at
singing in a flat monotone voice was so much more attractive than him nursing a
beer, feet up on a chair, shadows across his