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THE CROWD WAS FILING INTO THE GRAND STANDS TO WATCH THE LAST PERFORMANCE OF THE FOURTH OF JULEY RODEO. IT WAS ADVERTISED THAT WHEN THE PERFORMANCE WAS OVER THERE WOULD BE A FIREWORKS SHOW . SO THE CROWD WAS A LITTLE THICKER THAN NORMAL. joe wasnt to optomistic about the bull dogging run he had to make. but jerry and ed went ahead of him and altho the steers were big and ran hard they seemed to handle everything smoothly.. for a number of different reasons contestants had turned out in the event. while their runs wernt very fast jerry and ed had first and second place in their pockets.. if joe would just make a smooth run and not try to be real fast he would draw a check for third. when called to run he stepped on eds bulldogging horse and looked at ed; " ok any last minute instructions?"joe almost whispered. ed shook his head" just get him down clean." when joe nodded his head for the steer the steer seemed bigger than all the rest and left there in a hard run. if anything joe was just a little bit late at the barier line. with a 35 foot head start the big steer was rolling like a run away frieght train. as the hazer ed got to the steer just a hair quicker than joe and when he did the steer slowed just a bit and drifted left to joe. when theat happened joe slid onto the steers back with his hands up in the air to catch the hornes. ed and the bulldogging horse went on by with ed looking back watching joe. joes feet landed in the right position and he had his arms and hands on the big set of horns. the steer dropped his head and began pushing joe down the arena. but joe pushed down on the left horn and brought the steer around in a short circle, then twisting his head joe fell over backwards just as the steer tried to jump forward. when he did the big steer landed flat on his side. joe was out of breath as he let the steer back to his feet. joe turned and started walking back to the chute end of the arena. ed trotted by leading the bull dogging horse by the reins " we might have taught you to well cowboy" he grinned at joe. joe knew one thing for sure, he was through bulldogging. in the calf ropeing there was no turn outs. a full 15 contestants would compete starting with the slowest to the fastest. joe, and the brothers were in the middle of the line up. joe would be the first of the three to rope so he took sox out to the warm up area and starting rideing him in circles. when called to rope he rode up to the entrance to the arena. jerry was standing there he pulled sox s cinches snug then told joe" these calves are bigger than the other day and fresher. dont try flanking them, leg them." joe nodded and rode on into the arena. he was building a loop in his rope as he did. when backed in the box and sox had all four feet planted square he nodded. sure enough this calf was much bigger than the previous ones and he ran like the hounds of hell were after him. soc pushed the barrier but didnt break it when he broke after the calf. he rolled up behind the calf and joe stood in his stirrups and roped the calf clean around the neck. he waved the slack high in the air as soc locked up and quit running. when the big calf hit the end of the rope he was jerked right over backwards and landed on his back bone knocking the aire out of him. just as the calf scrambled to his feet joe reached him grabbed the front leg and lifted it harrd throwing the calf on its side where joe tied three legs and threw his hands up to signal time. when he remounted soc he heard the announcer say his time was the fastest so far that day. but he knew ed and jerry had to rope yet and the difference was the little extra speed sox had over a lot of the rope horses there.. joe rode back to the entrance gate and stepped down takeing his rope with him .jerry was standing there rope in hand. a big smile on his face"you trying to make it hard on the rest of us?" joe smilled back" ime the rookie here i gotta go hard against you old hands." they called jerry to rope.

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the morning of july 4th found joe pouring coffee for ed and jerry. the horses still stood at the picket line. since the bull dogger had left they hadnt seen or talked to anyone. jerry thought maybe since dutch left he had spread the word about this being a armed camp. today was the last performance of the rodeo. the top 15 in each event would get to run at the top prize .ed had sauntered off to the rodeo office to look at the list of contestants in each event. . jerry was brushing their bulldogging horse when he heard joe grunt. he looked to joe who pointed down the slope to ed returnning. with him were two well dressed men. when they walked into camp ed motioned everyone around. "these fellas are arizona rangers.. they are looking for Dutch girvin."he explained. joe looked to jerry then back to ed. " they got three out of state warrents for him. we just came by his camp down there, he wasnt around."ed told them. " is that him yonder?"joe asked as he pointed to a tall man walking out of the trees . " by golly i think thats him " jerry almost shouted. the two rangers spun on their heels and started for dutch. one of the rangers drew a pistol from under his coat. " HALT DUTCH! YOUR UNDER ARREST!" DUTCH BROKE INTO A RUN AT THE SHOUT. THE RANGER WITH THE PISTOL DIDNT EVEN AIM, JUST POINTED AND PULLED THE TRIGGER. DUTCH TURNED A CARTWHEEL AS THE BULLETT TOOK HIS LEG OUT FROM UNDER HIM. BEFORE HE COULD SIT UP THE TWO RANGERS WERE KNEELING ON HIS BACK AND HAND CUFFING HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK. " ill go get a ambulance and a wagon to haul this bum to jail"the taller of the two rangers stated as he stood up. ed turnned to his partners" all three of us made the short go in the calf roping... joe is leading the go in the steer ropeing. we all got day money coming. but today we run at the average money. that stocking legged tornado is makeing the difference!" he pointed towward sox. " and now we dont gotta watch out backs and we can concentrate on our business. they watched as the rangers loaded dutch in a wagon and headed toward town. " thats a load off my mind, i dont mind telling you!" jerry exclaimed as they hauled the dutch away. " lets get ready to rodeo boys"joe blurted as they turned back to camp. " after a few steps ed spoke"i better tell you , your houlahan trip in the bull dogging was good enough to make the short go in the bull dogging.. a bunch of guys pulled out because the steers were so big. i left you in. " joe turned his head to ed" i dont know if i should thank you or shoot you." " just get him throwed, you will get a check. your gonna need all you can win to start that cow outfit." jerry slapped him on the shoulder. joe just groaned.