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when sox left the box on jerry s calf it was even harder than when he ran joes calf. jerry wasnt sure if they hadnt broke the barrier, jerrys calf was mabe a little bigger than joes and wasnt as fast when sox rolled up to the calf it started to stampede but jerrys hemp rope went on around the calfs head and neck . when jerry waved the slack in the air sox had locked the brakes and was braceing for the jerk when the calf hit the end of the line. just as everything came tight the calf was raised into the air on his hind legs and jerry was already steping down . but there came a pop like a gun shot!the calf tumbled forward and sox went into running back wards trying to keep his footing. the rope had broken at the honda around the calfs neck and came whipping back , lashing itself around jerrys face knocking him to his knees.the calf scrambled to its feet and trotted on down the arena . sox had stopped his scramble and was standing there quietly. jerry had both hands covering his face his head bowed. ed, joe and a few other cowboys ran into the arena when they reached jerry he took his hands down and revealed a long deep lash mark across his face where the broken rope and whipped around his face. he was in great pain. joe and another cowboy escorted him to the nurses station to be checked out. jerry couldnt speak and the tears run freeley. ed took sox and went back to the chutes to prepare for his run in the calf ropeing.he threw jerrys broken rope aside and tied his to the saddle horn after he went the length of it hand over hand checking for bad spots. at the nurses station jerry was laid out on a cot while the doctor and two nurses worked on him. they had some wet toeles soaking his face trying to take the heat from the rope burn so they could put some ointment on the burn. joe stood at the tent door watching ed as he left the box on his run . once again sox blazed down the pen and let ed rope the calf maybe a little quicker than other runs. when ed threw his hands in the air to signal time the announcer yelled out ed had won the event. joe had placed a third. in the medical tent jerry was sitting up. the doctor had put a salve all over his face and had announced that his vision seemed fine. jerry stated he was going to watch joes steer roping run. he got up and joe helped to wobble to the fence where he could watch. joe had a pretty good amount of cash comming from the other events and mount money. ed brought the good sorrell to him and stepped off asking about his brother. joe took the horse and rigged his rope for the run on the steer. there were only four others to rope everyone else entered had no times. joe would be the last to run as he was the day money winner from the first go round. ed moved over to jerry and sat down neext to him to watch. this run in the steer roping would decide if joe got in the cow business or not.

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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.