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two days later joe brown was loading his pack horse.the 3 foot tall trophy proclaiming him the all around cowboy of the prescott rodeo was laid on top and lashed down . ed was on the far side of sox makeing sure the load was well balanced joe waas walking on cloud nine. he had placed in the bull dogging, the calf ropeing and won the steer ropeing. when all was said and done he was named the top money winner and the all around champion of the rodeo/ the winnings was safe in a money belt strapped around his waist. ed had given him the mount money for letting him and jerry ride sox. joe had never in his life dreamed he would have this much cash . he was headed home to put himself in the cow business. jerry was recovering slowley from the broken rope and ed told joe they would load up their dodge truck and start to cheyenne that afternoon. the trip back south for joe was pleasent. it was mid summer with afternoon thunder storms comming up from the south west every afternoon. joe knew that cow country along the mexican border would be lush and green when he got back. but he was in no big hurry. at every little town he passed through he became a instant celebrity when folks saw that monsterous trophy. but deep down joe knew he wouldnt have that and the money he had tucked away with out that sorrell , stocking leged rocket packing his bed roll and camp gear. the horse was a step quicker than any other joe had seen. plus he was broke far better than just about any horse out there. joe was takeing his time ambling back south toward his home country. the village of winklman sat on a small flood plain where the san pedro river met the gila. all along each river there were small truck farms and gardens mexican familys had come here some years before and established ranches and subsistance farming. two weeks out of prescott joe brown rode slowley into this small village. the few people on the street all smilled and waved at him. just good friendly country folks. about half way along the little street was a sighn that reead livery. he turned in the gate and rode into the hall way of a rough built barn.when he stopped a hostler came from a room to one side. joe asked for two stalls for the night and possibly two. the young man assured him he could stay as long as he wished. they unpacked joes horses and stacked his saddles and packs in a empty stall. they put each of his horses in a tie stall and fed them a measure of corn. when the hostler saw the trophy he whislted. joe had to explain how he came by it. he then asked for a good place to get a meal. the hostler stepped out into the street and pointed to a sighn on a small adobe house. COMIDA was all it said. joe thanked the hostler and marched over to the resteraunt. inside it was clean with the smell of good food cooking. a plump woman stood in the kitchen and came to the table. joe asked for beer and carne asada. the woman giggled and turned back to the kitchen. joe thought to him self" now this is liveing, good horses, good people and good food. a belt full of cash and nowhere he HAD to be. he had it made.

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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.