JIM AND JOHNNY

the last couple years at t and c cattle in maricopa there came a cowboy from santa rosa new mexico. jim was a likable guy and a good steady cowboy. but he had never roped competivly. but at t and c that was never a problem. the company firnished the best horses, a arena and good horned steers to practice on , every nite. in about 3 or 4 months jim was infected with the roping bug. he had been injected with the nylon virus and laid low by the urge to compete. a feedlot roping was commin up and jim was ready to enter, cash in hand. i entered with him as well as some of the rest of the crew. but he had cash left and one more slot open for  a  another partner.  johnny came to the rescue.  johnny was one of those guys who would practice for months on end and never improve. he was a good guy and hard to say no to but he couldnt, and never would rope worth a lick. but jim ploped down his cash and entered up.  the roping was a three steer roping . you had to rope your first two steers in order to see your third. some how jim and johnny made it to the third round.  the third round started with the fastest team on two and progressed down the list to the slower teams. jim and johnny were down the list at about 10 th place. as luck would have it every team either missed or went so long that when they got to jim and johnny all they needed to do to win the roping was rope their steer under ten seconds. a good practice run.  when the gate opened jim rolled up on his steer, took two swings and burned his loop around the hornes. takinf his dallies he set the steer almost perfect and turned left hopping the steer off so good it was unbelievable. johnny came around the corner swinging his rope and took dead aim at the steers legs. doller sighnes were flashing in those boys eyes. johnny turned his loop loose and watched as we all did as it landed flat on the ground next to the steer! a collective groan went up from the crowd. jim looked back down the rope to the steer, saw the missed loop and turned back, cussed and spured his horse in frustration. when he spurred ole breezy that big sorrel jumped and jerked that steer  into that flat heel loop! johnny seeing the windfall jerked the loop up and tight . when jim hit the end and his horse swapped ends to face there was not another person there more surprised than he. time; 9 seconds and change! won the cash, belt buckles and the adoration of everyone there marveling at the luck!