PICKUP MAN 19

as the run on the rodeos neared a end no one had made the sight second mark on rattler kent was surprised the carbonetti brothers hadnt been entered. they were the only ones who he thought had a chance at rideing rattle the required eight seconds. the morning of the last rodeo kent was feeding his pick up mounts when he heard a noise behind his back.looking over his shoulder he saw the two carbonettis stand ing there smiling. " you miss us?' the taller of the two asked. " yes, i wondered where you were. you hideing from the law or a mad girl friend?" kent was shakeing their hands. " dad needed some help at the ranch we been there but thats all taken care of. our horse still unridden?"the youngr asked. " your horse? you boys are takeing things for granid arnt you?" kent turned off the water hose he was filling the buckets with. " before this rodeo is over we will own him. dad had us on four a day at home. i think we got ole rattler figgured. " the brothers nodded in unison. " dad said we couldnt come home if we dont get him rode." kent raised a eye brow at that. " well you gotta get past the draw in the performance first. i wouldnt be so cocky." during the performance in the saddle bronc rideing hayden had put the toughest horses he owned minus rattler. if a rider made the whistle in the performance he would be pretty well shook by the time he got on rattler. but he hadnt counted on the carbonetti brothers. both covered their horses in the performance, but donnie had a few more points than danny. from out in the arena kent watched as the brothers saddled rattler and got ready for the up coming battle. when donnie nodded to the gate man and the gate swung wide the big horse went straight up in the air right there in the chute. kent wasnt sure but he thought donnie might have banged his head on a cross bar above the chute. donnie dropped his head and when rattler hit the ground donnie started a spurring lick that was flawless. the bronc came across the arena bucking and kicking. a smile was spread on donnies face because he knew he had the horse rode. at the sound of the whistle kent rolled up next to rattler and took the bronc rein from donnie as he slid across the back end of the pick up horse. thats when kent saw the yellow flag in front of the chute. donnie had missed rattler out the first jump from the chute. that big high jump had made donnie drop one foot out of the broncs shoulder. donnie didnt say anything but kicked dirt clods all the way back to the chutes. kent knew the big horse was rideable , but it was a technicality that ruined the ride. he let the horse out into the unsaddling chute. donnie was standing next to the out gate his head bowed and looking at the ground as kent rode by. " next time cowboy" was all kent said.