THE BRONC PEELER 22

the place where the rodeo was to be held was a large feild on the outskirts of town. a stake and rider fence encircled it on three sides. the open side was lined with wagons, buggys and such encloseing about a three acre area. a large corral had been constructed on one end it were 20 head of horses. next to it was another corral that held the same amount of big steers. when the bronc rideing started a couple of cowboys on big stout horses would ride into the corral they would catch the bronc needed and lead, or drag him to the middle of the fenced in area. there he was snubbed and saddled with the rider climbing over a gentle horse and mounting the bronc. when ready they were released and the bronc was rode to a stand still. in the steer roping event a steer was cut out of the pen and started down through the pen. when he crossed the dead line the roper went in pursuit. he would rope the steer, trip him and tie him down. this morning bill rode his saddle horse to this arena following kate and jim. neither of them tried talking him out of his decision. but they had a grim demeanor about both of them. bill rode to the wagon that was to act as the judges stand to see what horse he drew in the performance. he was to be the fifth rider and his horse was scarface. a big half thourobred that stood a towering 16 hands. it was one of the horses he never had a chance to saddle and ride at the ranch. from what he could find out the horse had yet to be used at a rodeo since leaveing the ranch. bill rode his horse off to one side and hobbled him and unsaddled him carrying the saddle back to the judges stand and sat down next to a wagon wheel to await his turn.the order was they would ride two broncs then rope two steers.. a couple of bawdy girls from town were circulating the crowd collecting fees from spectaters. the first two bronc riders were bucked off in just a couple of jumps. it took longer to saddle and get the horse ready than it did to make the ride. one of the first ropers had caught his steer, layed the trip and turned off when his rope broke, sending the horse and rider into a tumbling mess. the steer promptly jumped the stake and rider fence and disapeared into the brush along a creek. lots of action for sure. bill sat there watching in aw. the announcer stood in the wagon bed behind bill and useing a big megaphone called out the name s of the contestants to compete. when bills name was caled he stood up and watched as the out riders drug a big lankey chestnut from the horse corral. bill carried his saddle to the spot where they saddle the broncs. one out rider used a burlap sack and blind folded scare face. another cowboy had come out to help bill saddle the bronc. the other out rider pushed into scareface from the opposite side and sandwiched him between the two horses. bill and the other cowboy saddled the hose carefully , it was tight work squeezed between the out riders horses and trying no to be stepped on by the bronc. when he was saddled, bill climbed up behind one out rider and slid over into the saddle . scarface tenses and began to tremble, snorting through his nose. bill found his stirrups, picked up the hackamore reins then pulled his hat down snug. he looked to the outrider on his left side. " pull the blind, im ready." the out rider whipped the burlap bag from scarfaces head. the horse stood stock still for the count of ten. then bill pulled his jhat off and whipped the horse accross the ears and scramed like a panther. the effect was scarface started to stamped. after a few jumps his head fell off and he went to bucking in earnest. bill had both spurs lockd into the broncs shoulders and began a rakeing , puring motion in rythem to the horses bucking. the big horse was tough, he bucked a good solid 5 minutes. before he started to weaken and slow up. bill was getting pretty ragged. he had a bloody nose , his hat was nowhere to be seen. but as the bronc slowed up bill relaxed a little in preperation for the horse stopping. no out rider was close. but all of a sudden scare face stampeded straight for the stake and rider fence. bill had lost one stirrup but still sat well in the middle of the big bronc. a out rider made a mad dash to turn the bronc away from the fence, but he was to late. scarface hit the fence and cartwheeled into a mess on the outside of the fence. bill had jumped clear before the horse hit. scarface didnt move when he landed in a pile. his neck broke. bill was picking himself up and trying to steady himself. a couple of the other contestants ran up to check on him. he asured them he was fine. but one leg was starting to stiffen. the two other contestants brought his saddle from the dead hose and carried it back to the judges wagon while bill stumped along on his way back. he caught sight of kates face, she was pale but waved a little reserved wave at him.he nodded and waved back, next to her jim sat smilling. bills left leg was rapidly stiffening. he sat down with his back to a wagon wheel. a bearded man with a little black valise nealt down nest to him. " ime doc, nelson. want me to check you out?"he asked. bill simply nodded and pointed to his leg. the doctor was feeling along bills leg when the stock contracter walked up. " your a little hard on my horses cowboy. " bill looked up slowley " horses hell, what about me? kate had come with a wet cloth and was washing bills face getting the dried blood washed off along with the dirt. " i dont think anything is broke but this leg is badley sprained. . i think your done rideing broncs. as he stood up the stock contracter handed the doc a doller and thanked him. " you need a ride to town bill?" the stock man asked. bil looked into the face of kate and smilled," no i think i got one." kate let out a breath and looked up at jim standing at the end of the wagon." we can go any time eh jim?" before jim answered bill simply said" i want watch the rest of this." jim nodded," i do to."