Rodeo Cowboy
By Terry O’Reilly
Lex Cunningham sat on the black and white piebald paint horse in the chute. His mount pawed the ground and snorted, anxious to be freed as the crowd roared and cheered in anticipation. Centering his mind, Lex took a deep breath and gave a nod to the chute man, who tripped the lever.
The steer was released and raced out into the pen. The mounted hazer rode alongside the steer, making sure it ran in a straight line. When the animal hit the end of the barrier rope attached to its neck, the rope popped off, releasing the latch of the chute where Lex and his mount nervously waited.
The gate swung open and the paint was off in a flash, pursuing the steer across the arena. Lex caught up with the animal, leaned off the side of his galloping horse, and grabbed the
