Rodeo Ramblings

An old bronco rider tells a reporter about his life. 300-word flash

Rodeo Ramblings

Bronco Bob Ketcham looked across the table at the man with the tape recorder.
“What kinda tales are you wantin’,” he asked as he tipped back his Stetson and drank from the glass in front of him.
“The ups and downs of following the rodeo circuit,” the man said switching on the machine.
“Bin rodeo since I were twelve. My daddy put me on my first bronc and that were it. Didn’t wanna do anything else, especially go to school! My first ride for big bucks were when I were sixteen. I stayed on fer the time I had to, but when I jumped off, I broke my leg. I was laid up so long I about lost my mind, but it healed.

“The weirdest ride I ever did was the one that told me I should quit. I were ridin’ in one of those small shows. I just left the chute when my horse went loco! He bucked, then just ran for the fence and jumped it!
“He headed for the nearest hill , with all kinds of rodeo folk trying to catch us. He got on a game path through the woods on the hill and swept me off his back with a big branchhangin’ across it.
“Some of the boys caught up with me and brought me back over a saddle. I was busted up so bad, I were in the hospital fer almost a year. I still ache when it’s wet or really cold. The docs told me straight. My next ride would kill me!”
Bob looked down at his empty glass but refused another.
“Best be gettin’ home fer supper. My daughter don’t like me to be late. She worries.”
The reporter turned off the machine, shook Bronco Bob’s hand and left too.