Emma Carpenter

2 jr

Photo for attention! Not related to the story below.
About the photo: Bronc rider Carl Waymire on the Carpenter Rodeo Company bareback horse Ed Hickey. Carpenter Rodeo had several good Ed Hickey broncs. Carl Waymire was also the rodeo clown War Hoop. Photographer credit unknown.

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Years ago, Carpenter Rodeo Company had an annual rodeo at Trail Rider's Arena on the west side of Wichita, KS. One year, a bronc rider was bucked off his bareback horse in spectacular style. He shot straight up into the air, arms seemingly pinned at his sides, flying upward like a human rocket. When he was about as high as the top of the announcer's stand, he finally slowed, then almost stopped in mid-air.

The packed crowd gasped when his head traded places with his feet. His hat had already made a break for it, so he came straight back down toward the earth bare-headed and gaining speed. His poor arms were still at his sides, and he crashed head-first into a rock-hard part of the arena floor near the in-gate where the ground hadn't been worked.

When the top of his head slammed into the ground, it made a deep, vibrating "whomp!" that echoed all the way out to the far edges of the parking lot. His legs were still straight up in the air, and they wobbled for a moment the way an arrow quivers after being shot into a block of wood.

For a few seconds, the only sound was his heavy leather chaps. Upside down in the air with his legs, the pull of gravity slowly folded them downward with a soft "clack, clack" sound. When they were all the way down, their long fringe pooled at his sides. Finally, the bronc rider himself melted into a crumpled heap on the area floor, eyes wide open and still conscious.

In the deafening quiet that filled the night air, even the announcer's jaw fell open as he was momentarily stunned into silence. After a moment, a friend of the bronc rider's stood up in the bleachers and cupped his hands to his mouth.

"You're gonna have to do that again!" He yelled down to the bronc rider. "My wife didn't see it!"

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I have written a book titled "Broncs, Bulls, and Biscuits." This story is NOT in it, but many other stories of a similar style are. You can find it at www.BroncsBullsAndBiscuits.com . Each book is hand signed by me, the author. I ship fast and pretty (suitable for gift giving). It's also available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYXKNW5Y (they ship a lot slower). Thank you!