December Story Contest

Adrenaline

by RustyGirl & Sunshine Sally     age 14

 

“Whoa Grace!” Georgia cried. Her horse, a chestnut called Grace, slid to as stop just as she was trained. Georgia's rope snapped free from her saddle and the brightly coloured ribbon she had tied to the end of the rope fluttered behind the calf as it still ran. Georgia smiled, paused to rub Grace's neck, then and slid from the mare's back so that she could retrieve her rope that was currently hooked around the calf's neck.

“How was that?” Georgia slid her rope over the calf's head.

“Great,” Her mother called, “if you can rope like that tomorrow you should place pretty well.”

“I hope so,” Georgia sighed as she got back on Grace and started cooling her down.

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Georgia took a deep breath and rode Grace in. She knew she'd done everything she needed to do, so why did she feel so nervous? Her stomach felt like it was twisted up in knots.

 

“Come on, you can do this,” Georgia told herself. She swung her rope a couple of times, double checked that it was how she wanted it and backed Grace into the corner. She took a couple more deep breaths and nodded to the chute man. The gate sprang open and the calf flew from the chute. Georgia signaled Grace to bolt after the calf, the barrier rope breaking just before they touched it. Smiling to herself now as the adrenaline pulsed through her, she swung her rope around four times before roping the calf. The rope landed around the calf's neck and slid tight.

 

“Whoa, Grace!” Georgia called, and Grace slid to a stop as the rope broke away from the saddle horn. The green ribbon on the end of her rope danced as the calf ran on.

Georgia rode out with her rope hooked back around the saddle horn. It had been a great time – the best of the day so far. Still, there were quite a few more riders to go.

“And now the waiting begins.” Georgia slid from Grace's back and hugged the mare around the neck and stood beside her horse to watch the other competitors.

“That was our last breakaway roper of the day, folks!” The announcer's voice issued from the speakers overhead...

 

Georgia, sitting astride Grace, was sure she had no chance – she hadn't really been paying attention to other people's times, but the last competitor had looked really fast. The top few places were announced over the loudspeaker. Georgia shook her head.

 

“I'm not going to place high,” She told herself. The competition had been tough – most riders had been very fast to rope their calves.

“And in first place, with an outstanding time,” The announcer began.

“Not me,” Georgia said to herself, and then was shocked to hear her own name over the loud speaker as the rider in first place!

 

She leaned down and hugged Grace's neck, whispering to the mare, “I couldn't have done it without you, girl. You're the best!” The two rode up, Grace walking beautifully and Georgia grinning and feeling absolutely fantastic as well as so proud of her horse.

“Okay girl,” Georgia said happily to Grace as she led her onto the float, “The next one's in two weeks. Do you think we'll be ready by then?” Georgia laughed as Grace whinnied. “I'll take that as a yes!”