Every kid leans forward.
“Rule number one”—his voice carries through the arena—“Cowboys and cowgirls look after their own.”
A few heads nod.
“Rule number two: Cowboys and cowgirls are always training and learning.”
More nodding.
“Rule number three: Cowboys and cowgirls face their fears head-on.”
A little girl in the front row straightens proudly.
Bryce points toward the crowd. “Rule number four: Cowboys and cowgirls respect the people who came before them and the traditions of rodeo.”
The applause starts building again.
“Rule number five”—he pauses dramatically, and a grin spreads across his face—“Cowboys and cowgirls do whatever it takes to win.”
The arena explodes, and the kids jump to their feet.
I exchange a glance with Royce.
Yep, they’re definitely rodeo kids.
Bryce lets the noise continue before waving everyone back down to their seats.
Over the next twenty minutes, he breaks down the schedule.
Bull riding.
Bronc riding.
Barrel racing.
Steer wrestling.
Tie-down roping.
Team roping.
Breakaway roping.
Some students are enrolled in a single event while others are trying to tackle two or three.
Personally, I think a few of them are out of their minds for trying to cramp so much into such little time. But ambition and common sense rarely travel together in a cowboy’s life.
Especially a rodeo cowboy.
Bryce finally reaches the instructor introductions. “Now I’d like our coaching staff to join me.”
Royce and I stand, along with the rest of the instructors.
Shelby walks out to the field with us. The kids immediately recognize her. Several young girls start whispering excitedly as she waves to them.
Shelby Storm can do it all—horse jumping, trick riding, and roping. But barrel racing is where her talent truly shines. She was a junior phenom and dominated the circuit in college. Shewould have been a world champion if she hadn’t had to come home and help at Wildhaven Storm.
The applause gets louder.
