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Vivi Ann was in the staging area, waiting her turn in the short round There were only fourteen girls and women around her, all on horseback, who had also h the PA syste with the slowest ti to the top She’d been in Texas for almost a week, and it had been one of the best rodeos in her life

She leaned down and stroked the irl,” she said “You ready to win this thing?”

Thelike a jackhammer Clem was ready

Moiant black speakers and a jolt of adrenaline coursed through her, erasing everything from her mind but this moment

Vivi Ann pulled her hat do on her forehead Clehtened the reins, holding the mare back until they were positioned correctly for the first barrel

Then she leaned forward and released Cle forward into the arena so fast that everything around them was a blur of sound and color All Vivi Ann saere the three barrels waiting for thele All the way through the pattern, around the barrels, she was kicking Cleo faster The seconds passed with frightening speed, but Vivi Ann experienced it in a kind of slow motion—the way Clem snaked around the first barrel and then the second, and then they were hurtling forward for the last barrel, sliding sinuously around it and running back down the arena When they passed the ti Cle trot

She heard their tihed

1409

It would be a tough time to beat She tried to do the e, but it was too difficult She’d already won one of the two prior rounds Only a couple of women even had a chance to beat her, and even so, it was unlikely She had just run very close to a new arena record

“Good job, Cle forward to stroke the mare’s neck She slid out of the saddle and led the way back to the trailer Giving Clem a bucket of water and some molasses-soaked oats, she unsaddled the mare and tied her to the side of the rusted old trailer

S, she headed up into the stands Some of the other contestants were already there, especially those who had not made the top fifteen this time Pam Red Amy

“Nice run, Vivi,” said Holly Bruhn, scooting sideways to make room

Vivi Ann smiled “Clem was hot for an old broad, wasn’t she?”

“She sure was” Holly reached down into the ice chest beside her and produced a cold beer “Here But you can only drink it if your time holds”

“Ha!” Vivi Ann took the beer and tilted it to her lips