Chapter 15

Stampede Action

The twins managed to find Leah sitting in the seventh row of the upper grandstand. She was holding hands with her boyfriend, Dallas, and was surrounded by friendly cowgirls and cowboys who were taking a short break before their respective rodeo events. The twins managed to find seats three rows above Leah, from where it was easy to keep a close eye on her.

As they sat down, Mr. Wilson, the treasurer of the Calgary Stampede, was presenting the $250 in cash to the winner of the stagecoach race. The winning driver, Colonel Felix Warren, a big-bearded, jovial cowboy, told the crowd that the last time he’d raced that fast was when he was driving a Wells Fargo stagecoach filled with bank bonds, outrunning the notorious Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the Wild Bunch Gang, down in Oklahoma. Roxy mentioned to Ray that Harry Longabaugh, also known as the Sundance Kid, had been a 25-year-old ranch hand at the Bar U Ranch back in 1891.

Guy then introduced the nine aboriginal chiefs in attendance, representing the five First Nations that were at the Calgary Stampede. These were the Blood (Kanai), Siksika (Blackfoot), Peigan (Pikanii), Tsuu T’ina (Sarcee), and Stoney. Guy thanked them for working closely with him and the Reverend John McDougall to arrange for the approximately 2,000 aboriginals to take part in the first Stampede parade, and for helping coordinate the placing of the many teepees on the Stampede grounds.

This was an area, Guy added, that Princess Patricia enjoyed visiting so much that she took lots of photographs with her new camera. After the audience gave the aboriginal chiefs a round of applause, the chiefs and the reverend were led to front row seats next to the track, where the next event was about to begin.

Exciting action around the track!

© Calgary Stampede Archives.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Guy announced, “the next event is the gruelling Indian Relay Race. This is where eight aboriginal riders are on bareback and have to complete the two-mile-long race on two separate horses. They also change horses after every half-mile circle of the track.”

The bell then rang to start the race and, a few exhilarating minutes later, Philip Big Swan crossed the finish line first, followed by Joe Three Sons. There was an amazing three-way tie for third place, between Tom Spotted Bowl and two young riders from the Tsuu T’ina Nation, Feather Boy and Midnight Sun.

The crowd loved the close finish and gave the winners a huge round of applause, both at the end of the race and when they were presented with their prize money.

“Now,” announced Guy, “as a special treat, while our next great event is being organized, I would like to invite two world champion steer wrestlers to rope their steers right in front of the royal box. Without further ado, and as my momma always told me, ladies first!”

Suddenly, a 1,000-pound Mexican long-horned steer came charging out of the gate, followed by the remarkable Lucille Mulhall, from Oklahoma. She grinned broadly as she slung her lariat over the beast and brought him to a standstill in just 52 seconds.

After the princess had taken a photograph of Lucille towering over the steer, it was time for Fast Eddy Echols, from Arizona, to compete. He darted out of the gate on his horse, Ribbon, and roped his steer in the best time at the 1912 Calgary Stampede—just 24.8 seconds!

The twins were so enthralled by the steer wrestling action that they failed to notice that Leah had left the grandstand and gone down to the field level with a large posse of cowgirls. Roxy looked down at her program and saw that the Riding of Bucking Horses by Cowgirls was the next event.

“Ray!” she said. “My gut tells me that this is the event when Leah crushes her hand and ruins her life. We have to get down there, pronto!”

Just as the twins entered the infield, Guy was explaining the rules of the World Championship Bronco Riding event that was about to take place. “There are three judges and the decision is final,” he said and read out the remaining rules:

• Riders will be judged on mounting and dismounting, grace, horsemanship, and fancy stunts while in the saddle.

• Riders must provide their own saddle and chaps.

• No delay whatsoever will be tolerated.

• The halter or thick rope will be loose at one end and must not be tied around the rider’s hand.

• Broncos will be ridden from the chute.

• The riders will draw for the name of their bucking horse.

• Horses will be numbered on their hoofs.

• Cowboys and cowgirls shall receive the same prize money of $1000 cash.

After Guy had finished, Roxy wondered how this event could end in tragedy for their great-great-grandmother, since Leah’s name wasn’t listed in any of the cowgirl horse bucking events. Just then, a rude young man with a southern drawl stood up in the front row. 

“Hey, you weak, carrot-top, fancy-roping cowgirl,” he hollered, waving a handful of cash. “I’ll bet ya 250 bucks that you ain’t tough enough to ride a wild bucking horse like my cousin Tammy Taylor from Trinity, Texas!”

It was obvious to Roxy that the woman he was shouting at was Leah, since she was the only red-haired professional cowgirl north of the Grand Canyon.

“Is this jerk really your cousin?” Roxy overheard Leah asking Tammy.

“Yes,” Tammy said. “I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m related to Billy Ray. He and his dad made a ton of money with land speculators down in Texas, so he can certainly back up his words with the cash.”

“Hey, Billy Ray,” Tammy yelled back, “it’s gonna cost you at least double that amount for my friend Leah to hop on a bucking bronco for the first time in front of thousands of people!”

“I’ll even do better than that, Tammy,” Billy Ray said. “If the carrot-top rides Red Wing for six seconds, I’ll pay her $750 bucks!”

By this time, Guy was wondering what all the commotion was about. When he heard about the bet, he immediately announced it over the loudspeakers. 

“Ladies and gentleman, this guy from down south of the border just bet one of the world’s best fancy ropers, Miss Leah LaSue, $750 if she would ride a bucking horse for the first time, for six seconds, right here for you today. And not just any bucking horse, but the infamous Red Wing who bucked off Joe Le Mar from High River last month.”

Guy mentioned Joe’s name with a catch in his voice and was unable to continue. Shoulders hunched and head down, he turned away from the audience for a few moments. When he had pulled himself together, he reminded the crowd of the tragic event.

“Joe died from his injuries and left his poor wife a widow, and three children fatherless. We held a fundraising rodeo event for Joe’s family and raised over $1900. Now, folks, let’s all observe a minute of silence in memory of a great cowboy hero.”

When the period of silence came to an end, Roxy realized that if she didn’t act immediately, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. She had to help Leah, and time could be running out fast!

She ran up to Guy and grabbed his microphone. “Hey, Billy Ray,” she declared, “I’m a weak, fancy roping cowgirl too, and I’d like to take Leah’s place. And if I lose the bet, I’ll give you my beautiful new diamond ring that I just won as the best-dressed cowgirl.”

Roxy then handed the microphone back to Guy.

“Well, what about it, Leah?” Guy asked as he walked up to the red-haired cowgirl. “Do you mind if this young gutsy cowgirl, Roxy, takes your place?”

“On one condition,” Leah replied. “If Roxy does indeed teach this cow patty a lesson, she donates the $750 winnings to Joe’s family to top up the $1900.”

“That’s a plan,” Roxy agreed, “providing I can spend a little time getting tips from Goldie St. Claire, the current Lady Bucking Horse World Champion. I believe she was the first person to ride Red Wing after the fatal accident.”

Guy looked down at his watch.

“Roxy,” he declared, “you have exactly four minutes while we prepare Red Wing for you in chute number two. Good luck and I hate to say this, but girl, you’re going to need it!”