"Josh, did I waive good?" Leddy asked.
"You did," I said.
"And my horse did good?" she asked.
"Brownie is a good horse," I said.
***
Thats what I said about Brownie until he ripped the skin off my fingers. Let me introduce you to a bad case of rope burn. And how did this happen?
Since Leddy is a little one, I was riding one horse and leading her and Brownie. She could waive. Everyone was happy. We did this on the first night. We did it in the parade for an hour in the hot baking sun. And we did it on several laps around the arena last night. But when it came for the official start of the rodeo - the Grand Entry - Brownie had other plans.
When it was our turn to go, Brownie jumped and jerked, and burned the skin right off my fingers. Leddy held tight, and Jason was there to scoop her up. She jumped in the saddle with me. Off we went. She got to waive to the crowd, and my fingers burned.
***
Madison was in her first Rodeo Princess contest last night, and I fully expect that one day she'll be the Delta Roping Club Queen like her grandmother. Madison also competed in the junior barrel racing last night, and for a 5 year old, she did well.
I loved hearing Doug Williams, the great rodeo announcer, say "Madison Murray, be gettin' ready."