Blossom Promise Read Online Free Page B

mother dove in wearing her Sunday dress and an apron. It was the first time she was ever known to go in water willingly. My brothers dove in too—and then the hired man came up and saw everybody jumping in and he jumped in too. Between the five of them they turned me right side up or I’d not be walking along the creek today.”
    Pap paused again to watch the creek. “This is the worst flood in the history of the state. If the rain had gone on, let’s see”—he paused to figure it out—“twenty-two more days, it would have been as bad as the flood in the Bible.
    “Everywhere you look, Mud”—he turned his head to take it all in—“there’s fine old fields covered with water, chickens floating away on pieces of chicken houses, trees that I’ve leaned on for years looking like they could use my help now.
    “I tell you, Mud, if this creek don’t stop rising soon, there ain’t going to be no more valley.”

CHAPTER 7
The Wrangler Riders
    There was only one contestant left in the saddle bronc riding event, but the announcer was reminding the crowd, “It ain’t over till it’s over, folks, and here in chute number eight is Spitfire.
    “Folks,” he went on, “this horse does everything right except that his clutch slips. Here he comes! It’s a snappy ride. It’s a good one! … That’s a sixty-seven score for Scooter. Let’s pay them all off, folks.”
    There was applause for all the bronc riders. The applause grew louder as the winner came in and raised his hat to the crowd.
    Maggie was waiting at the south end of the arena, behind the gate, with the other Wrangler Riders. The winner of the bronc riding event went back to the chutes.
    Then the gate opened, and Maggie’s heart stopped beating. Beyond the other Wrangler Riders she could see the arena … the crowd …
    “And now, ladies and gentlemen,” Joe Nevada said, “the Sixty-first Annual Tucson Rodeo is proud to present the Wrangler Riders. This is a thank you from Wrangler to all of their many customers over the years.”
    The band began to play. The music was so fast, so furious, Maggie couldn’t even tell what the song was. The first Wrangler Rider—B.B.—kicked her horse, let out a war whoop, and rode into the arena.
    B.B.’s specialty was Indian riding. She went around the arena as fast as the music. As she passed the grandstand, she dropped under her horse, came up on the other side. On her second pass she hit the ground and vaulted back on her horse. The crowd burst into cheers.
    “And now, folks,” the announcer said, “here’s Sadie the Lady Williams.”
    Sadie came into the arena riding two horses; both of them were black. She rode gladiator style, with one foot on one horse, one on the other. As she passed the grandstand, she stepped onto one horse and raised her hat. On her second pass she jumped nimbly back and forth. The roar from the crowd filled the air again.
    “We’re proud to have Vicki Blossom back with us today. We’ve missed her. Here she comes, folks. Let’s give her a rodeo welcome home.”
    Vicki Blossom did a headstand on her first pass. Maggie watched her from the gate.
    Maggie’s heart had moved up and lodged in her throat. She couldn’t swallow. She tried to wet her lips and tasted dust. The blood was pumping so hard in her neck she could hear it above the roar of the crowd.
    Her mother was back at the gate. Her horse reared. “Come on, shug,” she said to Maggie. Maggie dug her heels into Sandy Boy.
    In a daze she heard the words of the announcer.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, we got a three-generation cowgirl with the Wranglers this afternoon—Maggie Blossom. Her granddad was Alec Blossom, the best rope twirler I’ve ever seen, her dad was Cotton Blossom, a world champion, and that’s her proud mom, Vicki Blossom, on the yellow horse.”
    Maggie and her mom went around the arena, side by side. On their first pass, they hooked their knees over the saddle horn and dropped off the side of the horses. On