“I’ll not go to the Bradshaw Ranch until she comes over to see me,” Connie thought.
Several days elapsed and Enid did not visit Rainbow Ranch. A sense of hurt gave way to one of indignation.
“Well, if that’s how she feels about it, I’ll show her I really can ride!” Connie told herself grimly. “I’ll win that prize if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
That very afternoon she roped Dynamite, one of the most unmanageable horses on the ranch. Despite the efforts of every cowboy at the Rainbow, Dynamite had never been successfully broken.
“Connie, you’re plumb crazy to try it,” Lefty told her. “That hoss is a sunfisher. He’ll go over on his back sure as shootin’.”
Connie would not be dissuaded. With Lefty’s help she saddled the broncho, while the other cowboys came to the corral fence to watch.
Then the blindfold was jerked from Dynamite’s eyes and the gate swung open. The bronco shot up into the air, twisted and came down with a terrific jar which all but unseated Connie. Again he leaped, seeming to double in the middle.
“Ride ’im, Connie!” shouted Lefty.
But Dynamite had not played his best trick. He shot straight into the air and before the girl could free herself, came down on his back. Connie was pinned beneath.
A yell went up from the cowboys, but it was Jim Barrows who was the first to act. His rope sailed out to catch the fallen bronco, thus preventing Dynamite from running while Connie’s feet were still in the stirrups.