Rodeo Queen
Born on a ranch not far from Fort Worth, Texas she’d learnt to ride before she could walk. Her father had hoped she’d be the son he’d always wanted but after 6 kids her mom figured she’d done her bit, so Emily was their last child.
Emily complied unknowingly to his wishes. She learnt to ride, as I said, very early. From that moment onwards she was destined to walk in her daddy’s footsteps, she was going to be a Rodeo Queen, just like he’d been a Rodeo King. Rodeo was in her blood. He’ took her all his tours with him. True enough, he was a little too old to get into the heavy competitions, but he’d participate in the horse riding competitions.
She was 19 the day she died. She was a contestant for at the Calgary Rodeo Stampede. She could ride with the best of them and had already won many prizes. The Calgary Rodeo was going to make her into a rodeo star. It was just pure bad luck that the bull gored her. She’d been riding a bronk and had just been thrown when an angry bull broke out and ran into the arena. She’d just gotten up and was brushing her jeans off with her hat so she didn’t see that a bull was charging her. The cow-hands hadn’t been quick enough to distract the bull. He was one mean critter.
Her favorite song was “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. She’d listen to it at least a hundred times a day singing along with Cohen as her dad and she drove their camper from one rodeo to another. So her dad insisted that the pastor play that song during the opening of the funeral service. She’s buried in the private family cemetery on the ranch.
Her dad, from that day on, just kind of wasted away. He died a few months after she did. He’s buried there too, the king near his princess.
Written for Magpie Tales and Mindlovesmisery’s Menagerie
I apologize to anyone who knows anything about rodeos … This is just pure fantasy. I know there is a Calgary Rodeo Stampede because way back in 1966 going to Alaska from Illinois my parents decided to take the ALCAN highway and we stayed a couple of days in Calgary.
A beautiful bond and an emotional ending well done!
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Thanks 🙂
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I love this! You brought the character to life ~~ plus I have a serious crush on Mr. Cohen (not too much older than me)
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Thanks Helen for telling me! It’s a story way outside my box, don’t know anything about rodeos … I’m partitial to his Suzanne and of course this piece … hadn’t heard him for years. 🙂
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Georgia such a sad story but great use of Cohen’s song. Well done.
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Thanks Michael … didn’t know what to do with either prompts so I let my muse have a random go .. this was the result.
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What a story! I’ve never gone to Calary Stampede either but that was a believable story and so sad…Great choice of one of Cohen’s songs too.
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Thanks … I’ve always liked this song … but I never knew it was his (she admits blushing)
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Being a Canadian I should be a huge fan but I love reading his lyrics and poetry more than listening to him…his son has a pretty cool voice and does his papa proud, I am sure:)
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Didn’t know he had a son! I have problems with his voice too as well as Bob Dylan’s and Woody Gutries … all great writers but their voices just don’t jive with me.
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I am so glad you shared that…I felt embarrassed to say this…haha…cara, we are twins!!
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Yes, seems that we are … we certainly have a lot in common!
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This was an emotive story to read. Just like the character in your story, I absolutely love this song.
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Love the song too and seemed like a good way to write for both memes .. glad you enjoyed!
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Poignant write…glad it was purely fiction…
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Thanks … somewhere it might be true in one way or another … I was just experimenting with writing out of the box.
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Mithraic Beast strikes again …brings to mind Fernando Arabals “Vive La Muerte “, cheers mate …well done
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Interesting comment!
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Very sad piece – and so well-written. Using music is so judicious – makes us think we know more about her more as we hear her what taste in music was..
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Glad you enjoyed the musical touch … yes, a sad story and I’m happy you found it well-written. Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it a lot!
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