Part 3, Chapter 27 Summary

The next spring, they work eastern New Mexico and the Oklahoma panhandle. In the fall, they work Colorado. Tom wins or loses as Red orders. Tom is learning all the bronco riding tricks. The life is hard, with long rides between towns, shabby hotels, cheap cafes and hard rides in the rodeo. People still take him for a kid, while he is playing the part of a back-country Indian kid with shabby clothes and hair. In spite of it all, Tom lives for the hard rides, especially the winning rides.

When the next spring comes, Red takes them into Texas, but the rodeos are spaced far apart and the betters are cautious. They move into Oklahoma, to one of the better shows. Red fixes up a good round and tells Tom to make a good ride. Tom picks a big roan...