Embittered Competitor: Day 10

Word Total: 60,000

Year to Date: 720,741

Summary of Events:
Chapter 19:
Terri had Spencer over for breakfast the morning after he was caught and encouraged him to work at changing his ways and doing things differently from how he'd been doing them. Steele reported to the CPRA official and then talked with G.D. about Spencer and how he'd been following the societal norm with his actions. And Terri contemplated the idea of incessant self-improvement as she drove from Wainwright to Sundre.
Chapter 20:
Steele competed at Sundre and talked with Guy about Spencer and how he hoped to see Spencer come back once the season and a half ban the CPRA had instituted on him was over. He also talked with Annabella Reidy about what his autumn was looking like before putting Riverbed and Prairie away and heading to bed himself.

Excerpt of the Day:
"As soon as she'd finished her breakfast Terri headed outside and looked for Spencer's trailer. It was still there. There was no sign of activity inside it. She walked over to the door and knocked on it gently.
After a few minutes the door opened. Spencer hadn't changed from what he'd been wearing yesterday — it was just all rumpled and bedraggled now — he looked like he hadn't slept too well.
"Are they here?" he asked.
"Who?" Terri asked.
"The cops or somebody like that," Spencer replied.
"No," Terri replied. "I doubt they even know anything yet, it's still a little early."
Spencer sighed and looked out at the quiet rodeo grounds.
"Would you like me to fix you some breakfast?" Terri asked.
"With what food?" Spencer asked.
"Come down to my RV," Terri said.
Spencer stepped out of his trailer and closed the door. He followed Terri to her RV where she quickly fixed him up some fried ham, eggs, and toast, along with some coffee. He ate the food wordlessly.
"I don't know that what you've done can be punished by criminal charges," Terri said. "So you probably won't suffer as bad of consequences as you seem to be fearing. And even if they were criminally indictable, Steele wouldn't press them."
"And how do you know him so well?" Spencer asked.
"He's like a bonus little brother to me," Terri replied. "While he was a teenager we really got to know each other well, and besides, he told me as much."
"Why wouldn't he?" Spencer asked. "I deserve it."
"Well," Terri replied. "That's why there's mercy, and Steele's received his fair share of it and knows is value. Your guilt over this will punish you enough, and it'll be relieving to receive mercy, instead of the added anguish of punishments others would inflict upon you."
"So he's just going to let me off?" Spencer asked, not believing it.
"All he'll probably ask for is a reimbursement for the financial costs he incurred," Terri replied. "But the CPRA's going to need to make a ruling on it. That ruling will be dependent on what Steele says and how seriously Steele takes it, but that will also be dependent on their rules. But Steele's not going to levy you with more than the reimbursement."
Spencer sighed. "I might as well quit rodeo."
"No, don't," Terri said. "You're a pretty good tie-down roper. You just need to work to improve, that's all. You have the power to change. You can start to work hard and achieve wins honestly, which will be all the more satisfactory and fulfilling than gaining a win by cheating. Being as this was instigated by your action you have the power to change your actions and do things differently. And I hope that you do. Rodeo isn't a ruthless world. Rodeo is a friendly community, as are most all sports. Business is ruthless, but rodeo isn't business, it's sport, and sport for the most part is a community.""