Blue Kingdom — Max Brand

Carrick Dunmore is a capable man on a horse and in the use of a six-gun. However, he does have a serious handicap. He's hopelessly lazy and prefers to spend his time drinking, playing knives, and just having a good time. Everything would have gone on as usual if Carrick's friends hadn't goaded him into riding a wild horse at the local rodeo. And even then, his life as a ne'er-do-well might have been allowed to continue if Carrick hadn't won the horse, and the prize money.