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Lightning The Wonder Horse cont...
Now, when that mama cow heard junior hollerin', she did what good mama's do, and came running to the rescue. As I was picking myself up for the second time, Lightning, being the excellent cowpony he was, came a'running. Straight for that mama cow. Sadly, I happened to be in his direct path, and down I went again. LOL
About ten feet from where I was, Lightning hit that mama cow broadside, knocking her to the ground, on her side. Lightning also began nipping her hind end, driving her away. As I had been keeping an eye on her, I had missed Lightning's avenue of approach. When I saw her coming at me with those long horns, I knew things were about to get a little dicey...but Lightning came to my rescue!
THE END
R.N.E.
a.k.a. Cloudryder
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Lightning, The Wonder Horse
So many times over the years, in the Chat Room, I've told stories of my exploits with my ole cowpony, Lightning. Several times, people have told me to write some of these stories down, and post them. In writing these stories, there'll be no chronological order, just so you'll know. <wink>
Well, here it goes, so sit deep in the saddle, keep yer heels down, and hold the reins with a feather touch...
My Dad, an old cowboy from way back, had this phrase he used, any time he had thought up some sort of project for me. Now, I won't go into that here, because it's worthy of it's own story line. LOL The phrase was, "Boy, I had this idea." You have noooo idea how many times I would hang my head when I heard those words. LOL But there was one time, when it worked out pretty good for Lightning and me. Dad would buy day-old calves from local dairies, we'd raise them on bottles, then sell them, or put them in the freezer. Now, Dad had this friend, another old cowboy, John Peveto. Mr. John had about 400 acres of pasture, just across the road from our home. He ran about 200 head of cattle on this land. This may sound like a lot of cattle per acre to some folks, but down in Southeast Texas, the ratio is one acre per cow/calf pair, so it worked out.
Dad's idea THIS time, included me and Lightning. We had about one dozen dairy steers that we were weaning. So dad worked a deal with Mr. John to board them with his beef cattle, across the road. And, since Mr. John lived about ten miles away, on the edge of town, Dad thought it would be a great idea, if Lightning and I were to keep an eye on our calves, as well as, Mr. John's cattle. And along with the deal, I would ride the fence, making any necessary repairs. Occasionally, I'd have to pull a cow or calf from the mud that is a normal part of Southeast Texas. If you're wondering, Orange County IS Southeast Texas. If you cross the county/state line going east, you're in Louisiana, if you go south, you're in the Gulf of Mexico...Southeast Texas.
Now one spring afternoon, after school, I was riding, checking on cows, grass, and just enjoying a fine spring afternoon in Texas on my horse. Almost all the cows that were in calf had delivered. But, there was one cow, a first-calf heifer, that was taking her sweet time, as they're want to do occasionally. I had ridden through a patch of trees to get to a small pocket of grass, that other cows had used for privacy, when calving. So I thought I would check it out.
As I emerged from the tree line, I saw the cow, a brindle, with horns about 12 inches long, standing on a small knoll, about thirty yards from a depression. I could tell from her sides, she wasn't pregnant any more. So I eased Lightning down toward her. I would ride through the depression, which was overgrown with last year's weeds, dried grass, and blown leaves from the tree line behind me. As it turned out, she had delivered a brindled calf, which was laying down, smack dab in the very center of the low spot...smart mama.
Since the calf was very well camouflaged, I didn't see it, nor did Lightning...until he dayumm near stepped on it. The calf jumped up, hollering for mama, and took off running. Lightning, not expecting this, went up on his back legs. And myself, not expecting either the calf or Lightning's response, slid out of the saddle, and landed on my butt! LOL
Now, you have to experience that ole "black gumbo" soil down in Southeast Texas, to truly understand it. It's alluvial soil that has drifted down the Sabine River basin, for thousands, if not millions, of years, and deposited all over the place, through flooding. What's remarkable in this case, was that where ever a cow had stepped in a soft spot, that cow left a deep imprint. As it turned out, when I hit the ground, I stepped into a pretty large hole, and fell down again.
Now, when that mama cow heard junior hollerin', she did what good mama's do, (cont.)
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My Christmas poem for 2014...
Christmas Soldier
The young man came out onto the front porch with a cup of coffee in his hand
And he watched the sun come up over the mountain and lay a blanket of gold across the land.
He stood there for a while. Then he stretched and yawned just a bit.
Then he walked out to the hay barn and found him a good place to sit.
He took off the hat he was wearin’ and sat it on a bale of hay.
Then with his head bowed and his eyes closed, the young man began to pray.
He said, “Lord, I just want to thank you for this wonderful life I have.
Whether it’s fixin’ the fenceline or plowin’ a field or bottle feedin’ a calf.
I get to go to work in the greatest office of them all.
That bein’ Your great outdoors, Lord…with your creatures great and small.
I know our country’s got its share of problems, Lord, and some folks don’t understand the cost to be free.
But, if it becomes necessary, Lord…I love it here…you know you can count on me.
‘Cause when I have a family, Lord, I want them to have what I’ve had.
Bein’ able to worship You as we wish and livin’ free like I’ve been taught by my Mom and Dad.
So, I’m ready, Lord...if you call on me…you know I’ll do my part.
To protect our way of life out here and keep You in our hearts.
But, for now, I’ll just say thank You, Lord and ask You to forgive me when I sin.
Bless this beautiful day, Father. I love You and Amen.”
Now, about that time, he heard a blast and opened up his eyes.
He seen the smoke and heard the sound of bullets whizzing by.
Seems he had fallen asleep and he’d been dreamin’…he wasn’t on his land.
But, behind a pile of rock and rubble in a place called Afghanistan.
He started to remember, between rounds exchanged, that he had gotten the call
To protect those freedoms he loved so much and wanted for us all.
So while we enjoy our Christmas this year, with presents under the tree
Take the time to pray for those who sacrifice so much to keep us free.
R. Atkinson, 2014
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(Another Texas Veteran sent me this, I enjoyed it.)
One day, a very gentle Texas lady was driving across a high bridge in Austin. As she neared the top of the bridge, she noticed a young man fixin’ to jump. ("fixin to" in Texas means getting ready to)
She stopped her car, rolled down the window and said, "Please don't jump! Think of your dear mother and father."
He replied, "My mom and dad are both dead; I'm going to jump."
She said, "Well, think of your sweet wife and precious children."
He replied, "I'm not married, and I don't have any kids."
She said, "Well, then you just remember the Alamo."
He replied, ''What's the Alamo?''
She replied, ‘’Well, bless your heart! - You just go ahead and jump.... you little Yankee Democrat Basterd.... You’re holding up traffic”
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