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Short Stories & Tall Tales
Cowpoke Trail
By Jay Miller
1870 on the California Trail. Gold was amuck, whiskey was abounded, women were not plentiful, and the cattle herds were being driven hard.
Jed sucked his last sip of whiskey from the bottle and tossed it into the fire.
“Dang,” he whispered to himself. ‘I should have stayed in town a little longer. Next time I’ll take more money and do things differently. I should have never started gambling until I had spent a little time with Lily Rose. I should have listened to her when she tried to get me to go up stairs with her. Money was just a burning a hole in my pocket though, I guess. That’s three times now I done went to town and come back empty handed. Well, except for the bottle of whiskey I bought when I first got there. A man’s gotta make sure he doesn’t get thirsty riding back to the range ya know. Dang!”
“How’d ya do Jed?” asked Willy as he squatted down across from him to warm up. Did ya get ta spend some time with Lily Rose?”
‘Naw… I got drunk and gambled all my money away is what I done,” said Jed.
“Again?” Willy asked. “I thought ya learned last time that’s how it would be.”
“Yeah…I did too, but somehow the sight of them ole cards being dealt, it makes ya ferget about things. Makes ya just not see anything but winning all that money.”
“Dang! Ya worked hard fer yer money Jed. Did ya lose everything?”
“I left fifty dollars with the camp boss to hold fer me jest in case.”
“Dang…ya lost a lot then Jed. Dog bite it partner.”
“I know Willy. Don’t remind me no more about it.”
“Did ya even get ta see Lily Rose at all?” Willy asked.
“Aw yeah, she was there jest like always.”
“Dang Jed, that’s all ya did fer a whole month was dream about her. Now ya tell me ya didn’t even get ta spend a little time with her?”
“Shet up Willy! I done told ya to be quiet about it.”
“Sorry Jed…didn’t mean ta get ya all rawled up like.”
“What time is it?” Jed asked.
“Dang Jed, did ya lose yer watch too?”
“At’s it boy…Yo butt is mine now!” Jed said coming to his feet.
Willy scrambled up real quick like and ran off yelling. “Jed didn’t get none again boys!” he hollered laughing as he ran away. “Spent all his money a gambling!” he yelled.
“Dang you Willy, if I had my guns I shoot ya in the butt end.” yelled Jed.
“Hey…the dummy lost his guns too!” yelled Willy laughing hysterically.
“Least I went and tried!” yelled Jed. “Least I ain’t a sorry good fer nuthin like you!”
“Dang!” said Jed to himself as he squatted back down by the campfire. “I shoulda bought me two bottles!”
“Heard ya talking to Willy,” said Darrin the camp boss. “Here’s yer fifty ya left wit me. Ya still got time ta ride back into town fer a while.”
“Naw…that’s alright boss,” Jed said. “Its ten miles back ta town.”
“Still early Jed…give it a try.” he said.
“Ferget it boss,” said Jed. “I need that money fer supplies.”
“I can always spot ya,” said Darrin. “I know ya good fer it.”
“I’m gonna crash now boss. See ya in the morning,” said Jed.
“Night Jed. See ya at dawn.”
Jed unsaddled his horse, and threw a blanket over him. Then he led him to the feeding stall pen and turned him loose. “Go ahead and have an early night Buck,” he told his horse. Get yerself some grub, and then go keep them two mares company. No sense in both of us being lonely.”
Jed scratched out a soft spot in the sand, removing a couple of medium size rocks. Then he spread his sleeping blanket out for a good nights rest.
“Better move a little closer to the fire,” yelled Darrin. “Gonna be cold tonight.”
Jed knew he would get mighty cold, especially with his blood so thin from drinking. “I’ll be alright,” he yelled back. “I like it cold.”
As he settled down inside the sleeping blanket he thought, I sure hope I don’t freeze in here tonight. I’ll just have to snuggle up close to myself and try to stay warm. He had his 30-30 rifle inside the blanket with him in case he needed it. He double-checked to make sure the safety was on. “I’d hate to shoot myself during the night,” he whispered.
He gazed up at the stars for a while. The skies were clear which meant it would definitely be a cold one tonight. Generally, as soon as the sun went down in the California desert, the temperature fell right on down with it.
I can’t wait until dawn, he thought. Ole Reb will be up making hot coffee, a couple of dozen biscuits, and some good ole steaks fer breakfast. That was worth waiting fer. Nothing like a good ole breakfast to rid out a hangover.
Off in the distance he heard a Coyote howl. It knew they were there, and it knew about them steaks too. Many a time ole Reb had got up to cook em and they’d be gone.
“I got a good view of that chuck wagon if at Coyote tries to sneak in here tonight,” whispered Jed. “Ole Buck’ll let me know if he comes around.”
Then his mind drifted away to Lily Rose. She was a sweet little thing. Just as pretty as could be. Her hair was flaming red, and her dark green eyes would lure any man to her. “I should have been looking at her instead of all that gambling money,” Jed grumbled. “I would have done much better.”
The sounds and smell of the cattle herd settled his thinking quickly. All those cattle, they’re depending on you to get em where they’re supposed to go. If only they knew, maybe they would stampede or something. “Naw…that ain’t gonna happen tonight,” he whispered. “Not tonight please!”
© Copyright 2009
Jay Miller
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