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DUST by Don Fraser
It is lonely out here on the range! There is no one to talk to except my horse, and the cactus. The ramrod of the 4d Ranch sent me out here to gather up strays that might have wandered off from the herd. The boss and his family were going to lose the 4d if something wasn't done quickly. I had found a few doggies, but that wasn't enough to help save the ranch and, to make matters worse, the boss's son had become a drunkard. Every night he would go to Zeke's bar in town, and drink all of his father's money away. If anyone said anything to him, he would want to fight. Most of the time he would win but when it looked like he wouldn't, he would draw his gun. Luckily he didn't shoot anybody, but often he came close to it. He would come home to the ranch and stumble in the door; call his sister names and demand that she fix him something to eat. After he ate, he would lay on the sofa, in the parlor, and fall asleep. He would always tell his little sister: "Ever since Ma died, you have been Pa's favorite, he is gonna leave you everything, but not if I can help it." He muttered this while he was passing out. What his pa and sister didn't know was that he had made a deal with Zeke. They would gather up some rustlers, and have them rustle the herd of the 4d. Zeke would sell the rustled cattle and split the money with Ben, Zeke's son. In the end, Zeke would buy the 4d Ranch and give Ben enough acres to start a ranch of his own. One night as I was watching the herd, some rustlers came riding over the hill, they were whooping and hollering, and shooting their guns in the air. I tried to keep the cattle calm, but they stampeded anyway. I spurred my horse to get infront of the herd, I was going to turn them. They were headed for a cliff and, if they went over, they would all be killed. I was so lucky, I got in front of them, and I turned them at the last second. Some of the wranglers from the 4d were on their way back from town, saw what was happening and rode towards the rustlers with their gun blazing. The rustlers rode off. When all of us got back to the bunkhouse, we sat around and talked about it, then we went to bed. The next morning before breakfast, Jim, the ramrod, walked toward the ranch house. We all knew that Jim was sweet on Miss Millie, so we thought he went to the ranch house to have breakfast but just a few minutes later he came back to the bunkhouse. ‘Ned, the boss, wants to see you,' was all he said. I had no idea what he would want to see me for, but I did as I was told. I knocked on the door and, as I was waiting for someone to answer, I paced back and forth on the porch, trying to think why the boss would want to see me for, as far as I knew, I had done nothing wrong. Finally the door opened and Ben was standing there. "I guess you think you're a big hero now, huh?" "What do you mean?" I asked. "You'll see!" he said, and directed me to the parlor, where the boss was sitting, in an overstuffed, leather chair. Miss Millie was sitting across from him, in a chair with lace all around it. The boss told me to sit on the sofa and reached for the decanter of whisky, sitting on the table beside him. He poured two full glasses from the decanter, and offered one to me. "Jim told me what you did last night, boy. Thanks!" He raised his glass and I gently banged mine against his. "I love the 4d so much sir, I would do that every night." When we were through talking, Miss Millie saw me to the door, meanwhile Ben had gone upstairs, probably to drink his own whisky. I couldn't get the beautiful Miss Millie out of my mind all of that day. I had never seen such a pretty girl in all of my life. I knew the ramrod Jim was sweet on her, but I just couldn't help myself. That girl was going to be mine! I dreamed about her that night and woke up with a plan. I told Jim my stomach was bothering me, didn't eat breakfast and told him I would be along later. I waited until all of the wranglers had left and then I went to the ranch house. I was about to knock on the door, when Miss Millie opened it. "Come in. I have been expecting you," she said, and winked at me. I took my hat off, as she took my hand and showed me to the immense kitchen. She pulled a chair out from under the table and asked me to sit down. As I sat, she went over to the stove and poured two mugs of coffee, put them on the table and sat down across from me. "Now what is it you want to ask me? Is it, will I go with you Saturday night to the grange dance? I would love to go with you. Now will you excuse me, I have to fix breakfast for my pa and my brother." I had a date and I hadn't said a word, but it was alright with me. I joined Jim and a few of the boys while they were mending fences that the cattle had knocked down during their stampede and tried to keep my mind on my work, but the vision of Miss Millie kept flashing in front of my face. "Bring that wire over here." " Can't you understand English?" These remarks, and more, were made to me all the rest of the day. All copyrights reserved |