Texas Tomboy by Lois Lenski

Author:Lois Lenski [Lenski, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-2747-3
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media LLC
Published: 2011-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VII

Once a Cowboy

“HERE, BONES,” SAID CHARLIE. “Here’s a biscuit.”

“Don’t want it,” said the boy.

“You have to eat,” she went on, “if you’re going to be a cowboy and sleep on the ground.”

“I’d rather sleep in my bed,” said Bones.

The cowboys sitting around the campfire, eating their supper, laughed. Uncle Moe and his men and his cook were helping with the cattle drive. Half of the cows were to be sold and shipped from the town of Mertzon.

“Looks like you’re the cowboy of the family, Charlie,” said Bud.

“I’ll teach Bones,” said Charlie. “He’ll get used to it. Once a cowboy, always a cowboy.”

The men laughed. “That’s right. Break him in, toughen him up.”

“This is his first cattle drive,” explained the girl. “He’s never slept out before. If he does it a few times, he’ll like it all right. Let’s get your bedroll, Bones.”

“I’d rather sleep in my bed,” wailed the boy.

“Don’t say that again!” scolded Charlie. “Don’t be such a baby. You’re here now and you’re going to stay here and like it.”

“I’ll stay but I won’t like it,” mourned Bones.

Charlie took her brother by the hand and went to the wagon to make preparations for the night. From there, she could hear the men talking.

“I figured now is the best time to sell,” said Dan Carter. “If we wait a month to ship them, they won’t be able to go. I’ve been feeding all these months. The feed is costing more than we can get for the cows.”

“There’s not enough grass on a five-section pasture to feed one milk cow,” said Bud Whitaker bitterly. “Best thing to do is reduce the number of cattle, so the rest can git somethin’ to eat.”

“Time to sell is when they’re in good shape,” said Moe Carter, “not after they’ve run out of feed and got thin.”

“Yep!” said Gus. “Git the herd to Mertzon and shipped out of ‘the country before they start dyin’ on us.”

“I’m keeping a bunch of young Hereford calves,” said Dan. “Gave ’em to the kids for pets.”

The men chuckled understandingly.

“Always a good precaution,” said Moe. “Can’t tell what’s ahead of us.”

Charlie spread the bedrolls out by the wagon. Bones was tired, so he left off talking and soon fell asleep.

It had been an exciting day for Charlie. The cows had been rounded up the day before, and those that were to be sold had been separated from those that were to be kept. All preparations had been made the previous night for an early start that morning.

Charlie had risen at daybreak. She wanted to be sure they did not take her dogies. She need not have worried, for instead of taking them, her father had given her three more calves. He had given three to Grace and three to Bones as well. Charlie had promptly named her three Vinegar, Mustard and Pepper. With Snowball, Fleabite and Coal Oil, she now had six calves of her own. She felt she was getting quite a start in the ranch business.

She

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