Beneath a Camperdown Elm by Janet Chester Bly

Author:Janet Chester Bly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: relationships, contemporary, smalltown life, faith based, family issues, church life, cowgirls, fear conflict, ranch woman, mystery horses
Publisher: Bly Books

~~~~

Later at home, Pearl heard a knock at the front door and Reba left to answer it. “Grandma, the Reno reporter is here. He wants action pictures of you.”

“Like scooping manure?”

“No, like galloping on a horse.”

“Won’t that produce a blur?”

“Not if I’m patient.” Halbert Halstead pushed forward. “And use long exposure and slow shutter speed and a little unconventional processing.”

Pearl rose up to the full height of her 5’4”. "Do you believe I have a twenty-four-year-old granddaughter?"

"Why, yes, I do," he replied as sassy as can be.

Pearl chuckled. "It says in Proverbs the grace of growing older is to be able to laugh at tomorrow."

“Well, you’re doing one better, if you can laugh at today.”

“I like you, Halbert Halstead.”

“Good. Give me a story. What’s up with this National Cowgirl Hall of Fame thing?”

“Oh, that. How did you hear about it?”

“I have my sources. Who nominated you?”

“Ursula Younger and Cicely Bowers, two friends here in town. They think I’m like Annie Oakley. They sent photographs of me and Reba, newspaper clippings of awards and such, biographies and letters of recommendation from a county commissioner, County Sheriff Ed Goode, and a state legislator. A long time ago. I knew nothing about it until I got a call from a gal in Hereford, Texas.”

“But now, you have no ranch,” Reba said.

They both gave Halbert Halstead a side-long glance, who registered no expression while he fiddled with his camera.

“Yeah,” Pearl replied. “I’m obsolete. I certainly didn’t expect to be accepted for such an honor. Not everyone nominated is, you know.”

“But the reporter knew about it.”

“Let me repeat--I was accepted as Nominee. That’s the first step toward induction. There are hundreds of others at that stage too. I think as many as 500. That includes a variety of cowgirls—artists and educators, as well as trick riders, ropers, and bull riders. All I did was feed cows and raise mares. Only four or five are chosen.”

“It’s still an honor,” Reba insisted. “Ursula and Cicely and those guys who sent recommendations must have thought you were someone special.”

Pearl stared at her mug as her cheeks brightened. “Well, it makes no difference now. I’d have to turn it down or be a hypocrite.”

Halstead pointed his camera at the two women. Zoomed in.

Click. Click. Click.

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