The day started out the same as the day before. Hot, dry and humid. None of the wranglers were in a hurry
to go out to start work right away. They all lingered at the breakfast table for another cup of coffee. We had another few days and the spring round up would be done. All the cattle accounted for, branded and ready to head to the summer range. By this day, next week we would have to have all the fences mended, new post put in the ground, and all the new wire strung and stapled in place.
Just as everyone headed out the door, Jim hallowed out that the postman was coming up the lane. The ranch
foreman walked out to greet the postman, and get the monthly mail. As the foreman shuffled toward the corral, He was calling out the names of the men, to get their letters from back home. As he got to the gate, he stopped and
picked up a hammer, and nailed a paper up on the post. He then told us, that the paper was for all of us.
It wasn’t but about two seconds, and everyone was reading, and talking, about what they had read. With
everyone talking at once, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. So I walked over to read the paper for
myself. It seemed that there was going to be a shooting contest, in a small town, south of here.
The town was called Hallsville. It was a far piece away and to go, I would need a few days off.
The contest was a week away; we would have enough time to have the fences mended, and talk the boss into a few days off. We have been working long days, in the heat to get the work done. If things would settle down a bit, the ranch would run itself, for a few days
With a tired look on our faces, we went to talk with the boss. We needed just a few days off, for the contest. He looked up from his desk and said “ You want to do what?” Come back when you have all the work done, then we will talk about a few days off, for such foolishness.
The following days seemed to just drag on. All of us ranch hands pitched in. On Wednesday, the work was all done, three days ahead of time. It was just before four in the afternoon, when we got back to the ranch, all tired and dirty.
We must have been pitiful sights to see, because the boss met us at the gate. He looked us over and
said, “you boys got more work done in the last week, then you did all last month.” Go ahead, and go to this shooting
contest, but be back by the middle of next week, as this place doesn’t run itself, if it did, I sure wouldn’t have to put up with the likes of all of you. As he turned and started toward the ranch house, everyone threw their hats at him, as we knew he was just trying to make like he was the boss. He turned to look at us, and we could see he was laughing so hard; his face was as red as an apple. You boys gave a good time, he said, as he entered the house.
It would be about 2 hours before supper, so we all headed down to the river, to cool down and get the day’s dust off. After the evening meal, it was time to get the guns cleaned, and tuned up, and ready to go. For some it took only a few minutes, for others, I wasn’t sure if they would be ready to go by morning.
Joe was hollowing he needed primers, powder, and casings. So he could get his shells loaded. Slim hollowed
back, and asked Joe if he had read the contest rules. No, just what I heard you guns talking about, was the answer.
Slim answered back; the sponsor of the contest was going to be furnishing the cartridges for the shooters.
This made Joe, very happy as he said he would shoot all day as long as it was with someone else’s ammo.
The next morning, all packed and ready, we set off for Hallsville. It was a long ride, and our backsides
were about numb, when we arrived at Hallsville. As we came into town, I could clearly see right away, that it was an eight horse town. There was a bank, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, sheriff’s office/jail, and a saloon for the thirsty ones. We settled in around town, campfires going, and the smell of food cooking. And the coffee was always
ready.
Saturday morning, we got to meet the sheriff, Al. Who gave us a good talking to on being safe, with the guns?
The mayor of Hallsville gave a little speech to welcome us to the contest. All shooting was to be
done right there on main street, between the blacksmith, and the schoolhouse.
By ten, every thing was ready to go. The contest was on. As I looked around, I could see men and woman, all set to try their hand at hitting the target.
A half an hour later, the air was filled with smoke and fire from the muzzles of the six guns. Targets breaking and an oft time groan, as the target was still standing after the shot. The contest went on all day.
That evening, the roll for everyone to got to the chuck wagon for the meal. I looked at tables full of food and drink, and wasn’t sure where I should begin. But the decision came quickly as a plate was put in my hand, and a voice said,
“Eat”. So that’s what I done, until I was too full to move.
Sunday morning, at nine sharp, the contest started all over again. As the previous day, the smoke filled
the air, and there was everyone who called that town home, standing around watching who would win that contest.
Some of the shooters were cleaning their guns, others talking to old friends, they hadn’t seen for a long time.
The day stretched out and the sun was three-fourth of the way through the day, when finally the last shooter was done. It was time to see, what the out come would be. The scorekeepers were busy double-checking everything.
Then came the sound and smells of mealtime. The yell came through “let’s eat” Again the tables were stocked with food. One table in view of where I was standing, was full of cakes, cobblers, puddings, and all the other good things,
I have always dreamed of. I, of course, made this table, my first stop.
Soon it was time to head back, to the ranch, I call home. I carry with me the fond memories of the weekend with friends, some old, some new. I could tell the folks that enjoyed themselves, as to how many times, they said goodbye. Many said, they would be looking forwards to the next contest, and hoped that they would place higher.
Sure glad the boss gave us extra time off, because I was tired when I got
home. I must say, it was worth it,
and I would do it again, soon (I
hope)
to go out to start work right away. They all lingered at the breakfast table for another cup of coffee. We had another few days and the spring round up would be done. All the cattle accounted for, branded and ready to head to the summer range. By this day, next week we would have to have all the fences mended, new post put in the ground, and all the new wire strung and stapled in place.
Just as everyone headed out the door, Jim hallowed out that the postman was coming up the lane. The ranch
foreman walked out to greet the postman, and get the monthly mail. As the foreman shuffled toward the corral, He was calling out the names of the men, to get their letters from back home. As he got to the gate, he stopped and
picked up a hammer, and nailed a paper up on the post. He then told us, that the paper was for all of us.
It wasn’t but about two seconds, and everyone was reading, and talking, about what they had read. With
everyone talking at once, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. So I walked over to read the paper for
myself. It seemed that there was going to be a shooting contest, in a small town, south of here.
The town was called Hallsville. It was a far piece away and to go, I would need a few days off.
The contest was a week away; we would have enough time to have the fences mended, and talk the boss into a few days off. We have been working long days, in the heat to get the work done. If things would settle down a bit, the ranch would run itself, for a few days
With a tired look on our faces, we went to talk with the boss. We needed just a few days off, for the contest. He looked up from his desk and said “ You want to do what?” Come back when you have all the work done, then we will talk about a few days off, for such foolishness.
The following days seemed to just drag on. All of us ranch hands pitched in. On Wednesday, the work was all done, three days ahead of time. It was just before four in the afternoon, when we got back to the ranch, all tired and dirty.
We must have been pitiful sights to see, because the boss met us at the gate. He looked us over and
said, “you boys got more work done in the last week, then you did all last month.” Go ahead, and go to this shooting
contest, but be back by the middle of next week, as this place doesn’t run itself, if it did, I sure wouldn’t have to put up with the likes of all of you. As he turned and started toward the ranch house, everyone threw their hats at him, as we knew he was just trying to make like he was the boss. He turned to look at us, and we could see he was laughing so hard; his face was as red as an apple. You boys gave a good time, he said, as he entered the house.
It would be about 2 hours before supper, so we all headed down to the river, to cool down and get the day’s dust off. After the evening meal, it was time to get the guns cleaned, and tuned up, and ready to go. For some it took only a few minutes, for others, I wasn’t sure if they would be ready to go by morning.
Joe was hollowing he needed primers, powder, and casings. So he could get his shells loaded. Slim hollowed
back, and asked Joe if he had read the contest rules. No, just what I heard you guns talking about, was the answer.
Slim answered back; the sponsor of the contest was going to be furnishing the cartridges for the shooters.
This made Joe, very happy as he said he would shoot all day as long as it was with someone else’s ammo.
The next morning, all packed and ready, we set off for Hallsville. It was a long ride, and our backsides
were about numb, when we arrived at Hallsville. As we came into town, I could clearly see right away, that it was an eight horse town. There was a bank, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, sheriff’s office/jail, and a saloon for the thirsty ones. We settled in around town, campfires going, and the smell of food cooking. And the coffee was always
ready.
Saturday morning, we got to meet the sheriff, Al. Who gave us a good talking to on being safe, with the guns?
The mayor of Hallsville gave a little speech to welcome us to the contest. All shooting was to be
done right there on main street, between the blacksmith, and the schoolhouse.
By ten, every thing was ready to go. The contest was on. As I looked around, I could see men and woman, all set to try their hand at hitting the target.
A half an hour later, the air was filled with smoke and fire from the muzzles of the six guns. Targets breaking and an oft time groan, as the target was still standing after the shot. The contest went on all day.
That evening, the roll for everyone to got to the chuck wagon for the meal. I looked at tables full of food and drink, and wasn’t sure where I should begin. But the decision came quickly as a plate was put in my hand, and a voice said,
“Eat”. So that’s what I done, until I was too full to move.
Sunday morning, at nine sharp, the contest started all over again. As the previous day, the smoke filled
the air, and there was everyone who called that town home, standing around watching who would win that contest.
Some of the shooters were cleaning their guns, others talking to old friends, they hadn’t seen for a long time.
The day stretched out and the sun was three-fourth of the way through the day, when finally the last shooter was done. It was time to see, what the out come would be. The scorekeepers were busy double-checking everything.
Then came the sound and smells of mealtime. The yell came through “let’s eat” Again the tables were stocked with food. One table in view of where I was standing, was full of cakes, cobblers, puddings, and all the other good things,
I have always dreamed of. I, of course, made this table, my first stop.
Soon it was time to head back, to the ranch, I call home. I carry with me the fond memories of the weekend with friends, some old, some new. I could tell the folks that enjoyed themselves, as to how many times, they said goodbye. Many said, they would be looking forwards to the next contest, and hoped that they would place higher.
Sure glad the boss gave us extra time off, because I was tired when I got
home. I must say, it was worth it,
and I would do it again, soon (I
hope)
RSS Feed