Cowboys Dont Cry [R-M]

The year was 1856, the snow was melting and the blooms of spring were blooming. I was bubbling with anxiousness as my eighteenth birthday was coming up and I was hoping for the rifle I've been wanting. I already had my hound, a pistol and one of the fastest horses in Chacotaw county. My momma always said I was like my father in many ways, my handsome looks, my stubborness and especially my love for animals and guns. My father had been killed defending our farm from the bloody Comanches, and boy did I miss him. So for that reason I had promised my momma I'd stay at the farm until my eighteenth birthday and when my little brother could shoot.

That little guy was a sharpshooter by now, which suprosed many with him only being twelve. I had bought him a pony and momma a horse for if they got in trouble and needed to leave the farm. My home was already set up in the nearest town, a saloon which I would work until I could afford a farmhouse I was looking at. It would be quite easy to afford, the place looked like a twister when threw it. The roof was missing boards, the house only had three unrotted walls and the barn was a mess. But right now I was taking one step at a time. Todays step; survive my birthday and get to town safely.

My eyes fluttered open to see my hound licking my face and smelling my momma baking me one of her amazing cakes. I sighed then sat up, my covers falling down to my waist to reveal my hard muscled chest. Momma looked over to me and smiled her sweetest smile then spoke, her southern accent thick, "Well good mornin' Sammy." I smiled right back then rose up and walked to my footlocker anf pulled my best pair of jeans, chaps and best shirt. I put my clothes on quickly and walked into the kitchen and said "Mornin' Momma." As I finished my words I kissed her cheek lightly then asked, "Where's Joey?" She chuckled then said "Out in the barn with Pippy of course."

Then I walked out the door, after grabbing my hat and putting my gun belt on. As I neared the barn I chuckled as I saw Joey standing outside Pippy's stall feeding him apples. I called out, chuckling a little, "Hey Joey, Pippy's gonna be fat if you keep feeding him those apples." Joey turned around then ran at me, tackling my legs. The breath was knocked out of me as I hit the ground but I wrapped my arm around his waist and flipped him over. I laughed as Joey yelled "Okay! Okay!" I got up and dusted my chaps off then helped Joey up, then I grined and asked "How about a race around the lake?" As usual Joey grinned right back and nodded, then we ran to the stalls and started tacking up their horses as if they were already racing.

After Pippy and my horse, Joker, were all tacked up we lined up our horses and grinned at each other. I nodded and said "On three, one...two...three!" Then we dug our spurs into our horses sides, causing them to jump forward. Pippy started in the lead as we ran towards the lake, but I knew the best way to get ahead of the pony. As we ran along side the water Joker tried his hardest to lurch ahead of the pony. But as we rounded a turn both me and Joey stopped our horses to a scream. I swung off of Joker and pulled my pistol out then I looked to Joey and said "Stay here unless you hear something, if you do lead Joker back home and get Momma her rifle and wait for me to get home or stay on guard." Joey nodded reluctantly and sheathed his pistol. Then I turned and slowly began making my way to the sound.

Waking up before the sun even had a chance to peek over the horizon, I stretched my hands high over my head with a groan. Running a hand through my light blonde hair a few times before stepping from my bed and pulling on a beige flannel shirt and long pants. Stepping from my room as I tied my hair back into a low ponytail, I saw my Grandfather cooking breakfast. It was always very early mornings in this house, and my grandfather couldn’t give a flying hoot that my younger sister and I were girls, he would make us work on the ranch. Walking over and giving a light kiss to his cheek, I smiled at him and looked at what he was cooking. Eggs and bacon by the looks of it. I reached over and grabbed a small piece of bacon and popped it in my mouth, chewing and swallowing. He cast me a quick glance and all I did was flash an innocent smile, dancing back a few steps as he reached out to give a light slap to my shoulder. “Trinity!” he growled, earning a simple laugh from me, “I was going to eat it anyway,” I retorted and he just gave a gruff snort and continued cooking.

It was pretty fun with Grandfather, though a gruff, grumpy old man, he always meant well and he believed that as long as my sister and I were here, we’d have to work. And work hard. Which we did. Though Sierra was only 12, and she wasn’t allowed to work out with the stallions or the cattle, She worked hard in the barn and with the mares and geldings. “Where is Sierra?” I asked Grandfather and he shrugged before pointing above him, indicating she was in her room. Which also meant she was still asleep. Chuckling softly, I made my way up the stairs and opened the door, looking at my sister, wrapped up in the covers of her bed and her light brown hair a mess around her head. Walking over, I wrenched the covers off her small body, throwing it to the ground. “Up you get, lazy bum,” I said and she groaned, but sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Breakfast is ready, so get dressed,” I said and then went back downstairs as Grandfather put our breakfast on plates. Quickly eating it, I walked to the doorway and put on my hat. “Be back before late afternoon, we have some mares we need to bring in. They are due to foal in the next few weeks,” Grandfather ordered and I nodded in response before stepping out the door, shutting it behind me. I sat on the edge of the steps, shoving my boots on before heading to the barn.

The sun was rising, giving me light to see where I was walking. Glancing to my right, my two border collies, Ranger and Sarge came to walk behind me, barking at me in greeting. Giving a nod in acknowledgement, I opened the doors to the barn and stepped inside, receiving nickers and whinnies from the horses which occupied the stalls. I passed my old horse, Ransom, a quarter horse/mustang mix. He was a gorgeous tobiano overo paint, at 15HH and 13 years old. I used to ride him when I was younger, however, once Sierra got older, I decided to give Ransom to her for her 10th birthday. Grandfather had already known I was planning to do that for a couple years, so, when I was 12, he let me choose a mare and stallion to breed, and I could keep that foal. I chose Mendi, a golden palomino quarter horse mare and Mauricio, a dark flaxen chestnut quarter horse stallion. Out of that, I got a dark silver palomino colt whom I named Shadowfax. He was splendid even as a foal. So easy to work with. So, now I had a hard working 5 year old who was a major sook.

Walking down the aisle, I soon saw the dark silver palomino stick his head from his stall and I smiled, grabbing a handful of oats and feeding it to him. He stuck his muzzle into it instantly, chomping on the oats, finishing it in only a couple chews. Chuckling, I slipped a rope around his neck and led him from the stall, tying him to a post and going to get his tack. I walked back over to him, giving him a quick brush off and then tacking him up. Walking him out of the barn, I swung up onto his back and nudged him to a canter. Glancing back, Sarge and Ranger followed closely. Smiling, I rode Shadowfax, enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face as it rose higher. I moved Shadow into the trees, slowing him to a walk, motioning for the collies to stay behind and quiet. They fell back instantly, staying as quiet as possible. A field came into view shortly after and a band of mustangs were there, grazing. My eyes widened and I stopped Shadowfax as his ears flicked forward. We often encountered mustangs here and though we had to chase them away so they didn’t unsettle the horses, or even steal them from their paddocks. The worst thing for Grandfather, was one of the mustang stallions get to one of our mares. Which was exactly how Ransom came into the picture, much to Grandfather’s demise.

I watched them for a short moment before I looked at Ranger, motioning him to go to the right and Sarge to the left. They moved quickly and I watched the band, wishing I could leave them, but knowing Grandfather would get mad should he find out. Soon, the band took off as the collies barked and nipped at their heels, chasing them off. Whistling, I called them back when I knew the band was far enough off. I dismounted from Shadowfax, stepping into the clearing, holding my stallion tightly, in case they decided to come back. His curiosity for the wild horses could lead to a deadly fight with the band stallion and I did not want that. Generally, he was pretty well behaved even with stallions, but I didn’t want to take the chance. I looked around, before I started walking through the forest, looking around trying to find other bands, or wild dogs or anything else that needed to be chased off. However, I came up empty.

Suddenly, I heard a gunshot close by and Shadowfax spooked. He reared up, hooves pawing the air reins slipping from my fingers. He pivoted on his hooves and took off through the trees. “Shadowfax!” I yelled, running after him. However, the spooked stallion did not stop, didn’t even pause. He dodged the trees, reins swinging by his legs and I panicked, what if they tangled around his legs and he tripped, breaking them, or possibly even his neck? I paled at the thought, not thinking clearly. I glanced at my dogs, however, I knew, with Shadowfax so blindly terrified, he would lash out at them. There was no use. I’d have to go find him later. As much as the thought of losing him frightened me, I knew it was a fruitless effort to try and catch him right now. I slowed to a stop, collapsing to the ground. Sarge came and licked my cheek and I gave a soft groan in response.

I slowly stood, determined to find the source of the gunshot. No one should be firing at anything here. Not on this property. Not without being ordered to. And she knew, with her being in this area, Grandfather would never have ordered anyone to shoot anything. I looked around, trying to locate which way it had come from. But I couldn’t tell. So, I just walked in any direction, keeping Sarge and Ranger close to me. Not too much later, I saw two large men, both holding shotguns and a mustang laying at their feet, a bullet hole through its head. My eyes widened and I stumbled back, tripping. I wasn’t used to seeing the sight of mustangs or any animal being killed or freshly shot. Grandfather always made sure I wasn’t around. I fell back, landing on a dry spot on the ground with a ’oomph’. The men spun around, their eyes locking onto me instantly. I scurried backwards as they advanced towards me. Sarge stood right in front of me, growling at the men, whilst Ranger lunged at them, snapping his teeth at their heels. They stumbled back a couple steps before advancing again.  They stepped in front of me, growling at Sarge as he nipped one of their heels. They kicked him out of the way and fired at Ranger with their guns. One shot completely missed, but the other grazed his right shoulder rather deeply and the dog yelped and whimpered, running away, a few metres behind me. At the same time he had been shot, one grabbed my arm and I screamed. I have no idea whether it was because I scared for myself, or for Ranger. They yanked me up towards them, my eyes wide. Why? So many questions ran through my mind, but the main one was Why? Why here? Why now? Why shoot Ranger? Why me? Just.. Why?


~~~~~~~~~~~~


Shadowfax ran, dodging trees, the white of his eyes showing. His reins danced around his hooves and though frightened, the stallion was careful not to trip. He should go back to Trinity. But, he was so scared. He kept running, the wind tugging at his mane and a young man soon came into view, just through the trees, a younger boy, a horse and a pony. Skidding to a halt near the man, Shadowfax danced on the spot, nostrils flaring and sides heaving. His mouth foamed from the fear he felt, but his mind reeled, wanting to go back to Trinity. His dark gaze searched the man, his breathing shallow and fast. What should he do? He should go back. Staring at the man, Shadowfax calmed somewhat, flinging his head towards the saddle on his back and turning around, pawing at the ground. He would take him to her.

(If he gets on Shadowfax, you can control him to take him to Trinity  gives the chance for a better post )

I had begun making my way into the trees when I heard the thudding of hooves. I spun around and pointed my pistol right in the direction of her sound, but dropped it when I saw the horse had no rider. Then I went over what I had heard and gunshots, then I sheathed my pistol and swung onto the stallion. "Watch Joker!"  I yelled to Joey before I turned the horse and dug my heels into it's side. But instead of me leading the horse the horse was leading me.

As the trees whizzed by I held on to the reins and the saddle horn, letting the horse lead me. Soon I saw a dog limping then collapse beside a tree, then another dog began running beside the horse. I figured the dogs must be related to what was going on somehow, so I let the one follow me but I had no choice but to come back for the other dog later. Soon I began to see the scene of a girl fighting two men with guns. I yelled "HEY!" before I leapt off the horse, pulling my gun from the holster as I flew through the air.

The men yanked out their guns and fired at me, but I shot one straight through the heart. I was about to shoot the other one when he gripped the girl and put the gun to her head. Then he growled, his voice deep and husky "Drop the gun or she dies." I kept my gun up until I saw his finger tighten around the trigger to show he was serious. Then I dropped the gun, but he didn't know I always had a knife beside my gun in the holster.