Many stories exist when a “cowboy type” (male or female) marries someone with an urban upbringing. Usually it is the male heir to the ranch who goes to A&M, falls in love with a city girl and brings her home. Mother and Dad get a feelin’ pretty quick whether the “tryout” is going to fit in the family.
Maybe she’s funny or loves kids, rolls up her sleeves, does the dishes and really appears to care for their lovesick son. Or immediately realize they better get a prenuptial agreement to keep from losing the ranch! But most brides are willing to learn something new to please the potential groom.
But there are limits.
Cary came home with a young horse. He was shiny but not too “civilized.” Cary put a bale of hay in each corner of a square corral to give the illusion of a round pen, haltered the nervous 3-year old and began its training.
On Day 5, Cary asked his new bride of three weeks whether she would come and help him with the new horse, named Bad News. He was keenly aware that she was unschooled in animal husbandry, but it would be a good chance for her to get a lesson in spousal training. He handed her a 12-foot training whip and climbed into the saddle on Bad News. “Now,” he instructed, “I’m gonna ride this horse in a circle. You stand here in the center of the corral. If he balks or stops, you just show him the whip and cluck.”
“OK,” she said. But she wondered what was a cluck?
Then Bad News stopped. “Now,” said Cary quietly.
She laid that whip across Bad News’ butt and crowed like a rooster.
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