by Julie Carter
There is very little more exciting to a youngster at the
ranch than branding time. It represents a coming of age for them as they work
their way up the ranks through skill-appropriate jobs in the branding pen.
Spencer was 11 and had been to every branding since he was
big enough to walk. However, this year was different. This was the first time
he’d be allowed to spend the night in camp down on the river with the other
hands.
As a special treat Jim, the boss, allowed Spencer to invite
two friends who looked to be about the right size for flanking calves. One was
another ranch kid, the other a town kid who aspired to one day be a cowboy.
Allen, the camp cook, had gathered up plenty of firewood,
good groceries and all that he needed to feed the crew supper and a big
breakfast.
After supper, the requisite campfire tales were told while
the boys listened wide-eyed. When the adults drifted off to sleep, they decided
to do a little exploring, run a bit and play awhile. This required keeping the
campfire going.
This went on well into the night and until wee hours of the
morning. The excited young “buttons” decided there was no need to sleep now, so
they just kept the fire going while they swapped more tales, waiting for their
big day to get underway.
When Jim came down to join the hands for breakfast, the cook
was mad, which is never a good thing under any circumstances. Everybody was
standing around with saddled horses, but nothing was happening about breakfast.
When Allen calmed down enough to speak, he reported there was no firewood so
there was no food.
Telling him it was not a problem, Jim said they would go
gather the first pasture to give him some time and then be back later to eat.
Jim instructed the boys to go with him and they followed
along thinking this was their big opening to go with the boss. Jim was riding a
colt that needed some miles, so he took the outside circle, dropping off
cowboys along the way. Three sleepy young punchers continue to follow behind
the boss.
When they got to the pens with the cattle, everybody ate and
the work started. The boys were assigned to the flanking crew as two ropers
drug calves to the branding fire in a rapid procession. The young buttons
didn’t have any time to think about much else except the next calf coming at
them.
By noon the first pasture was worked, momma cows and babies
paired back up and turn out. Jim sent everybody except the boys to the cook’s
wagon to eat. The boys were told to gather firewood, then eat last. Just as
they hit the wagon to eat, Jim was ready to gather the second pasture and said,
“You boys come with me.”
The second pasture was the same routine. The boys got to
perfect their flanking and another chance to gather more firewood.
Late in the afternoon after the third pasture was gathered,
worked, flanked and a little more wood gathered, the neighbors and hands that
had come to help drifted off toward home.
Jim told the boys to gather just a little more firewood in
case they needed to brand again someday. Lesson learned, Spencer knew better
than to object and the other ranch kid was in robot mode. The city kid decided
to become a lawyer.
The good news is that for the next 20 years, no one would
have to gather any more firewood to cook breakfast.
Cowboying is tough work, but “young button” lessons
sometimes make it tougher.
Julie can be reached for comment at jcarternm@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment