Big Red

 

He lay there on the prairie for a long time mostly he was unconscious but he faded in and out.   At first he had no idea what he was doing there.   The suddenly his mind cleared.  Oh God his legs hurt, but that too seemed to come and go.  What in the world was he doing laying here?  It was hard to keep his mind on one thing.  As he floated off into dreamland.  His mind would flash back to yesterdays.  He was back home in one dream.  Grash it was nice to see dad again, it had been so long.  Big Red was eleven when dad died.  Dad did not seem to be sick but Big Red could tell he was not his old self and as he thought about it dad had changed when he married that woman.  Red never knows his mother.  Oh he could remember some things about her, she died when Red was three, but it was mostly that feeling of warmth and yes love he felt when he thought about her.  Yes dad changed when he married that woman.  Before that he was fun and warm to be around after that and when his new wife had a baby, dad was not much fun any more.  The new wife and baby and the hard work left little time for Big Red.  One problem, he was called Big Red even then.  At eleven years old he was already close to six feet tall and being skinny with the head of red-red hair he looked taller and older, so many treated him as a man, but he wasn’t yet.  The new mother could not relate to him he looked to much like a man to treat as a boy and with this new baby, a husband, and chore’s she had little time for Red or even Red’s older brother who at seventeen and even bigger was a man to all.  Their life in this untamed country was hard to say the least.  At best it was still a struggle to survive.  That’s probably what happened to mother and later dad even the strong give out in time.  Big Red’s mind cleared again and he tried to look around.  Nothing but cattle as far as he could see.  Where’s my horse he thought as he tried t get up again.  Ouch, oh God those legs hurt.  At this Red fazed out again, he was back home.  He and his brother Jim were leaving dad’s funeral.  “Come on Red”, said Jim, “we’ll be gone before they get back to the ranch. But we have to hurry, that woman dad married don’t care nothing about us, so we best be on our own.” As they drove the wagon on back to the ranch, Big Red said, “I want that soral mare, she’s a good solid horse.”  “Okay”, said Jim, “you know my horse that big black.”  “Don’t take any more than you need,” said Jim, “We have a long way to go, and we will have to live off the land.”  Back at the ranch they quickly saddled the horses, grabbed what they needed and were gone.  As Big Red lay on the ground his mind cleared and went out again.  He was on the long trail from home now and then he would re-live some parts of it.  It seemed so long ago and yet like yesterday.  That time when the Indians chased them.  With the horses they had they easily out ran them, and with no guns the had to.  “When we get a job,” said Big Red, “the first thing I’m going to buy is a 30-30 carbine rifle.  This part of the country is still dangerous”, so on the rode.  The wagon train they came upon, those folks were real nice, fed them, even asked them to ride along with them so they did but when the wagon’s turned south Red and Jim thanked them for everything, but told them they were traveling north to Denver. That they had heard there were cowboy jobs available there. 

            Right there Big Red’s mind cleared, he looked around there was his horse standing right next to him.  This was a good horse one of the best he ever owned.  Red had taught him all kinds of tricks and one was to lie down on his side and get up with Big Red still on his back.  So Red tried to get him to lie down, but no way could Red get him to.  Finally, Red got him down on his front knee, that way he could reach a leather strap on the saddle.  With that strap Red tied his arm in the saddle stirrup then all he had to do was to say “home boy” and off they went.  It was twenty miles to the ranch and that horse side stepped all the way never once did his foot even touch Big Red.  Even so, those legs hurt, Oh God they hurt.  Red really did not remember much about that trip as he would pass out, then come to. 

            Big Red and Jim rode into Denver late in the day.  They had heard so much about this town that they  expected to see a fair sized or even a big city.  There was just another cow town.  Oh you could tell it was growing, why there must have been eight salons on the main street, maybe more.  They stopped at one and asked the barman if he knows where they could find work.  “Hey, you rancher”, yelled the barman, “any of you need help.”  Four of five yelled back “yes, send them over here.”  One rancher stood up and walked over to them.  I need help right now he said my names Joe Bingham and everyone around here including that barman will vouch for me.  You work for me and I expect a good days work.  Then you will get top dollar.  Twenty-five dollars a month and found.  I see your not wearing guns that’s good, I don’t put up with gunman.  This life is hard enough the way it is.  The rancher went on, you men (Red kind of flushed, it was the first time he had been called a man) look big enough to handle anything.  At this Big Red came to, his leg had hit a bump and he just withered in pain.  He saw out of the corner of his eye a big rock that told him he was half way home.  Red thought to himself that horse is something else.  He’s going to get extra oats for this.  Then he went out again. 

            Big Red was rounding up some cattle hiding down a ravine.  These dumb cows seem to get pretty smart when you try t round them up, Red thought to himself, if one of them hadn’t bellered I would have never have look down here.  But Red wasn’t the only one watching those cows.  Just as Red ran them out a big mountain lion figuring, well if I don’t get a cow I’ll get that horse and jumped down to land on his neck.  Big Red saw him coming and with no time to grab his carbine just gave that lion a push as he came down.  The lion landed on his back right on a sharp rock.  He snarled reached out with his paw to grab a leg but was to slow.  Red was already gone.  It wasn’t until Big Red got the cows back with the herd that he stopped to think, boy that was close as he slumped down in his saddle and took some deep breaths.

            Big Red was taken some deep breaths himself when he came to this time.  The pain was something awful but in the distance he caught the light of the ranch. 

*****  After roundup there wasn’t much to do so the rancher let most of the men go ad Jim and Red were among them.  Jim said I’m going back to Iowa; maybe I’ll try farming.  So Big Red started off with him.  Somewhere in Nebraska they stopped at a small town to eat a real meal.  As they were eating a man walked over to them.  You look like cowboys, he said I got a ranch in South Dakota and I need help.  It’s a lonely place but I’ll pay thirty dollars a month and found.  Jim looked up, thought for time then said no sir, I’m heading for Iowa.  After this Big Red thought maybe it’s time to go on my own so when the rancher looked at him Red said okay, when do we leave.  The rancher said I’ll pick you up a dawn.  Now where will you be if you have no place to stay you can sleep in my wagon behind the livery stable.  Fine said Red I’ll be there.  When the rancher left Red looked at Jim and Jim said you did the right thing you got to get on your own sooner or later and this is your start.

            The next morning it was off to South Dakota.  The land they traveled over was pretty bleak but by the time they got to the ranch Big Red could see the tall grass good for the cows.  The rancher had a large herd.  The first thing we got to do is round them cows up and see if any are missing said the rancher I been gone for a spell.

*****  Red opened his eyes he was at the ranch house.  He yelled for help and the rancher came out.  What the hell happened to you he asked.  Big Red said I don’t know but my legs must be broken the way they feel.  That rancher was old but he was strong as a bull.  He untied Red, picked him up like a rag doll and put him in bed.  The rancher started to take Red’s boots off but the pain he could not.  With no pain drugs and no doctors for hundreds of miles you have to make do.  The rancher got a bottle of whiskey and for the first time in his life Big Red took two big swallows.  After a few minutes the rancher pulled those boots off and the pants too, with no trouble.  Looking at those legs it was obvious they were broken and there was only one thing to do.  One good thing, this wasn’t the first time that old rancher had had to set a broken bone.  Another shot of whiskey Big Red grabbed the top bed rail and hung on while the rancher took first one leg and gave it a pull and a twist, looked at it turned it some more then did the same to the other leg.  By this time Big Red was out cold.

            Some time the next day Red woke up with those legs still hurting something awful.  Give one another drink of that whiskey said Big Red.  No way said the rancher that whiskey did the job and I don’t hold with just drinking. 

            But those legs still hurt awful said Red.  Well I guess you’ll have to get  used to it said the rancher, want something to eat?  No said Red, I couldn’t stomach anything.  Just as well said the rancher, now you just lay there and get well, I’ve got to go check on the cattle. 

            Red did not remember much about that day but the next morning he was hungry and tried to eat a full breakfast but about half way he could eat no more.  The pain was still there but he was getting used to it.  By the way said the old rancher do you remember how you broke your legs yet?  No said Red I don’t.  I remember flying throw the air and hitting the ground but that’s all.  Did your horse throw you said the old man.  No said Red I wasn’t on my horse.  Where were you then?   Well now that I think of it said Red it was a spooky night and the cows were getting restless and starting to move around a lot I was tired of sitting in that saddle an the only high ground was that railroad they had built up so I climbed up there and sat down and talked and whistled to them cattle an they settled right down.  I don’t remember much after that.  Did you see that train that come through there about midnight asked the old man? What train said a surprised Big Red, I saw no train.  O’boy said the old rancher, that train only goes 20 miles an hour and with that cow catcher on front you must have fallen a sleep and scooped off. 

As the days and weeks passed into months about three months.  Big Red was up and walking a bit and he told the rancher if he would saddle his horse and bring him around that he thought he could ride and earn his keep.  Another month and his legs were fine. 

The ranchers is South Dakota were in a fight with sod busters (farmers) for land.  The ranchers were used to letting their cattle roam but the sod busters were plowing under the wild grass and fencing their fields to keep the cows out.

The old rancher finally realized he was fighting a losing battle.  More and more sod busters coming every year less and less grass land to roam on.  One day the rancher said to Big Red you have been one of the best hands I ever had but I got to call it quits.  These sod busters are taking over and I’m to old to move on.  We will round up the herd and drive them to the market.  I got some relative’s back east I can stay with but you I don’t know, got any ideas what you want to do.  Big Red thought about this for a while finally he said you know I got an uncle just above the border in Canada that I’ve never seen, last I heard he was running horses I think I’ll wander up that way an see him.  I’m glad to hear that said the old rancher when I sell the cows there will be some extra money for you to.  A few days later they loaded all the old rancher wanted into the big wagon.  Since the market was east the old man was not coming back.  After the cattle sale the old man paid Big Red they shook hands wished each other a long life and went their own ways.  As Big Red road away he thought I hope that old man can enjoy the years he has left.  Now for me I have no idea what I’m riding too.