Plateau S (TTSSC)

Thirty five head of Texas Longhorn, decended the red clay plateau headed out from Bobbys ranch. Esteban Don Roberto Silva was a red headed Texas
mexican, barrel chested and light skined with large freckles that
covered most of his body and ran half way down his arms.
With his mothers passing just two months prior, he was
now the soul owner of "The Plateau S". His mother
and fathers legacy, scratched from the earth
by their own sweat and blood and an
occassional 1/5 of Tequilla. Though
he would boast his given name
in the saloons of Laredo at
night. The rest of the
time, he liked to
be called
Bobby.

It being the end of summer, Bobby
and his heard of longhorns were headed
up the trail north, from the south end of Laredo
to market in San Antonio Tx. Two rivers one hundred
and forty five miles of red clay dust that sticks to everything.
Five long days of spitting dirt clauds for his twenty fifth year in a
row since coming of age in eighteen sixty one. This year things were
going to be a little different. A man by the name of Kent Sidel was the most recent of ranchers to call Laredo home. The Dew Drop Inn was the saloon they happen to meet up in. They hit it off pretty good, so it was decided that Kent would move his trail date up ten days and they would drive their cattle to market together.

Kent would be adding forty one more head to the heard, so his one ranch hand Benny Miller would come along to pull up the slack. They agreed to split
Bennys five day salary. Bobby had ran in to trouble a number of
times on the trail, so he was glad for the company. Possibly
hoping things would work out and this would perhaps
become an annual event. They all liked the idea
of safty in numbers. Kents brand was an S
with two slashes through it to make a
dollar sign. Bobbys was the same
P S his father designed nineteen
years earlier.

It was three o'clock in the
afternoon when Bobby headed
out off the mesa. Just him and his
blue dog Peso, keeping the whole heard
in line and they made it look easy. Sidel and
Benny would be waiting just off the trail, after Bobby
brought his heard right threw the middle of town on the
streets of Loredo. Everyone in town knew to be off the street
between three and four that day. In accordance to the permit
Bobby had obtained from the Court Justice five days ago. Sure
enough Bobby made it through town without incident. Sidels heard
led the way at first, until the two became one in the distance, just a few
clicks out of town. They would follow the trail out of town and then head north
on Laredo rd. Traveling in a north easterly direction, it was a full days ride to the
Nueces river. This being Kent and Bennys first time on this trail. It was agreed that
Bobby should call the shots. A perfect record says alot for a man.

Bobby wasn't going to do anything different this year from any other year. He was smart enough to stick to what his old man taught him.They would travel their first day through the night along side the river. Most of the time Bobby made the old
log crossing by sun up. All three understood that once at the crossing
they would all cross together set up camp on the other side and
rest half a day. Bobby just about had the whole journey
down like clock work and when they reached the
crossing Bobby and Peso started driving
the cattle into the river.
Kent and Benny seeing this looked at each other with
bewilderment. Kent gives a click and a kick to his horse in the direction of the Cabaero
and yells, hey! Bobby!, Hey Bobby!, he says again in a lower voice. Why you driven
the cattle into the river? I thought we were supposed to use the log crossing.
Bobby squinted and made a funny face trying to bring his frantic mare under control,
." Well, who tol you theese crassy thing Senore"? Bobby said. Kent
thinking for a few seconds replys, Nevermind Bobby, i thought you did, but
now that i think about it you didn't say that at all. Bobby had to reply,
Of course i would not say that Senore. Look at that crossing over those rocks
if we did that we would lose everything, including our lives. We only came to the
crossing because the current slows right here the most.
It's an easier swim, but still we swim. Ok Bobby, we're up to speed now lets
get on across.
Took a good twenty minutes for the whole production to finally
get across the river.
Once on the other side, Kent couldn't help but
think of what would have happened if they hadn't teamed up with Bobby.
Still in the early morning hours Benny hurried to get a fire going.
Bobby was chilled to the bone as he jumped from his horse he yelled, yah !
I gotta take a leak. Kent says ya! ya! I'll go with you Bobby . So over
by this rock the two shivering cattlemen urinate. Kent zips his up first
and says wooo it's pretty chile Bobby.
Bobby looks his over for a second, zips it up and says,

thank you, senore!

[edit on 15-9-2009 by randyvs]

reply to post by randyvs


Star and flagged just because I was laughing my butt off. That was a twist I truly wasn't expecting. Took me totally unaware. I was waiting to read that the cattle methodically were dismembered crossing the river by some unknown mutant or something. Cool little adventure running the cattle with Bobby senor!

reply to post by jackflap


thank you your very kind. do you have an entry?

reply to post by randyvs


Yeah I do have an entry. It is called You Gotta See The Show and I hope that if you check it out, you enjoy it. Thanks for replying! This was a really cool little story and it was funny at the end.

reply to post by jackflap
Yeah, had to do a little research to make sure how far apart the towns were. the name of the road and what lied between them at the time . i
enjoyed it though. Again I commend you on your entry. Loved it.

good luck.

Good Story, entertaining until the end. Great Avatar too.

Loved the story.

Laredo, the cattle drives through town, all of it well researched and told in a humorous manner. I've got saddle sores just by reading it.

Good luck in the contest.

reply to post by masqua


Thank you for your time you put to this site Masqua.