• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

1st Page of a NOVEL

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
...written by a friend. Ignore the typos, what do you think?

And NO I didn't write it.



The wind blew soft from the southeast caressing the winters drifts with it's warm eare&&-Tom smelt it's promise-winter's end coming soon-the promise of all things possible. His sixteen year old body felt the thick blood of winter move to make room for the boil of spring. He's been stuck at the ranch all winter-stuck in the drudgery of feeding cattle and keeping warm-every day the same.Now he'd reaching the breaking point it was time to do something Jack his Dad had rode to town on business and left Tom behind to run the place but Tom was sure he could sneak away for a couple days. Last year at the lease roundupTom hads met Sue Gibbons. She'd rode up with her Dad George to check for strays-Tom could still remember when their knees touched when their horses crowded together-how his heart had lept up to his throat. In fact the thought was never far out of his mind all through the long cold winter. He had to see her again no matter what it took.
The brood mares and the old buckskin stud were running back in the hills about ten miles out-only about twenty miles north of the Gibbon's home place. A day out and a day back on a good horse and he could spend some time with Sue.Tom needed an excuse to visit but he was sure he'd think of something on his way there. As far as his mother knew he was riding to check out some wolf tracks he'd found while fetching wood with the team. He just had to catch one of the geldings and head out. The one he wanted was Ol' Pig-a gooch eyed paint-he was mean eyed and long geared-just what he needed for a long ride in soft snow-if you could stick him he was a mighty horse. Ol' Pig was running in gelding pasture down along the creek so Tom got on one of the old chore horses bareback and gathered them in.
Ol' Pig wasn't born yesterday and tried to run back out with thhe rest but Tom slammed the big rail gate in his face. The old bronc trotted around the horse pen with his tail cocked as if to say you caught me but you still haven't won yet. Tom fetched his Dad's old bronc saddle and got a rope on Ol' Pig. As he felt the lariet tighten on his neck the old warrior wheeled and ran up the rope-lucky Tom was quick as he dodged around the snubbing post and gathered in the slack. Ol' Pig struck out with one massive hairy foot and ripped Tom"s jacket-a little reminder of the power and temper under his spotted hide. Quickly grabbing a second rope Tom tied up a front foot and got the saddle on him. The commotion had drawn Tom's mother Beth from the house.
"Tom-what in god's name are you up too-you know you can't handle that horse"
Tom however was a vastly different boy from the one that had entered the fall-the hard work had added twenty pounds of muscle and the thoughts of Sue had removed what little caution he had.Tom was on the verge of being a man and no woman especially his mother was telling him what he could and couldn't do.
"I can handle him and by god I will you just get that gate open once I get on"
" Your crazy-where do you plan on riding anyways"
"I found wolf tracks up along the river yesterday so I'm going to check on the mares-this is the only horse we got that can outrun that stud if he puts the run on me. I might cross the river while it's still froze and see if those stray yearlings drifted into George"s cows this winter. I'll be back in a couple days."
Beth had been raised with four brothers so she knew there was no use arguing with a blood hot young cowboy-her blood chilled with the thoughts of all the things that could happen and how little he would listen to her.
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
He'd better take along his cell phone. Oh, I just remembered, they didn't have cell phones in those days. :roll: :wink: :)
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Didn't know anyone had written a book about Ol' Leanin H goin' courtin'. :D

It starts off good, leaves a question about what is going to happen next. Do we get to read page two tommorow? Page 3 the next?
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Here is page 2:


"I'll pack you some grub and some dry clothes-you take a rifle and lots of matches and for God's sake be careful-that little Gibbon's girl ain't gonna disappear with the snow.'
Tom flushed beet red and cheeked Ol' Pigs head around as he swung on. The old warrior swelled up under him and turned inside out.
"Open the goddamn gate so I can run him into some deep snow." There were no points for fighting fair in this contest. With every jump Tom quirted the Pig's nose as he gave his bronc bawl-Tom headed him into the deep drifts down on the meadow flat. Ol' Pigs spirit was willing but he'd been pawing all winter and hadn't had a chance to power up on the rich fescue of spring-he soon settled down into a long slow crow hop and was content to bite at Tom's right foot. Tom rode him a good mile down the flats then loped him hard back to the yard-Ol' Pig was ready for the trail.
Tom stripped off the bronc saddle and put a dry blanket on his horse-you took good care of them when they were all you had to get in and out of the back country.Beth emeged from the house with a bedroll and two saddle bags.
"Tom be careful-you're the only son I have so use your head."
"Awww Mom I'll be just fine-there ain't nuthin' out there me and old Pig can't handle "
"So you say-but still be careful"
Beth squeezed his shoulder as Tom checked his cinches-from this day on things would never be quite the same-her boy was becoming a man whether she liked it or not. Tom swung up on Pig and nodded his head. As he rode out of sight behind the barn Beth had no idea the days it would be before she saw him again.
Tom had never felt better in his life-he was young, tough, well mounted and confidant in his ability to handle just about anything life threw at him. As he rode on past where he'd cut wood the snow got deeper and softer. Ol' Pig was a powerful horse but out of shape-Tom stopped and let him blow out every few hundred yards-he'd wanted to find the horses and cross the river today but that wasn't going to happen.Better get a camp made and rest his horse-there were lots of miles ahead. A blown over jack pine made a good windbreak and a feed of oats made Ol' Pig forget his rough start.
The wolf howl seemed to be right beside him as Tom jerked awake-his first thought was his horse he'd hobbled. This was no country to be left afoot in. Ol' Pig was snorting and crashing thru the deadfall-Tom just avoided getting run down as the big paint hopped over the campfire-Tom grabbed the dragging shank and hung on for dear life-OF Pig pulled up short and just stood flanks heaving-his gooch eyes ready to pop out of his head. Tom took stock of his situation the first rays of dawn were poking through the clouds-it was no use trying to get any more rest-just as well saddle and ride and rest in middle of day.
Tom cut the first wolf tracks only a half mile from camp-at least five-and it wasn't much further along when his heart broke.They'd killed the first horse on the edge of a long meadow-a little sorrel mare that Tom had raised from a foal The story the snow told was grim-her foal had been torn out of her as she put up a running fight-she'd finally died 400 yards up the meadow-nothing left bit blood and bits of hide and bone. Tom pulled his Winchester from the scabbord and checked it-they weren't too far ahead. Ol' Pig swelled under him as he rode down the tracks the tension building in both of them. After the little meadow ran out there was a long jack pine ridge Tom could hear the sounds of the wolves on a kill. Ol' Pig exploded into a run as Tom set his spurs and charged over the ridge. The wolves had the old stud down in a little finger draw-his squeals of defiance
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Here's page 3:

were growing weak as they closed in. It was obvious the old stallion had not sold his life cheap-one wolf lay dead his neck broken while another dragged himself away his back crushed but sheer numbers had overwhelmed him.He lay struggling while the remaining three wolves tore chunks of flesh off his hindquarters eating him alive. They were so intent on their feast that Tom shot two before they could react. The third bolted for the jackpine ridge but the deep snow slowed him down-Tom missed twice but the third took him in the guts-Tom watched him crawl into the timber without bothering to fire a finishing shot. Frothy blood bubbled from the old stallions mouth as he tried to hang on to life-he'd ran this country for almost twenty years-never losing a battle-leaving lots of great colts. Tom fought back tears as he put the gun up to his grizzled old head-his suffering was over before the shot quit echoing off the surrounding hills.Tom sat back in the snow and went limp the strength leaving his body as the adrenalin boiled off-he seemed to be in a fog his mind not believing what he had just saw. Finally OF Pig's nicker brought him out of his lassitude-the remaing mares were trailing back out of the pines.Tom breathed a sigh of relief-the wolves had just found them there were still a dozen mares left and most looked heavy in foal. The old buckskin's blood would live on.
Tom took stock of his situation-he was probably ten miles north of the river and another twenty miles north of the Gibbon's place-home was maybe 15 miles back but there was no way he was going back without seeing Sue. If all went well he could get across the ice before dark and cold camp-then ride out at first light for Sue's. The country wasn't all new to him so he shouldn't get lost. Ol Pig was rested and they struck off to the south-as they rode out of the draw Tom noticed the wind had shifted to the northeast and it had started to snow-big sloppy flakes the kind that soak you in a hurry. The country was fairly open the last five miles to the river and it was closing in fast. A more experienced hand would of holed up in the last coulee but Tom was 16 and on a mission so he pushed on into the open country. The wind slapped like a mailed fist-the temperature had dropped fifteen degrees and the cold knifed thru his wet clothes and turned his blood to ice. If he could reach the crossing there was shelter on the other side of the river.The only problem was he was cold,tired and on a played out horse in strange country in a whiteout it was up to OF Pig to get them through this. Tom knotted his reins and hung them over the saddle then stuffed his hands into his armpits-he'd never been this cold his body shook as he shivered-his teeth rattling-and OF Pig just kept plodding on eating the miles slowly but surely. OF Pig reached the crossing without Tom being aware of it. On any normal day OF Pig would never of stumbled but he did today. His hands still trapped under his armpits Tom didn't have a chance-OF Pig went down hard and rolled end over end-Tom hung a foot in a stirrup.As he went over Tom jerked a hand free and grabbed his reins and hung on. OF Pig squeeled in pain as they hit together at the bottom and that is all Tom remembered.
The pain was like nothing he'd ever imagined-OF Pig was laying across his legs thrashing trying to get up but Tom was holding his head down. Every movement made Tom grunt with pain but he couldn't let himself be dragged.Finally OF Pig quit struggling-his back was broken and he just laid and groaned-but there was no way Tom could get loose he was trapped. The cold numbed the pain but Tom knew he was in a bad way-he reached down and pulled out his hunting knife-he had to warm up or die.Gathering up what little strength he had Tom twisted OF Pigs head around and cut his throat-the hot jugular blood gushed over his hands flooding them with warmth-with a
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Here's page 4:

little shudder the life left OF Pig.Tom was trapped along side OF Pigs body-thankfully down wind-he sliced his belly open and rolled as close to the warmth as he could his body shivering as he warmed up.The effort exhausted Tom and sleep stole him.
Tom awoke-his body covered with entrails he'd clawed out of the body cavity-the wind had shifted and a Chinook was blowing in. Tom was in another place the pain was other wordly but he had to get out from under this horse. Again and Again he tried to claw his way out till he slumped exhaustion and pain overwhelming him-unconsciousness claiming him.
The dream seemed so real-a warm breath was caressing his face-like a lovers touch-Tom jolted awake. Face to face with a young colt-there were three mares gathered around OF Pigs carcass-the age old fascination of all creatures with death. The colt had been smelling Tom's body it's naieve curiosity outweighing it's natural fear. Tom groaned in pain and the little band of horses retreated then wheeled to watch. The situation was grave-OF Pigs body lay across Tom's legs pinning him to the ground there was no way to shift the big geldings weight. Another day like this and Tom would die-there was no way around it.
As he lay fighting the pain Tom tried to figure a way out of this-he had his knife,his rifle and could reach his rope. There had to be a way. Tom's grampa had run mustangs and Tom remembered an old trick he'd told him about. The horses milled around about 50 yards away as Tom drew his rifle from it's scabbord. If only the colt on the wet mare would come back-he levered in a shell and waited.One step at a time the young colt drew closer-his body taut with tension-his mother nickered a warning but like children everywhere he paid her no mind.His mother carried George Gibbon's brand and Tom had formed a desparate plan. The colt was almost on top of him as Tom eased back the trigger his heart ached as he looked straight into the colts big kind eye-then broke as he shot him in the forehead dropping him in his tracks.The colts mother would hang around her dead offspring and Tom prayed he could get a rope on her-it would be his only chance. The mares scattered as the rifle shot echoed off the river banks now all Tom could do is wait and hope. An hour passed Tom had halfhitched his rope around OF Pigs back legs if he could catch the mare she might shift the body enough so he could escape-if not this is where they'd find his body-Tom became a man there in the snow as he accepted that fact.
In spite of all that hung in the balance Tom drifted off to sleep in hindsight that might have been what saved him. The mare approached her dead colts her soft nicker awoke him from his deathlike stillness he had one chance and he took it. His backhand flip settled over the mares neck as she snorted in fear and threw herself back on her haunches-it was just enough to shift the old geldings body and get the pressure off his legs. Tom threw himself backward and shrieked with pain as his shattered leg broke free-then he passed out.
Awakening again Tom was relieved to see the mare still there-she had saddle marks on her withers so she had been rode at some time. Tom levered himself to his feet using his rifle as a crutch and approached the mare.Quickly he stripped the bridle off OF Pigs head and walked up the taut lariet towards her head. If there was a God Tom prayed that this horse had been made a brood mare because of her kind nature and ability-he was in no shape to ride off the rough.
Giss,Giss,Giss Tom murmured as he approached her slowly stroking her neck-she quit fighting the rope but still rolled her eyes at him Time was all he had as he slowly slipped
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Here's page 5, ends with a period.


the bridle over her ears She tossed her head as he bitted her but he could tell she'd .been a using horse at one time the saddle marks on her withers told the tale of wet blankets and hard miles. Tom then did something he never thought he'd ever do-leaving the rope around her neck he tied the free end hard and fast around his waist-better to be dragged than to risk falling off and losing this horse.Carefully he led her beside Ol' Pigs body so he could get a little higher before trying to mount. Finally after a deep breath Tom gritted his teeth and jumped. The little mare sidepassed but Tom had a life or death incentive and hung on. His shattered leg sent pain through his entire body but he dragged it over her back and got seated. With everything in the balance Tom pointed the mare south and prayed she'd take him to her home-it was up to her to save the killer of her colt.
George Gibbons was a hard man-you didn't build a 500 cow ranch from scratch without having your share of sand. That's why he was ready to tear someone up when he saw the horse skylined to the north. George was a man who kept things and men in their place and there weren't supposed to be horses in that field. George's temper came to a slow boil as he stomped p the bunkhouse steps.
"Which one of you jackasses left a gate open-there's a goddamn horse loose up past the spring. Now get your goddamn lazy asses out of bed and go catch it-sweet jesus if one of my geldings runs into that buckskin stud up on the river."
The bunkhouse sprang into life as six cowboys all tried to get dressed and outside at once.The Gibbons ranch was a hard outfit but a fair one and it was a long cold ride to the next stop on the grubline.There were two old horses in the barn that were going to get saddled in one hell of a hurry. Seth Reed and Sam Barker were first out the door and were the ones to get the horses.
"Holy **** what crawled up his ass this morning"Sam grumbled as he cinched his horse.
"I can't tell you but we better get that loose son of a bitch caught oryou and me will be lookin' for a job and there ain't many out there." Seth replied.
By the time the men got their horses saddled the lone horse had moved in closer so it was only a short time before the men caught up to her. It was a sight that both of them would carry to their grave. The little mares flanks were streaked with sweat and blood-not hers but Tom's-the bone from his shattered leg stuck out of his pants and oozed blood with every step. He hung as if dead both arms wrapped around her neck only his unwillingness to quit keeping him there.
"Sweet Jesus Seth-ride back and get George and get a sleigh hitched this fellas in a bad bad way. If he don't lose that leg it will be a miracle. Lord what the hell happened here." Sam exclaimed as he caught the little mare.
"There's a what up there-a man-where in the name of Christ did he come from. Well lets get him inside and see what we can do for him." George exclaimed. "Sue you saddle up Roanie and ride to old Joe's-that old Indian will fix him as good as anybody."
Sue quickly got dressed and headed to the little horse field beneath the barn-old Joe Wolf lived about five miles away at the head of the home coulee. Too proud to live the reservation life he squatted at George's-trading some horse doctoring for his keep.It was a good arrangement-old Joe didn't cause any trouble and had saved much stock with his knowledge. Prying a conversation out of him was another thing-Joe talked like there was a quota on words and he wasn't about to use up his share. Roanie was her own horse she'd had since a kid and was easy to catch. As she rode back past the house George stepped out and put a flask of brandy in her saddle bags.
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Blkbuckaroo said:
Hanta,how's your family,have'nt seen pics of the ranch and family in awile.

Thanks for asking. We're doing well, I'm going to post some stuff in another thread, about our daughter Montana Cowgurl.
 
Top