A Wild West Texas Christmas Tale

         

               
 By Ron Doring – December, 2018 – For the Grand Children.Chapter I - "Way Back in Eighteen Ought and Something" - Grandpa Ben's Tyler's three grandchildren, two girls and a boy, ages 4 through 9 years of age, were so excited. They were ready to hear more of Grandpa Ben's adventures of the Wild West, as told by their Grandfather from his younger days, when he was a sure 'nuff, genuine, “Wild West Cowboy”, helping to drive cattle on the storied cattle trails, that ran from South Texas up into the heartland of the United States.

Susie age ten, was the eldest granddaughter. Andrew the grandson, was eight years old, and he was the middle child. Little Sadie, who was only four and a half years old, was the youngest of the three. And she always made it very clear to anyone who asked, that she was now a whole, “four and a half years old!”

So as that evening, as they all sat around the fireplace, beside the Christmas tree, the chorus went up in unison from the grand kids, of, “Tell us another real Wild West story, Grandpa!”. This was an often repeated request. So Grandpa Ben had told them some of his stories many, many times over. But the grandchildren never seemed to tire of listening to Grandpa Ben's exciting tales.

But tonight it was Christmas Eve. And as such, this special occasion called for an extra special story. So Grandpa Ben, looked reflectively over the hearth into the crackling fire in the old stone fireplace. Then he looked up at the old fashioned high, cedar ceiling, as he tried to call upon his memory for perhaps a new, and yet untold tale.

Ben was in deep thought for a moment, as he contemplated whether or not to tell a very special story, because the one he had in mind was so special, that it was the only one he knew of that he had not told grand kids at least a half dozen times.

Then he made the decision! He had experienced a wild and a wonderful event at around Christmas time once in his younger years. But parts of this tale this tale that were so strange in some places, that Grandpa Ben had told only two or three of his very closest friends about it. And of course ha had told Grandma Tyler about it long before. But Ben decided it was past time to go ahead and tell his grand kid's this strange and amazing Wild West Tale.

So Grandpa Ben began his tale, with, “Well young'uns,” , “Since it is Christmas Eve, how about a very special Christmas tale?” “Yes, Grandpa, Yes!” they all cried out, almost in unison! So again, Ben looked into the fireplace for a short while. Then he looked back up to the tall wood ceiling for a spell again. Then old Ben commenced his tale with;

Well, Kids, the year was 'round eighteen hundred – and somethin', I believe. Accordin' to my best recollection's, it must've been 'twixt somewhere's north o' eighteen and eighty five, but south o' eighteen and ninety one.” I ain't fer sure 'bout the ex'zact year”. But I think it wus durin' that hard winter, back in December o' eighteen and eighty nine. We'd been a-drivin' a big herd o' longhorn cattle down t'wards the King ranch, fer near two, months, startin' a-way up north o' Kansas City Kansas, and a-windin' up a-way down south near Sarita, in Texas.

“I hadn't been ta' th' home place nor seen my family, just east of El Paso, fer near two months. So after we delivered them cattle to the King Ranch, I wuz a-ridin' like a wild man, a-workin' my way north, up 'long th' trail beside the Rio Grande. An' I wuz a-pushin' my lil' pinto mare, Sparkle, purtey hard, ta try to make it home a-fore Christmas Eve. She was such a good little pony too! We had gone through Del Rio just two days past, an' then we stopped there in Del Rio ta stock up on a few supplies. We would-a made it home just fine, an' in plenty o' time for Christmas too. But a day or so southeast of the Pecos River, a maverick winter storm blowed in.

Chapter II - The Bad the Ugly, and the Not so Good

Then the grand kids began asking questions. But Grandpa Ben just continued on, telling his tale, saying; Hold off thar fer awhile kiddos! We've just barely got started here! Thar'll be time fer some questions shortly! The kids looked somewhat disappointed, but they quieted down, as Grandpa Ben continued, on, saying; Now where wuz I ... Errr... Oh yes! A day or so east o' the Pecos, a maverick winter storm blowed in. It was a rip roarin' Blue Norther too! An' it was cold 'nuff to freeze the horns off'n a brass billy goat! It dumped near a foot of snow on us that night, which slowed us up considerable. Then 'bout a day later, we was near ta a-crossin' the Pecos River. It wuz a-runnin' sort-a swift though, on account o' the rain and the snow melt that wuz already 'bout melted, from that ornery maverick blizzard. I should-a rode on up a little further north to find a better crossin' place. But I wuz in such a big, all-fired hurry, that I just set out to cross the ragin' Pecos, right where we come to it.

So me n' Sparkle took the cold, cold, plunge, into that cold, swift river! All seemed to be a-goin' just fine, 'till we got near the middle o' the river, or thereabouts. It wuz then that I saw a big ol' log that had busted loose from a silver minin' camp just up the Pecos. An' it was a-comin' down upon us real fast too, right straight at us, like a freight train on the water! So I had to jump off o' Sparkle, an' do it pronto! As I jumped, I gave Sparkle a right smart swat on her rear flank, an I ' told her to swim fer all she wuz worth! An' she and I both did! But then, when we wuz nearly clean ac'cros't the river, that big ol' log came a swooshin' down right upon us! Then, it took a funny, quick turn! It had a long ol' raggedy, crooked limb a-hangin off o' the side of it. An' that log was a-rollin, an' a-dippin an' a-spinnin' 'round all crazy like, down that boilin' river.

An just as Sparkel n' me was almost clear, an' just when I thought we had made it clean a-crost, all safe n' sound, that ol' log sort-a swooped over t'ward's us. An' then that twisty, spindly ol' limb, just like it was a-meanin' to do it of a-purpose, reached right out t'wards Sparkle n' me. An' as it passed by her right flank, that crazy lookin', long ol' limb, just reached over an' snatched my saddle bags right off'n o' Sparkle's back! An' then down the Pecos River it went, lickety slpit, with my saddle bags a dippin an' bein' slung all crazy like, from side ta' side! An' we never saw that log nor them two saddlebags a'gain, e'en though after we got ashore safely, we looked fer 'em downstream fer a good long spell.

So there we wuz, with no food nor hardly nothin'! Lucky for us though, I still had my six shooter, an' there wuz plenty of water right there in the river. An' thankfully, my water pouches wuz on the front o' Sparkles saddle horn, safely out of the reach of that mean ol' thievin' log! But we wuz still near a 4 days ride from El Paso. An' Christmas was only a little over a week out.

We still would a'been fine though, 'xcept for Sparkle threw a shoe n' went, lame 'bout 20 miles west o' the Pecos. I thought we wuz too far past Del Rio to turn back. But we prob'ly should-a went back anyhow, an' got us some fresh supplies. But 'n'stead, I pushed on anyways. 'Cause 'bout then I was a-thinkin' an' actin' more like a stubborn old mossy backed mule, or a greenhorn what didn't know hardly nothin', 'nstead o' behavin' myself like a cowpoke with near 10 years of 'xperience out on the trail. We still should-a made it home just fine anyhow, an' maybe e'en with a half day to spare, lame horse an' all. We got a mite hungry and thirsty out there on the trail, but' I thought we wuz still a-doin' O.K. Then things just kept on a-gettin' worse!”

Grandpa Ben paused here for a short time to collect his thoughts. But this pause provided the ever curious grand kids with another opportunity to ask Grandpa Ben some burning questions. And the one big question that came forth profusely from the “peanut gallery” was the classic question of; “And then what happened next, Grandpa?!!!”

Chapter III – Strange Thangs, Out on the Range

So then what happened next, Grandpa? The kids asked again, with great excitement. Just hold yer taters thar a minute, a'gain Kids!”, Grandpa Ben said. A good story can't be rushed! An' a rushed story can't be a very good one neither! Lemme see...”, Ben continued. “Where wuz I... Oh yes! Sparkle an' me got a'cross't that wild river, OK, but we wuz wet as two drowned rats, an' with no food nor any other supplies to speak of. Then, like I already said, Sparkle throwed that shoe, an she went lame. I think it wuz her front left shoe. But anyhow, we walked on west'ard's, at a frustratin'ly slow pace. An' as best as I could tell we wus a-headed 'bout due west. But I couldn't see the sun, so I wuz a-goin mostly by landmarks, an' by dead reckoning. The best I can re-call, we plodded a'long that way fer near a whole day, when 'round evenin' time, it started a-sleetin. An' that cold sleet was all mixed up with a drizzlin' rain! An' suddenly, I wuz cold, an' wet, an' very tired! It got so freezin' cold, I began t'shiverin' 'till my teeth chattered! An' sparkle warn't much better off than I wuz neither. I thought 'bout buildin' us a nice big fire, but we had no matches. An with everything bein' so wet, I knowed it wuz just a pipe dream anyhow. So off we went, again me n Sparkle, both a-stumblin' 'round, out thar in the middle o' nowhere's, with daylight a-fadin' fast. I wuz a-lookin fer a holler or a big rock with an overhang, or somewhere's with a natural wind break, to try to get in behind it, an' get us out from the bitter cold wind, an' the drivin' sleet an' the drizzlin' rain.

Then all of a-sudden, from right close behind us, I heard a screechin', an' a deep growl, what made every hair on arms an on th' back o' my neck, bristle, an' stand on end! Then Sparkle began a-tuggin' real hard on her halter rope, an' a-whinnying' an' a-tryin' to rear up! But I held her hard! An' then I heard a sound like big ol' cat's paws, a-hittin' the dirt, at a gallop, an that critter wuz a screecin' and a spittin' with a sound what sounded like like a huge demon ta me!

Yes, a big ol' cat mount wuz a-chargin' up fast from behind us! So I spun 'round to face what I knowed ta be a big ol' Mountain Lion! My last clear recollection was of that big ol' cat, a-chargin me hard an fast! An' then when he wuz 'buot 20 feet out, he took a flyin' leap through the air, right at me, just a-squalin' an' a screecin' an a-carryin' on, an' makin' 'nuff of an awful racket, if nothin' else, so as to scare poor Sparkle an' me both plum to death, without e'en layin one o' his big ol' paws on us!”

But as he was a-flyin' through the air, just a-fore he plowed into me, I let off three quick rounds outta my trusty Colt 45 six shooter. An' then I recollect a-seein; that big ol' cat, a-flyin' through the air, an' then pilin' right into me! 'Cause three puny lil' ol' bullets, not e'en pow'rful Colt 45 bullets, ain't near 'nuff pow'rful to stop a big ol' mean Mountain Loin, whut is already a'flyinn' through the air!

An then I wuz a fallin. An a-fallin! I felt a blast of his foul hot breath on my face! Then I felt his big ol', hot furry body a-hittin' me like a ton o' bricks! Then I kept on a-fallin, an' a-fallin', an' a-fallin', back'ards! Then all of a-sudden, th' lights went out!

An' then th' next thing I knowed, there was a strange lookin' feller a-standin' there, a-pullin' that big ol' Moutian Lion off o' me. And then helped me to stand up. I wuz a-thinkin' I must-a either got that big ol' cat, or I must-a at least winged his skull with one o' my shots, an' knocked him out cold. But I wuz too busy a-thankin 'bout th' sudden a'ppearance from outta nowhere o' this stranger, who didn't e'en seem t' a have a horse.

So I forgot all 'bout that big ol' dead cat, a lain' thar behind us, an' I asked that feller who he wuz, an' how come him to be away out here, an with no horse. But he didn't say a solitary word. He just turned and started t' leadin' me an' sparkle away from that near disaster. An' his strangeness, put a pause t' my askin' anymore questions. 'Cause ' bout then, my head started t' clearin', and I got t' lookin at this strange feller, an' I saw that this hombre for sure warn't no ordinary feller.

'Cause he wuz all dressed up in bright, shiny white cloths. An, thar wuz a brightness 'bout him, an' a stern look o' a'thority, 'bout him, like I had never see'd nor felt a'fore, not in my lifetime! So 'nstead o' answerein' me, that shiny feller just beckoned me to foller him, which fer some strange reason I did, without e'en a-thankin' a'gain 'bout askin' him who he might be, or' where we might be a-goin', or why it wus we wuz that we wuz a-goin' wherever it was we was a-gioin'.

So then, that shiny feller took my hand, and he commenced to leadin' me somewhere's, as I was also a-leadin' Sparkle. I suppose we three made sort of a strange parade, out there, all a-trailin' 'long, through the wilderness.

Then I heard a lot o' singin'! At first I thought thar might be a big fancy church somewhere's nearby. But then I knowed there warn't no church out thar, not e'en a small one, a-way out thar in the middle o' nowhere! But that singin' was so a'mazin'! It was way fancier than any singin' I had ever heard, anywhere's else! Or at least I hadn't heard the like of it b'fore, not in person anyhow.

Once't though, I wuz at a big ol' fancy Hotel over in San Antonie, called the Minger Hotel, er sumpthin' like that, where they wuz a-playin' music from a funny lookin' box machine, what had a big windin' up crank on th' side of it, with a big ol shiny brass horn thang a-top of it. An' the shiny brass horn thang wuz where the sound came out from. An' they was a-playin' music on it, from off o' some strange black flat round thang's, what they called a phoney-graph record. They would set them round black thang's on another shiny round what went a-spinnin' 'round and' 'round, on the top o' that box, An' then th' purtiest music I e'er heard come out right out o' that strange contraption!

Well, nowa-days you kids have fancy 'lectric boxes sort o' like that one, what they call record players. But this was the first time I had ever seen or heared such a sight in my life! An' back then they called them wind up phoney-graph contraptions, Victrola's. I was so a'mazed at that thang though!

The song they was a-playin' on it, they said, wuz, a Christmas song, what I be'leve they called, The Messiah. They said that it wuz writ' by some uppity European feller they called, Handle-Bar, er sompthin' like that. I su'pose Handle-Bar must-a been a nickname that feller might-a got, on account o' maybe he had himself one of them big ol' long curvy mustaches, like Sheriff Wyatt Earp used to wear. Or like one of them dime novel cowboy characters wore. But anyhow, that was near t' what th' singin' I heard that night sounded like to me. 'Xcept that night, the music was much louder, an' it was way more beautiful too!”

Soon we come to a barnyard like place. But it warn't like any farm or ranch you would see in these here parts. As the feller in the shiny cloths led me n' Sparkle t'ward's it, we seemed to be a-floatin', 'stead o' walkin'! ThenI saw a scene just like the one's right out of a Bible story picture book! There was a little lean-to like stall, built off 'n a bigger barn'. An' in it, thar was folks all dressed up in old timey Bible lookin' cloths, like shepherds. It looked just like those picture book scenes you see o' Mary an' Joseph and of th' baby Jesus. An' there was e'en a little manger, right in the front o' Mary n' Joseph! An' it had some straw a hangin' out of it too! An' it sure looked to me like thar was tiny baby in that manger! An' it wuz all wrapped up in a white cloth too!

But Grandpa! Exclaimed Susie, the eldest granddaughter. Are you making this all up? Yes!, Exclaimed Andrew! This sure sounds like a real, live, Tall, Texas sized yarn to me! Sadie the youngest girl, just looked at Grandpa Ben. And then she looked back at her two older siblings, not really knowing what to think or what to say.

Then, Grandpa Ben, looking a little downcast said, Now Kids! Has yer old Grandpa Ben e'er lied to y'all be'fore? (Now Gramps knew he might-a done some Texas 'xageratin' on occasion. But never had he just flat out made something up and then told it for the truth.)

Then his two eldest grand children, looking a bit sheepish, said softly, No Grandpa. We are very sorry.

OK then! Grandpa Ben scolded, but with a bit of a twinkle in his eyes. Now you kids pipe down an' stop a-castin' doubt on my honesty an' on my character, so'z I can finish up a-tellin' this here story! Cause if y'all keep this up, it'll be New Years a-fore I can git this story told!

Stay tuned for

Chapter 4 - "Let Me See That Baby!"

Who was it Grandpa! Who was it! Was it the baby Jesus in that manger, Grandpa! Ben's grand kids called out, almost in chorus. “Just hold yer taters 'gain, young'uns!” Said Grandpa Ben. It sure looked to me like a tiny baby in that manger, an' all wrapped up in white cloth too! An' Then all of a-sudden, it come to me, like a bolt o' lightnin'! It o'ccurd to me that these people must really be a-goin' all-out whole-hog fer Christmas time! Why, they had folks all dressed up like old timey shepherds, an' they were e'en a-totin' them long, crookedy sheep grabbin' sticks, 'n all!! An' there were sheep all' round that little barn! An' they had real live cows an' donkeys, all penned up inside o' that little barn! The whole scene was all spread out, bigger 'n life, right there a'fore us, just like in those Christmas story picture books!

But then I got to thinkin', 'Why on earth would anyone be a-makin' all o' this fuss, a-way out here in th' middle of less than nothin', where no one could e'en see it? If these folks wuz a-gon'na be a-goin' to all o' that trouble, to lay out a big, real life Christmas scene, an' have a big high church choir a-singin' behind it, then why not do it in El Paso, or in San Antoniee, or in Dallas, or in some other big city, where thousands o' folk could see it, an 'en-joy it? That would-a made some sense, 'stead o' someone a-doin' such a big Christmas scene, a-way out here in the wilderness, where no one could see it, 'xcept'n a maybe few mangy ol' coyotes, n' pr'haps a rattlesnake, or two, a'long with a lame horse, an' one ol' bone weary cowpoke, what was already knocked half senseless by a mountain lion. These thoughts wuz a-whirllin' ' and a-twirlin' round in my head, in such a way, that my poor ol' confused noggin felt like it wuz just-a spinnin' 'round like a top!”

Meanwhile that shiny feller kept on a-drawin' us closer an' closer, t'wards that lil' manger, what wuz inside of the little barn. An' I wuz a-gettin' real inter'sted in what was in that manger. Then, all of a-sudden, fer some reason, I had this burnin' de-sire to see that tiny baby! I wanted to see him really bad! An' it wuz getting' to the point where it wuz all I could thank 'bout! All the while, we was slowly a-gettin' nearer to the little manger. We were so close by then, I thought I saw a lil' dark ringlet of near jet black baby hair, a-peekin' out from th' white cloth that lil' baby was wrapped up in that lil manger! Then it seemed like I could see the tip of a little baby's nose! Then somethin' 'tween awe and reverence came across't my heart, n' soul, like I ne'er felt in my whole life, a'fore, nor since. I had the strangest and the strongest urge to keel down a'fore this tiny baby, an' to confess all o' my sins, and to just cry my heart out!

But then, just when I could almost see his sweet lil' face, ever-thang went dark! Thar wuz sumpthin' wet an' cold feelin', whut felt like a wet mop, suddenly slapped down plum over my whole face! It wuz a-coverin' up my eyes too! I was gettin' plum agger-vated, 'cause it wuz a-blockin' my seein'! An' I wanted so des'pertly t' get rid of it, so'z I was a-fightin' like a tiger 'gainst that soggy' ol' wet thang, a-tryin' to push it away! An all th' while I wuz a sayin', o're an' o'er a'gain, Let me see that baby! Let me see that Baby! I want ta' see that baby! But no matter how hard I fought, noe=r what I said, nothin' wuz a-happinin'! Or nuthin' what wuz any good wuz a-happinin', anyhow, 'cause that wet thang juet kept on a blockin my seein'!

An' then at the same time, sum'thin' or someone kept on a-shakin' me, an' they wuz a-shakin' me right pow'rful n' fierce! But to my dismay, that soggy wet thang kept on a-beein' there right over my eyes, soz I couldn't see a thang! So then I commenced t' gettin' real fightin' mad! An' I kept right on a-sayin', 'Let me see that baby! Let me see that baby!'

Then, I started ta hearin' a voice. At first, it wuz a very faint voice, like it wuz a-way off, like in the far distance, or maybe like someone whut wuz a-callin' out from way down in a deep well pipe.

Did you kids know, I onced worked fer a well diggin' outfit, just down south o' San Antoniee fer a short while, a-fore the chance fer me t' punch cattle on those long cattle trails come a'long. Then I fergot all 'bout diggin' a'round, an' a-scratchin' 'round down in muddy holes, a-trying to find water. Yes sir-ee, I got shut o' that well diggin' job, soon as I heard that a big outfit down in south Texas wuz a-hirin' cow punchers, an' they didn't care a wit, if you had ever e'en saw a cow a-fore or not! he! he! Then, after Grandpa Ben had a good laugh, he looked sort of astonished, and then he said, "Well", Kids! he! He!, I guess I plum forgot 'bout my short stint a as a well digger, back in my very young years! An I e'en have a story or two 'bout thise days that I plum fergot 'bout!
Then Grandpa Ben said, But I'm a-gittin' way off track here, ain't I Kids?! To which the Grandchildren replied, Oh, no, we don't mind, Grandpa! Well, then thankee, Kiddo's! Grandpa Ben replied. But I still need t' get back t' our story, a-fore your Grandma calls fer bedtime. At the mention of bedtime, the Children all groaned aloud. Then Grandpa Ben said; Now don't you kids fret! It is early yet. An' seein' how it is Christmas Eve, I am siure we will stay up later, n' I'll bet Grandma Tyler will be a dole'n out some Christmas goodies. N' then w'ell all be a-havin' some o' your Grandma's special hot Chocolate atter-wards!
With this declaration, the Kids all broke out into cheers and they were all three chattering together excitedly.
Then Grandpa Ben said, well shucks, Kids, I ain't helpin' get this here story told none at'tall, am I? So now let's get back to our story! Then, Grandpa Ben continued on saying, But anynhow, that wuz ex-zactly whut that voice sounded like! It sounded like when when we diggers would holler up t' the ground crew boys, a sayin', “Hey you sleepers up thar! Wake up! We need these dirt buckets hauled on up, n' emptied, whar we can move 'round down here, n' maybe e'en be able to breath a little down here too! he! he!

But anyhow, that distant funny soundin' voice kept on a-sayin', Wake up mister! Wake up mister! Wake up mister! Wake up!” Then, that voice got louder , an' louder, an louder' so'z the next thang I knowed, I woke up with a start!

When I come awake, I wuz a-layin' on a strange bed, in a strange room, in a strange house. Or that is to say, the house warn't really strange 'a'tall. Rather, it wuz a house that I didn't recollect, on account that I had never been there a'fore, not in all o' by born days.

Chapter 5 - Where am I? Who are you Folks? And How'd I get Here?

Well Kiddo's, Grandpa Ben continued, It wuz then, I come to realize that wet thang whut wuz a-coverin' up my eyes wuz a lady I had never seen or met a'fore, who had been a-spongin' my face with a thick, cool, wet, towel. An' all th' while her husband, or so I a-sumed, he was her husband at the' time, was a-shakin' me 'till my teeth was 'bout near rattlin' one 'gains't t' other. Then, when they both seen how I had woke up, the lady stopped a-swabbin' my face, and the man stopped a-shakin' me, an' a-callin' fer me t' wake up.

Then the man said; Whew, Mister! I am so glad you are finally awake! We were getting real worried about you! Lemm and me found you out there on the trail, and in a very bad way too! Lucky for you though, your three gunshots led us right to you, or you might have lay out there all night, and frozen to death! Because it was almost dark last night, by the time we found you.

And mister, the man went on to say, what is this about a baby? Is there a lost child out there somewhere? Oh, no sir! I replied, Not at all sir!. I guess I must-a been a-talkin' outta my head there fer a minute or two. Sorry 'bout that!

Then Grandpa Ben paused, a bit, and then he continued; But I was a-feared to tell these strangers what all I had seen out thar on the prairie, fer fear they would-a thought I was plum outta my head. So'z I just kept it all to myself.

Then the stranger said, with relief on his face and in his voice, Oh, no apologies needed, sir! But please, no lost children! That would have been about the last thing we would've wanted to hear! We have had plenty of excitement around these parts lately, without a lost child being thrown into the mix! The man continued on saying, with a wry grin; Then finding you out there this evening, and in the shape you were in, that alone was enough excitement around here, to last us for a good long while now. But your faithful pony was still right there by your side!

And then my heart sunk when he added, And Sir, did you know it is but three days until Christmas? At this, the kids suddenly chimed in again, as they asked, But Grandpa, did you kill that big old Mountain Lion? Did you, Grandpa? Then Grandpa Ben said, If you kids ain't careful, y'all are a-gonna run plum outta tater's to hold! Awww, Grandpa!, they moaned in unison. Patience, my children! Patience, Grandpa Ben replied, with, a grin, and with a twinkle in his eyes, We'll get to that part later on! But in life, I have learned that sometimes the answer's we get, ain't always really answer's at'all!”

But gittin' back to the story, continued Grandpa Ben, my heart sunk a-way down low, like a stone a fallin' down plum t' the' bottom o' my empty stomach, when the stranger mentioned 'bout how it was only three days 'til Christmas. But whut I really wanted to know wuz, where on earth I wuz, an' who these kind folk were. So all of a-sudden, I just spouted out; Where am I? How'd I get here? An' who are you good folks?

Then the gentleman answered; My apologies, sir! This is the Triple C Ranch..., Thar wuz a window near the foot o' the bed where I wuz a-layin'. And the room where we wuz lay just off o' the side of the main sittin' room which wuz to'wards the front of the house. An' from that window, I could see that day was just a-breakin. I could also see that this would be a beautiful, frosty winter's mornin'.

But a'gain, when the thought hit me that there wuz no way I could make home by Christmas, I be'gun to feelin' pretty gloomy 'bout the whole sitch-e-ation. It 'uz then I realized I had been a-day dreamin' an' that the man wz yet a-speakin' to me. Then, his voice sort o' snapped me out of my trance.

An' th' stranger wuz a-sayin' "...and you are... Mister...”. Which I finished by a-sayin'; The name is Ben Tyler. An 'you are...? My name is Sam Stevens”, he said, as he extended his hand to me fer a good ol' fashioned, hearty, manly, hand shake.

Then Sam said, whilst' a-turnin' t'wards his wife; Ben, this is my wife Jenna. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ma'am”, I said, as I nodded her way. But 'bout then, I wuz a-feelin' real embarrassed 'bout the whole sitch-e-ation. 'Cause Jenna looked to be a real fine lady. An' I knowed I prob'ley looked, an' smelt, 'bout like somthin' the cat's had drug up! Which as I wuz a-thinkin' the situation over, I thought it wuz pur-tey danged near to the ac'tual truth o' the matter.

Then Sam went on to say; And now, if you would like, Jenna will draw you a nice warm bath. And since you look to be about my size, Sam said, I have a nice, clean, spare change of cloths, waiting for you on the dressing table by the tub. Then, when you all cleaned up, and freshened up, we'll all sit down to a nice hot breakfast. And then, over a steaming cup of coffee, you can tell us all about how you came to be laid out there on the prairie, in in the middle of the wilderness, knocked out cold, and with no food, nor any supplies, with a lame horse, and a knot on the back of your head, about the size of a fair sized goose egg!”

Chapter 6 - Ben's Dilemma.

"A Wild West Texas Tale" - Chapter 6 - "Ben's Dilemma" - Grandpa Ben paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. Then he continued his story, saying; Well, Kids, At th' time Sam wuz a'tellin 'bout how he found Sparkle n' me, I thought it a little strange that he didn't mention nothin' at'tall 'bout that big ol' mountain cat that had waylaid me, whut mustt-a been a-layin nearby. 'Cause I remembered that shiney feller a-peelin' that big ol heavy critter off o' me. So I figgered I must-a sure 'nuff have kilt it deader n' a mackerel, seein' how I wuz still alive, or at least I warn't all tore up none anyhow. An' seein' how it sure 'nuff looked plum dead, when that shiny feller had peeled it off'n o' me.

But then Sam started a-talkin' a'gain, so I forgot 'bout that ol' Mountian Lion, a'gain, an just listened. An' Sam was a-sayin'; Yes, Ben you were passed dead out, when we found you. And you have been out cold since yesterday evening, as well as throughout the whole night. So Jenna, and I were getting very worried that you might not ever wake up at all. And since the nearest doctor is nearly a two days ride over to Del Rio, we were getting a little anxious for you.

Then I replied; Sam, you an' Jenna have been so very kind, to me. But I am worried 'bout my horse Sparkle...” But then, af-ore I could finish my thought, Grandpa Ben said; Sam cut me off short an' he said; Your horse has been fed and watered. And she is being well cared for, by Lemm, our all around do it everything Ranch hand. Lemm has already 'tended to her sore hoof, and he even put a new shoe on her as well.

Madam, and Sir, said I, your kindness and your generosity are very much appreciated, beyond any words I could e'er say! And now with my mind more easy 'bout Sparkle's well-bein', I can go on now an' get all cleaned up, without a-worryin' 'bout her so much.

Then, Grandpa Ben continued his narrative, with; Well then, Kids, after I got pre'sentable, I come back into the dinin' room. An' then we ate us a de-licious breakfast of hotcakes, an' with salt bacon, an' all o' the pipin' hot coffee we could drink! Boy was it ever good too! Then I be'gan to re-count th' story of me an' Sparkle's ill fated misadventures, out on that rugged trail, right up to the part just a'fore I got knocked plum out, on account o' that big ol' mountain cat.

Then, Sam an' I traded shortened versions of our life's stories. Jenna, asked me some questions, 'bout Anne, yer Gandmother, who you Kiddo's call Grandma Tyler. And then Jenna added some im-portant details to Sam's story, like how they both come to be Christians at a tent revival meetin' in Del Rio, where they had met, a'fore they moved out further north, an' started the Triple C Ranch.

An' they also talked 'bout their ministry, a-helpin' the circuit ridin' preacher, who they always put up at their place when he passed through, an' how they used their barn for his preachin' meetin's, an' such. Then I told them that I wuz also a Christian, since I wuz 16 years old. An' I told them 'bout how a-fore I met Jesus, I wuz a wayward, hard headed rebel, a runnin' from the Lord, a'fore I accepted Christ. I told them Anne was a Christian too, an' how I had come to know Christ, after I near got kill't in a bad cattle stampede up near Childress. An' I told them o' how the good Lord had brought Anne an' me together, an' how blessed we wuz with our two children, an' with one on the way now, by 'bout March, or sometime in mid March is Doc Henderson's best guess, anyhow.

Grandpa Ben continued; So after a-learnin' these thangs 'bout one another, our bond seemed near instant, like we had always been friends all a'long! I also learnt that Sam and Jenna had two daughters, an' two sons, all four of which wuz all growed up now, an' all happily married, with families of their own.

Then thar was talk of Christmas. My heart sank a'gain, an' I guess I must-a hung my head, as I thought of Anne and the kids, an' the prospects of them bein' all 'lone come Christmas Eve. An' worse yet, they would likely be all a'lone on Christmas day as well! In my mind, I could see them all three a-waitin' an' a-worryin' an' a-wonderin', 'bout what might of 'come o' me n' Sparkle. An' I wuz a-sittin' there all the while, a-lookin' at Jenna and Sam's pretty Christmas tree. An' I wuz ad-mirin' all o' those pretty Christmas decorations over by the fireplace, which warn't helpin' matters none neither!

Sam must-a noticed my sad e'xpression though, 'cause it wuz prob'ly purtey hard t' miss. So then he asked me outright; Ben, Is something troubling you? To be honest, said I, I wuz a-wonderin' if you might rent me one of your horse wagons, an' a team o' horses, so I could try to load Sparkle up in it, an' maybe make it home by at least by a day or two after Christmas?

I had a goodly 'mount of gold, hid in a little pouch, unbeknownst to them, or so I had thought at the time. I kept it sewed up in my jacket linin' whilst we wuz out on the trail, on account o' outlaws, n' thievin' bandit's and such.

An' that gold wuz near my whole pay for the last two months, less what I had sent to Anne and the kids, 'long th' way. So I told Ben I could pay them in ad-vance, an' with a good faith de-posit, too, fer the rentin' of their wagon, an' a pair of horses to pull it with.

Then Lemm said, Sam, we figured that lump in your jacket was gold. We felt it as we were carrying you to our wagon last night.

Then Sadie exclaimed, “Grandpa, it was sure a good thing those folks were honest people! Yes it is, sweet girl, said Grandpa Ben. 'Cause, as I wuz a-sayin' I had a goodly 'mount of gold, hid in my little pouch! It 'uz near my whole pay fer two months! Grandpa Ben continued; An' those good folks had knowed 'bout that gold all a'long!

Chapter 7 - The Good Samaritan, Cowboy Style

Yes, Kiddos, Grandpa Ben said again; Those good folk had knowed all 'bout that gold I thought was well hid in my jacket, all a'long! An' when I found out that they had knowed 'bout it all 'along, it made me know that they wuz as honest as th' day is long, and that they wuz good Christian folks, just like they seemed t' be. But Kiddo's, thar's lots o' folks out yonder, in this ol' fallen world, whut is a-claimin' ta be good Christian folk, but who will do yo wrong, or e'en steal you blind in a heartbeat! But these good folks warn't just talkin' 'bout bein Christians! They wuz a-livin' out their faith, just like the Bible teaches us all how Christians ought to be a-livin'!

But I wuz a-fixin' t' find out that I didn't know th' half of it! B'cause just then, Sam started a-sayin' some thangs that 'bout blessed my boots plum off o' me! He started a-talkin' and what he said, blessed my soul, be'yond any words I could e'er speak! 'Grandpa Ben continued; 'Caause then after I made my offer to rent a wagon and a team o' horses from th' Triple C Ranch, t' help me get Sparkle back home, Sam said; You can keep your money, Ben. The Lord has been real good to us, here at the Triple C Ranch. We have had a run of several good years now.

But I'll do you one better!

Then Garandpa Ben continued, saying Kids; Then Sam continued a-talkin' with a sort-a em-barrassed grin, as he told me; Jenna and I already talked it over this morning after breakfast, when we both made an excuse to go out to the smokehouse. We met Lemm out there too, and we all talked about your situation. And and we all three agree that we believe you are a trustworthy Christian Brother. So, we all three decided that we will loan you our best and our fastest trail horse, Tornado. And we don't want any of your money for it.

Even the Grandchildren understood the depth of this offer, and the trust in Grandpa Ben that offer it implied. So when Grandpa Ben finished telling that part, they all three were Oohing, and Ahing, with a look of wonder on their faces.

Then Grandpa Ben continued on saying' Kiddo's then I started t' make a protest. But Sam knowed whut wuz a-comin' so he broke in a'fore I could get a single word out. An he said, No arguments, Ben! To us here at the Triple C, Christmas is a lot about giving, and helping those in need. And Jenna, Lemm and I believe the Lord has laid it on our hearts to do this for you and for Anne, and for your family - and for Sparkle. And Ben! Sam said with a big ol' grin on his face, since we all three believe the Lord is leading is to do this, we figure you being a good Christian man, and all, you wouldn't want to get in the way of the Lord's work, now, would you, Ben?

Well, Kids, Grandpa Ben continued, I knew it warn't no use ta argue with Sam, So, I plum gave up. An' then I said. Well, Ben, you' done got me over a barrel there, now, an' you know it! Then we both had a good laugh! And then Sam said, Just consider this an early Christmas gift!

Then, Grandpa Ben continued, saying, Kiddos, but then, it just kept on a-gettin' better, n' better! Sam just kept on a talkin', an' whut he said next made me ask myself, can this really be a- happinin' ta me? 'Cause e'en with a good horse, thar warn't no way I could-a made th' ride t' El Paso in a just a two days ride, by Christmas Eve, without a-killin' the poor critter.

But then Ben said; The trail to Alpine is just north of here. My brother Jim has a livery stable just past Marfa, on the outskirts of Van Horn. It should be right on your way. I will tell you how to find my brother's place. And I will also send a note by you for my brother Jim. He has plenty of good mounts at his livery stable's there. And at my word you can turn Tornado over to Jim, and he will he trade you in another good, fresh mount, for Tornado. That way you can ride fairly hard the whole way home, almost like the old time, legendary, Pony Express! Except hopefully, you won't being chased any Indians! Then we all had another good laugh!

But, but, but, but Sam! I began to stammer. Sam cut me off a-gain, though, a-fore I could say a'nuther word! He said, Just listen to me, Ben, and then you can talk. After you are gone, Lemm will take the best care of Sparkle, and he will get her all healed up. Then, after Christmas, as soon as she is well enough to walk the trail , and after our Kids and all of the grand kids are gone back to their own home's, about mid day on New Year's Eve we will bring Sparkle back to you and Anne, at your place east of El Paso, .

We will a three come and with sparkle in tow, behind our wagon. And you can tell your wife Anne not to worry about a thing, because we intend to bring that wagon loaded down with all of the food and all of the fixin's, enough to feed a whole army! And then we will throw you and your El Paso friends a New Year's party the likes of which has never been seen, West of the Pecos! It will be a grand New Years celebration, and a feast fit for a King! Lemm will bring his guitar along, and we can all sing Hymns, and Christmas songs around a nice bonfire, until the New Year is rung in. And then we can celebrate, until past midnight, until we all fall out with exhaustion! Then, the next day, after we have recovered from all of the New Year's festivities, we can talk some business.

Because tending our growing heard of cattle and our horses, and keeping the fences mended, and such, is getting to be way too big a task for just us three folks here on the Triple C alone to handle. We have hired in some temporary help at times. But now, we need someone full time that we can rely on. Because for one thing, it would be nice for Jenna and I to be able to get away form the Ranch once in awhile, to visit our friends and family over in Del Rio, and such. And we would never dream of leaving the Ranch to just anyone, while we are gone.

So we, have been looking for a good ranch hand for quite awhile now, who can eventually become our Ranch foreman at the Triple C. And I think you, and Anne, with your little growing family, are just the kind of folks we have been looking for.

Then Sam continued, with some uncertainty; Well, that is, Ben, we can talk about it, only if you and Anne would be interested in such a proposition.

Then Grandpa Ben then went on to say; Kids, I was totally dumbstruck! An' as I said once't b'fore, a'ter a-hearin'; all of them a-mazin' thangs, you could-a knocked me plum over with a goose feather!

Then the kids began querying Grandpa Ben in a cacophony of questions, one asking; Did it all happen just like Sam said it would, Grandpa? Another asking; What happened next Grandpa? And many more questions followed, so that there were so many questions flying all around at once, Grandpa Ben couldn't hear even half of what was being said!

So, Grandpa Ben, holding his right arm out to his three grandchildren, palm up, stiff arm style, like a traffic cop stopping cars at a busy intersection, said; Whoa there, young'un's! Let's simmer down now, an' hold those last three taters! We're almost ta th' end of the story now! Butt has been many years since I recounted this story. An' I ain't ne'er told this it quite like this out loud, to a crowd, of sorts, anyhow. So I gotta have some quiet fer at least a minute, er two, ta try t' recollect, just 'ex-zactly, whut all happened next.

Then, the Grandkids obediently went very quiet. But still, their eyes were all focused totally on Grandpa Ben's face, in great anticipation, waiting for him to continue his amazing narrative.

Stay tuned for Chapter 8! The very last Chapter - "Romans 8:28", Wild, West Texas Style!"

Chapter 8 – "Romans 8:28, Wild, West Texas Style!” (Last Chapter)

Well Kids, Grandpa Ben continued, as Sam wuz a-tellin' all of those good things, I was a-sittin' there, spellbound an' speechless, as Sam kept on a talkin'! Then he Just kept on a-talkin', sayin', Ben,You never asked any charity of Jenna and I. And even in your bad condition, you thought of Sparkle's well being, first, before thinking about any of your own needs. Also, I can see you are a God fearing, honest family man, and that your wife Anne, and your children mean everything to you. You are exactly the kind of man and wife team we have been looking for, to help us grow here at the Triple C.

Well, Kiddos, Grandpa Ben said, I had done made up my mind to talk to Anne, 'er I mean, to talk it over with your Grandma Tyler, when I got home, t' see what she thought. But I wuz purttey sure she would be e'en more as ex-cited 'bout the whole I-dee than I already wuz. But Sam didn't know that, so I let just him talk on. An' he continued on a-tryin' to sell me on the idea, a-sayin'; Ben, you have many years ranching experience. And many of those years were spent as a cattle drover, out on the long hard trail. So you know cattle, and I'll bet you could even teach Lemm and me a few things about those ornery critters, here at the Triple C Ranch! The pay is very generous, and there are many other benefits that go along with the job. One of those benefits is that we intend to build a brand new house right here on the ranch for our new ranch foreman and his family. And you and Anne even get to pick out your very own favorite spot here on the ranch for the house!

Then Sam said, Now let's get started getting you out on the long trail, and home in time for Christmas Eve. Then when you get home you can talk all of these things over with Anne. And y'all can pray about it, and make sure the Triple C Ranch is where the Lord would have you all to reside and to work, both in the near future, and hopefully for many years to follow thereafter.

Well kids, Grandpa Ben continued, you could have knocked me plum over with a goose feather! I already knowed this was the Lord's doin's right after Ben started a-talkin', an' a-tellin' me what wuz on his heart. I stood thar in total disbelief at the words I wuz a-hearin! The allure an' the ad-venture of those long, wild cattle drives had already b'gun to fade away. “Cause thangs in life wuz a-changin, fer Anne and Me. Our lil' family wuz a growin', so that Anne an' I had already been a-prayin' fer quite some time 'bout us findin' a better sitchee-a-tion, so I could be closer to home, an' nearer to Anne an' the kids. An' the prospects of no more long hard months away from home, an' then of e'en us a-havin' a home of our very own, a-doin' what I love to do the best, whilst a-workin' 'mongst those fine Christian folks there on the Triple C Ranch, well, it all seemed to me like a dream come true! An' it was sure 'nuff an answer ta' our prayers!

Then Sam broke me out of my day dreamin' a'gain, by a-sayin, and with a big wide grin, while motioning towards the barn; So what are we waiting for, Ben? Stop dragging your feet, and let's get Tornado all saddled up so you can get on out onto the long trail, so we can get you home to Anne and those precious children, before Christmas Eve!

Then as we begun a-walkin' towards the barn, Sam took up our former conversation, where we had left off with it, at breakfast time that mornin' 'bout the part when Sam an' Lemm found me out on the lone prairie, all knocked senseless, an with faithful Sparkle, still a-standin' right there, faithful, an' steady close by.

Funny thing though, Ben, Sam said, When we first found you just laying on the ground out there on the trail, Lemm and I thought maybe you were passed out drunk. But then after we got a better look, it was plain to see that wasn't the case at all. But before we saw that big ol' knot on the back of your head, we thought maybe at first you were a drunk trapper, or perhaps a drunk varmint hunter, or perhaps a fur trader, or a miner, who was down on his luck.

So I asked, Sam; But Sam, why'd you an' Lemm have thought such a crazy thang as that? Didn't that big ol' dead mountain lion, a'layin' right there by th' side of me an' Sparkle, sort of at least partly ex'paline how I come to be in such sad state?

Mountain lion? Sam retorted, whilst a-lookin' at me, real surprised like, an' real wide eyed. There was no mountain lion anywhere around there, dead or alive, Ben! And Ben, Sam went on to say, if you really stop and think about it, you know good and well, if Sparkle had gotten even the slightest whiff of a mountain lion, without you there, wide awake, to hold her hard and to calm her down, she would have bolted, and lit out to no telling where, lame or not!

Then Kiddo's Grandpa Ben said, Sam, really surprised me when he said. Ben there weren't even any mountain lion tracks anywhere around you and Sparkle. Nor where there any mountain lion sign's either. Nor was there any signs Sparkle had ever moved from the spot right where you fell, and aparently banged your head on a rock!

Kids, Grandpa Bern went on; This wuz all news to me! So I thought real hard fer a minute or two. Then Sam said to me, I have another question that I have been meaning to ask you and it has been puzzling me and Lemm both, ever since we found you and Sparkle all alone out there on the prairie. Then I said; Ask on, Sam. Then he then asked me; How come you put a .45 slug right between the eyes of a big ol' possum? And then why did you put two more slugs into the trunk of that old half dead pinion pine tree, that was right behind that big ol' possum?

Grandpa Ben then continued on saying; well, Kids, with those two brand new rev-e-lations, I wuz in a complete state o' be-fuddlement, and con-fusion! So, I thought on that matter fer a short spell. An' then I answered; Well, Sam, ta' be perfect honest, I can't rightly answer neither one of them two question's, seein' how a'parently nothin' out there was a-happinin', like whut I thought it wuz happinin', at the time. So I can't shed no light on that sitchee-a-tion, 't-all, or 'least not right now. An maybe not ever!

Then Sam and I kept a-walkin' on over t'ward's the barn, in sort of an awkward silence, neither one of us knowing quite what to say next. Then I said; Sam, I just now got to thinkin' though, could me a-seein thangs that warnt there, an' a- shootin' them three bullets at nothin, really, could that have been the good Lord's way of a-helpin' you an' Lemm ta' find me an' Sparkle, and maybe keep somthin' e'en worse from a-happinin' to us, a-way out there on that treacherous, cold trail?

Then I kept on talkin', a-sayin', Sam, just a'fore y'all found me n' Sparkle, there wuz some mighty strange thangs a'goin' on out thar on that trail. At the time, I thought I had seen an' heard some mighty a'mazin' thangs. An' at th' time I thought I wuz a-seein' 'em as clear as real life! An' Sam, Grandpa Ben continued, when y'all come out ta' El Paso in a little over a week, maybe I'll tell you and Jenna an Lemm all 'bout it.

Then I said; Sam, could it also be that those strange things happened t' me an' Sparkle, t' bring our two families t'gether? Could it be that this is all a-workin' out like the Bible talks about in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, where it says how, all thangs work's t'gether for th' good fer them that love's the Lord?.

Then Grandpa Ben said, I continued on, a sayin; An' with me an' Sparkle a-bein' out thar, all a'lone, an' cold an' hungry, an' afoot, with Sparkle lame, an' with our water a-runnin low, an' with me havin' been knocked out plum cold, could our misfortune's have been the good Lord's way of providin' Anne, the kids an' me, with a new an' a brighter future, whilst also providin' you, Jenna n' Sim, with like minded Christian folks, who can help y'all out here on the Triple C Ranch?

Then Sam answered me a-sayin', I believe that with all of my heart, Ben! Because Jenna and I, and Lemm have been praying for a long time now, for some good people to come along and help us build up our Triple C Ranch. And all of us who have truly trusted Christ, know that the Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways!

Kids; said Grandpa Ben; Then, as we reached the barn, Sam stopped to open up the barn doors. I went on ahead o' Sam into the barn, an' I walked on ahead o' him t'wards the horse stalls, to start gettin' Tornado ready to saddle up.

Then, when Ben thought I was well out o' listinin' range, I heard him a-chucklin' ta' himself, as he muttered sorta' under his breath; “A mountain lion indeed, my friend! A mountain lion indeed!”

The End!