Hello Readers! I caught an episode of Wild West COWboys of Moo Mesa on YouTube the other day and it brought me back to my childhood so I decided to write a little something. Enjoy and as always, remember to read and review!!!! I do not own anything and I am not making a profit off of this story.

Chapter One: Saturday Night

How pleasant is Saturday night.
~Nancy Sproat

The horizon was painted with one of the west's famous sunsets and all was quiet out on the mesa except for a lone we ole cowboy who was riding a dapple gray stallion that had also seen better days. The duo was perched on top of a ridge above Cowlamity Kate Cudster's ranch. The tan hided bull coughed, causing his body to shake violently and for sweat to form upon his brow. He didn't have much time left, he need to fulfill his promise.

~*~

The Cudster Ranch House was well maintained with fresh paint being added to the exterior earlier that day by the two occupants on the front porch swing. None of the lamps had been lit yet and the moonlight shown down romantically on the two love cows who hadn't really noticed the crickets chirping or the stars shining down from the heavens on them. Cowlamity Kate Cudster was curled up in Dakota Dude's lap; her head nestled deep into his strong chest. They had both had a busy day of painting the homestead, but even thought they were worn out, neither one wanted to call it a night and part ways.

They had been talking for most of the early evening and they had covered every topic, except for one, the topic of marriage and Cowlamity was about to bring that topic up over.

"You know," Cowlamity began, "with Moo and Lily now married, it would seem we would be the next in line. I mean, Cowlarado and Sally Sue are getting rather . . . shall we say serious as a June thunderstorm?"

"Miss Kate," Dakota sighed. He loved the heifer in his arms more than stink on a skunk. He felt deep within his horns that he was getting ready to settle down with her and something was about to change both of their lives forever, but what he didn't know. Little did the deputy know, his life and the life of Miss Kate was about to change forever and Dakota wouldn't finish his sentence.

A deep cough caught both of them to look up towards the barn. The cough continued and just by the sound of it, Cowlamity felt her chest ache just thinking about the pain it was causing the individual. She quickly sat up and walked towards the stairs that let to the front yard, but Dakota was quick and he sidestepped in front of her, protecting his true love from who ever was out there.

"Who is there?" shouted the deputy. "Come out of the shadows, nice and easy now so we can get a good look at you and keep your weapons where I can see them."

The cough started up again and this time it got closer to the couple and within seconds, the horse and his rider were under the moonlight. The old bull looked up at the two and with a wispy voice, "Katie, my . . . little … girl." With those words, the bull passed out from the cough attack and collapsed onto the ground with a dull thud.

Cowlamity's eyes were wide as saucers and she pushed passed Dakota. "Pappy!" she bellowed as she came in contact with her father and knelt down beside him, cradling his head in her lap.

Dakota made his way to the older bull and looked down in disbelief. He had seen pictures of this particular bull in Cowlamity's house. The bull that was cradled within his girlfriend's arms was none other than General George Armstrong Cudster and the image before him was that of a sick, ailing bull was a far cry from the image on the walls of the ranch house.