Endure, and Persevere
I remember this show from my childhood. While I never saw more than a minute or two when it originally aired, I was familiar with its premise and stars. When the "Decades" channel in the US aired some episodes in early 2018, I tuned in out of curiosity and was hooked, and had to write my own stories for the fascinating clan.
RIP to the cast, in appreciation of the pleasure their work has given me.
Note: To the best of my knowledge and belief, this story is fair use of copyrighted material, as there is no commercial use and no loss of potential market or value of the original material will occur
He knew he had a great deal to learn. He was dismayed to discover just how much, and how much it would hurt. Being an almost idle gentleman in Boston did not adequately prepare one for ranch work.
Scott was reminded though, that he had lived through much more trying, exhausting and painful experiences. Surviving as a soldier and recovering from a year in a prison camp were proof of that. Learning to be a rancher was simply a matter of perseverance. If he could live through the other, he would live through this. A son's competiveness with a father also drove him. If Murdoch Lancer, not long off a boat from Inverness could learn this, so too would Scott Lancer.
In the meantime, he was sore as hell. He admired the ease with which the hands, his father, and brother could rope cattle and horses. He would master it too. He began with hay bales and the fence posts, twirling the lariat over his hand before launching it at his target. He kept at it, until he could consistently encircle the target. Meanwhile, his arm and shoulder, unaccustomed to the motion, threatened to fall off or burn up.
He lay on his stomach, worn out and aching. His attempt at rest was interrupted by the jangling of spurs as his brother entered the room.
"Hey, brother, good work today." The tone was mocking, and Johnny capped it off with a jab at Scott's shoulder.
Scott flinched. The jab felt like a knife had been stuck in him. He'd have risen and taken a swing at Johnny, but was too tired to move.
"Go away, Johnny."
"Yeah, them hay bales and fence posts didn't stand a chance against you. All the rocks and boulders too, they're shaking because they're next!" He laughed.
Scott felt the mattress sag as Johnny sat next to him. This was promising to be a long, painful session. Scott would have to suffer through it.
He sensed something else too. The mocking tone and words continued, but they belied the hands on his shoulder. After the initial painful jab, Johnny was carefully kneading the muscles on Scott's shoulder and arm.
"Yeah, Scott, just think, once you rope something that ain't movin', you get to practice on an actual steer!" Johnny chuckled. "You won't have an arm left!" He stopped kneading, resting his hand on his brother for a moment, before giving a final pat and swipe across Scott's hair. The mattress shifted again, as Johnny rose.
"Yeah, you'll be back at again tomorrow. Think that fine schoolin' will help?" He chuckled again, to leave his brother in peace.
Scott would definitely be back at it tomorrow, and for as long as it took to become a capable rancher. He would endure, and persevere, until he succeeded.