Chapter 9: Meeting the C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa/Visiting Lucky Horseshoe Ranch
Previously in Chapter 8, Brandon Wishford travels to Cow Town, where it was first assumed by Harmony that she thought Baron Buzzard was there. Turns out there was a transfer after Baron was ambushed by Crowley. Now, Brandon had to warn them of a possible attack he had envisioned in his dreams. He was outside of the front door of the Marshal's office, knocking it twice.
"Hello? This is Brandon from Dog Town…" Brandon waits for an answer from the door.
Then… The door opened, revealing Marshall Moo, rubbing his eyes constantly as if he had something in them. The star of the original show was here at last. "Dog Town you say? Is everything alright?"
"Whoa, uh… Hi there." Brandon almost forgot what he was going to say, never having met Montana before. "Um... you're not gonna believe this. You know about what happened to the guy named Boot Hill the other day? Or, you know, Baron?"
"Yes, but me and my boys have been patrolling all day looking for this nasty varmint named Crowley, yet haven't found a trace of him. So we're gonna have to keep searching." Montana then talks about Baron upon Brandon mentioning the name. "Why is he still holding on?" Montana asked the collie.
"Yeah, he has, sir… Just in pain, but he's resting. As for Crowley, Crowley... Hmm, I still don't know what he looks like. I had a friend of mine mention that name too."
"Wait, you know someone who has seen him before?"
"Yes, sir. Her name's Harmony." He would start to wonder if he should have the conversation inside or outside. Brandon felt somewhat worried that anything could happen while they talked. "Can we talk a little inside?"
"Good point partner. Wouldn't want unwanted ears listening out here. Come on in." He gladly invites Brandon inside of the office.
Brandon goes inside, thanking him for the invite. "Thank you, sir."
"No problem." Marshall Moo looked around him to make sure nobody was nearby after letting Brandon in, and closed the door behind him. Inside Dakota and Cowlorado were at the desk, examining the few WANTED posters and a list of previous villains they had faced before, some already crossed out.
"Hoo-wee! We got ourselves a handful last time. Only got a few more varmints to track down, and we'll call it a day!" said Cowlorado who exclaimed proudly. The youngest member of the C.O.W. Boys couldn't wait to relax for now.
"Eeyup." said Dakota. For the two, they haven't noticed Brandon come inside yet when Montana lets him in.
"So what was it you wanted to tell us?"
"Aside from Baron being in the hospital, I've been talking for a bit with a person named Harmony Hawktail about this whole issue with Crowley hunting for her friend. Y'all ever heard of her?"
Cowlorado and Dakota looked at Brandon who just got inside. "Who may you be, kid?"
"My name's Brandon. Brandon Wishford."
"Alright, seems Moo Montana brought you inside for somethin' special, huh? Well, the name's Cowlorado Kid! This here's Dakota Dude! He doesn't say much, so best that you say hi."
"Howdy." Dakota simply tips his hat to Brandon, greeting the young collie.
Montana had pondered about Harmony's name… "Harmony, huh? We're not familiar with that name. But wait...we did hear rumors several days ago about a riding hawk girl in the papers. I reckon you must know more about her, is that right?"
"Yeah." Brandon had cleared his throat for a moment. "I think someone framed her for that title. I met her in person, and... she's not what the rumors really say, but she is a "riding Hawk girl" alright. Harmony rode the sheriff's horse rodeo style to help break him in." He smiled, remembering the little rodeo challenge that Harmony and the other horse had together. "If you guys showed up for a rodeo, you could probably see her in action!"
"Huh, you might be true about that, kid. So, umm... what's she like?" Cowlorado asked Brandon.
"A very nice gal. Strong, independent, and a great rider like I am. Although… she was branded a fugitive by those rumors, so I'm doing everything I can to help her out." Brandon had responded about his friend.
"Aw yes, if you already met her, perhaps we can help find a way to clear up this misunderstanding on her part." Montana answered back.
"We should. Now…" Brandon was getting to the part about Crowley's whereabouts. "Have you been able to find that Crowley person?"
"No, I'm afraid not. We haven't been able to find him...yet. But what troubles me more is Crowley said he would be back by the next full moon with the Dark Rider, whoever that is. That's what we've been trying to find out."
"Dark... Rider?" The name was unfamiliar to him, but he tried to think of whoever it was to find out. He tried to think about the cloaked wolf who rode atop a bison, but that might not be it. "How much time do we have?"
Moo looks down at the calendar he keeps pinned to the wall. "Not sure yet, but according to this calendar, the next full moon is in three weeks. Three weeks before we see the Dark Rider and all the Hounds of Hell."
Brandon was still uncertain about this whole Dark Rider thing, but a part of him would motivate the cowboy into convincing the Marshal if he wanted to come along. "Should I come along with you guys? I wanna help out. I've never been on many adventures as such, so… I'd figured y'all could use a farmboy sheriff for this occasion here.
"If you decide to come along, you're gonna have to stick close by and not wander off on your own. This Crowley varmint is more dangerous than we thought and do you think you'll be confronting him by yourself? We can't allow that. But now that you're here, you can tell us what we need to know."
"Yeah, I do need some partners to stick around with." He smiled a little, as if Brandon would at least find a temporary place to belong in. "Thank you very much, Marshal. I'll tell you everything you guys need to hear." He reached his hand out to shake Montana's hand in an agreement.
Montana gives his hand for Brandon to shake. "In the meantime, we'll find a way to clear Harmony's name and prepare ourselves if Crowley shows up sooner than expected."
"Right you are." Brandon would grin, knowing that this would be the start of a new journey. "Now… Do we have enough time? I need to tell y'all what I'm really here for."
"We have time." Montana said without any objection.
"... In a dream, err- a nightmare, I saw a pack of wolves in these strange cloaks trying to attack either Cow Town or Dog Town. I don't know who they are or where they came from, but... I know for a fact that they might've been the ones who killed my parents in a fire."
Reading the telegram from Ellie Redstone, Moo looked up at Brandon. "It looks like someone you know sent me a telegram to tell of your visit to my office, to talk about the dreams. It's from the Dog Town Hospital."
"Oh, thank Goodness." He would sigh for a bit, but was still concerned about the nightmare that he experienced back then. "So, not only do we have Crowley to deal with, but those wolf varmints as well."
"Dark Rider, Hounds of Hell, maybe what you're telling us might be more than just a bad dream." Moo seemed concerned about this. There were so many things that the four cowboys had to deal with now…
"Maybe it's all coming together, but... not in a good way." Brandon shuddered just a tiny bit, but he told himself to get it together. Trying to find out if there was anything else to do, he asked. "Well, before we get started, is there… Anything I can do in town to pass the time?"
"Well you can stop at the Tumbleweed for a sarsaparilla and introduce yourself to Miss Lily. And if you see Miss Sheep around, feel free to talk with her, but she might still be edgy from her first encounter with Crowley, so I try to take it easy if she might not want to talk much."
"Yeah, kiddo. Everybody's gotta have their personal bubbles. But if ya do find yourself somebody to talk with, give 'er my hello!" Cowlorado exclaimed.
"Heh, I might do that." Brandon would go for the door, and would look at his new partners. "I wonder, are there any horses that are hard to break in? I might help, since I'm a rodeo kind of cowboy and all…"
Moo responded while he was keeping his eyes on the calendar and list of bad guys. "You can go and ask Cowlamity Kate about that. Her home is the Lucky HorseShoe Ranch."
"Heh, thanks, Marshall! Say…" Brandon had asked in order to know where it was. "Where is it, exactly?"
"Not too far from here. If you got a map of Cow Town, it's only a few blocks to the left of the Golden Cud Mine."
Brandon nodded. "Okay, sir. I'll go ask around town where to buy a map. Ain't sure if it's for free or not." He then leaves the office, going outside on the main street of Cow Town.
Meanwhile…
From the farthest reaches of the Mesa, a lone rider on a buffalo looked over the horizon. He wore a black cowboy hat and a dark blue trench coat. One of his eyes was clawed out, with a few scars on his face and some were visible on his chest. This anthropomorphic gray wolf was named Clawe, the scoundrel who killed Brandon's parents, as well as many other canine families the day he began his life of crime. Apparently, he had been watching Brandon arrive to Cow Town, but it would be stupid enough to go follow him there since the C.O.W. boys of Moo Mesa would most likely interfere to defend their town and Brandon. So…
"Damn mutt." Clawe sweared mildly, holding the reins of his buffalo tight. "Just you wait, ponyboy. I'd like to have a word with ya…" He rode off on his buffalo named Hell Raiser, riding him back to his hideout. The location of that hideout would not be revealed yet as of now…
—-
Brandon unhitched his horse from the post, mounting up on his back. "Let's go find Cowlamity Kate first, and then have a chat with this Lily person. Giddyup!" He spurred his horse into a trot as Brandon would be on the lookout for any of the citizens he hadn't met yet. Once he bought a map from the general store, he pulled it up to find where the Golden Cud Mine was at, as well as the Lucky HorseShoe Ranch. Bingo, the cowboy found it on the map, and the pathway to it. Now with a map in his hands, there would be no way that Brandon would get lost or forget about what was in town. Brandon spurred Ryder into a gallop out of the town, making sure nobody was in the way at that time. It would be a fast ride to the ranch, with the cowboy slowing his horse down to a stop once they arrived through the front entrance gates.
Brandon would tug the reins once for Ryder to trot at the entrance of the ranch, possibly seeing Cowlamity outside the entrance. "Howdy there! My name's Brandon from Dog Town, and you must be...?"
Having been busy all day nailing something to the fence of the entrance, Cowlamity spotted an unknown face she didn't know, but welcomed here. "Well howdy there partner, I'm Cowlamity Kate Cudster. What brings yah all the way here?"
"Oh, nothing much." Brandon dismounted Ryder, taking his reins to guide him." I'm just wondering if you got any horses I can ride for rodeo purposes. Or, if you got any of 'em that NEEDS help breaking in."
"I reckon you must be a rodeo star back in your town am I right?" The owner of the ranch wanted to know for sure if Brandon was really that good with his riding skills.
"Yeah! Well... I'm just a novice rider, but I've ridden a few wild ones back there." Brandon would look at the horse barn, still a little eager for some riding. "Can you tell me which ones that need to be broken in for riding, Miss Cowlamity?"
"Hmm, well I gotta warn you, that there filly, Sun Fire is the one I haven't yet been able to get under control. I was gonna try again today, but from the incident that happened in Cow Town not too long ago, I haven't had the time as I was desperate to keep my farm safe from trespassers." She pointed to the gate where Sun Fire was eating oats from a bucket.
"That's her?" Brandon would lead Ryder to go into the barn, as he would also walk along to see Sun Fire up close and personal. And by the time the American Paint Horse breed was finished with her oats, she began to walk around the corral at a fast pace and didn't stop until she saw Brandon, rearing upward while neighing.
"That's her alright. I told yah she's a wild one." Cowlamity replied.
"Oh, heh heh, Howdy, there!" Brandon nervously spoke a little, tipping his hat to greet Sun Fire. After this, he turned to Kate. "Does she have a saddle and tack prepared?"
While Brandon was amazed by the mare, Ryder also looked at Sun Fire, somewhat amazed by her looks and fierceness, although it wouldn't be until Brandon rode that bucking mare soon.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Can't have you riding that filly without a saddle. I left in the barn. Be right back." Cowlamity said while she went to grab the horse's saddle and tack.
"Okay then, see you soon, Miss!" He smiled back at her, and then turned to see Sun Fire in the corral. Although, he kept his distance just to be safe. "My name's Brandon. Nice to meet you, girl." Brandon would keep himself outside the corral until Cowlamity came back with the saddle and tack that he needed.
As Miss Kate goes into the barn to get the saddle and everything prepared, Sun Fire came a little closer to the corral out of curiosity, and then snorted as she reared around, chasing her tail. Brandon on the other hand, would watch Sun Fire run around and do whatever she wanted, placing his arms on the fence then. Brandon took some time to see how magnificent Sun Fire had looked, from the mane, the coat, the tail, the eyes. He couldn't stop looking at her, knowing full well that this would be the horse he'll take for a good ol' rodeo ride soon.
"Found 'em partner." Cowlamity had just returned from the barn faster than anyone expected with the saddle. "Once it's on, she's ready for you."
Although Sun Fire was untamed, Cowlamity was the only one she seemed to let come near her enough to wear the saddle. "Snort"
"Aw, thanks a lot, miss!" He would then look to see if there was a single wooden bucking chute to herd Sun Fire in. "So... when you're about to ride a wild horse, do you corral it in a chute or anything without falling off?"
"Right in that chute over there." She pointed over to where the chute was. "Of course, had to surround it with hay so it would be a soft landing in case anyone falls off."
"Huh, alright then, Kate. Need my help, or do I just walk over there to get ready?" Brandon simply asked.
"Looks like you'll need my help getting her in there, otherwise she won't let anyone else ride her if I'm not around." Kate informed Brandon wisely, reminding him that Sun Fire only trusts one person around her… for now.
"Okay." Brandon would go over the fence, and into the corral where Sun Fire was at. He would carefully approach the paint horse, trying his best to herd her in the bucking chute. "C'mon now, this way girl…" He had signaled Kate to open the chute for Sun Fire to enter, that is IF he managed to herd the horse inside…
Kate opened the chute for him and closed it when Brandon somehow got her in. "Wow, you sure got it in you."
"Shucks, it's nothing…" He grinned a bit, making his way over, exiting the corral to climb on the chute's wooden fence." I have a way with horses after all. My Momma taught me how to take care of them properly, so... you're also looking at a good horse whisperer."
"I hope to meet more horse whisperers soon enough. Are yah ready for some tamin'?"
"Darn tootin'!" He would then slowly mount up on Sun Fire's saddle, trying to position himself properly while seated. "Easy now girl…" Brandon would try to pet her mane to soothe that wild mare, unsure what would happen next.
"Then lets see what yah got." Kate opened the door and let Sun Fire through it as she started bucking, rearing upward wildly, kicking and galloping from the left to right.
"Yeeeehaw!" Brandon would hold onto the reins with only one firmly gripped hand, raising his free hand up to enjoy himself as he swung his legs up and down on the stirrups. "Giddyup, girl!"
Kate watched as Brandon was hanging onto that wild mare, impressed by his skills and the fact that he did not fall at the first second like the other failed riders. "Keep steady cowboy!" Yet Sun Fire keeps running around wild as if she were running from danger, kicking and bucking like crazy as she took Brandon for a wild ride.
"That all you got, huh!?" He laughed his head off a bit, tapping Sun Fire's sides with his boots, still waving that hand around. "This is how you enjoy a rodeo!" Brandon's wide grin would be directed to Cowlamity until he focused his sights on the bucking mare.
"Now that's a rodeo cowboy there!"* Kate smiled back and kept watching*.
The wild mare kept on going with the wild buck and kicking in the air, still having not gotten off her.
Only a few seconds away! GIDDYUP! (Brandon yelled while he would continue to rodeo ride the mare all the way, cheering during the bucking ride.) Woooooohoohooooo!
Despite her best attempts, Sun Fire could not get Brandon off, no matter how much she kicked and reared, and showed signs of giving in.
"You're doing it cowboy, I think she's startin' to tire out!" Kate had exclaimed.
"Attagirl!" He would stop raising his free hand, now gripping the reins with both hands to tug them back for Sun Fire to come to a stop. "Whoaaaa!"
Walking right on over, Cowlamity started to clap for Brandon. "With those skills, it looks like Dog Town has it's horse tamer just as Cow Town does."
Sun Fire was breathing and catching her breath from a great workout.
"I'm glad we both have something in common, Kate!" He turned to Sun Fire, seeing that the mare was exhausted a bit from the rodeo ride. "Good girl! You had me colored impressed, so you can relax for a while." He hugged Sun Fire's neck if she had allowed it, smiling with his eyes closed. "Next time we meet again, let's have ourselves a rematch, girl."
"Now that the mare is tamed, I'm sure she'll let you touch her as she did for me." Cowlamity said to Brandon.
"I'm glad to hear that." Brandon would stop hugging the mare, now sitting up straight in the saddle. "Okay then, I'm gonna relax a bit too. You can take me for a walk if you like, Sun Fire. Just one more ride." He had his hands gripped on the reins, making sure to hang on tight.
"While you're doing that, I'll be back to fixing the fence so you'll know where I'm at. I reckon you'll have Sun Fire under control then?"
"Yep, I got it all under control!" He grinned at the cowgirl, now facing Sun Fire directly with a kind face. "Let's go for a walk girl. C'mon, hup!" He taps Sun Fire's sides to get her to walk.
"Neigh!" Sun Fire starts trotting beside the Looey Pasture that surrounded parts of the Lucky Horse Shoe Ranch.
"Take care now! I'll be here when y'all get back!" Cowlamity shouted.
"Okay then, Miss! We'll be alright!"
"Whoa-ho, this is pretty fun." Brandon held onto the reins, sitting comfortably deep in the saddle as he rode Sun Fire out further.
Cowlamity waved to Brandon riding around with Sun Fire. "Just watch out for coyotes!" She spent the rest of the day nailing the fence and fixing the windows.
Sun Fire continues to trot across the pasture, having no mistrust in Brandon.
He would then ride Sun Fire out near the prairie, just enjoying himself on the back of the formerly wild bucking horse. "Hear that girl? We don't wanna run into any coyotes, so guess Kate told us to ride around near the ranch."
"Snorts" the mare snorts in reply and lets Brandon guide her away from any paths that go too far from the ranch where it looked dangerous.
"Heh heh, good girl." He would guide Sun Fire wherever he liked around the ranch, relaxed with the peaceful ride that they shared together. "Hmm, before I head off back to town tonight, you wanna take me for one more bucking ride, Sun Fire? Well, when we go back to the corral."
Sun Fire snorts in reply as her way of saying Yes.
A confident smile appeared on the collie's face, knowing that she still had some bucking spirit left in here. "That's what I wanna hear. Maybe I'll let Kate ride out your bucks before I go first." He looked at the early afternoon sun, and even further to see the beauty of the western plains. Brandon would decide to ride Sun Fire out a little longer.
The wild mare let Brandon ride her around the pasture for more sight seeing across the prairie to take pleasure in its beauty and hoped it would stay that way for as long as possible.
"Hm, wanna go for a lap around the ranch, girl?" He was eager for a little adventurous ride, ready to see how fast Sun Fire could run.
The mare reared her head in response to his question, Brandon taking it as a YES.
"Okay, let's ride!" He would kick Sun Fire's sides, or whip the reins up to take her on for a gallop. "Hyah, girl!"
Responding to this, Sun Fire started to gallop around the pasture, letting Brandon guide her, earning his trust in a matter of seconds.
"Yeehaw!" Brandon yelled with glee, waving around his cowboy hat a little as he later set it on back his head, but he rose his hand, waving it around to train for the rodeo game that they would have soon. "Giddyup!"
She gallops around the pasture and on the road where wagons usually travel by the Lucky Horse Shoe Ranch. She was starting to enjoy this moment with Brandon, even if she only knew him for no more than an hour.
He gripped the reins tight, bouncing up on the saddle during the galloping ride knowing this horse was a bit faster than the last two being Ryder and Windstorm. "You're really good, but can you go a little faster?"
The horse gave a look of encouragement and did what he wanted her to do, pumping over ponds and rocks to show she was as fast as any horse, even galloping across where the Joan River ran its currents.
"YEEHAW!" He cheers again, riding Sun Fire throughout the plains yet staying close to the ranch. Brandon would have until the late afternoon until he felt like it was time to resort back to a walk. "Okay, slow it down, girl."
From where she was working and fixing things, Cowlamity heard the cries of Brandon not too far away, and saw how well he was riding Sun Fire all around without any problems, once more impressed by his gift as a horse whisperer. "Ride 'em cowboy! Give it all yah got!"
"Heh, thanks, ma'am!" He would have to tug Sun Fire's reins to slow the mare down a little.
Having enough excitement, the mare slowed down to a stop on the same road leading to the entrance of the Lucky Horse Shoe Ranch, awaiting Brandon's next response.
"We'll wait for Cowlamity to finish up her work. Once she's done, how about you take her for a rodeo ride in the corral first?" He would pat Sun Fire's side, remembering to soothe the mount at any chance that he got.
"I'm almost done with this here window, so if you're ready to call it a day, I'm sure Sun Fire would like to rest up."
"Alright then, Sun Fire and I are gonna keep riding around for a bit." He would tap the mare's sides to go around the corral for a walk.
"Take your time now." She goes back to nailing the window and watches Sun Fire trot off some more.
Brandon would steer Sun Fire around however he wanted, either in a straight line, a circle, or rode her around for her trotting laps.
The mare had the time of her life, a big relief from not being in the corral all day.
He would bring her to a halt as they stood on the prairies, looking out at the further wild mesas in front of them. "I'd love to go for another joy ride through there, but we just gotta stay close for now."
Just as she was about to check on the other window, Cowlamity noticed an unusual large black feather sticking out from the boards of the house. "Now that's mighty odd. I don't recall seein' that there, unless..." A shocking thought came to her. "I gotta get this to the Marshall."
"He would then guide Sun Fire back to the ranch, somehow a little eagerly excited for the little rodeo rematch they'd have soon. But as soon as Brandon got back, he spotted Kate with the black feather. "Hey, what d'ya got there, Miss Kate?"
"Would you please take this back to the Marshall as soon as possible?" Cowlamity showed him the large black feather. "I'd take it to him myself, but I gotta get workin' on protectin' this here farm, and the herd. Got a bad feeling he's out there still."
"Oh, alright then." He would dismount Sun Fire, looking at her with kind eyes. "Guess we gotta delay our rodeo rematch another time, girl." He would press his forehead onto hers softly. "I'll try to be back soon."
"Snort" the mare has a look of concern on her face when she catches an unusual scent coming from the black feather, and starts backing away a bit as if a coyote approached her.
"Easy now, it's just a feather." Brandon would take the feather, looking at it close, and then at Kate. "Wait... if this was here, then was it really...?"
"I was afraid o' that. It was Lily that told what happened that night, and now Cow Town is on edge, with our town doctor in a cast." Cowlamity says as she examines the feather closely. What was it…?
"Yep, but I promise you, miss... Crowley's gonna go down." Brandon whistled to his main horse, Ryder, to gallop on over. Ryder galloped over to Brandon's side, letting him mount up.
"I'll try to come back here after we've captured that varmint! I promise you!" He faced forward to the path to Cow Town. "Hyah!"
The heavy draft horse reared up, taking off at a rude gallop back to cow-town while the cowboy glared a friendly smile back at the rancher.
"Be careful that you don't lost that feather!" Cowlamity started to pat the neck of Sun Fire, leading her back to the corral and taking extra precautions to make sure the herd would be safe.
End of Chapter 9.
Coming Soon, Chapter 10: The Mysterious Black Feather
Author's Notes: HOLY COW. Okay, so… It has been a long, long while since I've posted a chapter. I've been dealing with a lot of college over the months, so I'll try to find a good time to post chapters regularly soon. Stay tuned for the next one.
