"Lou, can I talk to you?" I asked.
"Well, can it wait?" she asked. I thought, and shook my head. She sighed and pardoned herself from the customers, who nodded at her. Lou walked over, wiping her hands on a towel. "What's this all about? Storming in here like that? You got a smile on your face, which is more then you've had in a long time."
"Look, the boys are going to herd up some cattle down by rattle snake. I was wondering if I could to with. I'd be gone all day." I said. Lou starred at me surprised, and for a second, I thought she'd say no.
"Why of coarse dear!" she said, "You've been so helpful these past weeks, without asking a single thing. And when ya do, I can't see myself to say no. Go for it. Just don't disappear like ya did last night, ya hear?" I smiled and gave her a hug.
"Thank you!" I said, and raced out of the hotel leaving Lou baffled. I ran down the street, and into the stable. I found my horse… all ready saddled. I looked around.
"keith said, you might come by." Sam said. I tuned around to see a tall black guy stide toward me with a giddy smile. "Said to saddle it up, just in case you came. Did ya have fun last night?" I smiled.
"yes. Thank you, Sam, you're a big help." I said. Sam's smile got bigger.
"Just bring along a few Eli's next time?" he asked. I laughed and nodded as I mounted up. Same opened the gate for me and I flew out, waving goodbye to same. It took me about five mintues at full gallop to catch up to the boys. They were heading towards the River Torch Creek. Keith spotted me galloping toward them and stopped the small posse. I pulled my horse to a stop next to them. Keith leaned on his saddle starring at me.
"Need something?" he asked. I smiled, and threw his coat his way.
"You forgot your coat." I said, "And I'm boarded." Keith looked at me, then at the boys.
"Wadda ya say guys? Think we could use another hand?" Keith asked. The boys nodded, with a few woops and cheers. We started on our way in no time.
The cattle run was easier then I thought it was, and for some reason I knew what I was doing. We were about four miles out east of the town, and slowly moving the heard west. The boys were trying to keep the cattle from separating, while I was at the back, keeping them moving. I was laughing almost the whole time. The boys spent almost a whole hour trying to heard a bull back with the rest, while trying to stay clear of the horns. Even the horses got jibberish, and wouldn't move correctly. I wondered if my horse would do it, and could stand up with the bull. Finally the bull was back in, defeated, and the boys continued rounding them together and keeping them that way. We stopped for a little while at the creek, to let the heard drink. We watched from the hills, as they drank. They seemed calmer now… more easier to handle compared to now. They paced back and forth, and we had to keep chasing them back. Something about this place spooked them.
"Alright, boys… Elisha… watch out for bolting bulls. This place is never good at keeping cattle calm. They'll bolt like…" just then seven bolted up the hill. Keith rolled his eyes and took off followed by three other boys. As they passed, four more took off in the other direction. The last two boys took off after them, leaving me watching the rest of the heard. When they were gone, and out of sight, still chasing the cattle down, the bull, and two others took off.
I looked around, wondering if I had to do it. And I did. No one else was around. It couldn't be THAT hard could it? I took off after them, and stopped them before they finished a quarter of a mile. The bull's nostrils flared and it snorted. It was going to charge, spook the horse and take off. But my horse stood firmly underneath me. I looked the bull straight in the eyes, and glared, daring it to try. The bull hesitated, and the other two behind him groaned. I gently nodded the horse forward. Four steps… five steps… and the bull didn't move.
Six steps… seven… finally the bull stepped back. Its ears twitched, and it turned around. I got them into a trot, all three of them, and we were back to the heard in no time. The boys still weren't back, and the cattle was still restless. I rode down the hill to the cattle, and circled them, bunching them up. Then, I pulled the horse to a slow walk, and began to whistle one of the tunes Aunt May taught me. It was slow, easy, and comforting. I went around the cattle, in circles, whistling the soft tune. Around and around I went, playing the tune over and over again. The cattle began to shift less, blow steam less often. Some began to hang their heads, and the flickering of there ears went down to following me around, listening to my tune.
A few tails flipped in a calm easy gesture. Even the bull looked like he was falling asleep. I continued to whistle me tune, but stayed in one spot now. Even the air felt easier to breathe. There was a bored snort from the bull, and then the boys came over the ridge, the cattle in front of them. They joined th heard, and I thought I would have go around and calm them down again, but they stayed settled and easy. The ones that joined them soon were rocking their heads gently. My whistling got softer and softer, until the only sound was the light wind, and the trickling creak. I went back up the hill and joined the boys.
"Don't EVER leave me alone like that again. The bull took off with two others! I didn't know what to do!" I snapped. Keith looked at me, then the cattle, then at me again, baffled.
"Looks like you got everthing under control here." Jacob said. "I saw you take the bull back. You probably could of just had him FOLLOW you here he was so obidiant. What did you do? All I saw was that you stopped him."
"We thought he was going to charge, and you guys just stood there for like a death defying minute!" Matt said. I rolled my eyes and shrugged.
"Just let him know who I was." I said, 'and I'm not someone to be pushed around."
"How'd you calm the cattle like that?" Keith asked, his voice clipped. I looked at him.
"Just an old trick my dad taught me." I said, my own voice firm. Keith let it drop.
"Well, one' things for certain… you got a way with the cattle. Mind getting us moving miss Cattle woman?" Fred said. I rolled my eyes, and headed back down. I got to the back of the heard, while the boys took the sides. I started at a low whistle… the suddenly went high pitch. The cattle woke up, jerking there heads. I pushed my horse forward, forcing the cattle to move. With the help of the whistles and yelling and my sudden talent, we had the cattle in town and in pens in no time. My work with the cattle soon spread through town, and when I got back to the hotel, Lou greeted me with Cattle Woman. I rolled my eyes and headed up stairs. I kicked off my shoes and got ready for bed. I fell asleep with the thought of just one more week, and then I was going to try to get home.