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July 29, 2003 - "Just an Old Cowboy"
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are... Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in my pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return." ~Mary Jean Iron
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When I first read this story, I absolutely fell in love with it -- and with Billy! thank you Pam, for another truly memorable story!
"Just An Old Cowboy"
by Pamela R. Blaine
Folks said that Billy was a bachelor, a loner, just an old cowboy who kept pretty much to himself. He was a thin, wiry man with a ruddy complexion and wrinkled brow. I suppose he was an old cowboy but he was ageless to me.
I don't recall the first time I ever met Billy, he was just always around from the time I can remember and was part of my childhood like the old red barn and the giant maple trees in the yard where I grew up. Billy never called me by my given name. To him I was "Little Lady" and the nickname made me feel kind of special.
Billy sounded a little like Walter Brennon when he laughed and you could easily pick out that laugh in a crowd, although you rarely saw Billy in a crowd. He was pretty much a loner and he seemed to like it that way. Yet, I always wondered if there might be more to Billy than met the eye.
Most of the time Billy could be found out on his little place on the edge of town. He lived alone in a little shack not much bigger than a tool shed but his horses had a barn many times the size of his house and he took better care of them than he did himself. He was an "ornery old cuss" as my Granddad described him but I could tell by the way he said it that he liked Billy.
I once asked Mama if Billy had any family and she said she thought most of his family had died and she didn't think he had anyone.
One thing Billy did have was horses and he also had a few cattle. He made most of his living from trading horses and selling scrap iron. He also used his team of workhorses to do odd jobs for people around the area. His workhorses, Nellie & Daisy pulled wagons, mowers, disks, and harrows. Billy never had a car and his only means of transportation were his horses, so if Billy needed to go further than he wanted to drive his team of horses, he would walk or hitchhike. It wasn't uncommon to see someone hitchhiking once in awhile because it was relatively safe in those days and people saw it as giving folks a helping hand.
Billy would let me ride his horses and I guess I rode just about everything from ponies to work horses but he usually traded them so fast that I didn't get a chance to get too attached. Sometimes the horses came with a name but if they didn't, I'd get to pick out a name.
Rebel, was one particular horse that I remember because I named him and because Billy let me take him to the Ft. Madison Rodeo up in Iowa. I belonged to the Pioneer Rangers Saddle Club and we all went to the rodeo the year that I turned fourteen. The parade route was five miles long and at one point, Rebel didn't think he wanted to cross railroad tracks but finally gave in and trotted across them quickly as if he thought they might burn his hooves. Rebel had been bred for racing and he loved to run and so did I. He was really a little too big for me as I had a hard time reaching a stirrup to mount up and Billy would teasingly ask me if I wanted him to get me a stepladder.
I only remember being in Billy's house one time. I stepped just inside the door because he said, "Come on in" as he was hunting change to give me for the milk I had brought him. There was a drawer that had been left open next to the door where I stood. I looked down and there laid a snapshot of a very attractive girl with her hair blowing softly in the breeze.
I didn't recognize the girl in the picture so I said, "Billy, who is that pretty girl?" Billy turned to look at what I was talking about and that was when I saw something I had never seen in Billy's face before. I can't really explain it but as he fixed his eyes on that picture his face softened and he became quiet for what seemed like a long time. He carefully picked up the picture as if he were afraid it might crumble in his hands. He continued looking at the picture and then suddenly remembered that I was there. Without looking up, he simply said, "That is Lenore, we were engaged, she's gone now." It was then that I understood more about Billy than I ever had before. Billy did have somebody once and he loved her so much that a part of him was still with her. I guess Billy was "just an old cowboy" but I'll never forget the way he looked at his Lenore.
The sweet Lenore hath "gone before,"
with Hope, that flew beside,
Leaving thee wild for the dear child
that should have been thy bride -
(from Edgar Allen Poe's "Lenore")
Pamela Blaine copyright 2003
Pamyblaine@aol.com
My husband and I live in Missouri. We have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. I enjoy writing, music, and country living. I write "Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and contribute to several e-zines. Several of my stories have been on 2theheart. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten. We have recently made a new CD entitled "I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is here: http://members.aol.com/pamyblaine/PamyPlace.html
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The Letter Box:
2theheart,
I was so touched as I read The Key. Thank you for this story. Grandparents in our lives can be such strong stabilizing forces. My memory of grandma has been linked with Chicken Noodle soup. Whether it is a key, soup, or a toy, our grandparents are there for us to lean on, to get extra hugs and as important listening ears when parents are way too busy.
I know that Mike will miss his grandmother and I am sorry that she has gone ahead of him, but I know that where she is now, she is in great company. Ellie Braun-Haley
Michelle Starkey,
Liked your story in today's 2theHeart. Do you have any stories you would like to share about everday courage with our readers at Emerging Courageous Online Magazine.... what about your experience when you had the brain aneurism and the difficulties you dealt with...many people have undergone medical problems and having someone give them hope...and how they kept a positive attitude is so important...Marilyn www.emergingcourageous.com
2theheart,
What a touching story "Seymour Shuffles" was. I am endeared to elderly people and particularly love 2theheart stories about this. This man is very special and I want to thank Michele for sharing her story. Wonderful job! Tina
Susan... I have to tell you, I look forward to the daily quotes as much as the stories on 2theheart! ach one has a special message to learn from and often is exactly what I needed that day! I don't know where you find so many great ones, but you must spend a bit of time finding them, so I want to thank you for this little gift of inspiration each day. I truly am blessed by your work! Abbi L. ... VT
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