ole dave

i was workin for dave down at alamo lake. he had about a thousand steers turned out  on the desert there. alamo lake was fenced off up to what was called three rivers at browns crossing.  the big sandy, and the santa maria come together to form the bill williams river that flowes a whole 3 miles into the lake. browns crossing was where the rivers came together there. all that was left was giant ole dead cotton wood trees. daves steers wernt supposed to be around the lake or in the 3 rivers area.
      one night the park ranger came to the ranch to tell us that some fisherman had left the gate open and a bunch of steers had gotten into 3 rivers.  there was a gal camping there watching  some bald eagles that were nesting in the dead cottonwoods. she was afraid that one of the eagles would fall out of the nest and the steers would step on it. dave assured her that the eagles wouldnt hurt the steers but she failed to see the humor. dave told them we would be there the next mornin at day lite to get the steers.  what no one knew was dave had opened that gate. the waters were drying up up on the desert and those steers needed to drink at the lake and river. of course the enviro s and fishermen couldnt stand that, cow crap in the water and pee on the trails!!!
   next  mornin 5 of us unloaded our horses on the bluff overlookin browns crossing,and sure enough those steers wer bedded around the old cottonwoods. now the river here is notorius for quicksand.  not like you see in the movies but it will bog a horse or cow , some times really deep.  when we all cinched up dave said in a whisper that sounded as loud as a bull horn, you all wait here ill find us a crossing. he rode down to the river bank , rode up and down a 3 times for effect the turned and said we can cross here, be quiet!! with that he rode ole punkin into the river and bogged him to the saddle skirts!!!!@#$@#$ dave yelled as old punkin rolled over on him mashing down into the sand and water!!! when dave yelled those steers left there like the hounds of hell were in pursuit!! bob went by dave on one side me on the other at a dead run. dave was cussin and diggin sand and mud out from under his glasses and hat , leading a water logged punkin back to dry land. those steers tore the river bottom up leavin there. there was no way to turn them so bob and i went back up the bluff. as we got there the ranger was sayin   see annie ole dave put those steers right where he wanted them!! bob looked at me and said a dunkin in the river was a cheap price for watterin those steers!!!