the high loper under the lights

people always ask me how my boys got to rope so good. well a lot of it is talent.  but most of it was hard work.  a lot of practice, and dad being able to mount them well and keep enough practice cattle. 
  I had leased a ranch south of Arizona  city down next to the papago reservation. there was no headquarters so I rented a place that was a fabulous facility. horse barn with liven quarters all kinds of corral space, a little feedlot and a arena with lights. as time went on I found out that this place had been the sherrifs possee home base.  we moved in and were soon at home. the kids were in high school and home in time to practice every nite.  I tried to be there when I could. but long days at the ranch  some times kept me out of the pen. I cautioned the kids to not turn on those lights as they were old style and with the cost of electricity we couldn't afford to run them. it seemed every time I turned around those kids had their friends there were ropin like mad men.  our daughter had a room in the main house but the boys had made them selves at home in the liven quarters in the barn.   while in town one day I ran into a old possee member who roped at that arena years past . we visited a while and he asked me if I ever turned the lights on in the arena. I told him no I didn't think I could afford it. he broke up laughin and told me to turn them on all I wanted as the meter had no guts in it!! when I got home I checked it out and sure enough when the lights were on that meter never moved one click!! at supper that night I was tellen everyone about it and we all had a laugh. but that was a big mistake!!  I begin to notice after practice sessions the high loper was last to leave the arena. his horses were lookin like greyhounds and the practice cattle were wearin out faster than normal.  for some reason a while later I woke up one night , a light was shinnin in through the bedroom window. when I got up to shut the curtin the arena lights were on!! damn I thought those kids forgot to shut them off. then I looked again,  the high loper was there by himself, three horses tied to the fence, cattle loaded and a rope run to the front of the chute to open the gate!  I looked at the clock and it was 2 a.m.!!  I had to go out and chew on him to go to bed as he had school the next day and those horses needed a break.  at the time I was a little miffed but down the road it payed off.  the kid sure is a header!