THE RIDE

it was a dry dusty road that the cowpuncher from date creek drove on. the little bobtail truck raised a dust plume as it hurtled toward town. in the box in back of the cab was a big steer that the cowpuncher had led in the day before along with two yearling steers and a barren heifer. this week would be the last auction of the year before Christmas. this four animals would make a great finish to the year for the man who sat hunched over the steering wheel with his foot pushing the gas pedal. his clothes were clean but well worn. his hat had the dust brushed off it but still showed the sweat stains and hard use. a grin of anticipation was set on his fresh shaven face. his hair was curled up at his collar and his boots were dusty and brush scared. he was well used but he planned on a couple of days in town, a trip to the barber, getting all his laundry done and maybe a nite at the local watering hole. he knew his sister wouldn't approve but it was a great way to let the wolf out of captivity. twin rooster tails of dust rose behind the truck as it rocked down the road.on the left side of the road the pea vine railroad followed the same route as the road. up ahead it crossed the road and continued along toward hill side junction. as the bob tail came around a curve the crossing came into sight. on the side of the road was two small wooden crosses. the driver slowed his truck and stopped beside them. getting out of the truck he walked over to the crosses. removing his hat he stood there a few moment with his head bowed. this was a ritual he went thru every time he passed. while away in the army his dad and mother had died here, hit by a freight train in the middle of the night as they returned home from a trip to town.  his sister had told him that their dad had been fairly well drunk not paying attention to the road. he had returned for the services but still had a year of enlistment to finish. the ranch stood open to the world in that time. his sister who was attending college in flagstaff  would come by and check on the buildings and make sure that the vandals hadn't carried them away. but the cattle had gone wild in the rough , steep weaver mountains. when the cowboy returned home he found a dilapidated ranch with maverick cattle running the hills. that had been two years ago. and just now he was catching up with the ruination. in the next few months he hoped to start seeing some return on his hard work. getting back into the truck he started out slowly until he had crossed the tracks. as he crossed he shifted gears and pushed on the gas pedal  and sent the truck rolling toward town. there was a party somewhere ahead and he was primed for it. over due. time to catch up.