"I told that guy the mare would buck when he asked if she was broke," the tobacco-stained feller muttered, "I said she was gentle after a fashion, never said she was true." He reared back and spit.
The paramedics were loading a crumpled cowboy into the ambulance, and some cowboys were trying to catch a wild-eyed mare still bucking. She was bucking and grunting with every jump and had already snapped off both reins, and the saddle was gonna need some repair. I was watching the show and being thankful it was not me or mine on that silly mare for a trial ride.
Horse traders are one of a kind. They are usually gnarly and walk with a sideways floating gait due to the wrecks they have encountered. Most of them started out breaking horses at a line camp when they were young and invincible. They broke horses and the horses broke them into old men with aches and scars. They know the horses they peddle and they make some money, but they are apt to be waiting for that cash from a poor cowboy that bought the best horse in the string and promised to pay the next morning.
Traders are getting scarce as hen's teeth around the country. I haven't seen one in several years until this morning, and he has a New Mexico tag on his truck. I suspect he decided to come this way to visit family one more time before he dies. Yes, they are liable to think that way. No frills have fluttered around in their lives and they aren't gonna sugar coat anything in their last years.
I knew one old trader that had been married as a young man, but his wife got tired of being hungry and broke. She took care of him when he came into the cafe where she was working, always paid his bill and asked how he was doing, but she was moving on up and didn't ever go back. I suppose some of the men had wives and kids, but I didn't know of it; and I would not have asked my Pappy as that would have been being nosy, and he didn't approve.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, there are hard ways to make it almost any direction you look, and raising cattle can be tough. I have seen sad stories unfold there, too. I do believe some of us are cut out to be loners and some even enjoy scrapping for a buck. There are fellers that thrive on fixing up cars, some run salvage yards, others drive long-haul trucks even through California and New York City! Do you think your breakfast bacon grows in the meat counter of your local grocery store? Somewhere and somehow a feller raises hogs and he likes his job.
I do hope the old trader makes it where he is headed, and I hope the poor busted-up cowboy gets over the spill. I also thank the good Lord for Snip and my close relative.
Bill is the pen name used by a local writer and longtime resident of the Gravette area. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 06/25/2014