I knew better, but knowing better and doing better are two different things! I was in the right place at the exact right time to witness the herd of heifers top the rise and disappear over the horizon. I had parked the pickup and walked along the pasture digging up thistles and paying little or no attention to how far I had trailed off. Old Dog was helping and it was so warm and pretty, no wind, and I was oblivious to any troubles of any kind. I turned and looked. I was at the north end of the pasture and the pickup was at the south end!
I hurried as fast as I could, remember when we used to run? I knew the old silly heifers were on the highway and would be in Nebraska before I could catch up and head them back. The sun was now not warm, just plain hot and making me sweat. My temper was about the same temperature and my blood pressure gaining height!
My cell phone was just where I left it, on the dash. I called for help and, as I sped toward the gate, I saw the spray of tools leave the bed of the truck where I had carelessly placed them. That would require some time to gather up about four hundred dollars worth of stuff I should have been diligently putting away as I used them. So far this was becoming a bigger than average mess.
I hit the road and almost turned over in the ditch because I forgot about the mud. Got straightened out and headed for the highway. I was hoping the offspring had taken trucks and not the four-wheelers to head off the stampede. The young and spry bovine are fast, feel good and were loose so they were turning it on and I could now see some activity ahead. Blue lights and more blue lights didn't make me really comfortable.
I slowed down to a hundred or so, rolled down the window and expected sirens to be wailing but they weren't. I could hear bawling and saw some signs on the pavement. The heifers were coming toward me so I was pretty sure the offspring had turned them and we were gonna make the breakout without too much damage. I then heard a roar from behind me and looked. Sure enough, I recognized the family coming in for a landing.
The blue lights were pushing the herd, had things under control and it was then I realized I did not recognize the emblems on the vehicles. These were plainly not our local deputies and I did not know them from Adam's off ox.
Some of us led the way and some pushed, and the drive was successful. We penned the outlaws and counted them, all there and then took a good long breath. The officers were standing beside their cruisers, that is what they call them on TV, sorta smiling, and I was ready for a huge fine or time on the big rock or at least cuffs.
We shook hands, introduced ourselves and the officers explained they were headed home from a convention and decided to travel the two-lane roads because they were both from family farms and missed the country. They were happy to get the chance to head cattle, drive them somewhere and be of service. I figured this was brought on by a higher power and was so thankful!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, breakouts happen and we are all gonna experience some. Your breakout could be being out of coffee in the morning, ripped pants on the way to a job interview, flat tire on the interstate, or even cattle on the highway. Life is supposed to be teaching us how to handle situations such as that. My close relative tripped and fell, smashed a birthday cake under her at a party for a visiting missionary in front of the people from three states. She lived and we all do after we clean up some!
Glory be, no fine, no dead cattle and I was back looking for tools within the hour!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 05/22/2019