by Sandi
H
He sat lean and muscular, tall in the saddle
An aura of confidence shrouded him as he helped
round up the cattle
With his brother, his partner and best friend
They would drive the herd together ‘til the trails
end
It wasn’t always this way
The tanned blond cowboy used to ride alone
Picking up odd jobs here and there to earn his pay
Only to sleep in some bunkhouse
He had no place to call home
A quiet man was he, though fight he would
If some no count cuss laid claim
Because he had no name
He wasn’t any good
Many a time, he had suffered a beating
A Doctor’s care he would be needing
Once, twice, three times shot
For one so young, that’s quite a lot
Once a knife found him, laid him open wide
Some kind soul found him
Nursed him back to health, averting the other side
Like a tumble weed blowin’ in the wind
He mounts his trusty steed and rides again
Always chasing a dream he can’t lay hold of
Looking for that special family kind of love
Riding the range with the man he now calls brother
The once lonesome cowboy thinks of his new found
family
His sister, brothers and mother
He smiles a quirky crooked grin
It wasn’t always easy, ‘specially that very first
day way back then
He nearly threw it all away
If it hadn’t of been for Her, who’s wise words she
planted
In his heart with hopes that they would stay
“If you were my son,” she had said
The young cowboy tilted his head
His mind drifted as he remembered it all
His moment of reminiscing fled
As his brother Nick bellowed his call
“Time’s a wastin’ Boy. We’ve got work to do.”
“What’s your hurry brother?”
Heath Barkley sat straight in his saddle
“Nuthin’ wrong with stoppin’ and takin’ time to
smell the roses
Before another day closes
Tomorrow is soon enough to mend the fences and herd
the cattle.”
Rough tough ol’ Nick rode over, a fight he could
muster
Full of huff and puff and bluster
But as he pulled up near
His mouth split a smile. His eyes began to tear
He knew his youngest brother was right
Too soon it would be life’s dark night
He looked at his brother, his partner and best
friend
“Let’s do us some fishin’, he said. Let’s give this day of work an end
~