Dodge City: Here she comes!

Morning came slowly, Jessie felt like she hadn’t slept in a week.  Starving and sleep deprived, she rode on.  She was about 4 miles from Dodge City, when 4 cowboys rode up to her from the north.  Great, just great.  That’s all Jessie needed was 4 hot headed cowboys who think that they’re Romeos after her.  “Hi beautiful!  What’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here all by your lonesome?”  One of them said as that got closer.  Wooonnnnddderful Jessie thought.  She simply didn’t look at them, and tapped Jasper with her spurs and loped away from them.  “Hey!  Don’t leave, Chase is just messin with ya!”  one of the others said.  “I don’t care”  Jessie threw over her shoulder.  Not thinking they would keep following her was the wrong thing to think. because they did, they followed her very closely. They couldn’t be more than a half mile from Dodge City.  She could hear their laughs and hoof beats behind her.  They caught back up with her in short time, she had to think of a new way to get read of them since ignoring them wasn’t working.  “Alright boys, I have a challenge for all of you.   We’ll have a little horse race, if I win, ya’ll will promise to leave me alone, and if you win, I’ll tell you where I’m from and why I’m out here all by my lonesome.  The finish line is Dodge’s main street.” She told them and almost immediately Chase agreed but said “The race will just be between me and you”   “Alright then, if one of you fine gentlemen will break out a gun and fire off a round, we’ll get this little race on its way”  Jessie told them.  “Fine Gentleman my foot” Jessie thought as the one who said that Chase was just messing with her pulled out a gun and fired one round off toward the sky.  Jessie let Chase get about three horse lengths ahead before she let Jasper have his head and run.  As she passed Chase she hollered:“The reason your mama named you Chase is cuz you’re always chasin’ and never winnin’!”  If she had been given more time, she could’ve thought of something better but it worked.  Chase never passed her again as she flew into Dodge City.  All 4 of the cowboys were embarrassed and never even looked at her as they rode by.  Chuckling to herself, Jessie rode down Main Street of the great Dodge City.  It was huge compared to Great Bend, saloons and dance halls lined every street as did general stores, hotels, restaurants and all kinds of other stores.  Horses and buggies were tied to hitching posts and people filled the sidewalks.  Women and men of all shapes and sizes walked around, some looking like they had no clue where they were going.  Tell the truth, Jessie really didn’t know where she was going ether. She had never imagined it would be this big, everything about it was huge.  While riding slowly, Jessie saw things in the windows of the stores that had never interested her like dresses and big hats with colored feathers in the hat bands, and little porcelain dolls and toys that she had never had.  One store as called Killerman’s Jewelry and More, that had pretty necklaces and such in the windows. Next to Killerman’s was a smaller building with a wooden sign hanging over the door that said “Aguilar’s Guns and Weapons” hmmm, wonder if that’s some of ol Jose’s folks.  Maybe that’s where he took the guns that Jessie helped him steal.  Having a good shotgun wouldn’t hurt Jessie thought to herself as she rode by.  After she found her a place to stay tonight, she’d come back to Aquiler’s and buy her one.  A hotel named Big John’s caught her eye, it looked like a nice place to stay, but so did Torrid’s back in Great Bend.  Surely Dodge City wouldn’t be so hard on somebody when they carried a gun, after all from the looks off it everybody did carry a gun!  Up in front of her, Chase and his 3 buddies appeared out of nowhere, riding along talking to people they passed on the street.  But something up in front of them caught Jessie’s eye.  An old man with a fuzzy beard and a floppy hat, was riding a little black donkey.  They looked like they had been around the world and back together.  Behind him, rode a girl on a slim horse.  She couldn’t have been any older than Jessie, but from the hardness in her eye, she’d lived through a lot, just like Jessie.  Chase had saw her by then and had rode up to her and was trying to talk to her, but she just gave him a good-to-hell look and rode on.  Something about her reminded Jessie of herself, she smiled and thought Well maybe there’s a few girls like me around here. The old man rode by Jessie and soon the girl did too.  As she passed Jessie, she glanced her way.  For some reason Jessie smiled at her, and the girl smiled back.  Jessie couldn’t help but turn around and look over her shoulder to see where they went, surprisingly, the girl was turned around in her saddle watching her too…..

Jessie's not so wonderful stay in Great Bend

 Jasper’s long strides carried her into Great Bend in a matter of seconds.  The first building she came to was called “Torrid’s Hotel and Restaurant”.  A warm bed and a hot meal sounded like heaven.  And by the looks of things, there was a big barn out behind the hotel.   The rain had settled into a light but steady pace, and as bad as she hated to, Jessie tied Jasper up in front of the hotel and went in to see where she could put him.  Up the steps and into the big hotel Jessie went.  A young girl stood at the desk that set right inside of the door, and with a smile on her face, asked “How may I help you today miss?” “Miss? Thank God, I still look like a “Miss”” Jessie thought to herself but quickly remembered the question.  “I was wondering how much a room for me and a place in the barn for my horse would cost?” She asked the girl.  “A room is $1.00 a night, including a hot bath.  The dining room is still serving dinner, a meal is .75 cents.  As for how much a stall in the barn for your horse would be, I’ll have to go ask Charlie, he takes care of that stuff.  Oh and by the way, I’m Opal Torrid.  Me and my sister own this place.”  Jessie was impressed at the way the Opal rattled off the prices without even looking at a chart of any kind.   Jessie had $87 with her, and she still had to get supplies and a pack horse.  But she figured that she swing spending a little money on herself.  “I’ll only need a room for one night, I’m planning on leaving tomorrow if the weather clears.  And I’ll pay whatever it costs to get my horse in a dry barn with some feed for the night.”  Jessie told her.  “Alrighty then, I’ll need to know your name so I can put it down in our book, then we’ll get ya settled in.” Opal said pulling a thick black book out of her desk.  “Jessica Starr, but I usually just go by “Jessie”” she told her. Opal scribbled Jessie’s name down into the book then she got up and stuck her head through what looked to be a small kitchen and called the man named Charlie into the main room.  Charlie stuck a weather hand out to shake Jessie’s hand, giving a smile and asked her how many horses she had and how long she would need a place to keep them in the barn.  “Just one horse and just for tonight.” Jessie told him.  He nodded, turned to Opal and said “That’ll cost her $2.00, that’s including feed and hay.”  He asked Jessie where her horse was, and that he would take him into the barn and unsaddle him for her if she wanted him to.  “He’s is the big sorrel horse standing out front tied on the hitching post.”  Jessie said as she got the money out to pay Opal.  “That’ll be $3.00 even Jessie” Opal told her as Charlie headed out the door.  “And one more thing, my sister don’t like people carrying guns in here, so you probably oughta stick them in your bag” Opal said and nodded towards Jessie’s guns.  Jessie unbuckled her gun belt and put it in her bag.  Her other two guns were hid in the waist band of her pants under her shirt.  She’d wait till she was in her room to put them in the bag.  She saw Charlie leading Jasper around towards the barn through the window.  Normally she wouldn’t have trusted anybody with her horse, but Charlie seemed honest enough and if he did lay a mean hand on Jasper, all hell would break loose.   Opal led Jessie up the stairs to her room.  “I’ll have Mindy bring you some bath water in about 15 minutes, the covers on the bed were just washed yesterday and there’s a lock on the door.  If ya need anything else, come down to the front desk or if there’s not anyone there, check Ruby’s office behind the stairs.”  Jessie thanked Opal as she left the room, shutting the door behind her.  The room was filled with only a bed, a wash stand and a small chest that set at the end of the bed. A old bath tub set in the corner. Not bothering to put anything in the chest, Jessie laid her bag on the bed.  The oval mirror that hung over the wash stand looked freshly cleaned but was showing its age around the edges.  As was the girl that stood in front of the mirror.  Jessie couldn’t remember the last time she looked so bad.  Her gray eyes had black circles around them and her naturally wavy hair looked as if she had been fighting with a bear.  The bath that was coming would help the way she looked a lot.  Hopefully the old bush that used to be in the bottom of her bag was still in there, if it wasn’t, she might go to dinner looking like she did right now.  A girl that looked to be about 15 knocked on the door carrying two buckets of hot water.  “Mizz Opal said that you was gonna need a bath.  I brung ya some hot water” she said as she set the buckets down on the floor and stretched her back.  She didn’t look like she had been fed anything but bread and water for the last 4 years.  Compassion for the girl caused Jessie to hand her 2 silver dollars that she had in her pocket.  “Take these and go buy you a hot meal somewhere, I’ll pour the bath water myself”  she told Mandy, who looked half thankful and half ashamed for taking the money.  “Thank you Miss Starr, thank you so so very much” Mandy said and slipped out the door.  Jessie smiled, compassion didn’t come easy to her, especially if it was somebody who didn’t deserve it, but Mandy seemed to have a heart of gold.  Now, back to her bath.  Jessie poured both buckets of water into the tub and found a bar of soap laying on the wash stand.  Not bothering with staying in the water longer than she had too, Jessie quickly washed and got out.  She put on a clean pair of pants, a dark blue shirt and brushed her hair back into a braid. Not even thinking, she tucked two of pistols in her belt. Looking in the mirror at herself, she thought “Good enough” and went out of her room to dinner.  As she walked down the stairs, she spotted the dinner room/bar.  Through the door, she saw people eating quietly at tables, but somewhere in the back of the room, someone was shouting.  “Jake settle down, she’s the sheriff’s daughter for cryin out loud.”  A older cowboy said, still eating calmly.  “I don’t care who she is, she said she would…” Jake’s squalling was drowned out by Charlie’s loud voice.  “Whatever ya’ll are yammerin about, you need to take it somewhere besides in here.  We’ve got nice people eating here, not bothering a soul.  So leave.  Now.” Charlie told them.  The people who were eating started to leave, getting scared.  A woman’s raspy voice sounded off, “Now Charlie, Clim and Jake are paying costumers too.   They’ve dumped $62 dollars into my poker table tonight.  And Allie did promise Jake….”  “Belle you’re lying through your teeth, you know I don’t act like that” A girl said, standing with her hands on her hips, clearly mad.  Jessie stood in the door, until Charlie walked back towards the door and muttered something about how this whole hotel is a train wreck.  Only when Jake grabbed the girl’s arm did Jessie step into the wreck.  Allie squalled and cussed Jake with all her might.  Jake had his back turned to Jessie and never saw her pull a gun out.  “Mister, let her go”  Jessie told him calmly.  “Mind your own business missy.” Jake said.  Jessie pulled the hammer back on her gun, the sound of it caused everyone to eye her nervously.  “I said, let her go now.  Before I blow your brains out.” The feller named Clim pulled out a .45 and aimed it at Jessie.  “Like he said, mind your own business miss.”  Brown eyes as hard as stone looked down the barrel at her.  Allie’s screaming caused Clim’s eyes to leave Jessie for a split second, giving her enough time to pull out her other pistol and point it in Clim’s direction.  Belle pointed a small pocket pistol in Jessie’s direction.  Everybody stood, with guns cocked.  Clim got shifty eyed, and finally, instead of shooting, grabbed Jessie’s arm.  Jake started to drag Allie out the back door, but Jessie shook Clim loose long enough to shoot Jake in the shoulder.  His squalling, rang out through the room, and Charlie  ran into the train wreck.  Clim’s grubby hand grabbed Jessie’s arm from behind, but she spun  around and cocked her gun in his face.  “I will blow your head into.  Do not temp me, because I will.  And you best tell the gal to quit trying to sneak up  behind me, cuz I can hear her.  I’ve got 6 bullets in this gun, one of ya’ll might kill me, but I will put up a hell of a fight.” Jessie told him.  Before Clim or Belle could react, a woman’s high pitched voice came.  “ENOUGH!  Everyone, leave!  Now!”  She said.  “well there goes my nice room for the night.” Jessie thought.  “And Miss Starr, I expect you to be out of your room in 10 minutes, if you’re not, I will throw your belongings out into the street.” She said, and walked back out of the room.  Another town down,  save a girl from unwanted attention, and no bed for the night.  Jessie un-cocked her guns and walked out of the room, ignoring Belle’s laugh, Charlie’s apology, Jake’s squalling, and Allie’s half crying/half cussing.  Jessie marched up the stairs, into her room.  Stuffing everything into her bag, she put on her hat and jacket.  She buckled her gun belt back around her waist, and made sure that all four guns were fully loaded. And without another word, she walked out of the hotel.  Mandy surprised her, by standing in the barn, holding saddled Jasper’s reins, and a bedroll.  “Ruby will be mad, but I got you a bedroll out of the supply room.  She’ll get over it though.  I saddled your horse for ya too”  she said and handed Jessie the reins and the bedroll.  “Many thanks Mandy” was all Jessie could think to say, nobody had ever risked getting in trouble just to help her.  Mandy just smiled and nodded before walking out of the barn.  “Well ol Jasp, looks like we’re gonna be doin a little more riding tonight.”  Jessie told her horse as she tied the bedroll and her bag down behind the saddle.  Without even stepping in the stirrup, she grabbed the saddle horn and jumped up onto Jasper’s back, Indian style.    She rode by the general store, and thought “Oh Crap, the supplies”. She would have to find another little town, somewhere between here and Dodge City.  Either that, or find some unsuspecting person’s smoke house that was full of meat and she would “borrow” some from them.  It was about 75 miles to Dodge City, she could be there by tomorrow morning if she rode hard all night.  For some reason, Jessie felt that she NEEDED to be there as early as possible.  It was like there was something calling her there.  Only time would tell why she felt that way……

Leaving Home

"Bang, Bang!" the sound of gunshots were going off in all directions! This was the beginning of a new life for Annie Louise Belle, a 16 year old girl who lived on a ranch 7 miles Northeast of a small town called Appaloosa. She shot up out of bed and went straight for the window. As she peaked out her mother grabbed her and told her to go hide in the bedroom. She did. Once the noise stopped she tip-toed across the floor and looked out of the crack in the door. "Charlie Belle you no longer own this ranch. We've given you a week to come up with a way to make your pay and you ain't done it. I order you to pack up your belongings and leave within an hour or we'll kill you and your family." Charlie starred in fright at Sheriff Northcutt and his deputies. "Sir, I beg you give me one week, take my horses and cattle, take anything you want just please don't take the ranch. We ain't got any other place to live please sir." The sheriff glared as he reached for his pistol. Her father never harmed anyone nor ever thought about it and the last thing he wanted was for his family to be involved in this. The only gun he owned was an 8 Gauge. He turned to glance at his wife and the sheriff took this as a bad gesture so he shot her father. Her heart stopped. Seeing her father lying on the floor, blood everywhere. She screamed in fright. As her mother ran to Charlie, Deputy Logan grabbed her. Annie's vision went blur and the last thing she remembered was lying on her bed, blood streaming from her four head where she'd been hit, the sound of her mother's screaming voice while being beat, and the worst feeling she thought a person could ever feel...after that she didn't remember a thing. Flickering her eyes trying to awaken herself, she finally raised up. How did she get in the barn? Why was she thrown over in the corner of a stall? Where was her mother? Annie burst into tears. She was scared, she cried and cried until her eyes burned and her throat couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and a pain shot through her body, a soreness she couldn't describe. 'Why me?', thought Annie. While holding onto the stall door she walked herself out and that's when she saw Blaze. The only one of her horses that the sheriff did not take, mainly because he was so small and looked like he couldn't take on an ant if he tried his hardest. What they didn't know was that this was the toughest lil' horse out there, at least Annie thought so. She tied him up to a post and went into the house. The moment she walked in it hit her that what happened was real. She tried not to look at her father lying there, and when she went to her bedroom she found her mother beaten and covered in blood. Was it just her or were the people completely insane for hiring this guy as sheriff! The more she thought about it the madder she got, and she could feel the flames burning deep down in her heart. She needed to leave this place. Her father was a small man, therefore she figured his clothes would fit her so she went to her parents bedroom. Annie grabbed the first things that came into sight. She put on a pair of small, brown pants and a creamy tan shirt and tucked it in. The pants were a bit large for her long skinny figure so she picked up a pair of suspenders and tried them on. "Ahh, they'll have to do.", she muttered to herself. Her feet were small and so were his so she went to get his boots. She pulled them off of his feet slowly while starring at his face. Maybe he would wake up, but no such luck. The boots went way up to her knees as she pulled them on. Her eyes started to tear up but she just wiped them and reached for his brown felt hat. Annie grabbed the 8 gauge and her mother's necklace. She left that place she used to call her happy little home. Outside at the barn, she quickly saddled Blaze, jumped on and headed East at a dead run. Not once did she look back, because that would just slow her down and that was the last thing she wanted. Dodge City was about 56 miles East of Appaloosa. By the direction the sun was located, she guessed it was around 2:00, so to reach Tolido Flat (one of the roughest canyons outside of Appaloosa) by nightfall, she would have to ride hard. The hot sun was blazing down on her. Sweat poured off of her slim figure, but she kept riding. Her thoughts wandered..What would she do when she got there? She didn't know anyone in Dodge City, and what made her decided to travel there so fast? Something deep down inside told her that she should. It must have meant something.

Annie Made her way down the slick rock slabs, down deeper into Tolido Flat. She needed to find a great place to camp, so she picked the closest, sheltered place she could. Under a large, overhanging boulder there was a nice, flat place to set up. She unsaddled Blaze and hobbled him. As she lyed there on the cold, flat ground starring up at the stars, her eyes began to flicker. Soon enough they were out.

The next morning really got to her. She sat up and stretched as long as she could. All the muscles in her body ached, because she hadn't rode a horse for 3 years. "Good morning Blaze!" He was standing over by the saddle on the ground with his head down and eyes closed. "Oh come on now, don't look so bored hun." His ears perked up and Annie smiled. Even though her body was in pain, she reached for the saddle on the dusty, solid ground and threw it onto Blaze's back. After that she cinched him up tight. Foot in the stirrup, she swung her leg over. "Hey little missy, just what are you doin out here?" A deep, shaky voice came from behind the cactus plants. "Who are you, show yourself! If I have to come look for you I'll kill ya!" Annie replied in a tough, fearless voice. It was quiet until the sound of hooves came followed by the sight of a shriveled up old man, with a long, grey, shaggy beard wearing a floppy ol' hat riding a tiny black donkey. "Now don't you go to shootin' at me young lady, I don't mean no harm to ya's. Im justa passin through headed to Dodge City and ran into ya." Annie glared at him, hand on the gun ready to use it if she needed. "What's your name sir?" She asked. "The names Bill Guneter ma'am, if you don't mind I'd like to know yours." "Why should I tell you, how am I supposed to know you ain't out to get me or something?" Her voice was shaky now and she was beginning to be afraid. Bill started to come closer and she raised the gun. "Missy I aint gunna hurt you, now just listen. A girl young as you just shouldn't be out here in this kinda territory alone. Plenty a thing could happen to ya. I heard they located a few Apache out here this way and there's plenty a animal to get you and your horse." He made a point. Annie thought about it and finally told him. "My name's Annie Louise Belle, the sheriff came and took my pa's ranch yestereday and he shot and killed him. They took ma and beat her to death. I ran off as soon as I woke up thismornin and I figured Dodge City was the direction I should head. If you aint out to hurt no one then I might as well be safer ridin along with you." It was silent. Finally he spoke. "Well youngin just foller me then." Annie boiled with anger," I would appreciate it if you just called me Annie! I aint no youngin!"

Dust blew around them as they made their way up the rocky canyon. Amazement often crossed her mind the rest of that day. This was what she had always dreamed of doing. Riding out by herself, living off what little she had. Now that it was happening she wondered if she would really like it after all. Annie's stomach growled repeatedly until finally she couldn't take it. There had to be SOMETHING to eat around that empty canyon! The little old man spoke. "You hungry?" 'My oh my, did he really just ask that?', she thought to herself. "Yes, yes I am starving sir." Annie said in a quick tone. "Well then we better find ourselves and the animals something to munch on!" He grinned. She felt bad about being so rude to him earlier, knowing now that he wasn't what he appeared to be. Deep down she wanted to keep apologizing to him but she knew that he had already forgiven her. It was a quiet adventure those 3 days to Dodge City. They hardly spoke but when they did, she couldn't get enough. The stories he told about growing up, his families ranch getting burned down, their animals shot dead. Annie felt like they shared something in common. Something that was close to them, but caused so much pain.

Jessie's Late Night Escape

“Jessica Marie Starr, give me the gun now or I will put you on the next train that’s headed east!”  Jessie stood against the door frame in her aunt’s house, with her right hand resting on the Colt pistol that set in the holster around her waist and took the brunt of her aunt’s fury without ever batting a eyelash.  Once again she got caught helping a Mexican kid, Jose Aguilar steal guns from the wagon trains coming into town.  “So what?” Jessie thought.  He was paying her $10 to help him and she needed all the money she could get since her aunt refused to give her any.  “Alright Jessica, you win.  I’m going to the train station right now to buy you a ticket.  Go up stairs and pack your bags, NOW!”  Jessie’s aunt told her and stalked back into her setting room.  It was time to leave this hell hole, no more Kansas City where the people looked down their noses at her.  She’d pack her bags alright, and she’d leave just like her aunt wanted, only she wasn’t going east on a train, she was going west on a horse.  Jessie walked up the huge stair case and went to her room.  The room was dark, not only from the heavy curtains, but also from the dark wood walls.  She stopped in front of the mirror above the dresser and looked at herself in the reflection.  She looked like her mom, dark eyes and hair.  She thought about the day 3 years ago when her father had hauled her to the train station, put her on it and never said goodbye.  If they didn’t care, then she didn’t ether.  She had acquired 3 guns and 4 knives from Jose and had stolen a horse from a dirty rancher who she didn’t like.  Jessie dug around under her bed and found a plain leather bag that she would take with her.  She stuffed a couple pairs of pants and 3 shirts into the bag, along with a couple wild rags and some socks.  Her black hat and leather coat hung by the door and her gloves were lying on the bed.  Now all she needed was darkness to fall.  Her horse would be in the barn and could be caught easily.  Jessie hid her bag back under her bed and went on packing her other bags as if she was getting on the train in the morning. The clock read 7:25pm, a couple more hours and she would be able to leave.  Anita the maid knocked on her door at 8:00 and asked “Miss Jessie, your aunt sent me up to give you this letter and to tell you that supper is ready” she said, handing the small letter to her.  “No ma’am, I’m not feeling too well, to I think I’ll go to bed early.” Jessie said and Anita smiled and left.  Jessie didn’t care about the letter, it wasn’t going to stop her from leaving.  She set on the bed and studied the toes of her boots.  They probably wouldn’t last another year, but she’d wear them till they were completely worn through.  Her spurs still had a lot of good days left in them though.  And her horse Jasper was only 4 years old so he wouldn’t mind the long ride to Dodge City.  Minutes ticked by slowly, she would leave at midnight, but it was only 9:30.  10:00 rolled around and all the lights in the house were put out.  The town was quiet except for the noisy saloons on the west side of town.  10:30 came, only an hour and a half to go.  Then came 11:00, one hour left.  11:30, 30 more minutes.  Finally midnight came, the ringing clock bells announced Jessie’s freedom.  She put her leather jacket and hat on, tucked gloves in her belt and picked her bag up. Her 4 pistols were in her gun belt and her knives were hidden in her boots tops and pockets. Slipping down the stair case, she walked on tip-toes to keep the heels on her boots from banging on the wooden floor.  She went through the kitchen and out the back door towards the barn.  Jasper stood in the barn, half asleep.  Jessie set her bag down inside of the tack room door and got Jasper’s head stall and saddle out, catching and saddling him took only a few minutes.  She tied her bag on behind her saddle and swung up on the big sorrel horse that was gonna carry her away from here at a high rate of speed.  Going behind the Evan’s house would be the best and the quietest way out.  She kept Jasper at a fast walk while weaving in between barns and little shacks, as she headed west.  Coggburn’s saloon was the last building she had to pass.  Several drunk cowboys leaned against the hitching post in front, but they were thankfully too drunk to notice Jessie as she rode out of town.  The hills that surrounded the city were covered in tall grass and bushy trees.  The quicker she got over the hills, the better.  She still had to clear Johnson’s ranch before morning or they’d see her for sure.  Nobody had ever actually caught her helping Jose, but there had been plenty people around town saying that she was helping him.  And if they saw her leaving, they'd think she was running. They could think whatever they wanted to, she wouldn’t every live in that town again anyways.  She was 30 minutes into the ride when she cleared the west side of Johnson’s place.  After settling into an easy lope, Jessie thought about where she was going, she’d probably ride into Great Bend tomorrow afternoon.  She’d stay there a night if it looked safe, and gather up some supplies and maybe even buy a pack horse.  Dodge City would be surprised when she rode in.  She was a fare hand at poker, and could win enough money to pay her way down to Old Mexico.  Until she could get down there, she’d just drift between the winds.  The thought of settling down never crossed her mind, she’d just as soon stay free.  As she rode through the night towards Great Bend, she thought about her family.  The family that loved her until she began to turn rebellious, then they sent her around to any family member that would take her.  She had never felt wanted or loved after that.  So she would just keep on riding, keep on living and keep on dreaming.  Into the night she rode south-west towards Great Bend.  The September night was cool, but not cold and the sky was dotted with stars and the full moon shed a low light across the land.  Somewhere in the hills to the north, a lone coyote howled.  Jessie knew how he felt, the sad but free life.  Morning came slowly, the red sky revealed black clouds in the west, a sure sign of rain.   She had about another 2 hours till she got till Great Bend, if she could beat the rain, she’d be lucky.  The sun climbed into the sky as Jessie got closer and closer to Great Bend.  The clouds finally reached completely across the sky as Jessie rode up to the top of the hill that over looked Great Bend.  The town hadn't changed much since the last time she had been here, the only changes were a few new buildings and houses.  The rain started instantly, causing Jessie to kick Jasper into a gallop. 

• If this world was perfect,
• Good dogs would never get old
• Good horses would never have to be put to sleep because of their age
• Your favorite pair of boots would never wear out
• Your favorite saddle would never get old
• Your favorite set of reins would never get stepped on and broke
• Your favorite saddle blanket would never become too thin to use
• The creeks and ponds would never go dry
• But you’d never have to ride in the rain
• Never would the feed bin be empty
• And there would always be extra apples for the horses
• Your heart wouldn’t ever get broke
• And there really would be a “Knight in Shining Armor” that rides into your life and sweeps you off your feet
• Truck tires would never go flat and trailer lights would always work
• You’d never forget where you came from, and you’d remember to thank the Lord every time you lay down at night
• And you could ride off into the sunset at the end of a long day, just like in the movies
•  
• But this world isn’t perfect, good animals will die, tack will get old and worn, creeks and ponds will go dry and so will feed bins.  Heart’s will get broke and your Knight in Shining Armor might just turn out to be a Retards in Tinfoil.  Tires will go flat and trailer lights won’t always come on.  You’ll get lost in the world, and forget where you came from.  You could ride into the sunset only to find a barbwire fence just below the horizon, blocking you from reaching your destination.  This world isn’t perfect and neither are the people who live in it, but Heaven IS perfect and so is God, never forget that! 

Best of Worlds

Yesterday, I made this picture of some of Kate pics and some of mine....

We L-O-V-E our animals!!!;)

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Josie

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