pgs 169-173

169-173

And here we rode down into another canyon.  And came across two big Hereford bulls pawing, bellowing and tearing at each other with a resounding roar.  As they came together with horns lowered we watched for some little time while letting the horses rest until we figured the afternoon wasn’t long enough for all we wanted to crowd into it.

                Jim consulted his watch again while riding along and somehow our horses feet loosening the rocks that rolled and the sticks that broke beneath their weight distracted the bulls, with each thinking they had won and gave up the duel.  Going back to his own herd, uttering triumphal bawls that echoed from the hill tops as they moved along in the opposite directions like monarch of the range.  For when passing you have a fear of them and are cautious as you ride by, but we were going just the reverse and were now on the gallop.  Soon we came to a green valley and a small stream and here paused to let the horses drink.

                While sitting in the saddle waiting we heard horses whinnying.  Riding out a ways from the water, we looked up the canyon and there was the bunch of range horses.  Some standing and some grazing near a grove of cherry and Quaken aspen trees.  Here we stopped our horses dead still while Jim used the field glasses,  “There he is.”  We rode toward them and Jim called, “Come Billy, Come Billy.” Then taking the nose bag with oats, walked carefully toward him, continuing to call his name.  The range horses looking up from their grazing took off in fright and we were sure Billy would follow but about that time Beauty neighed.  Stopping to heed the neigh, he whinnied back and Jim continued to talk and walk toward him holding out the bag with the oats in it.  He did not take one step toward him and I looked up expecting to see him take off following the herd but he stood his ground while Jim walked up.  Grabbing his halter and put the feed sack on him, petted his neck and rubbed his sleek black coat of hair saying.  “You remember me, Billy?”  Then motioned me to come on so he could get the lariat from the saddle horn.  I was riding Beauty so I took Babe’s rein and rode up to where they were.  Jim tied the rope around his neck with a bolen knot.  This would not slip and choke him.  Then ran it through the halter ring and tied it to Babe’s tail like they do pack horses and the remainder to his saddle horn.  Then in the saddle and we were off.

                Jim said to follow him for we would go a shorter and quicker way back.  So we headed down a lane that took us back to the road over the divide of the mountain from our place.  Billy wanted to travel fast like he was anxious to get home to some good alfalfa hay for it was getting into fall and the range grass wasn’t too good.  Soon on the gallop leaving behind the echoes of the horses hoof beats that resounded among the stately giant pine trees, from the mountain tops and the ever flowing cool thirst quenching water of the hills that all life depends on.

                The scenery is so beautiful, I said, “Let’s ride slow and take in these wonders of nature.  Let’s have some remembrance of this trip. We may never pass this way again.  Who knows?”  We reined our horses down to a walk.  We gazed with awe and wonder at nature’s magnificent display.

                As I looked at these giants towering into the blue horizon with birds circling overhead, my thoughts were that only God could perform such miracles.  The trees grew there on these mountain sides throughout ages.  For time nor storms, floods or winds had little effect on them.  They seemed to have been put there for all eternity.

                Then a sweet note fell on my ears.  The soft cooing of the turtle dove as though mourning for its mate.  Then I heard the lamenting cry of a hawk somewhere among the tree branches.

                We began to ride faster.  “it’ll be dark before we get home.  The folks will wonder where we are.”  Jim called to me as he urged his horse into a gallop.  I had no need to urge Beauty.  We could not see the sun in these hills at this time of the day but we knew night was coming on for darkness was settling in the canyon.  We could tell too by the cheep, cheep evening call of the birds.  They seem to have a different sound to their singing at the close of a day.

                As we rode on two deer and their baby fawns darted up the hillside ahead of us.  Half way up they stood surveying us as we passed.  Reining Beauty in for a moment I got a fleeting glance as they sped away.  Jim had gotten some distance ahead of me.  The evening now was beginning to get chilly and the cool dampness to rise from the canyon floor.

                Up over the divide.  Now and going down the other side.  Jim was still in the lead but we were gaining on him.  And soon we were side by side.  Shirley Creek on this side of the divide (with Rock creek on the other) went madly rushing along over rocks, around bends and curves. 

                We followed the winding road beside it.  One more bend and we would be in sight of home.  We could not get home though without the noisy magpies, chatting “Maggie” every so often.

                Now we could see mother feeding the poultry.  She had hatched quite a few chickens but they were late so the young pullets were just starting to lay.  Father was working on a chicken house for the pullets.

                When we rode up Toby rushed up to us barking a welcome.  We dismounted and for once I was somewhat tired of riding.  Jim unsaddled and turned the horses in the corral along with Billy Fortune.  Then fixed the gate securely with his pliers saying to Billy, “you rascal, we don’t want another trip like that because of you.  I heard father say.   “No doubt it was the range horses that let him out.  They are keen about fences and gates.”

                I went over to where mother was and took the eggs to the house and put them in egg boxes.  Eggs were a fairly good price at Rupert, but mother sold them to neighbors who didn’t have laying hens.  Wilhelmina was getting supper ready.  I took the lamps down from the shelf and lit one for the kitchen and two in the front room, one on the dining table and one on the library table,  Then I set the table while the men folks washed up and sharpened the knife to cut the fresh bread.  The pan of rolls had all been eaten at dinner.  Sister had made the left-over potatoes into potato cakes with milk gravy, fruit jelly, fresh bread, butter and coffee.  Everyone seemed happy after father retuned thanks.  I was plenty hungry after that long mountain ride.

                Later when we gathered in the front room that evening, some were expressing their thoughts as to this country and how far it seemed from a town but not one seemed to have a desire to return to a big city like Portland.  Father had suggested at the start of the conversation that we could sell this.  The man contracted for would still like to have us build for him. “Seems like we have more here,” mother said, “I am sure I like it,”  I broke in.  Then I went on, “In the big cities people are too busy to get acquainted or be friendly.  Where would one find nicer friends?  Here you know people three to ten miles apart better than your next door neighbor in town.  People have more things in common out in the country.  I know this has been one of the most thrilling and nicest years I have ever spent in my life right here in this valley.”

                I could have spent a good many more there and been just as happy if not more so.  I’ll never forget that year because everything I liked was there---the outdoors, wild life, beauty of nature, under God’s great sky. The everlasting hills. Wide open places where one could breath clean pure air instead of the dust of the city streets. 

                In those few short twelve months, my life had become cemented to it, to never be forgotten as long as I live.  Those were the last twelve months I spent with my parents in their home.  The last ones are the dearest ones before leaving your parents to cleave to your husband for life.

                The next morning father and mother went to the garden to gather more vegetables to put away in the cellar.  Then looking out the window later I saw the two of them going up the winding path.  Mother had never been up there before to the bench to look the wheat over.  Taking my field glasses I too thought it would be a nice morning jaunt.  Toby barked and pulled at his leash.  I untied him and he bounded ahead of me.  I made short work of catching up with them.  I took mother’s arm and helped her on up the hill.

                By the time we had gotten up there Toby had scared up one of those long eared Jack-rabbits.  The two of them took off across the wheat.  Every time the jack-rabbit hopped he must have cleared three feet.  He was really moving by leaps and bounds.  Toby saw it was useless so he gave up the chase.  Father scolded him good for tearing up the wheat.

                I gave mother the field glasses and said, “take these and look at the countryside and your neighbors.” Then when the two of them started walking out over the wheat I went skipping back down the trail.  I could see the geese heading for the garden and I knew Toby wouldn’t permit it.  The old gander hadn’t had a fight with Toby for some days.  I knew there would be trouble so I hesitated for a moment to see just what would happen.  When the gander started flopping and beating his wings while hissing at Toby with his tongue out.  Toby walked out and stood his ground.  The gander came nearer in a tantalizing manner.  This Toby took only so long then feathers began to fly.  While the gander beat Toby with his wings, pinched and bit his ears and tail, I grabbed Toby and pulled him away.  The old gander in his rage nipped me twice with his saw-like bill on the back of the legs.  I yipped and Toby broke loose from me tearing into that old gander.  I knew something drastic would happen soon if I didn’t break it up for if Toby ever got ahold of that long neck of his, he’d crush every bone in it.  He’d wind up a dead gander.  I picked up a stick.  I whacked the gander on the head and stunned him.  For a moment or two he went dizzily around almost falling over but in a little bit the old boy had his senses back and bragging just as much as ever as he walked away with Mrs. Goose and the five young ones.

                I went to the house to rub some linament on my legs.  When I came out later I could see Toby wasn’t’ feeling too good either.  I was glad though the old gander had gotten all right before father and mother came back when I saw them coming slowly down the hill. Every once in awhile they would stop and use the field glasses.

                So I went down by the corral to pet Billy Fortune.  He seemed to enjoy the attention after his wild jaunt into the hills.  I then saddled Beauty and rode down to the ranch.  It was a nice day regardless of the mist around the mountain peaks earlier that morning.  Beauty seemed to want to be ridden and took off on a gallop without me doing anything.  To the first gate and then the second, each time dismounting and remounting to open and close them.  Then up over the hill and on we went with the cool fall air blowing on my face and through my hair.  So pleasant.  It gave me an exhilarating feeling.  A cheerful mood as I passed our neighbors homes, on the hill above our ranch.  I waved and said good morning to them as Beauty cantered by.  I had not told anyone I was leaving but I waved to mother and father as they made their way down the narrow trail from the bench.  I saw them stop and use their field glasses and I knew then they would see where I was going.  On and on we went down the narrow road to our line fence.  Here I turned east in the road between our place and the neighbors.  Soon I came to the gate to our place and my folks could easily see me dismount, open the gate , and close it, remount and ride down to our home where Jim was working.

                Jim saw me and took off his hat and waved.  He was working on the barn when I rode up.  I got off and tied Beauty to the hitch rack and started helping Jim.

                The sun was shining brightly and so warm.  Jim had to take his sweater off.  I reminded him while he worked that I would have to have a clothes line either north or south of the house.  “Well,” he said, “I’ve been thinking about that.”  Walking over to the house he said, “I think we’ll put it here on the south for the present.”  He picked up a post or two and we carried them to where we would set them.  With that done we went back to fixing on the barn.

                I said, “Don’t forget the chicken house for I am going to keep and raise some chickens too.”  “Oh, yes,” he said, “we planned that one the other time down below the hill a ways just above Shirley Creek.  “Yes,” I said.  We could hear Shirley Creek running in the canyon below us.  It was running pretty full for this time of year.  A stream of water made a pleasant sound to ones ears in a  dry country like this.  The birds too were full of song that morning , singing, whistling, among the willows.  Jim would whistle back in answer to the meadow lark every little while, thinking it another of his kind, continued to answer.  A saucy old magpie flew right up by the barn to cat call in his way of Maggie with the emphasis on the “gie.”  He snooped around as though he too were interested n what we were doing.  Stockmen didn’t like these birds for they would pick out a helpless animal’s eyes while down and still alive.

                About that time a neighbor below us rode up and said that a calf of his had gotten though the fence and come up to our place. Jim said he thought he saw a hereford calf go up on the bench, maybe two hours ago.  Then said to let him know if he needed help.  “yes, Thanks” said the neighbor and rode off.  I said I’d better leave too. And when I started over to get in the saddle Jim said wait until I tamp these posts then I’ll ride with you.