Trail Boss Day

Written By: D’be-D’be


Colt was putting his bedroll in the supply wagon when he overheard a conversation between Luke and Flapjack. He didn’t want them to know he was there so he remained as still as he could not to make any unwanted noise.

“Well, Flapjack, it will be five years tomorrow since I became Trail Boss.”

“No, it can’t be is it!”

“Yep. Do you remember the drive was all set out to leave when one of the owners came to tell us our old Trail Boss, Jack Tucker has passed away during the night? They told me since I had been his Ramrod for the last year, it was up to me to take over the herd.”

“Ha, ha. I remember. Yeah, I remember how nervous you was and that you lacked self-confidence in yourself the first few days. But when the first crisis came up, a flood I believe it was, you handled just like a seasoned Trail Boss would. That’s all it took; you were well on your way of being the great Trail Boss you are today.”

“Well, I don’t know how great I am but I know I sure enjoy doing it.” Luke laughed as he hesitantly added, “most days at least”

“Don’t sell yourself short. Boss. Remember, I was with Tucker a couple of years before you joined the outfit and we both saw something in you right from the start. That’s why he made you Ramrod so fast. Now Tucker was a good boss, but I’ve never seen any drover show respect and admiration for someone, as fast as they do when they begin to work for you.”

Luke found himself blushing from the cook’s compliments. He wasn’t used to being praised like that. A Trial Boss usually isn’t. He was grateful for his friend’s words and told him so as he slapped him on the back.

The two men had walked away and Colt stepped out from behind the wagon with a plan already forming in his mind. He would spread the word that tomorrow would be Trail Boss Day. He’d ask Flapjack to take a ham out of storage and make a special meal prepared just the way Luke liked it.

It was not an easy task going from one drover to the next without raising the Trail Boss’s suspicions, but Colt managed to do it. All the men thought it was a terrific idea. They even added that they would all make the boss a special gift of some kind to commemorate the occasion. At day’s end, Colt was very proud of himself. Tomorrow would indeed be a special day.

Luke Morgan awoke the next morning to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and bacon sizzling in the pan. For a minute it reminded him of home, but the smell of three thousand head of beef soon filled his nostrils and brought him back to reality. He got dressed quickly and made his way to the chuck wagon to find most of the men gathered around, waiting hungrily for their first meal of the day.

“Mornin, boss. It looks like it’s going to be a great day, eh?” one of the drovers smirked at him as he grabbed a biscuit from the already fleeting pile.

“Sure does, Joe, now that you mention it,” Luke replied wondering why this drover had such a peculiar look on his face. As a matter of fact, every one of his men had the same look as they approached him. Luke wondered what was going on. Did he have something on his face, was his hair sticking up, why did everyone look like the cat who just ate a bird?

Colt finally rolled out of his bedroll and made his way to the wagon. He joined the rest of the men who now gathered around their boss in a semi circle and as one body, began to applaud.

“What the hell is going on here?” Luke Morgan asked, perplexed.

“Happy Trail Boss Day, Boss!” Colt sang out excitedly.

“What? Trail Boss Day? What’s going on? There is no such thing as Trail Boss Day!” Morgan answered back.

“There is now, Boss,” Colt replied. “I found out it’s been five years since you became Trail Boss and that’s an anniversary worth celebrating.”

Morgan sat down in surprise on the edge of the wagon. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before and he was touched deeply. He choked back the emotion in his voice as he replied, “Oh, Colt, men, this is such a shock. A pleasant one though, but I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say a thing, Boss,” Vince Perry answered. “All you have to do is just sit around and relax today. We’re going to do all the work and tonight we’re going to be treated to a great ham dinner with all the fixings and cake for dessert. There may even be a few gifts passed out.”

“I don’t know what to say. I….” Again Morgan began to choke up. ”Except, thanks to all. “

“Don’t mention it, Boss. You deserve it,” Flapjack added his two cents to the conversation.

“Well, Vince, while I’m enjoying my day of relaxation, are you going to be the Trail Boss?”

“Uhh, oh well, I guess we never thought of that. To tell you the truth, I don’t really want to be Trail Boss. Why don’t you choose?”

“No, that would be showing favorites. I tell you what; why don’t you all put your names in a hat and I’ll pick one. Whose ever name I pick is going to be Trail Boss for the day.”

“Excuse me, Boss.” Colt put his hand up as if in school and waited for Luke to acknowledge him. “I thought the Ramrod automatically became Trail Boss in your absence?”

“Usually that would be the case, Colt, but as you know Pete hurt himself three days ago when his horse stumbled in that prairie hole, so he’s out of commission for the time being.”

“Oh ya, I forgot!”

“Don’t worry about it,” Luke told the young man “Why don’t you take off your hat and gather up the papers with the men’s names so we can see whose boss for the day?”

Colt gladly did as he was told and when all the names were in the hat, he handed to Luke. Luke closed his eyes and reached in to pull out one single piece of paper. He opened it up and looked at the name without even a blink. Looking up at all the anxious faces, Morgan simply stated, “The Trail Boss for the day is Colt Sanders.”

“WHAT!” Colt shouted. “Oh no, not me. I-I-I’m not ready to be a Trail Boss.”

Luke could see the boy was almost in tears. “Listen, boy. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re coming along just fine and I think you’ll do an okay job. Besides it’s only for a day and I’ll be here if you run into trouble.”

“But, Boss, the whole idea of giving you the day off is not to bother you with any problems or worry. If I’m in charge, well…” Colt cut himself off before embarrassing tears began to flow down his face.

“Come on, kid.” Vince slapped him on the back. “You’ll do alright. After all, it’s clear sailing to the next water hole, so nothing can go wrong.”

Colt looked around at the other drovers, trying to read their faces. Seeing nothing but smiles he finally agreed to take over the position but only until dusk, then it was all Luke’s again. With everyone in agreement, Colt began his day as Trail Boss. Vince’s words were ringing in his ears as he mounted up. The scout was right; what could go wrong on a beautiful day like today? Colt sat proud in the saddle as he shouted out the words, he’d heard Luke say many a time. “Head ‘em up! Move ‘em out!” And with those words, the drive was on the move.

*************

The first part of the day went smoothly. With Colt’s first order to the man on point to head the herd to the right, his nerves began to abate. His next few orders were obeyed without argument so by noon the young cowboy was feeling pretty confident in his abilities to carry out the duties of a Trail Boss. Then, as is usually the case when things are going right, trouble awaits just around the corner.

During lunch, Colt sat with Luke and with great excitement told the older man about his morning. Luke smiled at the beaming young man sitting in front of him. ‘Damn!’ he thought. ‘How I’d love to reach out and give him a passionate kiss right now.’

“Hey, Flapjack!” Colt shouted as he mounted his horse to head back to the herd. “Make sure you have that ham done by dusk, ya hear!”

“Listen here, you young pup, don’t start barking orders at me. Just because you’re Trail Boss for the day doesn’t give you the right to act so high and mighty. Supper will be ready when I say it will be ready. Now get back to work, Mr. Sanders.”

Luke and Flapjack could hear the sound of giggling as Colt waved his hat in the air and set out on his way.

It was around two o’clock when trouble came calling. First, dark clouds replaced the sun, turning into wind and rain. It made the cattle nervous and hard to handle. Next, a crack of thunder sent a group of steers into a wild frenzy, leading the drovers on a mad chase into a ravine. While in the ravine, two of the men stumbled to get away from the stampeding steers causing one of them to break their leg, while the other was sure he had dislocated shoulder. Their injuries made Luke short on the left flank and drag.

They just got the cattle settled when Vince came riding up, stating he spotted a group of renegades up ahead, blocking a pass the cattle needed to get though in order to reach the water hole.

“Maybe we should go talk to Mr. Morgan?” Vince suggested, but Colt turned that suggestion down flat.

“Are you saying I can’t handle a few renegades, Vince? Look, I don’t want to bother Mr. Morgan on his special day. I can handle it. Watch and see!”

“I think Mr. Morgan would want to know. There’s a change we may get ambushed.” Vince tried again to convince the young man to seek help, but Colt wanted to prove to Luke and to all the men he wasn’t too young to handle the responsibilities given to him.

“I said no, Vince, and that’s an order. Now come with me and we’ll see what they want.”

“Okay, you’re the boss. But remember that I warned you to tell Mr. Morgan.”

“Sure, Vince. Don’t worry, your ass is covered.”

As they approached the pass, one of the renegades rode out to meet them. He was in no mood to negotiate. He told Colt the payment for passage was twelve dollars a steer. Colt told him that was impossible. He offered the rough-looking man three a head. The man laughed in his face but went down to ten a head. Colt shook his head in the negative and then offered five. The man turned to his companions and shouted something in Spanish.

“What did he say, Vince?” Colt asked.

Vince chucked as he translated. “He said for one so wet behind the ears, he has a set on him.”

“What does that mean?” Colt asked, confused.

“He’s saying you got balls, kid, and I have to agree with him.”

Colt felt himself blush as he took in what Vince repeated of what the man had told his friends. “Is that good, Vince?”

“It sure is, kid. Mr. Morgan couldn’t do any better. Keep up the good work.”

Colt’s chest puffed out with pride as he turned back towards the man. “Well, do we have a deal?”

“What would stop me from killing the both of you now, then going and taking what we want?”

‘Damn!’ Colt thought. ‘Why didn’t I bring some backup? Luke would have. What should I do now?’ He pretended to ponder over the question when the sound of cocking riffles could be heard over head. Everyone looked up in unison. Looming over them were ten drovers lead by Luke Morgan, aiming their riffles at the renegades.

“Okay, friend!” Luke shouted down. “I highly suggest that you and your men turn around and head back where you came from, unless you feel like today is a good day to die.”

Cursing under their breaths, the renegades turned tail and ran. Colt looked up at Luke sitting tall in the saddle; his riffle still aimed towards the men just in case.

“I ruined his Trail Boss Day,” Colt whispered to Vince.

“Hell no, kid! Look at the smile on his face. He’s really enjoying himself. We both know the boss ain’t one to sit around doing nothing, so relax and don’t worry about it.”

Vince’s words made Colt feel a little better, but along with the smile on Luke’s face, Colt saw something else. He saw a warning of an upcoming discipline session in his future for not going to camp and getting him before facing these bad men practically on his own. With a sigh, Colt resigned himself to his fate and accepted whatever discipline Luke planned on dishing out.

By the time they got back to camp it was dusk, and the smell of baked ham and potatoes filled the air.

After all the ham was digested and coffee and cake served, it was time for presents. Since they didn’t have time to get into town, each man had dug into their private saddlebags to select a special gift for their boss. Their thoughtfulness and affection touched Luke. Then it was Colt’s turn.

The last time they were in town, Colt had managed to slip into the general store and buy Luke a beautiful leather bag to keep his trail diary in. He was going to keep it for Christmas, but decided this was a better day for it. The young man handed the newspaper wrapped present to Luke, and watched in anticipation as the older man carefully unwrapped it.

As Luke held the soft leather in his hands, he looked up at Colt with misty eyes. “Oh, Colt, it’s beautiful. I want to thank you for this beautiful present and for all the work you did to plan this day. It was perfect! I want to thank you all. You’re really a great bunch of men. Thanks again.”

When everyone had moved over to his individual bedroll, Luke took Colt by the arm and led him out of camp.

“Here it comes,” Colt said to himself. “Time to pay the piper.”

Instead Luke pulled him into his arms and gave him a warm, passionate kiss. “Oh, Cowboy, I’m so proud of you. Vince said you handled being a Trail Boss with little effort. I knew you could do it and this Trail Boss Day is something I’ll never forget. I love you, Cowboy.”

“Oh, Luke, I love you too. I thought you’d be mad at me because I didn’t go back and get you when Vince told me about those renegades.”

“I was at first, until Flapjack reminded me that I did almost the same thing the first time I was Trail Boss. So I’m not going to spank you. However, I can’t let you get away totally unpunished because you did put yourself and others in danger. What I want you to do, is write me an essay on the reasons one should always ask for help in times of trouble.”

“Okay, Luke, I sure can do that. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see you on that mountain. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t showed up.”

“Well I’m glad you didn’t have to find out. Now give me one more kiss, and then go write your essay. I’ll look at it in the morning after everyone is on the drive.”

The two men kissed with a deep passion that left them longing for the next time they could be together.

Luke watched the love of his life walk back into camp and closed his eyes to say a silent prayer of thanks for one of the drovers coming back into camp to report about Colt and Vince going after the renegades on their own. Now that he found Colt, Luke couldn’t image life without him. After all, who else would go to so much trouble planning a Trail Boss Day. ‘What a cute little brat,’ Luke thought with a satisfied smile. ‘He’s my brat and life is so good!’

The End