Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – B.J. Cassady

December 27, 2006

Christmas on the Frontier

B.J. Cassady
 
    The Durango Kid was a lonely rider this year his family
was killed the year before by renegades.  He could be considered
wealthy by the standards of the day, his money belt was full
and he carried enough gold on his to start a small business. 
Winter was hitting the Rockies mountains foothills
pretty hard and Durango needed to find a cave or a hill to rest
for the evening when he spied a cabin in a valley.  He urged
his steed towards the cabin and the inviting tendrils of smoke
that came from it's chimney. 
 
     "Hello the house!"  shouted he.
 
     A man and a boy came outside to see the stranger. 
"Come on in out of the cold.  My wife will set a plate for you.
My son will take care of your horse."  the man said.
 
     I dismounted and took off my saddle and carried it with me
to the porch and gently laid it down, dusted myself off and washed
my face and hands at the basin of water on the porch.
 
    "Looks like a nasty storm a brewing."  said the man.
 
    "Yep, it could be the worst one of the winter."  I responded.
 
    "Come on in you two, the food will be ready shortly."  a feminine
voice spoke.
 
    We went in and sat at a table with two benches for seats.  The
house was small but homey.  I could tell they were dirt farmers
but they had what most people yearn for... family, peace and love.
The wife poured a bowl of beef stew in my bowl and laid a slice of
homemade bread that smelled delicious in front of me.  A cup of
coffee came next .... that smelled like Heaven, with a slice of ! apple
pie still warm.  I was about to dig in when the husband bowed his
head in prayer......
   
    He gave thanks for his wife, his son, his home, his health, their
health, their love and lastly their food...then we dug in.  It was the
best food I had eaten in a long time.  We talked about the weather,
the price of cattle, the politics of the time.  Then the husband, Mr.
Johnson and I went outside to smoke a cigar. 
 
    "The only thing I cannot do for my family is give them a decent
Christmas.  We have a great family, a home and all we need but my
wife, she has only two dresses.  My son has two outfits and only
the toys I make for him.  I work everyday...but heck you do not want
to hear about that.  Where are you heading Durango?"
 
   "Oh, I am heading to Sante Fe.  I thought about bidding on some
cattle for my ranch and then drifting up to Montana to look at some
sheep."  I said.
 
   "Sheep and cattle on the same range.  I have heard it can be done,
but you have to be smart to do it."  said he.
 
   "Anything can be done if you are smart.  Heck on my range we have
sodbusters working the land, sheep and cattle.  The sodbusters are
filing claims on government land and that is fine with me.  More people
bring more opportunity.  I want to thank you and the Misses for feeding
me and making me a part of your family even for this short while.  My
family was kilt by renegades a year ago.  It feels good to see a family
again."
 
    "Heck mister, you can stay awhile if you want to."  Johnson said.
 
    "Nah, I need to head on.  You do not have enough food for one thing."
I responded.
 
    I walked out to the corral and saddled my horse and rode on out.

I headed to the small town of Snakeridge and arrived about sundown.
I checked into a small hotel.  The next morning I went to the local
stable and bought a wagon.  It was Christmas evening.  My mind was
made up about playing a role this year.  I went over to the hardware
store and bought for Misses Johnson a new dress and for Mr Johnson
a new pair of Denims and a new shirt.  For the boy and new pair of shoes,
socks, and two new shirts.  I had the owner toss in a jar of rock candy
for good measure, a bag of flour, a tin of coffee, some bacon, a new plow.
I went over to the stable and bought a nice young, strong horse.  I tied
up the horse behind the wagon, along with the gear for plowing and all
the other items I had purchased and decided to head out to the
Johnson place.  It was dark and about 4am, Christmas morning when
I arrived. 
 
   I quietly unpacked everything I could by the front door of their cabin.
I took the horse to the corral and left the wagon and plow outside of
the barn.  I took my horse and mounted it and rode silently to the top
of the hill overlooking the Johnson cabin.  I dismounted took my binoculars
and laid down in the snow and watched....
 
    About 5am Mr. Johnson went outside to get some wood and he saw
all the items bundled up on the porch...he looked right and left..then
carried the items inside.  Mrs Johnson came outside and looked right and
left then went back inside.  About then the horse in the corral neighed
and they came back outside.  They appeared stunned when they saw
the wagon, horse and plow.  I wondered what was going through his
mind? 
 
    "Mary I won't have to use the old mule to plow anymore.  I can
take all of us to town in the wagon.  How wonderful.   I wonder who
did this?  It truly is a miracle."
&n! bsp;
    "Paul, I do not know.  But we can do so much more than we could.
We can hold our heads up in town with our new clothes.  I do not know
who did this but thank you.  I have an idea.  Let's all go outside and shout
Thank you."
 
    So the Johnson family went outside and stood together, facing different
directions and they shouted...."THANK YOU!"  and they turned and repeated
"THANK YOU"  until they had covered all directions.
 
    One young cowboy on the ridge had his eyes wet with tears and said
to himself....."No, thank you."
 
BJ Cassady

BJ.Cassady@af-group.com