Another busy day at the ranch
This doesn’t end well.
Jack was tightening a section of wire on the pasture’s fence when he heard his son gallop up on his favorite quarter horse. It was a powerful blue roan whose coat shimmered in the setting sun.
“Whoa,” said Clayton, pulling on the reins and bringing the horse to a stop. He looked down at Jack and said, “Dad, it’s time. You promised.”
Although Clayton was tall for his age — almost 5'10" at 14 — his eagerness made him look younger. It was the 4th of July and promised to be a big night.
“I know, I’m just finishing up,” Jack replied. He stood up, smiled at Clayton, and rolled his shoulders to release the tension in his back. “I just need to take this wire back to the barn.”
It had been a long day. He’d moved one herd of cattle to a new pasture and had checked on two more. He had noticed the loose stretch of wire on the fence he’d just repaired while he was out on his rounds. Luckily, it had been a quick fix.
Jack gathered his supplies and began walking.
“I’ll go with you,” Clayton said. “That’s where I left the fireworks anyway.”
He dismounted and joined Jack, leading his horse by the reins.
It was a short walk to the barn. When they were a few yards away, Clayton and Jack spotted the open door.
“Oh crap,” exclaimed Jack, as he broke into a run.
Clayton outpaced him but had to stop to tie up his horse before entering. They walked in together and saw a lone bull in the corner, lying in a bed of loose hay.
Shredded paper bags surrounded the animal. A few bottle rockets and sparklers were strewn throughout the hay. But they could see that most of their fireworks were lost to the bull’s curiosity and appetite.
Clayton sighed, disappointed, and slumped to the ground. He had spent weeks anticipating their big fireworks show.
Jack squatted down next to him and patted him on the back. He tried to think of something to say that would comfort the boy.
His eyes twinkled as he arrived at it — a bad dad joke, but it would have to do.
“That’s…abominable.”
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Thanks for reading! And thanks to Jack Preston King for the prompt.
