Just Call Me Cowboy

By James M. Glass

For Jack Nelson’s birthday his parents decided he needed to become worldlier than spending his life in a fifteen mile area. They insisted he travel from the Midwest to California to see the ocean. Jack’s father stressed to him he could consider himself very successful if he made the trip without people remembering his name. The first time he was asked his name on his trip he remembered his father’s statement. He used the alias Cowboy. He never imagined, under this alias, he would become famous throughout the west as a gunfighter. When he saved an Indian boy from drowning, the Indian Nation considered him as a white medicine man sent by the Great Spirit.

Jack reached the ocean and returned home, but not until he encountered a back shooter, and discovered love. No one knew his real name, but everyone knew the names Cowboy and Candy Man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365869426

Book preview

Just Call Me Cowboy

JUST CALL ME COWBOY

by James M. Glass

© 2017

by James M. Glass

CHAPTER 1: A TRAVELING MAN

Jack Nelson had just finished shoveling out the horse stalls when he heard his father calling.

Jack when you finish on the stalls come on up to the house.  Mom and I want to talk to you

I’ll be up in a minute, Jack yelled back.

Jack put the shovel next to the pitchfork on the wall.  He took off his gloves, placing them in his back pocket.  He used the barn broom to sweep off his boots before starting for the house.  Before entering the house he examined his boots again to make sure he didn’t track anything into the house.  Satisfied with the condition of his boots, he took another look at the sky.  Needed rain clouds were forming.  This was a relief after the many weeks of a dry spell.

Entering the house, Jack made his way to the great room.  His mother was sitting in a rocking chair next to the fireplace, knitting.  His father was on the other side of the fireplace in a brown leather overstuffed chair.  Jack sat down in a chair facing both of them.

Dad it looks as though we’re going to get our much needed rain.

Our grass is starting to turn brown.  The rain will really help.

You mentioned you and mom wanted to talk to me.  Is there something wrong?

No Jack, there’s nothing wrong.  We wanted to discuss with you how we can help you prepare for the future.  Your mom and I have been examining ways to help you grow.  Next month you will be nineteen years old.  You’ve never been further away from home than fifteen miles.  You’ve been to the settlement several times, and you’ve been to a few barn dances.  Have you met any of the girls who appealed to you?

No dad.  They were nice, but none of them were someone with whom I would want to spend my life growing old together. 

You’re still young enough to see more of the world than just our settlement.  We want you to take out time now to see other parts of our country.  If you don’t do it now you might regret it all your life.

Dad, I’m happy now.

I know, but someday you will wonder what all you missed.  The time to travel is now while you’re still young enough to enjoy the rest of the country.  We want you to take this opportunity to travel west to see the ocean. 

Dad, that’s over nine hundred miles away.

We know, but by the time you get back you will have your fill of travel and be ready to settle down to get married to start a family.  Fall is just starting, if you leave in the next few days you should be back by summer.

It sounds to me you and mom has spent a lot of time thinking about this.

"We want the best for you.  You’ve had a good education on the ranch.  The old Indian taught you to be a woodsman.  You’re able to survive in the wilderness with little trouble.  I taught you how to shoot.  When I was young, I was a gunman.  I was one of the best, but then I met your mom.  I fell deeply in love, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me unless I gave up my ways.  I gave up my guns, married your mom and move out here where no one would know me.  I taught you everything I know about gun fighting.  You draw faster than any gun fighter I have ever seen.  I didn’t teach you this for you to be a gun fighter.  I taught you to be able to defend yourself.  Try very hard not get in a gun fight, but when you do, shoot to kill.

Travel alone.  A companion might make your trip more pleasant, but they can also bring you a lot of grief.  They shoot someone, it involves you.  Everything they do will involve you.  Your best answer is to travel alone.  Take the big grey gelded stallion you call Jake.  That horse will take you anyplace you want to go.  Mom and I will help you pack a pack horse to make sure you take needed supplies.

If you can make this trip without people knowing your name, you will be successful.  You’re not going on this trip to be well known.  You’re going on the trip to become aware of the world around you."

The next few days were spent in packing, making sure Jack had everything he needed for a month.  The final touch was his mother’s buffalo robe.

Where you are going you might hit very bad weather.  This robe will help you survive in very cold weather.

I’ll take care of it mom.  I’m going to tie it behind my saddle in the event I need it quickly.

When Jack was completely packed for his trip, he decided to leave early the next morning.  Saying his goodbyes, he left when the sun was barely rising.

The first few miles he traveled, the land was basically the same he had experienced near his home, but the landscape began to change.  The fir trees became more numerous with the land becoming more rugged.  Jack traveled twenty miles by the time he became aware of the small trading post slightly off the trail.  He tied his horses to the hitching post and entered the store.

Good afternoon stranger.  I’m Al Christopher.  This is my trading post. How can I help you today?

I need a pound of coffee.

I’ve got some good coffee beans.  Do you want me to grind it for you?

I would appreciate it.

Al cranked his grinder by hand as he talked to Jack.

Which way are you headed?

I’m going straight west.

Let me warn you.  Be very careful of Deceptive Valley.

I’ve never heard of it.  What makes it so deceptive?

"It’s about eight miles from here.  In the spring, summer and fall it’s the most beautiful valley you will ever see, but in the winter it’s a death trap.  There’s some kind of vortex in this area.  When you see the first snowflakes you need to move higher immediately.  The right side of the valley is straight up, but the left side has enough slants for a good horse to move higher.  Within thirty minutes there will be a blizzard with snow accumulating up to five feet in depth.  If you don’t start moving with the first snow fakes, you will never make it out of the valley.

If you can get half way through the valley you can find a cave to ride out the storm.  It’s on the same level your horse will be travelling surrounded by huge fir trees. If you make it there the snow is very light.  Your horses will be able to graze.  This storm will last six or seven days.  The sun will come out, the snow will slightly melt.  Leave right then.  The next day it will snow again and you will be there for at least a month."

Do you give this same advice to all travelers?

Yes, but people don’t listen.  Their bodies are found in the spring.  Several years ago, I put up a sign by the valley warning people to talk to me before entering the valley in the fall.  Some man took it as a souvenir.  They found it on his body in the spring.  I put up signs three times, but someone always takes them.  If they stop here, I tell them otherwise they are on their own.

Believe me, I will listen.  It’s time for me to get on my way.

By the way, what’s your name?

Jack remembered what his father had told him about traveling the country without people remembering his name.  He responded with the first name which came into his mind.

Just call me Cowboy.

Have a safe trip, Cowboy.

CHAPTER 2: DECEPTIVE VALLEY

Jack had travelled five miles before he came to Deceptive Valley.  He remembered Al telling him it was about twelve miles long.  He marveled at the beauty of the valley.  The summer flowers were still in   bloom.  Jack thought the high walls of the valley were protecting the flowers from the early cold weather.  Higher up on