A Cowboy Smile by Terri Mash

 

Original Art by (c) Terri Mash

A Cowboy Smile

by Terri Mash

   Andy McBride was six years old and small for his age. He had bright green eyes, blondish brown tousled hair, and was much stronger than he looked. His smile could light up any room.

            After breakfast and chores each morning he could be found out beside the barn with a length of rope in his hands, trying to lasso an old stump. He practiced for hours every day. One of the older ranch hands, Carson, would saddle JoeBoy, a tall retired gelding that had been used on the ranch for many years. Andy would try his best to mount the big gelding. His father had told him he could go on a round-up when he was able to mount the horse on his own without any help.

            Andy’s dad was a big man with broad shoulders, a weathered face, and calloused hands. He was quiet but strict in his manner and didn’t put up with whining. Working long hours on the ranch and keeping a rigid schedule made him a no-nonsense leader. He was well respected by all who knew him. Andy wanted to be just like his dad. 

           One day at the supper table, Andy’s mom announced that they would celebrate Andy’s birthday on Sunday, even though his birthday was really on Friday. She wanted to make sure that his dad and all the ranch hands were home from the roundup and could attend the party. When asked what he wanted for his birthday, Andy's reply was always the same, “I want to be big so I can go on a roundup.” This always brought an ache to his mom’s chest and got a hearty laugh from his dad and the ranch hands.

            After everyone left the table, Andy thought about how he would run and get the yardstick and stand against the doorframe so his mom could measure him on his birthday. She would make a mark on the frame to chart his growth. 

            All week long Andy’s routine remained the same, only this week he seemed much more determined than ever. His mom watched out the window while her young son practiced his roping, which had greatly improved. Then Carson would have JoeBoy saddled and ready for Andy to practice his mount. Although it didn’t seem to improve, Andy didn’t get discouraged.

            The morning of his birthday came and Andy awoke to a new cowboy hat hanging on his bedpost and a shiny new pair of boots by his bed. Feeling excited and confused because he knew they weren’t celebrating his birthday until Sunday, he went to the breakfast table as usual, wearing his new attire. While at the table, they asked him again what he wanted for his birthday and hew answered, “I really just want to be big so I can go on a roundup.” He watched as his parents exchanged a secretive glance. After his dad and the cowhands left the house, Andy ran and retrieved the yardstick. His mom had him stand at the doorframe to measure him but he forgot to take off his cowboy hat. So, on a whim, she put a mark on the frame of his height with the hat on. When he turned around and saw the mark he was surprised and exclaimed, “Look! I grew some for my birthday!” and ran outside to do his chores. He rounded the corner of the barn and there stood his dad and all the ranch hands smiling at him. Andy wondered what was going on and why they hadn’t left for the roundup yet. Just then Carson came out of the barn leading a horse. It was a beautiful black and white paint that was about two hands smaller than JoeBoy. They all yelled, “Happy Birthday, Andy!” He ran excitedly, leaped and mounted the horse with ease and confidence. Andy was going on the roundup!

            Following behind his dad and all the ranch hands, he turned to wave at his mom. She was watching from the window with tears running down her cheeks. She felt an ache in her chest as she watched her little boy ride away with a big cowboy smile.

From Ohio USA, Terri Mash is the author of A Cultured Girl: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories. She was born to Lawrence and Mattie Mash, the youngest of six children. Raised in Ohio with a love of art and music engrained in her soul, she would doodle, draw, and write song lyrics then stash them in a closet. It wasn't until recently she got the courage to pursue her passions. Self-taught with a relentless spirit, Terri fulfilled her dream.

Find Terri's book on Amazon