Princess Celestia’s sun is sinkin’ down in the west, paintin’ the sky and the few clouds a mixture of colors from red ta purple and everythin’ in between. It’s a beautiful end ta a long day out on the range.
The dry, gusty air fills mah lungs as ah take a deep breath and look out at the horizon. The large buttes that stick out of the barren plains are a sight that ah certainly won’t be tired of. Nor will ah ever tire of this little slice of heaven out here.
Mah life is pretty simple. Mah home has been in Appleloosa fer just over a year now, the small town had certainly sprung up like weeds after a rainstorm. Raised by mah pa ta be a farmer just like his pa raised him. It’s somethin’ of a family trade, tendin’ ta our apple trees wherever we might be at. But now that the apple season is months off, it gives me a chance ta do another kind of job, somethin’ ah feel that ah was destined ta do.
As the sun disappears beyond the mountains, Princess Luna’s moon rises up into the sky, lookin’ like somepony grabbed in and took a bite. It lights up the sky and everythin’ all round fer me, but it’s still not enough fer me. With that moonlight, ah look ‘round ta see that most of the bull steers have settle down fer the evenin’. Ta follow suit, ah light up a small campfire and begin ta settle in. As the fire begins ta grow, ah open up a can of beans and place it amongst the flames ta heat up. It ain’t much, but out on the trail ya learn ta savor the small meals ya get.
Ah stare up ta the night sky as mah supper warms up. A few stars begin ta show themselves and start ta shine. One by one, they emerge from the darkness and begin ta create the constellations and patterns that they do every night.
It’s only mah second year doin’ this job fer the rodeo, but ah already feel like that bein’ a cowboy is a callin’ fer me. Between each rodeo, it’s mah job ta keep the steers together as they move from one town ta the next. They are great sports when it comes ta the rodeos. There are plenty of events that they are needed fer, such as tie-down ropin’, steer wrestlin’, bull ridin’, and much more. The pony gets ta compete in the rodeo and the steers get ta have some fun while they are at it. It’s a win-win all around fer both parties involved. The only thing the steers request of us, however, is that they go from rodeo ta rodeo on their own terms at a slow and leisurely pace. And can’t say ah blame them, it let’s ya enjoy the beauty of the landscape in southern Equestria. Anyway, it’s mah job ta make sure they don’t get lost, get ta the next town on time, and leave them be when they rest at night.
Lookin’ down at mah supper, ah can see it’s ready ta eat. Bein’ careful ta not burn mahself, ah take the can and begin ta eat the beans. It ain’t what ah want ta eat, but ah know ah’m gonna need the stamina fer the final stretch ta the next town. Continuin’ mah meal, ah look back up at the stars. More are shinin’ down ta me as the sky grows darker. The chilly wind picks up, causin’ me ta shiver and the fire ta flicker in response. Shortly after that sudden gust, mah ears perk up ta the howl of a coyote in the distance. While it’s all part of the job ah’ve grown ta love, it’s still somethin’ that makes me wish ah was home. Back home with the gal that means more ta me than all of Equestria.
It was when mah cousin Applejack and her friends visited Appleloosa that ah met her, but it wasn’t until after they left that we were formally introduced. Mah little cousin Applejack certainly can be a hoofful. Anyway, when ah first met Little Strongheart without mah pesky cousin around, ah have ta say that she took mah breath away. The two of us seemed ta hit it off really well. With all the business of the apple orchards and the stampedin’ grounds all wrapped up in a neat lil’ package, ah asked the Little Strongheart if she’d like ta stay fer a bit and take a tour of Appleloosa. Boy howdy, ah could tell just tell ya that ah was shakin’ like a leaf on a tree when ah asked her. But when that buffalo giggled and agreed, well ah was over the moon with joy. Over time, the two of us became inseparable and a quite the couple around the town. That’s why it’s hard fer me ta be out on the open range. Bein’ out here without Little Strongheart beside me fer company certainly makes these nights lonesome.
As ah finish up mah supper, the wind picks up again, sendin’ shivers that dance down my spine. It makes mah campfire flickers as well, causin’ the flames ta jump ‘round. It’s a makes it painfully obviously that ah’m all alone out here. Just me, the campfire, the starlight, and Princess Luna shinin’ own on me. Ah stare up ta the princess’ moon and hum a few bars. It’s a song ah was taught on mah first night as a cowboy. The hummin’ gives way ta words.
“Ah am just a cowboy, lonesome on the trail. A starry night, the campfire light. The coycote call, and the howlin’ winds wail. So I’ll ride out ta the old sundown….”
Ah stop singin’, lookin’ back down at the fire. Without realizin it, ah find that there’s a smile on mah face. Along with the smile, a small laugh escapes me as well. It dawns on me that despite everythin’ that ah see as a downside ta bein’ a cowboy, and there’s quite a lot. The long and tirin’ days, the nightly dangers, the lack of food, and the loneliness are all just a few. But despite all of this, ah still love bein’ a cowboy. Ah don’t know if it’s the travelin’ through the plains, the rodeos themselves, how bein’ out here really teaches a pony ta cherish the time with the ones he loves, or whatever, but what ah do know is one thin’.
“The cowboy’s life is the life fer me.”
END