"From small-town singer to one of Applewood's biggest stars, Saddle Song, the young stallion from Dodge Junction, has quickly risen to fame as Equestria's favorite singing cowpony!" read the front page of The Applewood Reporter.
The beams of white spotlights waved back and forth across the purple evening skies above Applewood. Crowds of ponies gathered around the red carpet outside the Palatial Movie Palace. Above the entrance, the dazzling marquee read, "Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony in 'The Rodeo Rustlers.'" Movie posters and lobby cards announced that the film was Saddle Song's "most exciting picture yet." Lights flashed from the cameras of fans, reporters, and paparazzi alike as an Earth pony stallion walked down the red carpet toward the entrance of the luxurious theater. The stallion wore a red gunfighter shirt with a blue yoke and cuffs, a white scarf tie around his neck, and a white ten gallon hat on his head.
"Saddle Song! Saddle Song!" devotees cried in excitement as he walked by.
He paused to greet them and shake hooves.
"Saddle Song, could I please get your autograph?" a peach Unicorn mare with a long flowing yellow mane with pink highlights asked.
"And how!" Saddle Song replied. "Who am I makin' this John Hoofcock out to?"
"Starstruck," the Unicorn eagerly answered.
The Singing Cowpony inscribed his name in her book, which contained the autographs of numerous celebrities. "There ya go, ma'am."
"Thank you, Saddle Song!" Starstruck joyously exclaimed with sheer gratitude.
The movie star continued down the red carpet, smiling as he waved and tipped his hat to his admirers and stopping to sign autographs on fans' photographs and books.
As a colt, the Dodge Junction native always loved to hear the town balladeer, Troubadour, sing his prairie prose and frontier fables. The old stallion even taught the young colt to sing and play guitar. Growing up, Saddle Song found joy in performing. With dreams of becoming an Equestria-reknowned artist, he set his sights on Manehattan to put his music on record.
"Mom, Pa," Saddle Song began. "I've given it some thought, and I reckon I want to go to Manehattan and record my music."
"That's mighty big, son," said his father, Line Rider. "Whatever you wish to do, your mother and I will be there for ya."
"Your father's right, dear," his mother, Blue Bonnet, added. "Though the miles may separate us, we're a family, and we'll always be a family."
"Son, allow us to procure your train ticket for you," Line Rider offered.
"I'm much obliged, Pa," said Saddle Song, "but I'm a stallion now. I reckon that means I oughtta be able to make it on my own."
"Stallion or not, you're our son," said Blue Bonnet. "Let us help you."
"Shucks! Y'all have always been there for me. Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Pa."
"And we'll continue to be 'til the cows come home," Line Rider declared. "You're our little Songster."
As he prepared to set out for the big city, Saddle Song met up with his mentor.
"Troubadour?"
The old stallion was sitting back on his front porch, strumming the strings of his experienced guitar.
"Saddle Song!" Troubadour greeted. "What brings you 'round here?"
"I'm 'bout to head out yonder for Manehattan. Thought I might try my luck cutting a few records. I was wondering if maybe you could give me a few trail tips?"
A warm smile grew across the balladeer's face. "A pony like you don't need any luck. I cut a few records back in my day, even toured Frontier Equestria with a medicine show." He chuckled, "That lively Mr. Hornswoggle! What a character, selling his snake oil and so-called magic tonic! Anyway, boy, if'n it's my advice ya want, it don't matter none if y'all are playin' front o' a crowd, on the front porch, or in a recordin' booth, you play from your heart. And don't ferget the folks who helped you along the way, either."
Saddle Song smiled. "Thanks, Troubadour."
"Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I'm content pickin' on porches, in the saloon, at our Dodge Junction Days fair. This is my trail drive, Saddle Song. Reckon yours is just over the horizon."
When the day came for Saddle Song to ride the rails to Manehattan, Line Rider, Blue Bonnet, and Troubadour came to the railroad station to see him off. His best friend, a donkey named Gray, was going with him, bringing along his big double bass.
Saddle Song hugged his parents.
"Remember, son," Line Rider began, "it takes more than just courage and grit, it takes a heart that believes and isn't afraid to dream."
"You write to us every day," said Blue Bonnet. "Don't you be forgettin'."
"I won't, Mom," Saddle Song replied.
"Three-ten to Manehattan!" All Aboard, the conductor, called out.
Saddle Song bumped hooves with Troubadour. "Thank you, Troubadour, for learnin' me how tuh play guitar an' sing. I right appreciate it."
Troubadour smiled, "You've always had it in ya. I didn't learn ya nuthin' ya didn't already know."
Tipping their hats and bidding happy trails to their kith and kin, Saddle Song and Gray boarded the Friendship Express and lit on out for that land beyond the sun. On the train ride, they played the train songs they learned from Troubadour, including "The Ballad of Steel Driver," about a railroad stallion who challenged a rock drill to a tunneling race and won.
In Manehattan, they went into the studio and got to work recording the traditional cowpony ballads Troubadour taught them as well as their own compositions. In almost no time at all, their records began to sell like hotcakes. Ponies couldn't get enough of the bouncy beats and catchy rhythms.
The success and popularity of Saddle Song's records caught the attention of Silver Sage, an Applewood director best known for his frontier films. With a new picture in development, he wanted to get Saddle Song and Gray to sing in the barn dance scene and wrote them a letter.
"Look here, Gray," said Saddle Song. "We've got a letter."
"Who's it from?" asked Gray.
"It's from Silver Sage."
"The director?"
Saddle Song began to read:
"Dear Saddle Song and Gray,
You boys have some of the best music I've ever heard. I'm going to be directing a new picture called The Pride of the San Palomino starring Roo Buckaroo. I've got The Foals of the Frontier to perform in the barn dance scene and I'd like you to play also. Come by my office in Applewood. I'll have all expenses covered.
Hope to see you soon,
Silver Sage"
Saddle Song and Gray were awestruck. Roo Buckaroo was their favorite cowpony actor. They loved the frontier adventures he brought to the silver screen. Plus, The Foals of the Frontier were Applewood's number one cowpony band.
"That sounds like a pretty good opportunity," said Gray.
"Whadda ya think, Gray?" asked Saddle Song. "Should we go for it?"
"And how!"
The two friends took the Friendship Express to Applewood where they met Silver Sage who
introduced them to Roo Buckaroo and The Foals of the Frontier. Soon after, production began and the cast and crew went out on location in the San Palomino Desert where they began shooting The Pride of the San Palomino.
In the barn dance scene, The Foals of the Frontier played a few songs before Saddle Song and Gray took the stage to sing a song called "The San Palomino Polka," while being backed by the famous cowpony band. Shortly after the film's release, Saddle Song and Gray landed a spot on Yippie-Yi Yokel's show on FIM Radio and The Foals of the Frontier became their band. Known as "The Singing Cowpony," Saddle Song soon starred in his own features: The Singing Cowpony, The Lullaby Trail, and Wild Ripplin' Waters. The horizons of Saddle Song's dreams had greatly expanded. Equestria's new Singing Cowpony was quickly climbing the ladder to stardom with no sign of slowing down. Back home in Dodge Junction, his parents couldn't be more proud.
After Saddle Song walked the red carpet, everypony filled the seats of the movie palace for the premier of the Singing Cowpony's latest picture. Some of Applewood's biggest stars were among the attendees including Clark Stable, Hoofrey Bogart, Mare-ilyn Monroan, star of Citizen Mane, Horson Welles, and the little filly star with the bouncing gold ringlets, Curly Top. The house was filled with exhilaration as the lights dimmed and the red curtains at the front parted to either side, revealing the silver screen. Then, in stark black and white, the film began to roll.
As a montage of Saddle Song played, the orotund voice of the intro's narrator announced, "Galloping across the open ranges of Equestria comes everyponies' favorite guitar-totting hero: Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony and his ever-loyal sidekick, Gray! Together, they bring music and harmony to the prairie, dispelling injustice, righting wrongs and singing songs along the way."
Author's Note
I hope you're enjoying the story thus far. Questions, comments, feedback always welcome, but please be respectful. Many thanks!
For more on Saddle Song, see "Saddle Song's Roundup" on my home page.
Beneath a cloudless blue sky on the prairie, Saddle Song was casually trotting down the trail with his friend, Gray the Donkey, beside him. The Singing Cowpony loved music. As he and Gray trotted the trail, he happily sang a song which he penned as his theme while Gray rhythmically bobbed his head:
I'm a singing ol' cowpony,
O'er the trail I go along
With my trusty guitar on my back,
My name is Saddle Song!
Saddle Song and Gray strolled into the town of Lariat. The townsponies were busy setting up for the big rodeo. As the star singer of FIM Radio, the sponsor of the rodeo, Saddle Song had been invited to sing during the opening ceremony. The two of them went over to the rodeo stadium where cowponies were warming up and practicing their skills. They stood up on their hind legs, leaning against the fence, watching the competitors train.
"Looks like some tough competition," Saddle Song observed.
"Aw, that ain't nuthin'," said Gray. "Why I could do that hay bale shot put with my eyes closed."
Saddle Song knew ol' Donkey Gray was bluffing. "All right, pardner, let's see you give'er a go."
"Oh, well, I ain't one fer showin' off."
Saddle Song chuckled. "Maybe next time."
A sturdy stallion came up to the gate, hauling a cart loaded with hay bales. With him were an older stallion wearing a bandana around his neck and a tattered hat on his gray-maned head, and a young mare in a leather vest and a ten gallon hat.
"Pardon me," began the young stallion, pausing with his cart. "Y'all mind if we could get by?"
Saddle Song and Gray stepped down from the gate to let them through.
"Sorry 'bout that," said Saddle Song, opening the gate.
"It's nothing," the stallion replied.
"Say, could we lend a hoof?" asked Gray.
"Much obliged."
Gray and Saddle Song helped the family into the stadium. The mare noticed the guitar slung around Saddle Song's back. She watched as he set it down to help unload the bales of hay.
"Hold up a minute," said the mare, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "Ain't you Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony?" She turned to Gray. "And you're Donkey Gray."
"I reckon y'all got us figured out," Saddle Song said with a smile.
"We listen to you all the time on Yippie-Yi Yokel's show on FIM. Y'all are sponsoring the rodeo."
"Shucks, thanks for tuning in. Seeming y'all know Gray and me, who might we have the pleasure of meeting?"
"I'm Prairie Belle," the mare introduced. "This is my brother, Dusty, and our daddy, Farmer Sodbuster."
"Mighty fine meetin' y'all!"
"Are any of you joining the rodeo?" Gray asked.
Farmer Sodbuster replied, "Oh, my rodeo days are behind me, but Prairie Belle here is a rodeo natural. She's done claimed the blue ribbon the last three years."
"She's bully at the hay bale shot put," Dusty added.
"Gray, weren't you just sayin' how you could do the hay bale shot put with your eyes closed?" Saddle Song asked with a sly grin.
"Uh, well, I may have been stretchin' the truth there a lil' bit," Gray explained knowing good and well he was no rodeo athlete.
"Ain't nuthin' to it, Gray," said Prairie Belle. "Take a gander at this."
She trotted over where the hay bales were set up for the shot put. She took a rope in her mouth, swung the bale around, then let go, sending the bale flying and landing it a considerable distance.
"Pfft! Anypony can do that," Gray said with exaggerated confidence. He adjusted his turned-up hat, puffed out his chest, and stepped over to a hay bale. "I'll do it with my eyes open."
Saddle Song grinned as he shook his head. He already knew that his faithful sidekick would end up making a fool of himself.
Gray took the end of the rope in his mouth. He gave it a tug and swung the bale around. After a few rotations, he simultaneously let go of the rope and lost his balance. He stumbled backward and fell into a barrel planter filled with water. Prairie Belle, Dusty, and Farmer Sodbuster hurried over to make sure he was all right. Saddle Song trotted behind them.
"You okay?" Dusty asked as he helped Gray out of the barrel planter.
"That depends," said Gray. "How'd I do?" He lifted the brim of his sopping wet hat from over his eyes.
"Maybe you should stick with singing," said Saddle Song.
The cowpony star pointed his hoof toward the hay bale. It landed both out-of-bounds and nowhere near Prairie Belle's.
"If I had a chance to warm up, y'all'd be plenty sorry." Gray smiled as he wrung out his hat. "Prairie Belle, as near as I can figure, you'll win the rodeo fer sure."
"Thanks, Gray," Prairie Belle replied. "I sure hope so. The grand prize is 500 bits!"
"Tarnation! What do y'all plan on doin' with that kind of money?"
"The orphanage is struggling. I told Miss Marm I'd donate my winnings to help her out. The little foals need it more than I do."
"That's mighty generous of you," said Saddle Song. "Well don't let us keep you from practicing. I'm glad we could be of assistance to you, but with the rodeo tomorrow and all, we oughtta be checking into the hotel."
"I hate to break it to you," Dusty started, "but with everypony arriving for the rodeo, the hotel's got no vacancy."
"You don't need no hotel," said Farmer Sodbuster. "We've got plenty of room for you fellers. Y'all can stay in the bunkhouse."
"Gee, thanks, Farmer Sodbuster," said Saddle Song, "but we couldn't intrude."
"No, we really couldn't," said Gray. "We appreciate your offer."
"It's no trouble at all. You boys ain't got nowhere else to go. I insist."
"Okay, we'll take the bunkhouse," the Singing Cowpony began. "We'll try not to be a burden."
"Oh, I'm sure you boys will be fine. Come now, we'll get you two settled in."
Farmer Sodbuster escorted Saddle Song and Gray to his home as Dusty helped set up for the rodeo and Prairie Belle trained. Meanwhile, a stallion practiced throwing a hay bale. It landed short of Prairie Belle's.
"Spurs, that ain't gonna git you first place," another stallion grumbled.
"It ain't as easy as it looks, Grullo Dun," replied Spurs.
"We'll have that money. The whole purse!"
"Less'n we hide weights in them bales, that mare's got me beat."
Eureka! Spurs and Grullo Dun looked at each other with fiendish eyes and a ne'er-do-well grin.
"Bully idea, Spurs. That's exactly what we'll do. The question is how. We can't let nobody see us."
"Why not git yerself some varicolored duds and go moseying as a rodeo clown?"
"Spurs, you's a reg'lar genyuss! Here's what we'll do..." Grullo Dun whispered his dastardly plan.
Come tomorrow, Spurs will be the rodeo champion and claim the 500 bit grand prize which Prairie Belle had promised to give to Miss Marm's Orphanage.
That evening, Farmer Sodbuster and his darling wife, Prairie Lily, cooked up a delectable dinner of hot rolls, steamed veggies, and refreshing glasses of iced tea. They joined Prairie Belle, Dusty, and their guests, Saddle Song and Gray, at the dinner table where they bowed heads, made their devotions to Harmony, and enjoyed a dinner as newfound friends.
"That was some good eatin'," said Saddle Song. "Farmer Sodbuster, Mrs. Prairie Lily, thanks again for taking Gray and me into your home."
"You're quite welcome," said Mrs. Prairie Lily.
"I don't suppose you could play us a song?" Dusty requested.
"I don't mind at all," Saddle Song replied.
They gathered in the den.
Saddle Song picked up his guitar and gave the strings several strums. "This here's a lively little number called 'I've Got a Sweetheart in Appleloosa.'"
Everypony listened and looked on in delight as the Singing Cowpony sang:
I've got a sweetheart in Appleloosa.
She is the apple of my eye.
I've got a sweetheart in Appleloosa.
I'll love her 'til the day I die.
Saddle Song bowed his head as his little audience applauded.
"Why, it's like havin' the FIM Radio station in our own home," Mrs. Prairie Lily said.
"There's plenty more where that came from," said Gray. "We'll be playin' at the rodeo during the opening ceremony tomorrow.
"How exciting!"
"Once again," began Saddle Song, "thank you all for your hospitality. If you'll excuse us, we best be gettin' some shut-eye. Needa be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for sound checks and rehearsals."
"You boys have a good night," said Farmer Sodbuster. He turned to Prairie Belle, "Reckon you best be gettin' some sleep, too. You've got a big day ahead o' you."
Saddle Song and Gray said their good night's, took their hats from the pegs on the wall, and went across the yard to the bunkhouse where they settled in for a good night's sleep. In his bunk, Saddle Song leaned against the headboard, strumming his guitar and humming one of those old cattle lullabies.
Across the room, Gray was setting his bunk when he began to sing:
Last night as I lay on the prairie,
And looked at the stars in the sky,
I wondered if e'er a cowpony
Would drift to that sweet by and by.
After their song, Saddle Song lay his guitar at his bedside. He fluffed his pillow and brought the blanket up. Sitting up in his bunk, Gray blew out the candle lantern on the bedside table, then he, too, pulled up his blanket and went to sleep.
The next day, everypony in Lariat assembled at the stadium for the big rodeo competition. The stadium was decorated with balloons, streamers, and flags of all colors. Farmer Sodbuster and Mrs. Prairie Lily sat in the bleachers, waiting to cheer for Prairie Belle who was backstage with the other competitors, including Spurs. Dusty and Grullo Dun were rodeo clowns, prancing around the stadium to hype up the crowd.
The audience settled down when the town mayor stepped forward and introduced the competitors. He then introduced the FIM Radio personality, Yippie-Yi Yokel.
"Well ho-o-ow-dee, everypony!" the radio host hollered. "We gotta lotta fun comin' yer way when we get this here rodeo out the chute. But first, allow me to innerduce our guest judge, the rootin'-est, tootin'-est rodeo clown around, Trouble Shoes!"
Wearing his rodeo clown duds, complete with a big red nose and floppy shoes, Trouble Shoes comedically waddled out, pretending to stumble over a hay bale. Everypony laughed and applauded.
"Who put that bale there?" Trouble Shoes quipped. He smiled and waved to the crowd. "I've always loved the rodeo. Always wanted to be a part of it. Now I'm livin' the dream. And here to ennertain you kind folks and help me tell my story is the star of FIM Radio, the Singing Cowpony himself, Saddle Song! And let's here it for Donkey Gray and the Foals of the Frontier!"
The audience whooped and hollered as Saddle Song trotted out into the stadium with Gray and the Foals of the Frontier.
Saddle Song acknowledged, "Thank you, Trouble Shoes, thank you Yippie-Yi Yokel, and a great big cowpony thank you to everypony here."
The rodeo-goers gave their undivided attention as Saddle Song began to play his guitar. The band followed suit.
Trouble Shoes stepped forward and began to sing:
I took my hat and lariat
And joined the rodeo.
Oh Betsy sweet! I'd bring the heat
And win a lot of dough.
My sights were high like the frontier sky,
Gonna be a rodeo king,
But at close of day, the boss did say
I didn't make the team.
Then Saddle Song yodeled the refrain:
I've got those ro-de-o-ooo
Those ro-oh-de-o-ooo
I've got those ro-oh-de-o-ooo-o-ooo-blue-ooo's
After their song, all the musical cowponies took a bow. The audience roared with applause.
The Mayor stepped forward. "Aren't they somethin'? Let's have a round of applause for the kind ponies at FIM Radio for sponsoring our rodeo." After the clapping and cheering settled, the Mayor continued, "And now, without further ado, let's head'em up and move'em out! Yaw!"
Yippie-Yi Yokel announced each event and the competitors who would be participating. Trouble Shoes, in a blazer and bolo tie, took his seat as guest judge. Saddle Song and Gray took their seats in the audience to watch the games.
Prairie Belle and Spurs were the top two competitors. Grill Dun knew that the hay bale shot put would get Spurs the first place position from Prairie Belle and win the rodeo.
Yippie-Yi Yokel announced, "Okay, fillies and gentlecolts. The moment y'all've been waitin' for. The defendin' champion, Prairie Belle, and the challenger, Spurs, will face each other in the hay bale shot put. This here's the moment of truth. Whoever wins this event will win the rodeo and the purse of 500 bits!"
In the stands, Farmer Sodbuster, Prairie Lily, Saddle Song, and Gray cheered for Prairie Belle. Dusty and Grullo Dun helped to set up the final event.
Waiting to go on, Prairie Belle turned to Spurs, "This sure has been a rip-snortin' good time. You've done mighty fine, Spurs. Best of luck to ya."
A good sport, she extended a hoof to shake Spurs'. He hardly acknowledged her kind words and barely even glanced her way.
"I don't need luck," the outlaw affirmed.
"Up first is the challenger, Spurs," sounded Yippie-Yi Yokel's voice.
Spurs walked past Prairie Belle, her hoof still outstretched. As he boldly stepped out to his bale of hay, Grullo Dun pranced around and discreetly said to him, "This is the endgame. The 500 bits are ours."
Spurs took the end of the rope in his mouth. He swung the bale around and let go. The distance was measured.
"An impressive toss by Spurs!" exclaimed Yippie-Yi Yokel. "But will it be enough? Next up, the defendin' champion, Prairie Belle!"
"Go, Prairie Belle!" exclaimed Prairie Lily.
"That's my little girl!" Farmer Sodbuster hollered.
"You got it, sis!" Dusty exclaimed.
Saddle Song and Gray cheered for their new friend, "You can do it, Prairie Belle!"
Prairie Belle smiled as she walked out. She stepped in front of her hay bale. A look of determination on her face. She took the rope in her mouth. As she swung the bale, she thought to herself, Why does this bale feel so heavy? She brushed it off and focused her attention on swinging the bale, with a little extra might, though. She let go of the rope. Her family and friends cheered as they looked on in anticipation. The bale hit the ground. It landed short of Spurs'.
"I can't believe it! Prairie Belle could not out-put Spurs." Yippie-Yi Yokel announced. "The winner of the hay bale shot put is Spurs, making him the new rodeo champion!"
"Yee-haw!" Grullo Dun exclaimed.
Though she was disappointed that she didn't come in first place, Prairie Belle was happy to be on the podium and happy for Spurs' accomplishment. "Congratulations, Spurs!"
"They told me y'all were good," said Spurs. "Looks like I'm better."
He walked away, leaving her behind.
"Don't worry 'bout him," said Dusty, walking up to his little sister. "He thinks the rodeo's all about winning blue ribbons and money. Sure, those may be good an' all, but the real prize is having fun and givin' it all ya got."
"There's our rodeo star!" said Prairie Lily proudly.
Farmer Sodbuster, Saddle Song, and Gray followed the missus onto the field.
"You sure put on a darn good show," said Farmer Sodbuster.
"You certainly did," said Saddle Song.
"Thanks, everypony," said Prairie Belle. "I was hopin' to give Miss Marm the 500 bits. Reckon 300 bits ain't so bad."
"Those bits are going to a good cause," said Gray. "Whether ya give three or 300, five or 500, yer doin' somethin' to help somepony else."
"You're right, Gray. Every bit counts when you're helping others."
"What in tarnation?!" a cowpony exclaimed in surprise. He was helping to clean up the ring and was moving the hay bales when he tried to load Prairie Belle's onto a cart. "This bale weighs a ton." He untied the ropes and sifted through the hay and found weights hidden inside.
Prairie Belle and the others hurried over.
"Somepony hid weights in my hay bale!" Prairie Belle exclaimed.
Saddle Song searched Spurs' hay bale. "Reckon I can't say the same for Spurs' bale," he reported.
Spurs' bale of hay was clean. No weights hidden in there.
Gray questioned, "Say, you don't suppose Spurs hid them weights in Prairie Belle's bale so he could win, do ya?"
"Innocent until proven guilty," Saddle Song replied. "But it sure seems that way. C'mon. Let's go talk to the Sheriff."
Saddle Song and company met the Sheriff at his office.
"So you fellers reckon that Spurs rigged the rodeo so he could win the blue ribbon and vamoose with the prize money?" the Sheriff clarified.
"That certainly seems to be the way of it," Saddle Song replied.
"Where is Spurs now?"
"I ain't seen him since the rodeo," Prairie Belle answered.
"Hmm..." Gray pondered. "I bet you if he rigged the rodeo for the money, he'd skedaddle the first chance he got."
Whoo! Whoo!
From outside there came the sound of a train whistle from across town.
Saddle Song and Gray's eyes widened with sudden realization. "The train!" they exclaimed.
They hurried from the Sheriff's office to the railroad station. The Sheriff joined them in pursuit of the outlaw. When they got to the station, they immediately began asking for Spurs.
"Any y'all seen Spurs?" Gray asked.
"Has anypony seen Spurs?" Saddle Song inquired.
"You mean the rodeo champion?" questioned a mare. "He done boarded the train not five minutes ago."
Whoo! Whoo! The train whistle blew.
With a slow and steady chugging, the train began to pull out of the station.
"We'll never catch him now," said Gray.
"Guess again, pardner," said the Sheriff. He motioned his head toward a stagecoach.
Saddle Song, Gray, Prairie Belle, and the Sheriff hitched a ride on the stagecoach after the train. Little by little, the train picked up speed until it was chugging at a steady pace. Sitting pretty onboard, Grullo Dun and Spurs were planning a life of leisure.
"What're you gonna do with yer share, Grullo Dun?" asked Spurs.
"Maybe retire to Seaward Shoals," answered Grullo Dun.
"We're just like Bronc Cassidy and the Sundance Colt, ain't we?"
The outlaws grinned and clinked their glasses together, drinking a toast of sparkling cider to "the good life."
Something outside the window caught Grullo Dun's attention. "What the Sam Hill?"
Spurs turned around to find a stagecoach racing alongside the train.
"Gadzooks! It's the Sheriff."
"Whudda we do now?" Spurs asked.
"We run faster. C'mon."
The two outlaws made their way through a few cars to the engine. They threw off the engineer and the fire-pony and adjusted the engine's regulator, increasing the train's speed.
"Let's see 'em catch us now!" chuckled Grullo Dun.
The stagecoach was close to reaching the engine. Once they catch up, they'd have the engineer stop the train so the Sheriff could arrest Spurs. That plan would have to be revised, however, because the train suddenly picked up speed, going from a steady clickety-clack to speeding bullet. The passengers were jolted, some almost thrown from their seats at the unexpected burst of acceleration.
"They're really high-tailing it now," said Gray.
"You reckon he knows we're on to him?" asked Prairie Belle.
"I reckon so," Saddle Song replied. As the train sped past, he knew their only chance at catching Spurs was to jump on board. "Prairie Belle, do you think you could lasso the railing on the caboose?"
"Saddle Song, I sure can!"
The rodeo star shook out her lariat and tied the end to the stagecoach. She then dealt her a loop and threw the lasso, successfully roping the railing. The ponies pulling the stagecoach quickly jumped onto the stage to avoid being run over as it now rushed behind the train. Saddle Song and Gray jumped onto the caboose. The Sheriff was just about to make the jump, but a sudden bounce of the stagecoach caused the rope to snap, leaving it behind in the train's dust.
Saddle Song turned to Gray, "We need to get to the engine and slow the train down before it derails."
The Singing Cowpony tried to open the caboose door, but it was locked. Gray pointed to the roof and he and Saddle Song climbed on top of the little red coach. With careful hooves, they made their way across the tops of the cars. When they reached the roaring hog, they found Spurs trying to uncouple the engine from the rest of the train.
"Stop right there, Spurs!" Saddle Song shouted above the rapid clickety-clack. "Slow this train down and surrender."
Grullo Dun climbed over the coal-car. "Hey, I know you," he said to Saddle Song with a smirk. "You that guitar-picker on the radio. Why don'tcha step aside, maestro. This ain't no place for a twanger."
"I'm only gonna say this once more. Slow this train down and surrender."
Grullo Dun met Saddle Song on the top of the car. "Oh yeah? And if I don't, then what? You gonna serenade me to death?" He laughed and thumped the brim of Saddle Song's hat.
Saddle Song fixed his hat and put a hoof on Grullo Dun to stop him before he jumped back to the engine.
"Hey! Git yer hooves off me," Grullo Dun swatted Saddle Song's hoof away and decked him.
"Saddle Song!" cried Gray.
"Go slow this rattler down, Gray," the Singing Cowpony said as he put up his dukes against Grullo Dun. "I'll take care of him."
Gray leapt onto the coal heap in the tender. He was about to jump to the engine when a whip wrapped around his leg, holding him back. He looked behind him at Spurs who held the other end of the whip.
"You ain't slowin' this train down, dude," said Spurs.
Gray thought otherwise. He kicked his leg forward, pulling the whip from Spurs. He caught the end in his mouth and untied his leg. Cracking the whip in the air as a warning, he told the outlaw, "Slow the train down."
Spurs leapt to the engine. He reached for the break then, almost unexpectedly, took a swing at Gray. The brave jack recovered quickly and caught Spurs with the whip. With Spurs tied up, Gray turned the break lever to steadily slow the train, bringing it to a complete stop.
Prairie Belle and the Sheriff caught up with them.
"Saddle Song? Gray" the young mare called out.
They hurried to the FIM Radio stars when they saw them standing by Spurs and Grullo Dun, the outlaws sitting back-to-back, tied with the whip.
"Are you boys all right?" Prairie Belle asked her friends.
"We're fine, thanks," said Saddle Song.
The Sheriff approached the outlaws. "Jig's up, fellers."
Back in the town of Lariat, the truth was made known. Grullo Dun and Spurs were jailed. Prairie Belle was given the blue ribbon and the 500 bit grand prize. Just as she had promised, she donated her winnings to Miss Marm's Orphanage.
After a long day, it was time for Saddle Song and Gray to hit the trail. Their new friends followed them just outside town to see them off.
"Thank you both again for all your help," said Prairie Belle.
"Yer mighty welcome," said Saddle Song.
"Should you boys ever come this way again," began Farmer Sodbuster, "y'all know you've got a place to stay."
"Much obliged, Farmer Sodbuster," said Gray.
With his guitar slung on his back, Saddle Song looked toward the setting sun. "The sun's getting low. Reckon we better head out."
"You boys be careful," said Mrs. Prairie Lily.
"Happy trails," Dusty waved.
"'Til we meet again," Saddle Song replied with a smile.
Prairie Belle, Dusty, Farmer Sodbuster, and Mrs. Prairie Lily waved goodbye to Saddle Song and Gray as they trotted off into the sunset.
