COWBOY POETRY: Kate

Bryce Angell is a cowboy poet. Angell was raised on a farm/ranch in the St. Anthony, Idaho area with approximately 75 head of horses. Horses remain an important part of Angell's life.  Angell shares his poetry with Cache Valley Daily every Friday.

The year is 1898, a rancher’s life is tough. For Kate, her life has turned around, but gone from soft to rough.

Kate, tired of her lonely life, was yearning for the city. Those cows that she had fed each day, for them, she had no pity.

She packed her bags, still wonderin’, would she really catch that train? Could she sell her ranch to someone else? Kate thought, “Am I insane?”

Ten years ago her brand new beau, a man of weak intent, had brought her to this promise land, got tired, and off he went.

She waited, broken hearted. She mourned and worked the land. The days turned into years, finally Kate took off her band.

She stayed and made the land her home. What else was she to do? She’d hitched the team and ran the plow. Such women, very few.

The Double Jack she called her ranch. Her grandpa got that name when a pair of jacks were his winning hand. With cards he’d earned some fame.

Her grandpa helped to bring her up and teach her what was right. Would he be disappointed if she didn’t stay and fight?

But, Kate hitched up the buggy, and down the road she flew. She kept both eyes straight ahead. Each eye was full of dew.

Did she really want to get away? Kate truly loved that ranch. Or was she tired of feelin’ lonely? Could she give it a second chance?

Kate pulled up on those horses and looked up in the air. A plea to God she offered for a life that she might share

With someone who would love this ranch, and give it proper care, and be the one that she could love. “Please. There must be one somewhere.”

Kate saw a horse and rider just headed up her way. The rider seemed about her age. Was this her lucky day?

The rider stopped and tipped his hat. “Mornin’ to ya, ma’am. It’s a nice day for a ride, by the way, my name is Sam.

I’m lookin’ for a job out here. Do you know of any work? I’ll try real hard from dawn to dusk. No job I’d ever shirk.”

Kate said, “My ranch could use some help, though I run it best I can.” But the words that Kate was thinking were, “This ranch just needs a man.”

Kate offered him a full-time job. Sam took it on the spot. Was he an answer to her prayer? She’d asked for quite a lot.

Kate turned that buggy right around. Her heart felt more complete. Her new hand rode beside her. Life had turned from sour to sweet.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!