Page 1 of Cowboy

CHAPTER ONE

Benjamin Alfonse LeBlanc was only six years old when he decided what he was going to be when he grew up. Everyone around him wanted to be a SEAL or a Ranger, or some other Special Forces member. Not him. He wanted to be a cowboy.

It all started when his Uncle King bought him a cowboy outfit for Christmas. He had a leather vest with leather chaps. Although it wasn’t real leather, he didn’t know that. It had a star on the vest to indicate that he was the sheriff. It had a holster with a toy pistol in it. And the best part in the whole world was the cowboy hat. He didn’t stop wearing it the entire year.

When it came time to go to school, his parents explained that he couldn’t wear the outfit to school because the other kids would be jealous and might not be able to get their own outfit. Benjamin understood, although he was very sad.

So, his Uncle King came to the rescue again, buying him his first real pair of cowboy boots. They were brown with a square toe, and they looked awesome with his new blue jeans. He was a cowboy!

As he got older and was assigned chores like the other boys, Benjamin was thrilled to be assigned to the animal division. He helped Lucy, Sniff, Dex, Marie, and the others with the animals they were training or rehabilitating. He’d clean out the pens, muck the stalls, and feed the animals.

Other kids thought it was gross, cleaning horse or dog poop, but Benjamin knew that it was how you got to the good parts of the job. Playing with the animals. The dogs were awesome because they did whatever you told them to do. But it was the horses that really made Benjamin excited.

“What’s on the agenda for today, Cowboy,” said Sniff, smiling at the boy. Benjamin secretly loved that he called him Cowboy but didn’t tell him.

“I’m gonna try to get the mare to walk around the paddock,” said Benjamin proudly. He loved it when Sniff talked to him like a grown-up. It made him feel very important. Sometimes, he would come out to the animal pens with Caroline strapped to his chest. She was cute, for a baby. And a girl. But she didn’t compare to the animals.

“She’s still skittish, so you be careful. Take one of the bigger dogs with you.”

“Yes, sir,” he said politely, nodding at the other man. He loved Sniff. In fact, he loved all the men on the property. They were big, strong, wise, and kind. If he had to pick a hero, his father was number one, but all the other men came in at number two.

Sniff smiled at the boy’s politeness and watched as he hooked the lead to the mare. She’d been used as a workhorse on a farm up in north Louisiana when she was brought to them for recovery. Violet, Lucy, Claire, and Dani stepped up for three days straight, trying to save the poor mare’s life.

Only seven years old, her body looked like she was a hundred. She hadn’t been fed or watered properly, and the work had been back-breaking. Now, she was gaining weight and learning to trust the people who rescued her.

“It’s alright, girl,” whispered Cowboy. “We’re just going to go for a walk. I won’t make you pull anything.”

Sniff watched the boy as Lucy came up beside him, kissing him.

“He’s so good with her,” she said to him. Sniff nodded, hugging his wife tightly to his body. He never forgot that he’d almost lost her. Much younger than him, he was always worried that one day she might wake up and realize that he wasn’t good enough for her. It surprised him every day that she adored him and loved him.

“I guess we’re going to need to build a permanent pasture just for the horses we keep rehabilitating. It seems someone on this team can’t let them go after they’re better,” he smirked.

“I know,” she laughed. “It’s a terrible quality to have when you’re rescuing animals. One day, we’re going to need to open a zoo. But for now, they’re my babies, and I don’t want to let them go.”

They watched as Benjamin slowly walked the horse around the fence line. She would place her snout on his shoulder every now and then, kissing his ear, and he’d laugh.

“You’re getting stronger every day, Cinnamon,” said Benjamin. Sniff and Lucy laughed. He’d named the damn horse, which only meant they couldn’t let her go now. “It won’t be long, and you’ll be ready to move on.”

Benjamin felt a funny feeling in his stomach and thought he might be sick. He stopped and turned, staring into the dark eyes of the mare. She nodded her head up and down, telling him she wanted to keep walking. Reaching out, he hugged her neck, then continued. He waved when he saw his parents standing next to Sniff and Lucy.

“Is he doing alright?” asked Blade.

“Brother, he’s amazing. We couldn’t do it all without him and the other boys, but he always wants to stay longer.”

“We noticed,” laughed Blade. “He’s been late for dinner every night this week.”

“I’m sorry,” said Lucy. “I’ll try to keep track of time for him.”

“No, no,” said Suze. “We love that he’s found something he’s so passionate about. He spends as much time out here as he does working out with the other boys.”

“He’ll find his direction soon enough,” said Blade. “God knows, if he doesn’t want to go into the military, I’m not going to push him.”

“Hi, Dad. Hi, Mom,” he said, walking toward them with the mare. He released the lead, and she walked toward the water, away from the other humans.

“Hi, sweetie,” said Suze, ruffling his hair. “You’re late for dinner. Again.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, frowning. “Let me go wash up, and I’ll be right back.” He ran off toward the barn, washing his hands thoroughly. Running back to his mom and dad, they all walked together to the cafeteria, enjoying dinner with their friends and family.

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