Cattle Calamity - When the Cow Comes Home

It's time for another cattle calamity story from Wade.   

Wade was riding a young mare in the pastures at home.  It was a beautiful fall day and he was checking his dad's fall calving cows. His trusty blue heeler Tuff was trotting alongside.  He made his rounds and he was missing one calf.  So he rode on, taking a closer look at the ditches and draws of the pastures.  He found the missing calf in a ditch.  The little calf's legs were stretched out, flies were swarming over him.  He sat on his horse and watched the calf for any sign of life; a twitch of an ear, the rise of a chest.  There was nothing.  Wade was afraid it was dead.  So he got off the little mare.  Tuff had wondered off into the draws nearby.  Wade walked up to the poor little dead calf.  He reached down and grabbed the calf's legs.  To his surprise the calf let out a great big BAWL, and sprang back to life!  He stood by the calf, relived he was alive.

Behind him he heard the mama cow calling for her calf.  Wade turned around and there was the cow, coming toward him at a high rate of speed.  Tuff was at her heels, bringing her down the hill.  His tongue wagging and bouncing behind that cow as if saying, "I got her Wade, Oh boy I got her for you!"  The young mare saw that cow moving toward her.  That horses eyes got as big as saucers, the strange animal heading for her was more than she could take. Her response was to flee.  But Wade had a hold of her reins.  In an effort to save herself from the approaching doom she jumped sideways taking Wade with her.  Wade was jerked to the side, he saw the fear and approaching wreck if he didn't act quickly.  He swung a leg up and found his way into the saddle.  Hanging sideways from the saddle the distressed mare,Wade,and Tuff high tailed it out of there.  The mama cow was reunited with it's calf.

Wade had the mare collected by the time they reached the top of the hill, and he watched the calf nurse.  Tuff sat next to the mare and looked up to Wade for praise for a job well done - after all he brought that cow back to the calf.  It was a good day for a cow dog.