Two of a Kind

I mounted onto the newly trained two year old colt and took off for the cattle herd. I'm riding him to get him used to being around cattle. I laughed as the new calves frolicked and played in the spring grass. Dad then called saying that the colt's new owner was here. I then turned him around and ran around the herd before going right up to the barn. I dismounted before the gate and led the colt through. "Looked nice running up." An old client said. Mr. Hoss from Victoria, Tx. "He rides nice. Just took him out to check cattle. Didn't spook at the new calves exploring their legs nor him." I said.

"How much again for him?" Mr. Hoss asked. "Five thousand." I said. "I'll take his papers too." He said. As always my clients get the breeding papers in case they decide to keep them as breeding horses or as a reference. I finished the deal and went back into the barn brushing several for sale colts down. Occasionally a person will call about fillies for breeding. Those go higher than my colts. The barn phone rang. I picked it up. "Shorts QH. Desiree speaking." I said as I continued to brush the colt. "Hello this is the four sixes ranch. We're looking for some mares to enter in our breeding program. I was wondering if you had a few to sell." A guy said. "I've got twenty fillies born this year and twelve last year. I can sell seven of the twelve to you." I said.

"How much are you wanting on each?" He asked. "Depends on what you're going to do with them." I said. "Mostly breeding, maybe show one or two." He said. "How bout you come down to look at the twelve and pick out the seven you want. Then I'll tell you prices. All I can say now is that it's going to be between five to seventeen thousand per head depending on which one." I said. "All comes down to the dam and sire doesn't it." He said. "That's what I go by." I said. "How about June fifth?" He asked. "Sounds good." I said.

"I'll see you then." He said before hanging up. I let the colt out into his run before flipping out. "So what's got you excited?" Alex asked. "Four sixes just called and wanted to buy some fillies from me." I said. "That big quarter horse ranch up in the norther part of the state?" He asked. "Yeas!!!" I almost shrieked. Several of the mares and colts whinnied with my almost shriek. "That's great!" He said. "What day?" "The fifth of June." I said. "That will be during the rodeo season." He said. "I know, but if I don't make this sell its just going to be in this little area." I said. "Hey. That doesn't bother me. It's your business now. Your making money and profit from these fabulous animals." He said gesturing to all of the horses.

"And these fabulous animals are family and they become someone else's pet or family when they turn a year to three years." I said. "You can sell a horse in two years?" He asked. "Depending on if they're trained or not." I said. "I say celebratory dinner." He said before hoisting me up onto his shoulder. I chuckled as he carried me to the house. A truck pulled in as we reached the front porch. "Jared." Alex yelled. We both went inside as dad came from the kitchen. "I'd say we celebrate on getting a notice from out of regular buyers." Alex said. "Who's buying and what?" Dad asked.

"Four sixes and at least seven fillies. Depending on which ones I may let them have up to ten." I said. "Hey. If it pays good. Let's go for it." He said. "He asked if the date June fifth will work and I said yes after telling him that he can come down and pick out his girls." I said. "That's almost a month away." He said. "I'll say that's something to celebrate about."

Blake

We pulled up to the ranch hoping to stay the night here. I watched along with Justin as Alex carried her to the house. She looked happy. Especially without us. He sat her down and followed her into the house. Justin and I got out. Her pretty much yelling about a deal she had struck. I went back to the truck and got in. What in the world happened last September. We were a week short of making it happen and it was blown. Justin got in beside me. We both went to his house and sat on the front porch. "Dude what did we do wrong?" I asked him as we sat there. "We broke another promise with her." He replied.

"I wish there was a way we could tell her that the only promise we can keep is to be by her side for the rest of our lives." I said. "Same here. I have a feeling it's a little too late for that." He said. "As much as I want to get her back I've seen the attitude she's got now. Especially after she was called a b**** multiple times at NFR by single cowboys. She doesn't take s*** from anyone now." I said. Justin just stared off into the distance. "I wish we could go back and change every promise we made to her and change them to we'll never leave no matter what happens, no matter how big of an a** we each are on certain days." He said.

"Then we better tell her before we lose her to some guy that will keep every promise except never leaving." I said. "How?" He asked. "Cody and Alex both told us that she's not competing this year. That she probably won't compete again." "I don't know. She use to do reining and cutting with her horses, she may get deeper into that." I said.