Chapter 7: Cholo

Vaquero---I rode up to where Travis and this black kid were standing and dis-mounted. I was introduced to Cholo (half-breed) and he looked the part. He was tall, maybe 6’ 2” like Travis and probably weighs the same. He was wearing Travis’s clothes, shirt, boots and hat. I looked at him and asked if he could ride. (Read Jane and Cholo for his story)

“I have never been on a horse in my life.”

I grinned at Travis.

“I’m sorry I don’t have a lot of time to teach you today. We are taking five hundred head up north and they don’t want to go so I am going to be busy in the back with those two.” I point to Sophia and Elena who are pushing the herd from the rear. “Every now and then one decides to go back home, and we have to chase her back into the herd.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Nothing. Just try not to fall off this mare. She is gentle so she should not buck. Just ease along over there where that one is.” I point to Jane.

“If you have any questions ask her but try to stay out of her way,”

“Yes sir.” He turned to Travis and thanked him. I helped him up in the saddle. He looked a little nervous.

“Just point her in the direction you want to go and touch her sides with your heels.”

That’s what he did, the mare started off at a slow lope across the rear of the herd towards Jane.

“Keep him busy. From what I hear he is a good worker.”

“Will do. See you in a week or so Jefe.”

I mounted and went back to work. I saw Cholo ride up to Jane and start talking. I could not hear what was said but at least she didn’t run him off.

The first day is always the hardest when pushing a herd. It was early afternoon before they all decided to just walk together going north. They would not be any problem tonight, all 500 of them would be tired.

We crossed the first river, not much more than a stream this time of year, then stopped for the night. We pitched the three tents we had brought. Jane and Cholo would each have their own tent. I’m sleeping with my girls!

I noticed Jane and Cholo seemed to be getting along. She showed him how to take care of his horse when we stopped. Then I heard her explaining the different parts of the saddle. She talked more to him that first night than she had to me in the last six months. They were still talking when I went inside the tent with my girls.

Jane---Cholo is good looking! He is tall, thin and well spoken. He knows a little English which he said he learned from watching cowboy movies. He asked about where we were going and when I told him how isolated it is he seemed relieved! I had noticed how all day he kept looking around, back over his shoulder. I remember when I was the same way, and still am when I am down south. I try to stay away from people. Who knows who these tourists really are? There may have been a picture of me in the papers, would someone remember me? But up here in the northern pastures I am different. Just the girls, the horses and the cattle. I love the isolation!

Cholo and I talked late into the night. The moon was high in the sky when I told him we needed to turn in. We still had three days to go on the trail. He asked when we would get to the ranch. I laughed.

“We have been on the ranch all day. This place is over a million acres. Bigger than some states in the United States. You are going to love the northern pastures. They border the mountains it is so beautiful up there.”

I almost hugged him when we got up to enter the tents. Wish I had!

Cholo---Being a cowboy is nothing like in the movies! Learning to sit on a horse without bouncing off is an art. An art that took me almost all day to learn. I quickly figured out that either a walk or a slow lope was best. When she trotted, I felt like I was going off!

Jane helped me a lot. She explained what she was doing and why. I watched in amazement as she raced off to put a stray back in the herd, I hope one day I can ride like her.

It must have been when we finally crossed that stream and pitched the tents before I realized my nervousness was gone. Nobody would follow me up here. I mean how? They would need a horse! When I found out how big this place is I was sure I was safe. Señor Gomez and John had picked the perfect hideout.

The days passed quickly on the trail and before long I became comfortable on that mare! Jane even started telling me to go after one of the heifers when it had broken away from the herd. I like this ‘cowboying’. And Jane is nice, she has taught me a lot in the last three days!

Late on the fourth day we camped again for the night. Vaquero explained that we were close to home, but he wanted to wait until morning to cross the last river. It was a little wider and deeper and he thought it would be better if we waited until we had plenty daylight to do it. He said with any luck we would be ‘home’ by noon.

I guess we were lucky. The water in the river was low but the heifers and the horses did have to swim a little. We were all wet when we climbed the bank on the other side. Jane had made the comment to Vaquero that I had done a good job and made the river crossing like a pro. I felt proud!

We watched as the cattle started to graze and I asked where we were going from here.

“Home,” shouted Jane and kicked her horse into a run heading up-river. The others did the same. I followed at a run.

The wind in my face and the feel of the power of the horse between my legs was exhilarating! In less than ten minutes we arrived at the cabins. We walked the horses until they were cooled down then turned them out in a corral behind the cabins. I asked Jane, “What now?”

“I don’t know about you but after 5 days on the trail I need a bath!” She took off running towards the river, throwing her hat on the ground first. Then it was her shirt. She stopped at the bank and kicked off her boots and slipped out of her jeans. She looked up at me, “Come on. Don’t be shy.” With just her bra and panties she turned and dove off the bank into the water.

Wanting to be a part of this, I walked to the riverbank and looked down. There was Jane and she is beautiful! She is floating on her back in her white bra and panties.

“Come on in the water’s fine.”

I took off my hat, shirt and boots. Thank God, I am wearing underwear! My jeans slid down my leg and onto the ground. I am standing looking down at the river. It is a good ten-foot drop to the water!

“You can swim, can’t you?”

“Yes. How deep is it?”

“Probably 15 or 20 feet. Don’t worry you won’t hit your head,” she laughs.

Ok, here goes! I jump in, feet first! Damn the water is cold as ice! I pop to the surface and start to tread water. I was shivering so bad I could hardly talk!

“I thought you said the water is fine. It’s like ice.”

“You’ll get used to it. Just give it a minute.”

She swam over to me and put her arms around my neck. Our faces were close. Even in this freezing water I felt a twinge in my jockey shorts.

“I love to jump in the river after a long ride. It feels good, right?”

I had to agree with her, it did feel good. We swam around for a few minutes, and I gradually got accustomed to the cold. We crossed the river to a sand bar and climbed out.