The Long Trail

The Long Trail © by Trisha Sugarek The Circle Heart brand on the wet rump rippled as the horse shivered with exhaustion the sun lost its battle with night and dropped behind the far peak Chaparejos, worn thin and soft fit his legs like they had grown there Dusty spurs jangled as he trotted into the sleepy town A saddle that had seen a thousand miles creaked and complained as he stepped down the crown of his hat was stained with sweat from the hard ride Reins dangled in the dirt The horse hung his head, relieved to not be moving anymore A drink or two to wash the Santa Fe Trail dust from the cowboy’s throat he stepped up onto the boardwalk, turned and gazed at the town and the mountains beyond the color of old blood as the sun lost its glory He pulled a cigarillo out, and with one smooth movement wiped a match on his pants, the tiny flame igniting He puffed and blew smoke into the night air watched the town close up for the night Across the street a cur scurried around a corner a merchant keyed his shop closed and lit the gas lantern beside his door The work had been good at the Circle Heart ranch, the grub even better But the trail was his siren, always calling him, luring him over the next hill, down the next wash, up the next canyon sleeping next to a small camp fire, staring at a billion stars wondering if someone, something out there was staring back He wanted to settle but he hadn’t found the right place the right woman the right time Flicking the smoke into the street, he turned and entered the saloon, honky-tonk piano music played The doors behind him whispered back and forth The patrons saw another dusty, tired cowpoke, looking for a few hours of pleasure some music, some whiskey, and if he could afford it the soft arms of a woman The cowboy saw weak town folk, forever saddled to their days the bit in their mouths dictating their lives wary of any stranger, their gaze sidling away Set ‘em up and keep ‘em comin’, the cowboy barked Show me your coin, the barkeep growled His days were numbered the boys from the Circle Heart ranch would find him and the horse They would take their horse and probably string him up to the nearest tree