The Lure of Wide-Open Spaces
There’s something about the open range that speaks to the soul of a cowboy.
The sun blazed overhead, creating a shimmering haze along the dusty trail. Willow Thompson, a young cowgirl with fiery auburn hair and a quick smile, adjusted the wide-brimmed hat that shielded her from the relentless heat. She rode a sturdy bay mare named Dixie, the pair gliding over the uneven terrain with the kind of ease that only years of practice could achieve.
The cattle drive had been long this year, the harsh conditions forcing the crew to move slowly and carefully. As they rounded a bend, the dusty trail forked, leading towards a shallow riverbed on one side and an encroaching grove of twisted mesquite trees on the other. Willow’s heart raced from the thrill of adventure, yet she sensed a tension crackling in the air.
As they pressed on, Willow felt a distinct shift in the air, a stillness that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Suddenly, a distressed mooing broke the silence, and the other cowhands turned towards the sound. Willow’s heart sank as she spotted movement off the trail — a steer struggling helplessly in a patch of treacherous quicksand.
