THE OLD COWBOY Part Eighteen 
(continued)

"Seems she'd been tellin' the boys 'bout laundry days an' dirty diapers, dishes, an' hoein' in the garden. Now I got ta tell ya from a cowboys point of view, most of the 'boys' try ta keep their mind on cowboyin', not the matters of keepin' a house in order... Ya know, 'womans work'.

Well,... I sure got to tell ya, gettin' that saddle back on 'Tanner' was tough the first day after the 'Doc' took that itchy ol' cast off. I tried holdin' them reins with my right hand, but too weak. 

Ol' 'Tanner' an me had to get used to one another all over again. Like cinchin' down that saddle. He hadn't been saddled in six weeks, and he was skittish to say the least.

He bowed his head like he always did, and I scratched behind his left ear just like always. But, when I brought that bridle around, his head shot up and he jumped back, and pawed the ground three times. That was his way of lettin' me know I'd done something he didn't like.

Well, as it turned out he didn't like me usin' my left hand. It hurt me some but I got that bridle started with the right hand, then he stood gentle whilst I finished up.

I'd worked up quite a sweat buy the time I got that saddle on. The 'Doc' released me on Wednesday an' assured me I could handle cowboyin' on Monday. Monday morn' had me stiff as an old oak board, so I worked it out one finger at a time.

I'd had that saddle on 'Tanner' seven times by Monday and I was almost up to speed. Your Grandma offered to go in for me, but I gave her that look... And she just laughed and I laughed and all them kids busted out laughin' too! It were sort of funny thinkin' her goin' back in for me, I'd never let that happen again. I didn't much cater ta 'woman's work', an I think she'd worn thin too...

I rode off into the sunrise..."