Four Ole Cowpokes Looking for Shelter

two cowboys on horses at sunsetBy J. Douglas Hinds

 

Four of us were headin’ east

The sky overcast and gray

There was Jack, Bill, Dave and me

Out looking for some strays

 

Sure enough those clouds got mean

And it didn’t take us long

The rain was easily felt and seen

So we put our slickers on

 

But the rain was easy ridin’

As we rode along the trail

Until that bolt of lightnin’

When the rain gave way to hail

 

Those horses froze right in their tracks

Then hail like marbles fell

I looked at Dave, he looked at Jack

And we gave them ponies hell

 

Head for those trees I heard them say

And lets get out of here

I spurred my horse and followed Dave

While bringin’ up the rear

 

I had my slicker buttoned tight

My hat I pulled down low

We must have looked a frightful sight

As down the hill we go

 

We hunkered there down in the trees

But just kept getting hit

Let’s find that cave across the creek

And get ourselves in it

 

We crossed the creek, went up the hill

And rode up to that cave

I looked at Jack, he looked at Bill

And in we followed Dave

 

 

Now no one ever thought that cave

Was anything but hollow

But I’d have to say that on that day

Dave was not the man to follow

 

We backed our horses in that hole

To watch that hail a poundin’

Four ole cowboys hunkered low

All safely there resoundin’

 

That icy hail had chilled the air

And we all shivered some

And then I noticed my ole mare

Begin to come undone

 

I felt that ripple go down her back

Her eyes and ears both flared

There’s something in here, I said to Jack

As in the dark we stared

 

Our attention drawn to that fearful hole

We plum forgot the hail

And out of that darkness, black as coal

There came this mournful wail

 

All four horses shot straight up

And never came back down

Til we were riding hard in hail

They never touched the ground

 

We left that cave in such a flurry

I was riding with no hat

And to this day there’s been no hurry

For ever goin’ back

 

I still ride with Dave in my new hat

Though now I take the lead

I don’t ever follow Dave in fact

That’s one thing I don’t need

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Author: John Hinds

John Douglas Hinds, who was raised on a ranch, is the retired senior partner with J.D. Hinds Professional Painting LLC. As a licensed residential and commercial painting contractor, he has painted “thousands of homes and businesses” in the Valley over the past 33 years. Hinds is a resident of Cave Creek and a frequent contributor to The Peak.

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