This is the story of Joe Saintclaire, who was one of five trail hands in taking cattle up the Western Trail. The other four trail hands were called Billy McCoy, John Hampton, Peter Chelson and Bobby Joe Hunt, the Trail Boss’s name was Max Hanigan, who was considered one of the toughest bosses around. McCoy, Hampton and Hunt were just youngsters ‘cause this was their first trip, but Saintclaire, Chelson and Hanigan have been riding for years. Hanigan had almost bucked out last winter from a bullet in his side, but he would not have lasted if they had got snowed in outside of Fort Worth.
One morning in particular, they had bread with axle grease, bacon and coffee for breakfast at about six. They were always up around this time, so that they could make it to the next camp by dinner time. Dinner was at about noon, so they had to get an early start. Joe usually woke up at about five-thirty so he had time to get dressed and wake up real good before packing up. He had made this habit about four years ago when he first came out here. That first year was the hardest of his life. They headed out about mid-September and by October three of the trail hands had either gotten themselves captured by Indians or ran over by cattle, either way they bucked out pretty quick.
Saintclaire’s Ma and Pa had passed on about three years back and he had a sister and brother-in-law as well as their little un’ back in New Hampshire. He would get a letter here and there, mostly around his birthday and Christmas, as well as Thanksgiving. Hanigan used to have a wife but last year when he was gone she and their little boy died of fever. After that he never really talked, other than orders. That day actually happened to be Saintclaire’s birthday. He was now thirty-five years old, and he was going to see his sweet heart Annabeth McClellan, today.
The trail hands passed through a little town every time they drove the cattle down this way. Saintclaire and Annabeth had met about two years ago and she had gotten her father’s blessing. They planned to get married as soon as Saintclaire got back. After they were married, they would go on the trail together till the cattle were delivered. They would then take a train back to his home town and live in his parent’s house. Annabeth was born on the same day as he was but five years later, and she had never been married. Instead of marrying she decided to go to a western college that was located in the center of town. When the other trail hands met her they all thought she was a calico queen. She proved to be real help around camp when they were outside of town.
He could see the town in the distance. He was sure nervous about it, ‘cause as soon as he got in to town he would pick up Annabeth and they would go to the church. When he got there, she was standing outside her door. She jumped on his horse and off they went to the church. It was a simple service. They said their vows, I Do, kissed and ran out of the church to his horse. They went back to her place, got her things and went back to camp. After that it was off to the next town to sell the cattle. Then they said their goodbyes to the other trail hands and got on the train. They were the happiest couple on the train and were happy when they reached his hometown about a week later. His parents’ old house had four bedrooms, a parlor, Family room and a large kitchen, as well as a half acre backyard and a white picket fence around it with a garden in the corner. The garden was Saintclaire’s Ma’s and it was one of her favorite places to be during the day. The other was the kitchen.
The house seemed so empty without Ma and Pa, but all of their furniture was still in the house. Mr. and Mrs. Saintclaire would make the best of it and they would be happy. Someday it will feel like their house. Then they will have their happily ever after, like in Ma’s favorite story.
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