Jimmy Swann - Almost A Cowboy

#67 - Boots, a Stetson, and a Big Belt Buckle

Welcome! I’m glad you are here. 

*******************************************************************

The Story: Jimmy Swann has left Oakland, California. The previous few years had been an ongoing battle of eminent domain with the City of Oakland over his home of thirty years. The city wanted to redesign the street and neighborhood. His neighbors had already settled and moved on. He was the last one. 

He had also lost his beloved wife to illness during this time. 

Jimmy dragged it out in court as long as he could, but the city won out in the end. As the bulldozer moved in on his home, he moved into a rooming house, unsure of what to do next. A short time later he left by Greyhound for Tucson, AZ., and the Caballo Loco Ranch. He had his few belongings in a pack on his back, and some money in the bank.  

*** 

1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9 

Jimmy Swann - #10 – Almost a Cowboy 

Jimmy met Fred Loomey the next morning for coffee. Fred asked Jimmy to help him care for his horses. He had the help of a younger fellow, Stevie, but he was gone for the summer. He would return come Fall.  

He had three horses and a foal from the mare. They were for trail riding and well suited for the task. Jimmy would do the heavier work of getting and feeding hay and clean up around the corral.  

Jimmy wondered if he’d be up to the job. It had been years since he had done much of anything physically demanding. 

Fred also went to Robles Junction to pick up food supplies for a few of the residents. They paid for the service. This was once or twice a week depending on the need. Jimmy could help with that as well. Most often they would go in Fred’s side-by-side. 

Fred would pay him well, but Jimmy countered the offer saying, “I’d be delighted to help out for half of that.”  

Fred said “I’ll pay what it’s worth, I have the money, and am looking to spend it. I’m old, my back hurts and I don’t want to work if I don’t have to.”  

Jimmy agreed to help until Stevie returned. 

Less than a week ago, Jimmy was in Oakland not knowing what he was going to do, and now he had a job on a ranch.  

*** 

Now, with taking care of the horses and going into Robles Junction once or twice a week, and getting Carla to Tucson weekly, Jimmy’s life took on a routine, and the days passed fast.

Jimmy felt useful and the mirror in his makeshift bathroom reflected a happy and a somehow younger-looking Jimmy.  

The background check that Owner Jim had to run for longer term residents came back fine. He paid for six months' rent. 

The change of address for his mail went through and what Jimmy had yet to change to paperless status started arriving for him at CLR. Junk mail mostly. He could do most everything via cell phone and internet. 

And now that he could get to the grocery store, he was able to contribute to the Wednesday night potluck dinners - watermelon and cantaloupe. 

He was up before the sun and on most days accompanied Ben up to the observatory for Ben’s daily study. Often, he and Ben would talk about what Ben was studying. Jimmy wasn’t quite sure why he enjoyed it so much, but he did. He told Ben it made him feel wholesome. 

Afterwards, it was time to tend to the horses. Jimmy was almost a cowboy. He wore boots and a Stetson and had a big belt buckle. And a pitchfork for the hay and a shovel for the rest. Fred got a kick out of it. So did Jimmy. 

Every week to ten days they drove in Fred’s pickup to a feed store near Tucson for bales of hay and oats. It was a heavy load on the return. Fred took good care of his horses. 

Jimmy hadn’t been on a horse since his twenties. Fred taught him how to saddle up, a process more involved than he remembered. He was more comfortable riding bareback and on Fred’s horses they were an easy ride.  

They had a good nature. They were used to doing trail rides and had had many people on their backs.  

The two older horses, Jack, a black, and Brownie, dark brown, had been at the ranch a few years. Jimmy liked Jack best.  

Lucy, the younger buckskin mare, with her foal, Sonny, a palomino, were new to the ranch. They arrived from Montana a few months before Sonny’s birth. Sonny’s father was also a palomino. 

Most of the riding and exercise was done in the morning hours before the heat of the day.

He had several days of sore legs and back getting used to riding again.  

Jimmy took turns riding Jack, Brownie, and Lucy through the CLR to exercise them. Sonny came along, sticking close to his mother. 

It turned out that Fred had a ranch in Montana. The winter cold got the best of him. He gave the ranch to his kids and moved to Arizona for the weather. One of his daughters brought Lucy down when she came for a visit. 

* 

Carla and Jimmy returned from Carla’s Monday morning chemo treatments in Tucson, her fifth session. She had pancreatic cancer, and the prognosis wasn’t good. She was having a hard time. 

Jimmy was glad Carla let him drive her there and back so she could rest up at home.  

She just holed up in her camper until the side effects passed. Along with other friends, Jimmy looked in on her often. Carla’s health was the only dark cloud on otherwise sunny days. Life is not perfect. 

She was her usual outgoing self by Wednesday evening for the potluck. 

While Carla was in treatment, Jimmy made side trips for groceries and for whatever else was needed. His campsite was now well equipped and stocked. 

* 

The owner of the CLR, Jim, pulled into Jimmy’s campsite soon after Jimmy and Carla had returned from Tucson. Jimmy was drinking a cup of coffee at his table in the shade.  

“Here’s your mail. And I have something you might be interested in,” he said. 

“What’s that?” Jimmy asked, putting the mail down on the table. 

“Mrs. Taylor’s brother and his wife have come for the remainder of her belongings. Mainly the Airstream and some things in her shed. They were here a couple of months ago after Mrs. Taylor’s passing.

“They said they have no place, or need, for the Airstream. Looks like they would let it go for the right price. No use towing it sixteen hundred miles if they could find a buyer here. You interested? One of the Taylor’s friends here at the ranch bought their UTV.” 

It was the one up the hill off the spur road across from Fred’s place. Jimmy had been up there on Jack a few times. It was at the end of the road and the northernmost corner of the ranch property. Nothing but hills, and the flank of the Sierrita Mountains beyond. It was a choice location. 

“It’s nice,” Jimmy said. “Way too big for one person. Probably expensive. I don’t know. Wasn’t even thinking ‘bout something like that. I'm just getting set up here.” 

“The site lease will come with it. The shed, also. A great view. I’ll reimburse you for the rent you’ve already paid on this site. It’s a good deal if you can swing it.” 

Jim was a good salesman. Jimmy hoped he was getting a commission. 

“Guess it won’t hurt to take a look,” said Jimmy as he climbed in Jim’s UTV. 

Jimmy started thinking. This could be good.

They made the short ride to the trailer and Jimmy met Mrs. Taylor’s brother, Bob Lawrence and wife, Marianne. They were very nice and soon they were inside the Airstream looking it over. 

A 2005 Airstream Flying Cloud. Built to last. It was immaculate, inside and out. All things considered; their asking price was lower than expected. Jimmy sensed that they really wanted to sell and be free from the task of moving it away and still having to deal with it later. 

Jimmy said, “I’ll take it”. 

Owner Jim left Jimmy and the Lawrences to work out the details of the sale. They hoped to pack up their Bronco leave for home in the morning. 

Jimmy headed back to his campsite. He stopped down the hill a ways to look back on his Airstream and new site, and the view. It happened so fast it hadn’t really registered yet. He smiled. 

* 

Upon getting back to his tent, he remembered the mail Jim had brought him. 

He picked up the letter on top and his heart skipped a beat. Jimmy recognized the handwriting. It was from his son, Robert. He tore the letter open. 

It read - “Dear Mom and Dad. I tried calling you, but the number is no longer in service. I’m in Wyoming. I’ve been here a year. I’m clean and sober now. I’d like to come see you, if you’ll have me. I understand if you don’t. Here’s my number 307-119-1191. Please call. Miss you. Love, Robert.” 

Jimmy had to sit down; weak in the knees, his heart thumping. Time stood still for a time.

He looked at the sky. He wiped tears from his eyes.

Then he went for his cell phone.

 

******************************************************************* Please leave a Comment. : ) I much appreciate it! 

For my newer Subscribers - an earlier post from Jan. 20 , 2023 -

More posts for your perusal are in my archive. Check them out! 

A song from my CD - WILDERADO SERENDIP - “P B O D”  

Thank you for reading Before I Forget . . !  

See you next week, my friends. :)