• Home
    • The North American Buffalo (Bison) Calf
    • Antelope
    • The Rose
    • Riders of the Purple Sage
    • Wonderlust
    • April Spirit Guide
  • Main
    • “Why I Write”
  • Blog
    • The Writer’s Circle
      • Letting go
    • Short Stories
      • Ricochet
      • Spicy
      • Brain Freeze
      • Nostalgia
      • The Pumkin Patch
      • The Cricket’s Song
      • Hydrotherapy
      • No Words
      • Little Red Hens
      • Moody Blue
      • Guilty
      • January Blizzard
      • Blue
      • Wild and Free
      • Many Gifts
      • Buffalo Beans
      • Prairie Smoke!
      • In A World Of Pain
      • Man Eater
        • Man Eater – Chapter 2
          • Man Eater – Chapter 3
      • Vultures
        • Vultures – Chapter 2
          • Vultures – Chapter 3
            • Vultures – Chapter 4
              • Vultures – Chapter 5
                • Vultures – Chapter 6
                • Vultures – Chapter 7
                • Vultures – Chapter 8
    • Compositions
      • Parables
      • Turkey
      • Wordless Wednesday
      • Moose Medicine
      • The Devil’s Eye
      • Prairie Elk
      • Power of People
      • Push-Me-Pull-You Effect
      • Mandate Freedom
      • Eighteen Wheels of Freedom
      • Guilty
      • Christmas Cheer
      • Seasonal Changes
      • Forlorn
      • Stone Soup
      • Little Britches
      • Watcher’s
      • Nectar
      • Guest Post: Nadine Gordon On Canada
      • Literally Torn
      • Bill C-10
      • Earth Day
      • Yonder
      • “The Weaver”
      • Where’s the Thing?
      • The Leaning Tree
        • Breath of Heaven and Earth
        • International Women’s Day
        • International Woman’s Day
          • Winter North Westerly
            • Sticks & Stones
          • The Quickening
    • Winged Messages
      • Fly
      • True and Kind
      • Changes
      • Changes
      • Sunshine
        • The Meadowlark’s Song
      • Welcome Spring
      • The World’s Fog
      • Words of the Week
      • The Sun
      • Power
      • Follow
      • Judgement
      • Alight
      • Impeccable
    • Lessons of the Drum
      • The Puzzle
      • Many Gifts
      • Brain-Break
      • Sundogs
      • Compassion
      • Silver
      • I Confess…
      • The Candle
      • Race for Freedom
      • “Self-Esteem”
      • “Soul Keeper”
      • “The Journey”
      • “Feathers”
      • “Hands”
      • “Fear Conqueror”
      • The Flying “V”
      • If You Don’t Have Wings
        • Nirvana – Conscience
          • Darkness
  • Media Room
    • Out With the Old
    • Patience
    • Do Not Disturb
  • Books and Articles
  • About

The Trefoil Muse

Words are art on paper, and for me they are the seeds of my soul.

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Judgement
Stone Soup »

Little Britches

October 5, 2021 by Nadine Gordon

“Go ahead, you can pet her.  It’s okay.”

Little Britches eyed his father suspiciously, even at the ripe old age of two; he’d mastered the art of discernment.

Little Britches’ father was his hero. Still, he wasn’t totally convinced that petting that little bunting cow at the edge of the deck sniffing lilacs was in his best interest.  Heck, the cows buddy, a young golden lab, knocked him over in exuberant body wriggling, tail wagging licking episodes – and, that farm dog wasn’t as big as the mini black cow with the white face they called Mable!

Little Britches shoved his hands deep into the pocket of his jeans and shifted his weight from one rubber boot to the other, his bright inquiring eyes peering up at his father from below his Blue Jays ball cap. He needed a tidbit more encouragement before attempting, “Mission: touch-the-cow!”

Sensing Little Britches reservations, his father encouraged him further.

“It’s okay, she won’t hurt you.”

Feeling more confident, Little Britches made his decision.  He removed his hands from his pockets and shuffled courageously toward the edge of the deck where the small cow languished in the sunshine sniffing fragrant purple flowers. Tentatively, he extended his thin arm and cupped his hand in friendship.  It was best to be prepared this way prior to engaging with the animal.

When Little Britches stepped off of the deck and onto the grass, it spooked Mable. She trotted several feet away and disappeared behind the side of a pick-up truck parked near-by. From her new hide out, she turned and curiously peered back at the young human who seemed to be stalking her.

Undeterred from his mission, Little Britches, hand still extended; had entered stealth mode.  Cautiously and surreptitiously, he crept forward so as not to frighten Mable further. Every ounce in his 23 pound body was committed to touching the baby cow.  With instinctual prowess, he crept slowly forward inching his way toward the wary wide eyed Mable.  Slowly and steadily, Little Britches narrowed the gap between his target and himself.  If all remained calm he’d be able to touch the young bunting cow.  The anticipation of a goal accomplished intensified as the space between boy and animal disappeared.

Little Britches felt his heart quicken – the mission was attainable!

There was only a few feet left to close the gap when the eyes of boy and beast locked.

Little Britches froze mid step. His right foot hung suspended. He looked like a statuette with his lithe body bent forward, arm extended and eyes fixated on the mini cow. Likewise, Mable stood entranced. Ears forward, her eyes bulged as she braced her four legs in hypnotic oblivion. She stood poised to take action but she stood in stoic silence as she melded minds with the boy to size up his intentions.

It was a stand-off between predator and prey.

In the next few moments anything could happen.  All depended on the trust each creature held for the other.

Then Mable blinked.  It was if a spell had been broken.

“No, Cow!” Little Britches child voice commanded sensing intuitively something amiss with the calf’s demeanor.

The suddenly shell-shocked Mable bobbed her head, bawled, stuck her tail in the air and bolted.  Half running, half bucking, she retreated to the safety of the barn.  Meanwhile, all semblances of courage had failed Little Britches too and he’d quick stepped his way back to his Father’s side where he stood staring at the barn in bewildered amazement.

Little Britches shoved his hands back into the pockets of his jeans. Maybe, it wasn’t the hero’s stand point he was taking now but he wasn’t certain his Mamma wanted him to grow up to be a cow-boy. He suspected one thing was for sure though – if events had of unfolded differently with Mable, he may have grown up to be a cow puncher.

       

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted in Compositions | Tagged boy, cow, creative, humor, instinct, lifestyle, Little Britches, nature, stealth | 26 Comments

26 Responses

  1. on October 5, 2021 at 10:13 am Tippy Gnu

    I think it’s time for Little Britches to learn how to throw a lasso.

    LikeLiked by 2 people


    • on October 5, 2021 at 10:16 am Nadine Gordon

      Or use bribery… bring out the milk bottle! 😉

      LikeLiked by 2 people


      • on October 5, 2021 at 10:19 am Tippy Gnu

        Now why didn’t I think of that?

        LikeLiked by 2 people


      • on October 5, 2021 at 10:21 am Nadine Gordon

        Maybe you mastered the art of throwing a lasso? I never did, so I resorted to bribery. 😊

        LikeLiked by 2 people


      • on October 5, 2021 at 12:48 pm joyroses13

        Because women are more cunning in a sweet way.

        LikeLiked by 2 people


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:07 pm Nadine Gordon

        Yes, first we bribe with sweetness then we capture the hearts 💕

        LikeLike


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:19 pm joyroses13

        Exactly! 😊

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:13 pm Tippy Gnu

        And men like to keep things simple. Nothing is simpler than brute force.

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:18 pm Nadine Gordon

        That is the simple truth! 😉

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:20 pm joyroses13

        Pfttt!!

        LikeLiked by 2 people


  2. on October 5, 2021 at 12:47 pm joyroses13

    Aww! Betsy wouldn’t have scared “Little Britches.” 🙂

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 5, 2021 at 1:05 pm Nadine Gordon

      Betsy would have been so gentle and kind to Little Britches! Hopefully she wouldn’t change him into a goose or leave a hoof print on his forehead in her kind exuberance though! Lol

      LikeLike


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:20 pm joyroses13

        Hahaha!! Nooo….not Betsy!

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:21 pm Nadine Gordon

        🤣😂🤣 I couldn’t resist… my apologies to Betsy!

        LikeLike


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:21 pm joyroses13

        She accepts them! 😂

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:22 pm Nadine Gordon

        😃 that’s a great relief!

        LikeLike


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:23 pm joyroses13

        Yes, you definitely don’t want to be on her bad side!😄😄

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:26 pm Nadine Gordon

        Me either! Lucky, she has a wonderful sense of humor!

        LikeLike


      • on October 5, 2021 at 1:28 pm joyroses13

        😂😂

        LikeLike


  3. on October 5, 2021 at 4:10 pm Rivers Renewed

    Absolutely wonderful.

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 5, 2021 at 4:12 pm Nadine Gordon

      Thank you so much!

      LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 6:48 pm Rivers Renewed

        Blessings.

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 6:53 pm Nadine Gordon

        Have a wonderful evening! 😊

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 5, 2021 at 6:57 pm Rivers Renewed

        🙂

        LikeLike


  4. on October 6, 2021 at 9:29 am Terry

    You sure know how to weave a story, Nadine! Always an enjoyable read!

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 6, 2021 at 9:32 am Nadine Gordon

      Thank-you so much for your kind words Terry! I especially appreciate them knowing that you are mending a broken bone!

      LikeLiked by 1 person



Comments are closed.

  • Follow The Trefoil Muse on WordPress.com
  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 425 other subscribers
  • You are at The Trefoil Muse Thanks for Following!

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


  • Follow Following
    • The Trefoil Muse
    • Join 352 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Trefoil Muse
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: