Guest Post: D and Billy the Kid

While A is away, the blog still gets to play. Please welcome Briana Vested from When I Became an Author.

D is decked out in all the western finery he could rustle up from his imagination. He’s nearly drowning in fringe and spurs, and he looks a bit like Will Rogers. He looks so pleased with himself however, so it’s hard to be annoyed at the stereotype.

D: Briana! I’m so pleased to see you! A finally let me out of the cage she calls her mind, and I’ve been enjoying the diversity. Please sit and chat with me a while. Tell me of the old west – I wish to see it from your eyes.

Briana: Well hello D! How nice to see you, too! I see you dressed for the occasion, so I’m glad I decided to bring along a friend. D, please meet Billy the Kid from my new western book!

Billy: Howdy D. Glad to meet ya.

D: B-Billy the Kid came to talk to me? Oh this is splendid! I’m honored to make your acquaintance!

Briana: D, would you me to tell you about the longhorn cattle Billy rustled up and down the Pecos River?

D: Oh yes please!

Briana: Okay, well, longhorns are a mighty breed, standing almost five foot tall at the shoulder, with horns as big around as a toddler’s waist and with a spread as wide as seven feet. These animals are wild and don’t really like being around people, but cowboys are ornery critters and they know that longhorns can be sold for large sums of money. Well, Billy and his friends had a plan that they were going to sneak onto this cattle baron’s ranch and steal some of his fine cattle, and then they would drive them to market and sell them.

Billy: Excuse me, but before D gets the wrong idea about me, maybe you should tell him why I was rustling cattle.

Briana: Of course, sorry Billy. Well D, stealing cattle is obviously illegal, but Billy was running away from the law and was out of money. And instead of robbing a bank, Billy figured that taking some cows from a man who had more than enough than he needed would be a better way of putting food on the table for his gang. But, even though he was a skilled cattleman, Billy was no match for this one devilish cow. Billy shook out his lariat and urged his bay horse into a quick gallop after the runaway cow. The cow dodged left and right, around clumps of shaggy oak brush, through stands of mighty pine trees and straight through patches of prickly pear cactus and over mounds of yucca. Billy followed eagerly and once he was close enough, started twirling his lasso. But just as he left the loop sail out of his fingers, a startled bear cub jumped out from behind a rock right in front of Billy’s horse and scared it. The noose had just cinched tight around the cows neck when Billy’s horse screamed with fright and kicked his back legs high into the air. Billy was sent flying out of the saddle, still hanging on to the tail of the rope. The cow, feeling the rope on her neck, threw up her head and started to run even faster. She was running away from Billy, but little did she know that Billy was still right behind her.

D: Oh my! This sound fascinating!

Billy: *chuckled throatily* It wasn’t as fun as it sounds. Briana didn’t mention that my friend had watched the whole thing, and instead of coming to help me, he collapsed with laughter.

Briana: I was getting to that! Don’t get impatient Billy! Remember what happened to Richard! Now, where was I, oh yes, well, Billy let the cow drag him for a while, hoping it would tire her out and he’s have a chance to get back to his feet and wrap the rope around a tree. But that cow was as rambunctious as a new calf, and when Billy saw an oncoming hill covered with barrel cactus, he wisely let go of the rope and rolled to a stop. When he got to his feet, he looked like a dust devil. His hat was gone, his shirtsleeves were shredded to nothingness and one boot was missing. As he limped back to where his horse was standing and waiting for him, he noticed his young friend Tom wiping tears out of his eyes. Billy demanded to know why Tom didn’t come to his aid, and Tom broke down laughing again. Finally when he managed to catch his breath, he told Billy, You should have seen that bear cub, sitting yonder by the tree, watching you get drug along behind that heifer! T’was the funniest thing! He kept on snorting, and I do believe he was laughing at you!

Billy: *smiles* When we finally met back up with the rest of the gang, I made Tom promise not to tell them the story. But that little cuss just couldn’t keep it under his hat. Around the campfire that night, you’d probably been able to hear the laughter all the way to Fort Worth.

D: *laughing* Oh my! What a sight! How I wish I could have been there to see it.

Billy: Well D, since you’re suited up already, why don’t you and I go for a ride? I’ve got an extra horse out back and I know where there’s a spare rope and some free-grazing cows. What do you say? Want to spend the afternoon in the old west with me?

D: Yes, yes, yes! Are you coming Briana?

Briana: I wouldn’t miss this for the world. But hang on a second; I’m going to need my camera. Oh, and Billy, you’d better behave yourself!

Briana Vested

My name is Briana and I’m 20 years old. I’ve been writing for about five years now, and have finally been successful in having one of my stories selected for publication. I mostly write westerns, but I also enjoy adding magic and mystery into my work. Hence the novel I’m writing about modern-day werewolves! I’ve self published two books, of which I’m very proud, and am about to begin editing the third book which is being published through Tate Publishing and Enterprises LLC. I live on a ranch in Colorado, and have been helping with the farming part for the last six or seven years. More recently my family gained a cattle permit in the mountains, and because of that, I’ve only just started riding horses for more than “trail rides”. In February 2013 I started writing for the Fence Post magazine as a monthly columnist.

Other than writing, I enjoy making candles and cosmetics. I also love to cook and bake, read, watch movies, crochet, make jewelry, decorate and paint my house, and go exploring with my family. I’m also an amateur archeologist and museum curator (my sister and I have our very own museum that is open to our family).

Read more about Briana at her blog, When I Became an Author.