Today I will go to the funeral of a dear cowboy friend, Steve Ward. After the funeral, I intend on riding into the hills on a horse, to honor my dear departed friend. I would like to share with you an essay I wrote, the day after his passing. It was written then as I was in such shock the day he died, I couldn’t even put words together. To make matters worse, he died on the birthday of a dear cowboy friend who had died nearly fifteen years ago, so I was already down, thinking about my buddy Sid, when I got the news about Steve. Here is the essay:
Farewell to Steve
I lost a cowboy buddy, August 17, 2015. He was at the sale barn, working the sale, when he took a fall from his horse. He went quickly; so I’ve been told, so I don’t reckon he had time to say goodbye to anyone. His passing is hard to take; why just last week, Steve called and we had a nice little chat and then parted with kind words. I still can’t believe it was the last conversation I had with him. I will miss him.
I met Steve when I worked at a feed yard. He came to shoe horses and I was immediately drawn to this man, who I recognized as a true cowboy. I heard he had spent may years on the King Ranch in Texas and on the Pitzer Ranch in Nebraska; he had to be a good hand to work those ranches. He was always kindly to me and had respect for me as a woman cowpuncher.
We rode together one time; I had a green colt to ride and he offered to ride with me. It was one of the most pleasant Saturdays I’ve ever had. We talked for hours and our commonality allowed us a special communion that only cowboys can appreciate. I loved him as a brother, then and now. Kindred spirits of the cowboy kind; perpetual optimists, savvy to uncertain trails, sure of our skills and yet, somewhere deep inside, there is a little bit of bitter sweet understanding that one day, our trail must end.
Steve and I talked of God and our faith on various occasions and I know I will see Him again, someday. He, like many cowboys understood the significance of God’s Grace in our lives and perhaps too, it was that Grace that allowed my dear friend to go so quickly. I do believe that it is the way it was; even though, those of us he left behind must now deal with the loss of a friend, father, grandfather, brother, cousin and uncle. He leaves a little bit of himself in our hearts and memories to make us smile and then wipe a tear from our eye.
My heart is broken at the loss of a good friend and even more as this dear friend passed away on the birthday of another dear cowboy, who I lost almost fifteen years ago. My heart aches for both my cowboy friends, and yet I find some comfort knowing, they were called to ride for HIS brand, forever, on that Glorious Ranch in the sky. It makes me want to hurry up and get there myself, but I must wait my turn. I have a few more sunrises and sunsets to see and appreciate, a few more cattle to gather, a few more goats to rope, a few more colts to ride and a few more dusty trails to wander down.
See you down that Heavenly Trail Steve, and say hi to Sid for me, I’m sure the two of you will have a lot to talk about.
Your Friend,
The Barnyard Mare, Duchess of the Prairie
Educated Cowpuncher 