The Cowboy Rides For Christmas, Part I

Dixon Bullinger braced himself against another frozen blast of winter wind, riding through the front range to Denver where his family was a-waiting. It was morning on Christmas Eve, and he was a long time overdue, but Boss McChord had paid him double to rescue horses from being consumed. They’d taken out a problem bear and had a drink to celebrate, he’d exchanged good wishes with the boys, then had set about upon his way. He rounded a corner in a craggy gorge, and there he saw a stunning sight: Santa Claus sat on an empty sleigh, brooding sadly amidst the white. Dix rode up, and doffed his hat, saying,”Father Christmas! What are the odds! May I ask why you are sitting here though, ‘tis the skies that you usually trod?” Santa then sadly shook his head, said,”My boy, you don’t understand. I stopped for a rest and was robbed blind by a gang of five masked men! “They took my sack and with it all the gifts for the boys and girl. if I cannot somehow get it back, there’ll be no presents for the world.” Dix frowned deeply at the thought, a coldness creeping into him. Christmas may have been more than gifts, but try telling that to the kids! He said,”If you’ll ride with a fool cowpoke, I’ll gladly help you find the fiends. A Christmas with no gifts to give… that’s not something this world needs. “I have some skill at tracking, see, from months chasing stray cows. If you point me the way they went, we’ll lick these bandits, and how!” Santa nodded and pointed off to a narrow slot canyon, “That’s the way they all took off, when the foul deed was done. “If you start along tracking them, I will follow as soon as I can. My reindeer are bushed from today’s work, Donner is nearly all done in. “But once they’ve had a breather, I’ll fly them up into the air. If you leave a trail for me to follow, I’ll catch up and meet you there!” Dixon nodded and removed his brand new, red, silk scarf. He cut off a piece and then said, “This here is bright as any spark.” With that he took to the trail, riding down that rocky cleft, to save Christmas for the little ones he’d undue this savage theft… CONTINUES IN PART II.