Page 14 - TalesBook_May2021
P. 14
After thirty years his memory still brings a
smile
It's night watch on the trail tonight
R u s t y' s L a s t T r a i l Pour me some coffee "Pard"
I'll just get me some sugar
We had to leave him on the Bar-X ranch It's right here by the lard
Bless his rusted hide
He was just too old'n weak to travel Behind the chuckwagon sat Rusty
It'd be a long hard dusty ride With a big ol toothy grin
Guess cookie wasn't looking as usual
We'd raised him from a pup Rusty must of climbed right in
Too busy for any spots to land
His rusted color was all that stayed Well, I never saw it coming
So his name... You'd understand But I heard that deadly sound
For a Rattler always warns you
He was a playful working dog When you’re trodding on his ground
An he had a nasty growl
His favorite trick was to bury some cow- Ol’ Rusty met the challenge
boy's boot Fore I could even dance
Then run off and watch him howl See Rusty figures this range
Is one big cowboy ranch
He always cleared our trail from danger
From whatever he felt like chasing While we’re out there working cattle
One night it was a Grizzly bear With the likes of Tom’n Nate an Gus
But rabbits got the most disgracing Rusty’s job is playing
And watching over us
He had a place in the bunkhouse
In the corner on a grandma quilt Ol’ Rusty killed that rattler
He loved his biscuits and loved his beans Like he’s done so many times before
And favored whisky mixed with milk When danger comes a knocking
He’s the first one to the door
It was a sorry day for all of us
To leave that pup for good But Old age is always gaining
With a pat on the head and a tip of our And words will always fail
hat Ol’ Rusty’s sun was setting
We'd take him if we could And he rode his final trail
Rusty knew he's too old to travel We buried him at sundown
But was ashamed he'd let us down Where the longhorn cattle roam
He just hung his head down low You see- Ol Rusty herded cowboys
Watched us leave and slowly turned And now he’s going home
around
It was quiet round the fire that night
Oh he'd be well cared for Below those shadowed canyon peaks
Ol Jim would see to that A circle of rough shod, iron fisted cowboy's
Guess he forgave or forgot the time And a few tears on leathered cheeks
He buried his favorite hat
As we stood round that circle
We left him some extra jerky It filled our hearts with pride
Over by the butter churn To know a dog like Rusty
An we wished him a peaceful trail That just wanted one more ride
If he wern’t there for our return
