By: Sharon Forester

4th Grade

Mid-Year

Hi, I’m Little Lucy. I love to romp around and ride my yearling, Firecracker. He was named that because he was born on the 4th of July.

One day Mama asked me to go to town to buy some flour for her yummy, famous, homemade bread. Firecracker and I raced off as fast as a firecracker, if you know what I mean.

“Whoa!” We had just rode up to, “Sparky’s Saddlin’ Shop” when suddenly…. “Howdy Lucy, what are you doin’ down in these parts of the blue?” Pheew, it was only Grandma Laura.

“Don’t you know there are a lot of drunken cowboys out in these parts.” she continued. “I know Grandma, I’m only here for flour, golly.” I replied. With that she rode off on her ol’ pony, “Rustler.” As soon as she was out of sight a bullet slid right above my shoulder. Firecracker jumped and I looked over my shoulder to behold a drunken cow rustler with an alcoholic beverage in one hand and a revolver in the other.

This was the time when my Cowgirl Karate Lessons should have paid off. But blow me down and hang me there was a whole ballooga of ‘em. By the way ballooga means one thousand. Well by goodness I was trapped.

Firecracker was frantic and, “Baam!” Firecracker was shot in the ankle. And, “Baam!” “Aaah!” I was shot in the arm.

Firecracker was so worried about me that he set out for home with a grunt of pain. When we arrived home Firecracker was foaming like a bubble bath.

Hold on, Firecracker! “Ma!” Sure enough Ma came running out of the house. “Help Ma, we’ve got to save Firecracker!” I ran to Firecracker’s side. He was hot and breathing heavily.

“I love you Firecracker.” And his last reply was, “Neigh.” Which in horse words means, “I love you too.”