The 10-Gallon Tale of Alburney Jones

Chapter 2: Alburney The Wranger

Since the day Alburney saved the sheriff's mother, Beau took his adoptive son under his wing. Day in and day out, they worked side by side, tending to the pigs and learning all the basics of lassoing. One day, after he taught Alburney how to saddle and ride his horse, he took his boys out into the field with their pigs. While grazing, one pig decided to stray from the group, and Alburney ran after it. With a twirl of his lasso, he threw it around the swine and pulled it close to him.

"Great job, Alburney!" Beau cheered. After releasing the pig back into the herd, Alburney climbed back onto his horse and rode next to Clint. After high-fiving, they decided to race across the valley together.

After locking up the pigs, Beau gave his sons a lasso lesson. While helping Clint get his lasso going, Beau saw Alburney spinning and stepping through his lasso.

"Look, Dad! Did you see that?"

"Good! Good!"

After a day of training, the boys ran into the house to have dinner. Afterward, they sat in the living room and listened to their father tell stories of legends of the West at bedtime. As Beau spun his yarn, Alburney's face lit up with wonder and excitement, soaking in his father's captivating storytelling skills. He pictured these legends galloping across the rugged terrain, delivering sweet justice and defending the weak. The living room filled with the flickering light of the fireplace, casting shadows that danced along the walls as the story unfolded.

When he finished his tale, Beau carried Alburney to bed. Clint climbed into his bed and kissed his mother's cheek while his father laid Alburney to sleep and kissed his forehead. After saying goodnight, Beau and Ashley left their bedroom and closed the door, the light from the fire dimming over their peaceful faces as they drifted off into dreams of daring cowboys and legendary heroes.
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Eight years later, 15-year-old Alburney was startled out of his sleep by a loud *BANG* from outside. He peered outside to find his father giving Clint a shotgun lesson.

"Be sure to keep your wrist loose, Clint," Beau called out, stirring up another batch of slop.

"You're getting better, but your form still needs work."

Clint adjusted his grip on the gun, determined to impress his father. "Like this, Dad?" Clint asked, a hint of eagerness in his tone. He spincocks the gun and aims it at the open field.

Beau nodded approvingly. "That's it. Now, you're getting the hang of it. Alburney! Up and at 'em!"

Groaning, Alburney rolled out of bed, threw on his ranch clothes, and ran outside. He grabbed a bucket and poured slop into it from the ladle.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to feed the pigs."

"Oh, no. You need to practice. Clint will take care of it."

"But-"

Beau glares at his son and directs his ladle towards the barn. He retrieved his lasso from the barn and began to unravel it. While feeding the pigs, Clint watched Alburney practice jumping through his lasso. He watched him swing the lasso above his head before he brought it down to his feet. After jumping through, Alburney turned and noticed a coyote stalking the pig enclosure. It waited until Clint left the enclosure to move toward the fence.

"Clint!"

Before Clint could react, Alburney threw his lasso at a bucket next to Beau and pulled it to him. With a kick, the bucket sailed over the fence and nailed the coyote, making it yelp and run away. Beau walks over to his son and pats him on the back, astonished at his youngest son's quick thinking and decisive action.