Authentic Tales of the West: Part 12

Ah, Sweet Abilene

Arnold Ashford’s Journal Entry #12

Unlike Dodge City, where I heard it before I saw or smelt it, Abilene introduces herself through the nostrils. This is definitely a cattle town through and through. Though relatively new and young (as towns go), the busyness was honestly striking. Just on the outskirts you could already see a Feed Store, a massive Barn, and a Veterinarian’s office strategically placed right next to an incredibly efficiently run stockyard called the Sunrise Cattle Corral.

Apparently I had arrived at a pretty fortunate time; not a week hence the people of Abilene had just finished cleaning things up and getting back to normal after a wicked Dust Storm had come through. After my experiences in Dodge City, I knew one of the first people I wanted to meet was the local Lawman, and hopefully through him meet the movers and shakers.

Sunrise Cattle Corral

Illustration by Steven Lambert

The first thing I said to Rusty Cobb was to ask him, “Hello son, you wouldn’t happen to know the name of your local Lawman, would you?” I would be forgiven for thinking that this was a young boy of 13 or 14; he stands no more than 5 feet and a few inches tall. Imagine my surprise when the young boy smiled broadly up at me and said “Rusty Cobb; how can I help ya?”

I was mortified, but Rusty (as I would learn was just his way) just took it in stride. He explained to me that he had come here from Kentucky about a year ago, after retiring at the age of 32 from a modest career as a jockey. Rusty was as affable of a young man as I had ever met; the townsfolk had quickly taken him in as one of their own. Just a few nights later I was speaking with one of the Hired Hands from a local ranch, and he said words that have stuck with me; with a smile on his face and sincerity in his voice he said,

“Rusty, you know, he may be half the man, but he has twice the heart.”

— Check back next week for a new entry in Ashford’s journal —