Ceedra Montine, our pulpwood truck driving eighth-grader, pulled into the Bar None Ranch outside Seeping Springs, Colorado, just before noon on Saturday. Cowhands were washing up on the back porch in eager anticipation of sitting at Ms. Almarie Finnegan’s table. Rusty Finnegan showed Ceedra to her seat next to his own at the head of the table.
After the blessing, Rusty introduced Ceedra to his family and the cowhands. “This young lady is Ms. Ceedra Montine from central Georgia. She just pulled in behind the wheel of her own pulpwood truck. Ceedra, we don’t know much about pulpwod out here. We’ll have to trade off some learning.
“You explain to us what you do back home with that truck, and we’ll teach you to ride, rope, brand, and bulldog a steer to the ground. Yep, even a wrangler your size can put a steer on the ground. It takes more grit and know-how than size.”
Ceedra was hungry following the final 200 miles of her drive. When the huge platter of roast and potatoes came her way, she helped herself and passed the platter to Roper, the cowhand next to her. He seemed a bit nervous. Don’t be nervous. This is all brand new to me. I bet you’re at this table every time Mr. Rusty lets you in the door.
Roper reinforced Ceedra’s suspicion when she passed the hot, golden, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. The hungry cowhand could not wait to pass them on before he crunched down on Ms. Almarie’s trademark ranch house bread. Rusty Finnegan grinned, “Roper, you make the folks in the kitchen feel good about what they do.”
Ceedra swallowed quickly to keep from losing a swig of sweet ice tea as she saw Roper’s face turn Georgia sunburn red.
Words and People 