Volume 10

Volume 10, Issue 2 (Web Edition) February 2007

Notes from the President: Well, we are better than two months into the New Year and things are going well for the club. Given the turnout at our last few meetings, I have decided to hold our club meetings on every third Thursday of the month at Wally’s Restaurant on Ringgold Road in East Ridge . We will meet at 6:30 PM and will start the meeting on time. If you would like to have dinner while we are meeting, please plan accordingly. This is about as central as I can get for our members in North Georgia , Eastern Tennessee and Alabama . Plus, it is quick off and on from I-75.

Coming South on I-75 Take exit #1; Turn right toward East Ridge ; Wally’s is on the right. You can see it from the exit.

Coming North on I-75 Take exit #1; Turn left toward East Ridge ; Wally’s is on your right. You can see it after you cross over I-75.

Well, it was cold, windy and spittin’ snow, but 26 brave cowboys and cowgirls from the Mystery Dog Ranch took on some pretty tough hombres yesterday. The day dawned cold, cloudy and threatening to snow, but the outriders had a big roaring campfire and some fire barrels goin’, so it weren’t so bad. Once they had their mornin’ pow-wow and broke into two posses, they set out to right wrongs, protect pards and save the day.

We started off pushin’ a little herd north near the little cow town of Homestead . Ever since gold and silver was discovered, the town has been growin’ like a weed. Because of this, keepin’ law and order has become a real problem for the town. Vigilantes threatened to destroy the town’s reputation and hangings are frequent, with bodies swayin’ from rafters and telegraph poles bein’ a daily spectacle. When we rode in, the town mistakenly identified our ol’ pard Shawnee Lee as a cold blooded murderer. That ol’ sheep herder may be a lot of things, like strong smellin’, but a killer he ain’t. To make a long story short, they was a fixin’ to hang him high down at Boot Hill, so we just had to intercede. Grabbin’ up our shootin’ irons, we headed down to Boot Hill to save our pard. There weren’t time fer much talkin’. We had to shoot first and talk later and they was just about to pull that necktie tight when we got there. Shawnee Lee may still hang, but he didn’t hang on Saturday.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto had helped save the town of Homestead from the murderous Deadly Dabo Gang and now that the threat was gone, the town elected a Marshal. Before the masked man left, he gave the new Marshal two silver bullets in case there was any more trouble and then rode away. The Marshal headed over to the saloon for a cold beer when in walks the Yankee Dutchman and his gang of cutthroats. There the Marshal sat, with a brand new, shinny star pinned on his chest and ol’ Yankee Dutchman givin’ him the long face and squinty eye. All the Marshal could think about was, were he had put them two silver bullets, because he sure was goin’ to need them. Naturally, we jumped in to help the Marshal and made the Undertakers day. Cross another gang off the list of trouble makers for the town of Homestead .

We were then called upon to help our our old pard Bad Eye Tom. Since he quit cowboyin’, about three years ago, he has been a Deputy Sheriff, but he is has been the butt of cowboy jokes for even longer. The Sheriff and his buddies do whatever they want and it has gotten progressively more and more out of control. It all came to a head Saturday when the Sheriff and his buddies started takin’ liberties with Tom’s sweetheart over at the saloon. She came cryin’ to him about what happened and he called upon his old pards for some assistance to set things right. The posses checked their shootin’ irons, picked our spots outside the saloon and just waited. Pretty soon that ol’ Sheriff and his pack of no goods come out through the doors. Ol’ Bad Eye Tom stepped right out and said, “The Sheriff may forgive you, but I sure don’t.” Then he threw down on the hombres and we threw right in with him. Bad Eye Tom’s sweetheart will not have to worry about that bunch again.

Cookie rolled up in the chuck-wagon right after the sun was straight up. We had some meat, beans, cornbread, and desert. Ummm Ummm Good vittles Miss Dixie Ree. As always, rain, sleet or snow can not keep you from making one heck of a good meal. While we still sittin’ around scratchin’, beltchin’, and lying to each other, one of the fence riders came and told us most of the horses that was up on the Mesa had been stolen. Mystery Dog Ranch was out some fine horse flesh unless we could get it back for them.

We rode hard for fours and tracked the herd into a little cow town known for its shady dealin’s. We asked around a bit and was told that a lot of horses go missin’ in these parts and turn up for sale over in

Mexico

. Anyone who wasn’t too scared to talk told us the believe Cherokee Slim and his outfit may have something to do with the horse stealin’ that had been going on. They didn’t say it real loud though, seems his drovers are always heavily armed and ain’t afraid to use their irons at the drop of a hat. We got wind they was over at the saloon meaning to just have a talk with them. We got inside and was just about to talk all friendly with them when Doc Harleyday ups and asks a pretty simple question. All he said was, “I’m lookin’ fer a bunch of worthless horse thieves. Would that be this bunch?” Next thing I knew, lead was a flyin’ everywhere. The good news is there will not be any more horses disappearin’ because of this bunch. The bad news is there is a lot less room available up at Boot Hill.

We had a couple of fast gun hands with us on Saturday who wanted to show us just how fast they really was, so we set up a target real close in like and let them go to shootin’ away. I was amazed at the number of cowboys and cowgirls who missed that big ol’ target. We got quite a hoot and holler out of them misses you can bet.

We all got some bad news about Dag Nabit Deb a couple of weeks ago. She is a good cowgirl and a top hand. The Lord and I have ridden many a hard trail together and he has always been there for me. I never have asked anything for myself and he sure don’t owe me nothing, but I plan to talk to him like an old trail pard each day until Deb makes a full recovery. I would ask that every cowboy and cowgirl that reads this bit of news, does the same. Please keep Keystone and DND in your thoughts and prayers. They will need your support.

At end of day, on Saturday, everyone one was happy, well fed and anxious to get close to a big pot bellied stove back at the bunk house. If you weren’t able to get out to Mystery Dog Ranch because of the weather, be sure you are ready to ride fence with them on Saturday, March 17, when them Tennessee Mountain Marauders will be cowboyin’ up again at Mystery Dog Ranch.

Mystery Dog Ranch will be sponsoring the 200 yard Buffalo Shoot again with a Trophy Buckle awarded to the winner; and this year we have added another buckle for the 100 yard shoot! Ladies!!!!. The buckles will be awarded next June 2007, so get in line and try your luck – or expertise - at these skilled events! Ohio Kid will have to wait till next year (2007-2008) to get in on the competition again since he was this year’s winner! Sorry Kid!

NEXT SHOOT – The Tennesse Mountain Marauders invite you to join them every THIRD SATURDAY at the Mystery Dog Ranch for fun, fellowship, and a daisy of a cowboy shoot! The next shoot will be MARCH 17, 2007 with registration, buffalo shoot and coffee from 8:00 to 9:00 and the safety meeting following. If you need directions to the shoot and ranch check out the MDR website - www.mysterydogranch.com See ya there!