Found: Boy head's cattle drive, character named "Step"
Original topic subject: Boy head's cattle drive, character named "Step"
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1WeeTurtle
This has been irritating me lately, and I thought I had the Google-fu to find it but apparently not. I read this back in elementary school, so ballpark early to mid '90s.
Boy and his Dad are prepping for a cattle drive that his Dad normally heads. Dad injures his leg breaking a horse and can't go, so he assigns the son to lead. Mom objects and says Step should do it, Dad says no.
"Step" is Dad's #2 man and has a limp, which is why he has the nick name.
Along the drive the are to stop at this farm where the guy who owns the place is to be given a crummy old cow in payment, but he sneaks a good cow instead. One of the guys on the drive complains about that, on seeing the crummy cow still in the herd. 'He's taken a good one!" or something like that.
At one point, the boy sees Step in a tack shed, not sure if it's the old guy's place or another one. He takes something off the wall, like a pair of boots, not sure what, tells the boy that it's a trade. The owner then asks Step where he got the boots, and Step says that he traded them for a "real nice lariat."
Later, at another overnight stop, the men want to stop at this one particular barn but the Dad said no, go further down the road. Step also says no. Boy listens to the men ultimately and they stop overnight to find everyone is drunk the next morning and Step is so drunk he's useless. At the start of the book, Dad's words of wisdom to his son is "use Step, but not too much."
I don't remember how it ends, just that middle stuff. I'm tried tag-meshing with "cattle drive" and such but I'm not totally sure how that works and not a lot came up. It's a book I've remembered for a long time, except for the actual title.
Boy and his Dad are prepping for a cattle drive that his Dad normally heads. Dad injures his leg breaking a horse and can't go, so he assigns the son to lead. Mom objects and says Step should do it, Dad says no.
"Step" is Dad's #2 man and has a limp, which is why he has the nick name.
Along the drive the are to stop at this farm where the guy who owns the place is to be given a crummy old cow in payment, but he sneaks a good cow instead. One of the guys on the drive complains about that, on seeing the crummy cow still in the herd. 'He's taken a good one!" or something like that.
At one point, the boy sees Step in a tack shed, not sure if it's the old guy's place or another one. He takes something off the wall, like a pair of boots, not sure what, tells the boy that it's a trade. The owner then asks Step where he got the boots, and Step says that he traded them for a "real nice lariat."
Later, at another overnight stop, the men want to stop at this one particular barn but the Dad said no, go further down the road. Step also says no. Boy listens to the men ultimately and they stop overnight to find everyone is drunk the next morning and Step is so drunk he's useless. At the start of the book, Dad's words of wisdom to his son is "use Step, but not too much."
I don't remember how it ends, just that middle stuff. I'm tried tag-meshing with "cattle drive" and such but I'm not totally sure how that works and not a lot came up. It's a book I've remembered for a long time, except for the actual title.
2indybr12
Maybe Over the Joshua Slope? Partial description from School Library Journal:
Brian Winsor, 12, spends a week helping his father round up cattle in the hills of Nevada. His father needs the help because of a leg injury he suffered a few months earlier, which was partly Brian's fault. Since that accident, the man has been cold and strict with him. Brian also has to prove himself to two other cattle owners, both of whom are experienced outdoorsmen.
Brian Winsor, 12, spends a week helping his father round up cattle in the hills of Nevada. His father needs the help because of a leg injury he suffered a few months earlier, which was partly Brian's fault. Since that accident, the man has been cold and strict with him. Brian also has to prove himself to two other cattle owners, both of whom are experienced outdoorsmen.
3WeeTurtle
Fits the theme, but from what reviews and synopses I can find it's hard to tell. I might need to look at an actual copy of the book if I can find one.
4WeeTurtle
I found it! By fluke actually. I found a copy in my mom's collection of books that I'm going through.
Boss of the Namko Drive
Boss of the Namko Drive
