9:10 To Yuma

March 1, 2008

Participants: Rob, Jason, David, Mike & Jenn   

It started as a dusty morning, in a crowded local saloon. Suddenly he walked in, a shadowy man, obviously a desperado. His name was Jason, and he was wanted in several states for robbing the payroll from the railroad. He ordered breakfast, then sat back to survey the saloon. As he leaned back he heard a click, a weathered man was holding a gun inches from the back of his head. Jason was under arrest. The weathered man was David, he was a Pinkerton or Peterson (there were many private security companies in the old west - who can tell which one he worked for ). David picked 3 to help him get his captive to the nearest jail. He chose Mike, an ox of a man (you know large, hairy, smelly, not too bright), Jenn, his wife (to marry him? she really must love a challenge!), & Rob, he could lead them to their objective, Yuma Prison! They mounted up on their iron steeds facing east. The band of 4 knew they had a hard trip ahead of them, they had to get the prisoner to jail, they were the "9:10 to Yuma".  Heading east the band quickly needed to stop, Jenn kept talking to the men, we had to quiet her! Once back on the trail, there wouldn't be stopping for a long ride. The trail was long and hard, but the miles passed quickly. After 130 miles we & our steeds needed rest and something to cut the dust (our captive kept complaining about his ride’s small belly needing to drink more often than ours).  Back on the steeds quickly, we must get to Yuma before the heat of the day really sets in. Our next stop, a local trading post for the territory, a place called "Bobby's". Nice place, but kind of empty for the size. Our minds started to "Wander", it was a long ride and something was missing. Of course, we hadn't stopped for grub in what seemed like hours. The brave four with the prisoner in tow, (wait, Mike's not really that "brave", David was getting "paid" by his customer, Rob can barely track his way on a clearly marked trail...) Okay how about "Brave Jenn" followed the other three & their prisoner to a local saloon, the "Cracker Barrel", where they meet up with a few other folks.  Turns out they were folks ( Jenn's parents & their friends). The food was good, the horses enjoyed the rest, but we needed to get the prisoner to jail. They were off again, this time the ox (Mike) got to lead.  By the time they got to the prison, it was closed. Jason, the outlaw, got lucky this time. It was getting late, the posse decided to head home. The ox (Mike), still in the lead, got the wandering posse completely mixed up in how to get home. The trail seemed to go on forever in an unknown direction, it was unbelievable. The trail wasn't as peaceful as the posse would have liked though. Wind, kicking sand in the eyes of our riders. Pushing the riders’ steeds around like they were getting the "spurs". Our wandering posse returned home late into the night, cold, wind burned & tired. They put the steeds in the barn for another night, 325 mile ridden today, not bad for the 5 wanderers.
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Rob Poindexter