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    The Orange Slipknot
    The Orange Slipknot
    The Orange Slipknot
    Ebook139 pages2 hours

    The Orange Slipknot

    By Jan Young

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    An innocent prank has serious consequences for twelve-year-old Ben who wants to show his cowboy father and the surly cow boss that he's ready to take more responsibility. Roping a ground squirrel was not the way to do it. Caught in the midst of their conflict, Ben comes to terms with his life. This book accurately portrays an American subculture: ranch life in the Great Basin of the United States.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRaven Publishing of Montana
    Release dateMar 21, 2010
    ISBN9780982089316
    The Orange Slipknot
    Author

    Jan Young

    Jan Young, author of The Orange Slipknot, received a BA in Behavioral Science from Pacific University in Fresno, CA before going on to study writing with the Institute of Children’s Literature. Experience and knowledge for her book came in part by living for many years with her husband and two sons in the ranching community in Humboldt County, Nevada. Now a remediation tutor and piano teacher in Winnemucca, Nevada. Jan enjoys working with children. Her love and understanding of horses are obvious when she and her husband provide horse clinics, lessons, and training. Jan has many publishing credits for both fiction and nonfiction articles and short stories. This is her first novel.

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      Book preview

      The Orange Slipknot - Jan Young

      What people are saying about The Orange Slipknot, 2008 bronze medal winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

      "A book for ranch kids - and kids who wonder what it's like…For a true-to-life, gritty depiction of living on a ranch, The Orange Slipknot lassos its target audience - children passionate about country life." — Melissa Davlin, Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

      "Jan Young drops us into the action pretty quickly in this, her first novel. Hooves are flying, fences are breaking, and the herd’s scattering, and when the dust settles somebody’s gotta pay.…

      Young takes a super story and gives us the behind the scene action so we can feel like we’re right there riding with Ben. Realizing not everyone has a cowboy for a dad or lives in the Great Basin area she’s added a glossary of terms that she uses in the book so we can cowboy up and learn the lingo. — Donna Coomer, Between the Lines Reviews

      "This gripping coming-of-age story combines vibrant local color with a backdrop of timeless and universal themes. The young adults I teach will be sure to enjoy this book—a good read that carries a punch." — Jeffrey D. Wilhelm Ph.D. Professor of English Education and Director of Boise State Writing Project

      This is an exciting story of cattle ranching in the Great Basin of western United States. Here, modern ranching techniques and practices mix with old Spanish vaquero tradition.… Author Jan Young fills her story with details of ranching life: ... four-wheelers, horses, rifles, and wildlife. With a fourteen page glossary of Ranching Terms & Cowboy Slang and a comprehensive study guide, the book could be a useful tool for classroom instruction. — Larry Neitzert, Reviewer, ForeWord Magazine

      As our nation’s urban population grows, I feel the gap in understanding of rural problems also widens. Realizing our youth are our tomorrow, I was excited to read Jan Young’s The Orange Slipknot." Her story, directed to young readers, brings ‘country life’ alive. — Milly Hunt Porter, author of The Horse Gods and Hey, Elko and editor of Think Harmony with Horses" by Ray Hunt, and other books.

      The Orange Slipknot

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2010 Jan Young

      Published by Raven Publishing, Inc. at Smashwords.com

      The illustrated print edition: Copyright © 2007 Jan Young

      Illustrations and cover art © 2007 Pat Lehmkuhl

      Published by Raven Publishing, Inc.

      P.O. Box 2866

      Norris, MT 59745 USA

      This book is available in the illustrated print edition at www.ravenpublishing.net, www.Amazon.com and other retail stores.

      This work of fiction is a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any event or person, living or dead, is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without express permission from the publisher.

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Author’s Note

      This book is for two groups of kids—town kids and country kids. Town kids will learn that cowboys are not just relics of the past or part of the rodeo world. For these kids, I have included a glossary of cowboy slang and ranching terms.

      I also wrote it for country kids—the kids who are now my neighbors, who grew up on horses, whose dads are cowboys, who live on ranches—the kids who inspired this book.

      This story is set in northern Nevada, part of the Great Basin area where cowboy culture and practices have been strongly influenced by the Spanish vaquero traditions. Cowboy culture varies throughout the different parts of the West. Terms used in this story might not be used in the same way in other western areas. Be sure to check the glossary for any words you don’t understand.

      Chapter One

      Ben lay sprawled on his stomach in the alfalfa field when the Great Idea came to him. He jumped up, trotted over to the nearby haystack, and picked up some orange baling twine from a broken bale. Fashioning a slipknot in one end, he formed a small noose or lasso, and then tied another piece of twine to the other end, making a long rope.

      Ben approached a ground squirrel hole and arranged the loop over it. He lay down at the other end of his rope and whistled softly between his teeth. Soon a furry little head popped up, puppet-like. The dusty gray and tan of the squirrel’s coat camouflaged it against the dirt as it stood up boldly, like a prairie dog, and peered around.

      Yanking the rope swiftly, Ben took the slack out of it. His timing was perfect. The loop tightened around the squirrel’s neck, catching one front leg, too.

      With a whoop, Ben leaped to his feet. The squirrel hit the end of the twine like a wild horse caught in a lass rope. He bucked and twisted, squeaking with indignation.

      Whoa, there! Steady, boy! Ben called, laughing gleefully. This was more fun than halter-breaking a colt! Leading his captive, he galloped toward the barn, shouting, Dad! Look! He’s broke to lead!

      Near the corrals, three cowboys stood talking beside their saddled horses. Inside the corral a few loose horses milled around. Two cowboys pushed a batch of bulls toward another pasture.

      Ben’s dad, Pete Lucas, holding a thermos cup of coffee, turned around. Ben! No! Get back!

      It was too late. Ben skidded to a stop, but the squirrel galloped past him, hit the end of the rope, and chattering noisily, somersaulted right into the nearest horse.

      The little black mare rolled her eyes, jumped forward, crowhopped, and pulled back. Her reins, draped across the fence, whipped over the board and fell free. As she stepped on them, she jerked her head up, and they snapped with a loud pop.

      Let him go! someone bellowed. Ben dropped the rope.

      The squirrel leaped through the corral fence under the nearest horse. The twine rope wrapped around his hind foot as the squirrel dodged hooves. The tall yellow horse kicked out. He bucked and snorted—then charged the fence. As the rope fell free, he took out the top rail with a splintering crash. Up and over, he led the way as the other horses followed in a blind panic. Cowboys, cussing loudly, tried in vain to stop them. One managed to snag the black mare with his lass rope.

      Ben froze, his eyes wide. His stomach lurched. All the laughter drained out of him.

      Hooves pounding, the runaways veered to miss a pickup coming down the long driveway. A wrinkled old face peered out the driver’s side window. What the...? His well-dressed passenger turned to watch the loose horses thunder by.

      Seeing the pickup, Ben gasped. It’s Fred!

      Didn’t I tell you to stay away from the barn today? Ben’s dad shouted. He swung into his saddle as he prepared to join the other cowboys in pursuit of the runaways.

      Ben’s face fell. I forgot... His voice trailed away.

      I heard you shooting—where’s the gun? demanded his dad as he unbuckled his rope strap and took down his lass rope.

      Ben gulped. Uh, I left it...in the field...I’m going to get it right now. I’m sorry, Dad. His heart hammered as he took off toward the pasture.

      In the distance, the approaching bulls bellowed and began to scatter as the horses pounded toward them. A pickup door slammed, and a raspy voice growled, Hey, where’d that kid go?

      Oh shoot, Ben muttered. He raced to the haystack, grabbed his gun off a bale, and ducked out of sight. His heart thumped against his ribs.

      Today started out so good, but I’m in deep doo-doo now. How could my Great Idea turn into a wreck like this? Chewing his lip, Ben thought back to the scene at the breakfast table, wondering where he had gone wrong....

      Ben’s fork stopped in mid-air, warm syrup dripping from the pancake. But why can’t I ride with you today, Dad?

      Pete Lucas wiped his mouth and took one last sip of coffee. I told you yesterday, he said. Fred is bringing a big cattle buyer who’s flying in today. I don’t want you anywhere near Fred!

      Ben hated Fred. The reason was simple—Fred hated Ben. He always had, ever since they moved here. Ben had no idea why. His dad was sure Ben was hiding some dreadful deed he’d committed against Fred. Since Ben couldn’t prove that he wasn’t, it gave him even more reason to hate Fred.

      All the cowboys at the Circle A Ranch did what Fred said because he was the cow boss on the ranch. Fred was old and grouchy. He was so old and had worked there so long, he got the whole weekend off, instead of just Sundays like the other cowboys. But some Saturdays he had special jobs to do, like today.

      Why don’t you do some target practice instead? Pete suggested.

      Okay, Ben said, disappointed. This was his last Saturday to spend with his dad before school started on Monday. He loved working with his dad, even though sometimes he was hard to please. Ben wanted to cowboy on a ranch when he grew up and hoped that someday he would be as good a hand as his dad.

      What’s the matter? You and that old gun aren’t seeing eye to eye anymore? Pete laughed. Maybe I need to buy you a scope for it! With a wink, he reached over and tousled Ben’s hair.

      His mother, Susie Lucas, smoothed his hair as she got up from the table.

      You guys! Ben complained, grabbing his head with both hands. Quit treating me like a baby! His voice cracked momentarily.

      Baby? Pete echoed teasingly. It’s that hair that I love! And those freckles on your nose! As he reached for Ben’s nose, Ben jerked his head away.

      Getting up, Pete tousled Susie’s short bouncy hair. Just like this strawberry-blond I married!

      Ducking away, Susie said, Can’t you see I’m trying to pour coffee into your thermos?

      Well, Ben and I have our morning planned. What’s on your agenda, dear? Pete asked.

      Oh, I need to finish preparing the piece I’m playing for church tomorrow. It’s rather difficult. Then I have two piano students coming before noon.

      Pete

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