“Blessings occasionally have a price tag, yet small compared to what’s received.”
Show was set for mid-morning, an hour-and-a-half northeast of the ranch, so we had to leave before breakfast, when the neighbor was starting to milk.
Essential to get on the showgrounds well before start time to situate for the day, get mounts acquainted and warmed up.
Performance judging went well, as “Number 17” was announced in every class entered for merit of Maggie and her hang-on.
When there’s that much distance, time and expense involved, entry is made in every division we can get in, tiring us before even saddling Missy to start running in late afternoon. Thoughts of leaving early crossed our mind, but didn’t, knowing regret there’d be.
Incomprehensible the heart that truly-old Missy had in the dark of the night, handily beating on-takers, even speeding up as evening progressed.
Close to midnight when we unsaddled, loaded everything, headed out, with gas-up stop, and attempt to call ranch with verification of whereabouts, but no phone service.
Still on a high, loud-roaring truck hit Number 4, with pedal to the metal. All of a sudden, check engine light came on; trouble apparent.
Yet, the clunker kept going despite low-battery idiot light aglow, temperature gage way-below red, with boiling antifreeze smell obvious.
Eighty miles from home, no phone, in the dark middle of night, rig kept going. At the big city stoplight, smoke roared from under the hood as we pulled into the shopping center parking lot.
Open 24-hours store security guard accommodatingly offered a phone to call for ranch assistance.
Unpleasant response, but help sleepily agreed as another truck, trailer and driver had to be coordinated to rescue stranded cowboy and his horses.
Wee hours of the morning, the obliging-non-smiling redeemer arrived to get us and our mounts home.
A short sleep-in ended as arrangements were most fortunately made to get the caput truck, while we borrowed another to retrieve trailer.
Plenty of fixing essential to get the old pickup running, but it works again.
A major ordeal, yet thankful the rig didn’t die miles from anywhere with no source of communication. Blessings come in the most surprising ways.
Remind us of Job 5:8: “He’s famous for great and unexpected acts.” Thus, Isaiah 65:16: “Blessings overcome troubles that are soon gone and forgotten.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
X–21–5-22-16