I’ve already introduced you to Maggie, Cowboy’s dog. Maggie usually accompanies Cowboy wherever he goes. Her favorite thing to do is to go on a jeep ride with him. It’s more of a “run alongside of the jeep”, jeep ride. Maggie is a runner. The faster the jeep goes, the faster Maggie goes. When she’s with Cowboy, she’s the perfect canine cow dog. She listens to his instructions and never wanders off course.
My relationship with Maggie is a little different. I’ll admit, I do tend to spoil her with the good stuff! But she is so stinkin cute when she sees me. She hops around like a rabbit. Maggie knows that if she wants a good rubbing or a tasty treat, I’m her woman! Yep…we have that kind of relationship. Those unspoken words between a dog and a pretend cowgirl… that’s good stuff.
As I mentioned before, Maggie is a runner. Cowboy had been gone for an extended hunting trip, which means Maggie didn’t get her daily runs. Every day, Maggie was ready for her jeep ride but he was not here to oblige her. One Sunday, I woke up and decided that I would take Maggie for her run. Just us, no Cowboy and no jeep. Yes, this is my year to be in the best shape EVER! I’m eating better and exercising more (Cowboy refuses to participate). I lace up my cheetah print running shoes and off we go on our run! We’re about 10 minutes into it and I think, WoW! She is staying with me, she’s such a good dog! And then it happens…Maggie spots 3 jackasses across the road and off she goes! She runs through the fence and the corralling begins. Those jacks had no idea what happened. They’re heehawing and Maggie is barking! This goes on for a good 20 minutes. She reminded of a canine version of Forrest Gump…Run Maggie Run! Maggie finally gets bored with them and comes back to me. I tell her how bad she is and I head back to the house.
The next morning, I decided that Maggie needed a “come to Jesus run”. I need her to listen to ME as well as she listens to Cowboy. If she learns her lesson and obeys me then I’ll be able to brag to Cowboy when he comes home. And let’s face it, a little bragging can go a long way between Cowboy and I. I grab a leash and off we go. Maggie is a free spirit, so this whole leash idea is not to her liking. She’s not happy AND it begins to drizzle…ugh! I try to do something nice and this is what Mother Nature gives me? Jeez! We continue to run and just as I begin to think that this “come to Jesus run” had adjusted her attitude, Maggie sees a deer.
OMG!! She takes off running at mock speed! I had no idea how fast or strong she could be. Those grey hounds have nothing on our Maggie girl. She’s running and I’m sprinting. When she turns to go through a 3 stranded barbed wire fence, that’s when I knew I was in serious trouble!
By this time I have fallen down and she is literally dragging me through the mud towards the fence! Friends, I can assure you, this is NOT a pretty sight. I finally get control of the leash and pull her as hard as I could away from the fence.
Dear Lord, if you could just give me the strength that my trainer says I have and help me stop her, I promise not to make fun of Cowboy anymore.
I finally get her to stop dragging me, thank ya Jesus. I stand up and give her a good scolding. Just as we begin to run back home, Cowboy drives up behind us… well, this is just great!
COWBOY: What in the world happened to you? You’re a muddy mess!
ME: Your dog happened to me!
COWBOY: (Chuckling) You probably shouldn’t put her on a leash. She doesn’t like it and she’s too strong for you.
ME: Thanks for the memo.
I look over in Maggie’s direction just as she jumps in the back of the jeep and I could’ve sworn that she stuck her tongue out at me. We continue to look at each other… those unspoken words.
‘Til next Sunday ya’ll!
