Bandit Moon

We had to push some heifers from a far off pasture one day and clear to the corral above camp. They were going to be preg-checked by the vet. By the time we got them to the pasture closest to the corral, it was dark. The moon was full, intense, and bright. Usually when you're moving cows, there is a LOT of noise. The cows bellering, the dogs barking, horses whinnying. This night, we moved heifers under the bandit's moon. All was quiet and you could hear the clicking of hooves as they trailed towards camp. It was so surreal. There was something in the air that night, and even the dogs were quiet. Tucker was a mustang gelding I was riding that night, young and with only about 10 rides on him. He could feel it too, and not a whinny escaped him. That's a night I wish I could relive and one I don't believe I'll ever forget.