Running around the cows as precisely as he could manage, Rufus herded the cattle into their pen for the night. He had been out with Farmer Jim and his horse Switchback all day on the ranch. They had earned their dinner tonight. Jim dismounted off of Switchbacks smooth  leather saddle, boots kicking up a cloud of dust as they hit the ground. “Well, Rufus, looks like we just about gottem’all in.” he said as he was finishing the head count. “Damn…” he removed the hat from his furrowed brow and wiped it off with a handkerchief. “One short.”

Rufus was already laying down by the barn door tail wagging, hoping for an early dinner. It was always the same dinner, but after a long day under the sun, it never failed to disappoint.

Melissa came out of the house, she had heard them come in and was just out to let them know dinner would be a few minutes. “Miles and Jesse got into a scuff over a game of cards and they knocked the kettle into the fire and put it out.” “Well that seems about right.” said Jim. “It’s about time we start throwing those two outside when they get into quarrels. Especially when it messes with dinner. No matter though, me and Switchback have to go round up #37.”

“Did he run off again?” Melissa inquired as she started back for the house. “Sure did, can’t wait till those two boys are old enough to chase these cows down.” replied Jim as he whistled for Rufus. Hearing the call, Rufus was up and waiting by his side when he mounted Switchback and rode out to find the stray.

Just as Jim had suspected, the cow was near an old cave under an overhanging rock face by the stream. The rocks were bright red in the golden light of the setting sun. The beast had actually manged to park itself in quite the serene location. “Maybe these bovines aren’t as dull as we make them out to be” Jim thought to himself as he took a deep breath, enjoying the beautiful scenery placed before him. Taking on a ranch was one of the best decisions he had ever made. He was his own boss, got to work outside, and had an amazing family back at the house.

As he and Rufus herded #37 back, Jim was happy. After returning the cow to its rightful place in the pen, Jim headed for the barn to put Switchback to bed for the night. As he combed out the hair, the two farm felines, Kit and Cat, looked on from the rafters. They always were curious about that big horse and why it always let a creature smaller than itself run a comb down its back. They didn’t even like to be touched by hands, except for when they did. Cats are strange that way. They like to make their own rules. Some people call them independent but to Jim, they had always seemed like animals that liked to pretend. Cat’s thought they didn’t need his help, but they never turned down a meal or a trip into the house when it got too cold.

After finishing up dinner and getting the boys to bed, it was time for one of the best parts of the day. That moment when you get to slip off your work boots, and into a warm, comfy pair of slippers. Jim had an old pair made from brown leather and sheep’s wool. They were quite fuzzy. All of the animals on the farm loved when Jim had slipper time. For Rufus, it meant a nice long nap under his masters feet, for the cats it meant they had the farm to themselves for the night, and the cows knew that once the slippers came out, they could relax knowing that the farm was safe.

Reaching under bench where the slippers usually rested Jim’s hand came back empty. The slippers weren’t there. “That doesn’t make much sense” he thought. “They’re always here.” Just when Jim, and all of the animals thought Fuzzy Slipper time was approaching… it turned out to be a False Alarm.

Where could those slippers have gone??