STORYSTAR
Logo
  • Home
    • Short Story STARS of the Week
    • Short Story Writer of the Month
    • Read short stories by theme
    • Read short stories by subject
    • Read classic short stories
    • Read Novels
    • Brightest Stars Anthology
    • StoryStar Premium Membership
  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
    • READ SHORT True Life STORIES
    • READ SHORT Fiction STORIES
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Kids
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Teens
    • READ SHORT STORIES FOR Adults
    • Read short stories by theme
      • Read Short Love stories / Romance Stories
      • Read Short Family & Friends Stories
      • Read Short Survival / Success Stories
      • Read Short Mystery Stories
      • Read Short Inspirational Stories
      • Read Short Drama / Human Interest Stories
      • Read Short Action & Adventure Stories
      • Read Short Science Fiction Stories
      • Read Short Fairy Tales & Fantasy Stories
      • Read Short Story Classics Stories
      • Read Short Horror Stories
    • Read short stories by subject
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Aging / Maturity
      • Art / Music / Theater / Dance
      • Biography / Autobiography
      • Character Based
      • Childhood / Youth
      • Comedy / Humor
      • Coming of Age / Initiation
      • Community / Home
      • Courage / Heroism
      • Creatures & Monsters
      • Crime
      • Culture / Heritage / Lifestyles
      • Current Events
      • Death / Heartbreak / Loss
      • Drama
      • Education / Instruction
      • Ethics / Morality
      • Fairy Tale / Folk Tale
      • Faith / Hope
      • Family
      • Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
      • Fate / Luck / Serendipity
      • Flash / Mini / Very Short
      • Friends / Friendship
      • General Interest
      • Ghost Stories / Paranormal
      • History / Historical
      • Horror / Scary
      • Ideas / Discovery / Opinions
      • Inspirational / Uplifting
      • Life Changing Decisions/Events
      • Life Experience
      • Loneliness / Solitude
      • Love / Romance / Dating
      • Memorial / Tribute
      • Memory / Reminiscence
      • Miracles / Wonders
      • Mystery
      • Nature & Wildlife
      • Novels
      • Other / Not Listed
      • Pain / Problems / Adversity
      • Personal Growth / Achievement
      • Pets / Animal Friends
      • Philosophy/Religion/Spirituality
      • Poems & Songs
      • Politics / Power / Abuse of Power
      • Recreation / Sports / Travel
      • Relationships
      • Revenge / Poetic Justice / Karma
      • Science / Science Fiction
      • Seasonal / Holidays
      • Serial / Series
      • Service / Giving Back
      • Survival / Healing / Renewal
      • Time: PAST/Present/FUTURE
      • War & Peace
      • Western / Wild West
  • Contests
  • Blog
  • Comments Feed
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
LOGIN / SIGN UP

Congratulations !


You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !

Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

  • Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
  • Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
  • Subject: Flash / Mini / Very Short
  • Published: 07/17/2023

The Bovine Standoff

By Martha Hume
Born 1955, F, from Lovelock, Nevada, United States
View Author Profile
Read More Stories by This Author
The Bovine Standoff

On the 13th June, 2021, I was walking with a group along a footpath adjoining a slowly developing ranch in Union Nevada. We were there to overlook a few head of remaining cattle. A strange illness had overtaken this fledgling property. Six of the wild cattle had succumbed to the illness. I was here to purchase the healthier of her herds.

We came to a field with a waterhole next to the gate. I checked the water quality. Why? I do not know. I wasn't there acting as a veterinarian or the doctor's assistant.i wasn't a representative for the department of agriculture.i wasn't working for the Bureau of land management. I was a buyer seeking the lowest economical price.

I Did a check of the field before I entered and saw there were several groups of cows but did not see a bull or calves. They looked like dairy cows. This check was for my protection. I have distrusted cattle since my adolescent years. Cattle looked demonic. This was ridiculous. I had a mild comprehension of how silly my paranoia was. I was a greenhorn attempting to purchase a massive beast that terrified me.

I entered the field with my cattle dog and the other members of the party came in after. I walked as usual with my dog on a tight lead. I’ve done this countless times before without a problem, but these cows were more menacingly inquisitive than I ever imagined or remember.

I crossed the field and came towards an open gate, but some of the herd moved quite quickly to get in front of me. My opponents were forming a standoff.in a standoff between human and beast the beast would win.

Running, escaping were the thoughts flooding my mind.fight seemed foolish and flight seemed impossible. It was about a quarter mile to the next gate or fence – and my route back was blocked by additional herds of determined cattle. I decided that the best course of action was to position myself and my dog behind the open gate with me behind the dog. Alice was a healer, her inbred instinct was to bark loudly and to nip the cattles heels.as this Alice was a herding dog. Surprisingly Alice offered sufficient distraction and protection.

The bull then appeared in front of the gate and was about twenty feet away from me.

I tried to shoo the cattle away, but they would not move.

I called back to my companions and told them to help or get the Hell out of my way. I am coming out one way or another. Alice had dragged me back through the open gate. Alice held a position by my side slightly in front of me. By then I had made it back to the water hole, the gate and my red pickup. I was safe, my companions were safe.

When I questioned my friends why they wouldn't help during the standoff. They laughed " what Bull" your " standoff was with a holstein, a dairy cow.

The End

The Bovine Standoff(Martha Hume) On the 13th June, 2021, I was walking with a group along a footpath adjoining a slowly developing ranch in Union Nevada. We were there to overlook a few head of remaining cattle. A strange illness had overtaken this fledgling property. Six of the wild cattle had succumbed to the illness. I was here to purchase the healthier of her herds.

We came to a field with a waterhole next to the gate. I checked the water quality. Why? I do not know. I wasn't there acting as a veterinarian or the doctor's assistant.i wasn't a representative for the department of agriculture.i wasn't working for the Bureau of land management. I was a buyer seeking the lowest economical price.

I Did a check of the field before I entered and saw there were several groups of cows but did not see a bull or calves. They looked like dairy cows. This check was for my protection. I have distrusted cattle since my adolescent years. Cattle looked demonic. This was ridiculous. I had a mild comprehension of how silly my paranoia was. I was a greenhorn attempting to purchase a massive beast that terrified me.

I entered the field with my cattle dog and the other members of the party came in after. I walked as usual with my dog on a tight lead. I’ve done this countless times before without a problem, but these cows were more menacingly inquisitive than I ever imagined or remember.

I crossed the field and came towards an open gate, but some of the herd moved quite quickly to get in front of me. My opponents were forming a standoff.in a standoff between human and beast the beast would win.

Running, escaping were the thoughts flooding my mind.fight seemed foolish and flight seemed impossible. It was about a quarter mile to the next gate or fence – and my route back was blocked by additional herds of determined cattle. I decided that the best course of action was to position myself and my dog behind the open gate with me behind the dog. Alice was a healer, her inbred instinct was to bark loudly and to nip the cattles heels.as this Alice was a herding dog. Surprisingly Alice offered sufficient distraction and protection.

The bull then appeared in front of the gate and was about twenty feet away from me.

I tried to shoo the cattle away, but they would not move.

I called back to my companions and told them to help or get the Hell out of my way. I am coming out one way or another. Alice had dragged me back through the open gate. Alice held a position by my side slightly in front of me. By then I had made it back to the water hole, the gate and my red pickup. I was safe, my companions were safe.

When I questioned my friends why they wouldn't help during the standoff. They laughed " what Bull" your " standoff was with a holstein, a dairy cow.

The End

Please Rate This Story ?
  • Share this story on
  • 12

ADD COMMENT

COMMENTS (4)

Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.

Shelly Garrod

08/14/2023

Very funny story Martha. Had me chuckling to the end. Great job.
Blessings Shelly

Very funny story Martha. Had me chuckling to the end. Great job.
Blessings Shelly

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening

Lillian Kazmierczak

07/20/2023

Oh, Martha this was really funny! Perception is everything! Im with you though, cattle are sppoky and they can be frightening in large numbers. Kudos to Alice for keeping her wits about her! Well written and well-deserved short story star of the day!

Oh, Martha this was really funny! Perception is everything! Im with you though, cattle are sppoky and they can be frightening in large numbers. Kudos to Alice for keeping her wits about her! Well written and well-deserved short story star of the day!

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening

BEN BROWN

07/20/2023

I loved your story. Well done for being todays star.

I loved your story. Well done for being todays star.

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening

JD

07/19/2023

Martha, this is one of my favorite stories of yours that I have read. It is well written, intriguing, a little suspensful, and absolutely hilarious at the end. Great job. Happy short story star of the day! :-)

Martha, this is one of my favorite stories of yours that I have read. It is well written, intriguing, a little suspensful, and absolutely hilarious at the end. Great job. Happy short story star of the day! :-)

Reply
Please note the 5,000 character limit for your comment, after which the remaining text will be cut off.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
some-data...

Martha Hume

07/20/2023

Thank you.

Thank you.

Help Us Understand What's Happening
Storystar Premium Members Don't See Any Advertising. Learn More.

Advertisement

FOLLOW US ON

  • Twitter

LIKE US ON

  • Facebook

STORY CATEGORIES

  • TRUE LIFE FICTION
  • KIDS TEENS ADULTS

QUICK LINKS

  • Publish Story
  • Read Stories
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2010-2025 STORY STAR. All rights reserved.

Gift Your Points
( available)
Help Us Understand What's Happening