Cowboy sat on an upturned bucket outside in the cool morning listening to the world waking up. He waited for the old hen to round the barn with her brood. Hands propped on his cane, he took another look over the cocks that were dropping from their teepees, popping their wings and crowing to the sun that was peeking over the horizon.

They looked like jewels glittering in the golden light. The red of the feathers was perfect. Their black tails trailed behind them like a ladies dress gown. He sighed happily. So many years put into breeding these birds and they’d not disappointed him yet.

In the beginning, when he was no more than a stag himself, he’d had it hard. Hell, even he had little whipper- snappers come to him for his secrets. He smiled and shook his head.

“Cowboy,” a quiet voice called him and he turned.

“Mornin’,” Cowboy answered, “ready to get to work?”

“Yes I am,” the young man said excitedly.

“Good. We’ve got three in black out. Ready for the gaff today. Gonna be hell on wheels,” he grinned.