Our tired, dusty trail crew sat around the campfire out in the Red Desert, working on their football pool for the Splendid Bowl. Ever since shootinâ up towns and lynchinâ desperadoes had become illegal, it seems like football was the only outlet left for these tough hombres to vent their aggression.
âPut me down for San Fran to beat the spread.â growled Sourdough, âIâve always favored the NFC âcuz they donât have that gol danged designated hitter rule.â
âNaw," retorted Greasewood Gil from Guernsey, âK.C. has that Mahomes fella, anâ heâs from Texas. Them Texians is slippery anâ mean. Heâll slice up them Niners âtil they ainât no more than Eighters.â
Denver Bob stayed silent, staring into the embers and nursing nostalgic memories of John Elway.
âIâll take the Niners and the points,â said Rimrock, âUnless Taylor Swift flies in from Japan to watch the game, then all bets are off! If that happens, itâll be the Chiefs by two touchdowns.â
The flickering campfire light revealed confused glances among the gathered cowboys. Sourdough spoke for almost everyone when he asked, âWho the hell is Taylor Swift?â
Cookie, the wisest and worldliest among us, wiped his hands on his apron and spoke up. âSheâs that purty liâl dancehall gal from Hollywood who has a billion dollars. Sheâs courtinâ some studhorse tight end from Kansas City. Everâ time she goes to a game, the Chiefs win. Sheâs...I dunno, like a lucky penny or some such for âem.â
Stetsons nodded in the circle of firelight, as if to say, âThat makes perfect sense.â
âBut," Cookie warned, âTrump hates her right down to her glittery little thong. Heâs sicced all his MAGA alpha dogs on her âcuz more people like her than like him. I guess heâs only okay with populism iffân it applies to Trump.â
Cowhands grumbled and muttered that Trump couldnât be much of an hombre is he was scared of a girl.
At this point, a cowhand on loan from the 4Chan Ranch across the river chimed in enthusiastically.
Aluminum Foil Stetson Stan jumped up with fire in his eyes. âMy President Trump ainât skeered of nobody!â His voice wavered, then he went on.
âTaylor Swift is Satanâs spawn! Sheâs just a tool oâ the Tri-Lateral Commission sent here to seduce our chillun anâ drain our vital fluids!â
On a roll, Stan (a true son of MAGA, dorky red hat and all) frothed and said, âSheâs the Anti-Christ in sequins! Read your goddam Bible! The Seventh Seal broke and here comes Taylor Swift. Use your brains!"
"Right after Jewish space lasers, devil-worshipping pizza pedophiles, Cuban mind-control particle beams, zombifying pharmaceuticals and hidden Sumerian messages in dirty books, who comes down the pike? Taylor Swift, sent by George Soros and Bill Gates. Wake up, people!â
The rest of the crew scooted away from Stan as he ranted, giving him plenty of room. âBlood and Honor, boys...stand up like men! Repeal womenâs suffrage and reclaim your manhood! Resist Taylor Swift, anâ make the world safe again for Lawrence Welkâs Champagne Ladies. Trumpâs Army is doinâ our part, join us!â
Stan began to weep uncontrollably, so Cookie laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Little Joe looked up at Cookie and asked if it was true, if Trump and his MAGA folks were really goinâ to war with a girl.
âRelax, pardâ, Cookie reassured him, âthem drugstore cowboys wonât do nothing but mope around the far end of the barnyard like fresh-cut steer calves and wonder what happened to their gonads. Gimme the Chiefs by a TD. Who wants some coffee?â
Rod Miller can be reached at: rodsmillerwyo@yahoo.com





