The Story of the Quiet Cowboy

On this episode of Our American Stories, J.D. Wininger, owner of the Cross-Dubya Ranch in Northeast Texas and a listener of Our American Stories, tells the story of a man named John who mostly kept to himself. When J.D. offered him a helping hand, Mr. John ended up helping him just as much.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American people.
And we love hearing from you, our listeners. Send your
stories to our American Stories dot com. Here's some of
our favorites. Today, we're going to hear from author J. D. Winninger.
They'll be sharing part of a story he wrote called

(00:32):
The Quiet Cowboy.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
I met mister John at our church, quiet fellow. He'd
sit by himself near the back. He would only speak
when spoken to, and I made it a point to
seek him out his Sunday morning for about a month
to spend a couple of minutes sharing with you. One morning,

(01:00):
noticing the brand on my vest, he quizzically looked at me,
you got a ranch. When I affirmed I indeed had
a small ranch, his eyes lit up. I grew up
and picked him over but coomo smiling, I replied, I
didn't know that. That's great cattle country over there, and
good hay too. With a broad smile. He looked up.

(01:23):
My daddy, brothers and me worked in the hayfields fourteen
hours a day years ago. Ooh whea, that was hard work.
But hard work makes you healthy. I may call almost
thirty dollars a day. From there, the roots of friendship crew.
As rie grew more comfortable with one another, I invited

(01:44):
him to life grew. He shared he didn't drive and
he wasn't comfortable walking the streets after dark. I promised
we'd carry him home, and he agreed to join us.
When I learned when my new friend John lived, it
broke my heart. It seemed red and persecution displaced him,
and he was most grateful that a nearby church offered

(02:06):
him a dry place to sleep, and others a shower.
Now and again, with no bathroom facilities and winter coming on,
God placed a burden on my family's heart to do more.
It took some convincing him, But mister John is the
newest resident at our cross w ranch. As I'm getting
to know my ranchforming better each day, I'm learning more

(02:28):
from him than he is from me. With the nod
of his head, he states, matter of fact, were burning daylight.
As he sets down beside me, I think to myself,
this fellow doesn't talk much, but he sharees a good worker.
After early morning chores feeding, watering and herd checks, he
glances my way time to feed them printers, and off

(02:52):
we go to feed bubb and the barn kiddies, following
a pad on the head and straightening Bobba's rugs. It's
time for our breakfast. He pours his coffee in silence.
How do you want your eggs? Mister John scrambled, please
a brief reply. It's his usual response. Oh, sometimes he'll
talk your ear off. I was a pretty good, dearyman

(03:15):
in my youth. I could work one hundred foot straight
a a type of dairy barn by myself before sun ricks.
He isn't Bragon, but remembering his strong work ethic as
a young man, that same spirit flows through him today,
tempered with age and seasoned with wisdom from a lifetime
of lessons. He's quick to remind me I wasn't always responsible, though.

(03:39):
I equipped my dairy job, not because it didn't love
working them old cows, but because it wasn't feared of
them were a boss. They deserved someone more responsible than
I became. I thought, I wish we could all be
that honest with ourselves. He's cleaned up the old bunk
house and he's made himself a great apartment. Sir John

(04:01):
is an answer to prayers to help around the hounds.
I've never seen the barn, garage, workshop, and bunk house
so sparkling and clean. Neither is my Miss Diane, much
to my upreme. Together we tackle all the chores that
need doing around the ranch. I love his work ethic,

(04:21):
attention to detail, and can do attitude. It's been years
since being blessed to work with a self starter who
not only thinks for themselves, but does every task with skill, precision,
and professionalism. Our cattle and other livestock adjusted to him
quickly as he exhibits the same calm, easygoing nature I

(04:41):
handle them with. When I glance over to check on
him while we're doing separate tasks, I see a mixture
of joy and satisfaction on his face. When we're not working,
he keeps to himself. On sunny days, I'll find him
setting outside in the sun reflecting upon life. At other time,
I find him listening to music, reading his bob, or

(05:03):
reviewing his Sunday school lesson. He wanders out to the
barn or a pasture to check on things. Every afternoon.
I find him out there offering a treat to Maverick
the Bull, or visiting the donkeys. There's such a peace
about him when he's outside in God's country, as he
likes to call it. I can't tell you how many
times he has said I never dream I could ever

(05:26):
do this again. When you find him setting along with
the animals, he seems to look into the distance, pensive, contemplative,
as if he's reconciling his life. I sometimes wonder if
he's thinking about the past, thanking God for the present,
or wondering about the future. Perhaps it's all those things,

(05:48):
but John is quick to tell you there's a reason
the rearview mirror is so small and the front winder
is so big. Watching him hold a newborn calf the
cradle its head in his hand, as he reaches down
to nuzzlet, snose, and softly talk to it, his gentle
soul is on full display. Surely God is redeeming his years.

(06:11):
Since hiring on here to cross w mister John has
not only made my life easier, He's brought an infectious,
childlike joy of discovery into our every day. The way
he fusses over Miss d and spends time with Bandit
the cat and her litter of kittens, he expresses his
gentle heart in so many ways to see his smile

(06:34):
and hear is zu WII. When I gave him his
own wrench business card and a prayerl with our brand on,
it was priceless. In his usual laconic manner, he clutched
the shirts and muttered, reckon, I'm riding for the brand now.
He is a tremendous help to me. Brings joy into
our home and God's blessings keep pouring in. As is

(06:57):
often the case, I suppose the mentor can end up
being the one who learns the most.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
And a beautiful job on the production by Madison Derricot
and a special thanks to JD. Winninger sharing the story
of mister John aka the Quiet Cowboy. The fella doesn't
talk too much. Jad said of mister John that he
sure is a worker. By the way. To read more
of this story and others, go to Jdwinninger dot com
the Story of the Quiet Cowboy here on our American Stories.

(07:30):
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(07:51):
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