The author tells of his growing up in the spectacular mountains of Colorado on the Two-Bar Ranch. Life there provides the backdrop for the funny, wild, and sometimes heart wrenching events he and his brothers come upon. They encounter right and wrong, life and death on the ranch. Many people wish they could have lived an exciting childhood with great parents, a wonderful dog, many siblings, and vast freedom in beautiful high mountains. This adventurous boy has all of these and much more.
Doing the fun and ornery, his home ranch was the site of stopping the local train, raiding trespassing fishermen, catching skunks by the tails, teaching magpies to talk, and fishing for wily trout in unusual ways.
This 1950s story is also about wild pets, hand fishing, livestock defending, weird hired hands, and feuding with a stubborn neighbor. Having lived wild, free, and independent, this kid eventually has to deal with the dreaded sale of his home ranch. Can he let go or save the ranch he truly loves?
Funny, insightful, and poignant, this story captures a marvelous growing up. Based on the author's own life, this memoir provides insights about living an authentic and exciting ranch life.
About the Author: Paul Willard Richard, biology professor and published author, weaves his true story of an exciting Colorado mountain ranch life, growing up free and ornery with four brothers and a courageous dog. His wild and amazing adventures are what most people would love to have experienced as a kid. AU Bio for back matter of the interior: The great-grandson, grandson, and son of North Park ranch people, Paul Willard Richard was raised in the days of working ranchers. He grew up wild and free at 8,100 feet elevation on the Two-Bar Ranch on the northwest edge of Walden, Colorado. His love of the ranch's rivers and outdoor life led him to eventually become a professor of biological science at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. He taught junior high, high school, university, and adult students for thirty-two years. His heart has always been in the North Park he writes about. As a professor emeritus of the biological sciences from UNC, he lives and writes in Greeley, Colorado.
