A late April blizzard was moving in - hard and fast. About 80 head of cows, most largely pregnant, needed to be moved from the east graze, across the two lane highway, to the west, with shelter, calving sheds, barns and feed, before getting hunkered down in the willows at the east end of the pasture. No one wanted a repeat like the loss of 6 calves that didn't make it when a bad blizzard came in a few years back.

Cowboy Dusty geared up to head out with his cow dog Rusty. Dusty knew he would need more help but all the cowboys and ranch hands were out on the range, dealing with the impending storm. Dusty had to take his chances with a greenhorn. Cooter was slight but wiry, said he was 19. His dog Spot was still in training to herd cows, learning the commands while herding sheep and goats.

They got started. Dusty and Rusty worked together like a well-oiled machine, anticipating each other's actions as the herd moved slow and steady from the shelter of the willows to the gate at the highway. Cooter was riding drag, making sure no heavy cows lagged at the rear. Spot was excited and energetic, following Cooter's commands, moving the stragglers, but he kept running back to the willows.

The wind was kicking up, starting to blow in the snow. Dusty was getting impatient and riled up. He signaled Rusty to hold the herd at the gate, then rode back to see why Cooter and Spot could not keep up. Spot kept running back to the willows. He even barked. Dusty was fed up but he followed Spot back into the willows where a very pregnant cow stood stubborn, refusing to move. 

Dusty told Cooter to take Spot and hold the herd at the gate. He whistled for Rusty to come and get the stubborn cow. A lost cow and calf is lost money. Cooter and Spot held the herd at the gate until Dusty and Rusty got the last cow out of the willows and across the road with the herd.

Spot had saved the day on his first time rounding up cows. Spot was a good dog.