Typically, the main characters are the cowboys themselves. They are the ones who drive the story forward, whether it's an old, experienced cowboy sharing his Christmas wisdom or a young, eager cowboy learning the ropes during the holiday season.
Well, in Cowboy Christmas short stories, you often get a vivid picture of the cowboy life during Christmas. There might be stories about cowboys having a special Christmas dinner under the stars, with simple yet hearty food. It could also include how they exchange small, meaningful gifts like a handmade lasso or a new saddle blanket. The settings are usually the vast ranches or the open plains, which add a unique charm to the Christmas spirit in these stories.
There could be a story where a group of cowboys come together in a small town on Christmas Eve. They have a big feast with the townsfolk, sharing their stories and songs around a bonfire. They exchange simple gifts like handmade horsehair bracelets or carved wooden figurines. This shows the sense of community among cowboys during Christmas.
It could be a story about a cowboy who gives camellias as a special Christmas gift. Maybe he has a beloved person and camellias are her favorite flowers.
There was a cowboy who decided to decorate his ranch for Christmas all by himself. He got these huge, wild cacti and tried to put Christmas lights on them. As he was climbing up the cacti, he kept getting pricked, but his determination was unwavering. By the end of the day, his ranch had the most unique Christmas lights display in the whole West, with the cacti looking like spiky Christmas trees. It was a story that made everyone in the town chuckle.
A memorable one is when a cowboy accidentally mistook a reindeer for a wild deer while out on patrol on Christmas Eve. He chased it all over the place until he realized it had a shiny red nose. He then felt so silly but it became a story told around the campfire every Christmas. The image of a cowboy on horseback chasing what he thought was a normal deer only to find Rudolph was quite funny.
One common theme is loneliness and companionship. Cowboys were often alone or in small groups, and Christmas was a time when that loneliness was either intensified or overcome by the company of others.
In some old cowboy christmas stories, cowboys would often gather around a campfire on Christmas night. They might sing old cowboy songs and tell stories of the year's adventures. There could be a story of a cowboy who received a special gift from a Native American friend, like a hand - made saddle blanket. This gift was not only useful but also a symbol of the friendship between the two cultures in the context of the Christmas season.
Cowboy short stories usually have a distinct western setting. They often feature vast landscapes like deserts, prairies, and mountains. The main characters are typically cowboys, ranchers, or outlaws. For example, in many stories, a cowboy might be on a quest to save his ranch from foreclosure or to catch an outlaw.
One common theme is the cowboy's relationship with the land. The vast and often unforgiving landscapes play a big role in their stories. Another theme is the cowboy's code of honor, like being honest and tough. Also, the bond between a cowboy and his horse is often explored.