True Texas Tales? — Bill Brown

Beginning at age 13 the author spent five consecutive summers on a working ranch located about half way between Marathon Texas and what later became the Big Bend National Park True Texas Tales which he authored sixty years later reports some of his adventures while he lived on the ranch His reported exploits include finding a lost gold mine breaking his own horse watching a Texas Ranger in action feeding honey to a rattlesnake facing down an adult black bear observing the crew of an alien spaceship escaping from a gang of cattle rustlers performing at a Texas rodeo attending a Mexican fiesta and assorted other adventures some perilous and some humorous The stories provide interesting and educational reading about the region s unique inhabitants climate and geology The profusion of animal and vegetable life thriving in such harsh desert conditions is also reported Raised in the city until sent to spend summers on a working ranch the author gives a first hand account of ranch life and his evolution from tenderfoot to cowboy Although they occurred over sixty years ago his experiences are entertaining timely unusual and exciting Historians regard the area as being part of the final frontier in the United States While agreeing that the area was wild dangerous and unforgiving the author helps the reader to see that it was also beautiful in its isolation from civilization Four games have been developed to accompany True Texas Tales Each is designed to help the reader achieve a better understanding of the region and its inhabitants