Cowboy Bruce had the blues, and nobody in town knew what to do about it.

Like everyone in Tieltown, Cowboy Bruce had owned cockatiels, but big-hearted lug that he was, he gave his beloved ‘tiels away to an elderly widow woman who had none. The townspeople all knew that the gift of ‘tiels is the fastest way to brighten a life and bring warmth and sunshine into a home, and they all applauded his decision to share these bits of love with the poor “widder woman.” But after they were gone, all the life had just seemed to drain from Cowboy Bruce.

Huckster Dave was a beloved citizen of Tieltown, and the soapbox upon which he hawked his potions and nostrums and dispensed advise and opinions was set up just down the street from Sheriff Cindy’s office. Huckster Dave had a vast supply of patent medicines, liniments, and various other concoctions, some more effective than others. His Crestover Tonic was popular with the lutinos in town, and many claimed to have re-grown their bald spots with its use, but Never Molt and Powder B-Gone were less effective. After seeing the sad condition of Cowboy Bruce, Huckster Dave dug deep into his storehouse, but even with his vast knowledge of the human condition, was unable to find a tonic to help.

Schoolmarm Mary, hearing of Cowboy Bruce’s plight, had asked all of her young students to help. Cowboy Bruce had always been held in high regard by the schoolchildren, and by Schoolmarm Mary, because he was a champion of the public education system. The problem was not so much finding a cockatiel for Cowboy Bruce - there were always plenty of happy ‘tiel chicks at Normal Gray Gus’s - it was finding just the right ‘tiel tot.

You see, Cowboy Bruce was a bit of an enigma. Dressed all in black, with a shiny, white hat, he was a familiar sight, but his past was a mystery. It had been rumored that he had been all over the world, and most of the citizens of Tieltown had never even been to the state line. His act of kindness and generosity to the poor widder woman gave proof of his heart of gold, but he persisted in presenting himself to the world as a gruff and irascible character. Clearly, no ordinary ‘tiel would do for this complex and unusual man.

Chief Whiteface and his people had had an uneasy relationship with the citizens of Tieltown for many years. This was understandable, since Tieltown stood, after all, on land where Chief Whiteface’s forefathers had lived. Chief Whiteface’s people felt that you couldn’t own the land, so having the people of Tieltown move there had been a point of contention for a long time.

Then, Linda the Honest Lawyer and Lovely Laura and her husband, Harvey, who were members of the town council, had hit upon the solution to the Chief Whiteface situation. It had been so easy - right under their noses! The people of Tieltown presented Chief Whiteface and his followers with their very own cockatiels! All of the townspeople had worked very hard on the project. Can Can Janet built little birdie gyms for the Whiteface ‘tiels from discarded toys. Silly Celeste and Lovely Laura sewed tiny bits of colorful fabric for the ‘tiels to play and cuddle with. Loony Lynn from California gathered sticks and straw, and wove little sleeping baskets. And Huckster Dave, who was also handy with tools, made cages for all of them. Once the presentation of the ‘tiels with all of their goodies was made to Chief Whiteface and his people, the relationship between them and the townspeople of Tieltown thawed.

After several years, it was noticed that the Whiteface ‘tiels were developing a different and unique coloring. Gone were the familiar yellow faces and orange cheeks, and in their place were beautiful, charcoal birds with white faces. Chief Whiteface and his people were justifiably proud of their unique and lovely birds, and spent much time with them, resulting in tame and happy babies.

And so it was decided - Tieltown representatives would journey to Chief Whiteface’s village, and get one of their most unusual cockatiels for Cowboy Bruce, their most unusual citizen. Sheriff Cindy agreed to accompany them, for Chief Whiteface’s ‘tiels were rare and desirable, and while no desperado would dare attempt a raid on the Whiteface village, an ambush on the trail could not be ruled out.

The colorful pied ponies were packed for the trip, including a travel cage, birdy bread, and many sprays of millet. Joining the fearless Sheriff Cindy on this sojourn were Huckster Dave, who in addition to being big and strong and brave would never pass up the opportunity to sell a few bottles of liniment to the tribal members; Linda the Honest Lawyer went to make sure the negotiations were conducted in a fair and equitable manner; Mary the Schoolmarm decided it would be interesting to be able to report back details of the Whiteface village lifestyle to her classes; and Can Can Janet went just for fun. Lovely Laura wanted to go, but the always protective Harvey wouldn’t let her, as they were unable to find a pied pony small enough for her to ride.

The trip to Chief Whiteface’s village went smoothly. The temperature was comfortably warm for that time of year, and the posse reached their destination before sunset. Chief Whiteface and his people were pleased to see the Tieltown crowd, and honored that the decision had been made to select one of his prized Whiteface ‘tiels to brighten Cowboy Bruce’s lonely life. The townspeople were invited to have food and drink, and to stay for the evening, in order that they might travel by daylight with the rare bird, and thus avoid problems from unsavory characters on the trail. And so the festivities began.

After several hours of revelry, the townspeople decided to choose their ‘tiel. There had been a great deal of revelry, however, and the Tieltowners couldn’t reach a concensus. All of Chief Whiteface’s birds were beautiful, one more so than the next. How to make a choice of just one? The decision to bring home two for Cowboy Bruce was quickly reached, and Linda the Honest Lawyer negotiated the sale. It was agreed that Chief Whiteface would take three of Normal Gray Gus’ birds in trade for Cowboy Bruce’s new friends, and thus bring new blood into his flock.

The next morning, the group from Tieltown readied to hit the trail. They were moving slowly, for even Huckster Dave was unable to dispense enough tonic to combat the aching heads from the night before.

Perhaps it was because of the headaches, or maybe Huckster Dave’s tonic had made them less attentive than they should have been, but the Tieltowners weren’t more than an hour or two from Chief Whiteface’s village when Fallow Felipe and his Cinnamon Pearl Gang surrounded them. The townspeople quickly reined their ponies in to form a circle around the quick thinking Can Can Janet, who had hidden the travel cage beneath her voluminous skirt. They were terrified; Fallow Felipe had once ridden with Lutino Pete, and nobody in Tieltown would ever forget his reign of terror. Fallow Felipe was sure to be one ornery hombre.

Sheriff Cindy pulled her six shooter, and drew a bead directly between Fallow Felipe’s beady little red eyes. Huckster Dave, slightly to Sheriff Cindy’s left, surreptitiously removed from his saddle bags a bottle of the notoriously caustic Kage Klean - the only one left from his very profitable trip to Whiteface village - and thumbed the cap off. And nobody said a word. It was a standoff.

The wind whistled across the lonely prairie, and the temperature was dropping. In the distance the howl of a wolf was issued, and an answering howl was heard in another spot. It was imperative that the townspeople get Cowboy Bruce’s birds home to him. And soon. Yet nobody was willing to make the first, fateful move.

And then, from beneath Can Can Janet’s skirt, one of the Whiteface ‘tiels let out a piercing shriek. It was just the diversion Huckster Dave was waiting for. He flung the open bottle of Kage Klean at Fallow Felipe who grabbed his eyes and began moaning in pain. Sheriff Cindy aimed her six shooter in the air and pulled the trigger. The gang’s horses scattered in different directions, pounding out of control over the prairie. Sheriff Cindy, with a little help from her friends, had saved the day again.

The brave little ‘tiels were quickly gathered up, and the Tieltowners set off for home at a brisk lope. Just before sunset, they arrived safely.

The people who had stayed in Tieltown had not been idle. Lovely Laura, Loopy Lynn, Silly Celeste, and the other ladies had been busy decorating the saloon. By standing on Loopy Lynn’s shoulders, Lovely Laura was just able to hang a banner above the bar reading “Congratulations, Bruce”. Even more cockatiel decorations than normally festooned the room had been brought in and arranged. The men had been busy, too. Buffoonish Bill and Japer Jim had asked Cowboy Bruce to join them at the town council building to lend his advice for drafting the new town charter, but it was just a ruse to get him out of his cabin so Normal Gray Gus and Michael the Wise Man could go in and set up the new cage, rope toys, birdie gym, wooden ladders, and warmie pad that the Tieltowners had pitched in to buy.

Once the fearless travelers had arrived, and the lovely Whiteface ‘tiels were in place in the saloon, the signal was given to Buffoonish Bill and Japer Jim to maneuver Cowboy Bruce to the celebration. The suggestion of a drink was enthusiastically accepted, and the three stepped into the darkened, apparently deserted building. Deserted, that is, but for a small travel cage on the polished bar, and the two tiny ‘tiel faces peeping out.

"SURPRISE!" the townspeople shouted, and Cowboy Bruce’s mouth fell open in shock and amazement. The blue eyes glistened out of the tanned, weather lined face with unshed tears of joy. Who would have thought that the people of Tieltown cared so much?

Cowboy Bruce’s blues were banished. The good days were about to begin.