Stories He Meant to Tell
Fiction
This page is still under construction. More of Steve’s fiction will be added here in time.
His project list
- Pinto Joe (the roping steer)
- The Refugees (a TV drama)
- Cynthia Ann (the story of Texas)
- Treasure of the Sierra Madre (the gold of today)
“Pinto Joe” — synopsis
Pinto Joe is written to appeal to boys 8 to 14. The hero, Pinto Joe, is a “corriente,” that most hardy breed of cattle. He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, on an ejido ganadero that specializes in providing corriente steers to the American rodeo. The story follows Joe from his early days in Mexico, where his mentor is “Don Miguel,” an old bull and veteran of la charreada, through his rookie years on the Texas “Jackpot” circuit, to his ultimate success: chosen to compete in the PRCA National Finals Rodeo.
Along the way Pinto Joe meets good and bad. He faces cruelty and deprivation. He competes against the best ropers of his time, and develops respect and friendships within the rodeo stock fraternity, meeting Blue Norther, a giant, malevolent bucking bull, and, most of all, Oscar, the bull that no one ever rode.
More to Come
This section is a work in progress. As the family works through Steve’s papers, further fiction, drafts, and notes will be added to this page.