This piece is historical fiction written by 10th grade Grand County Student Jacklyn Shumway inspired by the Scorup Hat housed within the Museum’s Collection. Jacklyn participated in a Science Moab School to Science job shadow in November 2025. After viewing the Collection, finding inspiration, and aligning personal writing passions, Jacklyn decided to explore historical fiction, building upon the storytelling goals of the Museum and the history industry.
School to Science provides local high school students with opportunities to learn more about careers in science alongside professionals working in the field, the lab, and museums.
The scorching sun was burning down my back, and my legs were aching from sitting on my horse Delilah’s back, but those minor pains could never wipe the smile off my face. For who could be sad or grumpy when you’re surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Moab?
I look around at the red rocks that run high into the sky, at the numerous wild life racing around the many different kinds of terrain, and the different kinds of shrubs that litter the ground, some are big, some are small, some are green, some are red, some yellow, some pink, there are just some many that Moab has to offer!
I’m awakened from my day dreams by a shout “CAN I GET SOME HELP OVER HERE?” I turn Delilah around to see Dan, a fellow cattle hand, trying to herd some stray cows back into the group.
“I’M ON MY WAY!” I shout as I nudge Delilah into a short trot. I take out my lasso and spin it in the air to scare the cattle back to the rest of the herd, but a few of them run past me. I weigh my options because if I chase after them more cattle might try and run, but if I don’t they might get away. Before I have time to make up my mind a horse runs up to the runaway cattle and the rider uses their lasso to scare them back into the herd. I immediately recognise the rider.
“AL!” I yell grinning as Al tips his hat to me. Once Al got all the runaway cattle back to the herd he trots over to me and Dan with a huge grin stretching across his entire face.
“You two okay? You looked like ya needed a helpin’ hand?” Al asks with a sly smirk replacing his grin from earlier. Me and Dan both roll our eyes, used to Al and his sarcastic remarks.
“We were just fine! Thank you!” Dan says, giving Al his best glare with no real heat behind his words, and trying to avoid laughing. I try my best, but can’t help the chuckles that sneak their way out, and lead way to a laughing fit that I can’t stop. I end up falling off Delilah from laughter, and lay on the floor squeezing my and wiping tears from my eyes. Once I finally finish Al offers me a hand to help me up. As we continue back on our path to Moab, I hear Dan mutter under his breath ‘It wasn’t even that funny.’ Which causes me to start laughing once again, which probably sets us back a few minutes to get my laughing to stop once again.
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Now that we’ve finally made it to Thompson we can take a quick break to eat some food, and drink some water before we need to corral the cattle. I take full advantage of this break resting in the shade of a tree. I lay back against the rough bark of the tree, and pull my hat down to shade my eyes. ‘I’ll just rest my eyes for a minute.’ I think as my eyes fall shut, and my breathing goes even.
My eyes feel as though they are held down by lead, but still I open them. My eyes close the moment they open, due to a blinding light shining in them. I hear some chuckling from somewhere to my right. I opened my right eye a smidge to see that the source of the chuckle was none other than Al, with a huge, smug, grin on his face.
“Rise and shine, sleepin’ beauty! The days not gettin’ any longer!”
I groan, closing my eyes and bringing my hands up to block out the light. I feel Al grab my arm pulling me up and onto my feet. I complain the whole way back to the cattle, but Al ignores my complaints and continues to drag me along.
A few annoying hours later we finally have the cattle in a temporary corral. Everyone, including myself, are more than ready for a nice big dinner at Thompson Cafe, and a good night’s sleep.
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The sound of laughter could be heard all throughout the small cafe. There was not a better place to be then here right now. But then again isn’t anywhere Al is the place to be? No matter what happens he always has a bright smile upon his face that makes you just want to smile too.
I have been a cattlehand for Al for nearly ten years now, and I can say for sure that I have absolutely no regrets. If anything I would drown in my regret if all those years I had turned down the offer to work as a cattlehand for an extremely positive, strange man. Now here I am because of that decision, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have made so many amazing friends, and made many happy memories. Like that time we decided to take a break and Dan fell to sleep. Everyone worked together to carefully carry him over to a nearby river without waking him up and threw him in. Dan complained about how uncomfortable his wet clothes were, but I saw the smile that he was trying to hide.
Another good memory is when I first met Al’s trusty steed Ol’ Booger. I had been so new to being a cattlehand, and awfully nervous. Then I ran into this majestic looking horse and I just couldn’t resist the urge to go over and pet it. Later Al comes and finds me, and the moment I heard his name I couldn’t help myself from breaking into laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of the name, which I should have expected considering the kind of person Al is.
And how could I possibly forget about Al’s signature hat. Dan and I had been walking around town with him when he got the hat. It had taken a lot of convincing from us to finally get him to get the hat, considering that it was a Stetson hat and cost a pretty penny, but he eventually gave in. Now he wears that hat everywhere he goes and I can’t imagine him without it.
“Looks like someone’ s havin’ a part in their head?”
I look to my left in time to see Al sit down beside me.
“You could say that.” I answer shifting in my seat a little.
“Hope those thoughts don’t keep you from enjoyin’ the night.” Al says downing the rest of his drink.
“I’ll be alright.” I reply
Al stays silent for a moment before standing up “I’m goin’ get another drink. Don’t think too hard.” Al states as he stands up and ruffles my hair on his way over to get a drink. I shake my head with a fond smile on my face. There really is no better person than Al, is there?
