The Cowboy and His Elephant: The Story of a Remarkable Friendship($12.16Value)

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A heartwarming true story of a cowboy, a rescued elephant, and the bond they shared In the late 1980s, a baby elephant was born on the plains of southern Africa, only for her herd to face a tragedy. During a cull, her family was slaughtered, and the terrified newborn's life was spared so she could be transported to America to be sold. Enter Bob Norris―a real-life cowboy with an enormous empathy for animals. Raised with a pet bear, Bob achieved his boyhood dream of running a massive horse-and-cattle ranch in Colorado. Handsome as a movie star, he became the iconic Marlboro Man featured on billboards around the world. But despite his success, he felt something missing. That changed when the hurt, vulnerable orphan elephant―named Amy―came into his life. An incredible bond formed between the most unlikely of friends. Bob adopted Amy, and using his skills as a master horseman, he set about helping her heal. Through close observation, gentle training, humor, and endless perseverance, he helped her overcome her fear of the world. Amy became a beloved member of the Norris family and a "hand" on the ranch, tending chores and riding fences alongside Bob on his horse. Yet Bob always knew the ultimate goal was for Amy to regain her independence―and perhaps even return to the savannahs of Africa. The Cowboy and His Elephant is the true story of how Amy and Bob came together: a simple, unforgettable tale of unlikely love and lifelong friendship. “Very delightful... extraordinary... Written for both the adult and child, [it] would be a great book to read to your youngsters. Just be prepared to let your kids see you get a little emotional as you read some of the heart touching episodes.” ― Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Magazine “Intrepid animal lovers will find Amy's unexpected journey at the end of the book rewarding.” ― Publishers Weekly “This is a wonderful book. Suitable for all ages!” ― Tulsa World “Charming.” ― Washington Post Book World “Like the fabled horse whisperers, Norris is gifted with the ability to develop true empathy for animals; his remarkable communication with Amy is equally attributable to her intelligence and ability to empathize with him.... A rewarding read. It should be enjoyed by any animal lover.” ― Tacoma Reporter “Fans of Born Free will enjoy this heartwarming book.” ― Library Journal “Will appeal to James Herriot fans.” ― Colorado Springs Gazette Malcolm MacPherson is a writer and journalist, former Newsweek staff correspondent in Nairobi, Paris, and London. He has written books of fiction and nonfiction including The Cowboy and His Elephant . He has worked as a Senior Editor for New York Magazine , a Senior Writer for Premiere , and contributed to publications from The New York Times to Reader's Digest , Playboy , and Smithsonian . He now lives in northern Virginia. The Cowboy and His Elephant The Story of a Remarkable Friendship By Malcolm Cook MacPherson St. Martin's Press Copyright © 2002 Malcolm Cook MacPherson All right reserved. ISBN: 9780312304065 Chapter One What the old hunter knows is legend. Among allthe animals no tighter bond of emotion existsthan the one between female elephants, who livewith their mothers until they die. Through the ages they havewandered the plains of southern Africa in mother-daughter-grandmother"communions." They have lived for and within one another, with no conceivable distinct existence. Indeed,separation condemns them to a living death by the mostpainful of means?longing for the herd. Only a special fewelephants have ever triumphed over this loss and loneliness.One of them was born in Zimbabwe in the spring of 1988. * * * A short time before her birth, in the last contractions oflabor, her mother had squatted on her hind legs, her sidesheaving with the weight of her burden. With a bellow andgargantuan groans and sighs she pushed the infant fromher womb neck first, with its head tucked between its longforelegs, somewhat resembling a high diver. The light-gray-coloredbundle dropped onto the ground with a soft thudand lay in stillness inside the clear wrapping of the amnion.Other elephants looked on, apparently with intense curiosity.     The mother let out a sigh and a shudder. She extendedher trunk and helped her baby escape the sac that had beenher world for the twenty-two months since her conception.The infant struggled with an instinctive urgency to steadyher own ungainly legs. She slipped in the mud of mixed dirtand amniotic fluid. She raised herself again, but she did notstay upright. Drained by the effort of standing, falling, andfalling again, she tried to raise herself one last time. Nowher aunties, as elephant researchers sometimes call olderfemales, rushed in to steady her. With their pointed pinktrunk "fingers" they touched her body tenderly.     With that a fanfare of trumpeting, harrumphs, rumbles,and thunderous stomping and dusting?altogether a raucouscelebration?filled the