He was born with a cock-eyed smile and a thick tail. A California native with a lineage tracing back to the Gold Rush. A mix of rebel artist and skillful cattle rancher. His instincts are sharp, and he thrives on the outskirts. Elusive yet consistent, he’d sometimes walk real slow in the middle of the day giving folks a chance to look and wonder about the space between wild and tamed. He’s wily like that. One slick look at his narrow orange brow, and it’s obvious he knows something we don’t. He’s loyal yet independent in his convictions, and shows us how to live in honesty. He’s known by his howl, standing above it all on the highest mountain in his purest health. That sound, that image, calling us to stay free.