This book sheds new light on the bravery, dedication, talents, and lifestyles of the vacqueros of the King and Kenedy Ranches.

Based on considerable historical facts about the life and perils of Tejanos living in South Texas in the 1910's. Bobby Cavazos shares of the experience of his father's growing up a Tejano hero.

"Cuentos Tejanos" is a recounting of stories, legends, and people who helped forge the personality and character of the State of Texas, in particular in the Wild Horse Desert region South of the Nueces River and north of the Rio Grande. Many of these tales are historical in nature and others are legends, accounts that were told by a campfire or converted to "Corridos" - ballads - by the Tejano. Some are academically inclined with sources and citations, but most are just stories told from generation to generation that have survived the test of time and must not be forgotten. You will also learn about many of the personalities that helped settled the area. You will read about conquistadores, generals, and feats of bravery. You will read folk stories - some that will tickle your feelings and send shivers down your spine. You will be amazed at the depth of history this area has and wonder why it's not in the history books for our children to learn and retell. This is "Cuentos Tejanos." It is about tales of the Wild Horse Desert of Texas where wild Spanish mustangs roamed from the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico to the Brush Country of South Texas and the plains for the Rio Grande Valley delta. Most of the stories are by Dr. Manuel C. Flores, Jr., professor of journalism and communications at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He is a well-regarded Tejano historian and has made countless lectures and talks on the subject. He also has written two books, has chapters in two other books and his academic work has appeared in journals like the Journal of South Texas. Other stories are written by journalists and historians who felt their stories must also be told. "Cuentos Tejanos" translates to "Tejano Tales," and thus the subtitle "Tales of Life in the Wild Horse Desert."

Maps on lining papers/Bibliography/includes index.

“A fascinating narrative with all the grace and power embodied in the wild horses that once populated the Western range . . . [A] magnificently told saga.” —Albuquerque Journal A Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of the Year Mustang is the sweeping story of the wild horse in the culture, history, and popular imagination of the American West. It follows the wild horse across time, from its evolutionary origins on this continent to its return with the conquistadors, its bloody battles on the old frontier, its iconic status in Buffalo Bill shows and early westerns, and its plight today as it makes its last stand on the vanishing range. With the Bureau of Land Management proposing to euthanize thousands of horses and ever-encroaching development threatening the land, the mustang’s position has never been more perilous. But as Stillman reveals, the horses are still running wild despite all the obstacles, with spirit unbroken. Hailed by critics nationwide, Mustang is “brisk, smart, thorough, and surprising” (Atlantic Monthly). “Like the best nonfiction writers of our time (Jon Krakauer and Bruce Chatwin come to mind), Stillman’s prose is inviting, her voice authoritative and her vision imaginative and impressively broad.” —Los Angeles Times “Powerful . . . Stillman’s talent as a writer makes this impossible [to stop reading], to the mustang’s benefit.” —Orion “A circumspect writer passionate about her purpose can produce a significant gift for readers. Stillman’s wonderful chronicle of America’s mustangs is an excellent example.” —The Seattle Times

Founded before the Civil War, the King and Kenedy Ranches have become legendary for their size, their wealth, and their endless herds of cattle. A major factor in the longevity of these ranches has always been the loyal workforce of vaqueros (Mexican and Mexican American cowboys) and their families. Some of the vaquero families have worked on the ranches through five or six generations. In this book, Jane Clements Monday and Betty Bailey Colley bring together the voices of these men and women who make ranching possible in the Wild Horse Desert. From 1989 to 1995, the authors interviewed more than sixty members of vaquero families, ranging in age from 20 to 93. Their words provide a panoramic view of ranch work and life that spans most of the twentieth century. The vaqueros and their families describe all aspects of life on the ranches, from working cattle and doing many kinds of ranch maintenance to the home chores of raising children, cooking, and cleaning. The elders recall a life of endless manual labor that nonetheless afforded the satisfaction of jobs done with skill and pride. The younger people describe how modernization has affected the ranches and changed the lifeways of the people who work there.