Catherine Stier - I Am Jax, Protector of the Ranch

After the Texas sun goes down, Jax the Great Pyreneess day is just getting started. As a livestock guardian dog, its up to him and two other dogs to protect the sheep on their ranch.

But when the lead dog gets hurt and needs to go to the vet, Jax and a young pup are all that stand between the flock and danger. Can they keep the ranch safe and sound until morning?

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Printed in the United States of America

Jacket art copyright 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

To Raymond and Norma Stier, with lots of love and thanksCS

To my lovely and furry MilFR

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher.

Text copyright 2020 by Catherine Stier

Illustrations copyright 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

Illustrations by Francesca Rosa

First published in the United States of America in 2020 by Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN 978-0-8075-1663-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-8075-1667-6 (ebook)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

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Design by Rick DeMonico

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I am dozing in sweet prairie grass when I see it: a quick flash of black and white fur streaks past me.

I jerk my head up from my paws.

What in thunder

Then I settle myself. I know who that is. Theres no mistaking that lightning-fast blur of energythats Sweep, another working dog on this ranch. Sweep and I dont hang out much, but I guess we respect each other well enough. Like me, Sweep tends to the sheep, but our jobs are very different.

My name is Jax. Im a Great Pyrenees, but my job title is livestock guardian dog. Thats what Ive heard Gail, the human ranch owner, tell visitors. Like the other guardian dogs on this ranch, I rest a lot during the day. Mostly, I nap close by the sheep I guard. I may look slow next to Sweep. But when theres a predatorany animal that aims to make a meal of my sheepIm as quick as I need to be.

Sweep, on the other paw, is a border collie. Shes a herding dog and works as a team with Gail. Together, they move the sheep from one side of the ranch to another.

Whenever Sweep shows up, I know its time for the sheepand meto get a move on. Slowly, I raise my big, furry body and stretch.

Gail gives me a pat as she walks past in her boots and big hat.

Then I feel two smaller hands ruffle my fur.

Hey there, Jax. Did you miss me?

Id know that voice, that smell anywhere. Its Colton, a young human. He must be visiting the ranch today. Colton buries his face in my thick white fur and gives me a squeeze. Colton is great kid, always kind and friendly. I might not put up with anything from predators, but Colton can hug me all he wants. I dont mind.

Grandma, can Jax stay with us at the house tonight? Colton asks. Please? I bet hed like to watch a dog movie with me.

Grandma is one of Gails names, but only Colton calls her that.

Gail shakes her head. I know Jax is a sweetheart, Colton. And I know hes your favorite. But that gentle giant wouldnt be happy in the house when his flock is out here, she says. Those sheep are his real family. He needs to be with them and the other guardian dogs. You know that.

Colton sighs and gives me one more hug. I nuzzle my head against his shoulder to show that I like him too.

After Colton lets go of me, something on the ground catches my eye. I know I must act fast! I give Colton a firm nudge, and he stumbles back.

Dont be so pushy, Jax, Colton says and laughs. He thinks Im being playful. Im not! Ive just spotted a mound of dirt swarming with fire ants. One of us must have accidentally stepped on their nest. Colton may not know it, but I just saved him from some very painful ant bites. Even though hes not one of my sheep, I watch out for Colton and my other human friends too.

Lets move back, Colton, I hear Gail call out. Time for Sweep to get to work.

Colton brushes off his jeans and strides away. I follow. We both know its best to hightail it out of Sweeps way when shes on duty.

Back near the sheep, Sweeps furry face and dark ears are turned upward, tense and waiting. Finally, Gail speaks a command.

Away to me, Gail says. Sweep silently circles to the back of the flock. After another command from Gail, Sweep drops down with her backside in the air, her head low to the ground. She aims her steady eyes at the sheep, and they skitter away from her, moving like a big fluffy cloud with hooves.

Now, if any other animal bossed my sheep around that way, Id be after that varmint. But Sweep and I have an understanding. Sweep never nips the sheep or gets too close. In her own way, she protects the sheep too, by bringing them to new feeding pastures or safer parts of the ranch.

At last, Sweep herds the flock to the fenced-in pasture where theyll stay for the night. I trot along behind.

With her work done, Sweep bounds alongside Colton and Gail through the pasture gate. They hop into Gails big white pickup truck and rumble away.

Sweep will probably spend tonight in a soft doggy bed in Gails ranch house. But me? I am glad to stay right here, where I am needed.

I may sleep during the day, but Im busy and extra alert at night. Dusk to dawn is the most dangerous time for my flock. There are things in the dark that terrify sheepwith good reason. Just yesterday, in the dead of the night, I heard some high-pitched howls a ways off.

That has me worried.

So now, as the sun sets and the humans and the herding dog wind down their day, my workday begins.

With so many sheep to watch over, Im glad Im not the only one on guard duty.