ABILENE TO CHEYENNE

Bronze, 24″H x 31″L x 19″D, Limited Ed. 20 – Created 1991

In the late 1860s, the Goodnight-Loving Trail carved its way across the vast rugged expanse of the American West. Cowboys, their faces etched by the sun and wind, embarked on a perilous journey – a relentless cattle drive from Abilene, Texas, to Cheyenne, Wyoming. This trail was named after cattlemen Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving who played a pivotal role in the large-scale movement of Texas Longhorns.

The journey began at Fort Belknap in Texas, where the cowboys gathered their herds. Following part of the former route of the Butterfield Overland Mail, they set forth across Central Texas, the hooves of the cattle and horses stirring up dust as they crossed the Llano Estacado, those vast Staked Plains. Along the way, they faced treacherous river crossings, scorching heat, and the ever-present threat of cattle rustlers.

Horsehead Crossing, perched on the banks of the Pecos River, marked a critical point of the journey. It was a respite for both the cowboys and Longhorns. Here, parched throats found solace in the cool water. The Goodnight-Loving Trail, etched into the unforgiving landscape, demanded everything they had. Grit and determination were their companions. Yet beyond lay the promise of Cheyenne’s bustling cattle market, where fortunes waited for those who could endure.

Vic Payne’s bronze sculpture captures this struggle – the cowboy’s sun-etched face, the gaunt Longhorns, the dust-choked boots. Each detail speaks of resilience, of pushing forward when provisions dwindled, and spirits flagged. His boots, worn and dust-covered, tell the story of countless miles traveled. This was a time when cowboys and cattle drives shaped the frontier. Through Vic’s artistry, we glimpse a chapter in history of the American West – a saga of cowboys, cattle, pursuit of opportunity, and the vast, untamed planes that stretched from ‘Abilene to Cheyenne.’