Gnome on the Range — a wild west gnome tale

Belcher was no ordinary creature. Standing no taller than a toddler, with a round belly and tiny feet, he was the sort of being you’d expect to see scurrying through the underbrush, not wandering into the Wild West. But Belcher had dreams bigger than the towering trees of his forest home. He’d heard stories of cowboys, of wide-open plains, of campfires under starry skies, and thrilling adventures on horseback. So, one crisp morning, with nothing but a small sack slung over his shoulder and a heart full of hope, Belcher left the comfort of his forest and set out for the untamed West.

When he arrived in the dusty town of Cactus Gulch, Belcher was hit with a realization as heavy as a stampede of cattle — life on the range was nothing like he’d imagined. The cowboys he encountered were rugged, with weathered faces and broad shoulders, and they didn’t pay much attention to the tiny newcomer who barely came up to their knees. But Belcher was determined; he wouldn’t let his size stop him from becoming a true cowboy.

After wandering the town for days, Belcher finally found work at the Triple R Ranch. The owner, a gruff man named Old Hank, eyed Belcher with skepticism but agreed to give him a chance.

“Not much you can do with that little frame of yours,” Hank grumbled, “but I s’pose you can take care of the chickens.”