The Cowboy and His Elephant (Electronic book text)

In the late 1980s, a female baby elephant was born into a herd that lived on the plains of Southern Africa. Her mother had carried her for two years, and normally she would have nursed her for five more. But the close-knit family of wild elephants was to face a predator for which it was no match -- humans. In a "cull, " the family was slaughtered in a few moments. Only the newborn female's life was spared.

Terrified and bewildered the young elephant was transported to America to be sold. There she met the person who was to change her life forever.

Bob Norris is a cowboy with an empathy for animals that overwhelms his other emotions. He was raised with a pet bear and as a boy decided to become a real cowboy, and saw his dream come true on one of the larger cattle ranches in America. Handsome as a movie star, he was the Marlboro Man, with his face appearing on TV and on billboards around the world. But with the passing of years, and his own family grown up, he felt the need for something that he could not name.

When she came into his life by happenstance, the hurt, vulnerable little elephant tapped the fullness of Bob's empathy, and an incredible bond between the most unlikely of friends was forged.

Bob adopted the baby orphan elephant -- named Amy -- and patiently set about helping her recover from the trauma of her ordeal. He had never seen a real African elephant up close, except in zoos. He was a horseman, and breeder of champion Quarter Horses. But through close observation, gentle training, humor, and endless perseverance, Bob gradually coaxed Amy into overcoming her mistrust of humans, and indeed, her fear of the world. The little elephant became a "hand" on Bob's cattleranch, tending to simple chores, riding the fences, and shadowing Bob on his horse. She developed a winning personality and strong character, and became a beloved member of the Norris family, and partner to the ranch hands.

But Bob knew almost f