Date Published: 08-16-2025
Publisher: Solander Press
One afternoon, A.J. returned home from school to find a surprise waiting for him in the barn - a beautiful little horse named Lady Star. She was now his to ride and care for. From that day on, A.J. spent all his free time learning how to ride Lady Star and caring for her. He dreamed of being skilled enough to ride alongside his grandfather, father, and Jon, the farm hand, during the cattle roundups.
Award-winning author Sherry Roberts weaves a heartfelt story about growing up in the 1930s and 1940s. Based on the tales passed down by her father, Just Call Me Pardner is a must-read for history lovers and those who enjoy stories of the American West.
Excerpt
“Hey, Grandpa. I got the stall cleaned out. Is it time?”
“Follow me.” Grandpa says as he goes to the corral. There stands Lady Star with Jon. Already saddled up and ready for a ride.
“You have to listen to everything Jon tells you.”
“Yes, sir,” I tell Grandpa as I climb up the corral railing. “Hi, Jon.”
“Hi, pardner. Are you ready to ride?” Jon is smiling as big as me.
Leaning over the rail, I pat Lady Star on the neck. Lady Star is brown with white marks all over. Right above her eyes there’s a white mark like a star. The mark must be how she got her name.
“Okay. Lady Star is a really gentle horse and will give you a good ride. Be nice to her, and she’ll be nice to you, too.” Dad comes to stand beside me at the corral rails.
“I wish I had a new cowboy hat. My old one barely fits.”
“Well, you’ll have to wear the old one for now when you ride your horse. You decide.” Dad says as he leans over the railing.
I push my old hat tight on my head. Grandpa grins and gives Dad that look. You know the one. When an adult thinks they’re right and you have to agree.
I head to where Jon holds Lady Star close to the fence. He tells me how to mount Lady Star from the fence. Jon told me we’d work on how to get on her from the ground another day. Then I’ll be like a real cowboy. “Cowboys learn this way all the time. Especially when they’re young.” Jon gives my knee a tap.
About the Author
As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.
Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.
Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.
https://mybook.to/JustCallMePardner
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