James McCauley stood watch over his herd of cattle in the midnight darkness. Storm clouds plastered the sky. Suddenly, a clap of thunder stirred the cattle. Frightened by the loud sound, the cattle were off and running. Stampede. McCauley''s horse got jittery, and took him in every direction. McCauley was lost. The life of a cowboy in the Wild West was tough. From branding cattle to cattle drives, a cowboy worked hard. Author Jeff Savage takes a firsthand look at the lives of American cowboys, from rounding up cattle to the end of a long drive.