Written by Colton Jones
At 5:01 p.m. on June 8, 2017, another prairie boy was added to the mix on the Cheyenne River Bison Ranch. Barrett Elton Jones came into this world weighing a hearty 9 lbs. 15 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches in length. His mother was flawless throughout her second time enduring the delivery process. Jilian proved to be poised and in control, which is a little different from the ambiance of the ranch in the days preceding Barrett’s arrival.
During the days leading up to Barrett’s birth, a series of events occurred that tested the old theory that it takes a village to raise a child. Our little family had a bout with the flu bug in which Grandma and Grandpa proudly took their turn caring for the ill while Jilian or I took our turns recovering. With Jilian being so close to her due date, the doctors ordered us to make the 40-mile trip to the hospital to be there well prior to giving birth.
The day of Barrett’s birth, the ranch was scheduled to give a 50-person tour. I woke up that morning with a weird feeling that something was out of place. Dan had been out of town, and everyone else had been sick. I knew the Bison had plenty of drinking holes in the pasture they were in, but I would normally not go this long without checking on their whereabouts. I got up early with Jilian the day of the tour as she was having consistent contractions that were six minutes apart. Nothing too serious yet, but I knew she was going to be having a baby within the next 24 hours. Once Jilian convinced me she was, "fine for now," I took off on a four-wheeler to confirm the location of the herd prior to the charter bus of 50 guests showing up.
My speculation from earlier in the morning was confirmed when I came across an open gate leading to the Cheyenne River. Off in the distance I could see our herd of 400 plus bison crossing the river heading for the Pine Ridge Reservation.
I called the main house to let everyone know what was going on. Jilian at this time informed me her contractions were becoming more frequent and increasing in intensity. I felt a sense of urgency now, but I did not feel panicked as, Jill was there to care for Lincoln and I could see Melissa (WIB sales supervisor) and Lucas (shipping supervisor and brother-in-law) coming down the gravel road that comes from Rapid City. They had volunteered to help that day, not knowing who might be where. The dust trail that followed them reminded me just what caliber of people come from our village.
Dan had showed up on another four-wheeler at this time. As we took off to begin the tedious process of maneuvering the herd the two miles back into the pasture they had escaped from, I received a message from Jilian saying she had spoken with the doctor and that he told her to gather her things and come into the hospital as she was in the late stages of pre-labor.
I know Dan could have probably got the herd back on his own, as he’s done it a hundred times, but it probably wouldn’t have been until late in the day. The goal was to get the herd back in before the tour group had arrived in the pasture to view them.
We made our way down to the river where the herd was grazing on the opposing side. I crossed and swung around behind them while Dan waited on the north side where he positioned himself to lead them. We got them pushed across and lined out back toward home. A lead cow walked as if she knew exactly where she needed to be going and for that I am thankful.
The lead cow only had about a ¼ of a mile to go when Jilian called and said we had to go to the hospital right now. I swung around to tell Dan and he was giving me a knowing “thumbs up” before I got to him. “Send someone back to help just in case I need it” and “good luck!” is all he said. I raced back to the main house to get Jilian and caught Lucas on my way. I gave him rough directions on how and where to find Dan and he sped off without any questions to assist.
I called the house on my way back and found out that the village was in the process of improvising. The tour group had arrived as scheduled. Jill had filled in as tour guide, with son Lincoln as her wingman. Lucas and Melissa replaced Jill by spearheading the lunch set-up. Next I came up on Jilian, who was stopped in a random spot in the middle of the driveway. As I pulled up next to her I could see she was forced to stop while she battled through a contraction. Once it had surpassed, she moved over to the passenger seat while I took the wheel and headed for the hospital.
Although Jilian and I (and the rest) didn’t need the added chaos, we got through it with the help of our capable and resilient village.
We arrived at the hospital a little after 11 a.m. and 6 hours later I became a proud father for the second time. I was proud of Jilian too. I was proud of my new son Barrett, and proud of my older son Lincoln for being so patient and understanding for a 3-year old. Holding my boys in my arms is indeed the best gift ever! Wishing all of you fathers a Happy Father’s Day!
33 comments
That s what makes America Great.!!
God bless
Congratulations! & Blessings
You are an amazing village. I love hearing your stories. Your son’s don’t know it yet but they are going to have a wonderful childhood. Best of luck to all of you!
Congrats! What a wondrous thing a birth is! I hope you get all the joy that I got from my son, Hakan Fox. Reading your story took me back 24 years ago to that wondrous day of my own. Thank you for this.
God bless! What a cutie! Growing up on a working horse and cattle ranch, I SO get your chaos! lol
Buffalo are much bigger though. We all work together to get it done! Tour buses at our winery – also a small family business – are much the same. We all do our part. What a great way to live.
Happy Fathers Day to you Colton and congratulations to the entire family. You don’t know me and I’ve never had the opportunity…yet to visit the ranch I love the detailed accounts posted by all of you. As someone else and comments above said it’s so descriptive I feel like I was there !
Thanks so much for sharing this little slice of a day in your life (certainly NOT typical) and again congratulations to all !
Congrats and best wishes to you all!
THE LITTLE ONES ARE A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM JEHOVAH GOD. LOVE THEM, NURTURE THEM, PROTECT THEM . PROVERBS 22:6 " TRAIN A BOY IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO; EVEN WHEN HE GROWS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT." MAY JEHOVAH GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE.
Congratulations and love to all of you! What a beautiful story and I can imagine all of it in my mind’s eye! Can’t wait to meet Barrett and hug the whole village.
Congratulations!….what a heart warming story!
Great story and pix, Happy Fathers Day, and may God bless all your family. Keep up the good work.
Great story, Colton! As I said, when I first saw the photo, of the four of you “how beautiful you all are.” With the advent of Barrett, that brings the number of my great-grandchildren up to 30. What an absolute joy. I am so blessed.
Congratulations! (he’s beautiful) And on a job well done by the ‘whole village’.. There’s nothing like our wonderful small towns..wish they could all be like that!
What a wonderful, exciting story! Congratulations to all and a very special Father’s Day indeed! I have 4 sons and the last two were 9lbs, 11ozs and 11lbs, 3ozs! Many very hectic years but now that they are grown I miss it and wouldn’t have changed a thing. Enjoy those blessings as they grow up fast!
Very excited to say that I now get to enjoy 7 grandkids!!!
Congratulations! Might be a good time to listen (re-listen!) to Conway Twitty sing “That’s My Job” on YouTube.
A great father/son song.
Happy Father’s Day.
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