"THATS ONE!"

We’ve all heard the threat, "Thats One!" Try this for an altogether different take.

The setting is in the windswept plains of western Kansas. A poor, but hardworking, farmer/rancher had just found the woman of his dreams. She had consented to be his wife.

The couple had just completed their vows at the church. They climbed aboard his only wagon, pulled by his only mule, for the trip of about 10 miles to where they would make a home together.

After traveling about 2 miles, the mule stopped dead in his tracks. Now was not the time for this ornery mule to balk!

The farmer got down off the wagon, reached under the seat and pulled out a club. He whacked the mule up side the head hard and said, "Thats One!" Sure enough, the mule started on down the road.

About a mile further on, the mule balked again. Again the farmer got his club and whacked the mule a little harder this time and said, "That's Two!" The mule shook his head and started off, a little faster this time.

They were almost home, probably within a mile, or so. The confounded mule balked again!

The farmer climbed down, totally disgusted. He wanted to get home and spend time with his new bride!

He reached under the seat, but this time he pulled out his shotgun. He loaded the gun and shot the mule in the head. Of course, the mule fell dead!

This really disturbed the new bride. She started giving the farmer a piece of her mind, reminding him that was the only animal they had to pull the wagon; it was just not necessary or even right for him to kill that mule, etc, etc. She was really raking him over the coals!

The farmer listened intently for a couple of minutes. He then looked straight at her and said sternly, "That's One!"