A companion volume to Barbara Neville's Cha'a Many Horses series. Some unconventional spelling is used in the Cha’a Many Horses and Spirit Animal books to impart an authentic cowboy feel to the narrative. The author rode and worked with various cowhands, prospectors and other bush folk who spoke as Cha'a, Güero, Ma'cho and the other characters do.
Cowboys are fond of colorful and obscure language. It is a source of humor and a sign of their unique culture. Their stories are passed back and forth, repeated over and over during the long hours on the trail and around the campfire. Accents are accentuated, especially in front of dudes and tales get taller with the telling. All in good fun. Here is a guide to the more unusual vernacular terms, along with the Spanish, Apache, Hawaiian Pidgin and assorted other words used in the books.