Driving the Western Range

When one speaks of the Western range he is not referring to a brand of electric stove but rather the vast expanse of land that the West emcompasses. One of the most common themes in western literature of course is the trail drive. Whether cattle or horses (almost never sheep) the trail drive allows the author or screen writer several advantages.
The first is that the drive easily creates an adventurous journey that will test and thus identify the hero. By participating in a trail drive the hero is taken to far away places where he can perform deeds that might not be possible by staying at home. This theme of the "hero's journey" is as old as the written word. Nearly everyone for example is familiar with the mythology of the travels and the twelve labors of Hercules. From Jason and the Argonauts to Gullivers Travels, from Red River to Lonesome Dove, for a hero to be recognized as such he must undertake a long and dangerous journey. Usually this drive is necessary in order to supply needed beef for settlers or soldiers (as in Alvarez Kelly or Broken Trail) In my novel Trail Hand the herd owner must take his horses north to California where the market is better so he can use the money to pay the bills for his sister's ranch.
Another advantage to the drive is the opportunity to introduce new characters or adventures along the way. This is the Wagon Train theme which has proven so effective that Gene Roddenberry eventually referred to Star Trek as a Wagon Train to the Stars. In other words, people travel from one distination to another having adventures at each stop. From indian attacks to rustlers, from to wildfires and floods to stampedes, one never knows what will come next on a western trail drive. Lonesome Dove elevated this to its highest level. The excuse given here for the drive is to allow two old Texas Rangers the opportunity for one more crack at greatness by blazing a trail where no one else has gone, and doing what no other has done, namely driving cattle from the town of Lonesome Dove in Texas all the way to Montana.
My personal favorite novel of this sort is The Cowboy and the Cossack by Clair Huffaker. This novel deals with a rather unique trail drive. Instead of herding cattle in the old west, cowboys are shipped to Siberia to help deliver beef to a remote village. The cowboys are paired with Russian Cossacks and along the way their inital animosity and rivalries become a bond of brotherhood after they face unbelievable obstacles.
A sense of urgency is also an integral part of the theme of the trail drive. The horses or cattle must be delivered in time due to some immediate need. The deal will be broken is not delivered on time, the market will close, the settlers will starve, weather will not allow travel after a certain date or some tragedy will occur if the money from the sale of the herd doesn't reach the needy in time.
Finally the drive allows an easy format fore describing the interactions of the people participating in the journey and how they face adversity individually and as a group. It is a great way to describe intimate bonds and to establish character growth. The campfire scene is the most common place to discuss the dangers and fears that the members of the group have. Who can forget the various campfire discussions in Red River, when Montgomery Clift worries about when Mr. Dunston (John Wayne) will arrive to reclaim his stolen herd. His discussions with Walter Brennon and Noah Beery Jr. not only set the stage, but heighten the suspense. When Matt talks with his new girlfriend it gives background to the relationship between Matt ('clift) and Dunston (Wayne).
The theme of the trail drive is as old as the hills and as reused as the tires from a 57 Chevy, but at the same time this subject offers such an infinite variety of options for the author that readers will never tire of it. Every westerner around is more than willing to sign up for a new drive.