took me a while to figure out why you told me not to sell and why it was so important you acted like I wasn’t in the room with you. I spent most of the day mad because you walked away, but then it hit me and you’re right.”
She started to ask about what, but he twisted her chin and kissed her hard.
“That wasn’t my best,” he said as he straightened. “But I’ll work on it later.”
She laughed and he kissed her again.
When he backed an inch away, he whispered against her cheek, “You do love me?”
“Yes.” She smiled, watching the last hint of doubt disappear from his eyes.
“Good, then we go with your plan, but you got to promise never to call me dear.”
“My plan? What plan?”
He nodded. “I keep the ranch and we don’t sell the cattle. In a year we’ll have a great place and who cares if no one in town will talk to us. Between the work and the nights together we won’t notice.”
“We’ll be partners?” she said.
He smiled. “We’ll be a lot more than that, darling.”
Afterword
Rowdy Darnell and Laurel Hayes were married the last night of the 1890 Kasota Springs Rodeo. Within five years the RL Ranch became one of the most profitable spreads in West Texas.
They had three sons and a daughter.
In 1912, Laurel Darnell was elected mayor of Kasota Springs.
Rowdy never rode in another rodeo, but folks talked about his rides for years.
Rowdy and Laurel’s partnership lasted fifty-seven years, until she died of a heart attack. Her headstone read, “Beloved wife, mother and partner.”
Rowdy didn’t mourn her death as his father had mourned his mother. Instead, he passed the ranch along to his children and spent the next two years teaching his eleven grandchildren to ride.
Two years to the day Laurel had died, he passed away in his sleep.
The children were surprised when they learned he’d already ordered his headstone. It was placed next to Laurel’s in a small cemetery on their ranch.
His stone read, “Keep praying for me, darling, I’ll be there by supper.”
LUCK OF THE DRAW
DEWANNA PACE
To
Elaine Gregory,
Texas Boss Woman
who always wrangled the best out of me
and to
Jimmy Don Williams,
Texas Songwriter, Cowboy Poet, Brother.
No matter how many times life throws y’all,
you cowboy-up and ride.
Ki yi, Ki yi,
do or die.
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