Ah

The Girls All Get Prettier (At Closing Time)

by Jake Rivers ©

Authors note: This story is very loosely based on Mickey Gilley’s great song:

“The girls all get prettier at closing time …

They all begin to look like movie stars

When the change starts taking place

It puts a glow on every face

Of the falling angels of the back street bars”

Thanks to Techsan and Lady Cibelle for their first-rate editing help.

JAKE

“Hey, Jake! How about that one? Damn, a nine for sure. Oh, hell, she’s with that big shouldered bull rider.”

I turned my head to see what Hank was looking at. Man, he wasn’t kidding. An easy nine. And that looked like Pete Ayres – he was the guy that rode Bodacious inta the ground over in Amarillo and took the prize money. Yeah, I remembered …

Never forget that night. I was young and cocky – pretty big myself. I had a ride in the finals on Hellfire; damned if it wasn’t the bull right after Pete’s ride. I was still glumly watching Pete in my mind and not really ready when the gate opened. My grip wasn’t what it should have been and I didn’t even make two seconds. It never was clear in my mind what that bull done but I landed on my nose and Hellfire kicked my leg before they got him off me.

I woke up at the hospital the next morning with a cute little blonde nurse messing ‘round with my plumbing … putting a tube in it or 'sumpin'. She looked up and saw I was awake and gave me a big smile.

“Hey, cowboy. The night nurse didn’t do this right so I’m fixin’ it for you. Doc says I can take it out in the mornin’. How you feelin’? I’m Annie, by the way.”

I wasn’t really sure how I felt – thought maybe I’d ask. I didn’t know what had happened. Last thing I ‘membered was that shit eatin’ grin on Pete’s ugly mug when he jumped off Bodacious.

“How did I get here?”

“Oh, honey. I was at the rodeo last night and saw that big handsome hunk. He was great. Then I saw you get on Hellfire and I tol’ Martha – she’s my best friend from forever ago – and I said, ‘Martha – this guy is really cute. I bet you the next beer that he wins everything.’ Then that chute opened and Martha said, ‘Annie, go get them beers.’ I never ever saw a cowboy hit the ground any faster,” she finished with a way too cheerful laugh.

Later the doc came in and told me my rodeo days were over. I’d broken that big bone in my leg but they couldn’t put it in a cast until the swelling went down. It was held in some pulley contraption and my leg was uncovered. My thigh looked like rainbows were having a convention from my knee to my hip. My leg was fatter than that Greta’s over to the café. (Though some said she might be more fun to ride than any bull.)

The next morning Annie pulled out that damn thing she’d done put in my privates. Aw, did it hurt! Sweet girl like that looked like she would be gentle.

“Hey, cowboy. Now you can use a bedpan. Let me know if you need any help.” She was laughing as she walked away. Woman thought she was a comic.

Since I couldn’t ride anymore I had to find something’ to do for money. I looked around and found something’ that sounded pretty good for a broken’-up bull rider. I wound up managing a large ranch for an oil guy about forty miles out of town.

Hank nudged me as the next passel of gals come waltzin’ in the big dance hall. Glancing in the mirror, I shook my head again and saw the way my nose started out heading down southeast but turned for the southwest like it couldn’t make up it’s mind. No, I wasn’t gonna miss them bulls much. (I do gotta say that since I fell off that bull I sure enjoyed eatin’ big steaks more than ever.) Running my finger over the bend in my nose I watched that group of overstuffed jeans walking away with their butts twitching back and forth like a dog and cat having at it in a burlap bag … like we used to do to them for sport.

I looked at the clock – past ten and I hadn’t even had a dance yet. Hank had gone dancing off with a solid seven while I was feelin’ sorry for my nose. Shruggin’ my shoulders in resignation, I started looking for a five or six – it was getting’ late and I hadn’t been laid the last three times I came inta town.

I saw a couple of girls come in the side door – one I knew ‘cause she was a regular squeeze of Hank’s. The other looked pretty good stuffed inta a short jean skirt (a good seven plus) and the brightest flowery shirt I’d ever seen but those freckles spread across her face - like the hail over my dad’s hay field the time it got wiped out – and the kinky curly red hair pushing out of the ugliest hat I’d ever seen; well, that hat and those freckles cost her a good couple of points.

Her friend, Tammy, skittered off and she sidled up to the bar like she was kinda dry so I started thinkin’ ‘bout buying her a beer. I was rubbin’ the bend in my nose and caught her lookin’ at me in the mirror and she just frowned a little and decided she wuzn’t that thirsty after all. Hell, those damn freckles cost her a good three points. Man, not even at closin’ time!

SALLY

Tammy and I entered the dark expanse – there were five bars and three big dance floors – through the door next to the side parking lot. I hadn’t really wanted to come but Tammy said she was horny and maybe that guy, Hank that owned the feed store would be there.

“Tammy, Hank’s gotta be ten, fifteen years older than you. What do you see in him?”

“Sally, I admit he ain’t ‘xactly God’s gift to women and maybe he is a little long in the tooth. But honey, he ain’t forgot nothing once I get him in my bed and he done wore the paint off the wall banging the bed inta it!” This last with a big grin.

I almost didn’t come: my twin babies Bobby and Missy was all over me as I was trying to get dressed. They weren’t but three years old but I think their wind-up key broke – they were wound up all the time. Patsy, my sitter, was late and I was getting frazzled. I was trying to pull my panty hose up where it wrinkled on my thigh and snagged it with my nail and started a run. I ‘bout said the hell with going out ‘cause I was down to just this pair. I remembered what my momma told me and dabbed a little clear finger nail polish on the tear so it wouldn’t run no more. Hopefully it was high enough under my short jean skirt that it wouldn’t show.

I put on my new boots daddy give me for my birthday – momma passed away a year ago last summer and now daddy spent too much money on me and the kids – and my prettiest shirt with all the flowers on it. I wisht I could buy a new hat – mine looked like the hogs had got at it.

Anyway as I was walkin’ in by the bar, I saw this guy with a butt that was a ten (I wasn’t horny like Tammy but I could see myself cuddlin’ up against that – ten for sure – butt on a cold winter night so I signed to Tammy and I started over to the bar, thinking I’d stand there and look thirsty. Then I saw his face in a mirror – kinda cute – but his nose looked like that Circle S brand that Kenny Slade used out west of town. Maybe a six. It wuzn’t that late and we had just got here anyhow. Closing time wuzn’t ‘til two.

Decidin’ I wuzn’t that thirsty I scat on inta the dancin’ area and found Tammy sittin’ with Hank. They wuz both already sweaty from dancin’ and were drinkin’ a couple of long necks. Tammy was holdin’ hers up to her neck to cool off.

I sat down and it weren’t but a minute when this tall lanky drink of water in a new Stetson and sportin’ a big handlebar mustache asked to whirl ‘round for a bit. He weren’t but a two or three but it was too early to worry ‘bout anything like that and I surely did love to dance. They were playing “High-Tech Redneck” – man, I do love that great George Jones song – and we did a lively two-step. We did a couple more, then they started on a couple of line dances and when they started playing “Cotton-Eyed Joe” I cut loose and got all sweaty myself.

JAKE

I finally danced a couple of waltzes with Molly – a cute ol’ gal I fooled with once in a while. I saw that freckle-faced gal dancin’ a line dance and she sure looked good in that jean skirt. Looked like she didn’t have anything to be shamed of under those roses on her shirt. Molly cut out on me to go to the bar where she wuz the late shift bartender. I wuz standing there watching her butt walk away and someone bumped into me, liked to knock me over.

I turned ‘round and caught freckle-face lookin’ at me a little pissed off. She’d lost her ugly little hat and her curls were looking like they were trying to cut and run – kinda reminded me of that surly old sheep dog got caught in the electric fence that time … damn fine dog he’d been too.

“Hey, you crazy galoot. This is a dance floor, not a parking lot.”

Her face was as red as her hair. I couldn’t tell if she was that mad or if it were the dancin’ she’d been doin’. I just grabbed her hands and picked up the beat and started a waltz with her. Her face turned from red to white so fast I thought she was passin’ out. She looked like a bobcat I surprised once and it sure looked like it didn’t know whether to turn tail and run or just try to kill me.

She suddenly relaxed a bit and give me a funny little smile like that lady I saw in a magazine over to the doc’s office that time, Mona somebody. Anyway she was the best damn dancer I ever saw and I weren’t too bad myself … ‘cept for that limp I couldn’t get rid of – doc said I’d like to never get rid of it.

We danced a couple of songs then they played a slow one by Faron Young, “Crying Time.” After a bit she put her head on my shoulder. She felt purty good – maybe those freckles were kinda cute after all. Of a sudden, she pulled back and turned for her table; I could see something wet under her eyes.

We had a couple of long necks, not talkin’ much. Hank and Tammy would sit a bit, drink a beer and go off dancing. Finally that skinny cowboy from up Waco way, the tall one named Walt with the big ugly mustache asked - damn, I didn’t even know her name – asked her to dance.

I moseyed back to drink ‘nother of the beers; kinda half-heartedly looking for a girl to take home. Hopefully I’d find something better that that two I woke up to with a horrible feeling the last time I’d gotten lucky. Lucky? Shit, there’s different kinds of luck. That was some of the bad kind. I swear she must’ve been hit with the ugly stick. I swore then and there I’d never bring anything home to that big four-poster bed but at least a four or better (that’s why I hadn’t got laid in three weeks).

Getting a new, cold longneck, I mused a little about how this whole scorin’ thing worked. No one ever worried about it until Mickey Gilley came out with that damn song! Well, the good-looking girls suddenly wouldn’t be caught dead at a dance at closing time unless they had already hooked up. They were sure-fired worried that someone thinking they must be a one or two and they’d get a bad rep. I always thought it was just the guys doing the scoring ‘til one morning after an all-niter Molly told me the gals did the same thing. Sometimes I thought about driving down to Pasadena south east of Houston and burnin’ down his club but someone beat me to it.

I was thinkin’ about leaving when I saw that freckle-faced redhead coming out of the ladies. I figured, what the hell, between my level of horniness and the five longnecks I’d had, she was starting’ to look kinda cute. And dance? Why, hell, she was the best.

SALLY

I was done wore out. I came for the dancin’ – and I did like those cold Lone Stars – but I was tired and wanted to give it up. Three of those beers had filled me up - that’s why I had to go to the girls. I couldn’t find Tammy; damn her if she left me stranded again.

I saw that crooked-nose rodeo cowboy standing there looking lost. He wasn’t too bad if you could get by that bend in his nose: damned if it didn’t look like one of those S-Curve signs our west of town. He was a damn fine dancer too.

We kinda just stopped and looked at each other when the band started playing that old Hank Penny classic, “Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin.” It was a great song for Western Swing and the band did a good job with it. We kinda both put our arms out at the same time and moved out to the dance floor. We did four or five numbers and went to an empty table laughing and breathing hard.

The gal came by to take our order and we were so thirsty we asked for two apiece. I felt pretty good that I’d maybe found a dance partner. I hoped he had his own truck (I knew he had a truck – hell, ever’ man in the dancehall did) ‘cause my old car was mostly not working. I loved to dance but going with Tammy was kind of chancy sometimes.

“Jake, I have to say you a more than fair-to middlin’ dancer.” Feeling a little forward from the beer, I went on, “I wouldn’t mind goin’ dancin’ with you again sometime.”

I could see him thinking – at least that’s what it seemed he was doing. He took a long swallow of beer and leaned across the table, “Do I know you? I feel bad, honey, but I can’t remember your name.”

I overlooked the ‘honey’ bit and told him, “No, you don’t know me. I wasn’t there at the rodeo that night but everyone knows of your famous ride on Hellfire. Wisht I coulda seen that.”

He grunted something and finished his beer and waved the bottle at the girl taking care of us.

“I’m Sally, Sally Conrad. My dad owns the Double C spread ‘bout fifty miles west of here in the hills. I was Sally Terrell for a couple of years but caught my lovin’ hubby in the shower with that slut that sings a couple of nights a week over to Jerry’s bar. After I kicked his cheatin’ ass out of the house I taken’ my name back.

I hadn’t really wanted another drink but the woman showed up with two more apiece. We danced a little; put away a few more beers and got to know each other. Jack managed a ranch for a rich Texas oilman over to San Antone. The guy built a huge new house on a ten acre manmade lake but Jake said he hardly ever showed up. Jake had the old ranch house, a three-story brick monstrosity.

“I only use the first floor,” he leaned across the table and kinda blushed in a cute cowboy way and continued in a hushed, confidential tone, “I always dreamed of filling up the house with younguns.”

With that, he stood up and grabbed my hand, both of us stumbling a little as the band started up after a break. We did a couple of fast dances then the band started winding down for closing time with some slow waltzes.

Like he was talking to himself, he pulled me a little closer and mumbled, “ … maybe cute little redhead kids.”

The band played their last song, kind of their signature song, “A Girl I Used To Know” by George Jones.

“Just a girl … I used to spend some time with

Just a friend … from long ago

I don’t talk about the nights I cry about her

I say she’s just … a girl I use to know”

As we were dancin’ I kept thinkin’ ‘bout did Jake have a ‘girl he usta know” and wonderin’ if she’d gone and broke his heart. I think I had a tear in my eye. We were holding each other pretty close … and I woke up to sun shining through the big window and heard someone singing in another room.

JAKE

Working on a ranch, I always wake up early, five-thirty or so and get an early start on chores before the heat gets too bad. I woke in the darkness – maybe it was the coyote howling at the waning moon or maybe the fresh breeze flowing through the wide-open window.

I felt something push against my leg and sat up straight, wide-awake. There was a woman there.

I tried to remember back but could only remember the long stream of beers. I vaguely remembered singing Hank Williams songs in the cab of the truck – driving down the highway. The gal singing with me had a sweet soprano voice and knew all the lyrics. I ‘member being impressed, always having thought that I was the only one that could do that.

I shrugged my shoulders and eased out of bed slipping into my jeans and boots. I went out to the barn and took care of the horses and scattered some grain for the chickens scratchin’ ‘round. I grabbed some cold fried chicken legs from the icebox and washed them down with the slightly bitter well water.

I needed to get over to a friend that had a half-section of hay to finalize a deal for feed for the winter. I went back into my large bedroom and looked over to see who was there as the sun let it’s rosy light in through the window.

If I was lucky I’d see Molly there but this gal was way smaller than her. Damn. I hoped it wasn’t that one I’d wound up with last time. I edged into the bathroom to look for my old straight razor so I could end my misery. I couldn’t live with myself if I’d sank that low again.

I peeked ‘round the corner to who it was but the sun was making her hair all rosy. Wait, her hair was red. It was the freckled-faced red haired filly that danced like a dream. How the hell had she wound up in my bed?

I couldn’t figure it out so I started shaving and then jumped in the shower. I don’t know why, I guess it was relief that it was the same girl; I started singing that damn song:

“I'm lookin' for a nine but an eight would slip right in

A few more drinks and I might slip to a five or even a four

But when tomorrow morning comes

and I wake up with a number one

I swear I'll never do it anymore”

SALLY

The cool air felt good flowing over my face – the early sun countering with a promise of warmth. I sat up in sudden shock as I remembered I never left my window open. Realizing I was naked, I pulled the sheet up as I heard singing, I guess from the bathroom. I could hear the shower running and a voice singing with way too much enthusiasm:

“But when tomorrow morning comes and I wake up with a number one”

I realized he was singing about me. I turned totally red and looked for my clothes. I found them wadded up in a pile by an old fashioned dresser. On it was a picture of a good-looking guy and it came to me that I’d slept with that broken-nosed cowboy!

I couldn’t find my panties and I frantically kept looking. I finally saw them on the floor of the bathroom but no way was I going in there. I just wanted to get away before the shower stopped. Hell, the damned cowboy could keep them as a souvenir to brag to his buddies at the bar about.

I found my purse and wandered ‘round a huge house until I found a door goin’ out of the kitchen. I saw a plate of fried chicken on the table and realized two things: I was starved and I had a terrible headache. I wanted nothing more than to sit down and clean up the platter but I had to get out of there.

I walked out the door into the bright sunshine and saw … nothing. Not a dammed thing. Oh, yeah, there was a large barn, a smaller one, a huge open-sided hay storage building and miles and miles of nothin’ but miles and miles. I couldn’t see any other ranches. The only other thing I saw was a large truck; a flat bedded crew cab F-350 with double tires on the back and set up for stake sides. Excited I ran over, knowing it wasn’t locked ‘cause the windows were down. Standing on the oversized Dee Zee stainless steel runnin’ boards and looking in the window I saw it was stick shift – that worried me but I’d make it work for me – but there were no keys.

Looking back at the house and debatin’ with myself I gave up and started walking back to town. About twenty minutes and a hard half-mile later, I heard a truck coming up behind me.

JAKE

I got out of the shower and put clean clothes on and figured I’d better wake up that sleepyhead Sally. Hell, if she was still in bed maybe I’d join her for a quick one before I took her into town. I saw her panties on the floor and put them in my pocket.

Turning into the bedroom, I saw the bed was empty. I felt a little empty, too, for a moment. I was starting to remember last night and an image came to mind … damn, she was hotter than a pistol.

I guessed she had gotten hungry so I went into the kitchen. She weren’t there! Damn. I looked all over the house and then remembered my truck. I gave a big sigh when I looked out the window and saw it sitting in the warming sun.

I was hoping she hadn’t done a darn fool thing like trying to walk to town. Man, it was seven miles to the highway. I jumped up in the truck and picked the keys up off the floor where I always left them. I could see her small boot prints in the dust making a beeline for the horizon.

As soon as I got up the first rise in the road, I could see her just going over the top of the next hill. I slowly drove up beside her and stopped, expecting her to stop also. She didn’t even turn her head; she just kept wading her new boots through that sometimes ankle deep dust.

I drove up beside her and hollered, “Hey, Sally. Stop a minute.”

She kept on walkin’.

“Sally, durn it. Are you okay?”

Turning her head, she said, “I’m just damned hunky-dory. Doesn’t it look like it?”

“You can’t walk to town; it’s a fur piece, nigh on to forty miles! How you fixin’ to git home?”

That got her attention. She stopped and looked at me, giving me the look laced with venom – the dirtiest, meanest look I’d ever been gifted with. She looked undecided, not knowing what to do. Women are like mules sometimes - they need a man to tell ‘em what to do - like ‘gee’ and ‘haw’.

“Get in, Sally. Here, you’ll need these.”

I tossed her pretty pink panties out the window. Her face flamed furiously, brighter than her hair, and went to the back of the truck to put them on. She didn’t know I could see her with those big trailer mirrors I had. Leastwise not until she had finished, stood up and seen me looking at her in the mirror. Man, was she pissed.

I figured I’d best not say anything, or even look at her, for a while. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see she was fit to be tied. We drove quietly towards town but I finally had to ask directions so I could take her home.

When we got to her house, she jumped out before I could get over to open the door and before I could even ask if she wanted to go dancin’ again next Saturday. I had a hankerin’ to whirl her ‘round some more and maybe even more … I sure did admire her shapely legs and the way she twitched that short skirt as she flounced into the house.

SALLY

I was so humiliated when he threw my panties at me. I was feeling bad enough already but thinking about riding on that high bench seat with a short skirt and no panties was too much. I was about to cry when I walked back out of his sight to put them on. Feeling better – like the panties would protect me – I turned ‘round and saw him in that big mirror watching me with a grin on his face.

I sat there steaming, just looking out the window … wondering if I could just die on the spot. Damn. Only a one!

Looking out at the wasteland – dotted here and there with white hump-backed Brahma cows – I almost drifted off to sleep, a half remembered touch from last night making me feel warm.

Turning to Jake, I was happy to see him lookin’ a heap sheepish, the no 'count rodeo cowboy anyway. “Caint you turn on the air conditioner? I feel right uncomfortable in this here oven.”

Jake rolled the windows up and turned on the air, which made everything snug as a bug. It was quiet and I must have fallen asleep – Jake was shaking my shoulder saying, “I need directions to your house, honey.”

“Jake, dammit. Don’t call me honey; that dog won’t hunt. I’m not your honey, your gal … I’m not your anything.”

We got to the house without a by your leave and I jumped out and ran into the house. With the grace of God, I’d never see that big lunk-head again. But, damn, he could dance – several ways if my memory was right.

Whenever I went out dancing – not that often anymore – Judy, my babysitter, stayed all night. She was an older widow-woman that lived across the street. She just slept on the sofa.

When I opened the door, the twins came screaming and pulled me down to their level. I played with them a bit while Judy was fixin’ up some breakfast: big ham steaks and fried eggs. We was both terribly hungry.

Judy looked at me and saying something like, “You look like death warmed over. Why don’t I take the kids to the park and then I’ll give them lunch and a nap.”

I was too tired to argue and went back to take a shower and go to bed. Judy was a blessing sometimes. She was always smiling, had a nice gentle manner and never asked any questions. Not that I gave her all that much to ask about.

I threw those pink panties away – I never wanted to see them again. I thought I’d have awful dreams given the way I was feelin’ but I had these dreams that were … sweet. I felt a strange lassitude when I woke up; I hadn’t felt like that since the first week I’d been married.

I was still mad at Jake - how had he got me into his bed and what had he (or was it we?) done? Well, that cowboy would never dance with me again.

JAKE

I pretty much remembered everything that happened as I let the heat of the day sweat the beer out of me. I kinda felt good. Sally was a fine dancer and once I got past the freckles – actually now that I think some more, it was when I saw the rest of the freckles and found out she was really a redhead that I started thinking about her as ‘bout a nine.

But what was funny was that time in my big four poster wasn’t what I was thinkin’ about; not even her great dancin’ – I saw her lovin’ me, filling up that big house with little red haired babies – damn. Did I say that last night?

I was kiddin’ myself. I knew that. Hell, I was an Aggie, wasn’t I? Those four years at College Station taught me something. I was thinking she really liked me but now I could see she just got drunk. She sure as tarnation was hellaciously mad at me this morning. I guess she thought I was just some dumb rodeo cowboy.

It was a good thing I didn’t embarrass both of us by asking her out again.

I stayed out at the ranch more and caught up on the work. I had four full time guys working for me and we hired temp help, as we needed it. I wasn’t just some boss that told everyone what to do. If a cow got stuck in a bog, I got down and helped get her out.

I didn’t go dancin’ for about a month and I cut out the beer. I toughened up a lot and lost a few pounds. I thought a lot about Sally. I felt bad about doing the numbers thing on her. She was really a sweet gal and you can’t always tell a book by its cover. I kept seeing her ‘round the house: in the kitchen with an apron fixin’ dinner, nursing one of our red haired babies, makin’ that big four-poster bed.

I guess I was being stupid but a guy’s gotta dream, right? Molly called and wanted to come out but I really didn’t want her in that bed where I’d been with Sally. I did agree to go dancing Saturday night. I knew I wouldn’t be there long ‘cause she had to work. Maybe I’d tell her I’d found someone else. Yeah, in my dreams I’d found someone.

We got there early and did a lot of dancing and a little, very little, drinking. I had a couple of Cokes and then we split a Lone Star. Molly had to leave and I walked her out to her car. I was going to leave too – I didn’t have the gumption to tell her that whatever we’d had was over- but I saw Tammy and Sally getting out of Tammy’s car. Then a guy got out of the back and walked up next to Sally and put his arm ‘round her, possessively. When he kissed her cheek, I like to got sick. I had to go sit in my truck for a bit.

I knew she hated me – probably thought I’d forced her, taken advantage of her being drunk. I finally went in and found a table across the dance floor from the four of them. I guess Hank had come in another door. They were all laughing a lot and dancin’ and putting down a lot of beer. Except Sally looked like she was drinkin’ Coke or sumpin’.

When the band took its first break Sally got up and started walking towards me. I thought she’d seen me and wanted to talk to me. When I stood up she saw me and flinched, turned her head and looked embarrassed. She went on to the girls’ room and I figured that’s where she’d been headed all along.

I felt bad and walked on out and drove the truck back to the lonely house that night. I didn’t sleep very well. I didn’t see myself going dancing again for a long time. I dreamed about red-haired babies crawling all over the house. I was feeling pretty down the next morning.

SALLY

Life went on. I worked at the Ford dealer on the financing and contracts. It was fun work and I met a lot of people. Guys would come in and buy their trucks and hit on me. Some of them I could see were married by the forms they filled out but they still kept asking me out.

I liked working there ‘cause the hours were regular like and I could be home to take care of my babies. I felt sad but I couldn’t figure out why. Tammy kept wanting to go out together again but I didn’t want to. God, a one! I’d be so embarrassed to go in that dance place knowing the guys were putting numbers on me.

Finally my brother came home. He’d been over to Dallas at SMU for four years studying banking and got an offer from the local bank in their loan department. ‘Cept he was doing ranch and farm loans, not auto loans.

He got a place downtown, a new condo and wanted to meet people. Tammy thought we should all go dancin’ together. It riled me a bit that they both kept nagging me so finally I went with them.

When we got out of the car, he put his arm ‘round me and kissed my cheek, saying, “If I can’t find anyone else, you can be my girl.”

We laughed at that and had a great time. Timmy was a good kid and the twins loved him. I sure wasn’t going to drink beer again so I stuck to Cokes. Well we call all soft drinks Cokes; I was actually drinking diet Ginger Ale.

When the band took its break, I got up to go to the girls’ room. I got to the other side of the dance floor - kinda distracted with somethin’ that was worrying at me – when a man stood up suddenly, almost right in front of me. Given what I’d been thinking about, I was startled … and there he was and could he know what I was thinking about and oh, shit, I turned away from him and hid in the ladies room for a long time. Oh, God. It couldn’t be happening to me, could it?

I went back to the table and after the next set we left. Tammy, Hank and Timmy came over to the house for a while. We played cards and Timmy fixed Irish coffee. He had gone to San Francisco for a two-week seminar just before he graduated and found this bar in the fisherman’s wharf area called the Buena Vista. It was located right across the street from the Hyde Street cable car turnaround. Anyway, the way Timmy told us, they would line up ‘bout twenty glasses and fill them with hot water. They would go back, dump the water out, put in two sugar cubes, pour in the coffee and Irish whiskey in a long continuous pour and top it off with whipped cream.

He fixed it the same way – he’d brought a bottle of Jameson’s but I made sure mine were light. It looked like drinking had got me into the trouble I was sure I was in so I wanted to take it easy.

About a month later, Tammy got this bright idea of taking Timmy to see Gilley’s club on t’other side of Houston. This was the place where Urban Cowboy was made and both John Travolta and Debra Winger became famous. It was about a five-hour drive straight east but somehow they talked me into it. I took the kids out to dad’s ranch and we took off. It wasn’t too bad ‘cause my boss let me take one of the loaner vans for practically nothin’.

We got there that same day we left and got a couple of rooms: Timmy and I in one and, of course, Tammy and Hank in the other. The next day we got to Gilley’s early, ‘bout six, just in time for dinner. The place was huge! They had lots of bars several stages – sometimes more than one band would play at the same time. They also had the bull riding area but we weren’t interested in that – that was for citified cowboys.

I was pretty sure now – I’d been through this before. I had a doctor’s appointment set up for the next week.

I was dancing with Timmy when this guy came up and tapped him on the shoulder and politely asked for a dance. It was Jake!

JAKE

I was still feeling down. It was bad enough already but when she snubbed me at the dance I knew it was over … not that it had really started. If only I’d known when we met that she had a boyfriend.

After a couple of weeks, the dreams about the red-headed kids stopped but I would lay awake at night remembering what it had been like to hold her; the smooth way she danced – how sexy the freckles on her stomach were. It seemed the more I blocked it out the more I was obsessed with those freckles. When I had remembered dismissing her because of her ugly moth-eaten hat or that spray of freckles across her nose, I was ‘shamed of myself. I had lost all interest in picking up a woman - someone like Molly for a night of sex … and nothing else.

One day I got a call from the ranch owner, Jules Larsen. He had two other ranches and wanted the three managers to meet for planning purposes. The ranch I managed was outside of San Angelo and the other two were close to Midland-Odessa (close to most of his oil investments) and outside of Uvalde. He had to meet with some oil people in Houston so he wanted to meet there.

He said he’d send a Lear jet to the San Angelo Airport to pick me up. I was surprised when I got on that he was on-board. I was even more surprised with what he had to say.

“Jake, I know you hide behind your ‘aw, shucks’ manner but I checked with Texas A&M. You were ranked number two in your class and I know about the Silver Star and Purple Heart you earned with the 82^nd Airborne in Grenada. You are a natural leader so don’t try to snow me. You can lay your ‘Texas Twang’ on the ladies at the dance hall but you can do great things if you want.

“Okay, here’s the deal. I want to put one man in charge of all three ranches and oversee a couple more I’m looking at. I’ll give you a ten per cent interest and you can live at any of the ranches you want. If you stay in San Angelo you can take over my house as yours and convert the old house to offices and storage. I’ll give you a couple of weeks to visit the ranches and then we will meet and talk about budget. You know you are the only one that shows a profit.”

We talked the rest of the way to Houston making plans. I talked to him about Hank taking over the San Angelo ranch. Hank had owned a pretty big spread but turned it over to his son from an early marriage. He was bored doing nothing so he bought the feed store.

He met with each of the other managers first and then turned it over to me. They were okay with it and actually pretty supportive. I set it up that I’d visit each ranch once a month for a couple of days and twice a year they would come to the main ranch in San Angelo for a planning meeting.

The three of us decided to go to Gilley’s club to wrap the two-day meeting up. We were feeling pretty good. I’d tried to call Hank at the feed store but they told me I might catch him at Gilleys.

We ate dinner on the way so we were feeling pretty good when we got there. We got a table and I went looking for Hank. I finally found him dancing with Sally. I really didn’t want to see her – I was afraid I’d make a fool of myself again.

I sidled up to them and tapped on Hank’s shoulder. To say he was stunned to see me would me an understatement.

“Hey, Hank, there’s a couple of guys over at that table,” I nodded to the other two managers and they waved, “that want to talk to you. I’ll be over in a minute with a proposition for you.”

Sally was standing there, looking lost. The band was playing a slow waltz and I put my arms ‘round her and started dancing. She seemed shy and I didn’t feel like talking. It felt good to hold her. At first she held back but after a bit seemed to melt into my arms … confusing me to no end.

To someone watching us, it must have seemed sad – we were dancing like it was the last dance (which it most likely was) – but yet we both would have seemed so sad.

The song ended and I stepped back quickly. I looked hard into her eyes - searching for I didn’t know what – then I quickly said:

“I wish you the best of luck, Sally. I’m sorry for hurting you; I really didn’t mean to. I hope everything works out with your boyfriend. Goodbye. I promise never to bother you again.”

I walked away with tears in my eyes.

SALLY

As Jake walked away, I could see he had tears in his eyes. My head felt like it was filled with sawdust – I couldn’t think and I couldn’t understand what Jake had been talking about. I started to follow him across the floor but he sat down with Hank and the other two guys.

I got back to the table and sat down and started crying. Tammy had been dancing with Timmy but when she saw me sittin’ there sobbin’ she came right over. She put her arm ‘round me and patted my back like I was a little girl. Maybe I was … except for …

Timmy looked over to where Jake was sittin’ lookin’ like he was gittin’ angry. I swear, if he had his ‘Arkansas toothpick,’ he woulda gone over and cut Jake’s ears off.

Tammy told him to sit down and then led me outside to see what had happened.

“Okay, Sally, what’s goin’ on? I want to hear purdy much all of it”

“Oh, Tammy. It’s such a mess. I don’t know what to do. Jake just told me he wouldn’t see me again and I’m … Oh, Tammy I’m …” and I couldn’t talk any more.

Tammy went back inside and came back about twenty minutes later with Timmy in tow.

“Let’s go, girl. Were goin’ home.”

“But ... where’s Hank? What’s going on?”

“Hank’s going home with Jake on the Lear jet. Don’t ask; I don’t know anything about the plane. I just had a minute to talk to Hank and what I understood was that Hank was taking over as the manager of the ranch.”

“What about Jake?”

“I don’t know, honey. What I understood from Hank is that Jake’s is movin’.”

“Oh, no; he can’t … he doesn’t understand … he doesn’t know!” I gasped this last out as I started sobbin’ again.

As Tammy held me, I told her everything and she said, “Okay, Sally, listen closely, this is the plan.”

By the time we got back to home, I’d stopped crying – I was even smilin’ a little. Tammy was so devious.

JAKE

Walking back to the table I grabbed a beer from a passin’ waitress. I sure needed it now. My emotions had been knocked cattywampus from seein’ Sally. I stood there and drank about half of it, then put the bottle on a nearby table and went to wrap up things with Hank. The other two had given Hank a general overview and I sat down to seal the deal. I really need Hank. I knew him well and I knew he was a good rancher and a good man.

He was pretty excited about it – when I asked him, his only response was, “Darn tootin’.”

We kicked it back-and-forth for a bit and I spotted Tammy walking up. I told Hank to tell her about him flying home with me.

“Can I tell her ‘bout the ranch?”

“Sure, Hank,” I mumbled as I cut for the rest room. When I got back, Tammy was gone and we wrapped up our business. When we got to San Angelo, I drove Hank home and went out to the farm. Hank was going to move into the old house and I would immediately start moving to the new one.

Jules didn’t have much at his place so I moved what he did have into the guest bedroom, which was really a small suite. Hank and I with the help of a couple of hands, moved Hank’s stuff out from town and mine into the big house on the hill. It was more than a house. The damn thing was over six thousand square feet with a four-car garage and its own horse barn. There was even a fully stocked playroom for the few times Jules had visited with his grandkids. His wife had died in a car accident and his two boys both lived in San Antone.

A couple of days after we got moved I was showing Hank the ranch on horseback and he was lookin’ a little worried – I could see somethin’ was gnawing at him. I let it go but after a while Hank cleared his throat a couple of times and finally got out, “Tammy wants to have a party out here.”

Okay. I waited.

“The thing is, wal, she wants to give me a movin’-in party: a big damn barbeque and all.

Okay. I waited. He didn’t say anything and we were pulling up to a horse trough kept filled by a windmill. We eased the cinches on the horses and walked over to a big cottonwood so we could sit in the shade.

I looked over to Hank and getting exasperated with him, said, “Okay, Hank. Spit it out.”

“Wal, the thing is boss she wants to make this an engagement party too.”

I must have looked confused as all get out – I didn’t know Tammy was seeing anyone other than Hank. And why would she want to do it out here?

“Jake, the thing is … wal I asked her to marry me!”

I jumped up and grabbed his hand and shook it. We talked it over. Hank was kinda laughing at the whole thing and after a while we lapsed into silence, watching the horses graze.

I gave him about five minutes and finally asked, “Okay, Hank. What ain’t you telling me?”

“Wal, see, you know the thing is … damn. Tammy’s best friend is Sally.”

I let that ride for a minute, thinking about it. “Okay, I can see that. So what you are really askin’ is am I okay with Sally coming out to the party. Is that the nub of all this hemmin’ and hawin’?”

“Yeah, Jake, that’s aboot the way of it.”

Considerin’ everything, I didn’t mind seeing Sally but I couldn’t deal with her kissin’ up that damn friend of hers in front of me. I guess I just had to make that clear.

“Okay, Hank. I’ll go ‘long with it as long as she doesn’t bring that boyfriend of hers along. What in Sam Hill was Tammy thinking about any way?”

Hank looked at me with a blank look on his face. Shaking his head a little he asked, “Jake, I know that I ain’t always the sharpest tool in the shed but just what the hell you runnin’ on about? Sally don’t have no boyfriend!”

“Uh, Hank. Who was that dude she was kissin’ and dancin’ with, both here and at Gilley’s place?”

“Damn, Jake. You don’t know come here from sic’em. That there guy is her durn bother. Done finished with college over to Dallas way and now he lives here. He works for the bank downtown. And Tammy says Sally likes you; I can’t for the life of me figure out why though.”

Hell. Now I felt seven kinds of stupid. I had to think about this.

We jumped back on the horses and finished the show round. When we finished rubbing down the horses and grained them, we went in for coffee.

“Okay, Hank. This is what we’re gonna do. Tell Tammy she can go ahead and plan her party. Tell her you want to do it next Sunday. Let her invite anyone she wants. She knows we have that small pool behind the old house so tell her to have everyone bring their swim stuff. Fact, tell ‘em it’s been really hot and she should bring a bikini. (Here I was hoping to see Sally in something skimpy.)

“But what we’re gonna do is have it up at the big house. You saw how huge the pool is and there’s a huge barbeque pit. That darn thing will take a whole steer. We will invite the other two managers and their families. Hell, tell everyone to bring their families.

“And, Hank, don’t tell Tammy any of this … just let her plan her own party.”

By now we were both laughing.

On Tuesday I sent Sally a big bunch of roses with a card that said:

Dear Sally,

I felt bad the way I cut in on you while you were dancin’ with Hank. I surely didn’t know that you had a boyfriend! If I did, that stuff that happened that night at the ranch … well, it wouldn’t have happened. I do apologize for that.

I’m also sorry for taking advantage of you when you’d been drinkin’ that night but when I asked if you wanted to see my ranch house, you said “Sure, cowboy” and well, things just happened after that. But the thing is, I guess I just fell in love with you.

I know you are spoken for … I was gonna leave town ‘cause it hurt too much to see that guy kissin’ you. But I can’t let my boss down so I’ll try to suck it up and be a man. I won’t bother you no more. I wanted to give you these flowers for the great dancin’ we did. I’ll always remember that.

Oh, if the flowers will cause you trouble with your boyfriend you can just throw them away. I’ll try to stop lovin’ you and I won’t cause you no trouble. I promise you that.

Your friend and one time dance partner,

Jake.

That should make her think.

SALLY

I felt better after talking with Tammy. I was really confused with what he said about a boyfriend – what was that all about? And then Tammy told her about what Hank said: “I’m takin’ over the ranch management from Jake and I will move in to that big old house after Jake moves out.

What was Jake going to do? Where was he moving? That damn cowboy!

I had to admit I was having feelin’s for him. I think I was just mad at myself for drinkin’ all those beers. And then hearin’ him sing that awful song. I thought that was what he thought of me. I didn’t know what to think now.

When I went to the doctor this morning she told me what I already knew – I was gonna have another baby. I knew it was Jake’s – I hadn’t been with anyone since I kicked that cheatin’ louse of a husband out year ‘fore last.

I had to admit to myself that my life was purdy well screwed up. I had my babies though … and the new one I knew I already loved. They came first and I had to protect them.

Later Tammy came by and I told her what the doctor had said. She was so excited – I’d already told her I was sure about the baby – that she liked to peed her panties.

We started planning the party. She didn’t know any more about what Jake was going to do but she was sure he would be there. I had to let him know somehow that I didn’t have a boyfriend. I wanted to let him know that I liked him more than I let on. I guess I’d just have to see what happened.

Then Tammy dropped the shocker on me:

“Honey, Hank proposed to me last night! And I … well, I said yes. I’m gonna live with him in that big ranch house. Except for the kitchen and dining room the first floor will be offices and we have the second floor for ourselves. The third floor is ours if we want it, you know, if the family gets bigger.”

She looked at me and shyly looked away, “Sally, Hank asked me if I wanted kids? I’m so excited. I love your two and … and I think I’ll make a good momma. Don’t you think I will, honey?”

I gave her a big hug, “Sure Tammy. My twins love you ‘most as much as they do me.”

We had some coffee and something looked like it was bothering her. Finally I had to ask.

“Sally, when I talked to Hank this mornin’, he said Jake and a couple of the hands were moving Jake’s stuff out and picking his clothes and things up from his place in town and out to the old ranch house. Oh, honey, I guess Jake’s moving!”

“Did Hank say when … or … where?”

“No, honey, he didn’t. He did say that Jake would be there for the party. He also asked Hank if he could quietly make sure you didn’t bring your boyfriend. What boyfriend is he talking about? You don’t have time to see anyone. I think Hank is as confused as I am.”

“I don’t know, Tammy. Unless – he can’t believe that Timmy is my boyfriend! Oh, God. He can’t believe that, can he?”

We talked more on the party and got it all figured out.

The next day I got a huge bouquet of two-dozen roses with a letter from Jake. The flowers were beautiful but the note made me sad. The words tugged at my heart and I cried a little. I admitted to myself that I liked him a lot – maybe more than a lot. I had to find a way to see him more, to find out if we had anything more than that one night and the dancing in common. And he didn’t know about Bobby and Missy, either. Maybe he didn’t like kids.

I debated not taking Timmy to the party but it seemed it might be fun to introduce him to Jake and see his shock. I decided to leave the kids with my dad so Jake wouldn’t get hit with too much at once. Tammy had a friend that was going to be a DJ for the party – maybe I could get Jake to dance with me.

The day of the party dawned sunny with a hint that it would be a little cooler – well, ‘round here in the summer the low nineties seems cooler - than it had been.

Tammy was already out there. She stayed over with Hank the night before so she could get everything set up. I wanted to go out early but she said she was okay. I called Timmy and asked him to pick me and the twins up in time to drop them off at dad’s ranch and get to the party ‘bout eleven.

When we got there the place was deserted – there was no one ‘round. Then Timmy saw a sign that said to drive on up the hill. When we got there we found about thirty cars parked and there was this huge white house sitting there. There were a couple of big tents and a band was playing. I looked at Tim, totally mystified, but he just shook his head and opened the door for me. I swear I could see a little smirk at the corners of his mouth.

Than we started walking to the back of the house where all the people were … just as Jake came out a side door, almost bumping into us. I froze up and just stared at him … I didn’t know what to say.

JAKE

The deal I worked out with Jules was that each ranch manager got a decent bonus; they would get one per cent equity in their ranch for each year they showed a profit – up to ten per cent max – and would get five per cent of the profit on the ranch they managed every year. I basically got the same thing except it was for all three ranches and any additional ranches we planned on buying. Jules particularly wanted me to find a couple well-located hay farms so we could grow our own.

For the houses each ranch manager would own their house if they stayed ten years. This was a great incentive for me since I would get the big house. My bonus was pretty good so I wanted to make this a big party; sorta let people know who we were. I talked to Jules about it and he liked the idea – he said he would stop by himself for a couple of hours. He had some stuff in the safe he wanted to take with him. He said I could expense all the costs such as food, drinks and tents. I had to pay for the bands myself but I was more than happy to do that.

We had everything set up: there were two tents, one for food and the other with a big dance floor. I talked a couple of kids from the local high school swim team to volunteer as lifeguards. The bands got there at ten-thirty and would work half-hour on and a half-hour rest. In the middle of the day I would give both bands an hour break and had a local Mariachi group coming in to play for that time.

I was doing a good job of delegating so I had some time on my hands. I saw the dust from Timmy’s car coming out so I stood just inside the side door they would have to pass. I wanted to catch Sally unawares and kinda keep her off balance all afternoon. I noticed that the bag she brought with her was really small so I was hoping for great things in the swimsuit department.

When they were just about even I opened the door and stepped out quickly. Sally was as startled as I expected her to be so I stepped close and kissed her on the cheek and said, “Hi, Sally. Welcome to the ranch … again.”

She turned at least as red as her hair.

I put my hand out to shake with her brother and welcomed him, “Hi, Tim. It’s great to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you too, Jake. By the way, we have loan approval so you and Hank can go ahead and buy those cattle.”

Sally was standing there looking at one of us, then the other. She looked totally confused. “But you guys don’t … wait … do you two know each other?”

“Sure, Sally. My boss said Hank and I could each run a hundred head of cows with our own brand. Hank and I decided to throw in together and our brand is the Circle S/T.”

Hank and I had on identical cowboy shirts with a logo of a circle with S/T in the middle. I pointed to the logo and told her, “This is our brand; we’ve already registered it and we’re going to look for cattle next week. Hank’s throwing in the feed store and we’re renaming it the Circle S/T too. We met with Tim a couple of times this week to get financing for the cattle. Tim’s a great guy and you should be proud to have him for a brother.”

I took her arm before she could ask – or figure out that the S/T stood for Sally/Tammy. “Come on back and look at the set up.” As we came ‘round the corner, I pointed out the tents – the band was already playing – and I showed her the swimming pool. There were already a number of adults and a half-dozen kids splashing ‘bout.

I steered her down to the tent with the dance floor. The band was on a small stage in the middle of one side against the tent wall. Without giving her a chance to say anything I nodded to the bandleader and they switched to Jim Reeve’s classic, “Welcome to my World.”

I started waltzing with her and she tried to pull away and say something. I leaned over and gently pressed my lips on hers and whispered in her, “Just dance and listen to the song.”

She relaxed a little and the lead singer started with a great voice for the song:

“Welcome to my world won't you come on in.

Miracles I guess still happen now and then.

Step into my heart leave your cares behind.

Welcome to my world built with you in mind.”

Sally relaxed and put her head on my shoulder and I could feel her body moving with gentle shakes as she started crying. I’d hoped that I understood women enough to know that this might happen so I had asked the band to keep playing slow waltzes until we left the floor. By the third song she lifted her head and looked at me with a small smile – I wiped the tear tracks away with my thumb and then we both focused more on the dancing. We were really good together.

The day went along great. Food was always available and a big steer was on the spit cooking for dinner. After dinner we were planning on a big dance. The lifeguards were going to stay on and baby sit so the parents could dance.

I did get a chance to swim with Sally. She looked great in the small two-piece suit she’d had in her bag. Her stomach looked like someone had taken a paintbrush dipped in a bucket of freckle paint and flipped it across her body. There was a sprinkling of freckles on the upper slope of her breasts also and I seemed to ‘member they were in other, you know … intimate places.

I was able to arrange with Tammy to set up a table for her, Hank, Sally and I. Later Timmy found a girl that was a teller at his bank and joined us. When the first band took a break I went up to the stage and welcomed everyone. I told them about the ranch and the changes we were making. I emphasized that we would be buying supplies as much as we could locally and would be looking for three or four more cowboys over the next few months.

I nodded to Hank and walked back to sit down with Sally. Hank pulled Tammy along with him to the stage. He tossed his hat back to the table, grabbed the mike and got down on his knees.

“Tammy, I’ve loved you from afar for a long time but never had the nerve to tell you.” He reached into his watch pocket and pulled out a ring. Taking her hand he put the ring on her finger. “Tammy, I tell you before all these friends and neighbors of ours that I truly love you and ask for your hand in marriage.”

She fell down on him - knocking him over - and started kissing him. I guess everyone took that for a yes. The band started playing a fast two-step and they started to dance. After a minute, I took Sally’s hand and pulled her onto the floor. A bit later everyone joined in.

It was a lot of fun - even though the young cowboys kept cutting in on me - so I only wound up with three or four dances with her. When the band took its break and the other was tuning up, I took Sally out for some fresh air.

We walked a little and I took her hand. After trying to tug it away, unsuccessfully, she gave up and let me hold it.

She stopped and looked up at me. “I see now from what you said that you are going to be running several ranches and that Hank will be working for you. I think you are a good man for that and I know you’ll do a great job.” She looked a bit worried and said, “Tammy said you were moving. Is it going to be so far away?”

I looked down at her and something in her eyes made my heart skip a beat. “Wal, honey (I drawled this, like a true Texan) I reckon it ain’t so far. How far would you come to visit me?” I said this in a teasing way not really expecting an answer.

I turned her toward the house and told her, “This is our new house honey. What do you think?”

“Wow! You’re gonna live here? Wait … what do you mean it’s our house?” She seemed to be having trouble concentrating.

“Oh, did you think I meant me and you? I’m sorry. I just meant that I planned on having a passel of kids; I mean this is such a big house. So by ‘our’ I meant the kids and I. Let me show you the house.”

Taking her arm again I walked her up to the porch. As I opened the door and pulled her through, I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “ … and all the kids will have flaming red hair.”

This brought out a serious flush to her face and her neck, gosh I wonder how far the blush goes?

“Did anyone ever tell you that you are really pretty when you blush like that?”

Of course, that changed the red to scarlet. I walked her through the house. There were six bedrooms each with a bath. There was a separate baby room with blue wallpaper decorated with pink baby animals. For this room instead of a bath, there was what Jules had called “baby changing central.” It had a large padded table with flip up, locking sides, lots of storage, a large sink and a heavy duty washer/dryer combo suitable for washing anything.

The really neat thing was a baby bathtub. It was a claw-footed tub in the old style sittin’ on a platform making the tub at the perfect height for bathing a baby. I could see Sally lustin’ after that.

If she was entranced by the baby room she was shocked by the kitchen. It was a very large room with commercial type equipment, all in stainless steel. There was a large butcher-block table (four foot by six foot with a large sink and a disposal). There was a large six-burner stove and two large ovens plus a warming oven. Add the two large built in refrigerators and the walk-in freezer and the very large walk in pantry, it was equipped to feed an army. Copper pots and pans of all sizes and copper accessories were hanging from a rack over the butcher-block.

The final touch was a built-in wine storage unit that held 128 bottles – which Jules graciously said I could have. There was also a large wine cellar in the basement fully stocked. I never did say how many oil wells Jules had.

Topping everything off was a huge heavy oak table with twelve oak chairs scattered ‘round. This was in an oversize bay window with an almost overwhelming view of the ranch.

I thought Sally was gasping a little so I showed her the master bedroom. Well, she did like it. The bed was big (huge), the room was almost too large, and there were two bathroom/sitting room suites – one on each side of the bedroom. She took off and wandered ‘bout by herself for a while. I waited a little and found her in the ladies side walk-in closet (I knew it was the ladies side ‘cause the bathroom had a bidet) and caught her pulling out one of the built-in cedar-lined shelves and rubbing her fingers over the soft texture of the wood.

I walked up behind her – she looked lost in thought – and nuzzled her neck with my lips. In a quiet whisper as I kissed her ear, I asked her, “Is this the closet you want to use?”

Turning a new shade of red, one I hadn’t seen before, she ducked under my arm and ran from the bedroom. I took her down to the huge basement. It was set up as an audio-visual center and all the teens, there must have been over twenty of them, were dancing to some kind of loud music … I think it was music.

We went out and danced some more but finally the evening was over. When I walked her back to her car, I asked her if she had a good time. She just nodded.

Finally I screwed up the courage and asked, trying to be casual about it, “Would you like to go dancing next Saturday?”

She looked up at me with a too serious look that made me think a rejection was coming but she finally said, “Okay, yeah, okay that’d be great. Only … well, you have to come over for dinner at my place first. I make a mean brisket.”

I nodded that that was fine with me and then she surprised me by standing on her toes and kissing me briefly but firmly on the lips. Leaving me a little shaken, she jumped in the car and Timmy drove her away.

SALLY

I’d had it all rehearsed: I’d introduce Timmy as my brother right away. That should knock the wind out of Jake’s sail. I don’t know how he got the idea that Timmy was my boyfriend.

I was startled when Jake came out of that side door. When he kissed my cheek and said that about “welcome to the ranch … again,” I was flustered and my plan went out the window. When he started talking to Timmy like an old friend … I became really confused.

Jake did that all afternoon – kept me off balance, that is. I thought he was moving away but he was staying here – and in that big house. I was impressed when I found out that he was running all the ranches for his boss. I was so proud of him.

Then he got me on the dance floor and the band played that song by Jim Reeves … I lost it for a while. I had been fighting my emotions that made me want to spend more time with Jake. I’d blamed him for what happened at the house but it was really both our faults. I just got so mad at him for singing that song – about me being only a one. Tammy said I made too much of that; it was only Jake being a typical man and singing in the shower. Then the whole panty episode threw me off.

When I heard that song while Jake was holding me close:

“Step into my heart, leave your cares behind.

Welcome to my world, built with you in mind.”

Well, my heart just dissolved. Later when we went swimming I was kinda shy about wearing such a skimpy bathing suit. I did like the way he was looking at me though.

It would be like that all day; I’d get comfortable then he’d knock me for a loop. The worst was when he said that about “our” house. I’d wondered if I’d misunderstood him and he went on about the red-haired babies. Darn … little did he know!

I loved the house. The kitchen was incredible, almost intimidating. I could see giving my new baby a bath in that tub. Then that bedroom: the bed alone was bigger than my bedroom at my apartment. Then I went to look at the beautiful bathroom. It was so lovely. Then I almost got lost in the walk-in closet – I was picturing my clothes hanging there and realizing it would still look empty. Jake seemed to have this sense of timing. While I was in the closet daydreaming when he snuck up behind me and asked if that was the one I wanted.

I was excited about fixing him dinner. From what Tammy said he still had no idea about the twins. I was thinking it would be fun to show him my babies … but what if he didn’t love them? He had to. He kept on about my red hair and my kids had hair the same as mine.

Tammy came over the next day all excited about marrying Hank.

“I’m moving right in, honey. I don’t want to give him a chance to change his mind. We’re getting married the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Hank wants to have another big shindig and we will have both the ceremony and the reception at the ranch.”

We talked a while about all that had happened – she was as stunned as I was about how fast things had happened.

She took my hand and said, “Sally, you know that Jake loves you, don’t you?”

“I think I do … I mean, yeah, I think he does. But, Tammy is he serious? Will he like the twins?”

“He likes you a lot. I do think he is sincere but you have to give him a chance to get to know you better. Do you love him?”

Wow! That was direct. I thought about it for a minute and answered, “Yes, I’m purdy sure. But I’m confused a lot and sometimes I don’t know what to think. He’s coming over for dinner and then we’re going dancing afterwards. I’m so anxious about his meeting Bobby and Missy. What if they don’t like him? I’m just a nervous wreck trying to figure everything out.”

“Did you tell him about your new baby yet?”

“Oh, God, no! I know I have to tell him soon or he will see it for himself. I’m sure he would marry me to give the baby a father but I don’t want pity. I want to be sure he really loves me … and … and that I love him the same way.”

I told her about the panty episode – I guess I was trying to get sympathy. All I got from her, was:

“Damn, Sally. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Now that I think about it, it’s sexy as hell.”

The week went really fast with more flowers showing up on Thursday along with a package. All that the note said was, “This is for you to wear for the dance.”

I opened the package and it was the same as the shirts that Hank and Jake were wearing but the right size for me. I suspected that Tammy was involved in this. On the pocket was the same logo that was on the other shirts: a circle with the letters S/T embroidered inside. I idly tried to figure out what the letters meant – I remembered that Jake had said it was their new brand.

I bought the kids new outfits for their first time to see Jake. I dressed them up like they were going to a dance: boots, cowboy shirts and all. They were dressed the same and looked darling. Jake just had to love them.

When Jake knocked on the door that Saturday night, I shooed the kids into the bedroom. I opened the door to more roses – I could get used to this.

Jake stepped in and gave me a big hug, then he stepped back to look at me.

“Hey, that shirt looks great on you.”

“Jake, I was tryin’ to puzzle out, what does the S/T stand for.”

“Why, honey, it stands for Sally and Tammy. I thought you knew that.”

Oh, gosh. I put my hand over the logo feeling the embossed texture – trying to come up with something to say. Now it seemed so obvious but … to cover what I was sure showed on my face, I told Jake, “Go ahead and sit on the sofa. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

I called for the kids and they came running out, laughing like it was a game. Jake’s face was a study in changing emotions. He would look at one, then t’other, then at me. He shook his head a couple of times then picked them up with a big smile on his face.

“I had no idea, Sally. This is wonderful; they look just like you. But don’t think this is going to get you out of making some more.”

This man was going to drive me crazy. If this was what it would be like to be married to him I’d have to think about it. It would be always be interesting though.

We sat down to eat and for a change the kids were little angels. I was surprised, actually enchanted to see Jake with them. He would tease them, ask them questions and made them laugh. I’d fixed brisket with mashed potatoes and a big bowl of fresh cantaloupe. One of the neighbors gave me some green beans and I steamed them.

The way Jake put the food away impressed me. I guess he was very active with outdoor work though. I called Judy to come over to stay with the kids. I almost cried when they ran to Jake and gave him a big hug. He looked like he might cry to. Watching them made me feel warm and cozy. I felt some unease ‘cause I still had to tell him about his baby. I hadn’t found the right time yet.

We went to the dance and it was great. It was much better to go with him than to feel like I was being graded like a piece of meat. Jake surprised me by drinking Cokes along with me. Later when we were doing a slow waltz I asked him about it.

“I guess I wanted to make sure you didn’t worry about anything, you know, like last time. I still feel bad about that. Maybe, I don’t know if this sounds right but I want you to know I respect you.”

He pulled me tight and we danced for a few more dances. When the band took a break at ten we decided to take off. Jake had to go to the ranch in Uvalde to look at buying some land from a neighbor to expand the ranch. The thing he was happy about was the ranch had a full section (640 acres) in hay.

He came in for coffee and I sent Judy on home. While I fixed the decaf – Jake was okay with that – he went in to look at the kids.

I could see his eyes were damp when he came back from the bedroom. I didn’t say anything – I just took his hand and led him over the easy chair. I served the coffee and we chatted for a while.

I took the cups back into the kitchen and put the rest of the things away that Judy hadn’t quite finished. I came back – it was only a couple of minutes – and he was sound asleep in the big easy chair. I sat on the sofa and watched him for about fifteen minutes, smiling a little at his soft snoring. I was feeling more comfortable with him – I knew he was a good man.

I had to wake him up ‘cause of his trip the next day so I went behind him and started rubbin’ his neck and shoulders. He was waking up slowly then with a start jumped up.

“You must think I’m awful falling asleep on you. I’m sorry.”

“Jake, the only thing I think is that you were tired. Now git on home and get some sleep.”

He nodded and I walked over to the door with him. He looked like he wanted to kiss me goodnight but wasn’t sure. I made it easy for him and put my arms ‘round him and pulled his head down in what was meant to be a quick kiss but it quickly turned into something else. I felt like my knees were going to give out on me and I could feel him getting hard. He moved back a little – I guess he was embarrassed – and that broke the mood. He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead and said he’d call me when he returned from Uvalde.

I heard his truck driving away and I collapsed in the chair he had been sitting in. I was stunned – and a little scared – at how fast the passion took over. This must have been what happened that night we met.

Damn. I still hadn’t told him about what I was sure was a girl. I was going to tell him when I came back from the kitchen but he was asleep by then. I’d taken a little longer than I’d planned trying to get up enough nerve. I had to tell him soon … another six weeks and I’d be showing.

I lay awake in bed for a long time wondering what was going to happen. It was sweet of him to drink the Cokes but I told him it was okay. I almost had to nag him to have a beer towards the end of the night.

I had dreams that night … or maybe they were hidden memories of that night at the ranch. Had I really done those things? Wow! If he wanted to make more babies - well, that was fine with me. I guess I loved him.

JAKE

I knew I loved her. I’d never been married but I ran ‘round a lot during my rodeo days. Hell, it was hard not to; the girls almost chased after us.

But I’d never felt anything like this. It wasn’t the sex – although what I remembered was pretty incredible. I felt like she completed me – made me more than I was by myself. I’d been lonely for years and never knew it. When I picked up Sally’s kids, I thought my heart would burst. I knew her marriage had been bad and I wanted to make her happy, to see her smile. I wanted to watch her nurse a little baby that had the same flamin’ red hair she had. The image that came to mind was almost erotic.

The trip to Uvalde worked out great. I was down there for three days before we got everything wrapped up. It gave me a chance to get to know Sam, the manager down there, a little better. He was young but had a good head on his shoulders.

I started seeing Sally regularly, ‘bout twice a week. I’d go over for dinner during the week and we would usually go dancing on Saturday nights. I loved her kids and I guess I started spoilin' them – at least Sally said that I did.

When we went dancing it was magic; we were so in tune with each other. I kissed her goodnight regular like now but nothing like that night after I fell asleep after that first dinner. I felt purdy dumb about going to sleep on her. I thought she’d be mad but all she did was ask, “ … if I always snored like that.” She was laughing when she said that so I guess I wasn’t in trouble.

Twice I had her and the twins out for lunch on a Sunday. The second time after playing for several hours, the kids went down for a nap – I’d had to hire a housekeeper and she watched them. We went out to the pool and fooled ‘round for a while and then sat in the hot tub. I finally got her into another great kissing round – I even got my hand under the top of her bikini – she sure wasn’t complaining but she kept turning her head to see if the housekeeper was watching so I backed off.

Towards the end of the summer I picked them up on a Saturday morning. We were driving to San Antone to spend the night. I wanted to take her, Bobby and Missy to the fantastic zoo there on Saturday and see the Alamo and have lunch on the river.

The zoo turned out to be a great idea. Everyone, including me, loved it. The day was beautiful and the twins were delighted with the animals. We rented two strollers so the kids wouldn’t get too worn out. Late in the day the kids had fallen asleep and we were sitting under a large live oak just restin’. Sally looked kinda tired.

After a bit she edged closer to me and leaned into my arm, holding it with both her hands. I could see her head turn towards me so I looked in her eyes. We stayed like that for a longish time then I kissed her freckled, upturned nose. This brought a couple tears to her eyes and she looked away but still leaned on me.

Without looking at me, she whispered, “Jake, how do you feel about me?”

I knew what she was asking – she didn’t want to put words in my mouth.

I turned to her and taking her head in my hands I kissed her firmly then held her back. “I love you, Sally. I guess I’ve loved you from our first dance the night we met. I didn’t appreciate what a wonderful person you were until later … that takes time.”

“What about Bobby and Missy? Are you okay with them?”

“Sally, I’ve always loved kids and these two are the most wonderful I’ve ever seen. They look just like you. I’ll talk plain, honey. I want them in my life and, if you took ‘em away, I don’t know if I could live with the pain. Even more I can’t live without you.”

“Jake, that sounds an awful lot like you are asking me to marry you. Is this a proposal?”

I had thought a lot about when, where and how I would propose to her. I wanted it to be special, to be romantic. There was no question in my mind that this was what I wanted. I’d been carrying a nice engagement ring wrapped in tissue paper for several weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. Every night I would unwrap it and leave it on my nightstand; the last thing I saw each night when I turned the light off was that ring.

I got down on my knees between her legs and looked up at her as I pulled the ring out of my pocket, “Sally, I love you and your babies and I want us to live together as a family. I promise to take care of you and give you the respect and love you deserve. I will treat your kids as my own. Marry me!”

Sally looked down at the ring and started crying. She leaned down and put her arms around me, sobbing quietly.

“Jake,” she said softly, “do you want kids of our own? Do you want to wait, or what?”

I sensed there was more to what she was asking than just the words. I puzzled over it for a second then, smiling, I looked up at her.

“Sally, if you marry me I promise to start making a baby the day we get married. I don’t want to wait.”

She smiled at me; I knew I had said the right thing. She took my hand and put it on her abdomen. It felt … plump. When had she started putting on weight? Of a sudden, it came to me and I felt a sense of awe as I looked up at her again.

“Yes, Jake. You don’t have to wait until we get married. You started almost four months ago on that crazy night at the ranch. I do love you and the four of us accept your proposal. I’ve been out of my mind with wanting to tell you but I had to know you loved me; I mean really loved me before I could say anything. I tried several times but it was hard for me.”

We went back to the hotel and had a great dinner. Later the kids went to sleep on one of the double beds and Sally and I lay there talking for a long time. We both fell asleep with the light on with my head on her shoulder. I woke with the first hint of dawn, as I always did, with my hand covering her belly protectively. She looked like a Madonna laying there so peaceful, her face a little puffy from the sleep.

Before we headed home, we did see the Alamo and had a great lunch at a restaurant with outside tables strewn along the river. The highlight of the day was a slow boat trip down the river. It was very pretty with the trees hanging over the water giving shade.

Driving home I knew my life had changed forever – and I was likin’ it.

SALLY

I was feelin’ a lot better. I could see that Jake loved we. We had a lot of fun together and I felt such joy watching the way he played with my babies. We hadn’t had any more of those scorchin’ kisses but I was becomin’ more and more physically attracted to him.

The pregnancy was messin’ with my hormones and I was up and down like a yoyo. A couple of times I was a little snappish with Jake but he would just smile and give me a hug. He was so nice that sometimes I felt like kickin’ him in the shin. Other times I felt so close to him. Once in a while I would plop down on his lap while he was in my easy chair and we would just hold each other.

I had fun fixin’ dinner for him and I was able to fix lunch a couple of times in his huge kitchen. I had to fight his cook/housekeeper to get in the kitchen. I guess she finally accepted that I knew what I was doin’ and I wasn’t goin’ away. The only problem was findin’ things. Some days I thought I lusted after that kitchen as much as I did him.

That changed one time when we went swimming while the kids were takin’ a nap. We played ‘round in the pool and that was a lot of fun. Then we wound up in the hot tub and I ‘bout went crazy with lust. Jake was kissin’ me hotter and hotter and then he slipped his hand under my skimpy top and I ‘bout lost it. I was afraid his housekeeper could see us from the house. I had my hand on his leg and I could feel his erection against my finger. I wanted so much for him to rip my top off and to put my hand on him. Wow!

I was getting’ paranoid about telling him about his baby – our baby. It came out in a way and at a time I never would’ve expected. We were at the zoo and he proposed in the most romantic way. I put his hand on our baby and he knew. Of course I said yes and things changed after that. I had no more hesitancy and we were really committed to each other.

We wound up having a double wedding at the ranch on that Sunday after Thanksgiving, that day we all had so much to be thankful for. It was so beautiful. Bobby and Missy did the ring bearer and flower girl honors for both of us. Tammy and I decided to wear plain white dresses. Her dress was a slim sheath and mine was looser. I never would have been able to see the slight bulge in her tummy if she hadn’t told me. You had to look real close to see anything. Me, I looked like a cow even though I was only six months along.

Jules was there and gave the four of us a trip to Maui for our honeymoon. The kids stayed at home and my dad and Judy both moved in to take care of them for the week we would be gone. I should have been suspicious but I didn’t think anything about it. I asked Jake on the plane and he just smiled. Later I found out there was somethin’ happenin’.

The trip was great though I don’t know how much the guys enjoyed hanging ‘round with two pregnant women. Tammy and I were both amazed that Jake and Hank were both proficient golfers. Hank had earned money as a caddy as a boy and Jake had been on his high school and college golf teams. Later he showed me some dusty trophies in a box that hadn’t been opened for years.

I loved the house and having the housekeeper was a wonderful help as I waddled ‘bout. The kids loved the space and Jake got a couple of ponies for them. He would walk them ‘round the corral one at time. He was just getting them used to being near horses. I’d grown up riding horses from about five on so I trusted Jake to take care of them. Jake bought me a horse for Christmas – a pretty palomino mare. I couldn’t wait to ride her.

The baby came a couple weeks early on Valentines Day of all things. Jake was with me in the delivery room and truth be told it was purdy easy. Certainly better than with the twins. It was a magical time for Jake. He was alternately flustered and enthralled. When he saw that chubby baby with her shock of red hair he had tears in his eyes. We wound up naming her Tammy Valentina – it got a little confusing when Tammy was ‘bout so we took to callin’ her Valentina. Most of the time we just called her Tina.

Two years later Little Jake was born and I knew from those bowed legs he was gonna be another cowboy. I loved nothing better that to catch Jake in his new easy chair with Little Jake asleep in his arms.

~~~~~~

The years have been good. We decided two boys and two girls were enough for us. Bobby is working as Jake’s assistant. Jake was turning a lot of the everyday things over to him. Bobby is in his first year at Angelo State majoring in Beef Production and Range management.

Missy was in Houston. She won a scholarship to study art at Rice University. She really had talent. She loved to do both western landscapes and modern art. We missed her but Houston was not too far away.

Little Jake was up in Waco – he was just a sophomore but he was the captain for the high school rodeo team. He specialized in both team and individual roping. Jake wouldn’t let him get near the bulls.

And why wasn’t Jake with his son at the rodeo in Waco? Well, he was the living room talking with a nervous senior dressed in a tux with a carnation in his lapel and a corsage held in his shaking hands. Jake doesn’t know how stern he looks when he gives his “take care of my girl and make sure she’s home on time” speech.

But when Valentina walked slowly down the stairs, a vision with her long red hair and a white strapless gown, Jake shut up and stared. She walked over and gave her dad a hug and a kiss on the cheek … and I could swear I heard a whispered “don’t worry, dad.”

She turned to her date, patiently waiting for him to pin the corsage on. Finally I had to whisper in his ear what she was waiting for. He turned red and looked to Valentina and me for help but we ignored him – we just smiled and waited. Finally he got it done and with a huge smile shook Jake’s hand and gave me a hug. We looked out the window to see them leave – both of us with tears in our eyes.

And, no, it wasn’t a limo they left in, it was a ranch truck. No way would we let a city boy take our girl to the prom!

All things considered, I guess my life had turned out a ten.