THE OLD COWBOY Part Nine
(continued)

"The wind came up an' blew her hair up jest as she was dismountin' that stud. Grandpa had that far away gleam in his eyes. He made a motion with both hands, like he was trying to catch something.

"She had the most beau-ti-ful golden hair. I could have held her in my arms the rest of the day, to comfort the way she was shakin', but she wouldn't have it, seein' how we'd just met. I helped her get up-right, and she gave me a long stare."

"She said her 'thank you's' after a few minutes of conversin' 'bout what what spooked the stud. A little breeze blew the hair off her face. That look in her eyes is what hooked me, then she smiled an' I melted inside. I tell ya grandboy, I knew right then I was old enough to take a bride."

"Gee grandpa, I'll bet you still miss her somethin' awful? Cause you've got that funny look, like pa gets with ma sometimes."

Grandpa took his cane and held it out straight. I could tell he was pointing at something, and looking right past me. He started talking again, "Martha, I'll take two of those cow bells. My dad says they'll help us keep better track of the herd." He pauses, turns his head to the right so he could hear with his good left ear. "No. He said if you ask, to tell ya not to worry 'bout that. We got plenty of leather for straps, but he'd need a couple buckles. An' Martha, how'd ya like to go to the dance Saturday night?"

He turned to me and said, "Grandboy, she was one-of-a-kind, yer grandma."

"We'd moved out west . . .

To Be Continued . . .