A dust covered cowboy rode slowly, towards the main house, surveying the sizeof the ranch; he hoped

to sign on at. As she lay in the bathtub her mind slipped away. Away from mending fences and hauling

in firewood. Her husband Jake had died trying to saddle break a horse last spring! Since then, she watched

as more and more calluses formed on her once soft hands. This is a harsh land to make a go of keeping

up twenty acres and a ranch outside Fort Worth. Dust storms, horrid heat, rustlers, and rattlers!
 
But this was her homestead now, an she wasn't going to turn tail and sell out! Let the town folk’s gossip,

she was here to stay! The rider was approaching closer now, but her eyes were still shut. She was lost in

a fantasy, unaware of a man's eyes. As she imagined her lover her hands wandered across her skin, as a

sigh was heard, followed by a smile. Jake had been a wonderful husband, and, a wonderful lover. Strong,

muscled, yet tender, soft spoken. By now, the blonde haired, blue eyed stranger was close enough to see

her. He pulled the reins back and stopped as he wondered?
 
Should he make his presence be known...or turn his horse around and leave? He chose to let her know

he was there, and he cleared his throat! Suddenly, Sarah snapped out of her day dream and panicked!

How could she not hear a rider on a horse approaching? And she! In a tub, on the porch, her towel and

clothes out of reach. She quickly sunk lower in the sudsy water, blushing, and before she could speak,

she heard him say. "Don't mean to intrude on your bath m'am, I'll turn my horse around so you can dress.

My name's Sam and I'm looking for a job as a ranch hand, if ya be needing one"?
 
She turned and faced the voice that spoke softly, and saw that he was a handsome man, in his twenties.

Sam was sitting tall in the saddle, with his hat in his hand. "I’d be obliged if you would turn your horse away

from me please, so I can get dressed", he heard her say. He pulled the reins to the right, and his horse faced

the opposite direction, as asked of her.  Slowly she gripped the tub and stepped out, her heart racing, soap

suds dripping down her body as she reached the chair. She grabbed her towel, and her clothes and rushed

into the house, as he  heard the front door shut.
 
Once inside she tried to catch her breath, as she wiped her body frantically, as she peeked thru a curtain

of the kitchen window. She saw he still faced away from the house, a sign of a gentleman she thought to

herself.  Time passed slowly for the cowboy as he shifted his place in the saddle. Evening was approaching,

and he had the feeling, he'd be sleeping on open ground again. In a few minutes, her jeans were on as she

slipped on her bra, and blouse. She knew she must look a mess, as she tried to get her socks on, and looked

for her boots. Just when she was going to peek out the curtain once more, she looked in the mirror.
 
Oh My God, she thought to herself, look at my hair!!!!!! By the time she frantically brushed her hair and

went to the window, she was sure he'd be gone, and she wasn't too far from the truth. Sam had all but

taken a hint that the lady of the house wasn't coming back outside and probably had a rifle aimed right

square at his back. Just as he was about to ride off, he heard boot steps on the porch, and a soft, friendly

voice tell him he could turn his horse around. "You can ride on up and tie your horse over there on the

hitching post, now that I'm presentable. Thank you for being a gentleman for a lady".
 
It was only then, when Sam turned his horse around that Sarah noticed how good looking he was, even

under the dust. Tall, golden tanned, very muscled, a sign of a hard working man. She felt herself take a

deep breath without meaning too, as she thought of Jake. How she missed being held, kissed, but most

of all, being made love too.
 
It was a bit awkward for both of them, sitting on the front porch in two chairs, yet in view of the bath tub,

and drying water on the floor. They sat and talked for nearly an hour, but only a small part of that time

related to the job Sam inquired of. Much of the time was spent on Sam, where he was from, what he had

been doing for the last few years and where? He also pried into Sarah's life, here on the hot plains of Texas,

alone? Soon, many pieces of two lives puzzles were put together.
 
"Lord knows I do need help Sam, around this place", she said. She saw his smile begin to grow, as she

said, "you've got yourself a job, Sam"! "You'll be bunking in the barn, and the pay is $8.00 per month,

and I expect a full day’s work from you. I'll cook your meals and I only have three rules at meal time!

First...you show up on time! Second, ya be washed up! and third, she said with a smile, you hand me

back an empty plate", and they both began to laugh at the same time! Things just felt right between the

two of them, though neither had the thought of "Courting" on their mind.
 
He could tell she was a good woman, honest, fair. He knew the loss of her husband was still on her mind

and in her heart. As he stood to take his horse to the barn, to settle in for the night, she said, "wait"! It's

nearly supper time and I'm sure you could use a hot cooked meal? With hat in hand, Sam felt his face

begin to turn red, for he would have been content to eat what was in his saddle bag. "Come on, I haven't

cooked for two in a long time, stay for supper please", Sarah asked, her eyes full of laughter, and she heard

him answer, "Only if you let me help"?
 
They split the making of that night's first meal together, pretty even, with Sam preparing the food, and Sarah

cooking it. Between moments, Sarah made a list of daily chores needing to be done. She also made what

she called, "her wish list". Things she really needed done, but couldn't do all on her own. Sam studied each

list a few moments, and folded the papers neatly and tucked them in his shirt pocket. The smell of fried

chicken was filling Sam's senses and his stomach was impatiently growling. When Sarah heard it, she

smiled and told Sam, "Patience, as she laughed, it's getting done". Sam laughed and told her it had been

a long time since he smelled such a good meal.
 
Sarah turned away, feeling herself blush, and she thought to herself, He's just going to be a ranch hand,

nothing more. Soon, the table was set and Sam knocked on her door, having washed up again. "Sam...

don't you dare be knocking on the door to see if it's okay to sit at my table! Get in here...she said with a

soft laughter. When Sam entered, he was wearing a clean pair of jeans and shirt, his hands and face washed,

his hair combed. "Why Sam", Sarah teased... "If I didn't know no better, I'd swear you were someone else",

she giggled, have a seat in that chair, please"!
 
Sarah had forgotten what a man's appetite was like, or what a good hot meal was like, but Sam was quick

to remind her. Sam did have an appetite, but also manners and that meant a lot to Sarah. Conversation was

just small talk between the two as the sun set and the oil lamps were lit. Sam insisted on helping with the dishes,

over Sarah's protest, and there they were side by side, almost like they had always been husband and wife,

and it made Sarah a bit uneasy. Things were not moving fast between them; just old memories of her and Jake,

coming to mind bothered her. Memories she cherished, and since tucked away, were coming back.
                                                                                                                     
Finally, it was Sam who said he had to turn in and get some sleep, and Sarah handed him a lamp, to find his

way. "Sam..., I had a wonderful evening, I hope the chores and work to be done, isn't a lot, I'd like you to

stay on". There was softness in her eyes, softness in his eyes, as he told her, everything would be just fine.

He picked up his hat, thanked her once more for a wonderful meal, the best he could remember. As he was

leaving Sarah, called out..."I have a bell on the front porch Sam. I'll always ring it 15 minutes before meal time,

so you have time to wash up. See ya at breakfast", and she waved good-night to Sam.
 
As the door shut behind Sam, she let out a deep breath! She couldn't believe how excited she had been, having

a man in the house, cooking for him, eating with him. Why was her heart racing now? What was going on? Her

face was hot, as she placed a damp washcloth against her brow. He was just a hired hand, plain an simple

Sarah chastised herself. But if that was so, why did she go to so much trouble to make the dinner perfect? As

she went to the bedroom, and slowly undressed, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. She felt her

body reacting to her touch. She knew right away her dreams were going to be about Sam, and she knew she

couldn't stop thinking of him if she wanted too, as she blew out the lamp.
 
As Sam made his way to the barn, he couldn't believe he had eaten so much. She must think I haven't eaten

in days! Where had his manners been? He hoped he hadn't made a poor first impression on Sarah? As he

opened the barn door, his thoughts were for his horse, and he hung the lamp on a hook. He made sure there

was hay and water, and took a few moments to brush his horse down. Then, he walked around the barn until

he found a spot where he was going to bed down for the night. He undid his bed roll and spread his blanket

out some hay, and laid down. he knew sun up would arrive early and he had a lot to do, as he blew out the lamp.
 
© 2003 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)