Hi, my name is Mary Roper. I live on a ranch in west Texas. I loved the ranch, I can't remember a time when I wasn't climbing on hay bales, teasing the livestock or sitting on the porch watching the sunset. Daddy bought it shortly after my mother died; I was two at the time. He said he and mother always talked about running a ranch and he wanted to honor her wishes. He worked hard day and night and in time, he became one of the wealthiest ranchers in the state. Daddy raised me the best he could but always felt like he couldn't give me the upbringing that would make my mother proud. All he knew was cattle and horses. When I was about sixteen, he told me he was sending me to boarding school. I was shocked, I thought he was trying to get rid of me. But he kept telling me that it would teach me how to become a proper lady.
I didn't want to go, I kicked and screamed and threw the biggest tantrum I could but he wouldn't budge. Not only did I not want to leave my home, I also didn't want to leave Randy Hilton. Randy was one of my dad's top ranch hands and we were in love. From the moment I saw him ride on a horse, I was hooked. Randy had looks that would make any woman swoon. He was tall, blond hair and the deepest green eyes I had ever seen. He always treated me like a lady. We spent as much time as possible together. We had moonlight walks and picnics. He took me to the movies and out dancing. I was the happiest girl in the world when I was with him.
It was the saddest day of my life when I left. I cried the whole way to school. Living on the East coast was an adjustment but I adapted quickly and excelled in school. However, I could never get Texas, or Randy, out of my heart. Finally, the day came when I graduated and could finally go home. I was so excited the whole train ride that I could barely sit still. When we finally pulled into the station, I looked anxiously out the window to see who was there to meet me. I looked and looked and finally saw Sam the second foreman. Sam was old and tanned from the years of working in the sun. His hair was grey all over, and his legs had bowed slightly from riding horses so long. He was wearing his usual denim jeans and plaid shirt. Sam had been working with my father since he started the ranch. He was like a second father to me and I loved him so. I hurried to get out to greet him. I ran into his arms and gave him a big long hug. "Oh, it's good to smell Texas air again, Sam. But where's Daddy? And Randy? Why didn't they come to meet me?"
"Sure good fer my old eyes, Miss Mary. You'll see your dad and young R andy soon, but just now they are out hunting rustlers" Sam said in his husky, gravely voice.
I was surprised and it showed. "Rustlers?! In this day and age? You wouldn't kid a girl would you Sam?"
"No'm! Your dad's been losing cattle all right, but the funny thing, he don't lose many and they always take 'em from the same side of the range. Might peculiar"
We continued chatting and catching up while I gathered my luggage and we made our way to the car. We took the scenic route home so I could see the town and how much it had changed. As I took in the sights, I was surprised how small the town looked. Guess I was used to the big city that my school was in. The museums, the cafes, the culture. Sam talked about everything that had been going on in the town and on the ranch. He filled me on how the ranch was doing and how the rustler problem was hurting the ranch. Suddenly, I realized we were almost home. And then I saw a horseman riding toward us and I had no more time for Sam's words. My heart began to beat faster and faster, it was Randy! I leaned out the window of the car and screamed. "Randy! Darling! It's me Mary!"
Randy steered the horse toward us and came up along side of the car. My breath caught in my throat. He was amazing. He had filled out a lo t since the last time I saw him. The lanky arms and legs had been sculpted into muscle. His skin was a little darker from the sun
I didn't want to go, I kicked and screamed and threw the biggest tantrum I could but he wouldn't budge. Not only did I not want to leave my home, I also didn't want to leave Randy Hilton. Randy was one of my dad's top ranch hands and we were in love. From the moment I saw him ride on a horse, I was hooked. Randy had looks that would make any woman swoon. He was tall, blond hair and the deepest green eyes I had ever seen. He always treated me like a lady. We spent as much time as possible together. We had moonlight walks and picnics. He took me to the movies and out dancing. I was the happiest girl in the world when I was with him.
It was the saddest day of my life when I left. I cried the whole way to school. Living on the East coast was an adjustment but I adapted quickly and excelled in school. However, I could never get Texas, or Randy, out of my heart. Finally, the day came when I graduated and could finally go home. I was so excited the whole train ride that I could barely sit still. When we finally pulled into the station, I looked anxiously out the window to see who was there to meet me. I looked and looked and finally saw Sam the second foreman. Sam was old and tanned from the years of working in the sun. His hair was grey all over, and his legs had bowed slightly from riding horses so long. He was wearing his usual denim jeans and plaid shirt. Sam had been working with my father since he started the ranch. He was like a second father to me and I loved him so. I hurried to get out to greet him. I ran into his arms and gave him a big long hug. "Oh, it's good to smell Texas air again, Sam. But where's Daddy? And Randy? Why didn't they come to meet me?"
"Sure good fer my old eyes, Miss Mary. You'll see your dad and young R andy soon, but just now they are out hunting rustlers" Sam said in his husky, gravely voice.
I was surprised and it showed. "Rustlers?! In this day and age? You wouldn't kid a girl would you Sam?"
"No'm! Your dad's been losing cattle all right, but the funny thing, he don't lose many and they always take 'em from the same side of the range. Might peculiar"
We continued chatting and catching up while I gathered my luggage and we made our way to the car. We took the scenic route home so I could see the town and how much it had changed. As I took in the sights, I was surprised how small the town looked. Guess I was used to the big city that my school was in. The museums, the cafes, the culture. Sam talked about everything that had been going on in the town and on the ranch. He filled me on how the ranch was doing and how the rustler problem was hurting the ranch. Suddenly, I realized we were almost home. And then I saw a horseman riding toward us and I had no more time for Sam's words. My heart began to beat faster and faster, it was Randy! I leaned out the window of the car and screamed. "Randy! Darling! It's me Mary!"
Randy steered the horse toward us and came up along side of the car. My breath caught in my throat. He was amazing. He had filled out a lo t since the last time I saw him. The lanky arms and legs had been sculpted into muscle. His skin was a little darker from the sun
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