'My Handsome Cowboy'

I met a man just by chance and wondered who he was.

His get up was a little strange from what I had known.

He had on tight black jeans, and tall black boots with a Cowboy hat to match with a Eagle feather protruding from it.

His shirt was Black with Red Roses embroidered on it which I found to be quite strange.

He strutted in unaware that I was checking out his style.

He looked like a complete Nerd to me but his demeanor was so humble.

He was so polite, and gentle as no man I had ever met, yet I knew not his name.

He returned day after day and we talked, although he dressed just the same.

He had no horse, so ‘Cowboy’ was not his name.

His silver car was a sleek Trans Am with an Eagle on the hood.

It matched his personality as he far outstood any other man that I had known.

Though not understanding his attire, his attitude was grand.

He didn’t need a Horse or a Trans Am, just to hold my hand.

He had already won my heart with the gentleness of a colt.

No man had ever been so kind, nor made me feel more loved.

I found hope in my heart that he would be my Man.

We danced the dance of friendly words as we fell madly in love.

The time was quite short before we were sure, that we were meant for one another from Heaven above.

Now, I have that handsome Cowboy without that horrible Hat that he wore.

Though in his heart he dearly loved it for what it stood for; freedom to dress and be as free as one whom he truly was.

Though giving up his tall black Cowboy hat showed me his love.

But I lassoed in my Cowboy with all of my charm, and married him quite quickly, without twisting his arm.

Our love has grown and withstood the test of time.

Twenty-five years we have loved as one, and ‘Cowboy’ could be his name, for we have two Arabians oh so fine; who are such a delight to ride.

So, for all the distaste for the clothes he wore, he still is mine.

I slowly changed his attire so no one would stare down at him.

With a little taming, he now has a name. Richard Lesley is my Man.

Not Dicky that his family called him, that had to be changed.

Combined with mine, we are intertwined as lovers just the same.

If you want to check us out, just call us by name, Tammy and Richard Lesley, we always will remain.

He is my handsome Cowboy and protector just as well; my love for him is untamed and will never fail.

Our journey on this trail has been one of love walking hand in hand as we grow from our love.

With love in our eyes and a smile on our face we have grown wise to the ways of the world, working day to day to meet deadlines and let life unfurl.

Just hold on for today no matter what comes, and night time will gently unfold as you hold me in your arms.

Love is what matters when you are with the one you love, especially the one you thought you’d never meet and become as one.

He has my heart in his hand and his love I hold dear, for without his reassurance, I would be no one.

I hold his love in my heart while he is away at work, and pray for each moment that he return safely each day.

I love you Richard with all my heart, and hold our Memories dear.

Without our love for the world and all the things we’ve done, I am sure that our love would not have been so interesting and fun.

Thank you for the memories of each and every day.

Thank you for the love we share, for without you dear, I would not be the same.

The songs that I hold dear to my heart totally describe you in my heart.

'Unforgettable’ and ‘Unchained Melodies’ are Our songs and will always be.

‘Unforgettable’ that’s what you are though near or far.

I will never forget our love and thank God above for giving me such peace in this place and time.

Perhaps in our next life, we will be the same and come back as one again.

I will be holding my breath and calling out your Name.

For in the future dear, I wouldn’t change a thing except to promise never to change our names.

Does love last forever, or does it fade away?

Ask me ten lifetimes from now and I bet I will say, ”He is my Cowboy, though Richard is his name.

There isn’t a thing he can’t do, so add Genius to his name.”

Living life together has been a game, that I loved playing and praising his name.

One day I will make him proud of me as I sing our song, and write the words to describe the meaning of love to the World.

I love you with all of my heart Richard Lesley and you are lucky to have me in your charms.

Without me looking beyond your attire, who knows who or what you would have become.

The change was slow but worth it.

Lover, Friend, Confidant and Best Friend our Life together has been one of charm and delight.

Thank you for sharing your Life as One with me walking by your side.



Written by: Tamara Lesley for her loving husband 'Richard Lesley.'

'Just a Poor but Contented Cowgirl'

People say I’m one hell of a writer, but I ride horses just as well. I don’t see a medal around my neck, nor my horses’ as well. Writing and riding are just for fun, not much money have I made. Not even a medal to show for the time I’ve spent writing much more than my name. I am just a poor cowgirl wishing for just one; a pretty medal hanging around my neck to say that I have won.

Three pennies in my pocket jingling a song; as I ride the trails laughing and singing, “I am rich as hell, it’s clear as a bell, I have a horse that I can trust and a bedroll to stretch out on the land. I watch the fireflies as they light up the night and hear the coyotes howl. Listening to their song, I call back with an Indian sound, “Yiiyiiyii… at the end!” With love in my heart for Mother Earth I feel the song echoing through the trees, I have a Medal in my heart, because I know that Spirit surrounds me.

I understand the richness that I have as I sit by the fireside. Looking up into the star-studded night winking back at me, I know when to be thankful for the chance, just to be me.

Not many people know the sounds of the night and the chill that runs through your veins, for you become part of life that loves you just the same. As you listen to the sounds of the crackling fire, and the horses standing by, you understand the richness of life as you snuggle in for the night.

Close your eyes for the night my friend, as the sounds echoes nigh. Love is all that matters in your life blending as one with the night. We are all rich with life that I understand, to be a small part of the Universe as God holds my hand.


Written by: Tamara Lesley

'Richness of Life'

People say I’m one hell of a writer, but I ride horses just as well. I don’t see a medal around my neck, nor my horses’ as well. Writing and riding are just for fun, not much money have I made. Not even a medal to show for the time I’ve spent writing much more than my name. I am just a poor Cowgirl wishing for just one; a pretty medal hanging around my neck to say that I have won.

Three pennies in my pocket jingling a song; as I ride the trails laughing and singing, “I am rich as hell, it’s clear as a bell, I have a horse that I can trust and a bedroll to stretch out on the land. I watch the fireflies as they light up the night and hear the coyotes howl. Listening to their song, I call back with an Indian sound,“Yi-yi-yi-yi… at the end! ”With love in my heart for Mother Earth I feel the song echoing through the trees, I have a Medal in my heart, because I know that Spirit surrounds me.

I understand the richness that I have as I sit by the crackling fireside. Looking up into the star-studded night winking back at me, I know when to be thankful for the chance, just to be me. I lead a life of richness in my heart as I bow to Mother Earth and thank her for my life.

Not many people know the sounds of the night and the chill that runs through your veins, for you become part of life that loves you just the same. As you listen to the sounds of the crackling fire, and the horses standing by, you understand the richness of life as you snuggle in for the night.

Close your eyes for the night my friend, as the sounds echoes nigh. Love is all that matters in your life, blending as one with the night. We are all rich with life that I understand, to be a small part of the Universe as God holds my hand.


Written by: Tamara Lesley

The Tale of A Cowgirl

I ambled into the old Saloon and sat where my Daddy sat.
I remember one day a pretty lady passing by and he said, “One day you’ll look like that.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled down my hat, kicking dirt in the old Saloon. I knew in my heart no lady would I be, just a lonesome old cowgirl running wild and free.

I looked at my Daddy as I dug my heels in the sand and looked him square in the eye. I said, “I ain’t no lady, nor will I ever be. I want to grow up and ride with the wind where ever it takes me.

As I entered into the old Saloon, I sat in my Daddy’s seat. I looked around as I felt his hand, and his presence surround me.

Digging my heels in the sand, a tear welled up as I wiped it with my sleeve. I am my Daddy’s girl a little wiser you can see. I am all grown up, without my Daddy beside me.

Maybe it was sand in my eye cause crying just wasn’t me. I felt my Daddy pat my hand as I stood up to leave, knowing in my heart that he was still proud of me.

As I swagger out the old Saloon I nod my head to say, “I lived my life like a man, no lady could I be, but in my heart and soul, I knew my Daddy still loved me."

Written by: Tamara Lesley

Lonesome Cowboy's Trail

As I rode through the desert all around me, were cactus and sand with lizards and scorpions scurrying to avoid me.
With the sun in my eyes and the heat on my back, I was looking for a place to settle in for the night.

A long scaly old rattlesnake with green piercing eyes was lying underneath an old oak tree.
He rattled his tail as I started to stop, sitting on top of my horse "Dude" who was nervous as hell seeing the venomous old rattlesnake.
I looked around and there was no outcrop of rock to hide me from the glare of the sun.

I needed a rest and the sun glaring in my eyes, I just couldn't find a spot to hide.
This was the place I'd have to camp for the night, with no room for the snake and me together throughout the night.

I hated to vie for a fight but there was no choice with the hot sand around me.
I knew that it had to be his life or mine to lose, you see.

His frightening rattled warning was enough for me.
That shady spot I so desperately needed, I knew I would have to leave.
"Rattlers' have no mind to share, he whispered to me with a long lasting stare.
I could keep right on going was all that he cared.

My thought to pull my trusty Colt forty-five and skin him alive was only that.
As I eyed him he sat up and spat straight at my eyes.
He'd seen too many cowboys and now he was wise tht I would try to steal his hide.

The scales on his hide a belt he could make, worth more than the money in my pocket, could I shake.
I had him in my sight, thinking what a dinner I would devour tonight.
I pulled the trigger thinking that I could take him down, when all of a sudden he jumped straight up at me.
He grabbed my saddlebag between his fangs and hung on with his eyes glaring at mine, telling me to move on and leave him behind.

We were staring eye to eye with him daring me to try.
I sat there shaking and reading his mind, wondering if I should dare to try.
He was saying "Put down your gun, and I'll release my bite. My hide, I am sure I will keep tonight."

Shaking in my tattered chaps, I rattled my lucky old spurs loud and hard.
They were rusted on my old cowboy boots as I prayed that this quick trick would really work.
If this didn't work then I wouldn't have a bite to eat or any place to camp and sleep.

This fight I was in for I did not want, so I jangled them loud and hard sounding just like an old rattlesnake.
The sound they made were of an old rattler looking for a fight.
This was the last thing that I wanted tonight.

His response was to let go and slither away, not looking back sure that I wouldn't stay.
I hadn't thought about my next move, I just reached for my Colt forty-five and shot him right through the head just praying to God and hoping that he was dead.

Dismounting my dear old horse I said, "Dude, you'd better pray that he is dead."
Dude knickered with a sigh knowing that I had a good eye and could shoot a fly right out of the sky.

I strode over to the snake and poked him with a long pointed stake; waiting for him to shake that tail that I feared, but as I looked down I could see that he was dead.
His Spirit lie there waiting for me to give thanks and offer him to the Universe and the Sun.
His only wish was to let his Spirit be one with the world as his thoughts disappeared into the Universe.
In the game of life it is an honor to preserve the Soul if you lose the game of life and give up without a fight. He knew that it was his time to leave life behind.

I immediately pulled out my trusty old knife and carefully skinned his hide as I admired it with love. I hung out his hide to dry to make myself a belt. This belt would remind me of this terrible fight and the delicous dinner that I would have tonight.

His meat was nice and tender and just what I needed, for I hadn't had a decent dinner since I left my wife back home for the night.
Playing in my mind just what I would share with her about this terrifying fight,
I pulled my blankets off of Dude and tied him to the tree, thanking God that my life I could keep.
I knew that he would be safe standing beside me as I slept and dreamed of the old rattlesnake and how he lost his precious life.

Written by: Tamara Lesley

Wild Horses

'Cowboy' is my name and ropin' is my game. Riding old Dusty we searched by day watching for the many wild mustangs. We ride endlessly throughout the day and into the dusk, not finding the trail that we must, herding mustangs that you can't trust.

Contracting cowboys are hard, tough ridin' men working for payday from the Boss for food and fun and life that they trust. Sorrels, paints, chestnuts and black in color we watch quietly for the stampeding of the stud leading his band of mares. Today was a bust for there was not a whinny from one mustang hoss.

Sitting by the fireside and listening to the men, the six of us exchanged tales of all our wanderlust. Hearing the crackling fire and brewing up a stew we anxiously await for our portion of grub. A knicker from 'Old Tango' tied beside my horse alerted us to an uncertain noise as we quietly pointed to Tom to check out the intruder.

As he crept to the horses we uttered not a word, waiting for some of the mustangs from the herd. Tom swung his lasso through the wind as it bent and whistled he dropped it over the head of a young filly. She reared up and pawed the air, kicking and bucking and screaming for the stud. Not one of us could be heard as they wrangled and fought one another with the force of emotions from filly to man to lessen his hold.

Tom let out a low whistle meaning to craw into the horses without a sound. Ducking and cursing the tree limbs that surrounded us, we managed to sneak up to a wonderful sight. There stood Tom hanging on for dear life, his little filly didn't want to be part of his generous life.

A scream throughout the night was heard as the stud came crashing along the trail with the restless mares. No time for laughter, not even a rope, we jumped onto our horses and surrounded the nosey little filly corraling her into the middle.

As luck would have it we had left our gear still on the horses for fear of a stampede into the morning light. A few hours earlier they were looking for the lost baby in the herd. 'Midnight Black' we named the stud because he was massive and looked as mean as a big wild cat. The filly was dragging Tom by now and he was yelling as loud as the mean stud.

We surrounded the filly and caught her with ease as Tom threw his rope right over the stud. Holding onto him with all his might he stayed with Midnight Black for the entire fight. Tom was twisting and turning and writhing in pain as he held onto the rope for as long as he could.

His leather gloves were wearing thin as he walked his hands up the rope to the horses' neck and with a leap he was on Midnight Blacks' back. The stud was raring, bucking and screaming as Tom was fearfully holding on for his life.

Midnight Black had never encountered a man so strong and determined before. He fought with all his might to rid himself of this giant form of a man named 'Cowboy.' Tom struggled to stay astride his best with all of his might. He wrapped his arms around his neck and entwined his gloves in the longest mane that he had ever felt. Midnight Black was wearing out and began to slowly burn out.

Tom regained his strength and smoothly and quietly righted himself on the stud. He spoke soft words of love and the wild Midnight Black began to understand that he liked the wranglin' man on his back. He stopped for a moment and remembered his fright when he gave a buck that threw Tom a full foot into the whistling air. With the wind knocked out of him Tom landed against the stud of his dreams and decided to ride out this circus of and man and equine.

Cowboys were closing in to surround the Midnight Black and back him into the old corral. Tom nodded to move to the side as he laid his head on the stud with a wicked smile. He knew that he had won the fight and that Midnight Black was back with a fight.

They jumped and flew through the air with one last fight to make it fair. Tom rode his prize into the 'Okay Corral' and friends of Tom's closed the gate with a sigh of relief because it was so late.

Tom dismounted and left the rope dangle, softly stroking him with the end of the rope. Midnight Blacks' eyes were blazing but you could tell that he was truly amazing. He pawed the ground and knickered with a laugh. You could tell he was ornery but had a sense of fairness and fondness for the man who had truly fought him back.

Nowadays you can see the stud running the herd with Tom riding bareback, the two of them leading the wild gang into the 'Okay Corral' to be tamed and gentled with loved. Tom had found his mount to be fair and light of flight. Midnight Black worked hard day and night for his food. Trusting Tom he kept his word that he would work for his love and his food understanding the bond between one man and the love he so depended upon.

Many a filly and a colt can be found throughout the land on your farm or with Midnight Blacks' old background. If you find one who is rank and mean, remember Tom and Midnight Blacks' night of dreams as they fought to lead and learned that they could become a wonderful team.

A dream that everyone could own a horse and have some fun with, large ones, mean ones and ones that were fair, Midnight Black remembers he was once there.

Thank him for your horse because he is the Gand Daddy of all men's equine friends. Gentle your horse and treat him with love because Midnight Black is watching from above.

written by: Tamara Lesley

Ragtown Part One

Part One


I was just about ready to dismount when all of a sudden a voice from out of thin air shouted out,

“Mr. you better be wearing and you better be quicker than grease lightning.”

The harsh voiced startled my horse, he reared up on his hind legs causing the shot to miss me and he took the slug right between his eyes.

I couldn’t see the shooter but I drew and fired at his voice and heard him fall crying out in pain; “You lucky bastard…Ya got me and it’s bad, real bad.”

“You asked for it stranger, who the hell are you and why the cowardly attempt to kill me?”

Weak almost inaudible; “I’m going to die, anyway, so I might as well tell you. It was…”

A gasp for air and he was gone.

My horse was dead, the stranger was dead and I was dead tired…Who wanted me dead and why?

I searched the stranger’s body and went through all of his belongings. In his saddle bag I found a note and $1000 in gold coins. I could barely read the note because it was wrinkled and dirty, however, I did make this much out; “I’m willing to pay you $1000 now and when the jobs done another $1000, I want Big Daddy Cash dead…”

The signature was so smudged, I couldn’t make it out.

Ten miles to the next town. Lugging my saddle is out of the question, so I buried my horse saddle and all, and started walking. I staggered into Ragtown, around mid night. Lights were coming from a small tavern so that’s where I headed.

Two cowhands were playing poker near the back of the bar another was staggering back and forth in front of the bar and the bartender was unconscious in the corner. It didn’t take much of an imagination to see what had been going on. Behind me came a thundering holler;

“Well I’ll be damned if it isn’t Big Daddy Cash. You sure are a sight for sore eyes!”

It was a friend of mine who had a ranch beside the Colorado River near the mouth of Black Canyon.

I replied;

“Hi Doug, this is one hell of a place for old friends to meet, how the hell have you been.”

“Well, since you asked, I’m slightly disfigured but I’m still in the race.”

“Slightly disfigured, what the hell do you mean?”

“What’s the matter Cash? Are you blind, can’t you see my right leg is missing.” There was a wooden stump where his leg had once been.

“I do now, what happened?”

“I had a shoot out a few months back, he got my leg and I shot his heart into the next county.”

The tavern was a total disaster, broken bar stools, chairs and tables, plus broken glasses and pitchers. Yet we managed to set up a table and two unbroken chairs where we could sit down and talk. By now the bar tender was conscious so we ordered a drink.

Doug speaks;

“Big Daddy you look like Hell warmed over. What’s been happening?”

“Same old thing Doug, somebody tried to kill me.”

“Ha Ha, They should know by now that your indestructible.”

“I don’t make that claim but I have been lucky.”

Doug and I talked for several hours. He had heard that somebody was trying to kill me but he didn’t know who. Anyway, he offered to help me catch the bastard, he had a few clues to give us a place to start. However the first thing I had to do was find me a mount.

Black canyon has the best of the best as far as wild horses go. Doug loaned me a rugged quarter horse and we decided that first thing in the morning we go hunt for a wild stallion.

As we rode through Black Canyon we could see the desert Bighorn and all kinds of native wildlife. Archaeological and mining camps are scattered all over the place but best of all there are herds and herds of wild horses.

As Doug and I rode down a trail and rounded a huge bolder blocking the trail we spotted the most beautiful four legged creature that I've ever laid eyes on, a white stallion with a black star on its forehead. With out a doubt the most magnificent horse on this planet. I had to have him.

My desire to have this horse was so great that I made him my goal. I even named him “Thunder” and called him by name as I tried to rope him. Before I’d catch him he’d know his name well. I’ve thrown a lasso around many a horse but “Thunder” was the most spirited horse I have ever tried to collar.

Finally after three hard days we had Thunder corralled and I had my new constant companion. He was so smart that he learned in a heart beat. Within days we were riding like we were life long buddies.

Doug and I planned on spending one more night in the desert. While tracking Thunder we saw huge racked Bighorns in large numbers. Doug needed to replenish his meat cellar so we decided to go hunting. There were plenty of Bighorns so the timing was right.

At five o'clock in the morning I had eggs in the skillet, a small side of beef jerky and a pot of hot coffee simmering on the fire. Doug said;

"Man am I hungry, I could eat a whole desert goat all by myself"

"Well Doug you'll just have to settle for jerky and eggs and the strongest coffee you've ever tasted."

"Ha-Ha, Ha-Ha…”

"Okay buddy let's get going."

We hunted all day and by evening we had enough meat to supply Doug all winter long. Although we were both tired we decided to make a night ride back to Ragtown. It had been a beautiful day but my bones told me a storm was on its way and we sure didn’t want to get caught in these hills in bad weather so we ate an early supper then packed up and headed out.

It was about six in the morning when we rode into Ragtown. Much to our surprise the town was a shambles and bullets were flying in all directions. The town was being attacked by a gang of Poncho’s bandit’s the most feared outlaw group in the territory.

It looked like most the damage had been done, bodies all over the streets and buildings a blaze so we decided to find a safer place but just then Doug was hit in the shoulder and knock clean off his mount.

The bullet came from the roof top of one of the buildings in flame, I caught a glimpse of four or five banditos gathered on the corner of the roof, all drunk and unaware that anyone was left to be fighting back. They were prime targets; I shot them all and watched them tumble off the roof to certain death.

I grabbed Doug by his armpits and quickly drug him off the street to the only safety I could find, behind a bunch of water barrels. I had to get Doug patched up before he bled to death, we had to make a run through the showering bullets, we had no other choice.

“Doug, if I can get you up on your saddle, do you think you can ride?”

“Damn tooting, let’s get outta here.”

“Okay, my friend, let’s make a run for it.”

Well as luck would have it we made it out of the range of the shooters. Doug’s wound was not life threatening so I got him patched up the best that I could.

“Doug, we have to go back and kill the rest of those bandits and see if we can help cleanup or restore the town.”

“My thoughts exactly!”

“It’s gonna be a bitch Doug but we’re the only ones that can do it.”

“Let’s get it done.”

Between the two of us, within the hour we had accomplished our mission, all the bandits were dead or driven away.

“Hey Doug, it’s almost noon, I’m ready for some chow, how about you?”

***********

Finally after a long day of stress and after taking care of everybodies problems but my own, I found the time to look into my past. I needed this time to be alone with my thoughts so I mounted Thunder and rode up to my favorite lake just above Hell, the town where I was born. The lake is called Devils Hole. I guess it was named to go with Hell but it's far from the Devil and Hell. It's the most beautiful and peaceful place in the world.



I like to sit beneath the branches of my favorite oak tree, enchanted by the river that flows into the lake. Some times I’ll sit for hours just letting the thoughts of the past flow through my mind.


I left Hell when I was sixteen, twenty six years ago and I haven’t been back since but I return to Devils Hole every year just to be with myself. This is the only place that I have ever felt peace and I’d travel thousands of miles just to have that feeling.

Thunder is grazing down by the shore and to look at him I know he feels the same peace that I feel. I’m not sure there’s a God but if there is this is the place he would make his home.

The day light has faded away and the stars are starting to fill the sky so it’s time for me and Thunder to head for Ragtown, we should get back there about mid-night.

I needed these hours today spent in my special way, now I can go back and face the hard life I have chosen.

Tonight I feel peaceful so I should get a good night sleep.

“Wake up Cash, wake up.”

“Hmm, go away.”

“Damn it Big Daddy get your ass up, this is Doug?”

“Get out of here Doug and leave me be, I just hit the hay a short bit ago.”

“Wake up now, you dumb ass, If you don’t you may never get the chance to wake up again.”

“What the hell are you talking about, are you drunk?”

“Shit, if you don’t listen to me now, you’re gonna be a dead man.”

“! #$%^ Spit it out, ya damn fool, you’re not making sense.”

“Poncho Gonzales the Mexican bandit has men down in the lobby with orders to kill you.”

“Okay, you got my attention, I’m wide awake.”

“Cash, I came in through the side door that leads to the lobby and I heard these Mexicans talking ambush. Ya Cash they plan on ambushing you. You know, catching you when you’re not looking.”

“That will be hard to do Doug; you see I’ve got eyes in the back of my head besides you wouldn’t let that happen.”

Doug and I poured a drink, sat down and had a long discussion concerning this whole affair. We wondered if Poncho was the person being paid to kill me or was he just retaliating because we killed so many of his men. Would someone as powerful as Poncho Gonzales accept $2000 in gold for a contract on my life?

I’m sure glad I have a friend like Doug. I think he’d cut off his other leg if it would save my life. Living on the trails, on the ranges and in the desert I don’t have many real good friends. Not friends like Doug who is a giver not a taker. Doug is one tough cowboy and with him on my side I’ll tackle anything.

There’s a big rodeo and circus on the outskirts of Ragtown and people are arriving in droves to attend the special events. The hotel where we stay is filled with strangers and the possibility of an innocent person getting shot in a senseless gun battle is a risk that Doug and I want to avoid. So before sunrise we left through a window next to the fire escape and descended to the street. Poncho’s bandits would soon find out we were gone when they attempted their ambush, so they’d leave and no one in the hotel would be hurt.

We had to capture one of the bandits to find out where Poncho Gonzales’s hiding place was. So we waited in a place where we could see anyone leaving the hotel. Doug saw a half dozen bandits when he overheard their plans. In order to get one we may have to follow them and confront all of them. Doug is almost as fast with his gun as I am so if we have an all and out gun fight I think our chances are good and better if we take them by surprise. Anyway our plans were set and one way or another we intended to make them work.

Just before sunrise the bandits gathered together in the street in front of the hotel. We could tell they had been drinking heavy by the way they staggered and laughed. I looked at Doug and winked and without saying a word he knew what I meant. Nobody in the street but the bandits now was the time to strike. We approached them head on, ten feet apart with our guns hung low for the fastest draw. They didn’t see us at first which was to our advantage. I whispered to Doug; you take the three on the left and I’ll take the three on the right but make sure we don’t kill them all we need one of them alive.

The battle was over in less then a minute and six bodies lay sprawled out in the middle of the street two still alive but screaming in pain. Doug looked at me and smiled and I said; “I knew we could do it if we put our minds to it.” A cripple with a wooden leg and a broken down saddle tramp just blew Poncho Gonzales the Mexican bandit’s army to pieces. “Smiles”

We took the two wounded bandits to our room in the hotel and patched them up. They were lucky our bullets went right through the bodies with out hitting any vital organs. We tried to question them but they were still pretty drunk and we only got stupid answers. Since we weren’t getting anywhere we stripped them down, put them both on the bed and bound them securely. We made sure there was no way that they could get loose and then we decided to go get some breakfast.

“I’ll have a juicy rare steak, three eggs over easy with a side of pancakes, please. How about you Doug? I’m buying so have anything you please.”

“Thanks, I’ll have the same, mam.” The waitress was a cute little red head that liked to flirt; she always left us a smile to make our day. We both like her a lot.

“Cash, have you ever wanted to settle down in one place, maybe get married and raise a family.”

“That I have Doug, but I don’t think there is a woman alive that could put up with me.”

“Ha, Ha, Don’t be to sure, I’ll bet there’s a gal out there that could hog tie you and chain you to the bed post, ha, ha, ha.”

HA, ha, ha, you’re a damn pervert.”

As we left the restaurant we heard a half dozen shots coming from the hotel. We hurried back and eased ourselves into the lobby incase the shooter was there looking for us. The desk clerk was standing in the middle of the foyer, mouth wide open, pointing at the stairs.

When we got to our room the door was open, inside the two Mexican bandits were laying in a puddle of blood deader then a doornail.

Poncho Gonzales happens to be the leader of huge armies of Mexican bandits. His tentacles spread out all over the country spreading fear like it was the Bubonic plague. His hideout is a town called Poncho Villa hidden somewhere in the Rockies. Search parties have desperately tried but nobody has ever been able to uncover the Villas location. The two Mexican bandits we held as prisoners may or may not have given us the answer but at least they were a place to start.

It is hard to believe that Poncho is the one that wants me dead. If his focus was on me I’d be dead already. It’s only by accident that I have avoided his plight.

Regardless of what I think the fact is Poncho Gonzales is my number one enemy. From this point in time until one of us is dead life is going to be a living Hell. Of course I’m from a town called Hell so this is nothing new to me.

“Doug, let’s pack up some pan fried chicken, corn on the cob, home made biscuits an apple pie and go exercise our horses. Thunder needs to get out in the country to release his spirit and I need your company.”

“Sounds good buddy, you didn’t have to ask, since I’m in the same fix you are I’m going to stick with you like a fly on shit.”

“Great, you keep an eye on my back and I’ll keep an eye on yours.”