The Letter

Written By: D’be-D’be


All the drovers were gathered around the Trail Boss waiting anxiously for him to call out their name. It was mail call and everyone was excited to receive letters from their family so they could catch up on all the latest news in their love ones lives. It was a long time between mail calls on a cattle drive due to the fact that they were always moving. The cattle, not the men, dictated the schedule. If they were running late, there was no stopping in a town where an address may have been given for a letter to be sent. The letters were sent to the next town down the line until the drive slowed down long enough for the men to pick up the mail.

Morgan had already taken out the three letters addressed to him. There was the obvious letter from the owners who wanted an update on the drive’s progress, and also a couple of personal letters as well. One was from his older brother and the other was from an old war buddy who always did his best to keep in touch with his former Captain. He expected the letter from his younger sister, Patricia, had probably got lost in the chain reaction and would catch up to him one of these days.

The only member of the drive that stood back from the group was Colt. He didn’t expect anyone had taken the time to write to him. As a matter of fact Colt figured no one cared enough to take the time to write. His two older sisters had little to do with him when he was home. They always gave Colt the feeling that they felt he was nothing but a burden to them. As far as his father was concerned, the man had never showed any interest in his son when he was growing up, so why would he start now. There was still a little part of Colt though that never gave up hope someone in his life would care enough for him to take time from their busy lives and write him a few lines. As the Trail Boss called out the names he couldn’t quite stop the little glimmer of hope that still lingered in his heart.

Finally Luke came to the last envelope. Colt held his breath and looked around. It seemed all the men had their mail, so maybe he got a letter after all. He looked over at Luke, anticipation in his eyes but once again he was disappointed when he heard Luke say, “Oh, it’s for me. My little sister’s letter made it after all.”

Colt hung his head and walked away from the group. He didn’t want anyone to see him crying. “Why does it hurt so much?” he asked himself as he slipped out of camp.

Luke saw the young man make his way out of camp with slumped shoulders, and his heart went out to him. Vince Perry also saw the kid make his escape and asked Morgan, “What’s wrong with the kid, Boss?”

“There was no mail for him and I guess he’s disappointed.”

“Maybe his letters didn’t make it to town and he’ll get his at the next stop.”

“Yeah, maybe. We’ll have to wait and see. Excuse me, Vince, I gotta read my mail.”

“Yeah, me too, Boss. Hope you got good news!”

“Back at ya, Vince.”

The two men went their separate ways. Vince took a seat near the chuck wagon, while Luke made his way to Colt. He found the young man in the middle of the open range, sitting with arms wrapped around his knees, his head on his arms and by the way his shoulders were shaking, Luke knew his young Brat was crying his eyes out. He struggled with whether he should go to the young man or just leave him be. He decided on the latter. He didn’t want to coddle the boy to much. Colt had to grow into his own man. Besides, if he always went after Colt every time he got upset, the other drovers may begin to wonder why the Trail Boss was showing so much favoritism to the new kid. This would open up a whole new can of problems and that was one can Luke wanted to keep closed.

It was hard for Luke to walk away so he compromised with himself. He moved far enough away from Colt so he was out of sight. If anyone came by, it gave the impression he too wanted to be alone with his letters. But he stayed within ear shot just in case. He just skimmed through the letter from the owners. It was always the same old thing with them. “Get the herd to market on time and get us a good price!”

The letter from his older brother, Frank, was filled with news about the ranch, and how Luke’s nieces and nephew were growing. There was a time when Luke envied his older brother for having found a woman like Marie who loved him and had given him three fine children. That was before Colt came into his life. Now Luke was filled with so much love and happiness he could relate to his brother instead of feeling jealous.

The letter from his sister, Patricia, was not as uplifting however. Patricia had never married. Instead she dedicated her life to the children she taught as well as to Luke’s aging parents. Patricia let Luke know that their father had fallen off his horse and broken his hip. He was making a good recovery when pneumonia set in. Luke looked up at the top of the first page for the date. A month had passed since the letter had been written. Luke wondered how his dad was fairing out. For all he knew his dad may be dead and buried. Such is the life on a cattle drive. News traveled too slow in many cases. Luke closed his eyes for a moment and said a prayer into the wind that his dad had indeed bounced back from bad heath. After all Luke’s dad was very much like Luke himself. Strong in body as well as mind, so Luke was sure his dad was fighting to get well with every second that passed. Luke’s mother on the other hand was still as feisty as ever. Nothing ever got that women down. She was excellent under stress, a trait Luke inherited from her, along with her warm heart and dark eyes.

Luke finished the letters, placed them in his shirt pocket, and returned to camp by way of the open field. He looked down at Colt who by now had spent himself out from crying and was lying on his back, eyes closed. “Hey, Cowboy. Having a cat nap, are ya?” Luke put a light tone to his voice, hoping Colt wouldn’t realize he’d seen him crying.

“Yeah. I thought I’d take advantage of the down time to catch up on my sleep. After all, I had nothing better to do.”

“Don’t worry, Colt. The mail is very sporadic out here. I’m sure your letter will be along shortly.”

“Whatever you say, Boss. I guess I’ll get back to camp.”

“Go ahead. I think I’ll follow your lead and catch some shuteye myself.”

“Pleasant dreams, Boss!” Colt stated as he made his way back to camp.

Luke was a little disappointed that the boy didn’t take the bait and lay back down, but he figured Colt still needed his own space so he didn’t push it. He just replied, “I intend to, Cowboy.”

Colt let out a little chuckle as he walked away, leaving Luke with own thoughts. As he lay there an idea popped into his mind. He made himself comfortable, closed his eyes and formulated a plan in his head. A smile could be seen on the Trail Boss’s face as he drifted off to sleep.

A few days passed without incident. Colt had snapped out of his mood. Luke was happy to see him laughing and joking with the other drovers as they shared all the news from home. Although Luke knew Colt was still a little disappointed he hadn’t got any mail, he was happy to see him hide the disappointment so well in front of his fellow drovers.

When they came close to the next town, Luke told the Ramrod to keep the herd going. He was running into town to send a few telegrams and would be back before sundown. Colt rode up to him, hoping to get an invitation to tag along.

“Not this time, Cowboy,” Luke whispered. “I’m just going in town to pick up some supplies for Flapjack and to send a telegram to the owners and one to my sister.”

Although Colt was disappointed, he didn’t make an issue out of it. Instead he wished Luke a speedy return, then rode away.

Luke was gone for about three hours. Flapjack was just about to serve the evening meal when they heard his horse ride up. Luke handed the reins the drive’s wrangle with a thank you, then made his way to the chuck wagon. “Here’s your sugar and baking powder, Flapjack.”

“Thanks, Boss. I appreciate it.”

Luke turned to look for Colt and spotted him with a group of drovers who had begun a poker game. “Hey, Colt!” Luke yelled out. “I got a letter for ya here, marked personal and confidential.”

“What!” Colt squealed. “A letter for me? Really? You’re not funning, are ya, Boss?”

“Now why would I do that? You want it or should I toss it in the fire?”

“You know I want it! Gee, I wonder who it’s from. There’s no return address.” Colt mumbled to himself as he looked at the envelope Luke had placed in his hand.

“Well, there’s only one sure way I can figure out to answer that.”

“Yeah, Boss. What’s that?” Colt asked.

“Read it, boy!” Luke laughed.

“Oh yeah, of course. Excuse me.” Colt moved behind the supply wagon so he could read this mystery letter in private. His hand was shaking as he tore open the envelope. Who cared enough to take the time to write him. Colt looked at the envelope one more time before he opened the single sheet of the paper that was folded so neat. Still finding no clues, so with beating heart he unfolded it and began to read the words that were staring up at him.

My Dearest Cowboy:

I just wanted to take the time to let you know how much I miss our time together. The memory of that faithful night still burns in my heart and mind and I can’t wait until we light that fire once more. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms once more or to feel my lips on yours. How I long for that day.

Before I met you, my life was an empty existence. I was just going through the motions. Now I live each day with new awareness of all that is around me. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face and you on my mind. What a great way to wake up!

So until we are together again, put this letter close to your heart to let you know how much I love you and how I am counting the days when once more we will be together in a loving embrace.

Love forever and ever,

Me

As Colt read the letter, his tear began to fall on the paper he held between his shaking fingers. He knew of course that the letter was from Luke but he had disguised his handwriting so cleverly, no one would ever guess in a million years who it was from. He wiped the tears of joy and love off his face with his shirtsleeve. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he placed the loving words back in its’ envelope and, as the letter requested, placed it in his left shirt pocket, directly over his heart where it would remain until the day he died. Taking one more deep breath, Colt returned to the rest of the drovers who, with nosy interest, wanted to know who the letter was from.

“Hey, kiddo. Who took the time to write to a greenhorn like you?” one of the drovers asked.

“One of them pretty girls whose heart Colt left broken somewhere down the trail I bet!” another drover chimed in.

“Give that man a cigar!” Colt chuckled.

The men began to whoop and holler, each shouting out a smutty and teasing remark to the young drover. Colt turned towards Luke and, with eyes shining with new tears, placed his hand over his heart. Luke did the same as he walked towards his horse.

“Okay, boys. We’ve had our fun. Now can we get back to the task at hand? Night watch, get out there! Flapjack, get the wagon ready for the morning! The rest of you saddle bums get some sleep! The sun will be up before we know it.”

Not having to work the night watch, Colt curled up in his bedroll and clutched his left pocket as he drifted off to sleep.

The End