The Cowboy's Promise (UNDER HEAVY REVISION)

Dancin' Away With My Heart

I wake up just before dawn, meaning I've had little sleep. Red, who is still on my shoulder, didn't fall asleep until one. I didn't until about two-thirty. I roll out of bed, careful not to wake Red up, and walked downstairs. Surprisingly, no one's up yet. I get dressed, slip on boots, and head outside. Grenade's waiting for me in the pasture. I rub his nose.

"Hey, buddy. Ride?" I swing up on the gelding bareback and guide him through the ranch to the river. We stand in silence, watching other animals begin their day. We see everything from a cardinal to a bear. Fortunately, the bear leaves us alone. Grenade walks down the bank until we're at the edge of Brizarro Canyon.

I slip off Grenade and walk to the edge. Miles below me, the river rushes by in whitecaps and whirlpools. I hear the birds singing and Grenade snorting nearby. There's several trails around the canyon, man-made and animal-made, that I explore, my gelding close behind. I've never had to have a lead with him. He follows at my call.

My best friend, who was full-blooded Shoshone Indian, taught me the way Indians used to tame horses. Instead of forcing a horse to obey you, Indians focused on a loyal partner to willingly obey you. Why do you think Indians rarely used bridles and saddles? I only have to whistle, and Grenade comes.

I stop and hop on his back to pick my way to the bottom of the canyon. He knows the best and safest path to the bottom. Or he's supposed to. I let him have his head and pick his way to the bottom slowly. One front foot slips, and he goes down on his knees. I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the sensation of falling to my death.

But it doesn't happen. Grenade pauses before standing up. Then he resumes his path to the bottom of the canyon. After a minute I open my eyes and sigh in relief. We make it to the floor without another incident and wander around. We both drink from the clear water. I see a shadow to my right in the river, a wavering form of a horse and rider. I startle, jumping back. Grenade only turns to look at me, like he's saying, 'Idiot.'

"Nice to see you here," the rider says. It's Thalia and Gold Mine, her palomino gelding.

"Oh, hi, Tal," I respond. "Why're you here this early?"

"Couldn't sleep. What's your reason?"

"Pretty much the same. I didn't go to bed until late, then Red came in with a nightmare. We stayed up until one. Oh, you coming tonight?"

"Tonight. . . . ?"

"The dance and cookout at the house. Everyone's gonna be there. It's at five. Wear something pretty and I'll pick you up."

"Alright. See you at five."

"Uh, before you go," Thalia begins, making me pause before I walk off, "I need a little practice. I've only danced, like, twice after we broke up."

I smile. "Don't tell anybody, but I'm not much of a dancer either. But c'mon."

Scrolling through my iPod, I select a song and slide the iPod in my back pocket. I place Thalia's left hand on my shoulder and right in mine as I hold it up. I focus on the lyrics as we dance in the grass.

Amy's got the letters I wrote, my picture in a frame.

She's had a year to let go. She's still wearin' my ring.

It hasn't left her finger, since the night that I proposed. Promised her forever before I took her home.

But I never made it home that night, part of her died too.

I shake off memories, stepping back and to the left, in sync with Thalia. I explain to her that you make a square with your steps.

I've watched her losin' her mind, and there's nothin' I can do.