Her spirits would improve by the hour. They’d feed her and bathe her with sponges, keep her company. They talked of buying acreage and women in Winnipeg since city ladies don’t let themselves go. They’d hauled up lawn chairs, a card table, tongs for cooking.

“She’ll be better soon,” Saul said. The fat sliver moon sat in the west and sank away.

“I’m encouraged,” Dan said, a cloth tied over his bad eye.

They shut off the engine to conserve fuel. Refueling would not be easy. They would rev the engine three times a day. They would move her with the sun into fine cool shade. They would haul buckets from the well. They would drink water together. At nights, there would be blankets and tarps for spitting rain and a well-built fire heaped and stacked to last. They would brush away the flies as needed. The cows would soon graze the north field too, which would green up quickly. They would frolic and play. Any cow would buck for such sweet new grass.

“Howdy” Mom—9 months. Sorry about no Adios—Wish you were here though you’d hate it—Can’t believe the stars/air—Postcard’s Iowa—CORN—Who knew how “great” the Great Plains are? You didn’t—I’m a Lawman now, a Silver Badge—Giddy—Like Matt Dillon in GUNSMOKE. Yep. Working graveyard shift tonight, thought it high time to drop you a line, Mr. Prodigal! I’m on a big case now. Foul play. I can sniff it. Hot on the trail … Sunrise is pretty. I’ll drop this in the box on lil’ ol’ Main Street. Say hello to Marvin (if it’s still Marvin)—News: I think I might lasso me a new girlfriend soon. A real wild thing, a cowgirl, getting a divorce (just once but you can relate anyway). Look! Pen’s run out—

Well, I do hope you paid close attention to those messages from our sponsors during the break, buckaroos, because they’ve got some fine products your parents could surely use in the old homestead. But now let’s settle back in to our exciting serial, The Long Trail of the Rodeo Kid (based on a hair-raising true story!). If you’re only now tuning in, you’d best saddle up and hold tight, ’cause this week’s episode finds your hero and mine, the Rodeo Kid, in one heck of a thrilling and terribly terrible mess.