The Cowboy’s Welcome Home

He sits his saddle like the Marlboro man

Though he gave up the demon weed long ago

Looks down over the lonesome valley

Lightly covered in fresh new snow

The wind whispers through the ridge pines

An old carol winds through his head

Down below wood smoke drifts lazily

He wonders if she is fast asleep in bed

The first star lights the end of day

It’s Christmas Eve and he rides alone

Their paths somehow went separate ways

And pride kept him from coming home

But the years though took a heavy toll

Hard lessons learned etched in his hide

Now the bay horse whinnied for its meal

It was time the cowboy swallowed up his pride

Wondering if she’d found another love

If she hated him for what he’d done

He knew he had to find out oneway or another

Before the rising of the Christmas sun

His knees spurred his horse to a cantor

To the cabin from where he once did roam

When he reached the door she flung it open

Merry Christmas cowboy, welcome home.