The stranger came to her on a night

when all the passion had disappeared,

and the woman had learned to live

without any arms to hold her tight.

the years had given her time to

adjust to sleeping alone,

running the one thing that kept her alive,

the family owned hotel.

 
Up the dirt road

the figure rode on a roan,

well worn saddle beneath

the majesty of a woman from the hills

brightly gleaming,

bouncing in rhythm,

gold hair waving in song,

mirror of the mane before her

as she and the horse approached as one.

 
 A quick, determined dismount

brought the stranger to the ground,

and for the first time

in a long time

the woman worried about

how the wind had blown her own hair,

how hard the humidity had curled the ends,

how she looked in this same dress,

a faded fabric memory of long lost cheer.

As the stranger approached her,

a warm smile upon her face,

eyes dancing with firelight,

and a devil may care look

in every step she made,

the woman brightened her own smile,

and welcomed the stranger for a stay.


The day went painfully slow,

as the stranger slept in,

but as soon as the twilight appeared,

so the stranger took her place

in the bar across the lobby,

puposefully in full view of

her hostess' survey,

and it didn't take long 'til

the stranger noticed

the feel of a visual embrace.


Once again that grin ran across

the stranger's beautiful lips,

and she turned slightly

towards the entry way,

stopping the woman in her tracks,

now blushingly embarassed for getting

caught so easily.

The stranger set down

the almost empty glass

and looked straight into

the dark eyes of this woman

who she felt she already knew,

then motioned for the woman to pass

through the open door on the backside

of the bar and follow her outside

to where the fireflies

began to spark.

 
The woman met the stranger by the swing

and sat next to her,

silently watching the fireflies

and the stars that began

to stir.

The stranger reached gently over,

and took the woman's hand,

and sat with her until the dark

covered the land.

 
As the moon rose

in peach and orange hues,

the stranger made the move

to pull the woman close,

and the woman did not refuse.

She leaned her head lightly

upon the strong arm

of this woman fair

and allowed herself to fall into

whatever was happening there.

 
Then came the day when the stranger

had to get a taste of the road once more,

a little time to go here and there,

she couldn't help it,

she was born this way,

but the woman who had been downtrodden

was renewed and no matter what else

might come her way,

from that day forward,

there'd always be more

for the stranger brought back life,

and the love that grew there

turned strangers into lovers and friends -

such love and passion has no end.

Months passed and on a damp August day,

rain dropping like bullets,

lightning dancing ,

fresh washed sheets ruined

from mud stains,

she saw that figure she'd never mistake

coming back to her from the dark

shadows of the thunderstorm at bay,

watched her dismount,

shake off the rain,

grabbed her hand as she held it out,

and melted into the strong arms

of the woman who whispered into her ear,

Took care of my business.  Darlin', now I'm

home.  It's you and me from this moment on.

From this day we are born.  We've got

nothing but time and a whole lifetime of

future to live on.  Ready. Set.  Let's go.