Prologue
Had I known what I knew now I probably wouldn’t have gotten involved in Wayne Masters’ personal affairs but I didn’t realize how complicated beautiful women are. I know now that this young man didn’t need any help with them. It’s too late to change what I got into motion now but I sure did learn a lesson or two.
I recall the first day I met Wayne Masters. He was hired on to help round up and brand the years new calves. The pay wasn’t much but he worked long hard hours with no complaints. He showed the interest that it took to become a cattleman but only needed a tutor. I became that teacher.
He learned the cattle trade quickly and I must admit that the young man had characteristics that reminded me of myself. I decided to take him under my wings and teach him everything I knew about being a cowboy.
But being young and restless as men all do at some stage he devoted a lot of his time with young ladies. There was one in particular that caught his eye more so than the others.
I was there the day that Nella first got his attention. It was obvious that she affected him like no other. I watched as their affection blossomed into flowers.
It seemed to me that they were meant for each other. Wayne just didn’t know it yet so I was disappointed when he left to work away from home. I was equally disheartened when I learned of the construction accident that almost ended his life.
I decided right then that it was necessary to bring Wayne home somehow and selling him the ranch just might do the trick.
Of course he would need a family too and being a cantankerous old man I had to do something to get him started. He had always wanted a small ranch of his own and I aimed to see that he got it along with a beautiful housekeeper as a bonus. It turned out to be more than I bargained for. I never experienced much of a love life but Wayne sure had and I really stirred things up.
It took a strong man to endure the trials and tribulations that faced Wayne after his return. I can’t think of another man that could pull off what Wayne Masters did. He faced tornados, floods, drought, and murderers. But the toughest battle was with the lost memory of the women in his past and he had plenty of those. Sure was proud of him.
From the memoirs of West Texas rancher Joe Reid
