I wrote this last October and because I'm at a loss for words tonight I am doing a re-post. Hugs.

The Trail Home, from Oct.25, 2005

He sat ramrod straight in his saddle despite being weary to the bone.He had on jeans worn thin on his knees and seat.His boots showed the scuff marks and gouges of years of ranch work. His shirt was clean but faded to a nondescript color.
His bedroll was tied to the saddle behind him, and everything he owned was rolled up in it or tied to it. Not much to show for his 69 years on this old earth.
His face leather tough from years of living under the sky was lined with age.His eyes a faded blue were squinted against the setting sun.
Buck his horse was covered in a fine powder of trail dust.He'd give him a good brushing tonight.Damn it would feel good to climb down out of this saddle and stretch his knotted muscles.
He thought back over the last 2 weeks as he rode. When the ranch boss Jim Walker had come to him and told him he thought it was time Wes thought seriously about retirement he'd been shocked.Christ he was only 69 years old.He had a lot of years left in him. He'd told Jim that he wasn't ready to hang it up just yet but Jim had told him it wasn't really his choice.So this is what they call mandatory retirement he'd thought. Well to hell with that.He'd just move on down the line. There were plenty of ranches out there that needed an experienced hand like him.
Except there wasn't really.He'd been riding up and down the valley these past two weeks and had heard "sorry oldtimer I got nothin' for ya"more times than he cared to count. He knew he had been slowing down some the last few years. But dammit he could still out work a lot of guys years younger than himself couldn't he? He was starting to doubt himself. Shit he was tired.Dog tired.
Jim had told him not to leave,he could stay at the Double C Ranch and help out around there as long as he wanted,forever if he chose to.Clean the bunkhouse he'd said, maybe do some gardening raise some chickens take it easy "Hell "he'd said"you deserve a rest Wes".Clean,garden, farm? What the hell? He was a cowboy dammit not some old fart that needed to sponge off the charity of others.He'd been workin' ever since he was a boy he didnt know nothin else but work.
The sun was getting low on the horizon. It's orange glow lighting up the mountains like they were on fire. Time to make camp. Buck knickered in agreement." Buck your a treasure" he said to the horse.As long as he had Buck he didn't need human company. He listened better than most people and never interupted Wes' ramblings. He couldn't remember ever being so tired. Not even when he was younger putting in 16 hour days.
He spotted a good campsite just up the trail. A little clearing in a grove of trees.That should shelter them from the wind tonight. When he got up to it he noticed how beautiful it really was.The grass was so green and soft looking and the pines made a nice semi circle around the clearing. "What do you think Buck? Is this one of the prettiest place on Gods green earth"? Yup I think so too.
He unsaddled Buck,took his bridle off and let him roam freely around the little clearing. He took his bedroll off the saddle found the coffee pot and lit a fire out of some branches he found around the edge of the tree line. He went down to the creek and filled the pot with water and set it on his fire grate to boil." Come here Buck"he said to the horse as he got the curry comb out of the roll. He brushed Buck until once again his coat was a shiny black,his mane hung long and silky along his neck."Your a handsome old cuss"Wes told him. By this time the sun was setting and the coffee was hot. He was just to dammed tired to eat tonight.He poured himself a cup of the strong black coffee and sat back against a fallen log.
Before long he was dreaming.The forgotten coffee cup slipped from his hand.He dreamed of his youth.Years of riding,roping,branding and he'd loved every minute of it. A small smile slid across his face as Maria's face swam into his dreams.God he'd loved her.She'd died over forty years ago but there'd never been a day go by that he didn't think of her.When she'd died he'd sworn he'd never love like that again.He hadn't either.His loss he supposed.He dreamed of cattle,campsites and card games.The hundreds of nights camped out under the stars and the gallons of beer that he'd drank.And then once again there was Maria.She was reaching out to him.Oh thank you God He could touch her once again.He reached back to her and took her hand.She smiled up at him and said"Come on Wes let's go home".Oh sweet Lord he was ready to go with her.Oh God yes.
Buck stood and watched as Wes slid from this world to the next.