Free The Lonely Cowboy (Trace Atkins Family) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page A

said she was just plain worn out.”
    “Well, there’s several women here in Cimmaron whose husbands didn’t come back from the war.  Just like you, they’re lonely.”
    “Aw, Preacher, I don’t know.  It just seems like too much trouble.”
    “Hogwash.   You need a partner.  We’re having a social after church next Sunday.  I expect to see you there.”
    * * *
    The next Sunday, Trace put on his best pair of pants and the least worn shirt he owned.  He shaved and rubbed in some bay rum as he’d seen the barbers do.  Clara had bought the bay rum before she died but he never used it.  Like so many things, it just seemed like too much trouble.
    After the sermon, the members of the congregation staying for the social brought out the makings they had brought to eat.  They were put on a large picnic table under the trees.  The kids were running around, the boys chasing the girls, the girls pretending to be upset when they were caught.  The younger ones played on the swing and the makeshift slide.
    “Preacher, I didn’t bring anything.  I’m just going to run on home.  I got some chores that need doing.”
    “Nonsense, Trace.  Now come on.  There’s one particular woman I want you to meet.”  He led Trace over to the group of ladies and signaled to one that was working by herself to come join them.  She adjusted her bonnet and walked over to them.
    “Sarah, this is Trace Atkins. Trace, this is Sarah Bartlett.  Sarah lives on a ranch outside of Cimmaron.”
    The woman Trace saw was beautiful by any standard.  Compared to most of the women in Cimmaron she was a goddess.  Her long blonde hair and green eyes with gold flecks and a face with a flawless complexion made her the most beautiful woman Trace had ever seen.  Though she wore a long, loose fitting dress, it did not conceal the curves of her body.  Ashamed of his thoughts, Trace flushed, said, “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
    What Sarah saw was a man who was ruggedly handsome. There was not an ounce of fat on him.  His skin was tanned by the sun and there were lines in the corner of his eyes from squinting into the sun..  His blue eyes contrasting with skin that was a golden tan made him a really handsome man.  He appeared totally unaware of this fact.  He looked uneasy and embarrassed.  She smiled at his discomfort.   “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Atkins.”
    “Sarah lost her husband at Gettysburg, Trace.”
    “I was at Gettysburg,” Trace said softly.  “I was with the Texas Brigade, we lost a lot of good men those three days.  What was your husband’s name?”
    “He was Captain Joshua Bartlett.  He was at Manassas too, and he was killed on the second day at Gettysburg.”
    Trace said, “I knew him as Major Bartlett then.  I was maybe fifty feet away from him when he got hit.  I was hit in the shoulder right after that.  We lost a lot of men that day.  We gave as good as we got, but we lost too many good men and boys that day.”
    “I’d like for you to tell me about it if it isn’t too painful for you to remember.”
    “It’s hard to talk about.  It was not a pretty sight.  We were going right into their cannons and they cut us down like mowing hay.”
    They sat under the tree talking most of the afternoon.  Her two boys came running up to them at the tree, dirty, red faced and sweat stained.  She introduced them to Trace.  “Boys this is Mr. Atkins.  He knew your father.  He was wounded at Gettysburg too.  Mr. Atkins, this is Thomas and this is Joshua.  Say hello to Mr. Atkins, boys.”
    “You knew my papa, Mr. Atkins?” Joshua asked.
    “Yes, I knew him some.  Corporals don’t talk much to Majors.”
    “Our papa was a Captain, Mr. Atkins.”
    “Yes he was but he got promoted to Major after Manassas.
    “Can you show us where the Yankees shot you Mr. Atkins?” asked Thomas.
    “Thomas!” a shocked Sarah Bartlett said.  “You should not ask a question like that.”
    “It’s all right, Mrs