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"Well thanks boss. I enjoy going up the trail, and I'll miss you guys too."
"I guess we'll have to have you visit us then." Lance told him.
"Sounds good, especially if your wife is as good a cook as you say." Cookie chuckled. "I'd like to try her out, maybe she can teach this old dog some new tricks."
"I’m sure you could share some recipes." Lance smiled.
Just the mention of Trudy had his heart bouncing off his chest. He had sure missed her. He wondered if she'd be standing there where he told her. He hoped so, he had to get a wire off to her soon.
As they finally hit Texas it seemed their riding picked up a bit, although the Red was swollen for this time of year. All the men were anxious to get home.
But as they neared the gap, Lance left the drive to head up to the hill. His heart was nearly bursting with excitement.
But, when he got to the hill, there was a strange stillness in the air. Lance tried to shake it off, as he came up to the grove where he asked her to wait. It was empty, and something inside him broke. She wasn't there!
Had she not got the telegram he sent?
He looked all over, but there was nothing.
He stood there realizing she either forgot or wasn't coming. He fell to his knees. Why it had been so important to him for her to be there, he wasn't sure. Just a renewed hope for their future.
Everything in him stiffened. All the noises, of the grasshoppers, the birds singing, and animals about disappeared. He felt empty. His face drained of color. His heart seemed to stop; he wasn't aware that tears rolled down his cheeks.
It was foolish he knew, but when he'd asked her, he was full of excitement and knowledge that their marriage could withstand anything. Now, her not being here, seemed to trigger doubts in his mind. He'd just gotten his hopes up too high, that was all.
He didn't know how long he was there, but at least a couple of hours later had passed when George rode up behind him.
George stared at Lance, not sure how to approach him. He took his hat off and ambled up slowly toward him.
"Lance?" He called to him.
Lance didn't answer.
"Lance?"
He came nearer.
Lance didn't turn to look at him, didn't respond except with an emptin
ess that even George recognized.
"She's not here, George." Lance cried.
"Lance," George fumbled with his hat, trying to find the right words to tell him. "Look, there's something you should know." George bowed his head, his face a mass of worry.
Lance turned to look at his friend, unmindful of the tears. "She didn't come, George. I thought sure she'd be here."
"Lance, I don't know how to tell you this, but there's been trouble at the house."
"Trouble?" Lance barely let the word register.
"The house is gone, boss." George mumbled.
"The house?" Lance shook his head, then stared. "What are you talking about?" Lance's face registered the words now, but it still hadn't sunk in.
"There was a tornado—" George told him.
"Tornado? My God is she hurt?" he suddenly asked, going toward his horse now.
