Читать книгу Give Me A Cowboy - Jodi Thomas - Страница 18

Rowdy Darnell and Laurel Hayes were married the last night of the 1890 Kasota Springs Rodeo. Within five years the RL Ranch became one of the most profitable spreads in West Texas.

They had three sons and a daughter.

In 1912, Laurel Darnell was elected mayor of Kasota Springs.

Rowdy never rode in another rodeo, but folks talked about his rides for years.

Rowdy and Laurel’s partnership lasted fifty-seven years, until she died of a heart attack. Her headstone read, “Beloved wife, mother and partner.”

Rowdy didn’t mourn her death as his father had mourned his mother. Instead, he passed the ranch along to his children and spent the next two years teaching his eleven grandchildren to ride.

Two years to the day Laurel had died, he passed away in his sleep.

The children were surprised when they learned he’d already ordered his headstone. It was placed next to Laurel’s in a small cemetery on their ranch.

His stone read, “Keep praying for me, darling, I’ll be there by supper.”