It ends with Elias, two years later, milking her by hand. A real estate agent’s card is in his pocket—a final offer for the land. He looks down at her. A single tear slides down his nose and lands on her flank. She turns her head, slow as a sacrament, and licks the salt from his wrist.

As I stepped off the dusty ranch truck and onto the sun-baked cowboy cafe parking lot, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. My name is Emily Mayfield, and I was here to meet the love of my life, cowboy-style.

The Weight of the Saddle