Denver’s ATF team seven were sitting around their table at the saloon. Celebrating another successful case, and the reports being finished on time.
Buck Wilmington decided they needed a new topic of discussion. “Ok boys, whoa was your first true love?” A couple of groans, an “Ah Hell”, “Surely you Jest.” and a growled “Buck.” Could be heard. Buck decided to get the ball rolling.
“It was third grade, she was a cute little strawberry blond, with freckles on her nose, and a band aide on her knee. Her name was Becky Johnson..
While Buck was telling his story, Vin was remembering his. As he sat there a small smile graced his lips as he thought of Angela Jaye Taylor. Angel or AJ as he liked to call her, and that depended on her mood.
As soon as Buck finished his story, Vin spoke.
“Angela Jaye Taylor. She was m’ true love.”
“Go on Vin” Ezra encouraged.
“What was she like?” JD asked.
“Aww hell, JD. She were pure Texas wildfire. She was beautiful, but coulda cared less.”
“She could worka horse, an’ ride, rope, break, or train one jest as good as any man. An’ she has ahell of a left hook.” He said laughing.
“How did you meet her Mr. Tanner?” Ezra asked his curiosity aroused.
“Her pa - RJ, was looking’ fer hands, to work, I applied, and went to work fer’em.”
“Ah the rancher’s daughter.” Buck said waggling his eyebrows.
“Not like that Bucklin.” Vin said quietly. “She and I gotta be fast friends, bein’ the same age and all, she never once passed judgment on me, fer bein’ in foster homes or orphaned.
RJ, well he let me live ina apartment in the stables, plus pay, and I took mosta my meals with RJ and Angel.” He smiled again, and had a far away look in his eyes.
“Ah she must have been a good cook.” Josiah asked.
Vin started laughing. “Hell no Josiah, she couldn’t figure out anything in the kitchen.”
They all started laughing.
“Go on Vin, when did you know?” Nathan asked.
“It was a Friday night, and I’s kicking back in my apartment. Angel had gone out with a feller named Tommy Thompson. He was kinda an all around jock, and one a the high school studs. Well not more than a hour after they’d left Tommy’s truck comes back up the drive. B’fore he even got the truck stopped Angel was out and madder thena wet hen.
If I ‘member correctly she told ‘im to ‘get the hell off of my daddy’s land.’ Well ol’ Tommy - he weren’t much in the brains department, made the mistake a grabbin’ her arm.” Vin said starting to chuckle again.
“Well what happened?” JD asked.
Vin took a drink of his beer before continuing. “Well it got deathly quiet when he grabbed her arm. Angel told him to let go or else. Well Tommy, he jest pulled her closer to him, she let loose with a left hook that dropped him like a ton of bricks. Boys, he had a glass jaw, and it took a girl to find it.”
At first there was silence in the room and then they erupted into full blown belly laughs.
“Cowboy that doesn’t explain how you two got together.”
“Just hold on I’m fixin to tell ya.” “Ya see Angel was furious, I mean nine kinds of mad, and she was headin’ for the stables.”
“Why the stables?” JD asked.
“We all kept a change of clothes and boots in the stables JD.” Vin explained.
“I could hear her in the tack room, cussin’ a blue streak about ignorant assed dumb jocks who won’t take no for an answer. She threw her shoes sayin’ that was the last time she dressed up fer some boy.” Vin paused to take a sip of his beer. “She came outta the tack room in jeans and m’ t-shirt. I’s sure as hell weren’t gonna tell her she had m’ t-shirt on. And tuggin on her boots. She came to a dead stop when she saw me. She stood there ‘n looked at me like she was challenging me to something. I asked her if she was fixin to ride ‘n she said yeah, I asked if she’d like afriend to come along. She smiled at me and seemed to relax. So we’s saddled up and headed out to where the creek is, that was her favorite place, and I felt honored she let me go there. By the time we got to the creek she had calmed down and even started laughing.”
“Go on Junior, what happened?” Buck asked.
“Well the air’d taken on a chill, so we pulled the blankets offa the horses to try and warm up. Angel was shivering, so I finally scooted closer to her and put m’ arm around her. I tell ya Boy’s, I’s afraid I’s gonna find out iffn I had a glass jaw or not.” They all laughed at that.
“Any ways, she scooted closer to me ‘n the next thing I know we’s sitting there talkin’ and snugglin’ ‘n it was getting real late. Way past her curfew. I’s sure RJ would tear me apart. But he’s a lot like you Josiah. He could see the good in people. Well by the time we got back, ol’ RJ was prowlin the porch waiting on Angel. We took care of the horse’s, Angel looked at me and said ‘ Hellfire! If I’m gonna get grounded its gonna be for more than ridin my horse.’ Well boys, the next thing I know’d, I had me an armful of Angel. She kissed me.” He said quietly. “ She weren’t m’ first, but DAMN, she was the best. And being a seventeen year old boy, with a girl in his arms, my brain left. Never thougth Angel even looked at me, much less would want to kiss me. Her kisses always set my blood afire.”
“Go on Vin. What happened next?” JD asked.
Vin got a faraway look in his eyes, remembering the kiss ending, Angel looked at him and said “ Vin, I , um,, I mean dang it I wanted to do that for a while.” “Angel I never knew. Cause I wanted to do that too.” They grinned at each other and kissed again.
“Well ya see JD, RJ was madder than a wet hen, he yelled fer her from the porch. Well her and RJ went at fer awhile, and she was grounded, had to help me out with my chores, and whatever else I did. Didn’t realize it then, but ol’ RJ was playin matchmaker, an’ trying at get us together.”
“Did it work cowboy?” Chris asked.
“Yeah reckon it did, we was always together, until we graduated. She was my first love, my first everything.” He said quietly.
“What happened, Mr. Tanner?” Ezra asked.
“After high school, I signed on at the Army, and Angel was going to college. We stayed in touch fer awhile. After college she went on to be a US Marshal. RJ use at keep me informed while I’s in the army. Not long before I got out, RJ passed away. His brother took over the ranch and drove Angel off. I don’t know where she is now, or how she’s doing. But I do know this, I miss that wildfire of a gal, cause they sure don’t come any livelier than her.” He said grinning.
“Mr. Dunne, could I interest you in a game of pool?” Ezra asked JD.
“Sure Ez.”
When they got to the pool table, Ezra turned to JD and said. “Don you think you could find her for Vin?”
“Pretty sure I can, I was going to try anyway.” JD said grinning.
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