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that Southern Comfort would you, Babe?” Hilary laughed at her husband and got up to get the shot glasses and whiskey.  She poured everyone a glass and passed it out.  J.W and Sam each had something they wanted to say before anyone could drink.  When they finished, Hilary said, “Drink up!” They all tossed the whiskey down their throats and a round of coughs went around the table followed by laughter, and whacks on the back. 
                  After all the hands left, Sam, J.W, Hilary, Heath and Josey and her three overprotective uncles, all gathered in the living room.  They discussed the activities of the day and they attempted to get a figure on how much they made on the rodeo so far.  Tomorrow would be the last day of the event and everything was looking good.  After everyone was through discussing business, Hilary turned the TV on and J.W, Sam, Willy, Reid, and Justin joined in a round of poker.  Josey and Heath excused themselves and stepped out on the porch to swing in the moonlight.  They just sat there in the old porch swing in each other’s arms relaxing and looking at the stars.  Neither of them said anything.  There was no need to. 
                  Hilary joined them after a bit.  “Hope I’m not bothering y’all, but I couldn’t take the racket of that game anymore.  I have a headache from all the bickering.” She laughed.  Josey knew what she meant.  When those men got to playing cards, it was constant friendly arguing about who was cheating who. She laughed with her, once the picture settled into her head.  “Nice night, isn’t it?” Hilary said making conversation. “Yep,” Heath responded nodding his head.  “There ain’t nothing like sitting in a porch swing holding your woman and enjoying good company on a cool night like this.  He smiled down at Josey.
                  The coyotes yipped and howled.  The cattle bellowed and the horses stomped and snorted.  Hilary’s blue heeler came out of hiding.  His old bones barely moved these days.  He tried to jump up in her lap but his old bones wouldn’t let him spring the way he once had so she lifted him up and let him lay his head in her lap.  “I wonder where Sadie has gotten off to.” Hilary said, of the female heeler she had bought a few years ago when she realized her old dog was about to see his last days. 
                  She heard a whimper and looked around for the sound.  Another whine came from behind a table in the corner.  They all turned and saw Sadie lying in the corner.  To their surprise, there was a brand new litter of pups, lying with her.  “Well now, you old rascal, you’ve been busy haven’t you?” Heath said to the old dog on Hilary’s lap.  Josey got up and wandered over to the dog Hilary had gifted her a few years back.  She moved the table out of the way and eased down by the dog.  She patted her head and got a good look at each of the pups.  “Six,” she counted.  She picked up a little male and cradled it in her arms. She rubbed her fingers down its back.  “He looks just like you, old boy.” She said.  She knew without a doubt, Hilary would keep this one. 
                  She lay the puppy back down, got up and pulled Heath up off the swing.  “You want to go for a walk?” she asked them both.  Hilary shook her head no and smiled.  She knew the two of them really just wanted some time alone.  She sat with her very best friend in the world, cradling his head in her lap.  “Well old Buddy, we finally got him to come home.  I sure hope everything works out for them.” She whispered her words to the dog.  She talked to him often when she felt she needed someone to talk to and J.W was nowhere to, be found. Otherwise, she would talk to him.  The old dog had just turned fourteen in dog years that was nearly 100.  He was a good old dog.  He saved J.Ws life once and hers, more times, than she could count.