The Cowboys Wife
Standing alone in the doorway
Through the twilight straining my eyes
Listening to hear the sharp heartbeat
When my cowboy comes from the drive

Far away toward the northward
A coyote starts his refrain
His brother joins in the chorus
And they sing it again and again

At last they are quiet and somewhere
I hear a horse's shrill neigh
I know that my cowboy is coming
So I hurridly turn away

And fix up the fire in our cookstove
Put the sourdough biscuits to bake
Stir up the boiling frijoles
And salt and fry a stake

Then with the hem of my apron
Wipe a smudge of flour from my nose
And back at my post to greet him
That man in those rough western clothes
I hear a sound of his saddle
As he throws it off on the ground
Then his heart gives himself a good shaking
I can readily place every sound

At last I hear footsteps approaching
And I almost hold my breath
For in my heart I am hoping
That he’ll know it’s my new pink dress

He comes, but his eyes wander past me
As he greets me with a kiss at the door
And I know that he’s wanting his supper
For I’ve been through the whole thing before

I place the hot supper before him
Oh yes, I shall surely do my part
As I swallow my own disappointment
For I know that’s the way to his heart