 Here in Park County Montana, Ranchers turn out their stock in spring to graze on public lands full of sweet grass. Come fall, Cowboys, like me and LD search the high country for stock that didn't find the way back home. The stray roundup lasted a week, and always ended on a Saturday. Ranchers generally gave the cowboys 50 cents a head for each stray brought in. It was a great time of year. Cowboys had pockets full of silver dollars, and the whole town turned out for the Saturday night Stray Day Dance. All week long I listened to LD boast about how he was going to capture the heart of the new Cooke City School Marm. A pretty thing she was, and truthfully, the ladies did take a fancy to LD and his handsome smile. LD was a man on a mission. I had seen this before, The schoolmarm didn't stand a chance. We broke camp early Saturday morning, and had the last of our strays delivered to the collection area by noon. The rest of the afternoon was a blur as LD got a haircut and a shave followed by a genuine bath down at the Curl House. On the way to the bunkhouse, he stopped at the Cooke Store and bought a $2.00 shirt. The young lady didn't stand a chance. Right about 7:30 we dropped into the cafe for dinner. LD spent the entire time talking about the school marm. I'd never seen him so focused. After dinner we stood up and paid our bill. Before we could walk out the door, Big Marge slipped out of the back room. She tossed her apron on the counter, grabbed LD by the arm and said, "LD you're taking me to the dance tonight." As the color faded from LD's face I backed off and for the first time thanked the Lord that the Ladies favored LD over me. Big Marge stood 6'1 and weighed over 200 lbs. It was rumored that she could whip any man in town other than her two big, ugly brothers. By the time we arrived at the hall, the word had spread. Other cowboy's faces broke into smiles and muffled snickers swept across the hall. Only Eddie Pickard had the nerve to speak. "Marge, you and LD make a fine looking couple" he said. "I believe I'll shoot him" L.D. whispered to me as he walked by. Most of the serious drinking and fighting took place outside the dance. About 11:15 LD made a break and found me out back. "You've got to help me," he pleaded. "At least come in and dance with Big Marge a few times to give me a chance to make it over to the school marm." I explained that I'd sure like to help, but was afraid to make her and her brothers mad at me . I followed him in anyway, and did my best to keep Big Marge occupied while LD snuck away to tempt the School Marm with his charm. The rest of the night was pretty much a bust for LD I noticed he did get one dance with the School Marm, but just a short time later, He and Buddy Martin got in a fist fight over whose turn it was, and both got thrown out, Big Marge's ugly brothers followed L.D. outside and threatened him. LD's new $2.00 shirt was torn and bloodied, and later the School Marm ran off to Texas with some college boy who worked at the Park entrance for the summer. I walked Big Marge home and made up a story that LD hit his head on a rock and was acting strange so maybe she'd ought to call her brothers off. Big Marge soon found true love with a 5'6" 145 lb miner from Scotland. Eddie, Buddy and LD got drunk together and never talked about that night again. LD and I trailered our horses and drove up to Red Lodge for the winter.
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