Chapter 1

Alma Del Mar Jr. (well, that was her maiden name) drove up to her father's trailer to deliver some news and to have a long overdue discussion. She was a little nervous and excited at the same time, and deep down had a feeling it would be productive.

Ennis Del Mar was standing outside to greet her when he heard the engine from her new husband Kurt's car. After they embraced and sat down side, they began idly chatting over coffee. They talked about the wedding and what a good time it was. When the conversation shifted to what her and Kurt had planned for the future, that was when Alma knew her opportunity had knocked. It was now or never.

"Well, that's actually why I came here to talk to you, Daddy," she began to explain. "Kurt's daddy wants to start a ranch down in Cheyenne. We are planning on moving there in a few weeks so he can check on it while he isn't working in the oil field. I got into school there and will be getting into teaching."

Ennis felt a singe of pride for his daughter and beamed. "Well, how 'bout that? My little girl is goin' to college. You always were the brains of the family."

Alma smiled back and continued. "Well, about the ranch…we thought that maybe you would like to move with us and help run it. I know it would make Kurt and his daddy feel a lot better knowin' it was in the hands of someone they could trust."

"Well, I dunno, sweetheart," Ennis responded after a moment's thought. "That's an awful big job for just one fella, 'specially now that I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Well.." here it was, the moment Alma was most anxious about coming. "What if your friend Jack helped you run it?"

Ennis stared at her in shock, unsure how to respond at first. "Junior.. I dunno, he's got a wife and son. I don't think he can…"

"Daddy…I know about the two of you," she cut him off.

Ennis was once again in shock. "Whatddya mean?"

Alma explained. "I was talkin' to Mama right before the wedding. She was helping me with some stuff and we got to talkin' about what it's like to be married. I ended up askin' her what happened between the two of you. She said I was finally old enough to know the truth, so she told me about you and Jack."

Ennis looked at the floor, ashamed to look his own daughter in the face. "Junior, I…"

"You know," Alma continued, "I remember meeting Jack once when I was a little girl. He seemed real nice. And when you saw him…your face lit up, you seemed so happy. I know you were tryin' not to show it, though. Happier than you were with Cassie, which was why I didn't take much to her."

"It was right after your Mama and I got divorced," he explained, still not meeting her in the eyes. "He thought that…that that meant we could have a life together."

"You still can," Alma encouraged. "Daddy...I don't like the idea of you being sad and alone for the rest of your life. Look, I don't know for sure how you feel about Jack, but what I do know is if he makes you as happy as Kurt makes me, then you both deserve to go for it." She put her hand on his shoulder. "And I know Jenny would feel the same way."

Ennis finally looked up at his daughter. "You turned out alright, Junior. I'm proud of ya."

"Thank you, Daddy. I've gotta head back to get ready for the move. Will you think about what I said?"

"Sure, sweetheart. I'll give ya my answer real soon," he assured her. He definitely gave her a great deal to think about. They both stood up for a good-bye hug, and Ennis walked her to the door and watched her drive away.

Alma had no intention of heading straight home, however. She had acquired the address of a Jack Twist from an old post card she had noticed lying around her father's kitchen. There are two sides to every story, and she was going to Texas to get his.