She Cheats And Behind Closed Doors The Truth Burns

0:00Hello, I'm welcome to cheating all the time. Glad you are here. Let's get into this next crazy cheat. I trusted her. For 15 years I gave her everything. My love, my loyalty. But nothing could prepare me for that moment. A picture. Sent to my phone. My wife in his arms. At 30,000 feet. Smiling. She thought I wouldn't find out. But I did. I think I'll stay quiet. That I'll forgive. Forget. No. I've planned something far worse. He's rich, powerful and touchable or so he thinks. She doesn't know it yet, but I'll tear down everything she's built. My revenge is set in motion. It's time for them to pay. Come on, Bobby. It's time to move on. She's back with you and she won't betray your trust again. You've been together for 15 years and have two wonderful kids. You don't want to throw all of that away. If you split up, she'll have your boys and you both could struggle financially.

1:02Getting back together is best for your whole family. I couldn't decide what was worse, the loud woman saying, just move on or the idea of forgiving her sister for being unfaithful. This wasn't just a one-time mistake after a night out. It felt much bigger than that and I thought there should be some consequences. The problem was that if I acted on my feelings, I would be hurting myself more than anyone else. I had more to lose than anyone else and this loud woman wasn't helping my mood or my ability to think clearly, dot, so there I was. Bobby Smith, sitting on a pontoon boat in a lake with those three. The loud woman, her annoying husband and my unfaithful wife. Coming from Kansas, I knew swimming the 300 yards to the shore was way too tough for me, dot. In 10 minutes, I planned to show my wife the depth of my feelings in a way she wouldn't forget, dot now come a little background about me, the guy caught in the middle of this mess. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas, which likes to call itself the capital of the world. Big companies like Boeing, Cessna and spirit of factories there, dot in school. I did okay, but my parents didn't notice. My mom had some tough struggles and didn't always act appropriately.

2:04My dad thought he had married well when they got together. My older brother and sister, believed to share the same father as me, couldn't take the constant fighting and calls for help from neighbors. They left the moment they graduated high school, dot. They wished me luck and quickly moved on, where they might get caught up in something serious, dot. My teachers always said I was smart enough to do well, but I didn't feel hopeful about my future. At least I waited until the morning after graduation to leave home. My first stop was the US Army Recruiting Center. Since I did well in my shop classes, I signed up to be a real vehicle mechanic. It was one of the first times I felt like something good was coming my way, taught to many the pay for a non-me private seems small. But to me, it felt like a fortune. My petunce sergeant appreciated me because I did my job well and got along with everyone. We went out together, had fun, and enjoyed our time for two years. When my time in the army was over, I wanted to go back to Wichita and work at one of the aircraft plants. I signed up for training at the National Center for Aviation Training to gain the skills I needed for better jobs. I focused on aerospace manufacturing and technology, believing it was the right path for me.

3:08I was thrilled when Seth offered me a job. However, six months later, while helping a friend build a shop in his garage, I had an accident that changed everything. At first, I was upset and blamed my friend for his mistake while working on the roofing. That mistake left me with a deep cut on my chest that bled quite a bit. Seeing the blood, I shouted for help, but then I chuckled because I remembered I wasn't in the army anymore. My friend pressed a shop rack against my cut to stop the bleeding and we rushed to seek medical help. There was a clinic just a mile away, so he drove me there. Although I was in danger, I was making quite a mess so they quickly took me into a treatment room, not for my safety, but to keep the waiting area clean. What happened next would change my life forever. The most wonderful nose I ever saw walked into my room. She was tall, strong, and her dark hair that reached her shoulders. I smiled bright in the entire space. Her name tag said, Nurse Anne. She looked at my jeans, work boots, and stained t-shirt. Then she smiled at me and said, I didn't know they were having auditions for a show today. I replied, I'm not sure about that. I was busy building a home for kids and finding kiosks for illnesses.

4:11My injury happened when some metal blew off the roof thanks to a celebration from some smart folks. She smiled a bit and laughed at my joke. It's only 10.30. How early did you start drinking today? Not at all yet, but that depends on how long it takes you to help me. After all, if you wanted to drink all day, you should start early, I answered. While looking at my medical charge, she asked, you smoke cigarettes too, don't you? Yet I replied. You remind me a lot of my brother, as she said quietly. Do you care about your brother? I asked. She sighed and replied, yes, but sometimes it's hard. I said, so there's hope for me to take you out since I'm so much like your brother. Her response was hot, please take off your share. I have more important things to do than talk with someone like you. It was tough to pull the shirt off my sore shoulder, so she cut it off instead, playfully shaking the scissors as if teasing me. Without a word, she started cleaning the blood and dirt off my chest. I'm six feet tall and mostly muscle, which seemed to make her spend a bit more time on my care. She chuckled when I flinched at the sting of the cleaning solution she poured on my wound.

5:12I figured she would have gently told me this might sting a bit. She walked to the door, turned to me, pointed to the exam table I was sitting on, and firmly said, stay. For just a moment, I caught a glimpse of her smile. A few minutes later, nurse Anne and a doctor returned to the room. I could see she was nervous that I might act up and make things awkward. If I wanted to connect with her, I needed to be a better patient. I answered their questions with yes, sir, and no, sir, trying to be polite and agreeable. While the doctor examined my wound, Anne stood right behind him. I winked at her and she smiled back. The doctor asked Anne to prepare a syringe to help with the pain while he got ready to stitch me up. As he worked, I couldn't help but watch Anne as she focused on the doctor. Sometimes she would glance at me, smile, and then look back down. After Anne put on addressing, the doctor said, no heavy activity, keep the wound clean and make an appointment in a week for Anne to remove the stitches. Great, I'm looking forward to seeing Anne again, I replied. He chuckled and Anne blush, which made me happy. With a grin, he told us, we need to clean this room in three minutes.

6:13Can I count on you to wrap up whatever you need to do within that time? Yes, sir, I said, and I smiled but didn't say anything. What time can I take you up for dinner tonight? I asked with a smile. She paused so long I thought she might not answer. Then she finally said seven p.m. She had a curious expression as she asked, red pick up. Yep, I replied. Figures, she said as she walked out of the room. I went home to tidy myself and my pick up for the evening. I chose clean jeans of fresh cotton shirt and nice leather shoes. Anne might have been surprised and a bit let down if I had worn something nicer than what I had done. We wore similar outfits, but she looked better in her fitted jeans. More people seemed to notice how her shirt fit compared to mine. She knew how to get into a big truck gracefully, especially being five foot seven inches tall. Once the silence broke, we talked easily for the rest of the evening. We both shared stories about our life so far. She came from a small town in southwest Kansas that I had never heard of. Her family ran a farm and wrench there. I'd hardly traveled outside the city, so I could only imagine what it was like, dot.

7:15By the time we left the Mexican restaurant, it was dark. I asked her if she had seen the keeper of the plane's statue by the rivers. She didn't know what a meant, so I drove her to with the big and little Arkansas rivers meet up. At the SWAT in the center of Wichita, an artist named Black Bear Boss and created a four to four foot tall statue called Keeper of the Plains. The area is known for being a meeting place for different Native American tribes. In the past, trail drivers used to keep long horns there before sending them to Chicago in the late 1800s. I learned about this from my visits to Wichita's Caltan, a place that represents Wichita back in those days' Dardanai. The statue looked impressive with its beautiful lights and the bridge over the rivers resembled a bow and arrow. Although she had lived in Wichita for a couple of years, she had never been to the spot. We stood by the riverbank, enjoying the view and watching families gathered for the evening event. I checked my watch, and when it was 9.44pm, I moved closer to her and put my arm around her in a comfortable manner, and moved she accepted with a smile and a little shake dot. At 9.45pm, seven firepots in the river went off with a loud bang, sending flames soaring

8:15into the air. And jumped into my arms, startled by the noise. She trembled a bit until she realized I was holding her safely dot. She looked up at me and said, you knew that was going to happen, didn't you? Yep, I replied. You don't need to surprise me to get a hug. Just ask, and I'll be happy to hold you, she said, with a smile dot. Then we shared a gentle kiss, filled with care and the wish to be closer. Once the firework display ended, we walked back to my truck, linking arms. I walked her to her apartment, checked to make sure no one else was around, and turned to say goodbye. Don't you want to stay a bit longer? She asked her for a shy. I'd love to stay for as long as you want, but I think it's best if I head home after a first date to plan when we can meet again this month. Anne took a step closer and wrapped her arms around me tightly, saying this was a wonderful night for me. Please come back tomorrow at 6.30 for dinner. The next evening, I showed up right at 6.30pm, with red roses from my new girlfriend. She opened the door wearing a beautiful yellow sundress. She had a playful look on her face and said, those flowers are lovely, but I was just about

9:17to leave for a date with someone else. I don't want to be late, so could you please put these in some water? Oh, and lock the door when you leave. By then she dashed out the door. I washed the flowers, droop in my hands. What just happened? I found a vase, filled it with water, and put the flowers in it before heading to the door. As soon as I opened it, there was Anne laughing at my expression. He surprised me with the firepots last night. I got you back tonight. How we even now? She asked, I guess we are at least for now, I replied, feeling a bit awkward. She smiled, took my arm and said, come on in. I hope you like what I've made for dinner tonight. She offered me a choice between wine and beer. I picked the beer and we sat down to eat. We laughed about the previous night and joined each other's company. We exchanged mall, caring touches, just gentle moments of connection. There was an unspoken understanding of what the night would eventually lead, with a soft glow of a lamp already lit in the room next to the living room. Throughout dinner, she kept nervously apologising, unsure if I like the food.

10:19I finally took her hands and reassured her, stop worrying. I love the food and the way you made it. You never need to apologise unless I tell you otherwise. If your hands made it, I'm sure I'll love it. But okay, that seemed to put her at ease and we both relaxed. The rest of the dinner was filled with laughter and like conversation about the things that mattered to us. Why don't you sit on the couch while I clean up the kitchen? I sat down for a few minutes, but then walked over to her. Gently placing my hands on her hips, I leaned closer, smelling the fresh scent of her hair. You smell nice, I sit softly. She turned and smiled. Fans. I leaned and closer, noticing the slight shiver that ran through her, but she didn't pull away. She continued washing the dishes, occasionally shrugging her shoulders, but made no complaints. As I gently touched her arms, she remained still focused on her task. I stood close behind her, arms resting on the countertop, surrounding her with my presence but keeping it light. She slowly turned to face me at quite a moment she had between us.

11:19When she turned around completely, she asked, you're not going to let me finish the dishes, are you? No, I replied. She whispered, so what are we going to do instead? Let me think of something. I placed my hands just below her arms and gently moved them down to her knees. I softly rubbed the backs of her knees and calves, then began to raise my hands. As I lifted them, my thumbs caught the hem of her dress. I couldn't help but gaze into her blue eyes, duck. When my hands reached her arms, I noticed she wasn't wearing a top underneath. She raised her arms straight up, allowing me to pull the dress off. I carefully laid it on a chair, while I didn't realize how lovely you are. I always admired your face and personality, but your beauty is amazing. You're truly remarkable, Annie. I stepped closer, wrapped my arms around her and kissed her gently. She kissed me back with the same feeling, dot. When we finished, she took my hand and led me to her bedroom. She lay on the bed and back in me to join her with a smile. I settled beside her and said, you had a chance to admire me. Can I do the same with you?

12:20I could see she was happy with my attention. I gently touched her, showing her how much I appreciated her. The look on her face told me she was ready for more. Without hesitation, she moved slightly so I could see her better doll. She smiled and invited me closer. Please could we share a special moment together? She asked, dot. How could I say no? It was nice that everything was going smoothly, and there was a warm feeling between us as we moved together gently. Her soft sound showed me we were both enjoying the moment. We found a nice rhythm that felt wonderful for both of us. She was feeling happy frequently, and I made sure to take my time, wanting to keep the experience special, dot. As we continued, I could see her face change with joy. More expressions often than her eyes barkled with happiness. I felt close to my own peak of emotion, too, as everything felt intense and rewarding for us both. Dot eventually calmer. We both caught our breath, feeling joyful and content, dot. Just as I began to move away, she asked, no, please stay close to me. I shifted to rest on my elbows, still close so we could enjoy each other's company, dot.

13:21With a dreamy expression, she said, bobby, he may not be my first, but you are definitely my favorite. I want to be your last, I replied sincerely, dot. You smiled mischievously and said, I like where your head is at. So when's our next special moment, later tonight or tomorrow morning? I patted my chest and said both. For the next three months, we spent every evening, and we can together. It was time for me to meet her parents, and I felt a bit shy since I didn't have a family of my own. It was like I had come from nowhere, so visiting her family, who had lived in the same ranch for generations, felt like an adventure. The plan was to leave right after work on Friday afternoon, and come back to Wichita on Sunday night. After starting my track, I asked Anne for directions to her family's ranch. She said, drive west from Wichita for about two and a half hours until you reach Wiotip Boulevard in Dodge City. Continue west on white air until you see El Capitan. That's the large longhorned seastatune in the middle of the street. Turn left to El Capitan heading south. If you pass Bertil, you've gone too far. Once you're heading south, keep going until you cross the sound of Fetrial, then turn

14:23west off the paved road, and wake me up. You must be joking. What kind of directions are these? Where is the address for my GPS? Why aren't you staying awake to help me? She reply, Bobbi, those are the directions to the ranch. You'll be fine. I'm a bit tired after last night, so I need some rest. Wake me up when we're south of Dodge City. Without you, grab the pillow and lay her head down, smiling a bit. There weren't many stoplights during the next two and a half hours. I used each light to stretch and move around to keep my legs from filling stiff. Two and a half hours later, I could see the city lights of Dodge City. I drove past two large cattle processing plants and several big grain silos until I saw a street sign that reed, while I day at Blvd. While her directions were working so far. A few blocks later, I spotted the stature of a longhorn steer right in the street. Now I just had to find the Santa Fe Trail sign. She seemed to be resting, but I didn't think she was truly asleep. She was too detailed or in to let me wander off in the prairie looking for an old cattle trail. I gently nudge her and she merrmered, not again, dear.

15:25Can you wait just a bit longer? Come on, wake up before I end up in Oklahoma. Okay, Bobby, where are we? She asked, pretending to be asleep. But I have my doubts. Oh great, there's the miller place, just three miles to go. She began styling her hair and touching up her makeup. We turned off the gravel road to the sign that reed clear Creek Ranch, ESD1872. A ranch house came into view, along with several bonds and pens. A couple and F5thus came out of the house to greet us. I and became excited when she saw her parents in the yard. The truck had barely stopped when she jumped out and ran to her mother for a warm embrace. By the time I got to them, she had also hugged her, father and given him a kiss on the cheek. Mother, father, this is Bobby Smith. Bobby, this is Pat and Bill Greene. I took off my cap and shook Bill's hand while Pat welcomed me with a friendly hug. Dought. We went inside the house for a late dinner. I'm a company pat to finish preparing the meal, leaving me with a somewhat awkward task of chatting with the father of the woman I had grown close to over the last few months.

16:27Each woman I had been with didn't a family I got to know so this experience was new for me. Duttbell said. It's a long trip from Wichita. Would you like something to drink? We have tea, water, beer, whiskey or bourbon. Cold water followed by cold beer would be great, thank you. No need to call me Sir Bobby, just Bill works for everyone here. When Bill returned, he mentioned, and his brother Gary is not here tonight. He had to attend a meeting in Dodge. Meet him tomorrow. Gary is single and lives in a mobile home on one of the other ranches. Since I didn't have family to share stores with, I started asking about the pictures and items in the family room. Bill was a wealth of information about Cleo Creek Ranch, homes to did by Pat's family, who were cattle ranchers and had one of the first cattle brands registered in the county dot. Their mark was two seas next to each other placed in the unfortunate cows right side dot. The cater and green families had a long history in the area, and there were many pictures of cowboys and cowgirls all around, all connected to Pat O'Bill. Both Bill and Pat grew up in large families, so Ann had loss of cousins, nephews and nieces

17:28dot. There were photos of historic figures like Wyatt, Earp and his brothers, Batmastison and Dot Colour Day. These photos were original ones, not coffers. Bill's grandfather appeared in several of them as an observer. He even had to receipt signed by Wyatt it for a gun he bought after ensuring a troublesome person would no longer be a problem, thought. One intrigued me the most was the collection of 1573 Winchester rifles displayed in a case in the wall. These rifles were known as the rifle that won the West. Their families had used these guns to defend against coyotes, thieves and other challenges. This was more captivating than dinner, but Bill and had decided to save our exploration of history for later top. At dinner, I listened to Pat share the history of the Carter family, which connected nicely with Bill's family. It was interesting to learn more about Ann's background dot late in the evening. Bill mentioned he needed to go to bed to wake up early the next day. This was the moment I'd been nervous about. Where would I sleep? Was it presumptuous to think I could sleep near Ann? To move the conversation along, I said I'll go outside and bring in the bags.

18:28That way, the greens could decide where I would sleep. However, they hadn't made a decision by the time I returned. So I stepped forward and asked Bill, isn't there a bunkhouse near the barn? When I was a kid, I dreamt of being a cowboy and sleeping in a bunkhouse. Would you let me live out that childhood dream by sleeping there? Pat interjected, oh, you can't sleep in that old place. The bed is squeaky old springs, and it was hard to get a good night's sleep on it. Maybe that's true, but I don't often get to fulfill my old hopes. What time should I come back inside? I asked Dot. She shook her head and said, breakfast starts at 8 am. I'll see you then, I replied. I grabbed my back and headed toward the bunkhouse. Let me show you the way, Bill said dot. As we walked, we talked about the beautiful Storysky. There was much life from the city out here, da, once inside the bunkhouse. Bill pointed out a few quirks of the bathroom. He added, Bobby, you don't have to stay here. You can stay with him if you want. Sir, it doesn't feel right for me to stay with your daughter in your house. This room is fine for me.

19:28I've stayed in much worse places during my time in the army. This will work, I said. Dot Bill smiled, shook my hand, and walked back to the house dot pat was right. The bed wasn't very comfortable, but I was tired and happy with my life. There was no air conditioning because out here on the high plains, summer nights can be cool, even if daytime temperatures can reach nearly 100 degrees. I had the windows open and the screen door to let in the fresh breeze. I soon fell asleep but woke up to a strange sound. I heard the screen door creak open and then soft footsteps coming toward my bed. I recognized the figure approaching me, I opened the sheet for anti-concloser. I was going to surprise you, she said. He did surprise me, I didn't expect you to get here so late, I reply, please to see her. Bobby, my parents were really impressed with you tonight. They like you a lot, especially dad. He appreciated that you chose to sleep out here. If you had insisted on staying with me, he might have sent you back out here. Since you offered to stay here, he's fine with you sleeping in the house with me, she said. I appreciated it, but since this is my first time meeting your parents, I'll stay in

20:29a bunk house. I wasn't just making up the story about wanting to sleep in a bunk house as a kid. When I was younger, I dreamed of being a cowboy. It was my way of escaping from the tough times with my family, I explained. The pictures of your family in Dodge City, with white ebbing all the others, fascinated me. When I saw the bunk house, it reminded me of that happy part of my childhood, I added. In the darkness, she replied softly, let me add to those happy memories. I couldn't see her, but her presence was clear. We shared quite a moment, the atmosphere fell with comfort and connection. The bed springs creaked as she shifted positions, and I caught a glimpse of her silhouette in the faint light. We lay there quietly, savoring the simple joy of being close to one another. The peaceful atmosphere filled the room as we exchanged gentle touches, feeling safe and relaxed. Her presence brought warmth and comfort, reminding me of what it meant to be understood and cared for. The rest of the night passed in calmness, with no words needed. Just being together in the quiet of the night was enough. As we engaged in playful banter, I tried to match the joy my partner was giving me. As her laughter filled the air, I felt lifted by our shared happiness.

21:32Even after the moment passed, she continued to express her fondness in small tender ways. In the midst of this, she leaned closer, requesting the same thoughtfulness and return. I happily obliged, and the warmth of her connection deepened. Slowly, when she moved away, she rested her head on my shoulder. I love you so much, man. This is wonderful. And I love you too, Bobby, more than I ever thought I could. She chuckled softly and said, you know, I never thought I would sneak out to see one of the workers here. There's always a first time, man. Are you staying with me tonight or going back in? I should go back inside. I just wanted to come out here to tell you how much you mean to me. I've always tried to make my parents proud, so I want them to think and still a good girl. Oh, you're a very good girl. Good night, my love. See you at breakfast. That was a lovely thought as I drifted off to sleep. I stayed awake just long enough to see her leave through the screen door, and then I closed my eyes. I was eventually woken by the sunrise and shining through my open window. The hot water heater wasn't on yet, so I started the morning with a quick cold shower dot.

22:33After dressing in jeans and a T-shirt, I went outside and heard some noise from the machine shade. I spotted a young man working hard to change a big truck tire. Instead of startling him, I called out, good morning. That's a tough start to the day, I said. Mollaming. This guy is really getting on my nerves, Gary replied, do you want some help with that? I've done this type of work before I offered. Sure, you can go to the other side and we'll lift it together. I'll put on the lug nuts, he said quickly. Dot. Working together made the job easy and we finished up soon. As we called out from under the truck, Gary said thanks. I could have done it alone, but it would have warned me out for the rest of the day. I'm Gary. Nice to meet you. I'm Bobby, I replied. Bobby? I heard someone call you Mr. Dot wonderful for a man. That made me smile, Gary said. I chuckled at that and responded, I don't know why she says that. She's way smarter than I am. She just asked her if you don't believe me, Gary laughed heartily at that. He didn't ask if it's not too much trouble, could you help me again?

23:35I need to take this on eight days into the shop to fix the hydraulic lift before harvest. Just as long as I make it back in time for breakfast at eight o'clock, I said. Sounds good. Do you want to drive my pick up or yours to dodge? Gary asked. Why not let me drive this big rig? Just give me the address and I'll head to town. I'm sure you have better things to do than take a slow trip to the shop this morning. I suggested. I jumped into the cab, started the powerful engine, and backed out of the machine shed, making my way to Dodge City. I noticed Gary watching me, probably unsure if I could handle driving this big machine. The radio was tuned to a local western music station, which added some nice local vibes for my trip. Gary left the farm a bit later than I did, but we reached a repair shop around the same time, Dot. On the way back, he said thanks for helping me this morning. Otherwise, I would have had to call one of the workers for a ride. We really know how to handle a rig like our big red. Where did you learn that? I spent two years in the army fixing vehicles. We needed to be licensed to drive the ones we repaired.

24:36How do you drive that truck? From late June to the first full week of July, we used the truck to transport wheat to the big white concrete grain elevators you saw when you came into town. We hire local people to drive the truck so dad and I can keep the combines running. Antakes that time off to help mom prepare meals and deliver food to all the workers spread over 10 miles. We went on, since Anne will be here working anyway, do you want the job driving the wheat truck for us? The pay isn't great, the cab isn't cool, it gets pretty hot, and we work along iris, but the fruit and the feeling of getting the job done are really good. You make it sound appealing. How can I say no? We both laughed. Dot Gary asked me about how airplanes were made, and I asked him about growing wheat. We got back to clear creek ranch at 7.30am. I cleaned up in the bunkhouse and went into the main house. It seemed like everyone knew that Gary and I had gone out for a little ride, dot. They'll say I see you make Gary this morning. I'm surprised he'll let you drive big red into town. He's very protective of that truck. On the experienced drivers get to handle it during the harvest.

25:37Yeah, he explained how it's used during wheat harvest. Hey Anne, I got off at a new job this morning. She looked at me and said, Ant, I'm going to drive the grid during the harvest. Should be fun. What do you think? Does this fit into your plans? She laughed and replied, so my brother told you I would be here cooking and delivering meals to the harvest workers, and you think you're clever. After a brief prayer, our breakfast was just right for the hard work these farmers do every day, dot. During lunch, I nerd his pet and Bill exchanging some strange looks. That Bill cleared his throat and asked Anne, have you been having trouble sleeping lately? I thought I saw you walking around in your sleep last night. Pot started to giggle as Antone bright red. She kept stuffing scrambled eggs into her mouth, trying not to speak. She looked at me for a clever comment, but I just shrugged and smiled. Dot Anne put down her fork and said, I was worried about Bobby staying in the hired man's room. There might be spiders in this and no one uses it anymore. Plus Bobby forgot to say goodnight. After she spoke, everyone laughed, including Endot.

26:39The rest of the day, Anne and I went our separate ways. She stayed with Pat and I left with Bill. Since I once wanted to be a cowboy, Bill took me around clear creek ranch. Clear creek is part of Pat's family heritage. They all and Pat later added pieces of other ranches as they became available. They managed about 3,000 acres of native grass, which was the same kind that had been there since the time of the Native Americans in Buffalo. They had 250 black cows that graze their year round. Every fall, they purchased another 1,000 young cattle to take care of during the winter and early spring before sending them to commercial feed lots. We rarely drove on paved roads while moving between ranches. If we happen to see another truck, we had to stop and chat about the weather in the cattle market. It was clear that Bill loved this life and was quite successful with his ranching. When we returned to the ranch, we found Gary in the machine-shed. I lit up a cigarette and went in to chat with him. He looked at my cigarette and said, he knows she'll want you to quit, right? He yep, we've talked about it. We're in the negotiation phase now. He asked, how's that going to work?

27:40My grandfather was in France during World War II and he used to trade cigarettes for some favors with the local women. I'm using that as a guide. Do you think it will work? He smiled and replied, you have no chance, my friend. You're in trouble. Since I can't buy any tobacco products, I need to ask you for smoke. I was really starting to enjoy my time with Gary. That evening, we had a BBQ at a neighbor's ranch. A large grower was set up in the backyard and as we drove up, it felt like a gathering with lots of people in the smell of smoke in the air. The rancher provided delicious steaks and all the women brought their best side dishes including in. There were games for the kids and a concrete slough left over from an old building became our dance floor. Families from three generations joined in on the dance floor. I danced sorely with Anne during the solo songs, but headed to the refreshment area for the faster tunes. Several young men kept her busy during those songs, spinning her around like a doll. When the music switched back to slow, those guys were tried to hold her clothes, but she pushed them away and waved her finger for me to dance with her. It was a wonderful evening.

28:41We were all tired as we returned to clear creek ranch. I wished Anne good night and walked to the bunkhouse, hearing Pat and bell teasing her about her playful sleepwalking. An eye later, I woke up to the sound of the screen door closing. This time Anne had come to the bunkhouse with a mischievous spirit. With that saying a word, she came over and playfully pulled the sheet off me. She moved closer and smiled, inviting me to join her. It was a moment full of warmth and connection. She looked at me and said, get up. I quickly responded. She moved past me and lay down in the single bed. The bed made a funny noise as she settled in. Then she said one word now. I was getting ready when she added, if Mom and Dad are going to tease me about being in the bunkhouse with you, I'll make sure they hear us. I want this to last. Following her cue, I noticed that every noise I made seemed echo and the bed creaked in a regular rhythm. As time went on, she encouraged me to pick up the pace and soon we were both very engaged in our shared moment. After a quiet pause, it felt almost overwhelming. I asked her, can you walk back to your room or will you stay here with me?

29:42I'm staying with you as long as I can, sure blight, before drifting off to sleep beside. Early the next morning, I made her way back to the house without being seen. Breakfast was served at 8FM with everyone wearing knowing smiles. No one mentioned how anyone slept. The meal was bacon and pancakes. I was the last to be served and all eyes were on me as a plate of pancakes and a large steak were placed in front of me. Bill smiled and said, I think you need this. One laughed except Gary, but I knew he would hear the story later. We went to Mastia there as a family and I felt accepted as one of them. From the way I was treated, it felt like this was the family I had always wished for. As an orphan, I had finally found a family that loved and accepted me. In the late afternoon, Anne and I drove back to Wichita with bags of fruit and happy thoughts about our weekend. We decided to focus on our bond and shared experiences rather than anything else. The big change was that I moved into her apartment, taking another step toward becoming more like a family. Three weeks later, we returned to clear creek ranch. Once again, we received warm welcomes and friendly smiles.

30:44When I took my travel bag to the bunkhouse, I couldn't help but laugh. The old iron bed was replaced with a neutron bed and pretty curtains framed the windows. There was a hot water heater installed and on a small table set of vase of sunflowers in a note that said, welcome home son. The main reason for our visit was the busy time of wheat harvest. This was the form of chance to gather the crop they planted last full. It was important to harvest the grain before about what they could ruin it. Gary and I focused on organizing big red to go to the right fields at the right times. Thanks to everyone's hard work, we were ready for harvest and there were no major issues with the machines. It was a success and all the workers were safe but tired at the end of the day. By late July, we returned to clear creek once more. On Friday night, we spent time with the family. On Saturday, I helped bail and Gary clean and repair the tools and vehicles needed for the wheat harvest. After dinner, Anne excitedly informed everyone we were going for a night ride to enjoy the perseid meter shower. I had no idea what to expect but I knew we would be riding horses. Anne prepared her buckskin mare and I was given bills wrong-guelding.

31:47After settling both, we mounted and began walking down the driveway, ready for an adventure under the stars. A mile later, Anne stopped at a gate, dismounted, opened it and signalled for me to bring both horses through. She tied them to the gate and said, please put your things in the saddle bag but keep your boots on. I couldn't say no to her request. Seeing Anne as she was, still wearing her boots was quite a sight. I felt fortunate. Then I noticed her take a towel from behind her and place it underneath herself. What's with the towel? I asked. With a smile that worn my heart she replied, I just want to keep my saddle clean. Thinking about that, we continued on a path through the tall grass. I moved my horse around Anne, sometimes behind her, sometimes beside her. Each few had its perks. I enjoyed watching her ride gracefully. Her smile brightened my day as I looked over at her. We stopped on a hillside facing north, taking in the peaceful view by moonlight. There was no one nearby. Anne opened a bedroom behind her saddle, took out a fresh blanket and spread it out for us to sit on. She turned to me and said, this is a special spot on our ranch.

32:47My great-grandfather discovered springs here that provided water for his cattle, helping our families survive. The water bubbled up from the rocks and my dad drilled a pipe to send the water into the tank over there. Even the local tribes considered this place important. Even though my great-grandfather owned this land, he always welcomed the local tribes to visit. Once a year, 12 nearby cattlemen brought an ice steer to the small Indian camp. They also hired some local people to help run up cattle and fall to move them to their winter grazing areas. She continued to night, we are going to watch the perseid meter shower that takes place every July and August. We might see between 30 and 90 shooting stars while we lie here. This spot is perfect because there are no bright lights around. I've come here for the show every year since I was born. Mom and dad also ride up here on horseback and talk about our family members who have been here for the last 130 years. She added, I told the family we were coming here so we could enjoy this together. You're the first person I've brought here. Thank you for this special moment. I didn't expect to be here but as much better than I imagined, I replied.

33:48We turned to face each other sitting cross-legged. I held her hands and said, and green, would you make me the luckiest man in the world by marrying me? Would you be reacted with excitement? I will marry you, Bobby Smith. Whenever however, but definitely forever, I will be your wife. As we shared this moment, we lay back to gaze at the shooting stars. The sight of her smiling face as we enjoyed each other's company was truly special. It felt magical as we watched the stars together sharing this beautiful night. While we lay there, looking at the sky and thinking about our future, she suddenly jumped up and exclaimed, look, I saw a thousand stars but missed what she wanted to show me so I got up behind her as she pointed to two unusually bright stars close together. Beneath those stars was a cloud shaped like a you, a huge smiley face. Anne took this as a sign from the universe that it was meant to be. In a few minutes, the clouds drifted away and we were there to witness something beautiful. Anne, could you give me a moment please? I asked. She looked at me with curiosity. I stood up and walked over to my horse. I opened this saddlebag and took out a small box.

34:51It's hard to keep a velvet box hidden when you both outside in the open. She figured it out before I returned to the blanket. I opened the box for her and the diamond shimmer like the stars above. She was overjoyed by the ring. With a smile, she said, you'll need to ask my father for his blessing to marry me. I asked him earlier today, didn't you notice how happy he looked at dinner? Laughing, she replied, I thought it was because mom was being sweet to him. We lay back in the blanket enjoying the moment and a scenery. After a while, she stood up and said, shall we go clean up? As she started walking away, I followed her, happy to be closer. In the middle of the pasture was a water tank filled with cool, clear water. She stepped in and said, come on, the water is nice. The water was clear and it felt refreshing. Splashing around was fun and bright in our spirits. Soon enough, we decided we were clean enough to get dressed again. We held hands as we rode back to the bonds. After taking care of the horses, she decided to stay with me in the bunkhouse for the night. Before breakfast, she proudly showed off her ring finger to everyone nearby.

35:51Her mother had tears of joy and her father looked very proud. Yarrie, our friend, was happy for us both. This engagement started a long journey of planning every little detail for our wedding. I felt for Pat though, because my mother wasn't there to help us prepare. The wedding took place at the Queen's neighborhood church. It wasn't a big building, but many friends, neighbors, and family members were expected to be invited. I didn't ask Bill how many animals he had to prepare for the wedding meal. Mary was my best man and three friends from work were grooms-in. Anne had four of her cousins standing with her at the altar. Bill had the ashes helped see the guests on both sides of the aisle to keep the focus away from my lack of family. The wedding went smoothly, and everyone enjoyed themselves. My work friends had fun dancing with Anne's nice cousins. Two days later, we took Anne for Xuf Westjee from Dodge City to Sandafee, New Mexico, leaving at 5.55 a.m. A week there was wonderful, both at the hotel and exploring the city. After that, we started our life together like any young couple. That was until a faithful Saturday afternoon, several years later when I got a call from

36:52the city police, and had been in a serious car accident and was in the hospital. As I rushed to the hospital, I called Bill. It wasn't fair of me, but he was the only person I felt I could talk to at that moment. When I arrived, the doctor told me Anne was in critical condition with severe damage to her heart and other organs. He assured me there was no sign of brain damage yet. He allowed me to visit her briefly, just enough for her to know I was there and wanted her to fight. When I called her name, she opened her eyes. I told her I was with her and that her parents were on their way. She held my hand tightly until the nurse had to ask me to leave Bill, and Pat made it to the hospital two hours later, and I quickly brought them into the room, even though it meant stepping out myself. There was much we could do but wait and hope. We took turns staying with her all night so that someone was always by his side, thought the next morning we met with the doctor, and he shared some difficult news, thought. Her kidneys were failing, and it was affecting her other organs too. He apologized, saying there was nothing they could do except make her comfortable. I asked as she knew about this. The doctor sighed and replied, she is a wonderful nurse.

37:52She has kept us on our toes this whole time. She understands what her injuries will eventually lead to. Pat gasped. Bill turned his face away and teased so much shirt, dot. The doctor said she will likely pass today, so I have allowed all three of you to visit her together. Bill stepped outside to call Gary to come quickly, dot Pat, and I embraced until it was time to collect ourselves and go into her room. I led the way inside and how to soft voice aid, hi there, cowboy, and glad you're here. There's no place I'd rather be them by your side. Just then Bill entered the room and said, hello, princess, gently touching her forehead, thought and smiled and said, and happy you're all here. I only have the strength to say this once. I am so grateful to have shared my life with the three of you. You're all very special to me, and I love you. Please listen to me. This is important. I don't want you to feel sad when I leave. Remember only the fun times, not the fact that you'll miss me. I know you will keep me in your heart, but don't let sadness hold you back. Bobby, you're my true love. I want you to find happiness again, start a family, and create the life you've always wanted.

38:53Please do this for me. Remember I will always be with you in spirit. I'll be your guardian angel until we meet again. Mom, dad, thank you for everything you've done for me. I love and cherish you. Please do me one last favor. Take care of Bobby. Remember his only family now, and I'm worried about how he will manage without me. I'm really tired, so I need to rest for a few minutes. Then we can talk again. She squeezed my hand to show she was still there. Her sleep was restless. She would moan and mumble occasionally. Around mid-morning, she squeezed my hand tightly, and then let go. Her face relax, and her arm felt lifeless. She had passed away. Earlier, we had asked the doctor to disconnect her from the monitors to make a moment a little gentler, and hear the greed. The three of us embraced, not saying a word. I left to tell the nurse that it was over. We decided to share her ashes into three parts, one for burial at the church, one to scatter at the ranch, and one jar to be mixed with mine and spread at her favorite spot on the hellside. It was a solemn gathering with many people in the church. I was still staying in the bunkhouse while sorting out the details.

39:56I took an extra two weeks off from work and spent my time at the ranch. I returned to work to help clear my mind and focus better. Every weekend, I drove to Clear Creek to help Gary with various projects. It lifted my spirits as I felt like she was watching us from the porch. Most evenings, I rode to her special spot to sit quietly and reflect. I found myself joining more of the green family's gatherings. We celebrated Easter Sunday at the special spot to catch the sunmys. I also attended Mother's Day and Father's Day with Pat, Bill, and Gary. There were many neighbour Herbarbeque's that brought back nice memories. Gary invited me to join him and his friends for the first day of fesson hunting in November. Slowly I was moving forward. Even though I didn't want to, she would have wanted me to keep going. Christmas and Thanksgiving were tough for all of us, but by the end of the holidays, we were slowly getting our lives back on track. Every few months, Gary would visit with Chattar and we would go out to enjoy ourselves. A year and a half after we said goodbye to Anne, Gary and I found ourselves to Western bar and dance in Wichita.

40:56Two young women dressed in stylish western attire smiled at us as they walked by. We left our drinks in the table and invited them to dance. Thanks to Anne's early encouragement, I no longer felt awkward on the dance floor. For the next hour, Gary danced with Shelley while I danced with Kathy. When Kathy stepped away for a moment, Gary went to get more drinks. That's when Shelley put her arm around me and asked, would you please dance with me? Of course. Till we took to the dance floor for a slow sum. Shelley said, I'm really not into Gary and Kathy's issue doesn't mind being with him. I know we just met, but can I spend more time with you? How could I say no to someone as lovely as you? Just between us, I like you first. Gary got to pick first, so that's how it went. Kathy Joke, I really chose the guy who talks a lot, didn't I? Yep, but I'm better looking and a better dancer too. We spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing and dancing. I got her phone number and asked if she would like to have dinner on Sunday night and she agreed. Gary had a good time with Kathy and it seemed they might connect again the next time he visited

41:57Wichita. It was clear that Kathy wasn't planning to visit him in Dodge City. Shelley and I had a wonderful time that Sunday. There was a brief moment of uncertainty when she asked how I knew Gary. I explained that he was my brother-in-law until my wife passed away in a car accident. He's a good friend and I go fazen hunting with him every fall. She understood what I was going through and we didn't discuss it again. We enjoyed our time together. We had a date in the middle of the week just to spend some time together. We always had dinner and a movie on Saturday night and we loved to dance. Then we started going out on Sunday after news to drive around, talk and grab an ice cream comb. It was something simple but made us happy. She had been with three guys before so neither of us was new to relationships. We took our time getting closer. After two months we shared moments that meant a lot to us. It was our bond that made me care for her deeply. We cherished every moment together. Before a lawn she decided to move in with me. She became my love and my everything. She didn't mind when I went away for a week to help with the wheat harvest and go hunting.

42:58In fact it helped us realize how much we cared for each other. We had a lot in common and became a strong couple. She wanted two kids and I did too. She dreamed of a nice house after we got married and I agreed with her. Shelly worked in the accounting department of a hospital. She had some college education but not a lot. Everything was great until one day when I came home from work and found her on the couch tears in her eyes. Please forgive me, Bobby. I made a mistake and I can't change it. I'm so sorry. I didn't like what I heard. I was worried and feared I might lose her. I'll forgive you but you need to tell me what happens so we can address it. No you'll kick me out. Please I love you. Please stay with me. After several minutes of her distress I finally said stop. Tell me now or I'm going to the bar. I can understand Drunk's better than this so talk now. I'm pregnant, Bobby. I'm sorry. We had talked about waiting until we were married and settled. I messed it up. Please forgive me. I was taken back.

43:58She had been on birth control. This was unexpected. I gently held her face and said I have two questions for you. Think carefully before you answer. I won't let you come back later and change your mind. Are you ready? Yes, she cried. Okay, listen carefully. Shelly, I love you so much. We were not upset about the pregnancy. You want to marry me? Oh, Bobby, I would love to marry you. Yes, thank you for being so understanding. I'm really happy to ask you this. I want to build a life with you and cherish our future together. Now for my next question. She had stopped crying but was still wiping her eyes. Can we name our baby Carter? I just love that name, whether it's a boy or a girl. She wrapped her arms around my neck and said I love that name too. We're going to have a wonderful life with our baby. The next two months were filled with planning for the wedding and preparing for our baby. Everything she suggested for both was practical and within budget. Life in our apartment was peaceful. The only challenge was her sister who always wanted things done her way.

44:58She insisted that I should spend three times momentally salary on the ring. I told Shelly that would be fine if we could stay at her sister's house for three months without paying rent, fruit, or car bells. Her sister Beth didn't find that acceptable. Her husband Hal wasn't much helpier than he kept teasing me about being budget conscious while both seen about his extravagant purchase of Beth's ring. That was aware of his financial situation having made a series of credit card purchases and then declaring bankruptcy. Thinking he was clever, the only disappointment during a wedding planning came from her parents. They wanted a grand event to impress their friends but were vocal about enough contributing financially. So Shelly and I decided to plan a wedding that was meaningful to Esquery Green was my best man again Pat and Bill were invited and happily came to celebrate. I was really glad to see them. Our son Carter was born on March 3 and he was a healthy. Joyful boy Shelly was a wonderful mother known it sadly had to care for him I just followed to a lead but I naturally loved and held him without needing to be told in June. We took Carter to Clay Creek Ranch to start the wheat office that had cleared this with Bill and Pat before and when I told them our son's name Pat got emotional and happy. This was Shelly's first real visit with Bill and Pat since she had only briefly met them at our wedding. The plan was for Shelly to return to which it

46:00are the next day while I stayed to help with the harvest. As we drove up to the ranch, Pat heard over almost bumping into Bill in their dog, Sir Henry, just to see Carter. She started by hugging Shelly and carried Carter into the house. While Shelly was a great mom, she was happy to have another woman around to help with him. Her sister and mother only wanted to admire the baby and then ask Shelly, do you have anything for us to eat or drink? Pat did a great job of respect in the boundaries that come with caring for a child. Pat was feeding Carter and gently rocking him, waiting for him to fall asleep. Shelly saw a moment ask me can we go for a walk? Sure I replied wondering if something was on her mind. Shelly took my hand and said, I just want to walk with you just the two of us. I love my son, but I also enjoy spending time with you, she continue. Pat is really fond of Carter. It's like he's her own grandchild. Well, technically, he is her only grandchild since I'm still her son-in-law. I consider Pat to be like a mother to me. She and Bill treat me like family and I love them as my parents. Even though the daughter is no longer a part of my life,

47:01we still share a bond. I hope my relationship with them doesn't bother you. A few moments later, she said, I think you're handling everything well. We walked for a better hour until we needed to head back home. Everything was quiet, Carter was asleep and Pat was busy in the kitchen. Bill and I met up with Gary to plan which fields we would start working on the next day. Bill and Pat took turns holding him feeding Carter until he settled down for the night. Shelly couldn't believe how dark it was outside until she looked up and saw a sky full of stars as we carried Carter to the bunkers. We were surprised to find a new baby bed in a room complete with a blue blanket featuring boots, saddles and horses for our little cowboy. It was clear that Carter was welcome to visit any time. After lunch, Shelly went back to her home. She had planned to leave off to breakfast but she and Pat got caught up in conversation and time slipped away. I stayed in the ranch for a week and then Gary drove me back to Wichita while picking up hearts from the John Deere dealer. Two years later, Shelly welcomed our second son, Tyler. Pat visited us for a few days and happily took care of Carter while Shelly spent time with Tyler.

48:02As the boys grew older, we spent more time at the ranch. They were now old enough to ride horses and listen to Grandpa Bill's old cowboy stories. One day, the six of us went to Boot Hill. There, the boys rode in a stage a coach watched a pretend gunfight on front street and enjoyed source parallels at the lawn branchaloon. We also took them to see the wagon track from the Santa Featural, still marked in the land. They loved being surrounded by cowboy history. Each summer, we would let the boys stay for a week or two. They made friends with some local kids and rode their horses from one house to another to play. Pat and Bill took them to Sunday school, which helped them make even more friends, thought. The more time they spent at the ranch, the more they wanted to come back. When they were 10 and 12 years old, they asked to stay the entire summer. We agreed to let them stay for the month of July after the harvest. By that time, Shelly had grown tired of ranch life. It had been fun at first, but the hard work was wearing her out. While the boys were at the ranch, she wanted to go out dancing and socializing every night. As she approached her four-difth birthday,

49:02she wanted to enjoy fully again. She returned to work and hung out with a group of younger women. That fall, I took Kato with me for the first time on the annual feson hunt. He had never seen a ring neck feson and was excited to join his friends. Our hunting group had 10 men. Eight walked through the field to stir up the birds while two stood at the end to block them. The boys walked beside and behind their dad's stop. That afternoon, the boys learned how to prepare the birds for cooking. Each boy made a colorful headdress with flawed feathers to wear that evening. We planned to eat about a third of the birds that night and saved the rest in the freezer. Kato brought home some lovely feathers for his mother to use in decorations. However, Shelly didn't care for them and the feathers soon disappeared, which disappointed Kato to dot the next summer. The boys really wanted to spend the whole summer at the ranch. They assured Shelly and me that we could visit whenever we liked. Shelly wasn't thrilled with this idea. She preferred the boys to stay in which it are, but didn't want to spend much time with them. She worked during the day and went out with friends several nights a week. She would leave at 7.30am

50:03and might not be home until late at night. This made the boys unhappy. Shelly and I had some arguments about her time away from home. While I trusted her to be with friends, I didn't agree with her spending so much time with those specific friends. Hat called me while Bill was driving her and Gary to witch-tower. I could tell she was upset and then she showed that Gary was very sick. He had struggled with kidney stones for many years and his smoking made everything worse. Eventually, he developed serious kidney disease and needed a transplant. I learned that he had been on a waiting list for a new kidney for a while, but none was suitable for him. I knew he had health issues, but he didn't seem to think it was a big problem. They wanted to meet me when they arrived in town. I went to the doctor's office and asked them to see if I could be a donor for Gary. The next few days were really tough for the family. The boys were worried about Uncle Gary. Finally, as Gary's health worsened, they found out that I was a perfect match for him. The transplant was scheduled for the next morning. That night, I went to visit Gary. He was very hopeful about the chance to have a transplant and keep living.

51:03He thanked me a lot and I told him that the showed we were like brothers, even though we are different families. The next morning, we were taken into separate surgery rooms. I told him, see you later as we parted ways. I didn't know that when Gary got into the operating room, his heart stopped working and the doctors couldn't bring him back. My doctor had already started my surgery to take out my kidney when they formed him that Gary's surgery was cancelled. When I woke up, Pat and Bill were in my room. I asked did Gary's surgery go okay? Pat started to cry and Bill held my hand and said, Gary had a heart attack during the surgery. The doctor said they couldn't do anything because his kidney had failed. He had too much fluid in his lungs and heart, which made it worse. We all cried until our nose came and to give me a sleeping pill. Every rancher in the area came to Gary's funeral on a bright sunny day. Shelly, the boys, and I sat with his family in the front row. Shelly took the boys home but I stayed at the ranch to recover from my surgery. Gary was supposed to take over the ranch so Bill had to do more of the work. I planned to help him on weekends. This choice upset Shelly

52:04because she wanted to enjoy her time with friends instead of taking care of two lively boys. We disagreed, but we didn't argue loudly. One afternoon, Shelly came home from work very happy. She had been chosen to represent her department on the Employees Committee. There was no extra pay, but it gave her some recognition and a chance to try something new. The hospital was hosting a special event with a well-known football player to help raise money for a new wing for children. Lars Belt and often visited which it had to have his private plane service so his agent arranged for him to speak and encourage people to donate to the hospital. Elton, a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, was known for being a tough player, especially among fans of the Kansas City Chiefs. At the luncheon, Shelly had the chance to sit at the main table with Belton. She was also part of the group that took him around the hospital to meet the kids. While his plane was getting ready to leave for Los Angeles, I went to watch. I saw Shelly and her friends chatting excitedly with Lance, who was clearly enjoying the attention. I tried to get closer, but security was moving people back as the engine started. Lars put his arm around Shelly and gave her a friendly gesture.

53:05He then reached for her hand and started leading her toward the plane. She appeared hesitant, but her friends encouraged her to go. They walked together to the steps of the jet. Lance helped her onto the first step and began to guide her inside. As she reached the top step, there was some laughter among her friends. The dough clothes behind them and the engines rode. I couldn't get near the plane, so I used my phone to call Shelly. When she answered, she said, hello dear. Guess who's going to Los Angeles for dinner tonight? The plane has to be in St. Louis tomorrow so they will drop me off in the way. See you tomorrow. And then she hung up. I hurried over to her friends to find out what was happening. They laughed at me, saying Shelly's going to have the night of her life flying on a private jet and living it up in style. Working in the aircraft industry, I knew exactly what they were implying. It was a shocking moment. Why would she do something like this? The woman around me saw the distress on my face and kept teasing. One even said, she'll be back to her ordinary life with you tomorrow, but tonight it'll be a night she won't forget. Yeah, and she won't forget the divorce paper

54:05was waiting for her when she gets back. I shot back to Termin' Dot that got their attention. One of them replied, it's not a big deal. Don't ruin this for her. How often does someone get the chance to hang out with a pro athlete on a private jet? She deserves some fun. You need to get over it. Well, she better enjoy herself because it won't be easy when she comes back to my house. I said before walking away, fed up with their comments. I headed to a store and picked up some boxes to pack her things. Afterward, I took a new bird to the airport, grabbed her car and drove home to load it up. She'd have to figure out her own way back, dot later calmer. I received a message from Shelly. It was a picture of her on the plane and she had a smoke smile. The caption read, hey, Bobby, having a great time. Wish you were here. The next text arrived shortly after. It was a photo of her laughing, clearly enjoying herself and another message followed. We should celebrate when I get back. Some were nice, okay. That was all I needed to see. She was sitting with Lance again, but this time her expression was playful and another man was with her, wearing a captain's hat.

55:08The caption under the photo read, tonight's special menu included something extra. The next morning, I called my supervisor and requested a few hours off to handle some personal business. He agreed, so I set up a meeting with the divorce lawyer who had the most ads on TV, dot. The person I met wasn't the main attorney, but a young man who seemed knowledgeable and experienced in cases where the wife had been unfaithful, dot. He explained it's pretty straightforward. In most cases, she would get 90% of your combined assets and you'd be left with 10%. Since you have two kids, you'd also be paying 35% of your income and child support. Based on your finances, you're barely getting by now, so after the divorce, your situation wouldn't improve much. He added, you'll likely need a second job just to afford rent and basic living expenses. Extras for your boys, like sports, camps, and other activities may become difficult to afford. He went on, she could continue living in the house with your boys while you stuck paying the mortgage and she could do whatever she pleases. First rated, I asked so there's no way out of this. He replied, the best option might be to wait.

56:09Once your sons are at least 14, they can choose who they want to live with. From what you've told me, they'd likely choose you. At that point, you could move forward with the divorce and though it would still be costly, you wouldn't be responsible for child support anymore. Your salaries are not very different so the support payments won't be too handle. Here's a plan for you. Don't shout scream or make threats. That only gives her more power in court. Get a small recording device and capture as many important conversations as you can. You can ask her to leave the house for a few days but she has rights to it. She can return by court order so don't try to stop her. Hold off on any closeness until she has gone through all necessary health checks. He continued looking at the past if she has been unfaithful once. She may do it again. We can use this to our benefit. You cannot use her infidelity as a reason for divorce. However, if she wants to come back, ask for an agreement that states if either of you is unfaithful that person gets nothing in the divorce and you both will have equal rights to care for the boys. You have two options to navigate the situation. Neither is quick or easy.

57:11I'll help you with any specific terms you want in the agreement if you choose that path. There is a tricky balance to strike where it seems like he won't take her back but you might consider it with the agreement. Be cautious. If she finds a good lawyer because you anger her, it could be a tough few years for you, so watch out. If she decides not to return to you, you might end up giving most of your earnings to her for years. My first thought was this isn't helpful. My main goal now was to protect my boys from the struggles of divorce. I needed to do what I could to gain custody of them. The mother was irresponsible and I wanted to shield them from that. If it meant playing along as a patient husband for a little while, then I would. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was the best way to get them away from her. After calming down, I decided I would follow his advice but I needed to express how much she had hurt me first. I cared for her deeply and yet she upset me greatly. Last night, I almost decided to get rid of all her belongings. Thankfully, I didn't. I promised myself I would take action but I knew I had to wait. In my basic training in the army, we learned that the best test of patience

58:11is to wait until your enemy is in the perfect spot before making a move. I needed to plan carefully as Lance would also be caught off guard. I got home from work just before she arrived. As soon as she walked in, she looked annoyed and asked, why did you bring my car back but not come to meet me? Didn't you get my messages? It was hard for me to get home and I'm not howdy about it. I turned my phone off to avoid uncomfortable messages I was getting. Come sit with me and tell me about your trip. I moved to the comfy chair so she wouldn't sit too close. With a smile, she said, it was a great trip. The takeoff was quick and exciting. We climbed high very fast. The pilot took us south of Denver and I got to see the sunset over the mountains and the lights of the city. It was amazing to watch it everything below. I had a fantastic time. You would like Lance. He's a great guy. I spoke with your friends from the club and they mentioned that you were going to join the mile high club on this flight. Did you? Her expression changed for a moment as she tried to think of what to say. What's the mile high club? She asked slowly.

59:11You know, it's a group for people who have a man to encounter his on a plane up of one mile in the sky. So are you now a member? She hesitated and replied, oh my gosh, no. Lance was really respectful. He knew I was married to a wonderful man and I wouldn't ever betray him. Why did your friends say you were going to join the mile high club? If you don't even know what it is. Taking a moment to collect herself, she answered. I'm not sure why they said that. Nothing like that happened, she insisted. So you didn't share any special moments with Lance. I asked to try and to stay calm. She replied for me. No, I did not. I don't appreciate this questioning. Do you think I'm lying? Did you kiss him? I asked. Without hesitation, she answered yes, just to peck on the cheek. Let me make sure I've got this right. The only time you kissed him was a simple peck on the cheek. You didn't know about any mile high club. You didn't plan anything with him on the jet to Los Angeles and you didn't share any special moments with him or anyone else on either flight. Is that correct? She straightened up and said, that's the truth.

1:00:12I don't lie to you. I love you and I don't appreciate you doubting me. All right, instead of questioning your honesty, let's look at some pictures sent to me from your phone, I said. Her face went pale and she tried to get up, clearly alarmed. I continued, here's a picture of you in Lance, or is that not you? Her face drain of color, or she whispers for, oh my god. Where did you get that, Bobby? I'm so sorry, this is awful. No, this is just the beginning of what's awful, I replied calmly. Here's another picture showing even more. Is this what you call nothing happened? She collapsed to the floor, crying uncontrollably. I remained silent, watching her as the reality of her action settled in. Between solbs, she murmured, you weren't supposed to see those pictures. They were for me, just a reminder of that night. He must have sent them to you without me knowing. I didn't write those things. This just makes it worse, doesn't it, Shelley? You kept these as memories for yourself. For the rest of your life, you can recall this memorable evening when you look at those pictures. All this time, you were lying to me while seeing him. You treat me like I'm just some clueless husband

1:01:13who still loves his wife, even though she's out with someone else she barely knows. Would've set situation for both of us. Do you even love me anymore? I'm not really that bad that you'd do the star marriage. Through her solbs, she choked out, no, it wasn't like that at all. It was just me embracing something thrilling. It had nothing to do with damaging you or a marriage. Well, your thrilling experience just ended our marriage. When you got on that plane, you closed the door on our relationship and our family. She cried harder, pleading, our marriage doesn't have to end. I know I made a terrible mistake, but I swear it will happen again. We can fix this if we love each other enough to make it work. I stood up and said, I don't see how that's possible right now. Your things are already packed in your car. We need space. You need to go somewhere else for a few days until we figure out what happens next. Honestly, I can't even look at you without remembering everything that occurred. Please just leave. But this is my house too, she's opt. Yes, it is. But if you want any chance of saving this marriage, you need to go for a while.

1:02:15If you stay, I might head straight to the lower to file for divorce. I need time to call off. If you want a divorce, we can start at the process, but right now, I'm giving myself a chance to think. Bobby, I have nowhere to go. I don't want a divorce. I want to stay with you. I promise I'll never do anything like this again. You can go to your friend who encouraged you to get on that plane. Tell them how one impulsive decision led to a lifetime of consequences. It should be interesting for them to hear the story. She shook her head and replied, okay, I'll do that. But please remember, I care about you, Bobby. That's a strange way to show your care. I see what you've done and all I hear from you lies. She wiped her eyes and asks, can I call you tomorrow? Sure, I said, but I didn't promise to pick up if I didn't want to dot the following week was just like that day. She said she loved me and wanted to come back. I told her I was struggling to let her back into my life. That evening, I began my plan to set things right. It took three evenings to finish. I texted Shelly and asked if she wanted to have dinner and talk about everything except their problems.

1:03:17She happily agreed. Each thing we said was examined by the others of looking for hidden meanings dot. She wanted to go back to her house, but that wasn't going to happen. We parked near her friends place and I said there were some important things to discuss. She looked at me to see if it was good news or bad. Shelly, no matter what happens with us, you should get checked for health issues. It's for your wellbeing and for the boys too. She replied, that won't be needed. Both men were good people. I can't trust our son's health to your word. If you don't get a test, I will have to take steps to keep you away from them. She saw this as caring for our boys and not as shaming her, which was part of my plan. Since you've been less than truthful with me about your trip, I want to see the test results. You'll need to work hard to earn my trust again. Do you get what I'm saying? Yes, I get it. If things were different, I would act the same way. Two days later, she called and asked to come over for a bit. I agreed and opened the door when she knocked up. With a heavy heart, she handed me some test results. They showed positive for two infections.

1:04:19I felt a mix of emotions, but couldn't show it. This put me in a better position for a post-nuptial agreement dot. All I could say was, oh, Shelley, but I said it's Adley, dot. She reached out by a step back and said, not until you're healthy. With tear-filled eyes, she nodded and hurried out the front door. The next time I saw her, she came by to show me her clean health tech. This situation had clearly affected her and she was less insistent about getting back together. She suggested we go to the lake with some friends to change the scenery and our conversations. I agreed as I had things I wanted to discuss. That brings us to where this story began. You I turned to Shelley's sister and said, please be quiet. The more you talk like that, the less I want to be part of this family. Shelley tell her to stop talking or I won't say a word to Christmas. At that Shelley walked over to her sister, pointed at her and said, stop it. You're only making things worse. At the noise quieted down on the boat, I stood up and said and going first went to cool off. With that, I took off my T-shirt and I heard Shelley gasp. Oh my God, she exclaimed.

1:05:19There on the left side of my chest was a large tattoo of a bright red heart. The top of the heart read my one true love. Shelley thought I had done that for her, but inside the heart were the letters and, I watched as she turned away, clearly upset. Then she came closer and reached out to touch the heart. How could you do this to me? I could ask you the same, Shelley. How could you treat me like this? She faltered, saying, how can I see this well together? The same way I can picture you with someone else, which situation hurts more. Do you understand my pain now? Now I can just tell to move on. That moment ended what was supposed to be a come talk. Shelley and I began marriage counseling, but we just kept having the same discussions we had for weeks. There was still no resolution to our main issue. She now feels better and wants to come back to the house. I told her I was okay with that, but we needed to have a post-nuptial agreement to clarify our expectations. I met with my lawyer and shared my thoughts. I said to him, in exchange for probably not filing for divorce due to Shelley's past actions, Shelley agrees to the following.

1:06:20One, never mention Lance Belton or the experiences she had with him and others. This includes trying to make Bobby look bad by comparing him to Belton. Two, Shelley will not have any written, spoken, or electronic communication with Belton. Three, Bobby agrees never to call Shelley disrespectful names related to her past with Belton. Four, both people will try honestly to fix their relationship after Shelley's mistake. Five, Shelley will be tested for HIV-AIDS every three months for nine months. Six, both people agreed that if one engages in infidelity, they will lose all rights to their house, shared money, custody of their children, and any support payments. Seven, Shelley agrees to always tell the truth and never lie to Bobby Dott. My lawyer told me that this agreement was quite embarrassing and if Shelley had better legal help, it would be turned down. I thought she would be ready to agree to everything I listed. He improved the agreement to own an extra $1,000. I presented it to Shelley and she signed it without a test station. I could have added a rule about her in off-spending time as certain friends, but I chose not to because I wanted to give her a chance to make another mistake.

1:07:21So I could then end things for good without her turning our sums against me, Dott. She was happy when I helped her move her things back into the house, rather than our home. We only have three bedrooms in the boys each have their own room figuring out where to sleep was a challenge. We wanted to appear united for the boys, but I was not looking forward to sharing close quarters with her at night. I reminded myself to focus on my long-term goal of getting her out of my life, not the temporary discomfort of our current situation. I hoped that the two on my chest would make her think ties about being close to me. Dott, on Friday nights. I would go to clear creek and return on Monday mornings, which helped reduce the time I spent with her to four days each week. I had to get through four more nights. She tried hard to get close to me, but I kept saying, not yet. Let's take it slow. When you time to heal, I wasn't being honest, Dott, one morning. I had to deliver a pot for a plane being fixed at the airfield. I saw Lance's plane park there. I walked over and chatted with some friends in the hanger. They confirmed it was Lance's plane and he was inside Dott. That night I thought about how to make things tough for him. I knew I couldn't face him directly.

1:08:21He was much bigger and stronger. I thought about how to make his life hard, but I didn't want to end up in jail and leave my friends behind, Dott. Still unsure of what to do, I returned to the hanger around 9 p.m. to see if I could find a way to get to him. I was surprised to see lights on inside his cabin, but the door was closed. I found a ladder and moved it close enough to see inside. There he was sitting in front of his computer. What he saw was alarming and I knew I had to take action. I recorded a short video of what I saw and went straight to the police station. They took it seriously and quickly got a judge to issue a search warrant. I went with them to show where the plane was and how to approach without being noticed. Once the police were ready, I stepped back because I didn't want him to think I was involved. Police approached him from different angles. Two officers used the ladder to record his computer before they opened the coffee door. He put up a struggle, but after a couple of shocks from a taser, he was subdued. They took his computer and arrested him. It was all over the news and I knew Shelley saw it, but she never mentioned it. I didn't bring it up either, though she did ask about my late nightmares plane.

1:09:22I shrugged and she said, I hope Lance suffers for what he did. I felt the same way. Since he had his own plane and a lot of money, he was able to get out on bail. People like him don't make friends easily while in prison. With the influence of Shelley's friends and my choice to end a relationship, it didn't take long before she was unfaithful again. This time, she was with a bartender who took advantage of her after she had been drinking. A few others were there too and somehow a video of it surfaced. She ended up needing to visit the clinic again. My lawyer was right about her. I knew she would stray again and now I had the upper hand. After I showed Shelley the video, she gasped and sank into a chair. I didn't need to say much. I told her, call your friends and have them help you get your things out of my house. The next day, three of her friends came to help Shelley move. I wanted to be there to see it all happen. I didn't trust them to take care of my belongings. One of the women frowned at me and said, you must be quite inclined to put someone who cares for you out like this. I laughed and replied, she chose to be with someone else despite promising not to.

1:10:22She knew the rules and now she's facing the consequences. At the airport, you told me to get over it. This is how I'm moving on. She looked frustrated because she understood I was right. Later, we met at my lawyer's office to sign a divorce papers and other documents. Shelley brought her own lawyer to challenge everything we had already agreed on. He complained loudly, saying this agreement is ridiculous. It was just a hurtful rant from a frustrated person. It meant nothing. My lawyer looked at me and said, you're right. This deal is difficult for both sides. It's unpleasant and hard to accept but no matter how challenging it is. It's still valid. This is what we do every day take something on appealing and make it acceptable. So less just finished this. When I left the meeting, Shelley was emotional in the conference room. My home, my kids, my marriage. Please don't take everything from me. I'll have nothing left. I'm asking you. Please. That might be the last thing I ever hear from her. I hope so. Carter and Tyler talked to me about moving to clear Creek for good. I didn't mind, but I needed to speak to Pat and Bill first. With Shelley out of my life, I took the boys to clear Creek on Friday night.

1:11:24I told Pat and Bill everything, including that we were now divorced. They were disappointed in Shelley but relieved that their three boys were okay. That's right, we were now their three boys. As we drove through the fields, Bill and I talked about moving into the bunkhouse and I would work a clear Creek. Bill smiled knowingly and said, it's funny you mentioned that. Pat and I were just discussing it and wanted to talk with you about it. We would love to have you three boys stay on the ranch. We shook hands and continued our talk. The next afternoon, I was pretty dirty from working in the shop when Pat came to check on me. I was holding my shirt under the water to clean it and cool it down when she walked in. She stopped, looked at me and came closer. Standing right by me, she touched my tattoo, a symbol of love and devotion. She embraced me warmly, even though I was sweaty. She softly said she was so fortunate to have someone who cared for her so deeply. Yeah, I really cared for her and I miss her a lot, I replied. She turned and walked back to the house, wiping her eyes with a tissue. After school, we sold the house in which Atari moved to the bunkhouse. Each of the boys got their own room

1:12:25and we turned a third room into a TV and family area. We didn't need a kitchen since Pat did all the cooking. Shelley stayed in touch with the boys through emails and phone calls, but I had no contact with her at all. Carter was old enough to drive with a special farm license. It was surprising how many places he found to go for farm errands. Both boys and droids spending time with the local kids. I often heard the name Amber Reynolds come up in conversations about what Carter was and who he was with. I asked him, have you met her parents? He replied, yes, she's one of my teachers and her dad was a veterinarian, but he passed away two years ago. Her mom is really nice. That was quite a lot of information from Carter. Eventually, comma summer ended and the local ranchers had the annual BBK. By then, I knew most of the ranchers so I felt comfortable at the party. While I was by the drinks, I noticed a woman looking away who reminded me a bit of Anne. I wasn't sure it could be her, but I decided to approach. When she turned and smiled at me, I realized she was Hispanic and definitely not Anne. Someone touched her arm and she turned to speak to them.

1:13:25I quietly walked away, glad I hadn't embarrassed myself. A little later, Carter and Amber invited me over to meet her mother, Emily. I gladly accepted. I turned out that the Hispanic woman was Amber's mother. Up close, she was very pretty and had some features that resembled Anne. We got along well and continued chatting even after the kids left us. We even shared a few dances together, thought. As we were leaving the dance area, I spotted Pat walking towards us. She was arm in arm with another woman and both were smiling widely. I turned to Emily and asked, a wonder what Pat wants to talk to me about. Emily answered, how do you know Pat? She's my mother-in-law and I live in the guest house of my boys. Then you must be him, she exclaimed. Him? What do you mean? I said, confused. To him who married Anne, I was Anne's maid of honor at your wedding. The woman without Pat is my mom, marry her Nandas, had an marryer of sisters. Oh, wow, is that why your son is named Carter? She called out to her mother. Mom, mom,

1:14:25it's him, mother and husband. I finally found him. Emily turned to me and said, let me see it. See what? I asked, puzzled. The tattoo, the love tattoo for Anne. Please show it to me. I opened my shirt a little and when she placed her hand on the tattoo, I felt a spark. We both looked into each other's eyes and it was clear we had a special bond, dot. Pat smiled and said, I see you two have found each other. We hoped you would do this naturally so you wouldn't think we set it up. Suddenly, I noticed we were holding hands, dot Pat teased. You and Anne were alike. You can't help but reach out to this man. We all burst into laughter at her remark. I wasn't trying to replace Anne and Emily wasn't seeking a duplicate of a late husband. We genuinely cared for each other for who we were, not who we had lost at. The next July, Emily, and I wrote hostess to her favorite spot to watch the perseid meter shower. As we sat on a blanket wrapped in each other's womb, I reached into my pocket and pulled out small box. Emily, my love for you is so deep that I want to be with you every single day. Will you marry me?

1:15:26Oh, Bobby, I really want to marry you. You are the best person for me in the whole world. We shared a tender moment holding each other, knowing that our future would be special. Suddenly she shouted, look, I saw it again for the first time since I proposed to Anne. Two stars with clouds making a big smile, dot Bobby and Emily got married that fall and Bobby moved into Emily's house. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the bunkhouse was empty. That changed when Carter finished his degree in animal science and moved in. He enjoyed having his own space, especially when Amber came to visit. A year later, Carter and Amber blended to Smith and Carter families. As they started having kids, they moved into Pat and Bill's house when Pat and Bill moved to an assisted living center in town. Bill still drives out to the clear creek every day to help him remember dot Tyler visits the ranch during wheat harvest, fizzing hunting, and on holidays. He lives in Canada's city with his girlfriend and they both have jobs there. Pat and Bill helped their two grandsons pay for college. The boys visit their mother for holidays in her birthday. She's now married to a retired postal worker.

1:16:27The boys think she is happy. Lars Bell's an admitted guilt instead of going to trial, not wanting any more investigation into his actions. He received a 12-year sentence in a place he did not like, dot Pat and Bill transferred the shares of clear creek ranch ink to Bobby Carter and Tyler giving each of them one third. Clear Creek pays Bill a consultant fee that measle is needed in the assisted living center. Dot Bobby and Emily are very much in love and happy with how their lives turned out. They face pain and sorrow, but found a way to put it behind them. Bobby's tattoo didn't stop Emily from wanting to be close to him. Even though it was her cousin's name on his chest, she didn't mind. She happily shares with her friends that, despite trying many times to let it get to her, it never bothered her at all. She truly enjoys being with Bobby. And that is the end. Thank you for listening, and I will see you in the next one.