Chapter Text
Old Dan was sad and moped around the camp.
Finally one starry night mag asked him in his soft melodic voice.
'What is wrong with you?'
'Dam mag I'm in love.'
Came the answer.
Mag smiled very faintly and one of his eyebrows raised.
'The girl I'm in love with is so beautiful and sweet. I know she is the one for me. But she doesn't know I'm alive.'
Mag said nothing then leaned back against a tree stump and put his hands behind his head and sighed.
Terri said to mag.
'He is always falling in love and it's always the wrong one.
He is an elk.'
Mag softly laughed.
'It is because you are all so young.'
He stood up.
'Let's go see.'
So we all went to the rodeo to meet the love of Dan's life.
Mag had never been to the rodeo and asked what it was about.
We told him about bronc riding and bull riding. And the bravery of rodeo clowns.
He smiled and shook his head at us.
We bought him pink cotton candy which after he tasted it. he leaned down and said softly to terri. .
' this is poison but you are eating it. Please stop.'
We all laughed. This caused him great concern, the cotton candy. Finally he convinced us and we tossed it to his great relief.
We watched the trick riding. And the opening of the evening and here was the rodeo queen on a big palomino gelding. her hair was as gold as her horse's hide and her eyes were big and brown. She galloped round the arena carrying the flag.
Dan sighed, 'that's her the rodeo queen.'
Mag turned and asked, 'your love is a queen?'
He looked Dan up and down.
Dan in dust. His jeans were clean and his checkered shirt. A wild rag around his neck had seen better days as had his boots.
'….Dan you must wash your face. Sadly we do not seem to have clothes fitting for this occasion.'
Dan took off his wild rag spit on it and rubbed his face.
'Smile, Dan.' mag asked him.
Dan smiled broadly first taking off his hat and wiping his brow with his shirt sleeve.
Dan was missing two front teeth.
Mag said softy, 'where are your teeth?'
'Well,' said Dan. ' lane accidentally on purpose punched me in the face.'
Mag turned his bright gaze on lane.
Lane shuffled his boots.
'Dan said my rose can't make soup.'
Mag then said, 'rose cannot make soup. I do not know what you call what she makes. But it is not soup. Flavoured water perhaps.'
Dan then said, 'I haven't had the money to get my teeth fixed but I still have em here in my pocket. Lane said he'd help pay.'
Mag looked down at Dan's pocket and back at the Cowboys face.
Mag's mouth trembled a bit and his eyes grew merry. He told Dan.
'Smile with your mouth closed.'
Then to Terri. 'Do you think he should comb his hair?'
'His hair is beyond hope let's get it wet and slick it back maybe.'
'Do you know how to bow?' Asked mag
Dan answered, ' of course I know how to bow.'
He put one hand on his stomach, one at his back and leaned over quickly as if he had been sucker punched.
Mag stared at him incredulously.
'Perhaps just nod.'
'Why should I bow or nod?' Dan asked.
'The majesty of the crown.' answered Mag.
Dan looked puzzled 'oh.'
Then mag took off a ring he wore with a brilliant blue green stone.
'Wear this… it is something you could talk about perhaps.'
'Thanks mag'
Mag looked down at him. Then shrugged and laughed. 'Let's go meet her.'
We all looked at him.
Mag then stated 'i will stay back so as not to distract
Her.'
'Thanks.' said Dan. 'you are so pretty you distract everyone.'
Mag smiled at Dan. 'Sorry my friend.'
'And you got all your teeth and fingers.'
Added lane.
'Yes.' said mag
Terri took mag by the elbow. ' we will go see which foods are not poisonous.
And watch from a safe distance.'
So we walked to where the rodeo queen had put up her camp.
Then the boys and mag and terri walked over to a food vendor.
And Dan took off his hat and shuffled over to his love.
We could not hear what was said. But Dan did nod.
She looked at him skeptically.
Then Dan gestured to the beer garden.
And she shook her head no.
He showed her mag's ring which she expressed a great deal of interest.
But Dan would not take it off and hand it to her so she tossed her golden mane and walked off.
Dan hung his head and walked back.
'She dont want to go out with me.
All she wants is jewelry.'
We all gave comisery comments.
Mag told him. 'Never mind. I will fix your teeth for you back at camp with a song. You will then find the right one.'
'Ah hell mag that's kind but I don't think the dentist would let you pay with a song.'
Mag raised an eyebrow.
Lane handed Dan a corn dog.
But mag whispered, 'no do not eat that it is poison.'