One Last Ride

A rusty, used-to-be red, Ford truck pulls into the first row of parking at the Two Guns Saloon outside of Cortez. The sun is setting in the New Mexico sky, panning deep reds and purples across the white desert. This lonely bar leans westward, following the sun to its resting place.

Mick Cooper steps out of his dingy truck with worn brown boots, clean wranglers, a pressed shirt and simple straw Stetson. It has been at least 20 years since he stepped foot in Two Guns. He was hot on the rodeo circuit then, enjoying a few recent high finishes that tossed a few more bucks in his pocket.

Two Guns would have been the hottest honky-tonk in town the night before a big rodeo. Tonight is desperately quiet.

"Buzz? I'll be...it's been a long time," said Mick.

"Coop! What brings you through here, haven't ran into you in ages," Buzz pulls himself to his full height from the small table he hunched behind. Gray hair pokes out from under his hat at the temples.

"I'm heading in to Cortez for the rodeo this weekend, just figured I would stop in here for a minute," said Mick.

"Have a seat. I'll get you a drink." Pointing to the bar Buzz shouts, "Mags, bring over two more."

"Don't worry about that Buzz; I actually stopped drinking a few years back. Some coffee will do fine," said Mick.

"Well alright. Where you been? It was like you dropped off the planet," said Buzz.

"Got married. Jumped on board with the railroad. Been riding from Winslow into California the last 10 years or so," said Mick. "You settle down yet, Buzz?"

"Oh no. I'm still chugging through the rodeo circuit. Been years since I rode. Picked up a camera and started shooting the bull riders. I've been making better than when I rode, and it keeps me close to the action," said Buzz, pulling out some photos from a coffee stained manila folder.

Buzz spreads prints of cowboys heroically riding two-ton bulls across the table. "The trick is catching the moment where every kid is in control of the bull. Those are the ones that sell."

"I've got a few of these," said Mick. "Some of those rides are hard to remember."

"Some of those weekends are hard to remember," laughed Buzz.