Two Sides of the Same Coin by Jake Mactire Page A

that?”
    “Tracks around the area where the cattle were rustled, and two different types of trailer tires.”
    “You gonna keep on runnin’ cattle, or are you gonna do something else too?”
    “Like what else, Sandy? I sure as hell don’t want to be an accountant.”
    “No, I mean your art.”
    “Yeah, I am gonna keep doin’ that. I need to talk to Mary Grace in the artists’ cooperative here in town. I got a couple of sculptures, and maybe they will exhibit them for me.”
    Mary Grace was one of the first people from the outside to move into town. She first came to teach at the high school. She was my French and art teacher. She’d known about my interest in bronze castin’ since I was a kid. Now she ran the artists’ co-op in Winslett.
    “Hey, Jeff?” Maria’s voice had a very tentative tone. “You ever think of maybe guiding hunters or fishermen or just tourists? I mean, everyone knows that Winslett survives by tourists. Look at all the old West buildings and decoration here. Maybe you could open a dude ranch. Pedro and I were going to go to one in Texas for our honeymoon.” She got a very sad look on her face. I reached over and patted her hand.
    “Maria, I don’t know the first thing about herdin’ dudes. I wouldn’t even know where to advertise, and besides, we’d have to build cabins or something for them to stay in. That costs money, which I don’t have right now.” I used the word “dudes” in the cowboy sense. I used it to mean greenhorns or non-cowboy folk.
    “You never know, you might be able to get a small business loan with all that government stimulus money going around now,” Maria stated.
    “Yeah, Jeff, I’ll help you research it!” Sandy had bought into the idea, which meant it was time to change the subject.
    “I hear Robert came on to Mike last night.”
    “Yeah, when we came in the house to go to bed, we could hear them arguing upstairs. Robert was really yelling at Mike, first, about being a tease, then about being after you.” Sandy was never one to mince words.
    “I told Mike this morning I was sorry for what happened.”
    “Yeah, you did tell him he’s got a cute ass. I will say, Jeff, you do have good taste.”
    “What! He told you that?”
    Sandy laughed and Maria joined in. “He didn’t say a word. You said it pretty loud.”
    “Okay, well, Sandy, you know I was drunk.”
    “I am happy for you that you and Robert realized that you were not meant to be together.” Apparently Maria was learning plain speaking from Sandy.
    “Jeff, do you run around in just your underwear as much as we hear?” Sandy was enjoying teasing me.
    “It’s a guy thing, Sandy.”
    “Don’t I know it; my brothers were the same way when they lived at home. I bet Mike likes it when you do it.”
    “What makes you say that?” Now this was getting a bit interesting.
    “Come on, Jeff, anyone can see the way he stares at you with those big cow eyes.” At Sandy’s observation Maria started laughing.
    “And the way he jumped to defend you when your boyfriend was putting you down. Pedro always thought you two would be good friends.”
    “Mike’s a nice guy; I enjoy his company. And I enjoy yours, Sandy and Maria.”
    “I think Mike has something we just can’t give ya, Jeff.” At Sandy’s words they both started laughing.
    “Give it a rest, ladies! I just broke up with my boyfriend this morning. You think it would be fair to Mike or anyone else to start sniffin’ after him now?”
    “You do got a point there, Jeff. We just want to see you happy.”
    “That’s right, Jeff!” Maria added.
    “Well, I’ll be happy when whoever’s been rustlin’ cattle has been caught, and we have the beeves sold off for the year.”
    “Jeff, let me get you another beer.”
    “Thanks, Sandy.”
    “So are you going to continue with your sculpture?” Maria asked.
    “I was thinkin’ that maybe they would exhibit some of my work in the artists’ coop here in town. God knows we get