Where Cowboys Rest

Where Cowboys Rest captures the heartwarming and often poignant memories of a father who chose family not through blood but through love and commitment. Inspired by real events, these fictionalized stories explore the life of a cowboy who took in a group of children, making them his own and shaping their lives with his rugged yet tender spirit. From the opening tale, The Day the World Stopped, readers are plunged into the deep grief of losing a father.
The narrator's world is turned upside down, capturing the raw, overwhelming shock of loss in the family living room. As the journey through grief unfolds, Memories of Yesterday takes us back to quieter moments of sifting through old photographs with siblings, revealing the complexities of family relationships and the lasting impact of a father's love, laughter, and discipline. The Man Who Wasn't Blood shares a powerful flashback to when the father first stepped into the narrator's life.
This heartfelt story highlights the bond of chosen family, as a man not tied by blood showed unwavering dedication, eventually earning the heartfelt title of "Dad." Then, in Cowboy's Life, the narrator brings to life the father's cowboy adventures, recounting travels to rodeo arenas in Starbuck, WA, and Ellensburg, WA, where the family stayed in a camper, pulling a horse trailer behind. It's a celebration of the cowboy spirit, resilience, and the values imparted through hard, honest work.
The tenderness continues in Meeting My Bride, set in Waitsburg, WA, as the narrator recalls introducing his wife to his father. The warmth and acceptance shown during this pivotal meeting strengthened the family's bond, showcasing the father's capacity to love. The Quiet Years transitions to a more somber tone, exploring the father's decline in health in Finley, WA. The narrator, living far away, grapples with the struggle to connect and the heartbreak of saying goodbye over the phone, yet finds solace in signs of his father's quiet faith.
The Empty Chair powerfully symbolizes the void left behind after the father's death. On the narrator's first visit home, the chair where his dad once sat remains empty, untouched, a silent tribute to the man who once filled the house with his presence. A year later, the mother finally sits there, gazing at hummingbirds, showing how grief slowly makes room for love and memories. The book concludes with Flickers of Hope, as the narrator discovers the father's journal, logging personal conversations with God.
It's a comforting reminder of the faith that sustained the father, offering hope for a heavenly reunion. Where Cowboys Rest is a tribute to a man who embodied the strength and spirit of the West, and whose greatest legacy was the love he gave. Through grief, adventure, faith, and family, these stories remind us of the enduring bonds that shape our lives and give us hope.