Page 86 of You've Got a Place Here, Too
Lessie hopped off the fence and ran over to open the gatewhile Viola walked with Layla. Viola was slightly older than his girlfriend, and Leo could tell she’d already taken a liking to the girl he’d brought home from college.
“Eight seconds!” Lessie double-checked her stopwatch before she let out a whoop. “Looks like college ain’t take the cowboy outcha,” she teased.
“Nothing is ever taking the cowboy outta me,” Leo promised.
It felt so good being back on his saddle, to be back on the ranch. And so good to be there with Layla. He smiled as she entered the roping arena with Viola, opening his arms wide. Layla ran to him, throwing herself into his embrace.
“That wasunbelievable!” she said excitedly. “Like, unbelievable, Leo. You’re like, areal cowboy.”
Which of course made Lessie and Viola laugh. He knew that this statement—and the way his girlfriend said it—would make its way around the ranch before nightfall and that he’d be teased about it for years to come.
“Is he alright?” she asked, looking over at the calf, who was still bound.
“He’s just fine,” Leo said. “C’mon, get close. Let me show you.”
He kneeled next to the calf and Layla did the same. Still tied up in the piggin’ string, the calf squirmed beside them, its eyes wide and frightened, as Leo began talking to it softly.
“It’s alright now, little buddy. You’re alright.” He gave a slight tug on Lady’s reins to give the rope around the calf’s neck some slack as he continued speaking softly. “Don’t worry, lil’ buddy. Ain’t no harm gon’ come to you. You’ll be free again soon enough.”
“Can I touch him?” Layla asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Of course,” Leo said. “You can pet him, just like you’d do a dog or cat. See? He likes that. He likesyou.”
Layla continued to pet the calf as Leo untied him. After, she walked with Leo as he put him back in the holding pen.
“That was seriously amazing.” She was holding Leo’s hand now, swinging their arms slightly as they walked toward the main house. “I can’t believethatwas the secret you were keeping from me, that you’d made this whole other façade for? And that Lady is…a horse.” Layla shook her head.
“I mean, how was I to know—” Leo stopped under one of the magnolia trees and turned Layla to face him. “You know what? There’s no excuse. I’m sorry I lied. It’s just that I never imagined I’d be theonlycowboy at Langston University. But when I showed up that first day, and everyone was looking like rappers and fly girls, rocking all this fly gear and listening to music I’d never heard before…”
Leo’s eyes welled with tears as he thought back to the first day he stepped on campus. His suitcase full of pearl-snap shirts and flannels, high-waist Wrangler and Levi’s jeans, and duck-cloth pants. His favorite T-shirts were not only too fitted, but they were also branded with Western imagery instead of FUBU, Cross Colours, or Hilfiger. Because he’d been rushing, he’d left his Stetson in the cabin of his truck. And he’d felt awful leaving it there the entire semester, hiding under Granny’s knit blanket.
“I felt so different, Layla. It felt like I didn’t belong,” Leo whispered. “So, I just panicked. I started lying because I thought it would be better to fit in than stand out. Then I had to keep lying. It’s been awful, believe me. I hate it.Hatedit,” he corrected himself. “If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I promise to never lie to you again.”
Layla took his hands and placed them over her heart. “I forgive you, Leo. And love you.”
Ranch work wrapped early given the shorter winter days, and as soon as Leo finished helping his family with chores, he took Layla on a horseback ride.
“Whoa, Lady.” Leo pulled his reins as they came upon Magnolia Lake at sunset. Layla was riding Viola’s horse, Daisy, who knew to follow Lady’s lead.
After dismounting, Leo walked over to help Layla do the same. She looked so beautiful dressed like a cowgirl that he had to steal a few kisses before they walked the horses to the bank for a drink.
“This is so unbelievable. And I know I keep saying that but it’s truly the only word I can think of.” Layla stared across the vast blue water reflecting the bright sun as it descended from the orange-and-purple-laced sky. “Like, this doesn’t even seem real!”
“Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” He laughed. “Out here, day and night are always in competition to see who can put on the best show.”
Just as he promised, as soon as the sun set, the sky turned blue-black and twinkled as countless stars found their place in the heavens. Leo and Layla stood at the water’s edge in silence and in awe, staring up at God’s magnificence until they heard a bell clanging, letting them know dinner was ready.
Leo smiled as his family watched his girlfriend stack a plate with ribs, baked beans, cornbread muffins, and smoked corn on the cob.
That’s right. My Layla caneat!
After dinner, everyone normally sat on the porch, sharing memories and pointing out the constellations. But Leo hadbrought a girl home for the first time—a special occasion worthy of gathering around a bonfire. Which Layla, of course, thought was unbelievable. Especially when Grandpop began telling stories about old Oklahoma.
“Miss Layla, did you know the first Black cowboys came from Africa?” Grandpop asked.
“No, sir,” she admitted. “I mean, I never even knew there were Black cowboys until today.”
Everyone laughed.
