~A Cowgirl's Handshake~

Humbled In Salinas-1996

The first time I saw her she was on her second go. Concentrating on the calf ahead,  she was backed into the chute, rope held high and at the ready.  I must admit, I was admiring the look of her, as I suppose any man with fair wits about him generally would and never gave much thought as to whether she could actually rope.  As it turned out, she caught and spun the calf, while the heeler, a fellow with a bit of a reputation for being quite steady, missed miserably. 


Thinking she'd be quite the catch herself, my ego led me to her truck and trailer where, after the competition had ended, she was busy loading up her horse and gear.  I've always fashioned myself as a bit of a ladies man and felt quite sure she'd be no match for my charm. When I arrived at her rig, she was kicking at the trailer hitch, muttering a few choice words as she went.  I remember thinking to myself, my timing was perfect. The classic damsel in distress. I introduced myself and needless to say, I was sorely disappointed when she politely refused my assistance. Normally, I would have taken her refusal of offered help as an indication she was perhaps one of those overly independent type women, but before I could assess her as such, something happened for which I was completely unprepared. She halted her ongoing assault on the hitch, stood up, removed a well-worn glove from her hand and as she reached for my mine I remember at the time thinking: I have just been outclassed.  She told me her name and added a simple but polite, "But thanks anyway."


As I shook her hand, I was immediately aware of several things.  Her hand, although very feminine, was firm in it's grasp of mine. Not like that of a man, mind you, but rather that of a very confident woman. The other thing I couldnt help but notice was the way she looked at me while shaking my hand. For a brief moment, it was as if she were forcing me to look into her eyes, wanting to see me more clearly. Right then, I found myself remembering back to when, as a boy, my father taught me the importance of a handshake. He said "You look into a man's eyes when you shake his hand son, it will tell you everything you need to know about him."  It just never occurred to me a woman should or would do the same.  


Now, every time I shake a man's hand, the words of my once forgotten father's advice always comes to mind. That and the memory of a cowgirl's handshake....
Monte Walsh ~ Arizona Territory 2005 
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