For the Love of a Hat

Three girls weathered the Arizona heat Ranch hands distributed straw cowboy hats Without them we’d have fallen to sun’s defeat As our horses bounded through desert flats Far faster than the onlooking wildcats My comrades suffering from heat stroke We chilled the next day and drove to Tombstone Where spirits of Wyatt and his crew were evoked Marshal’s badges for sale, tickled my funny bone Placed on my hat, in the sun the badge shone The next day we rode again full speed Tense fists clinging to the saddle horn Through an area best known for tumbleweed My hat flew off, a cactus now adorned No longer on my head was it worn After we returned to the stable I set out on foot and retrieved my marshal hat To reach it, I was nearly disabled Coyotes did not put out a welcome mat To shoo them away, I swung cactus like a bat *Entry for Carol’s “My Favorite Hat or Bonnet” contest. (True, but for the swinging of the cactus -- ouch!)