Thank you @Joe Riley , you kick started my brain, and I found what I was looking for. This might me a treat for you since you haven't heard this story. It is a part of Texas history, so that's why I remembered it. Of course I had the story wrong, Goodnight was the boss of a black cowboy. I wish I knew how to transfer the written post instead of just this link. Someone with an iPad could be kind and try to teach me. Hint! Hint! http://www.blackcowboys.com/boseikard.htm
Thank you, Ina! (1843 - 1929) Bose was born into slavery in Tennessee. When Bose was a young boy, the slave holder took him to Texas still in bondage to work on a cattle Ranch. It was in Texas where Bose learned to ride, rope and right. Bose got his freedom from slavery and became his own man, He hired out his service to Oliver Loving, Loving was killed fighting against the Comanches. Bose then hired out his service to Charles Goodnight. Loving and Goodnight are the namesakes for the "Goodnight Loving Cattle Trail." Goodnight said, "Bose surpassed any man I had in endurance and stamina. There was a dignity, a cleanliness and reliability about him that was wonderful. His behavior was very good in a fight and he was probably the most devoted man to me that I ever knew. I have trusted him farther than any man. He was my banker, my detective, and everything else in Colorado, New Mexico and the other wild country. The nearest and only bank was in Denver, and when we carried money, I gave it to Bose, for a thief would never think of robbing him." The character, Joshua Deets portrayed by Danny Glover in the movie Lonesome Dove, is based on Bose Ikard. The story "Lonesome Dove" is taken partly from the lives of Goodnight and Loving. The epitath on Bose's grave transcribed by Charles Goodnight reads: "Bose Ikard served with me four years on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order, rode with me in many stampedes, participated in three engagements with Comanches, splendid behavior." A similar reading is done in the movie Lonesome Dove over Deets grave when he is buried. The Texas Historical marker near his grave states: Born a slave in Mississippi, Bose Ikard came to Texas as a child with the family of his owner, Dr. Milton L. Ikard. He remained as an employee of Dr. Ikard following his emancipation, but in 1866 joined a cattle drive to Colorado led by Charles Goodnight. and Oliver Loving. Ikard became one of Goodnight's best cowboys and trusted friend. Following his work in the cattle drives, Ikard settled in Weatherford (TX). He and his wife Angeline were the parents of six children when he died in 1929 at age 85. Goodnight had a granite marker erected at his grave. Bose Ikard is buried in the Weatherford Cemetery in Weatherford, Texas
Lonesome Dove novels are the most recent I know of. You may have seen the TV series. Before that, long ago, there was a series of westerns that Louis L'Lamour wrote and were very popular. They were paperbacks and easy reads.
When I worked at the bookstore we had tons of used Louies! Had to throw them away sometimes. Zane Grey comes to mind. Giddyup!
@Lara Moss , yes I remember Louis L'Lamour because I had a step-father that consumed his books faster than they were put out for sale, I read all of them and Lonesome Dove way back in the day. I was hoping a newer western writer was out there. Veterans like western it seems, and that was a complaint. No new writers except for the romance thing.
@Ruby Begonia , yes I remember that name, Zane Grey, as well. My step-father was a Texas Highway Patrolman with the brown cowboy hat and all. He only read westerns, and I was always happy to get to the library for anything else. I am just looking for a source for some young men that are tired of the old ones.