When I started writing “Cowgirl Up!”, I had visions of my main characters in my head. They were created in my imagination, and not based on any real-life people I knew. Samantha Kendrick was a large animal vet, physically fit with long blond hair and sky-blue eyes. She was smart, she was sexy, and I wanted to grow up to be just like her. Cheyenne Wells was a tall, athletic Ute Indian with long midnight-black hair pulled back with a leather string, and a face chiseled by Michelangelo.
Over the years as I wrote my second book, “Cowgirl Crazy”, and am now into my third book, “Cowgirl Tough”, I know Samantha and Cheyenne like the back of my hand. They’re my best friends when I’m writing, and I miss them terribly when I take a break. We’re close, connected, and I’m always excited to continue their adventures and have them in my life again when I start a new book. Yes, I have imaginary friends, and I’ve had them for years!
So, you can understand my shock when a few days ago I saw a graduation picture of my great-nephew and there, right before my eyes, was a young Cheyenne Wells. It was eerie and Twilight Zone music filled my head as goosebumps covered my body. I hadn’t seen Dominick in a while, and I believe the last time I saw him he was a young teen, his features unrecognizable under a ball cap pulled down covering his face as he sloughed over his iPhone on the couch.
Between then and now, Dominick grew up and glory be! He metamorphized into a perfect replica of Cheyenne. I give you the undeniable evidence:
From Cowgirl Up! 2012:
“Cheyenne, however, looked like an Aztec god. Samantha saw big muscles ripple through his clean shirt and leather vest. His jeans were tight and his black cowboy boots matched his leather vest. They were clean too. Even though his cowboy hat hid his hair, she could see the thick locks of black hair that came down to his shoulders.”
“Samantha never noticed how handsome he was with his bronze face and hair pulled back in a tail. His Native American features were prominent and powerful.”
From Cowgirl Crazy, 2016:
“Her thoughts turned to the drop-dead gorgeous cowboy, to his face with the high cheekbones that Michelangelo would’ve loved to chisel in marble, the deep-brown eyes that missed nothing, and the shoulder-length hair carelessly pulled back into a tail tied with a string of rawhide. At six foot two, Cheyenne was lean and muscled. Shucks, even his muscles had muscles that strained against his denim shirts and rippled against his tight blue Jeans.”
Dominick, aka Cheyenne Wells
With permission to embarrass her grandson, my sister said I could blog about Dominick and his uncanny resemblance to my imaginary cowboy, Cheyenne Wells. So, I did. Congratulations on your graduation from high school, Dominick! Your Auntie loves you, and I hope all of your dreams come true. If Hollywood ever knocks on my door because they want to make a Hallmark movie of my book (grin), I will let them know the perfect Cheyenne Wells does exist. Just put a cowboy hat on that boy!
Dominick Torres
Arvada High School Class of 2019
Carolyn Anderson Jones 