A rancher died and left everything to his devoted wife. She was a very hard-working woman and determined to keep the ranch, but couldn't do it on her own and knew she needed to hire help.

Only one cowboy applied for the job, so she hired him. He proved to be a good worker who put in long hours every day and knew a lot about ranching. For weeks, the two of them worked, and things were going well.

One day the widow said to the hired hand, "You have done a really good job, and the ranch looks great. You should go into town and kick up your heels." The hired hand readily agreed and went into town that Saturday night.

One o'clock came, however, and he didn't return.

Two o'clock and no hired hand.

Finally he returned around two-thirty, and upon entering the room, he found the rancher's widow sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine, waiting for him. She quietly called him over to her.

"Unbutton my blouse and take it off," she said.

Nervously, he did as she directed. "Now take off my boots."

He did as she asked, ever so slowly. "Now take off my socks."

He removed each gently and placed them neatly by her boots.

"Now take off my skirt."

He slowly unbuttoned it, constantly watching her eyes in the fire light.

"Now take off my bra." Again, with trembling hands, he did as he was told and dropped it to the floor.

Then she looked him straight in the eye and said, "If you ever wear my clothes into town again, you're fired."