Cast of Characters

Here’s an updated Cast of Characters in case you’ve ever wondered who’s whom!

Note: I didn’t include four-legged characters, because between the dogs, cats, and ranch horses, there would be no end. And I don’t have photos of all the ranch horses, and if I were to leave out one or two of them, I’d never hear the end of it!

 

Tim. My husband’s brother. My brother-in-law. Likes anything mechanical, doesn’t eat cheese unless it’s melted, and teases the kids mercilessly. All in all, a pretty darn good brother-in-law to have on hand.

 

Missy. Tim’s wife. Loves horses. Lots of fun and game for anything. We have a blast together. I love her lots.

 

Caleb. Tim and Missy’s son. His father’s clone in every way. Used to take my keys off the pew in church and snicker as I looked under the cushion, on the floor, and inside the hymnal for them. And actually, he still does this. Calls me “ma’am.” He’s a good kid.

 

Halle. Tim and Missy’s daughter. Dances to the beat of her own drummer. Loves horses, loves dogs, loves goats, loves cats, loves donkeys, loves cattle, and wants to be a vet. I have a soft spot in my heart for this one.

 

Tim. Works for my brother-in-law Tim now, but has lived and worked on our family ranch for over twenty years. Friendly, hardworking, a gentleman. His morning coffee is Mountain Dew.

 

Lance. Also works for Tim, and while he’s been here for less than a year, he’s a good guy to have around. It’s nice to have a mix of been-here-forever and just-got-here!

 

Pete. This is an old picture, but it doesn’t matter because I think Pete never changes! Has worked on our ranch since way before I came into the picture and is in charge of haying and taking care of all the equipment (and all-around cowboy work as needed.) Pete has a good sense of humor, and he’s always been very nice to me.

 

Marlboro Man. My boyfriend, husband, and father of my children. Has a great working relationship with his brother, involves our kids in every aspect of ranching, and loves his family. Bonus: Looks good in jeans.

 

Alex. Our oldest child. Quiet and strong. Used to be scared of calves. Now she’s one of the best cowboys on the whole ranch. I’ve decided she doesn’t need to go to college. Okay? Okay.

 

Paige. Our second child. Creative and confident. She’s six feet tall and might be president someday. She’s a leader.

 

Bryce, our older boy. If Caleb is a clone of Tim, Bryce is a clone of Marlboro Man. He’s the first out of bed, the first dressed, and the first to the barn in the morning. He has an innate sense of where to be and what to do when it comes to ranch work. His dimples slay me.

 

Todd. Our baby. Sweet, kind, and weird. Loves football, loves basketball, and his head is often in the clouds. Jeans have holes in them before they make it home from the store. I can see him taking off and being a missionary (or a sports commentator) someday. Either way, he’ll do what he was born to do.

 

Josh. Works for Marlboro Man. Has been on the ranch as long as I have, and maybe a little longer—he lived on the ranch with his Uncle Lee, who worked for my father-in-law years ago. Josh is an older brother-type to my children, and just got married last summer.

 

Liza. Josh’s stepdaughter. Sweet, precious, and polite.

 

Patrick. Josh’s stepson. Hard worker, quiet, smiles 24/7.

 

Rowdy. Josh’s younger stepdaughter. Quite possibly the cutest little girl on the planet at the present moment. I took ribs to a calf working last week and she ate more than any of the cowboys. A one-of-a-kind personality.

Note: I don’t have any photos of Amanda, Josh’s wife, but here are photos from their wedding last summer! (Thank you, Cristal, for taking such pretty pics!)

 

Grammie. My mother-in-law. Grew up on a ranch, loves her grandchildren, and laughs at her own jokes and my jokes, which means she’s awfully fun to be around. Handles triumph with humility and tragedy with grace. A woman to emulate.

 

Pa-Pa. My father-in-law. If he isn’t in his pickup or on a horse working, he’s sitting in his chair at home thinking about all the things he needs to do. Loves his sons, his grandchildren, and his wife. Stern but loving, gruff but affectionate. The thread that holds us all together.

Love,
Pioneer Woman