My cousin Skyler Nosie was very inspirational in how we met again. Both Houston and I were very close to Sky before his passing. Houston would spend weekends roping with him and me and the kids would have dinner and edit videos with him. Skyler would teach my kids to be cowboys and call his time with them cowboy school for the next 10 months. I am pretty sure Emmitt and Isabella met Houston before I did as they were always at the Noises when the cowboys returned.

My Aunt Sharon Nosie would always ask me to help find Skyler or talk to him about life and uplift his spirits from time to time. It was after weeks turned into months that I became closer to my aunt Sharon as I called her "Grandma Sharon" too so the kids knew she was their grandma in the Apache tradition. Houston always tells me stories of roping wild cattle with my cousin Skyler and would say he was the best cowboy he knew.

I remember being sad because of a failed relationship and talking to my cousin Skyler about it! he said, "Cuz you don't want to date rez guys lol, you should date a white guy again! Actually, I know a white guy... His names Tye too but oh well and if you guys have a wedding it will be a Champ story to tell your kids!" I laughed and said, "No, Sky I don't think I need a blind date" This mystery "Tye" who I had no clue was actual Houston in the next year Sky would find a way to tease me and I would say NO SKY!

Sadly, we lost Skyler due to cancer in 2022, where again Houston and I met at his funeral. Houston gave an amazing obituary for our family on behalf of Skyler known infamously as the "Apache Cowboy" on YouTube. After that day, I began to spend more time at the ranch and with my Nosie family after Sky's funeral and would go riding with my little cousin Aron along with including them in my hunting adventures.

It wasn't until the summer of 2022 we ran into each other again at Ash Creek Ranch, the weekend of the Rambler/Montolla- Stevens/Kenton sunrise dance, that we actually met. As the cowboys watched me from a distance back up and hook up a trailer to my truck in my sparkly boots... My grandpa then told him, "Don't even think about she's way outta your league!" lol

After that day, Houston began to talk with me about archery hunting and 3D target tournaments and work via text. Then one day he asked me how about one weekend I come visit you? I am moving to Cottonwood in a few weeks but how about we visit each other.... I said, "Yeah sure when we are kid free if that day ever comes."

Then out of the blue one night he asked me to pick him up from the Ranch! I didn't believe him and said, "You're not at the ranch prove it!" He then sent me a photo of the ranch and said, "Can I come stay with you and hang out? But you have to come get me!" I agreed and we both were in for an adventure of a lifetime!

The second I picked him up in my white truck, all the cowboys were outside laughing and smiling.... we hit the ranch front cattle guard, and my grandma Sharon texted me, "I knew you two would hit it off after your grandpa told me the story of you backing up the trailer! Have fun he is a nice guy!" The next morning, I had to embarrassingly text my cousin Tyler Nosie, who is the foreman and ask what time he picks cowboys up at Bashas! He replied, "6am....." (I knew he was probably wondering why but he minded his business)

We showed up in my truck that morning and all the rest of cowboys started laughing again and all we saw were giant smiles.... Houston kissed my cheek and said, "See I told you it was worth it!" The following year god blessed us with our first son Skyler Kye Hinton. Houston asked me if I was done dating because he was pretty sure I was it for him the rest of his life! We go hundred miles a minute and full force but we wouldn't have it any other way!

We honored my amazing cousin Skyler Nosie by naming our son after him. I remember the day we told Alvin and Sharon we wanted their permission, and my grandma Sharon said, "I don't think Sky would have it any other way! You were both very loved by him, he probably picked you both out for one another before you even realized it!"

We spent that summer helping out at the Ash Creek Ranch. One memorable week was going to Dehorn to help round up wild cattle with everyone. I was 7 months pregnant camping and helping my grandma cook for the cowboys 3 times a day. We picked wild berries and I showed my grandma Sharon how to wash and dry them; she showed me how to cook on an open fire and make biscuits in a Dutch oven. We would laugh tell stories while Houston and the rest of my cousins would be out all day. We watched all the kids have fun at camp.

Sharon explained to me the importance of being a ranch wife, to know when to speak up and when to hold my tongue. She stressed how important it was to stand behind my husband and not in front of him. I laughed and said, "Marriage? I don't know grandma, everything happened so fast and now a baby is coming..." She replied, "Tye (Houston) is a good man! All I ever see him is with his daughter, raising her alone, it takes a lot for a man to raise a little girl! He will ask you one day I know it, wait and see!" After that trip in the months that followed my grandma Sharon became sick and was diagnosed with cancer, several month later she passed, and my world was forever changed. My grandpa Alvin and Sharon watched over me throughout my first months of pregnancy until Houston moved back from Cottonwood. My Friday and Saturday nights were spent watching Yellowstone, 1883 and 1923 with them on their couch and some times staying the night too. I for one wasn't ready to be without Sharon, we had so many things planned together...

After losing my grandma Sharon, I was asked to help decorate my cousin Tyler and his future bride Dedria's wedding in September 2023. Both Houston and I attended Dedria's Birthday where I remember explaining to Houston, Tyler is going to PROPOSE TO HER WE HAVE TO GO! (he was tired from ranch work and a long day.) My grandma Sharon said, "I know you know what's going to happen you have to help us shop and decorate for the wedding!" I remember agreeing and smiling and she said and I will help you at your wedding when you stop being stubborn and give that man a break! (She knew he would ask)

September Nosie Wedding Day came; we were rushing around like a normal event day decorating and helping make everything perfect for my cousin Tyler. Then the reception and first dance happened. They asked Houston to maybe speak and we were rushing to leave the casino bar with my mom drink (because we stepped out of the reception area) to make it in time. I remember Houston walking up to the middle of the floor for some speech so I started recording at our table and he said, " I am going to need Chrissa up here with me baby can you come here?" I gave my phone to my cousin Kristen, who continued to record... In my mind I am thinking oh my god we are giving them some gift I have no idea what Houston is doing just smile lol.... When I got up there, he proceeded to tell me how touched he was by my cousins wedding and that family was so important to him, that he wanted to ask if I would marry him! He kneeled down and PROPOSED! It was so unexpected! I nodded yes with tears in my eyes and did a happy dance then jumped in his arms with our entire family and ranch family screaming and yelling! In that moment I knew my Aunt Sharon and my cousin Skyler were with us that day to celebrate in my cousins wedding and our engagement.

It is with the love and support of my grandma Sharon that Houston and I realized we made it this far over the years! She was always giving me advice on ranch wife issues, telling me how to control my temper and shared her stories with my grandpa and hardships of being a ranch wife. She is now our guardian angel in heaven as she passed soon after our son was born. We want to remember her and my cousin Skyler by continuing to love one another and raise our children around the ranch and cowboy lifestyle, but most of all helping us find one another and find our way back together again.

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