I'm married to a cowboy..bull rider to be exact. I have written so many poems about cowboys. Nothing like wearing a cowboy's hat, his belt and buckle and his boots while playing!!!! Makes for a fun time and great inspiration!
Interestingly enough I'm nearly done with a story set in the old west. I adore cowboys, particularly austrailian ones. (that's a hint sveetie).
Short acquaintances were pretty common in old west lore and more recent media. Perhaps a short slice of a saloon whore's life where a mysterious cowboy shows up one night, they do the dirty, then he gets shot the next morning or rides out or something. Not alot of character buildup necessary, just the view of that day in their lives.