The African-American character of Deets in "Lonesome Dove" is based on a real black cowboy, one of many who worked for Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving over the years.

Bose Ikard was born a slave and went West to work for Oliver Loving in 1866. He worked for Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving when they were partners. When Loving died, he remained a steadfast friend and employee to Charles Goodnight.

Following his work in the cattle drives, Ikard settled in Weatherford, Texas. He and his wife, Angeline, were the parents of six children. He died in 1929 at age 85. Goodnight had a granite marker erected at his grave.

Goodnight wrote about Ikard:

"Bose surpassed any man I had in endurance and stamina. There was a dignity, a cleanliness and reliability about him that was wonderful. His behavior was very good in a fight and he was probably the most devoted man to me that I ever knew. I have trusted him farther than any man. He was my banker, my detective, and everything else in Colorado, New Mexico and the other wild country. The nearest and only bank was in Denver, and when we carried money, I gave it to Bose, for a thief would never think of robbing him: Bose Ikard served with me four years on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order, rode with me in many stampedes, participated in three engagements with Comanches, splendid behavior. ... Bose could be trusted farther than any living man I know."

Goodnight was responsible for saving one of the few remaining buffalo herds. He and his wife developed a passion for the animals. One of the loves of his life was cross-breeding cattle and buffalo and getting "cataloes." Charlie also created a wildlife sanctuary that replaced his passion for cattle drives in his later years.

The definitive work about Charles Goodnight was written by J. E. Haley: "Charles Goodnight, Cowman and Plainsman," 1942. The tales in that book were later the basis for such Western classics as "The Searchers," "Red River," "Sons of Katie Elder" and, of course, "Lonesome Dove."

Actor Barry Corbin lives in Texas. A fan of Western history, particularly Texas history, Corbin put together a one-man show a few years ago. It depicts Charles Goodnight on the last day of his life.

Corbin described Charles Goodnight: "In any part that you do, there is an honesty to your character and you have to get in touch with that. In the case of Goodnight, it's easy because his core of honesty extended all the way out to surface."

"Charlie Goodnight's Last Night" is a microcosm of an era marked by loyalty and devotion to personal codes. "What is important today about Charles Goodnight is the man's unshakable belief in right and wrong," says Corbin. "He lived by a code, which most people on the frontier did. And that's almost unheard [of] today."