by C. J. Petit
“I’ll introduce you to the hands, then we’ll go and see Emma. After that, we head to the bank and get you added to the account.”
“Oh! I forgot. I have my account in Chadwick.”
“Did you want to leave it there?”
“No. I’d rather spend as little time as possible there.”
“If you want, you can just have our bank here transfer the funds to our account.”
“That’s better.”
“I had thought of separating the accounts into personal and business, but it really doesn’t matter.”
After they dressed, Gus wrapped her in his arms and kissed her softly.
“I love you, Sara.” It was a simple statement that meant so much to Sara because it was true.
They went downstairs. The cook had already made breakfast for the crew and had left some bacon and scrambled eggs for the boss and his new wife. Gus wrote a short letter to Eli and Rachel. He didn’t say who his wife was. He’d let that be a surprise.
Gus and Sara walked down to the bunkhouse to meet the boys.
Henry had already told them that Gus had been married yesterday and to keep away from any typical crude humor on the topic.
Gus’s only concern was whether any of the hands had paid Sara a visit. Not likely at three dollars. They could find one-dollar nights in Kinnick or any other town. Sara’s clients had been the higher end, like that man in Hendrick or the drummer.
Henry saw them coming and told the hands to all come out and meet the new Mrs. Matthews.
Gus and Sara stepped closer as the hands exited the bunkhouse, which now had a heat stove, a welcome upgrade.
“Boys, I’d like you to meet my wife, Sara. It goes without saying that she will be treated with the utmost respect, as she deserves.”
There were murmurs of agreement, but Joe Carroll was giving her the once-over. Gus noted it and was about to say something when Joe made a grievous error by saying, “Well, howdy, Sara.” It was no innocent greeting. They all knew it. Gus was impressed that Sara stood her ground.
“Good morning. You are a ranch hand, are you not?”
“I am, ma’am.”
“Then you will remember that in the future. Take that tone with me, and you’ll regret it.”
“Well, shucks, ma’am. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it,” he replied with a smirk.
Gus just looked at Henry and said, “Henry.”
He turned Sara around, and they walked to the barn to saddle their horses.
Henry turned to Joe Carroll. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the money that Gus had given him for expenses, including this one.
He counted out forty dollars and handed it to Carroll.
“Here’s your pay, Carroll. Get your gear and clear out. You just pissed away the best job you’ll ever find.”
“I didn’t do nothing. You saw her. She’s way too pretty for that old cuss.”
“Carroll, if you don’t shut it now, you’ll regret it. Get out.”
“You gonna do somethin’ about it?”
“Me and the other five men who admire that old cuss, as you call him. He’d kick your ass in a country minute if he wanted. Git!”
He turned, grumbling, and walked back into the bunkhouse. He had to go to the barn to get his horse and saddle, but Henry held him up until Gus and Sara rode out toward Emma’s house.
After they had passed, Henry let Carroll go and saddle his horse. He left with his middle finger in the air.
“Good riddance,” said Hank. “I’m right happy for the boss after that Libby thing.”
They all nodded and began their work for the day.
____
Gus and Sara were riding side by side when Gus turned to her.
“Sara, I’m really proud of you. You handled that better than I could have.”
“Did Henry fire that bastard?”
“Yup. He rode off a few seconds ago. I don’t think he’ll be a problem. He was an arrogant son of a bitch, too. He would have caused trouble sooner or later.”
“I’m really glad he’s gone, then.”
“You and me both, sweetheart.”
They arrived at the back entrance to Emma’s house. They both stepped down. Sara wrapped her reins around the rail and said, “You’re going to have to show me how you got Belle to do the things she does.”
“I’m sure you can get Solomon to do the same things. It’s one of the reasons I bought him. I saw the same spark in his eye that I saw in Belle’s.”
“That will be fun.”
“It will. More fun because I get to spend more time with you.”
He patted her on the behind as they entered the kitchen. Gus had forgotten to knock. Emma was baking and had heard them on the back porch, so she wasn’t surprised.
“Good morning, Emma. Sorry I forgot to knock. Just thought I’d introduce you to my new wife, Sara. Sara this is Emma Powers.”
They shook hands, and Emma congratulated them both.
“After you told me you were getting married, I thought I’d bake a cake for the occasion. It’s in the oven now. Can you come by later and cut it and have some?”
“We’d be honored. Is it all right if I bring Henry along?” Gus watched her blush.
“That would be nice.”
“We’ve got to go to the bank. Do you need anything while we’re in town?”
“No, I still have a ton of supplies.”
“Good. We’re off.”
They rode into town. The bank clerk was more than just polite to Sara; he congratulated her, and after the change to the account was made, was very helpful in getting the transfer of her Chadwick account taken care of. He never asked why she couldn’t just go and get the money herself. The clerk gave Gus an updated account balance of $47,648.5, which included the money from the sale of the cattle. Money will make people polite.
They returned to the house, and Gus gave Sara a more extensive tour of the house.
Gus asked her about Libby’s room, and Sara asked that they leave it as it was. Sara discovered that she was the same size as Libby, and all the clothes in the closet and drawers would fit. She found some that she thought Gus would appreciate.
He was in down in the kitchen heating some bathwater for her as she explored Libby’s things.
Sara tried on a silky nightdress of sorts. It was very revealing. She was about to take it off when she heard a noise in the hallway and turned to see Gus staring at her.
She was going to ask what he thought about it, but never got a chance to ask the question.
The bathwater had to be reheated before she was finally able to step into the tub. Sara couldn’t believe how content she was. All she thought of was Gus and how much he did to make her happy. She was also beginning to understand what being known as Mrs. Matthews meant. She was now the respected wife of a wealthy rancher who also happened to be the man who had stood up to gunfire and come out on top. She washed her hair and stayed until the water grew almost cold.
____
Joe Carrol wasn’t content. He knew he was the best hand around. He seethed. He didn’t know who was the greatest focus of his anger, Henry, Gus, or that woman who had dressed him down. He had ridden to Chadwick and was drinking at the OK Saloon when a well-dressed man walked into the bar and looked around. He approached the bartender and said loudly, “Where’s Susie?”
“She’s gone. Just got married yesterday.”
“You going to find another girl?”
“Nope. Owner says not to.”
“You’d never find one as pretty as she was anyway.”
“Nope. She was a sweet girl, too.”
“You know she was Jewish?” he asked.
“Yup. I knew. Didn’t make any difference. I’m glad she got outta here, she’ll be happier on that ranch.”
“She around?”
“Mister, let her be. She deserves to be left alone.”
“Just wondering. Give me a beer.”
Joe thought this was worth s
omething. A whore named Susie married a rancher yesterday. What are the odds of there being two? The big, important boss of the Double A was married to a Jewish whore. He wondered if he knew. Probably about the whore part. Probably not about the other part. Time to pay a visit to the Double A.
He walked back outside and mounted his horse. He wheeled it south, back toward Kinnick and the Double A. “Yes, sir,” he thought, “this could be mighty profitable.”
He arrived at the ranch’s entrance road fifteen minutes later and trotted down toward the big house. Henry saw him coming as the hands were coming in for the day. Gus and Sara were sitting together in the front room, talking about the upcoming trip, when there was a pounding on the door.
Gus stood and walked to the door with Sara right behind.
He opened the door and saw a grinning Joe Carrol.
“Well, if it ain’t the big man himself, and his special little wifey.”
“Carroll, you were given your walking papers earlier. You get your ass off this property and don’t come back.”
“Now, there you go again. Well, mister boss man, let me tell you. You’re gonna pay me a lot more than forty dollars, or I ride to your town and start talking.”
“Carroll, I don’t care what you want to talk about. Get out.”
“What if I was to tell you I just got back from the OK Saloon in Chadwick. That help? I guess that new wife of yours knows what I’m sayin’. Now it’s gonna cost you five hundred dollars for me not to go around telling everybody in town that she’s not only a whore, but a Jewish whore. That sit right with you? Or didn’t you know.”
“I know that Sara is the daughter of two of the finest people I know. I love her completely, and you can go and say what you want. None of that changes. But when you start talking, remember that those people know me, not you. You’re likely to have your teeth knocked out. So, I repeat, you arrogant little bastard, get your ass off my property. Now!”
The entire crew was standing to the side, listening to Joe Carroll. They were not a happy bunch.
Carroll started to say something, and Gus just reached out, grabbed him, and threw him off the porch. He landed in a heap and moaned while Gus slammed the door.
Joe Carroll sat up and saw the crew standing there.
“You all heard that? Your boss lady is a Jewish whore! I wouldn’t work for nobody who’d marry a whore or a Jew.”
Henry growled, “You ain’t workin’ for him. Or did you forget? But we all are. We don’t care what Mrs. Matthews was or is. She’s his lady, and we all take a mighty dim view of some piece of dung like you sayin’ things like that about her. Don’t we, boys?”
There was a sullen grumbling of agreement as the boys of the Double A stepped forward and surrounded a shocked Joe Carroll.
Gus and Sara had heard Henry’s harangue, and Sara felt warm at the acceptance where she had felt a deep chill just moments before. She didn’t say anything noble to Gus like, “Could you please stop them?” as the boys reminded Joe that he wasn’t wanted in the area. Gus probably would have given in to her request had she asked, but he would have delayed it a minute or so.
The boys took Joe’s Colt and snapped off the firing pin before putting it back in his holster. They put him on his horse and sent him on his way. Well, most of him. He left four teeth in the yard.
None of them would ever hear from Joe Carroll again. Where he eventually found employment was of no concern to any of them.
Gus turned to Sara.
“I know that what he said bothered you, Sara. But you also saw how they stood up for you. You’re my lady, like Henry said. You’re more of a lady than any other woman I’ve ever met, except maybe your mother. It’s because you both have that same class and dignity. We may have other incidents for a while, but by the time the new cattle arrive, you’ll just be Mrs. Sara Matthews. The beloved wife of the owner of the Double A.”
“I can live with that.”
____
The next six days were uneventful, except that Henry and Emma seemed to be getting better acquainted. Gus was pleased with the connection. Ethyl was doing very well in school, so Emma couldn’t be happier.
It was time for the long train trip. Sara was noticeably excited. But before they left, Gus went to the office and opened the safe. He opened the pouch and took out the two emeralds. He put them in an envelope and folded it before slipping it into his pocket.
They took the buggy to the station. Henry and Emma followed along behind on their horses. Gus was sure they’d have a romantic buggy ride on the way back.
They unloaded at the station. They were only taking one trunk, and each had a travel bag. It was a long trip with many stops, but Gus had booked first-class tickets, so they’d be in comfortable seating and have access to the new dining car.
The train arrived on time, and they boarded.
Henry and Emma waved, and Gus and Sara waved in return as the train started heading east.
“Mama and Papa will be so excited. Will they meet us at the station?”
“No, sweetheart. I didn’t want Eli to have to wait in the cold, especially if we’re delayed.”
“Oh, I should have thought of that. What time will the train arrive in Kansas City?”
“If the schedule holds, then we should arrive tomorrow morning at ten after eight. This will be my first trip to Missouri. In fact, I’ve never been out of the South.”
Sara turned, “Really? Never?”
“Nope. Lived in Texas most of my life, except for the time in the war. That was all in the South, too.”
“You never talk about that.”
“I know. If you want to know anything, I’ll talk to you about it. I’ll always talk to you, Sara.”
“Were you wounded?”
“Twice. Shot once. That wasn’t a big deal. Slashed with a saber across the hip. That was. They wanted to amputate, but I told them I’d rather die, so they left it. I’m still here and walk fine.”
“I was going to ask about that scar. I thought some bull had done it.”
“Nope. Some Yankee cavalryman.”
“No more shootings or stabbings, please. I’d like to keep you all in one piece.”
“Never wanted to be shot or stabbed in the first place. You’re a hell of an incentive to stay alive, Sara.”
She sighed and clung to him as the train continued through Oklahoma.
Fourteen hours and eleven minutes later, it slowed down to a stop in Kansas City. It had been an exhausting trip. They had brought books to pass the time and had each finished the books in eastern Kansas. But now they were here.
The train pulled to a stop at 8:21 in the morning. They rented a carriage, and the trunk was put on the back. Both were getting excited as they drove from the train depot. Sara was almost giddy. Gus was anxious to see Eli and Rachel again.
Ten minutes later, the carriage came to a stop in front of an impressive stone house. Gus paid the driver as he left the trunk on the steps as instructed.
“Sara, I want you to hold back for a second. I’m going to knock on the door. I want you to stand to the side. All right?”
Sara didn’t understand why, but nodded.
They walked up the stairs. Sara stood to the side of the door when Gus knocked. A maid opened the door. Gus put a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet, as he and Sara went through the door. The maid pointed to the parlor. Gus led Sara quietly to the doorway and held her just outside.
“Eli, Rachel, it’s wonderful to see you both,” he said as he strode into the room.
They both stood, Rachel more quickly, and she started to cry as Gus embraced her. He gave Eli a hug as well.
“I thought you were bringing your new bride to meet us.”
“I am. I had her wait in the hallway while I greeted you. I’ll bring her in.”
Sara stepped into the room as Gus said, “Eli and Rachel, I’d like to introduce you to my beautiful wife, Sara.”
Epilogue
For the secon
d time in their lives, Eli and Rachel Aronson boarded a train for Oklahoma with their daughter. This time, it was with their new son-in-law, whom they thought of more like a son.
Gus and Sara had spent four days being introduced to Eli and Rachel’s friends, and stories were told. But in the end, they had to return, and Gus asked Eli and Rachel to join them at the Double A. They didn’t have to be asked twice. They finally had their Sara back. Gus had more than just returned her to them—he had made her as happy and complete as they had ever known her to be.