She nodded. “Yes, I am as a matter of fact. I’m a little early. Usually school isn’t dismissed until right about now.”
“Well, then we better talk fast. I wouldn’t want to cause you any embarrassment.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t be any embarrassment. I could introduce you if you’d like.”
“As what?” Bohanin asked.
She smiled. “As my good friend and defender.” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t tell you the truth about the situation, I guess.”
“I guess,” Bohanin said.
“You’re not going to make this easy at all, are you?”
“All I want is the truth. I think you owe me that.”
“I guess you have learned that I never was pregnant.”
He nodded.
“I told Logan Bochart that story to get some money from him. After all, I think he owed me.”
Bohanin smiled coldly. “Most women in certain professions do.”
Anger flashed across her face.
“I want to know why you didn’t tell me where you were going and why you didn’t wait for me. I don’t give a damn about you and Bochart,” Bohanin said.
Bohanin’s black buggy came around the corner. A tall man was driving it behind a familiar black mare.
Bohanin smiled as he recognized the rig. “Nice outfit,” he said with a smile.
The man held up the mare with his left arm. The right one was missing. He smiled pleasantly at Bohanin.
Bohanin smiled back.
“Grant, I would like you to meet an old friend. This is Captain L.J. Bohanin. He was a...”
“I was on the school board in Springfield,” Bohanin said as he offered his hand.
“I hope you won’t hold it against us. You know, Millie telling you she was single and all. I just couldn’t seem to find a decent job and we wanted to buy the farm. We thought that if she could teach for a couple of years and we saved our money then we would be able to buy the place. The advertisement stated that only single women would be considered.”
“Think nothing of it,” Bohanin said. “I’ve been thinking of trying to get that policy changed.”
“When she returned, I never dreamed that she could have saved so much. We owe that school district a lot. If it hadn’t been for the kind folks in Springfield, I don’t know that I’d have ever been able to save enough money.”
“You lose your arm in the war?” Bohanin asked.
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“What was your regiment?” Bohanin asked.
“1st Colorado volunteers.”
“Tough bunch. I hear they were a good outfit,” Bohanin said.
“Lost my arm at Glorietta Pass,” he said.
Bohanin nodded. “I bet it was tough adjusting.”
“If it hadn’t been for Millie, I don’t know what I would have done. She was like a rock. I figured she wouldn’t want anything to do with me when I returned.”
Bohanin smiled and looked toward Millie. “A good woman is difficult to find. You were lucky, my friend.”
Millie looked down at the ground. “We need to be going, Grant. We don’t want to be late.”
Grant smiled. “Yes, I’m certainly ready to eat. Say, Captain Bohanin, there’s a church supper tonight. I’ve got plenty of extra food in the back of the buggy. Why don’t you join us as our guest?”
“Oh Grant, I believe the Captain has...”
No, thanks. I’m afraid I can’t accept. I have another engagement. Maybe some other time?” Bohanin said.
“Too bad. Millie is going to sing for the congregation. Some of the children are going to perform as well,” Grant said.
“I’m certain that would be very enjoyable, Mister?”
“Kirkpatrick, Grant Kirkpatrick. Millie, didn’t you tell the man our name?”
“I guess it just slipped my mind. How silly of me.”
Bohanin turned toward her and offered his hand. “Well, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, I’m glad you’re doing so well. Maybe you’ll come and visit me sometime?”
She glared into his eyes but smiled and went through the formality. “Why that would be quite nice, Captain.”
“Stop by anytime,” Grant Kirkpatrick said. “I’m sure you’ll always be welcome.”
Bohanin tipped his hat and gathered up his reins to mount his horse. He swung easily into the saddle and waved toward the couple as he rode out of town.
As he topped the rise that overlooked the city, he noticed that the buggy was following him. He looked up the road to see a small frame church. Buggies and wagons were parked around it and people were stepping into the building. He waited for the buggy to pass. Kirkpatrick waved as the buggy sailed past. Millie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She had a look of refined civility as she nodded Bohanin’s presence.
Bohanin sat back in his saddle and crossed one leg over the saddle horn. He pulled a bag of California Gold from his shirt pocket and made himself a smoke. Bohanin took a puff and patted the horse on the neck. He chuckled, shaking his head.
“The evil seducer of poor pregnant women, the helpless school teacher, and the crippled wife languishing at home. Pony, if you ain’t being ridden by the mother and father of all fools, you’d be hard pressed to find a replacement.”
The gelding shook its head as it tried to loosen the bridle. Bohanin took another puff and flicked the cigarette into the road. He turned the animal down the trail that led to Fort Garland. He gave brief thought of heading back to Springfield, but reasoned that if he did, he would never see California.
END
Bohanin's Last Days Page 14