“Yesterday one of the kids found the saddlebag.” He picked it up from beside his chair and poured the money in the middle of the table.
“Damn, that’s a lot of money!” Owen Toler said.
“We counted it and there’s a little over eighteen thousand dollars here. The four of us have discussed it and we feel the only right thing to do is share the money with you folks. I know nothing will replace your loved ones, but we thought this might help you get a new start or help you rebuild your old homes.”
For a minute nobody spoke. Then Grover said, “I guess I’m still the spokesman for the group.” They nodded, and he went on, saying, “Nobody knows how much it means that you’re willing to share this with us, but I don’t think any of us would feel right taking this money. You earned every penny of it when you rid the world of those animals.”
Several of the men nodded and others verbally agreed.
“But we want you to have a share,” Rena put in. “You’ve suffered far more than we have because of those men.”
“We can’t take it. We want you to have it all.” Grover looked at Jake.
Jake shook his head. He couldn’t believe these good people wanted them to have all the money. “We won’t take it all. If we divide it equally, our share will pay off our mortgage. Then we’ll be able to buy stock and do a few repairs around here when we sell the cattle. We want to help you people as much as you’ve helped us. All we ask is that you not tell anyone where the money came from. Some greedy soul would decide it belonged to him. Also we want you to go along with the notion that our share of the money was Rena’s dowry from her family in Atlanta.”
“Maybe I have a solution,” Owen said. “Why don’t you and Silas take what you need to pay off the mortgage? Then take some and buy a wagon load of supplies to make up for all that we’ve eaten since we’ve been here. And for the last thing, take a little extra and buy your wives a couple of pretty dresses for each of them. I know they need them because Leona said Miz Rena had to borrow a dress to get married in. After you take care of all of that then we’ll talk about dividing up the rest.”
“That’s a good idea, Toler,” Hank Hawkins, a man who usually spoke little, said. “I think I’m going to head for California after we finish up with these cows. I don’t need much money. Just a hundred dollars or so and a few supplies to take with me.”
“I guess I’ll go back to New Mexico. It would be good to have a little to start rebuilding. A couple of hundred dollars would be fine. I’m sure the folks around there will help me out so I won’t need a lot,” Grover Beeson said.
“I saw the need for a church in Yellow Creek while we were there. I’m thinking of hanging around here and starting one. Mrs. McGregor at the mercantile was a nice woman and seemed to be pleased that a preacher was in town,” Reverend Abernathy said. “I could easily start a church with two hundred dollars.”
Though Silas and Jake still wanted to divide the money equally, after lengthy discussion they all finally agreed that they would take fifteen hundred dollars each and Haywoods would get the rest.
“We’re still going to see that you get some new dresses,” Grover said. “We’ll all chip in a few dollars for them.”
Adela and Rena agreed to let them buy one bolt of cloth for each of them so Adela could sew them new dresses. Rena explained, “Material works better because Adela says I’m so small that only the little girl clothes in the mercantile fit me.” They all laughed when she added, “I’m a married woman now and I don’t want to have to wear little girl clothes.”
The group left saying they still intended to help with the round up and some said they were staying to go on the cattle drive.
As the four of them drank a last cup of coffee, Jake asked Silas, “Can you believe they insisted we take the bulk of the money?”
“That’ll give us enough money to build on to the cabin.” Adela grinned. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a couple of more rooms?”
“That’s a good idea, honey.” Silas smiled at her. “Give us couples a little more privacy.”
Jake drained his coffee and looked at Rena. “I guess one of us needs to go to town tomorrow and pay off our debt.”
Silas and Adela insisted that Jake and Rena should go. Then Silas said, “If there’s any question about the dowry, Rena should be there to convince Jefferson the money is hers.” With a grin he looked at her and said, “If he doesn’t want to believe you, just throw him the floor.”
Rena blushed and Jake laughed out loud. He slid his arm around her shoulder and said, “Or you can shoot him between the eyes. You’re good at that, too.”
“Don’t pay any attention to them Rena.” Adela smiled. “They know you only do what you have to at the time.”
“As long as that doesn’t mean you’re going to start throwing your husband around or shooting any of his body parts,” Jake teased her.
“It never crossed my mind.” She grinned at him. Then her face sobered. “Oh, Lord, I just thought of something.”
“What, honey?”
“Tomorrow is Thursday. Have you made plans about Wigham? He said his party was going to be this Saturday.”
Silas and Jake glanced at each other. “We have a plan, Rena.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Now you and Jake go on to town in the morning. I think he should take you to the hotel and spend tomorrow night. I know it’s not much of a honeymoon, but it’s away from everyone for one night anyway.” Silas stood.
“That’s a good idea.” Jake took Rena’s hand. “We’ll be back by Friday. I won’t let you down on Saturday.”
“We can handle it.”
“I know you can, but I’ll feel better if Rena is there backing us up.” He grinned down at her. “You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“Honey, I’ll always be at your side.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” He swooped her up in his arms. Glancing at Silas and Adela, he said, “Good night, folks.”
He didn’t set her down until they were in their room with the door closed. Moving to the table, he lit the oil lamp and turned to face her. “I’ve been waiting for this all day.”
“Waiting for what, Jake?” She gave him a coy smile.
“Waiting to get that dress off you and lay you down in our bed again.”
“Is it always going to be like this? You rushing me to bed after dinner.”
“Until I’m so old I can’t carry you and I have to use a cane to toddle in here.”
“I like the idea that you’ll love me that long.”
“Rena, my love,” he whispered as he began fumbling with the buttons on the front of her dress. “I’ll love you forever and beyond.”
She giggled.
“You think that’s funny, huh? Aren’t you going to love me that long?”
“Of course I am. It’s just that there’s a popular kid’s movie where the character is always saying he’s going to fly to forever and beyond.”
“What’s a movie?” he whispered as he began to nibble her ear.
“I’ll tell you later. Right now I want you to start on that road to forever and beyond by making love to me.”
“Not anxious are you?” He slipped the top of her dress down and over her hips.
“Yes. I am. It’s been hard to look at you among all those other men today and not grab you and run to our bedroom.”
He made quick work of removing her chemise, then lifted her and carried her to the bed. He placed his mouth on hers without letting go of her breast.
She put her hands between them and unbuttoned his shirt.
He moved back a little to give her access. “I love knowing you want me.”
“I’ll always want only you, Jake Haywood.”
In minutes they were naked and in bed with their heated bodies pressed together. They began to touch, taste and explore each other, taking their time as if there were no other people in the world.
Chapter 17
Rena and
Jake left the ranch in the buckboard with Spider tied to the back. Jake explained that his horse needed new shoes and he was going to drop him at the blacksmith shop. They covered four miles in the early morning light. Rena wanted to doze on Jake’s shoulder, but the buckboard bounced as they hit the ruts in the dirt road and she couldn’t sleep. She wore the green stripped dress Adela made her. She also had on a wide brimmed straw hat. Adela wanted her to wear a bonnet, but Rena had bucked at the idea. “I couldn’t stand that hot thing tied under my chin.” Adela gave up when Jake said the hat looked pretty.
They decided that Owen Toler would bring his wagon and follow them into town to get the supplies for the visitors. Finn came along to help since Jake and Rena didn’t plan to return until Friday.
A large bird flew over and Rena watched it soar toward the mountains. “Was that an eagle, Jake?”
“I wasn’t paying attention, but it could’ve been.”
“Do you know that the eagle is the national symbol of the United States?”
“Yeah, I did know that.” He grinned at her.
“I’ve never seen one in the wild before. Only in a zoo or a bird sanctuary.”
“They have sanctuaries for birds.”
“They do. Lots of them are endangered and they want to keep the species alive.”
“Don’t look like you’d ever run out of birds.”
“Oh yes. Lots of animals are protected now. The buffalo for one. They were almost extinct at one time, but herds are now building back up.”
“Don’t people hunt?”
“Oh yes. Many do, but they have to have a license to do it. And you can only hunt during season. They have a season for deer, for rabbits and all the animals. That keeps the animals from being randomly killed.”
“So if a man needs food for his family, he can’t hunt unless he has a license and it’s the season?”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t sound quite right to let a man’s family go hungry because there’s some kind of crazy law that keeps him from hunting.”
She smiled up at this man she loved. He was so honest and forthright. He saw the world as it should be, not the way it would become. “There’re other ways for a man to provide for his family in the future.”
“Good. I don’t like to think that some little kid is hungry because his daddy isn’t allowed to shoot a deer or something.”
She reached over and looped her arm in his. There was no way she was going to tell him about the hunger in the world in her time. Though there was plenty of money and food, there were still people who starved to death daily in her century.
She changed the subject. “Jake, I’m a little nervous about going into Yellow Creek. What if I say the wrong thing or make some kind of blunder?”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll be right there with you.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise. I won’t even go to the Silver Slipper for a drink.”
“Isn’t that the place where all the loose women stay?”
“I guess so.”
“Guess. I bet you know, Jake Haywood.”
He only grinned.
“Did you go there often?” she asked after he didn’t make any kind of reply.
He looked uncomfortable. “Not too often.”
“I bet.”
He glanced at her. “I’m a married man now, Rena. The only reason I’ll ever go to the Silver Slipper again is for a drink.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, darling.”
“Most men take their marriage vows seriously, and I’m one of them. I’ll always be faithful to you, Rena.”
“I know you will, Jake. I know you’re a man of honor.”
He grinned.
“I know what those places are like though.” She snuggled against him.
“How in the world would you know about saloons?”
“I’ve read about the old west and about the saloons and the prostitution that went on there.”
“Do they still have saloons and prostitution?”
“We call them bars now. And believe it or not a lot of upscale places have as many women go there for drinks as do men. A lot of business deals are done in those bars.”
“You’re kidding. Don’t the women get upset at the prostitution?”
“That’s the thing, Jake. There’s very little legal prostitution. It’s against the law in every state except Nevada and they’re cracking down on it there. Most prostitution rings are run by organized crime. Of course there’re street hookers who have their pimps, but they’re often hauled to jail.” She smiled at him. “Most men don’t bother with prostitutes. They just have an affair with some willing woman.” She glanced at him. “People are a lot freer with sex in my century. If a man ends up marrying a virgin, it’s a rarity, not the common way as it is now.”
He glanced at her, but said nothing.
She smiled and shook her head. “No, Jake. I wasn’t one of the women who gave themselves freely. I’ve been with two men in my life. My first husband and you.” He grinned and she added, “I’ll tell you something else. I never had the wonderful feelings in bed with my first husband that I have with you. I don’t think I even knew what loving was until our wedding night.”
Jake took the reins in his left hand and moved his right arm around Rena. “Now that’s what a man likes to here. It makes him feel good to know he pleases his woman.”
* * * *
It was mid-day when they arrived in Yellow Creek. It looked much like Rena had envisioned it. Maybe a little larger. There was one main street that ran in a t-shape. A few side streets jutted off with houses of different styles and sizes. Some of the larger ones had picket fences with flowers growing in the yards.
“I told Owen and Finn we were going directly to the bank. They’ll take Spider to the blacksmith and their horses to the livery stable. I’m sure their next stop will be the Silver Slipper.” He pulled the wagon up to the hitching post in front of the bank and came around to her side, reached up and sat her on the plank walk area.
They stepped into the bank out of the bright sunshine. A squinty little man behind the teller’s window nodded to them. “How can I help you, Jake?”
“I need to see Mr. Jefferson, Smiley.”
“I’ll see if he’s busy.”
Rena could see into the area of the bank that was partitioned off with a waist high rail. An overweight man, wearing a suit and tie with a long watch chain, sat at a desk reading a newspaper. The dried up little teller spoke to him and then came back to them.
“Mr. Jefferson said he was busy right now, but if you wait for a little while, he’d see you.”
Rena could feel Jake tense beside her. She knew he’d seen what Jefferson was doing and the man wasn’t busy. She decided to speak up. “Jake, if he’s too busy to see us, maybe we should go to another bank.”
“This is the only bank in town, ma’am,” Smiley said.
“I bet it’s not the only bank in the Territory.”
She knew Jefferson heard her because he folded his paper, got up and walked toward them. “Is there something I can do to help you, Jake?”
“Yes. I need to have a little talk with you, Mr. Jefferson.”
He nodded at Rena. “Jake, I’ve already told you there’s no way I can extend your loan…”
“Mr. Jefferson, may I introduce my wife, Rena?”
The banker raised his eyebrow. “So you finally settled down.” He looked Rena over as if she was some street urchin. “Hello, Rena. My name’s Wadell Jefferson. I own this bank.”
“Thank you for that information, Wadell,” Rena said, emphasizing his first name.
He looked as if she’d slapped him and she couldn’t help noticing the teller ducked his head in a smile.
Jefferson recovered quickly. “Well, what reason do you have if you’re not here to ask for an extension, Jake?”
“If we could go into your office and sit down, I’ll be happy to tell you.”
A
bout that time the bank door opened and a woman and a small girl came in. “I’ll be with you in a minute, Mrs. Willard. Jake here insists on seeing me now.”
“That’s fine, Mr. Jefferson. I’m sure Smiley can help me.”
“Well, come on in, Jake.” He looked at Rena. “You might want to wait here in the lobby, little lady.”
“No thank you.” She followed him to the desk behind the partition. Jake followed her.
“Since you insisted on coming in here, have a seat there on the side, Rena.”
“I’ll sit here in front of your desk, Wadell. Mr. Haywood will get a chair for himself.”
“Ma’am, I don’t want to be rude, but please tell me why you insist on calling me by my Christian name?”
“Didn’t you call me by mine?”
“Yes, but…”
“Then since you don’t seem to understand, let me explain manners to you. In the society where I grew up in Atlanta, if a man has the audacity to call a lady by her first name when they first meet, then she should respond in kind. If you had called me Mrs. Haywood as you should have, I would’ve gladly called you Mr. Jefferson.” She cocked an eye at him. “Now do you understand? It’s simply called manners.”
Wadell Jefferson had his mouth hanging open. Mrs. Willard turned away and smiled as her little girl handed Smiley a bag of coins. Smiley lived up to his name as he grinned and began counting the pennies.
Finally Jefferson found his voice. “I’m very sorry if I offended you, Mrs. Haywood.”
“That’s okay. I’ll get over it.”
He turned back to Jake. “Now, Mr. Haywood, if it’s not an extension, what is it you want to talk to me about?”
Rena could tell Jake was stifling a laugh. Maybe because Wadell Jefferson had called him Mr. Haywood.
Jake said, “I don’t need an extension. I came to pay off the mortgage and to open an account.”
“You what?” Disbelief was written on the man’s face.
Rena leaned toward Jake, but spoke loud enough for Jefferson to hear. “Is he hard of hearing?”
“No, dear. He’s surprised.”
“How in the world did you come up with enough money to pay off your mortgage?”
“Want me to tell him, Jake?”
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