At the ranch, by 4 pm Bessie was frantic with worry. Marlene did her best to keep her calm. Joel was pacing the porch. He'd sent for Ringo. Ringo came running. Joel told him the situation and Ringo did his best to have good thoughts, but this was still the Wild West. He said, "I'll send Smoky down the road to look for tracks. He's mostly Indian and can track a ghost if necessary."
As luck would have it some of the ranch hands rode in just at that moment. Ringo called Smoky over and told him to head to Denver and look for the ponies tracks coming back. Smoky took off at a gallop. Ringo said, "Now we wait Mr. Stanten."
Shorty had been told by Black Eyes to leave the note on the road tied to a rock. By the time Smoky came by, the note was picked up and he continued on. He marked the road where he found the note.
Walking his horse Smoky hawked the road for sign. About a mile from Denver he saw where the pony and two other horses had stopped. He got off his horse and studied the road. It didn't take him long to see where they had left the road and headed west towards the mountains. He jumped on his horse and galloped to the ranch. It was no almost 6 pm when Smoky returned. Ringo and Joel were still on the porch waiting.
A little out of breath he told his story. He told them that two riders had met the pony and they stopped. Then the trail led off to the west with one horse leading, the pony in the middle and one horse following. The lead horse had two broken shoes and the trailing horse had one new shoe on the left front.
Then he handed the note to Joel. Joel read it and said, "She's been kidnapped." Bessie had been standing in the doorway with Marlene and fainted to the floor. The men had her lying on the couch and Marlene was fanning her. Joel said, "Ringo what is to the west of here where they could find shelter."
Both Ringo and Smoky thought about it and then Smoky said, "About a two hour ride from here there's an old line shack."
Ringo said, "Those two guys must be really stupid to hide only two hours from here. My thinking is they would move at first light. If I'm not mistaken, there's a three quarter moon tonight. Let's have a bite to eat and go find her. I'll alert the hands. By the time we're ready to go it will be close to dark. I'll make sure we are all armed."
Bessie came around after she sipped some brandy Beth had given her. Joel told her the plan and to not worry. Those guys would not hurt Jane Beth. He said, "We'll have her home by daylight." Of course he was not confident of anything right now. This was out of his league. He couldn't track anything even if it had freshly snowed. However, he did have faith in the Lord and his men.
Indeed it was chilly as the men left the ranch towards the west. Smoky and Ringo were leading. Some of the hands had blankets and a lantern or two. Also some smoked beef if they got hungry. Joel refused a gun as he'd never fired a weapon in his life.
Joel was completely amazed at how Smoky knew where he was going. All the hands followed in a line behind him. Joel noticed the temperature dropping rapidly and worried about his little girl being both scared and cold. He had to trust in the Lord that she remained unharmed and brave. If the old Indian was right, she would come out of this kidnapping all well and good. He wondered what the punishment was for kidnapping in Denver.
Smoky stopped and Ringo and Joel moved up alongside of him. Smoky pointed and said, "The old line shack is just over that little rise. I can see a little light and can smell the smoke from a fire. You stay here and I'll be right back after I take a look see."
Joel and the rest of the men dismounted and walked around to keep warm. It wasn't too long and Smoky came back. He said, "Two men and the little girl are in the shack. The two men are at the table drinking from a jug of hard liquor. The little girl is on the floor sleeping. I suggest we kick the door in and get the drop on them before they can move or reach for their guns."
Ringo said, "Okay Smoky it's you and I with Tex and Willie behind us."
Joel said, "Make sure my daughter is not in the line of fire please."
The four men, as quietly as they could, made their way to the line shack. When they were within 20 feet they could hear the two men talking. Ringo said later what he heard: "I'm going to buy me two whores Shorty with our money."
He heard the other guy say, "Fine with me. We'll leave the girl in this shack and pick the money up on our way west."
They were now at the door, ready to kick it in: four men with six shooters drawn and ready to save the little girl from the two kidnappers."
Ringo raised his leg and kicked the door. It flew off its old hinges landing near the table. Black Eyes was quicker than Ringo thought as he dove for Jane Beth. He rolled on the floor and leaned against the wall with Jane Beth in front of him as a hostage.
Shorty, made a big mistake going for his gun. Smoky shot him in the chest. Black Eyes held a screaming Jane Beth. He had a knife to her throat. He said, "Throw your guns down or I cut her throat. Ringo started to put his gun down as Joel came through the door. He saw Jane Beth with a knife to her small neck. She saw her father and then bite down as hard as she could into Black Eyes hand. He screamed and that was when Ringo raised his gun and put a bullet in Black Eyes forehead. It was hard to see in the shack as two shots had been fired with blue gun smoke hanging in the small shack. Joel raced to his daughter who was still tied to the chair with a rope around her tiny waist. Smoky picked up the dropped knife and quickly cut her free.
Joel was very surprised Jane Beth was not crying; but she held him tight with her legs wrapped around his waist. Joel took her outside where one of the men had a blanket he draped around her. Ringo fetched her pony and saddled her for the ride home. However, Jane Beth would not let go of her father. She rode with him all the way home. Ringo did ask what they should do with the bodies and Joel said, "Burn the shack down."
As they left the line shack engulfed in flames, Jane Beth said, "Those were really bad guys father. I want someone to go with me from now on."
"I'm going to ask Smoky if he'll be your body guard from this night forward."
When they neared the ranch house, it was lit up like never before. Joel wondered where they got all the lanterns, but it felt warm and inviting as they rode up. Bessie and her sister with Marlene stood on the porch waiting for the men to come into the light. When Bessie saw her daughter she broke down crying with both happiness and sorrow. She wrapped her arms around Jane Beth and wouldn't let go. Joel gave his reins to Ringo who led two horses and a pony to the stables. Unseen and unheard, Marlene followed Ringo to the barn.
Bessie carried her daughter into the ranch house. She was dirty and hungry. First her mother gave her a bath and then she had a hot dinner. All through the bath and dinner she told her frightening story. She said, "Mommy they both smelled really bad. Black Eyes was very scary; but the one named Shorty was not a bad man at all. I'm sorry he's dead, but not so sorry for the ugly black face man. He kept looking at me really strange like. I thought maybe he was thinking about eating me. He told me that I would taste very good being so young and tender."
Bessie and Beth both realized how lucky they were she was back safe and sound. After dinner Jane Beth went to bed and surprisingly, didn't have any bad dreams. Joel had been listening, but not saying a word. He was glad now the kidnappers burned in hell. He vowed to never let his daughter be without a body guard.
-XIII-
Junior watched and listened with amazement to the story of the rescue. He so wanted to be there, but knew he was too young. He was very happy his sister was back unharmed. Even though he heard his father saying a body guard would be assigned to her, he would keep an eye on her too.
The next day he went riding out with the ranch hands. It was time for fall round up. Snow would be flying soon. It was time for the cattle to move down closer to the ranch house. Also it was time for a head count.
They were gone for three days and Junior loved every minute of it. This summer memory would stay with him forever. When he told the story at Harvard of his and family exploits no one believed him. He quit telling the story until he had
kids old enough to enjoy his stories.
As summer drained away and fall was definitely in the air, Bessie thought it time to go back to New York. She told Marlene her plans and then got a shock of her life. Marlene said, "Bes, I'm not going back, I'm staying here. Ringo and I are to be married as soon as the pastor can schedule it. I want to live here. I like the wide open spaces." Jane Beth was listening and she was thinking, maybe I'll stay here too.
"Mommy I want to stay here with Marlene and Ringo. I can ride to school and if the weather is bad I can stay with grandmother. I promise to do well in school. I really like the ranch and life here. Please can I stay?"
Bessie was feeling faint as she heard that her best friend and daughter would or wanted to stay here in Denver. She said, "I have to talk to your father. I'm not sure about you staying here my darling."
When Joel heard the request his first thought were no his daughter needed to be with her parents. Then he went for a walk and thought about it. She was rebellious as all get out in the city, but here she seemed quite normal. Why not give it a try, he thought. We'll be back next summer and that's only nine months away.
-XIV-
1895 ~ 1897
Jane Beth, with the nickname JB, bestowed upon her by Ringo, spent more than four years at the Bar-B Ranch. Everyone decided, including her, it was time to come home to New York City. Simply put she ran out of schools to attend. She needed a college. At the end of the summer of 1895 mother and daughter took the train to New York City. Joel and Junior stayed home that summer. Junior was preparing for his second year at Harvard and Joel was busy running his ever increasing empire.
Joel had added a second steel mill in Bethlehem. New technology and construction made the second mill much more efficient and productive. Even though America was suffering an economic crisis in 1893, Stanten Mills and Shipbuilding weathered the storm. Joel was content to wait until a new administration took over from President Cleveland to put the country back in production.
Joel was content to watch his kids grow up and get the education they would need to enter the new century. Joel could vision mass manufacturing of automobiles, appliances and many other things that required steel. What Joel really liked was the telephone and electricity. He could walk into his office at the ship building company, turn on the lights and talk on the phone. He thought 'what the hell more to people want anyway.'
Jane Beth entered Smith College in Massachusetts. Junior was excelling at Harvard. Both parents were very proud of their kids. Even though Joel was among the wealthy, socially they didn't participate in dinner parties and such things. Both preferred the company of each other rather than a bunch of pretentious rich people.
As 1897 brought in prosperity, so did Junior in the form of a girlfriend. He never let on he was interested or had a girlfriend until the summer of 1897. He was twenty one and just entering law school.
Actually his sister introduced Lois Baggely, roommate and best friend of JB. They lived in the same house.
Junior came home for summer vacation. Ironically, Lois was from New York City and lived not so far away. Her father was a successful lawyer who was a Harvard alumnus. When Junior came home his mother noticed something different about him. He seemed so much more mature this summer than last year. After dinner his first night home, he said, while clearing his throat, "Father-Mother I've something to tell you."
Bessie dropped her spoon she was using for her dessert pudding. Joel never batted an eye, but looked down the table at his son still sitting in his usual place at the end of the table opposite his father. Bessie said, "Are you in some trouble Junior?"
"No mother—at least not yet—but who knows the future. Sorry, I'm having a hard time here. I met a girl, no that's not true; well, yes it is I guess. JB's roommate is her best friend. I met Lois when I visited JB at her house at school. JB invited me down to meet her friend. Darn, I'm making a hash out of this story. Look, I've got a girlfriend. Her name is Lois Baggely. She lives here in Manhattan. Her father is a lawyer. Now, there, I got it out. Anyway, I want to introduce you to her tomorrow night."
Joel was grinning from ear to ear; while Bessie sat there with her mouth open catching flies. Joel said, "Glad to hear it son. Indeed, bring her over and we'll have dinner."
Bessie said, "Junior are you serious about this girl?"
"I don't know mother. We seem to enjoy each other's company. Actually we've not spent a lot of time together. Now I am going over to her house to ask her for dinner here tomorrow."
After he left, Joel and Bessie looked at each other and laughed. They both knew it was like they were twenty years ago. Joel got up, offered his hand and they went to the library for an after dinner brandy.
Bessie said, "I hope JB is careful this summer in Denver. That place is growing so fast and there are so many rough men out there."
"Not to worry dear wife. Smoky and the other hands will watch out for her. And she loves to spend time with Marlene's kids. I also have others in Denver watching her when she comes to town. I'll not have repeat of her being kidnapped again."
Junior with hat in hand banged the brass knocker on the massive oak door at Lois's house. A very formal butler answered the door. Junior stated his business and followed the stoic, rail thin man to the library. Lois was waiting for him reading a book. For propriety the butler left the doors open.
A maid came in and offered drinks. Junior chose coffee and Lois had tea. After the maid left, Lois fell into his arms. He hugged her and drank in the fresh smell of her long black hair. She said, "Do you think your parents will like me?"
"If I like you they will, you silly girl," Junior said.
They broke apart knowing the maid would return in a minute. They sat down in semi-opposite chairs in front of a small fire in a large fireplace. Junior said, "Where are your parents?"
"They are at some play on Broadway. I faked a headache to I could meet you. Tomorrow mother and I are going shopping and have lunch at some boring place. We'll meet some high social ladies and talk about the latest clothing styles. I just want us to be together Junior. I want to walk in Central Park holding hands feeding the ducks."
"Okay, let's do that. It's not nice to lie, but sometimes we must fib a little. Tell your mother that you have another headache and need to go home. Then you can meet me at the Park. We can spend an hour or more. After you go home just tell you mother the truth: I went to the Park to clear my head. I feel wonderful now. Then tell her you got a date with JB's family for dinner. Make no mention she is not there, but insinuate she is there."
"You will make a darn good lawyer Junior Stanten. I pity the opposition when it comes to court time. Now you'd best go and I'll have a hard time explaining if mother finds out you were here. However, I've told the staff to keep their mouths shut." Junior laughed and stood up. She walked him to the front door. He put on his hat and peeked around her to see if anyone was watching them. He quickly kissed her lips and out the door he went.
The next day Junior went with his father to the office. This was the third summer he spent learning the business. Joel's companies had reached the point where he built his own ships and used them for transportation of commodities throughout the world. Junior was eager to learn and learn he did. He watched, he listened and he used reasoning and his warm personality to emphasize his points. Joel was proud of the boy and told Bessie he was a natural. It won't be long Bessie dear when I retire. You and I are going to travel the world.
Junior told his father at lunch that he was going to meet Lois in Central Park at around 3 p.m. Father told him to have fun. At the entrance to the Park, Junior waited for Lois.
This would be the first time they would be alone. Junior remembered his mother telling him when she met his father in the park in Boston. He smiled thinking a park is a park. All of them are romantic in their own ways. The day was bright and clear for early June. The humid air had not invaded the seaboard yet, but was coming shortly.
He saw her coming walking quickly. She wa
s ravishing in a violet sun dress that accented her dark complexion. She had some Spanish blood in her which gave her a sultry look. Her gaze upon Junior almost made his knees buckle. Then she broke a big smile showing off her dazzling white teeth. In one hand she held a white parasol resting on one shoulder. He could see long golden earrings swinging back and forth as she walked. Junior felt something in his body that he had never felt before. His breath came hot and heavy with his tongue feeling thick and useless. Junior was afraid to say anything knowing his throat was so dry the words would come out as a croaking sound.
With her free hand Lois held out her hand for him to take. He turned and they walked hand in hand in a relative quiet park. At the reservoir they found a bench in the shade to watch the birds. A lot of people were walking in the park, but all seemed to be in their own little worlds. Certainly Junior and Lois were in their own world of budding love.
Lois said, "Junior do you love me?" Junior almost fell off the bench he was so shaken up by her question. He began to shake a little and she noticed how tense he became. "I didn't mean to scare you Junior. I think we know each other pretty well by now. What do you think?"
Junior looked out over the water seeing a few ducks take flight. He almost wished he could fly with them, but he turned to her and said, "Lois, I do love you and when should we tell our parents we want to marry?"
"Let's start tonight with your parents and then tomorrow night my parents. I'm kind of a modern woman like your sister. Women need to make things happen. If we wait for men, we will turn into old maids. I'm nineteen and almost twenty. I think when I'm twenty one I want to be married to Joel Stanten."
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