by Jenna Brandt
Before he could make an escape, the burly man continued, “’Bullseye’ Bolton was part of the Frontier Battalion. He was trained to handle all the lawless men during the Mason County War, cleaned out the outlaws from Kimble County, ended the Salt War of San Elizario, and his most famous achievement, he captured the robber, Sam Bass.”
“I thought that man was a myth,” one of the men said with awe. “You’re telling me, this is him?”
“Indeed, and I want to buy him a drink for all he has done for Texas,” the burly man declared.
Several of the men around Jake offered to do the same and before he knew it, he was being pulled off to the area where the food was located.
Mr. Weston had brought out a barrel of whiskey and beer for everyone to partake in for a nominal fee. Additionally, there was also sweet tea, sarsaparilla, and lemonade for those who didn’t want to drink libations.
The men spent the next half hour buying Jake drinks and talking to him about his time in the battalion. He kept glancing at Rebecca, who was patiently waiting at a nearby table with a glass of sarsaparilla in hand. All he wanted to do was get free from them and return to her side.
Finally having enough, he politely excused himself. “Pardon me, but I’ve a lovely woman waiting for me over there.”
Jake walked over, but just as he arrived at the table, a brown-haired willowy woman sat down next to Rebecca, paying no attention to her surroundings.
“Howdy, Rebecca. I saw you sitting over here by yourself and I thought I would come over and keep you company.”
Standing over them, Jake made a “humph” sound under his voice.
Both women’s attention turned to Jake. The new woman gave him a smile as she stated, “I heard there was a deputy staying in town,” she turned back to Rebecca and added, “and you’d been seen spending time with him.”
Rebecca’s face turned pink as she averted her eyes for a moment. She clasped her hands together in her lap, wringing her hands before she looked up. “Deputy Sheriff Jake Bolton, may I introduce to you, Miss Judy Lambert. Her family owns one of the largest cattle ranches in all of northern Taylor County, situated on the land south of the livery.”
“Pleased to meet you, Deputy. Rebecca and I go way back—all the way to the cradle—and I’ve three older brothers, so I would suggest you be on your best behavior in regards to her. Otherwise, you won’t like what happens.”
Rebecca gasped as her eyes grew round with shock. “Judy, don’t threaten him. He’s a man of the law and wouldn’t do anything unseemly.”
Judy shrugged. “A shiny star doesn’t make you a saint,” she said pointedly. “So I just want him to know that around here our menfolk protect our women from anyone who poses a hazard.”
Rebecca started to object, but Jake raised his hand and looked at her. “It’s alright, Rebecca. I understand from where your friend is coming. Her fierce loyalty is commendable.” Turning his attention to Judy, he promised, “I’ll never do anything to hurt your friend.”
The vow seemed to suffice Judy, who stood up with a smile on her face. “I see one of my brothers waving to me. I’ll see you tomorrow at church, right Rebecca?”
With a nod, Rebecca replied, “I’ll be there.”
Judy sauntered off across the town square to her waiting brother.
With a chuckle, Jake stated, “You sure have a lot of people interested in your goings-on.”
“It’s what you get in a small town.”
Jake sat down next to Rebecca. “Not sure I’m used to it. I’ve lived in cities all my life. I grew up in Houston and moved around from home to home with extended family after my parents died. As soon as I was eighteen, I took off and joined the Frontier Battalion. I lived in San Antonio while I was enlisted and then I moved to Abilene for the deputy position.”
“I’ve lived here all my life. I can’t even imagine living in such a big place as any of those cities.”
Jake realized they came from completely different backgrounds. What would it be like to live in such a small town, he wondered?
“So, if I’m to understand correctly, you’re not only a state hero but also a legend?” Rebecca asked, breaking his train of thought.
He shrugged. “I did do all the things they said, but those were a small amount of what I did on a regular basis. I mostly helped settle disputes between farmers and ranchers as well as escort prisoners and track down outlaws when needed,” Jake explained.
“You seemed uncomfortable with all the attention on your past time in the battalion. Why is that?”
Jake pressed his lips together and thought about his answer. Rebecca was right about his reaction. “I don’t like the attention, never have. I did my job and somehow that led to this reputation that precedes me. Sometimes, I feel like once they hear who I am, all they see is a man I haven’t been in many years.”
“Why did you leave?” Rebecca asked.
“After the death of Major Jones, several of the captains resigned. The battalion was never the same after that. I decided it was time to move on and settle down.”
“What do you mean settle down?” she asked with confusion. “Were you married before?”
He nodded. “I was, but my wife died a couple of years back.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Rebecca said with compassion. “What was your wife’s name?”
He tried to keep the grief from creeping in as he croaked out, “Marjorie.” He paused for several seconds before adding, “We met when I was hired as one of the deputy sheriffs in Abilene. Her father worked at the bank there.”
“I’m sure she was wonderful.”
“She was and I miss her every day.” Uncomfortable talking about his deceased wife, he looked across the square and said, “I think your brother’s group for the pie-eating contest is next to compete.” He stood up and pulled Rebecca up next to him. “Why don’t we head over?”
Six
Rebecca wasn’t sure why she had been so shocked to hear Jake had a past. It would have been more surprising to hear he had never been married before. From what she could tell, he looked to be approaching thirty and most men in the West were married long before that.
Once she had time to process what he told her, the burning question to whether they had children entered her mind. Of course, if they did, would he leave his child to pursue robbers? Highly doubtful, but not impossible. He could have left a child with a friend or even his deceased wife’s parents. She decided when the time was right, she would ask him, but she could tell that he was already taxed from the focus on his past.
Georgie had already won a match up and was in the finals for the championship title. As they approached the viewing area in front of the table, his giant grin came into focus. A massive whipped cream covered pie sat in front of him as well as the other contestants on either side of him. Everyone was anxiously waiting for the judge to yell ‘go.’
As soon as the word was uttered Georgie’s face dove into the pie. He gobbled it up, working his way from the center to the edge and then around the tin pan. For a small boy, he sure could eat a great deal of pie quickly.
Three of the men stopped eating and leaned back in their chairs. The queasy looks on their face showed they were finished. One other man and young boy were left to compete against Georgie.
Rebecca recognized the other boy as Russell Smith. He was one grade older than her brother and a bully. He constantly picked on Georgie for his small size and encouraged the other kids to do the same. She noticed that Georgie would sporadically glance out of the corner of his eye at the other boy. Every time the other boy started to catch up, Georgie found a reserve burst of energy.
“Go Georgie,” Rebecca shouted.
“You can do it,” their father encouraged.
As she watched her brother battle against the other boy, Rebecca now knew why her brother had wanted to enter the pie-eating contest so much. Georgie may not be able to stand up to Russell in any physical way, but he sure was showing him what-f
or in the contest. Maybe if he won, Russell would respect him enough to leave him alone.
A few seconds further along and Russell suddenly stopped eating. His eyes bugged out, and his hand came up over his mouth. Luckily, he was seated at the far end of the table and able to bend over the edge before his breakfast came back up.
As everyone watched in horror as he continued to vomit, there were multiple gasps from the women as well as “Ewwws” from the little children present. Additionally, several chuckles of amusement could be heard from uncouth individuals.
Even though Russell was a mean boy, he didn’t deserve to be put on display in such a humiliating way. Rebecca glanced around the crowd, but didn’t see his parents anywhere. Not surprising, since they paid little attention to the boy. It was probably a large contributing factor in the way he behaved. If no one else was going to do anything about it, she would intercede.
Pushing her way through the crowd, Rebecca reached the front just as Georgie finished his pie. He stood up shouting, “I’m the pie-eating champion of Rockwood Springs.”
Rebecca was torn. She wanted to congratulate her brother, but as she watched the other boy—still bent over and sick with no one helping him—she knew she had to do her Christianly duty and give him aid.
She made her way over to the boy and bowed down next to him, placing her hand on his back. She began to rub it gently, saying, “Russell, where are your parents?”
Through gagging sounds, he mumbled out, “I think. . . they’re still. . . at home. They said. . . they weren’t coming until. . . later.”
“Why don’t I take you home?” Rebecca offered in a pacifying voice.
He sat up, nodded, and after another moment, he tried to stand. He started to wobble and Rebecca reached out to steady him, but being a larger boy nearing manhood, he nearly knocked her over.
“Here, let me help,” Jake stated as he took the boy’s arm and draped it over his back. “Where does the boy live?”
Rebecca pointed down Main Street. “Not too far from here. They live on the corner opposite of us.”
The trio slipped out of the town square while everyone was congratulating Georgie. She would have to give hers once they returned after making sure Russell arrived home safely.
They made it about half way to his house when Russell bent over and threw up again. Rebecca was surprised he had anything left in his stomach to lose. A few minutes later, they started walking again.
“I’m sorry, Miss Rebecca,” Russell whispered in a regretful voice.
“It’s alright, Russell. We’ll get you home and you’ll feel better.”
Just as they rounded the corner, a heavy-set woman with brown hair was hurrying towards them while admonishing the balding stout man next to her.
“We need to hurry. Goodness knows what type of trouble your son will be getting into without us present. That boy is always causing problems.”
The man had a frown on his face as he said, “If you paid more attention to the boy rather than to the bottles of liquor you keep stashed all over the house, he wouldn’t get into so much trouble.”
“How dare you,” she snapped with indignation. “I only drink to deal with the both of you and this awful place. I wasn’t meant to live in conditions like this.”
“We lived in Louisiana, Minnie. Minus the humidity, it’s exactly the same.”
Before she could retort, she glanced up and saw them approaching. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment as she made eye contact with Rebecca. A moment later, her eyes flickered to Russell. “What’s going on with him?” she asked with an exasperated tone.
“He got sick in the middle of the pie-eating contest. We thought it best if we brought him home,” Rebecca explained.
Grabbing him by the arm, Russell’s mother pulled him towards her. “I suppose you ate a ton of food at the potluck before entering the pie-eating contest?” Mrs. Smith accused.
“I didn’t eat that much, Mother,” he defended. “Honest.”
“If I know one thing, when your lips are moving, you’re lying,” she scolded. “Get on home. You’re done for the day.”
His lip started to quiver as he asked hesitantly, “You’re not coming with me?”
With narrowed eyes, she spat out, “No, I’m not letting you ruin another one of my nights. You’ll be fine with a little rest.”
“Now, Minnie, you need not be so harsh with the boy. He didn’t mean to—”
Mrs. Smith cut off her husband. “That’s enough out of you too, Pete. If you plan on dancing with me tonight, you’ll keep quiet.”
Rebecca wondered if the threat would even work. She doubted Mr. Smith would want to dance with the shrill woman, let alone go to the celebration with her. The awkwardness was thick just witnessing the short exchange between the family; she couldn’t imagine having to spend an entire night with the woman.
“Now, get your backside on home,” Mrs. Smith commanded, “before I decide to blister it,” she added with a warning.
With his head hanging low, Russell did as his mother ordered. Once he was out of ear shot, Mrs. Smith asked them in a sharp tone, “Did he make a fool of our family? I need to know what I’m walking into when we get to the square.”
With an adamant shake of her head, Rebecca stammered out, “No, it was purely an accident. By the time we were leaving, they were congratulating the winner. I’m sure everyone has forgotten about what happened by now.”
“And who might the winner be?” Mrs. Smith asked with irritation.
Rebecca didn’t want to answer. Both of them were aware of the problems between the boys as the school teacher had to talk to both of them on multiple occasions regarding fights between the boys. Her eyes dropped to the ground as she whispered, “It was Georgie.”
“And there you have it,” she mocked angrily. “Of course, he had to compete because your brother was in the contest. Russell’s never done well with sugar; had to keep him off the stuff growing up. But the moment my back is turned, he goes and does something completely foolish, just to try to get the better of your brother.”
Rebecca wanted to point out the fact that she hadn’t turned her back, it was her lack of presence altogether that allowed her son to participate in something he shouldn’t have because of his sensitive stomach. Taking a deep breath, Rebecca said a silent prayer for God to give her strength and help her to handle the situation in a proper way.
“Mrs. Smith, I know the boys have had conflicts in the past, but it was nothing like that today. They were both simply participating in a town activity.”
“Humph,” the other woman uttered. “I think it best if the boys have no contact going forward.”
“I would agree, but with this being a small town and them attending school together, I don’t see how that’s possible,” Rebecca pointed out.
Stepping forward, Mrs. Smith’s intimidating frame pushed in on Rebecca. “You’ve always been so high and mighty. You think you have all the answers, but you should know, I’m not—”
It was Jake’s turn to cut the obnoxious woman off. “Mrs. Smith, we returned your son to you.” He stepped in between the women. “I think it’s time for all of us to head back to the celebration.”
“And who might you be?” Mrs. Smith challenged as she shot daggers at him with her eyes.
Jake pushed back the edge of his coat to reveal the shining star on his chest. “I’m Deputy Sheriff Jake Bolton, out of Abilene.”
Instantly, the woman shrank back, recognizing the authority in his voice, demeanor, and badge. Her eyes fell to the ground as she stated, “Let’s go, Pete, there’s nothing left to discuss here.”
Mrs. Smith placed her hand inside the crook of her husband’s arm, allowing him to guide her away, leaving Rebecca and Jake standing alone on the corner.
Rebecca looked up at him and stated, “I’m sorry you had to get involved in all of that.”
“It was kind of you to help the kid, considering you knew what you were getting yourself
into with his mother.”
Biting her lip with apprehension, she divulged, “My mother and Mrs. Smith are similar in a lot of ways. I know what it’s like to live with a mother who is either absent or abusive.”
For a moment, Jake looked as if he wanted to question her further, but shrugged instead. “If she had gotten any more aggressive with you, I would’ve had to arrest her and put her in the jail behind the saloon.”
Rebecca’s eyes grew wide with shock. Was he joking? His face was serious for several seconds before a twinkle appeared in his green eyes and his full lips curved up into a humorous smile.
“You’re joshing me, aren’t you?”
“Partly,” he teased with a chuckle. “Truthfully, that woman is dreadful.”
“I concur.”
Seven
When Rebecca and Jake returned to the town square, they joined her father and siblings at a table where the family was eating.
Jake patted Georgie on the back and said, “Congratulations on winning the pie-eating contest.”
Georgie nodded. “Thank you, but I hear you’re just as famous as I am around here.”
Jake’s eyebrows jumped up at the comment. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone is talking about your time in the Frontier Battalion,” Georgie stated.
With a sigh, Jake resigned himself to the fact his reputation had been sealed around Rockwood Springs. He might as well stop fighting it.
“Did you like being in it?” Georgie inquired. “I was thinking of joining the rangers when I’m old enough.”
“If you’re serious, I still know a few men in the battalion and I can put in a good word for you when it’s time,” his eyes met Mr. Caldwell’s, “And provided your father is agreeable to it.”
The boy’s ear-to-ear grin attested his approval of the offer.
Jake glanced past the Caldwells at the table of food, realizing for the first time he was ravenous. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go grab a plate of food.” He turned his attention to Rebecca and asked, “Care to join me?”