Seeing Barnabas’ face, the fellow laughed and introduced himself.
“My name is Billy Stuart, and I agree with you, I would rather take care of my own mount, but they are expecting you at the house. The Major will tell you I’m pretty good with horses and Thunderbolt is safe in my hands. Welcome to Tri Brand!”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Stuart,” reply Barnabas reaching out to shake hands. “He’s a good boy, but don’t go behind him as he has been known to kick back.”
“Yes, sir,” said Billy, “most stallions will do that. They like to be in charge.”
Turning at the commotion coming from the house, he saw Charles rushing toward him and prepared for the hearty handshake and enthusiastic welcome he received. Sweeping his arm behind Barnabas’ back, Charles ushered him to the farmhouse, which looked to be brand new. The only thing which appeared old was the stone chimney, which showed scorch marks on the outside.
Nodding his head toward the chimney, Barnabas remarked, “You said in one of your letters the chimney was the only thing left standing of the original house. I guess you decided to keep it.”
Charles nodded. “Mary dubbed the house ‘Phoenix’ to commemorate its resurrection from the ashes.
“I can’t wait for you to meet her. I wasn’t sure whether you’d make it by this evening, but we have a standing invitation to dinner at Tom and Suzanne’s. I sent riders out as soon as we saw you cresting the hill so Mary and Dorothy can meet us there, too. I can’t wait for you to meet Mary. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world!”
“You deserve every happiness, Doc!”
“Unless you want to be known as Zeus, you’d better keep it at Charles or Unca Charlie, which is what the kids call me.” They shook hands on it.
Charles ushered him into the house. “You will be staying with me for now, at least until the wedding. By then I’d imagine you’d have an idea whether you’ll stay and we can make whatever arrangements you like. I’m planning to build some cabins along the road for some of our married hands.”
They turned at the sound of footsteps coming up behind them.
“Your pardon, Majors,” said a young man, laden with Barnabas’ saddlebags. “Billy said you would probably want these right away.”
Charles opened the front door, gesturing at both men to precede him into the house, and said, “Thanks, Jeff! Would you mind taking those through to the back bedroom on the right?”
“Yes, sir!”
Barnabas looked at Charles with a lifted brow.
“No, he wasn’t one of mine, but an awful lot of the boys who served are finding their way out of the chaos left behind and heading west for a new beginning.”
Jeff raised his hand in salutation as he left, just shy of an actual salute, and both men acknowledged him with a nod.
“There’s time for you to take a bath, if you would like,” Charles mentioned casually, doing his best to look innocent.
Barnabas just laughed. “I remember one of your letters said you had a builder with some interesting ideas. I take it that means you have an indoor bathroom?”
“Forgot I wrote you about that. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Oh, it is a surprise. I’m just a country boy, so we never had indoor anything. Just a hip bath stored in the kitchen for the occasional ablutions.”
“Well, Hank Monroe is the local builder. He has his daughter Charlie Sue working with him—she was several years behind me in school—and she suggested, ‘When you finally get around to asking Ms Mary to be your wife, she’s going to want a bathroom!’ And, darned if I don’t think that’s the reason the woman’s marrying me.”
They were both laughing as they stepped into the bathroom, a spacious area with a separate sink and boiler, and an indoor pump feeding water into the system.
“This is quite impressive,” Barnabas praised.
“Sent back east for that plumbing, same as you find in the fine houses in the cities. I am not sure how, but Charlie managed to convince me that we wouldn’t be a backwater forever, and since we were building the house new anyway it made sense to put in water where it was convenient. There is a pump in the kitchen, too.”
After showing Barnabas how everything worked, Charles left him to his bath. The room was even arranged so that the hot water pipes provided a towel rack so the towels were warm after the bath. Barnabas shook his head at the unbelievable attention to detail. While the tub was drawing, he had gone to his bedroom and pulled out a fresh set of clothing which he brought with him back into the bathroom. After enjoying the luxury of a warm water shave, Barnabas stepped out an hour later feeling like he was in clover. Even when they've been quartered in really nice houses, the amenities generally did not reach this standard.
CHAPTER 8 – History
Charles had offered Barnabas a fresh mount, but once he learned how close Tri Brand was to the Kenner ranch, he decided to stick with Thunderbolt, who had been beautifully groomed.
“He's an old campaigner, and we had an easy day today and yesterday. In fact he's been pretty spoiled this summer,” Barnabas explained.
“Well if you decide to stick with me, he'll see a little bit more action, since you won't be working in the fields so much as overseeing the entire farming operation. Like you, I grew up plowing, but I also learned ranching at Tom's place from his father, and much prefer it. It makes good sense to have our own fields and provide as much silage for our own animals as we can, as well as growing food for our expanding workforce,” Charles explained. “Our combined acreage gives us enough space to have a little of everything: cattle, horses, and farm fields. Once we got started, we were able to pick up additional acreage on the other side of the river which is ideal for cattle. We are still using Mary's ranch, the old Rocking R, for the horse breeding operation, as that stable was specifically designed with that in mind.
“You met Billy Stuart when you came in. He’s helping out here right now but he’ll be working with Mary on the horses.”
“He told me you’d vouch for him,” Barnabas laughed, leaning forward to pat Thunderbolt on the neck. “He sure did a fine job with this fellow.”
Looking at Charles, he queried, “So if I am following all this, you have combined the Rocking R horse breeding, your Lazy B home farm, and Major Cooper’s cattle ranch, the Circle S, to come up with Tri Brand. I can guess how the other brands were selected, but how did Cooper’s operation come to be known as Circle S?”
“Dorothy Cooper and Mary Rogers were the Sevenoaks sisters back when we were all at school.”
Barnabas laughed. “You are right, it is complicated and you need the family bibles to figure out who’s who.”
“Hard to believe this was all just wilderness a generation or two back!” Charles confirmed, sweeping his arm as they topped the rise and the Kenner spread came into view. They could see a number of people milling about the house, and knew they’d been spotted when arms started waving. They picked up their pace.
“Unca Charles, Unca Charles!” Two youngsters charged through the group enjoying the clement day as people continued to arrive from several ranches to attend dinner. Both horses started back but were quickly controlled by their riders.
“Boys! Do you want to get yourselves killed or are you just trying to get others injured by your selfish and thoughtless behavior!?” a woman standing at the farmhouse door called out.
Both had the grace to look sheepish and apologize. They knew better, but the excitement had overcome their good sense.
“Sorry, Ma! Sorry, sir. Mighty sorry, Unca Charlie,” they both called out, moving forward at a more cautious pace.
“Miss Sally knows you and she was still startled,” chastised Charles. “But Thunderbolt is a stallion and you certainly know better than to behave like banshees around a horse!”
Thoroughly subdued now, they stopped, the older offering to take the reins as Charles dismounted.
He shook his head. “No, I’m going to take Major Schuyler to the stables
and help him put up his horse. I’m really surprised at you boys!” He glanced over at Barnabas who had also dismounted.
“Let’s just walk over to the paddock,” he suggested, changing his mind about stabling the animals. “We should be okay—I don’t see any other horses; just mares and geldings.”
Turning to the youngsters who were trailing after them with hangdog faces, he asked, “Is everyone else here?”
They nodded.
“All right then, you can help with the tack,” he relented. “But first let me introduce you to the Major. Barney, these two scamps are Tom and Suzanne’s youngsters.”
Barnabas switched the reins to his left hand and, positioning himself in front of his horse, offered his right hand to the taller of the lads. “You must be Nick,” he said, engulfing the small paw in a firm handshake. “And Reggie?” as he grasped the smaller boy’s hand. Both offered a solid shake in return, and he smiled at them.
Leaning down a bit, he confided in a staged whisper, “I almost got stomped pulling a stunt like that when I was your age; just remember to be careful around these big critters!”
Heads ducked and toes dragged the dust.
“We were all lucky this time boys,” added Charles, “but I hope the lesson was learned.”
“I’m just glad the only other kids around are Harmony and Melody or we’d be hearing about this forever,” piped up Reggie.
“Where are they?” frowned Charles, looking around.
At that moment two young girls came hustling out of the house, yelling, “Unca Charlie, Unca Charles!”
“Don’t scare the horses!” yelled Nick, startling a whinny out of Thunderbolt, who pulled back again.
Barnabas turned and eyeballed Thunderbolt.
“You fraud,” he declared. “You never even flinched at shot and cannon, but the sound of a little girl frightens you?” As he later shared with Charles, “I’ll swear he got a sheepish expression on his face as he ducked his head in shame.
~~~
One of the women had stopped the girls in their tracks and they were marched back into the house to be reminded how young ladies were expected to behave.
Meanwhile, Tom had joined them and he waved over the hands who’d followed him but were politely remaining back. As introductions were performed all around, the horses were soon free of tack and turned into the paddock to enjoy a romp with the other horses. The girls, who had been allowed back outside after agreeing to observe proper decorum, waited politely until the men had finished with the horses and introductions, then raced forward for hugs as if it had been weeks since they’d seen Charles instead of mere days. More introductions were performed, Barnabas responding to them as if they were princesses, and they had deigned to confer their favors upon him.
Harmony, always somewhat shy, giggled when Barnabas bent over to kiss her hand, but Melody just beamed up at him. Then she squinted her eyes and demanded, “Are you my cousin?”
“Not that I aware of,” he replied.
“Good!” she beamed, and trotted off with her sister and the boys to check out the latest litter of barn kittens.
Tom and Charles burst out laughing but the hands who were still hanging about, hero-worshiping the newcomer and hoping to hear tales of battle and derring-do, just looked at each other.
“The minx decided I should marry her until she found out her father and I were cousins and that cousins couldn’t marry,” explained Charles, to the hoots of the men and the chagrined dismay of Barnabas who rolled his eyes in helplessness, bringing another wave of laughter.
~~~
A few of the men started questioning Barnabas about his sobriquet, “Zeus,” causing him to grimace.
“In times of war and tragedy, men create heroes and legends to spur themselves on to their own best efforts. Seeing their beloved Lieutenant shot down, our men rallied to the flag and overcame odds with the ferocity of their advance, repulsing the enemy. The battle was fought with bayonets and the company poet chose classical imagery to capture our victory. Every man there was a hero that day, but the label stuck. However, the memory of that day is not pleasant. We lost several good men and the lieutenant was a friend.”
Those who’d fought nodded in agreement and understanding, feeling honored to know a man who’d received a field promotion and commendation for his actions on that day. They all respected his modesty and realized battle tales would not be forthcoming from this man. His grim demeanor told of images which could not be unseen.
“Of course,” quipped Charles, lightening the mood, “when he finally acquires a horse the men dubbed it Thunderbolt, ensuring his nickname would follow him into the future. That is he frolicking in the pasture,” nodding toward the black stallion.
“Gentlemen, I look forward to getting to know each of you,” said Barnabas to the departing men amid more handshakes and welcomes.
“I see Thunderbolt still likes to herd his mares!” commented Charles.
“It’s not likely I’ll ever break him of that behavior,” laughed Barnabas as they walked over to the house, Tom in the lead.
CHAPTER 9 – Lightning
As they crossed the yard chatting, Charles’ arm draped over Barnabas’ shoulder as he escorted his friend, three women and an infant came out of the house.
Barnabas Schuyler stopped, stock still, transfixed. He was staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and was absolutely stunned into silence, thunderstruck. He felt he couldn't even move a muscle as his eyes met hers.
That moment seemed frozen in time, eternal.
But while his forward momentum had ceased, Charles had kept moving and Barnabas found himself almost pulled off his feet. Mentally, he shook himself like a dog. Well, he hoped it was only mentally. He would hate for her to see how totally discombobulated he was.
Finally aware of the resistance Charles stopped and turned to look at Barnabas and then followed his gaze back Dorothy. She had the same strange look on her face that he did. As far as he knew, Dorothy had never left Kansas. When had they ever met before? Because the stare they were giving each other was one of recognition.
Charles words finally sunk into Barnabas’ brain.
“Mrs. Cooper,” he stammered, “it is very nice to meet you!” And he fumbled his hat off his head and managed to sweep it before him as he bowed.
Her own movements somewhat stiff and awkward, Dorothy curtsied in response. Taking in a deep breath, she tried to bring herself back into the moment. Maybe she’d just had a little too much sun. Except that it was snowing out. Where had that thought come from? It was still autumn. The babble of other voices finally penetrated and the spell eased, although the tingling awareness remained.
“How do you do, Major Schuyler,” she managed to reply, feeling her sister Mary staring at her.
“And this is my fiancée, Mary Sevenoaks Rogers, soon to become Barnett.”
Taking his own deep breath, Barnabas managed a stiff smile and another bow.
“Madam,” he responded as she curtsied as well. Charles continued to look back and forth between the two of them, realizing he had never seen his playmate Dorothy at a loss for words before. Mary, too, was acutely aware of the awkwardness of the situation. She gave Charles a meaningful glance and, slipping her arm into his, drew him subtly away, leaving Barnabas and Dorothy alone together for a moment. The chatter of other voices remained in the background, but the two of them were in their own bubble of silence.
Which was suddenly shattered by a high pitched young voice exclaiming, “Oh, there you are Mother. Unca Charlie was just telling me that Zeus was over here. This must be he because you both look like you were struck by a thunderbolt.” She broke into peals of laughter at her own witticism.
And time resumed its course. Released from the constraints of the magical moment, Dorothy smiled down at her daughter and proceeded to introduce Melody to Major Schuyler.
“I don't know what the convention is here,” said Barnabas to Dorothy as he bowed low over Mel
ody's hand and dropped a kiss on it, wishing he'd been able to do so for the mother, “but I find Major Schuyler to be awfully stiff and formal.”
And to Melody he added, “It is a pleasure to meet you again, so soon, princess. I feel as if I already know you from letters Doc and I have exchanged. Might your mother permit you to call me Mr. Barnabas or Uncle Barnabas?”
“Oh no,” said Melody decidedly, “it would have to be Unca Zeus.”
Dorothy's gentle laugh tinkled out.
“Melody has spoken,” she said softly.
Enchanted by the voice pouring from the throat of the goddess in front of him, he almost froze in time again; but he swiftly pictured his old dog shaking off water from the river to bring himself back into the here and now.
Melody continued holding his hand and stated, “It's a good thing I have fallen in love with Jeremy, because otherwise I think I would want to marry you!”
Her mother replied calmly, “At least he is not your cousin, as is your Uncle Charlie, but he is still a tad mature for you.”
“Oh, mother, you know I didn't realize he was my cousin. And besides my Aunt Mary is going to marry Uncle Charles so everything is all right. We are keeping him in the family.”
Belatedly dropping the curtsey she should have offered at the re-introduction, Melody bobbed down and up and then finally released his hand. Still feeling dizzy, Barnabas returned the big grin being bestowed upon him by the tiny charmer in front of him.
She spun toward her mother and said, “I'm going to find Harmony because she'll be jealous that I've met Zeus before she did.”
“But we already met earlier when you were together,” responded Barnabas, frowning in confusion.
“Yes, but then you were Major Schuyler. Now you’re Unca Zeus.”
And, as suddenly as she’d appeared, she'd scampered off, leaving the two of them alone together. Barnabas shook his head and turned to Dorothy.
“Why do I feel like I just fell down the rabbit hole?” he queried.
Startled, recognizing the reference, Dorothy said, “Oh, I love that book! How have you managed to read it already?”
Rescuing Barnabas Page 4