The Return of Wildcat Kitty and the Cyclone Kid
Page 24
“Just one more with you Governor, and your wife,” the photographer said. His two big upper front buck teeth protruded over his thick lower lip as his grinned wolfishly at the foursome standing in front of him in the flower garden behind the governor’s mansion.
The governor dressed in his finest suit, his wife in an elegant lavender gown, daughter Barbara in pink with ruffles, holding a bouquet of white lilies, and Matt Starr, dressed in the best suit he had ever worn, and stiff, high, white collar, had been posing for pictures for nearly three quarters of an hour. Soon these pictures would be in the papers and the world would learn that Matt Starr, a lowly government employee; a mere lawman, would be marrying into the family of the Governor of Arizona Territory.
It was a picture perfect afternoon in the garden. The sun was brilliant in a clear blue sky, with only wisps of filmy white streams of clouds. There was little breeze and the elegantly coiffed hair styles of the territory’s first family ladies were barely disturbed.
“How about one with you standing next to you daughter, Governor?” The photographer said. “Mrs. Stanton, you stand on the end, next to your husband. And, Marshal, you stay where you are on the end next to your lady.”
Stanton and his wife exchanged places.
“Fine. Fine.” The photographer said as he scampered back around behind his camera mounted on a tripod. His two assistants stood back out of his way.
The camera was an American Optical Henry Clay Stereoscopic Camera model 1893. It was a folding dry plate camera with sliding drop bed design so the entire weight of the camera would center over the tripod. It was normally carried in a square carrying case with a stiff handle. When opened it would fold out into a bellows using a dry plate system. It was constructed of highly polished mahogany and brass trim with a leather bellow and was equipped with a Prosch Triplex Pneumatic Release shutter.
The photographer stepped back and stood erect as if finally relaxing. The foursome before the camera relaxed also, but with much more relief.
“I have to get back to work,” Governor Stanton said curtly and hurried off. He had given a slight nod to his wife and daughter, but completely ignored Matt.
“That’s just his way,” Mrs. Stanton said, turning to Matt. “Publicity is just something to get out of the way. Just another chore to him. You’ll get used to him.”
“No offense taken,” Matt said. “I’ve seen him working.”
“Good,” she said. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I have my duties to attend to also.”
“Of course,” Matt said.
“I’m sure you and Barbara can find things to occupy yourselves for a while.”
“I’m sure.” Matt smiled.
Barbara took his arm and giggled as her mother walked away. “Oh, I’m so happy, Matt,” she said.
Matt nodded with a slight smile.
“Well, you might be a little more excited than that,” Barbara said.
“Oh. I am,” Matt answered.
“You don’t sound it.”
“Maybe men just don’t show it in the same way that women do.”
“That’s silly. Now tell me. Is there something bothering you?”
“No. No. Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Is it Daddy? He can be quite intimidating at times,” Barbara said. “If it is, you don’t need to worry. As long as I want you, he’ll go along with it. He lets me have anything I want.”
“No. I can deal with your father.”
“Then, what is it? Don’t you want to marry me?” Fear flushed over her face and suddenly she was afraid she had asked the wrong question.
He turned to her and grasped both arms. He stared deep into her eyes. He smiled softly. “Of course I want to marry you.” He suddenly felt pangs of guilt that he had ever let her doubt him.
“It’s just,” he started. “It’s just this business about pictures in the papers.”
“For heavens’ sakes. What about it?”
“It’s just that............ It’s just that............,” he stammered. “It’s telling the whole world.”
“Of course it’s telling the whole world. Isn’t that what we want to do? I do. I’m thrilled. I want to shout it from the highest mountain.” As realization set in, her face turned pale and the corners of her mouth turned down. There was accusation in her eyes. “And you don’t,” she said with deliberation. “What? Are you ashamed of it? Ashamed of marrying a governor’s daughter?
“That doesn’t make sense. Just no sense at all.”
“If you’ll just calm down and listen to me,” Matt pleaded. “That’s not what I’m saying. If anyone is to be ashamed of anyone, it’s you who should be ashamed of me. I’m nothing but a gunman. I never had two dollars to rub together. I got nothing to offer you. You got everything. You’re elegant, rich, cultured, and..............”
“And spoiled,” she finished for him. She was settling down and her anger was disappearing. The softness and color was returning to her cheeks. The sun sparkled on a hint of a tear in her eye.
“And spoiled,” he agreed with a slight smile. “You fly off the handle and jump to conclusions too quick. Now I don’t know what’s bothering me about this newspaper business. Maybe it’s just too much notoriety than I can handle right now. It’s probably just something I gotta get used to.”
“Well, get used to it cowboy,” she said reaching her arms around his neck and drawing him close. “Because you’re going to get a lot of it in this family.”
He responded and drew her close too. They were still in deep embrace when the photographer said, “Hold it, right there. This is a good one.”
Chapter Eighteen