by Rita Hestand
No, things were different now and his life would be different too. He wasn't at all sure how he felt about it, either.
He'd have to figure something out about that, and fast.
He drove his wagon over to Gabby's place and sure enough she was sitting on the front porch in an old worn out rocking chair, waiting on him.
She was dressed decent and she made quite a figure now that he paid attention.
"Good morning," He smiled as he got down off the wagon.
"Morning." She answered.
"Did you make a list?"
"I did."
"Are you ready to go?"
"I am…" she told him.
But she didn't wait for him to help her up in the wagon, she climbed on and sat up on the seat, waiting for him. He glanced at her and shook his head.
"I don't mean to be nosey, but do you have any idea about your finances?" Cole asked her as they began their journey to town. It was a good fifteen miles to town.
"Of course, I do. I took care of that, myself all these years. Dad couldn't write, so it was up to me since I had three years of schoolin'." She told him. "It might not be much, but I was a fast learner. I can read, write and do my sums."
"Really? Well, that's good to know."
She craned her head to stare at him, "I know, you think I'm just some dumb girl, stuck out here in the boonies, that doesn't know anything about life. But you are wrong. I just don't know anything about town life. Never lived there, so I don't know the goings on of it. But unlike some, I can learn. I don't intend living in town, now or any other time. But I reckon it is time for me to get some education about how things work in one. And I want to visit Miss Martha some too."
Cole was holding the reins and suddenly he stopped, "Maybe we should talk about that."
"What?"
"Miss Martha."
"What's to talk about?" She asked curiously.
"Well Gabby, you see, church going women, don't approve of women like Martha, who sells drinks to men and carouses with them. It would be plum unseemly for you to befriend her."
"Why?" She cried out.
"Well, she is a woman of ill repute."
Gabby's face flushed then she laughed. "She's a nice lady, and I want to be her friend. I don't care what the others think, I wouldn't be visiting them. They got their noses so high in the air, they can't smell what's in front of them."
"You are one head strong woman." He chuckled, "but I like you Gabby Gibson."
Then he realized what he called her, "I mean, Gabby Martin."
She chuckled.
"What is so funny?" He asked as he reined the horses in, and they were on their way again.
"It's easy to forget, isn't it?" She asked.
"What?"
"That we are married."
"Well we don't exactly live like we are, Gabby."
She clammed up for a bit then looked directly at him. "Don't you think a divorce would be better for you? I mean, I know you carouse with the saloon girls." She admitted scrunching up her face in a frown. "You see, Dad told me a lot about you."
He stopped again. "I told you there will be no divorcing."
This time she stared at him long and hard. "Look, I know what you told me. But I know you like the ladies. I understand it. Look, you were honest when you wed me. You told me you had no use for marriage. I understood it. But word is gonna get around town that we are married, sooner or later, and when you go upstairs with one of those ladies, and you're still married to me, well, that won't sit well…with the town of course. Going up those stairs, or me talking to Miss Martha, either way people will talk. Won't they? I'd prefer it if they had nothing to talk about. However, it's probably going to be unavoidable. We just aren't like regular town folk."
His mouth flew open and he didn't know what to say. The problem was, she was right.
"How do you know about going upstairs with the ladies?" He asked.
She smirked. "Dad came home a many a night and he would talk up a storm about men, including you, that went upstairs with the ladies. It took a while, a little growing up, but I finally figured out what he was talking about."
"That's what I was trying to tell you about Martha. She goes up those stairs with men." He told her, changing the subject.
"I know that." Gabby replied with a smile.
"Do you know what they do?"
"Of course, I do. I wasn't born in a barn you know."
"Well then, why is it okay for her to go up those stairs with men, and me not go up with women?"
"Because she isn't married, that's why. And it's her business too. Not mine nor those busybody ladies. Dad told me about you, how you loved the women and poker. I don't want you to change. But now that Dad is dead and buried its time to think about a divorce. So, you can go about your business as you please. I don't want to spend my life telling you how to run your life, and I don't want you telling me how to run mine. And just so you know, I aim to befriend Miss Martha, whether the ladies like it or not."
He stared, then slowly broke out in a grin. "Fine. Befriend her. But let's find a way to do it discreetly. Besides, maybe she'll teach you how to be a woman."
Now he'd done it. He'd run off at the mouth and he could almost feel the explosion building inside her. Her smile turned to a frown, and the tension between them was stretched to the limits. If fire could come out the top of her head, it would.
"Teach me to be a woman?" She fumed. "Why you arrogant, know it all ass, I'll teach you a thing or two." She hollered and pulled him off the wagon.
She pulled him under a shade tree and proceeded to kiss him silly. This time it was him reacting to her. He had expected a war, instead he got a surrender.
And what a surrender, his wife had a lot of fire in her, he thought to himself.
The kiss was hot, steamy and lustful, but also sweet and sultry too. Before she knew it, he moved his hands over her body, and he heard the slightest moan from her lips.
When his hand covered a breast, she gasped into his mouth and pulled him tighter. His thumb slowly moved over the tip, and she let out a guttural sound.
He pulled the hem of her skirt up and was about to show her what it was all about, when she pulled a small derringer on him.
She backed away, breathless and prettier than a sunrise. "That's enough cowboy. Now you know I'm not the little naïve girl you think me. I was raised on a farm. I know what the animals do. I know what lovin' is all about. But real love ain't that. I know that too. Real love is workin' hard as nails every day, scraping to the bone, dying of heat and thirst, and happy to do it for the one you love. Real love is caring about someone so much you forget about yourself. But what we just shared isn't. This…is what animals do and it's called lust. I know about that too. So, you see, I'm not quite as ignorant as you think."
He stood there panting, and then a real smile broke over his handsome face. "Dammit woman, you're beautiful when you're mad! I don't think I've ever seen a prettier woman."
Stunned by his words, she floundered for something to say. Shock made her shut up. The last thing she expected was a compliment. She had no idea how to handle it. So, she shut up.
She let the gun fall for a minute, "Why do you have to go and say a thing like that?"
"Because it's the truth, I never dreamed kissing a woman could make her more beautiful, but it did."
"Let's get to town," She countered, she sounded almost breathless.
He smiled again, "Yeah, let's."
They didn't say another word until they got to town. Rock Creek was a little town, surrounded by big pecan and oak trees. She heard the constant pounding of iron from the blacksmith shop, he slowed, "He makes shoes for the horses, and other metal stuff. He can fix wagons too."
She nodded.
"They have a doctor in town now." He pointed out a little place in the middle of the main street. Then he pointed to the General Store and Feed.
"This is where you buy your supplies for most things. Another thin
g, you can come over to my place when your horses need shod. I can handle that for you."
"That's neighborly of you." She murmured.
He helped her down from the wagon and when he did, he stared into her eyes now. "You're quite a woman, Gabby. I'll never make that mistake again."
She ignored that remark.
They walked inside, and Mr. Toller greeted them. He was a tall, well built, middle-aged man with a mop of blonde hair and light gray eyes. "Cole, how you doin'?" The man asked stretching out his hand to him.
Cole shook hands. "Gabby needs some supplies."
Mr. Toller had come to the funeral and she recognized him. He nodded and smiled at her. "Of course."
She handed him her list.
"I'll get this right out for you." He told her.
She looked around and admired many things in the store, but she didn't buy anything that wasn't on her list. Cole watched her examine some of the dresses, and a big jar of honey. But she walked away from them as quickly as he glanced at her.
Mr. Toller loaded her wagon for her, and she paid her bill.
"Thank you, I'll be in about once a month, Mr. Toller."
"Alright, look forward to it." He smiled at her.
Cole helped her up the wagon and they rode home.
She was quiet for a long time.
"He seemed like a nice man." She commented.
"Yeah, he's a nice man alright."
"Is he married?" She asked.
"Yes, why were you taken with him?" Cole glanced at her.
"Taken with him?"
"Interested in him?" He grinned.
"Not like you're thinking, but it's nice to know who is married and who isn't, when you’re a stranger. I just didn't want to make the mistake of assuming the wrong thing." She explained.
He smiled and nodded.
"From now on, I can manage the trip alone. I appreciate you taking me in though. Now I won't feel so awkward." She informed him. "It was a very neighborly thing for you to do."
"So, you don't want my company?"
She stopped the buggy herself and stared at him. "Please, don't take offense to everything I say. I just didn't want you to think I was going to be one of those needy kinds of women who can't do anything alone, that's all. You don't have to take offense every time I say something. I don't want to be a bother to you, to anyone. You were right when you said I know about some things and others I don't. Going to town was an experience. I was dreading it, as I hate making a fool of myself. I didn't visit with Miss Martha though, and I'll be going back to do that."
"Well then, you better do that with me." He told her.
"Why?"
"Because you go into a saloon, you are likely to be accosted. The bartender might even run you out. If I go with you, then it will be alright. Saloons are not for ladies. It'd be better if we found a place for you two to talk, privately."
"That seems kind of silly to me. Why can't a woman go in a saloon?"
"Well for one thing, people really get the wrong impression of a lady going in a saloon. Do you drink?"
"I've taken a shot or two with dad, on occasion, but I don't drink often. Only on special occasions or when I'm sick or hurt."
He turned, stopped and stared, "Gabby, you are right, you don't belong in town. Not that I'm insulting you, but it's true. You want to visit with Miss Martha, but it isn't wise for you to hang out in a saloon. People will talk. And I don't want them to hurt you."
"Maybe I'm not the lady you think I am." She huffed.
He stopped everything and stared, pulling her chin around to stare into her eyes. "You are very much a lady."
Her eyes glittered. "I like her," her voice softened. "I want to be her friend. Partly because she was dad's friend, and partly because I'd like to get to know her. She's so easy to talk to. And…I've never had a lady friend. It would be nice…"
He cleared his throat, "I know that. But at least let me try to arrange something for the both of you."
"Why…. why are you so meddlesome in my business? I do my best to stay out of yours."
Before she realized what, he was doing, he kissed her very thoroughly, then whispered. "Because you are my wife. And as such, your business is mine too, and vice versa. Understand."
"Maybe we should stop kissing, too." She insisted when he turned her loose.
"I don't think so." He smiled. "I think you might be better at that, than anything. And I'm certainly not opposed to being on the receiving end of that. Especially, since you don't want me going up those stairs any longer."
Flustered she put her hands on her hips. "Why do you want to kiss me in the first place?"
"Because," he smiled broadly now. "It's the most enjoyable part of being married…"
"That's another thing. I have heard that you are sweet on a girl in the saloon. That you go upstairs with her quite often. Do you think you could find a way to be more discreet about that? Like I said, I don't want to change your life, but what would people say? I really don't want to become the talk of the town."
He flushed, she had him red-handed. What could he say? He was guilty.
But he stared at her, "I'll make you a bargain."
"A bargain?"
"Yeah, something like your dad did me. As long as we are married…I won't go up the stairs with Polly. That's a promise."
"You think you can keep that kind of promise?" She blurted. "I mean, wouldn't it be simpler to just get a divorce, for you?"
"Actually, we don't need a divorce, we could get an annulment. I mean, if you want one."
"What's that?"
"It's when the married couple haven't consummated the marriage." He said softly.
"Oh! Well, then why don't you get one of those?" She asked innocently.
"Hell, if I know." He said and whipped the horses into action once more.
After that she clammed up and didn't say another word.
He took her home. They unloaded the wagon together and he put the wagon in the barn unhooking the horses.
Then he went inside.
"Well, I guess I'll be going. Do you need anything else?"
"No, I'll be fine."
He tipped her chin, "When you want to visit with her, let me know. Please, it'll cause a big stir if you go in there alone. Understand?"
"Yes," she murmured.
"And don't work so hard, okay?" He smiled.
He kissed her again, briefly, then put his hat back on his head and walked to the door. "You're a hellova woman Gabby, and I’m proud to be your husband."
Then he was gone before she could say a word.
She stood there in the cabin, and a slow smile spread across her face. She hadn't done so bad herself!
Chapter Seven
Cole stayed busy for the next week or so, but when he didn't hear from Gabby, he became concerned. He hadn't heard anything from her in over a week. It didn't sit well that something could happen to her and he might never know until it was too late.
"Slim, you been over to Harmon's place?" Cole asked.
"No sir, was I supposed to go over there?"
"No, just thought you might have passed by and seen Gabby or something."
"She ain't my wife." Slim muttered.
Cole bristled. "Look, you don't understand the situation, Slim. I'm concerned."
"Then why don't you move her to the house, boss. I mean, you did say you was getting married…."
"It isn't that kind of marriage…" Cole tried to explain. He didn't want his men talking about this and he was sure if he didn't make at least Slim understand then there would be talk.
"I thought there was only one kind of marriage, boss." When Cole sent him a scowl he added, "Maybe I'm wrong. I’m no authority on marriage myself."
"Just so you know, it was Harmon's last request, Slim. What could I do? And she doesn't want any part of me."
Slim turned to him and looked him straight in the eye. "Boss, I don't want to meddle in your affairs, but if you married her, maybe
it's time to put your foot down. I mean, she's alone over there, and taking care of that land on her own. That's too much for a woman. I'm sorry, I'm way out of line, but I wouldn't say a word if I didn't care."
Cole stared at him, seeing the concern in his eyes he grinned. "You're right. I've got to do something about her. I'm just not sure how to go about it yet. She's not like any woman I've ever known."
"She's sure a pretty little thing, but if she keeps working that land every day, she'll be old before her time."
"Right again, Slim."
"Good luck boss."
Cole nodded, "Thanks. Keep what I told you under your hat, will ya?"
"You know I will." Slim nodded and went back to work.
Cole was grouchy and biting everyone's head off around the ranch and the boys teased him and told him maybe he needed a trip to see Polly. But somehow that idea fizzled out quickly. Polly was good, but he figured he didn't have an exclusive relationship with her, although he didn't frequent any of the other girls. He knew that she probably had others, even though they never talked about it. He knew there was no real love there and he knew he was going to have to tell her about Gabby and cut his ties with her. He'd get around to that. This being married hadn't totally homed in on him yet.
He started to gripe at the fact that the boys knew he had married, but he's the one that told them he was going to get married. And then he didn't act like a married man, did he? What were they to think? What was anyone to think?
No, what aggravated him, and shouldn't was that he missed Gabby and after procrastinating about it for a few days, he went to check on her one evening.
He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he had missed her. How could he miss her? He barely knew her, and yet, he knew that wasn't true. He knew her well. She was a lot like her father, and a little like him. And somehow, he had the feeling that he knew her better than any woman he'd ever met. How could that be?
You couldn't just instantly know someone. Could you?
But the strangest part was that he missed kissing her. He got twice the pleasure out of kissing her, then a whole night with Polly. The woman could kiss better than anyone he'd ever had. He hadn't even given Polly a thought. And that was strange.