That evening
they picked Joe up and went out for dinner and some entertainment.
They met up
with one of the fellows Lynda had been dating and she introduced him to Joe.
The guy was about half drunk and was talking
incessantly. Then he said, “Oh, this is the cripple who you are in love with?”
Everything
was quiet for a while till the guy said, “He looks alright to me and should
make a good husband for you.”
No one said
anything till the guy said, “Excuse me, but I got to go, I have fiends waiting.”
It was quiet
again until Cindy said, “Well, that was interesting, I’m going over to say
hello to someone I know. While I’m gone
perhaps you might have something to say to each other.”
Still no one
said anything till Lynda spoke up, “Well, that wasn’t planned. I guess we might as well clear this right here
and now. Lynda continued, “You know I am
attracted toward you and if you don’t feel the same then it’s settled so how
about it?”
Joe said, “You
know how I feel but I haven’t been able to tell you because I didn’t want you
to be straddled with a man that wasn’t whole.”
She said, “You
have a couple stiff joints that’s all and it’s like the man said, ‘You look
like you would make a good husband for me.’ So do you want me for your wife or are you
going to live alone the rest of your life.”
He answered,
“I want you more than anything.”
She teased
him, “More than going down to Madams?”
He said, “Don’t
mention her for I never went down there.”
She laughed
and said, “I know.”
Cindy came
back and said, “I never did like that person and I hope you got this straightened
out.”
Lynda said, ‘Yes,
it is settled my bridesmaid friend and tell our mom thank you.”
“Thank you
for what?”
“She will
know, just thank you.”
Joe wondered
what they were talking about but figured it was a woman thing and something a man
wasn’t supposed to understand anyway.
The wedding
was set for three months away. Lynda was
all agog and excited.
Joe was calm
and collected after the initial shock.
All the
ranch hands were teasing Joe, some of which wasn’t very nice but he knew that
was the cowboy way. They couldn’t help but be a little raunchy and an event
like this brought it out of them.
Joe was
getting enough of it but kept his emotions under control until one of the hands
said, “I hope she is better than what we get down at the Madam’s.”
That was all
Joe could take and he said, “The next one who insults my future wife is fired
and if I was able I would fight him but the firing will have to do.”
The word
went around that Joe had enough of the joshing and that was the end of it.
Most of the
men who knew Joe respected him for they saw him as a real man, but a few only
saw a man who limped and had once been broken up.
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