tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23101828035491017602024-03-13T08:29:34.423-07:00Robert's StoriesSign up to follow by e-mail in order to not miss my posts. Enter your e-mail address in the box on the left and click on submit..
Note - most stories are fictional and do not refer to anyone in particular living or dead. True stories will say they are true!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.comBlogger1788125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-31530472022986971962017-03-06T16:14:00.001-08:002017-03-06T16:14:54.151-08:00My Perspective of GOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVX_dP1ile8/WL37bx0cP_I/AAAAAAAAMjg/tppcAC0izgYkN2YXv51PkzQSam7YgX1iwCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgod%2Breaching%2Bout%2Bfrom%2Bheaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVX_dP1ile8/WL37bx0cP_I/AAAAAAAAMjg/tppcAC0izgYkN2YXv51PkzQSam7YgX1iwCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgod%2Breaching%2Bout%2Bfrom%2Bheaven.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Since GOD is a triune being oft times we tend to view one
personage or the other at a time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">We may pray to Jesus in his name and exclude the Father and the
Holy Spirit in our thinking process. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Everything GOD does is by the Father, Son , and The Holy Spirit.
In Genesis one it is repeatedly said; "And GOD said" until we get to
1:26 we find the words, Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in
our likeness. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Perhaps this is the first hint of the Holy trinity. In any case the
totality of GOD was involved in the creation. Getting back to what I started to
point out is when we pray we need to consciously be aware that we are praying
to the whole of the GODHEAD. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Every prayer should encompass three things. The will of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authority of the Son and the power of the
Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">First and foremost is the will of the Father. The Lord's prayer
had within it, "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Every
prayer is a supernatural action, it is changing the natural course of events
and we should be aware of what we are trying to do which is to change history
even in minor things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">I suppose that GOD sees this as a more serious occurrence than we
do. Matt. 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” He has power to command it to be done
but the Holy Spirit will complete the action or not as directed by the other
two members of the GODHEAD. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">While built into my consciousness is the three fold nature of GOD
there is also the knowledge of the unity between the members. The key factor in
prayer is the will of the Father. Pray out of his will and expect to get
nothing. Pray in the will of GOD and have every expectation of the answer you
want. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">The will of GOD and how to find it is another issue that perhaps I will
share some thoughts on that at a later time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-40036954627556901932017-02-20T15:25:00.000-08:002017-02-20T15:25:02.636-08:00Moving On Chapter 8 - Home again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQrbq3084f4/WKt6selbXzI/AAAAAAAAMjE/e5DNUowFrFQN3QascWi4-MEDEyErZzdwwCLcB/s1600/a%2Bhome%2Bagain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQrbq3084f4/WKt6selbXzI/AAAAAAAAMjE/e5DNUowFrFQN3QascWi4-MEDEyErZzdwwCLcB/s320/a%2Bhome%2Bagain.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 8 - Home again<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa met me when I arrived
and we went to the bank. After the obligatory greeting we adjourned to my
office and we spent the next four hours going over the events I dealt with and
made plans to keep the bank safe from the family's claims and to protect our
assets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I finally made it home and it
took several hours for me to properly greet Mercy. Being gone for to weeks
required me to show her how much I missed her… and oh yes the kids also. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was times like this I
remembered how I first saw her on board ship, while on our way to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>. How
innocent she was and how Mama took to her and protected her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now she is a fully matured
woman with a mind of her own. I often think about how lucky I am to have her
completely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Too many married men I know
only have part of the women they married. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are holding back part of themselves
perhaps for someone else, I don't know. In my case she gave her whole self to
me, holding back nothing, she's all mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-27390002388034859102017-02-13T15:38:00.000-08:002017-02-13T15:38:08.426-08:00Moving On -Chapter 7 - Meanwhile back East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span id="goog_582907879"></span><span id="goog_582907880"></span></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbwq58kIDkI/WKJCYagl3HI/AAAAAAAAMik/pNgM1x4O4Jk5LtdpuS00IHpVLdEC8lv9gCLcB/s1600/a%2Bloan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbwq58kIDkI/WKJCYagl3HI/AAAAAAAAMik/pNgM1x4O4Jk5LtdpuS00IHpVLdEC8lv9gCLcB/s320/a%2Bloan.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too Much Debt is NOT Good<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 7 - Meanwhile back East<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa
and I had no more financial interest back in the farms my brothers still owned
but there was still the family connection. Anything that affected the family
was of concern for Papa and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since
both of us couldn't be away from the banking business Papa decided I should go
and see what could be done to straighten things out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy
got along with papa's new wife although she wasn't very new now because they
had been together for a number of years. Given that she had lived in the East
all her life and associated with the lower society (people who were not super
rich) she had good manners and Mercy helped her to be proper in the higher
societal <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">echelons. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This was where the real money was to be made and Papa
wanted to fit right in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had no
trouble mixing with the men for most of them were a bit raunchy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">However with the women it was a bit more difficult
because the women of that ilk were quite catty and gossipy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The idea was to add something to the subject matter
and be able to fight off the slings and arrows that were cast at you; All this
while remaining friends with the people you were slamming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since my step-mother was quite successful in this
endeavor Papa always had an open door for conducting business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa
was going to be busy going back and forth between <st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city>
but he thrived on all the action he was getting. The only thing I didn't like
about this arrangement was he would change the way I operated into his style of
doing things. When I returned I would have to change things back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I
finally hired three extra employees to setup an extra set of books and when he
wanted to see how the business was doing he could look at his books. He found
out what I was doing and started to pitch a fit till I told him it was a check
and balance way to keep the employees honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He never mentioned it again. He liked the idea of keeping the hires’
honest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
it was time for me to head back east and deal with whatever the issue was back
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As
I stated before there was no connection between the two businesses. The ranches
belong to the part of the family that had remained and the West coast
businesses belong to Papa and me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When
I arrived it seemed that no one was happy to see me. Neither of my brothers
wanted to see me so I stayed in town instead of going out to one of the
ranches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Another
thing, no one wanted to talk to me so I went to the bank and found out what the
problem was. It seemed that some of the in-laws had borrowed quite a large sum
of money against our holdings on the West coast. They claimed to be partners
with Papa and me, putting up our holdings as security. They wasted the money
they borrowed and now it was time to pay it back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The
bank told me that if I didn't pay up immediately they would sue. I asked for
copies of proof that the in-laws owned or had an interest in our properties. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They
produced some papers and documents which were forgeries and I told the bankers
that they should have the in-laws arrested for fraud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I
went on and told them they should come against the ranch properties the
families owned. The told me that the ranches were up to the hilt with mortgages
and there was no equity left in them. </span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRjCOa3ckYo/WKJC5ktMbrI/AAAAAAAAMis/h8-8vGu2rtY_E1p2BCD70mQ8bcFymg1ngCLcB/s1600/a%2Bcutting%2Bties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRjCOa3ckYo/WKJC5ktMbrI/AAAAAAAAMis/h8-8vGu2rtY_E1p2BCD70mQ8bcFymg1ngCLcB/s1600/a%2Bcutting%2Bties.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting Ties</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(This
saddened me for before I had love and respect for all four of my brothers,
Albert, George, Phillip, and Charles. </span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I wasn't sure why they shunned me;
whether they were ashamed or just lost respect for me. Whatever the reason we
were finished and no longer a family.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Upon
hearing that I produced evidence that Papa and I were the only owners of the West
coast properties with the history of said properties. The bankers could immediately
see that what they loaned against wasn't the same holdings as that which Papa
and I owned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They
apologized and said they hoped I understood how the mistake had been made. I
told them I would forget the whole matter if they paid my expenses incurred by
the travel including a new suit I damaged in a fight with a drunk on the main
street. They agreed and as I left, the bankers called for the sheriff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time I left I knew
everything about everything. What they did and why they did it. I understood
why they didn't want to see me or talk to me. After making the discoveries I
didn't want to see them either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I contacted Papa and laid
everything out for him he said catch the next train and come home. He added let
them stew in the mess they made family or not.</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">TO BE CONTINUED</span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-35993239073979333752017-02-06T13:44:00.001-08:002017-02-06T13:44:12.228-08:00Moving On Chapter 6 - A New Bank in Town Opens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUsBHmHyDtw/WJjt3CShSUI/AAAAAAAAMh8/QhNum-V0dfUl8EpJWDElA1FRXoMqXe4-QCLcB/s1600/a%2Bcouple%2Bkids%2Bkiss%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jUsBHmHyDtw/WJjt3CShSUI/AAAAAAAAMh8/QhNum-V0dfUl8EpJWDElA1FRXoMqXe4-QCLcB/s320/a%2Bcouple%2Bkids%2Bkiss%2B2.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14 Year Old Isaac Wanted to Marry the Girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 6 - A new bank in town opens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A month had passed and much
had happened. We bought the building and remodeled it. Our huge safe had
arrived and was installed. Our grand opening was near and Papa had made some
good contacts in <st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa and I had put our money
in the safe so we had assets right off. Papa said there were something called
vaults in the works that would be better than the safe and he wanted one when
they were perfected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Right now the huge safe was
the center piece of our bank and had a double lock system it was a safe within
a safe. The outer safe could be open while the inner safe was still locked. The
outer safe was for conducting business and the inner was for the big money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I must admit papa had a head
for business. In six months we had most of the money business in <st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city> and a branch in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had moved to the big
city while leaving me to tend the bank in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city>.
The bank was thriving because of the reputation we had built up. No one ever
lost their savings in our bank because of the bank closing up and the bankers
absconding with the funds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There seems there are always
some problems waiting in the wings just waiting for the right time to manifest
themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac had arrived at the old
age of fourteen and was on the courting circuit big time. You have to realize I
was really busy because Papa had left me with all the bank business in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He of course was just as busy
in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city>
and didn't have time to come to my aid if I had a situation to deal with. Then
it happened. Isaac fell in love with a girl about his age and he wanted to
marry her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This wasn't going to happen
but how I was going to stop him wasn't very clear at the moment. On one hand I
had Isaac to deal with and then was Mercy having a fit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She had plans for him to go
to college before he married up. Then to top it off his grandfather found out
about it. It seemed like I was the only one left that had any common sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then it happened. If things
weren’t bad enough another issue complicated the matter. Isaac was supposed to
go to a dance with his intended and when he went to pick her up she had already
gone with another guy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He questioned her father and
he said he didn't know anything about it. Her mother told him her daughter
could go with whomever she wanted to and for him not to bother her anymore and
closed the door. Isaac wasn't used to rejection and he didn't take to it very
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He came home and went
directly to his room slamming the door. I never paid any attention to it for
the kids were always making a lot of unnecessary noise, but Mercy knew
something was up for he was supposed to be at the dance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy was upset with me
because I couldn't talk Isaac out of wanting to marry the girl. I told her the
dang boy wouldn't listen to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The problem was he was just
like his mother and like her he ignored me unless I got really het up. Then
there was his grandpa. He had a lot of his traits like wanting his way and
flying off the handle if he didn't get it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I wondered why he wasn't like
me in some ways. I couldn't see myself in that boy in any way except my good
looks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy tried to talk to the
boy but he had locked her out and turned the light off. The other kids were not
making a sound. Mercy retired to the bedroom and I was left alone in the parlor.
There wasn't a sound in the house and I didn't want to go to my bed with Mercy
in her present mood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Alone with my thoughts I
surmised I have three of these offspring and I don't think I am going to like
this part of their raising if there is much of this. I knew this wasn't over
with the worse to come. Here Isaac was ready to go to the parson and his
intended was courting someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn't sleep much sitting
in the big chair and was awake when Isaac came down from his room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I immediately saw some of Grandpa’s
nature showing forth because he had his gun in his hand as he went out of the
door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I leaped up to stop him when
I saw his grandpa leading him back into the house. I asked Papa, “Where did you
come from?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and he said; "I spent
the night here in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city>."
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa said; "Someone has
to talk some sense in that moonstruck boy." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him, “The job is yours
if you want it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our cook was in the kitchen
so Papa took Isaac into the kitchen and told the cook to feed the both of them.
After a couple of hours they came out and I went in and got some coffee. I
didn't want to disturb them so I stayed out until they got finished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had Isaac's gun, the
same one he had taught Isaac how to kill with. He was a crack shot and never
missed thanks to his grandpa. He was so much like the old man that he paid
attention to everything he said. He went up to his room shutting the door
without slamming it which told me he had settled down and the crisis was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">While I was content with the
outcome of the circumstances Papa wasn't for this was his grandson they were
messing with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He had other grandsons back
where we came from but Isaac was his favorite and lived nearby. He found out it
was a college boy that took the girl away from Isaac. He fumed, “What chance
did a fourteen year old boy have with one of those fast talking college boys
laying their lies on a gullible young girl.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There was strong evidence
that the college boy had his way with her and that made Papa even madder. The
next day it seems the college man was sorely beaten and he and the soiled girl
was taken to a parson and was married. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt it was the duty of her
father to have handled the affair, but apparently he was willing to let things
pass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa didn't see it like that
and let it slip while talking to me saying: "I reckon he won't be able to
enjoy his honeymoon." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That told me everything I
wanted to know about what happened. To myself I admitted that Papa knew best
how to handle the situation and for that I was glad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac never confided in me as
to how he was feeling but he told his mother everything, and was comforted by
her much like when he was younger for after all he was her baby… still. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I watched, I saw the
little boy that was left in him seeking comfort from his mother for the last
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After that session was over I
could tell the man he was to be had his beginning and never again would he look
to Mercy for solace. From this point on he would stand on his own till he found
a woman he truly loved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I hoped it would some time before
she came into his life for he needed to experience life growing up as a young
boy and not be thrust into adulthood before he was actually an adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One more talk by Grandpa to
Isaac and the issue was put behind him. Grandpa explained how the future was
going to unfold as Isaac went forward. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac like a knight of old would go forward
with armor polished and sword in hand winning every battle forthwith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">To Be Continued</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-19875218216473580032017-01-30T14:46:00.002-08:002017-01-30T14:50:28.224-08:00MOVING ON - CHAPTER 5 - Once Again a New Beginning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYLe2SJH_3s/WI_BOI6tIJI/AAAAAAAAMhY/mL5LCtdsz7YgflEO-obVoe2d3pwwm_uTACLcB/s1600/a%2Bman%2Bnew%2Bsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYLe2SJH_3s/WI_BOI6tIJI/AAAAAAAAMhY/mL5LCtdsz7YgflEO-obVoe2d3pwwm_uTACLcB/s320/a%2Bman%2Bnew%2Bsuit.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa bought me 3 New Suits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER
5 - Once again a new beginning<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our business was finished and
our money was in our suitcase. Our goods we wanted to take with us filled a car
half full. We had a compartment to stay in which helped us to be more
comfortable. It had a lock on the door if we wanted to lock it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our money case we kept with
us at all times. I was packing my six guns in my hostler and a derringer in my
vest. Mercy had a small 32 in a pocket in her dress. </span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I also hired an
ex-Pinkerton man to keep an eye out for anyone who might look suspicious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We were made more nervous
when the train broke down in the middle of nowhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the baggage car guards
climbed a telegraph pole and sent a message to the nearest station requesting
help. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the next day we were on our way
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Because of the breakdown it
took us five days to make the trip. I had some hot water brought in so Mercy
and I could wash up. We felt better after our sponge bath. The kids were
scrubbed up lastly for they were getting nasty is the best way to put it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crawling around in the floor of the train
dirtied them up rather quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We arrived in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city> worn out and
needing a bath. Traveling with three kids was something I promised myself I
would never do again. I threatened to throw them off the train more than once
but manage to rescind the threat before I carried it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa met us with some wagons
and armed men. I asked, “Why the men with guns?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Papa said, “I am carrying some money and I figured
you might have some also, so I am just being careful.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I answered, “You're right
about that, is there a bank in town we can trust?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not with for our money there
isn't.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him, “It sounds like
we need to go into the banking business.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa agreed as we pulled up
to the house he had built for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He called the kids over to
him and said you must be feeding these kids very well for they have grown since
I last saw them. He asked, ‘Have you been teaching them to work?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him, “Yes but I've
been teaching how to use their head mostly.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “I guess that is
important also.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The men started unloading our
goods and Mercy showed them where she wanted everything put. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an hour we were moved in and ready to start
living in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the guards took Mercy
to the general store and she bought enough food to feed a small army. Though I
never said anything I couldn't help but wonder what we had got our selves into.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I realized Papa was
wearing a suit and it wasn't even Sunday or a funeral. As he walked about I saw
he had a pistol under his coat in a holster. Later I found out he had a small
derringer in his vest pocket. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Papa's
wife was carrying one also and he was learning my half brothers how to shoot
just like he taught me. He said when he took the kids for the next lesson he
would take mine also. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day Papa came by in
a buggy and said, “Let's go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MN4A7TL5DYA/WI_B4N0VcnI/AAAAAAAAMhg/2XmOCvMRIPkgyW6jMg9xLgCfST4SVAuWwCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgun.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MN4A7TL5DYA/WI_B4N0VcnI/AAAAAAAAMhg/2XmOCvMRIPkgyW6jMg9xLgCfST4SVAuWwCLcB/s200/a%2Bgun.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I climbed in and he took me
down to a tailor. In short order he had me fitted for three new suits. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said I could carry my gun under the coat
and it wouldn't show. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said he had found a building he wanted me to buy and
it would make a good bank with a few changes. Then I realized the reason for
the new suits. He wanted me to look the part of a banker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He had outfitted Mercy with a
derringer and told her not to hesitate to use it to protect herself and the
kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It didn't take long to see
why Papa was doing all these unusual things. The gold fields were playing out
for small claim prospectors and only the large mining operations were still
running at a profit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A lot of the prospectors had
drifted to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:city>
and they were broke and looking for women. When they had money the whores were
available but with no money they were out of luck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Women were assaulted on the
streets until they began to carry guns and knives. Papa said things were
getting better but it was going to take some more time before the law got the
upper hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He insisted that a guard go
with the women when they went out. I realized the reason for the wall around our
house he had built and the mean dogs that roamed the premises. Oh, those dogs
took to Mercy and the kids right off so I knew anyone would have to go through
them before they could bother my family at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-28065470755180045902017-01-22T18:20:00.002-08:002017-01-22T18:20:42.901-08:00Moving On Chapter 4 "Westward Ho"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQacgMhszVw/WIVoPMqbtUI/AAAAAAAAMhI/IwQY5hyzeYYzpaB7s3ABaoyF227NZ732wCLcB/s1600/a%2Bsheriff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQacgMhszVw/WIVoPMqbtUI/AAAAAAAAMhI/IwQY5hyzeYYzpaB7s3ABaoyF227NZ732wCLcB/s320/a%2Bsheriff.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Sheriff was All Business</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">CHAPTER
4 </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">WESTWARD
HO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa
has got the itch again</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The time had passed without what you might call a <span style="background: white; color: #444444;">catastrophic event occurring in the
family. Unless you consider papa's new wife having three children and all us
boys siring several kids of our own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy had presented me with
three of our own being two boys and one girl who I could see was going to boss
the boys around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa was beginning to become
bored once more and I could tell he was on the verge of wanting to move on
again. On paper it made no sense but this was an emotional issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa sold of some of his town
holdings the saloon being one of them. Almost every night I was called upon to
come to the saloon and break up a fight so I felt relieved that it was gone. I
hesitated to tell him I was tired of having to be the bouncer of the joint
because it was his cash cow and he always had a need for the money it brought
in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Shortly after he had raised a
substantial amount of money he called the heads of the family together and told
us of his plans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He had decided to head west
and look into several investments he had in mind. He said he was going to take
his new wife and three kids with him. He said each of the rest of us should
manage the ranches we owned and that I should care for the investments in the
town. He seemed to forget that all the town investments were Mercy's and mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He went on saying that the
gold rush was over and we missed out on that except there was a few mines still
producing that belonged to some large corporations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Where there are failures
there are opportunities you just have to know where to find them. The last
thing was that he would let us know what he was doing and if he needed some of
us to come and help him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That last remark didn't set
too well with we boys for we had everything we needed right here, and didn't
feel the need to look for new horizons. None of us gave voice to our feelings
so papa was of the mind that all he had to do was whistle and we would come
running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After Papa had left each of
my brothers said they had no intention of starting all over again for it made
no sense to them at all. I had to agree with them although Mercy wasn't in
totally agreement. She said if it made sense to move west then we should at
least consider it. On that note I said this meeting is over for I knew we would
start to disagree with what she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A few weeks later Papa was
packed up and left. Everything was different with Papa gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy and I sold everything
in town except the hotel and our house. Albert and my foreman on my ranch were
not getting along very well. I didn't want to get in the middle of their
disagreements for I felt my foreman should handle the situation. As it turned
out it was more serious than I thought. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing was the hands on the two ranches
were ready to start a war. I went to see Albert and told him I would sell him
my place for a reasonable price. Then he would be able to solve any and all
disagreements as they came up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt relieved for some
reason. We could have resolved the problem between the two ranches; but selling
out seemed the best way to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then came what all of us boys
had dreaded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa wanted Charles and
Phillip to come to the west coast. They absolutely refused to do as he wished. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been several years building up their
ranch and had no desire to leave. We all had taken bare land and build houses
and barns on it and raised crops and cattle. These were our homes and to up and
leave them and go to a new place with no guarantee of success didn't appeal to
the boys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As you might expect Papa was
incensed at the boys refusal but there was nothing he could do about it. I was
waiting for the other boot to drop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the boys refused to move
I knew what was going to be Papa's next move. You must remember Papa sold all
of his holdings when he left and I had sold our ranch to my brothers. My place
was the crown jewel of all out properties and I wanted it to stay in the family
should I leave the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I received my expected
letter. Mercy got hold of it first and read it. By the time I got home she had
time to think it through and was waiting for me to read the letter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I arrived home she was
in the parlor and had the three kids sitting on the floor on the side of her
chair. I knew something was going on and read the letter after she gave it to
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For the longest time, I
didn't look at her but I could feel her eyes on me. I looked at the letter
again and she just said; “Well?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was still thinking about it
so I said; “Well what?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “Well when do you
want to leave?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I could see she had made up
my mind for me so I said; “As soon as we can settle up our business here.” We
had a house and hotel to sell along with some valuable lots to sell. The Mayor
and some business partners bought all of our holdings in two weeks and we were
free and clear of everything that held us there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The Mayor had one
stipulation. He wanted me to get rid of the sheriff. About a year ago when I
was out of town they had brought in a new sheriff and now they were afraid to
fire him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I could understand why they
wanted him out of there for he never bathed and stunk to high heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His deputies were as bad as he was. He was
also unjust and mean and they were scaring the old people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I didn't have anything
to do with the hiring I had let the council deal with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However because it was part of the deal I said
okay but told them I would do it my way to which they agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a sheriff who had
semi-retired but was getting restless just sitting around so I sent for him. He
was all business and what he said was going to happen was law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When he arrived I put the
sheriff's badge on him and told him that he was in charge from that moment on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let him know it was time to go get rid of
the old sheriff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I removed my coat and
strapped on my guns. The sheriff just grinned and said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let's go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When we got to the jail the
sheriff was asleep at his desk and his deputies were asleep in the cells. I
slipped his gun from his holster and took the badge from his shirt. He awoke
and I told him to meet the new sheriff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It took him a minute or two
to realize what was going on. I said there was a train going east in an hour
and for him to be on it. I told him he had a half month's pay coming and paid
him off. I also said for him to pay his debts before he left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As he left he has some unkind
words for me. The new sheriff started to go after him but I said to let it go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The new sheriff had woke all
the deputies, and brought them into his office. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After looking at them he said
the two of them were fired. He said to me pay them off. I gave them twenty
dollars each and sent them on their <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff told the others
he was in charge and if they wanted to work under him they had better listen
and obey his rules. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said the first order of
business was they were getting a ten dollar a month raise. He explained that
was to pay for some nice clothes and a bath everyday if they were in town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told them, if they ever smelled bad again, they
were fired on the spot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The men looked at each other
but didn't say a word. He then told them to see that the old sheriff and the
two ex-deputies were on the train when it left or they would be on the next
one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said; “Don't let me see
you again until you have cleaned up and then we will clean the jail for it
smells like a pig sty.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a
couple of prisoners left over from the weekend that he put to work cleaning out
the cells.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I took the new sheriff down
to meet the city council and they were pleased with my choice. They had seen
the old sheriff and the two worthless deputies leave on the train and breathed
a sigh of relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">To Be Continued</span></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-89100414779163667812017-01-16T15:04:00.004-08:002017-01-16T15:13:17.575-08:00Moving on - Chapter 3 The Town is Growing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XV9fN_pHMMs/WH1Q_QlKirI/AAAAAAAAMg4/M6fvn-eZTvYIln5mgyJaggMjMk80vVsZACLcB/s1600/a%2Bman%2Band%2Bwoman%2Bvintage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XV9fN_pHMMs/WH1Q_QlKirI/AAAAAAAAMg4/M6fvn-eZTvYIln5mgyJaggMjMk80vVsZACLcB/s320/a%2Bman%2Band%2Bwoman%2Bvintage.png" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leave Your Husband and Come Away With Me !!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The
town is growing and us with it<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After proving up on my ranch Mercy and I spent most of out
time in town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The town had grown and on a couple of our lots we built a hotel.
Our rooms were full most of the time and the restaurant also had a full house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The railroad made our town one of their stops and put up a
station with cattle yards. This one particular year we had the round up and
took our much improved herd to the railroad to sell them. We were the first
herd for sale so we got top dollar for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There just happen to be a cattle buyer in town that bought
cattle for a packing house in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city>.
He spent a lot of time out at Albert's place; in fact he spent too much time
there. Sarah, Albert's wife had chosen that name when we arrived in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> and had smartened
up a bit but still wasn't too bright. This buyer had pretty well mesmerized her
into thinking he was madly in love with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A woman out on the prairie was not used to the wiles of a
city dude. As you recall she was an immigrant and was married to Albert while
still on shipboard. In any case Albert was in charge of the cattle sale and he
insisted we receive payment in gold coin. The buyer agreed but said it would
take a few days longer for payment to which Albert agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When the gold arrived Albert was back at the ranch and Sarah
who was staying in town signed for it. I had been watching over the transaction
from afar not being active in the sale of the cattle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy came and told me that the buyer was going into Sarah's
room from time to time and she didn't think that it was proper for him to do
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I sent for Albert to come to town and deal with what I
thought had suspicious overtones. By the time Albert arrived, silly Sarah had
moved the gold coin strong box to the railroad station and had bought two
tickets to the West coast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Albert went directly to the station and took possession of
the coins and removed Sarah from the train. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The buyer wasn't aware of what was happening so he got
aboard the train and was looking for Sarah. When he couldn't find her he began
to panic especially when he saw two of my brothers and me on the train. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As we approached ten mile trestle we escorted the buyer to
the platform between cars after hitting him on the head with a six gun. The
river was rushing madly below in the canyon and as we crossed the trestle we
gave him a downward toss to the canyon some hundred feet below. He quickly
disappeared below the surface of the rushing river. Our other brother had
brought horses for us on the town side of the trestle and we stopped the train
and got off telling the conductor we were going to look for some missing
cattle. He smiled and said we might also look for a missing passenger while we
were at it. Phillip said we would but doubted if we would find him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps some might say that was a harsh treatment for the
man but in our world people had a way of coming back and try to get even from
some ill treatment and we made sure that never happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile Albert was dealing with Sarah! He had used a whip
on her and she could hardly sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Papa had found out what had happen and was in full agreement with the
lashing she had received. Papa said Albert should get rid of her right now but
Mercy said; I will handle this and everybody stay out of it. She told Albert to
come to her room for she had something to tell him. When Albert came in he was
all flushed and highly agitated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy told him to have a big drink of whiskey and settle
down. After three big shots he began to cool off and she started in. Her
defense of Sarah went along the lines of her not being able to cope with
someone that Albert had allowed to come to the ranch when he wasn't there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After an hour later and a couple more drinks Mercy said
Sarah hadn't laid with the man she had just been deceived with his telling her sweet
things Albert had never said to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy said, “A woman needs to hear loving complements and things
like that from her man once in a while.” She then told him, “Now go and makeup
with her and do not beat her anymore.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told Mercy; alright he would do as she
said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He staggered out of the room as the whiskey was having it
effects on his equilibrium to where Sarah was weeping. She was cowering in a
corner when he came in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He asked her questions about the affair the main one being
if the man had bedded her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
vehemently denied that anything happened yet, and he accepted her explanation as
he fell into the bed and went to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Come the morning he became amorous and she did her wifely
duty through the painful stripes she wore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was glad Mercy had intervened because Albert might have
killed Sarah in a moment of rage. Albert was happy Mercy had settled him down
also although he never said so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
</span><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To be Continued</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-66844704631295642452017-01-09T15:27:00.000-08:002017-01-09T15:27:17.928-08:00MOVING ON - CHAPTER 2 - RUSH DAY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hUgmA4z_Xk/WHQcFQysX4I/AAAAAAAAMgo/vSIphus6SSYwUUx0tFaXt56muEQ9yAhhQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bland_rush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hUgmA4z_Xk/WHQcFQysX4I/AAAAAAAAMgo/vSIphus6SSYwUUx0tFaXt56muEQ9yAhhQCLcB/s400/a%2Bland_rush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Chapter two - </em></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Rush
day<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the last year papa had made some friends who were the
chief politicians and government men in the area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The time was getting nearer to the land rush and papa had
picked out several parcels he wanted, It was well watered land by a full
flowing creek. He had all of us boys get familiar with the lay of the land and
how to set the markers. All told we had several thousand acres we were going to
lay claim to on rush day. I wasn’t too interested in living out on the claims
but knew I would have to make improvements over the first years of ownership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there was the new town that was going to spring up.
Papa had picked out several lots that were laid out in what was going to be the
new town. After waiting for what seemed to be an eternity it was only a few
more days to rush day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t but five o’clock A.M. and I couldn’t believe my
eyes when I saw all the hundreds of people lined up to make the run for parcels
they had picked for them selves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had us to be a part of what was later called Sooners,
It wasn’t a title to be proud of but it assured you got the land you wanted. My
brothers had already headed out to the place we were going to claim as ours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After being amazed at the number of people who were already
lined up I left the mass of people and circled around as if I was heading back
toward what was going to be the new town then I turned toward our claims. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I arrived there I saw some Sooners who had the same
idea as Papa but they weren’t in very good shape after my brothers got through
with them. We put them on their horses and told them there was some pretty good
land to the east of where we were standing. Albert advised them to head over
there before some other Sooners beat them to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Shortly thereafter all we could see was a cloud of dust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The boys had already placed our stakes and markers. Papa had
all the necessary paper work ready to file as soon as the clock struck twelve.
He also had a bag of money to spread around to the officials. I headed back to
town and met with Papa, his new wife, and Mercy and we claimed our lots in the
town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As the sun set we had prime land on the prairie and some of
the best lots in town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the end of the week papa had wagon loads of lumber on
their way to our new property. There was a lot of available labor due to many
not getting a piece of land so our houses and barns went up pretty fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa sent me to some of the towns east of us to buy
furniture and other supplies. When I finished shopping I had several wagon
loads of goods and headed west. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I dropped off one wagon in town for Papa's and my houses in
town and then headed out to where the brothers were overseeing the construction
of the houses out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Even with the long list of goods I bought the brother's
wives were arguing over who got what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I was on title for one of the ranches I had to live
there (at least part of the time.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mercy
liked being out on the ranch because of the privacy we enjoyed but she also got
pleasure from spending much of her time in town. When she was on our ranch it
wasn't too far to visit the other brother's wives if she wanted to catch up on
the latest gossip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My next task was to find cattle for our ranches. I must say
what I ended up with was a mixture of Mexican, scrub and longhorn cattle that
were pretty much a poor looking bunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had some unkind words for me about my selection even
after I showed him how cheap I had gotten them for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a half days grumbling I told him to go
himself and see what he could find. That shut him up for the time being for
after one days search he came home with a sorrier looking bunch than I had
found and paid more for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After seeing his demeanor when he returned I decided it
would be best not to say anything about his poor effort and the result. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After a few months on the rich, lush, grasses the cattle
began to look pretty decent and brought a good price when it came time to sell
them. We acquired a lot of calves from them so we were on our way to building
up our herd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By running all the cattle together under one brand we saved
a lot of money compared to what the other ranchers costs were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After the second year a number of people had given up and we
bought their terrain from them. They had found that even though the land was free
it took many dollars to make the property profitable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy's and my lots in town were prime property and as the
town grew they were some of the most valuable in the town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa considered them to be his and wanted to sell them early
on but Mercy and I balked at that notion. We felt if we waited they would be
worth many times what he could sell them for at the present; and as it turned
out we were right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had another idea which was to start a general store on
one of the lots. Again Mercy and I objected because I knew too many people
would buy on credit and never pay what they owed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As usual Papa prevailed on that one. It turned out that
things were better than we thought it would be at least for the first six or
seven years. Then what we feared became to pass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">People were beginning to fall on hard times because of lack
of rain and failing crops; and Papa began to buy up properties from people who owed
us money they couldn't pay. Some just packed up and left while others sold out
for almost nothing. Most of the land was as worthless to Papa as it was to the
people who left it but Papa said some day the rains would start again and then
we would make more money than we ever dreamed of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa refused to sue for the money people owed us but when he
cut off their credit they had no other choice than to sell cheap or just move
on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-83254810401749893342017-01-02T14:14:00.000-08:002017-01-02T14:23:49.209-08:00Moving On - Chapter 1 - Becoming an Immigrant.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Today begins a new continued story. </h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
so as to NOT miss the next exciting chapters.</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>MOVING ON - Chapter 1</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gamQbT2yb2E/WGrQSiDmHeI/AAAAAAAAMgY/eZXy-yR9ugEw9Lf10txPdj6m0tB6N43dQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bimmigrant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gamQbT2yb2E/WGrQSiDmHeI/AAAAAAAAMgY/eZXy-yR9ugEw9Lf10txPdj6m0tB6N43dQCLcB/s320/a%2Bimmigrant.jpg" width="301" /><span style="background-color: white;"></span></a><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Our neighbors invite us to leave the Old Country - - <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was late in the 1800s and being immigrants everything was
still new to our family. We soon realized the city life wasn’t for us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In what we still call “The old country” we had found
ourselves disliked more each year after year. It wasn’t because we were bad
people but because we were successful and gaining in wealth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A lawyer for a big firm kept trying to buy all of our
holdings and papa decided to sell due mostly to the attitude of our neighbors.
He said these folks are not going to like it when the big firm takes over and
replaces many of the local workers with people from other areas but they want
us out, so be it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had decided to come to the new world as he called it
and try to increase our fortune there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was thirty years old when he married our Ma
and for the next five years she bore him a son each year. There were five of us
boys but for some reason she quit bearing children after I was born. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps it was because of the neighbor’s attitude that we were
a tight knit group. In our village it was well known that if you started a
fight with one of us you had to fight all of us. It was because of that we were
left alone and had little trouble with the neighbor’s kids.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We planned for a year before leaving and when the day
arrived papa had converted all our holdings into gold and enough cash to get us
by until we arrived in the new world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since we had money we had staterooms to travel in and ate
the best food the cooks could provide. There were those who had to settle for
steerage with little more space than a bunk and could only get on deck with
great effort. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My older brothers spent a lot of time looking down on the
deck where the poorer immigrants, especially the young females flitted about.
They would slip down to the steerage deck and talk to the girls. They would get
a good deal of information from them such as education, age, and more
importantly if they were still a virgin. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time we arrived in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> they knew everything about
most of what they considered marriage material. The two older brothers had
selected two girls to marry and the next oldest had found one he thought he
wanted. She was alone and was vulnerable to the point where though he wasn’t
sure he wanted her for a wife he wanted to bring her along with us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ma laid down some rules about keeping our hands to
ourselves. My older brothers were married to two of the steerage girls by one
of the almost captains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caleb being
strongly urged by Ma, he finally agreed to marry Mercy (as my mother called
her) because Ma didn’t want her to be lost in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> and taken advantage of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They had an “I do” session by one of the crew after which Ma<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said Caleb could just ignore his shipboard
marriage when we were landed in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>
unless he decided to keep her for his wife. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy told Ma that she didn't want to take up the wifely
duties until she had been fully accepted as a wife by my brother Caleb. Mercy
had told everyone she was eighteen years old but once we were situated in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> she confessed
she was only fourteen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Caleb decided not to take her for a wife because she was a
little young and by now she was more like a sister in his eyes. He had told the
<span style="background: white; color: black;">Immigration</span> officials she was
his wife in order for her to enter the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So far the courtship of my brothers was a little strange but
they were satisfied with the results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After we arrived in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>, the entire family managed
to find jobs and we were living very well compared to some but papa wanted to
move West for he was intrigued by the stories he kept hearing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He was really taken by the <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:state> land rush that was coming soon. The
idea of free land was too much for him to ignore. Papa said he was going ahead
to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:state>
and would send for us when he needed us. Three months later he sent for the two
oldest boys, Albert and George. These were the names they choose for themselves
after we arrived here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Papa had already changed our last name to Barkley and told
us to select names that sounded English. He was determined to leave our old
persona where we came from. Our accent didn’t sound exactly like Englishmen but
the mixture of the north and south and all of the first year immigrants no one
could be sure from whence anyone came from.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Another three months passed and papa sent for my other two brothers
Phillip and Charles. This left mama, Mercy and me still in the big city. My
brothers would write mama every so often and tell her about the West. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally when papa sent for her to come west she had made up
her mind not to go. She had a job working for a man her age that had just lost
his wife and he convinced Ma to get a divorce from papa and marry him. The man
was very well off and liked mama very much and mama was also taken by him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had finished my schooling and was on my own but Mercy
moved in with mama and her new finance. A year or so had passed since Phillip
and Charles had moved to be with papa in what they called the west. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They had heard about something called; “mail order brides.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had become interested in a couple of
women and were considering sending for them. Since I lived near the ladies my
brothers wanted me to go and check them out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t feel comfortable doing what they asked but finally
along with Mercy we did as they wanted. After meeting the women, without
revealing our intention, we had a pretty good idea about who they were. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy decided to do the writing and we tried to be fair in
our assessment of them. One thing for sure they were older than they pretended
to be and Mercy put it best by saying if you need someone to keep you warm in
the winter these women was large enough to generate a lot of heat even in the
coldest weather. We went on with our negative evaluation of them and I felt
sorry for them but I had my brother’s future to consider. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The brothers decided to heed our advice and broke off the
correspondence with the ladies in question. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was glad for I thought that ten years was too great a
difference in their ages to be compatible. Papa sent for me and I didn’t want
to leave Mercy for we were very close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked her if she wanted to marry me and she said she did
so we were wed by a preacher instead of a crew member. She had made some
friends and two of them agreed to go with us and meet my brothers with the idea
of marrying them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time we headed west Mercy was with child and shortly
after we arrived she brought forth a baby boy. He was the first of our
eventually four children. Mercy wanted to call him Isaac.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Phillip and Charles were excited about meeting the two women
and met us when we arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Phillip wanted to go straight to the preacher and marrying
the one he selected but Mercy insisted that the boys get to know the girls
before they decided to take them for wives. She felt that getting married
should be for a lifetime even though mama had divorced papa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When papa met the two friends of Mercy he wanted to know if
she knew any more like them for him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
told him one of the girls had lost her father to disease and her mother was a
fine looking woman and was available. He instantly told Mercy to have the girl
send for her mother for he wanted her for a wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mercy agreed to talk to the girl who said it looked to her
like papa was in bad need of a woman for he had been alone for over a year.
They laughed about that. The girl agreed for she said her mother needed a man
about as bad as Papa needed a woman. When the mother arrived the two unmarried
boys and papa all got married at the same time with a grand ceremony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We heard mama had married the man she was working for and
for some reason she was going to have another child after these several years.
The man she married was very happy about having a family and that was the last
we heard directly from mother. She cut the ties she had with us but from time
to time Mercy would get some news from friends she had in the city. </span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>To Be continued</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-57780220502784566562016-12-26T15:35:00.000-08:002016-12-26T15:42:11.658-08:00The Reluctant Bride Chapter 5 - After The Celebration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfqvPHx9TZ8/WGGo4lG2NjI/AAAAAAAAMgE/FOUudUYZh401mlyT_picW2HieBsJ75AoQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bpriest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfqvPHx9TZ8/WGGo4lG2NjI/AAAAAAAAMgE/FOUudUYZh401mlyT_picW2HieBsJ75AoQCLcB/s320/a%2Bpriest.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Priest was Always Invited<br />
to the Big Celebrations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chapter 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The next morning after the
big celebration, all was quiet except for a couple of men stumbling around
trying to figure out where they were. Seems everyone slept in the morning
after. Elena and the girls she hired began to try to straighten things up. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The noise awakened Sadie
although she was having trouble getting her eyes open, due to the fact that in
the late hours she was finally encouraged to take a sip of the hard drink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She never drank that stuff in
her whole life, but the girls convinced her it would pep her up so she could finish
being the hostess. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As it turned out she had more than several sips and she
couldn't remember when or how the evening finished. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She realized she wasn't in
her bed for this one was much larger than hers. Another thing she became aware
of was she had no covers on her and no night clothes on either. In fact she was
buck naked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She finally got enough
strength to roll over and she saw a naked man in the bed with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The knowledge of that paralyzed her and she
couldn't move for a while as she tried to remember how this all happened. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As her mind cleared a bit she
wondered who was in the bed with her and what she was doing there with him. She
looked for some covers but couldn't find anything except a pillow. The man
didn't have anything on him either. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She observed her clothes
scattered around the room so she slipped out of the bed quietly and started
retrieving her things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The man woke up and turned
over. It was Lacey! He was laying there in plain sight of Sadie and she
couldn't help but stare at him while he was trying to wake up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Without much success, she
tried to cover herself with the pillow, as he finally stood up and very slowly tried
to find his clothes and put them on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was totally
unembarrassed even though he was naked and he took his time getting dressed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was doing her best to
keep herself covered as she dressed but it made it more difficult to put her
clothes on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He finished dressing and
walked out without saying a word to her. She never said anything either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When she left Lacey's room
Elena looked her up and down with a suspicious eye and then began to laugh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continued to do this every time she saw
Sadie that morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie hadn't seen Lacey since
early morning, and it was almost twelve now. A few minutes later he came in and
had Elena's Priest with him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He came over and kissed Sadie
and said, “We might as well get this over with.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie said, “Get what over
with?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Our wedding what'd think?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said; “I didn't say I'd
marry you.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He smiled and said, “Sure you
did… maybe you don't remember saying I want you so badly now, we can be married
tomorrow first thing.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said, “I don't remember
anything like that.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He chuckled and said, “What
do you think happened last night? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
you remember me proposing and you accepting?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“No,” she answered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went on and asked, “You
don't remember what happened afterward?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said, “I think I know
what happened afterward whatever afterward was.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went on; “I thought you
knew we were going to be wedded someday. It just so happens today is the day.”
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She started to object further
when Elena stepped up and whispered something in Sadie's ear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie turned back to Lacey
and said, “Today is the day, Padre proceed please.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After breakfast all the
guests left and Lacey hoped they all made it home for some of them weren't too
steady on their feet. Everyone agreed that it was the best party they had ever
been to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie asked Elena why the
Padre was there and she said; after these big doings there are a few who need
to get married and it was that way here today. Two couples got married before
you and two more afterward. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie said it was mighty
convenient that he was here today. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When the kids heard Sadie was
their new mom they hugged her till she could hardly breathe. They wanted to
know what to call her and she said either ma or mom whichever you like the best
they agreed mom sounded the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And so it was; after over two
years of breathing the same air they consummated their love for one another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Elena predicted, Sadie she
gave birth to her firstborn nine months later and that was just the start of
many more that came after that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Lacey predicted he became
rich from the mine. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Cousin Bette predicted she
could get as many men as she wanted. So far she has wanted five and is working
on number six.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And everyone lived happily
ever after.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The End</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-34184428036226097582016-12-19T17:21:00.001-08:002016-12-19T17:21:46.670-08:00The Relucrtant Bride Chapter 4 - A Visit from Cousin Bette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BN6Cs3xA9E/WFiHNjKUFrI/AAAAAAAAMf0/BBj7VnODWtkDy150KWvJykCRi1mt-y1hgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgirl%2Bin%2Bred%2Bdress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BN6Cs3xA9E/WFiHNjKUFrI/AAAAAAAAMf0/BBj7VnODWtkDy150KWvJykCRi1mt-y1hgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgirl%2Bin%2Bred%2Bdress.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Bette Came to Visit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chapter 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unexpectedly a distant cousin
came to visit and she immediately began to interfere with Sadie's work with the
children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also began to make
advances to Lacey some of which were unseemly in Sadie's eyes. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Lacey mostly ignored her undignified
mores she stepped up her pursuit of him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times she was all over him and was getting
a little response from Lacey. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie thought he was human
and should be stimulated by the cousin’s seductive moves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finally said to Lacey; don't you think it
is time for Cousin Bette to call it a visit and return home? The children have
been observing the way she is acting with you and are asking questions about
her unseemly conduct. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She went on and said; perhaps
it isn't my place to speak but unless you are interested in her as a mate she
needs to leave and not come back. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This shocked Lacey to hear
Sadie to speak out like this. He realized what Bette was doing and truth be
known he was enjoying some of it. He had been too long without female company
and he knew it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was a week later when
Lacey took Bette aside and told her that he would have one of the hands take
her to the station tomorrow. You better get started packing today so as not to
miss your train. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She looked shocked but said
she would do as he said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later she was
heard mumbling to herself; “What's the matter with that guy doesn't he know a
good time when it's offered to him.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
went on saying; “He missed the best night of his life, he just doesn't know it.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">That evening the conversation
was about the farm and the cattle. Nothing was said about Bette leaving except
Lacey asking if she was packed and ready to go. She said yes and would be glad
to get back home among her friends. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was glad to hear she
was taking his advice and going for he didn't know how much longer he could
fight her off for she was very alluring although somewhat brash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was all smiles after
Bette was gone and this without any obvious reason. She had to admit she had no
claims on Lacey. Her only tie to him was his children and her responsibility
for their education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As it turned out she took
care of them twenty four hours a day not unlike a mother would. She could
hardly get enough privacy for a bath for they were always in need of something.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">During the warm season she
would take them to the river a short distance away from the house and they
would all bathe. She taught them all to swim. She didn't want to worry about
them drowning when she needed to get out of their sight for a few minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unlike regular school there
was no summer vacation. School continued year round for them except when Sadie
took them town so they could see the shipping of cattle to market. They would
ride on the stock train in the passenger car with Lacey and some cattle buyers.
Lacey would get a little testy if someone made a suggested remark about wishing
they could afford a schoolmarm. The inference being something unseemly was
going on between him and Sadie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When they got to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> they stayed in a
hotel where Lacey and the foremen stayed. Lacey would join in on some of the
shopping trips to make sure they didn't get to <span style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">extravagant</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: #666666; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span></i></span>and buy stuff they would never use. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was more tight fisted
than Lacey but he thought he kept tighter reins on spending than her. Sadie
always made sure they experienced some form of entertainment and went to a
museum or other place with historical value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was very protective of
his children and when Lacey couldn't accompany them on their excursions he sent
one of the cow hands to keep watch over them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When the business was
finished and they were on the way home Lacey spent the time with the kids. Eating
in the diner with their dad was a special treat for them. He was surprised at
how far they had come with their studies. He congratulated Sadie on the job she
was doing. He seemed to be in a good mood so she figured his business dealings
went well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He told her he would be
spending more time at home now since he had made the deal he just finished. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went on saying something I
never talked about was a mine I have been developing and now that it is
producing I was able to sell a half interest in it to a mining company. They
will take over the running of it and we will share the profits made from it. If
all goes well I will be a rich man shortly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie had never paid any
attention to the money situation she just figured between the farm and the
ranch there was enough money to keep them well fed and cared for. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was happier than she
had ever saw him. He said we are going to have a celebration. As soon as we get
home, you and Elena prepare the biggest party ever given in this part of the
country. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She thought he would calm
down by the time they arrived home but the opposite was what happened. Sadie
left the food, drinks, and music to Elena and Sadie did the decorating and the
inviting. Lacey kept coming up with new ideas as to what to do to the point where
the women were hoping<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the day would soon
arrive and no more extra add on's coming forth from Lacey.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The celebration day was here
at last. It started with a big breakfast for everyone who had arrived the day
before. Elena had hired a half dozen extra Mexican girls to help with all the
preparation. As soon as the breakfast was cleared away the real preparation got
started. A steer had been killed and was on a huge spit being turned over and
over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">People were arriving and were
eating the food as fast as it was put out on the tables. The musicians appeared
and started playing so the dancing could begin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in the afternoon the hard and soft drinks
were brought out: and the party really livened up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festivity lasted well into the night and
people were sleeping everywhere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Elena was worn out from all
the work and Sadie had all the celebration she could handle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadie found a corner to rest and passed out
from exhaustion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To be Continued</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-43289864857473068392016-12-11T18:44:00.002-08:002016-12-11T18:44:21.430-08:00The Reluctant Bride - Chapter 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kBu--7KaMKU/WE4OxmLHcXI/AAAAAAAAMfk/rU9ernygQJ0J_dFOe_yeilsyYPrylau6QCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgirl%2Bworried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kBu--7KaMKU/WE4OxmLHcXI/AAAAAAAAMfk/rU9ernygQJ0J_dFOe_yeilsyYPrylau6QCLcB/s320/a%2Bgirl%2Bworried.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadie was Worried About her Future</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chapter 3 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was mulling over in her
mind knowing Lacey wanted to talk to her in the morning and it caused her to
wonder what it could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally she was
able to drift off to sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Come the morning there were a
half dozen roosters competing with each other on who could crow the loudest.
They woke Sadie up and she lay there as the same thoughts returning to her from
last night. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She wondered what time Lacey
got up - - just as there was a knock at the door. It was Lacey and he said it's
time to get up. Breakfast is on the table and nobody waits on any one
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey's kids were all up and
dressed and eating the grits and bacon. Elena's husband Joseph was almost
finished when Sadie made it to the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was outside looking
over the horse he got from the saloon cowboy and decided it might be alright
for one of the kids to ride, but it wasn't a good cow pony. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After drinking some coffee, Sadie
caught up with Lacey and told him he was hard to find in the morning. He said my
mornings are usually busy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There were several men that
didn't fit the mold of how Sadie thought a farmer should look. Lacey had been
talking to the men before she found him and after she interrupted his
conversation he told the men that they knew what to do so get on with it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He asked her if she had ate
breakfast and she said, “Just coffee.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said he also had coffee
but now he was hungry. They went in and Lacey told the cook to whip up a fresh
batch of biscuits, ham and eggs and maybe some grits and gravy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie said you must be hungry
to eat all of that. He said this may be my only meal today because I have a number
of things to deal with. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">They had some more coffee
while waiting for breakfast to be ready and Sadie's thinking was all over the
place. What does he have in mind? Does he want to marry me? Maybe just move in
and live with him and on and on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Finally Lacey spoke and said,
“You need to consider your future and since you no longer have a job teaching
you need to return to your home back east.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went on and said, “I have
another situation for you to consider.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Her mind snapped to attention
and she was thinking, “What if he asks me to marry him how should I answer
that. What if he wants me without marriage or maybe to wed some cow hand who
works for him.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She was getting all flustered
just thinking about the possibilities. Just come on and say what you want to
say she thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He wiped some gravy from his
chin that fell from his biscuit and took a sip of hot coffee and then said;
"I have a proposition for you since things are like they are.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She waited for him to have
another sip of coffee with her nervousness increasing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said, “You have seen my
little flock?” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said, “Yes.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went on they are almost
too much for Elena and besides they are speaking Mexican half of the time I
need someone to come in and take them over and educate them. It will be
complete control where I will only be available if something serious comes up.
This will be your full time job with better pay than you were receiving in the
town school. If this interests you then I will fix everything up as you want
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As he talked Sadie began to
relax for this was something she could have only hoped for. After an hour of
discussion with some give and take they understood each other and she said yes
she wanted the job. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He reddened and stiffened as
he said there is something else I wish to talk about somewhere down the road
later on but that is all for now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He called the children in and
explained to them that Sadie was in charge as of now and they must obey her or
be disciplined by her. They each said they understood and he ordered a few
additions made to the house for a better teaching situation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Sadie thought about
everything she was relieved as well as disappointed. She was concerned that he
might want to marry her and felt let down that he didn't. He did say he had
something else in mind for later on so she felt she might have that to deal
with in the future. The next weeks she completely took the children over and
they took to her both personally and her discipline. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was a little
disappointed that she didn't see Lacey as often as she wanted to. She wanted to
discuss the children's progress and just have time alone to talk to him. She
learned that he wasn't just farming but had a large herd of cattle and
something else she wasn't sure of what it was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There were a lot of men
working for him and they had separate quarters for each operation. Only three
men worked at the farm house keeping things up and guarding the children, and
another four families who actually did the farming. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then there was Elena and her
husband who were like a part of the family she saw to the cooking, washing and
cleaning, with a couple of young girls to help her with all these tasks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie noticed Lacey was
becoming gaunt and rawboned from too much work. She finally got up enough nerve
to mention he had lost weight and was getting too thin. He said he knew it but soon
he would be able to back off and turn most of the work to others. She felt she
could speak up a little more now and said; "The children needed to see you
more often and it is important to interact with them as much as your time would
allow," to which he agreed and said, “Soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A month later he began to
spend most evenings with the family of which Sadie counted herself as being a
part of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She considered this to be her home
for the time being and the kids as her own. What ever the foreseeable future
was, time would tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To be continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-39423070057244470382016-12-05T17:45:00.001-08:002016-12-05T17:45:41.212-08:00The Reluctant Bride Chapter Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmJ6gdPGCdw/WEYX9_VnijI/AAAAAAAAMfA/Pn5y17FTm8ARLqCXla3ypMTM8jQqeTtrACLcB/s1600/a%2Bschool%2Bhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmJ6gdPGCdw/WEYX9_VnijI/AAAAAAAAMfA/Pn5y17FTm8ARLqCXla3ypMTM8jQqeTtrACLcB/s320/a%2Bschool%2Bhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie was Happy to be Teaching School in this Farm Community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chapter 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was excited to be in a
place where everything was new to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
good night’s sleep took care of her tiredness from her journey on the
train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The next day some of the
ladies from town came to meet her and they discussed the opening of the school
again for it had been closed for some time. Over the next week the women got
everything in order and the school was ready to open once again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was amused by the big
school bell outside the school and felt it was the call to action when it was rang.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After a few problems she
finally got a handle on how to deal with these rowdy kids. They were certainly
different from the city kids she was familiar with. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">One of the biggest problems was
when the folks kept the kids home because they needed some extra help with the
farming. Some times most of the kids stayed home and she had to adjust the
lessons to meet the farming schedule instead of the school's agenda. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Six weeks later Lacey came to
town again and Sadie was glad to see him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There had been several men
calling on her against her wishes which she made known to them. These vulgar
men made their wants known like Charles had done, only they were a lot cruder
than he was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems they felt since she
was alone they could be more forward which caused her to be more stringent and
severe in her rebuke of them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey was completely
different for he was unimposing but pleasantly charming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She actually didn't know anything about him
for he didn't talk about himself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Several of the women would
bring up his name in conversation and Sadie found out that he was their hearts
desire. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Problem was he paid none of
them any attention. He had a way about him where he could be friendly but
unobtainable. This really put off the “would be suitors” but hope remained
still. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He would always bring some
food with him for Lacey, and he would have a meal with her. They would talk way
into the evening and she could tell he was well read even though he was a farmer.
He could discuss almost any subject which was refreshing to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then things changed. Her
trial period of one year was up and so far she hadn't been paid. They set up an
account where she could charge a small amount each month but it wasn't enough
to get by on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this time she had spent
all her savings so she went to the county clerk and asked for her year's wages.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Over the year the clerk had
been rebuffed by his advances so he was put off by that and rude to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
said she had not been satisfactory so she would only get half of her promised
wages. This was quite a blow for she was counting on that money. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After listening to his
sullied verbalizations she finally gave up and left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A man followed her out of the
clerk’s office and pushed her into a narrow alleyway and took the rest of her
money. She saw him go into the saloon so she went to the sheriff and told him
what happened. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said it would be her word
against his so it wasn't worth the effort to try to accuse him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In tears, Sadie took off to
her home crushed at what had befallen her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she was broke and without a job. In the
midst of her crying jag, Lacey showed up and she told him the whole story
between sobs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She wasn't sure if it was a
smile or a smirk after she finished but he said, “C'mon lets go.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Their first stop was at the
clerk's office. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lacey had strapped on
his six gun and loaded his double barrel shot gun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went in to the clerk's office and grabbed
him with one hand and shoved the shot gun under his chin with the other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He firmly said, “Give her the
money that's coming to her or say goodbye to this world.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As the clerk heard the
hammers on the shot gun click as Lacey pulled them back, the clerk was
screaming, “Be careful with that gun it might go off.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said, “Here is her money
except the sheriff had taken half of it.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lacey said, “Give her all of it and you deal
with the sheriff.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A minute later Sadie had her
money and as they were leaving Lacey said, “Let's go get the rest of it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie followed Lacey into the
saloon and pointed to the man who robbed and hurt her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">With that Lacey hit the man
with the barrel of the shot gun and knocked him down. Then he shoved the double
barrel under the man's nose so hard it was bleeding profusely. He said, “Return
the money you stole from her - - now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The man emptied his pockets
and then said, “I spent some of it.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey said, “Then I guess we
will have to take your six gun.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
that he unbuckled the man's gun belt and took it off of him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then took the scoundrel outside and asked
which horse was his. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When he pointed it out, Lacey
hit the man and knocked him senseless. He tied the horse behind his wagon and drove
to Sadie's place where they loaded up all her goods. She didn't ask where they
were going but just leaned over on him and went to sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When he stopped she woke up
and saw they were at a nice looking home. Coming out to greet them was a
Mexican couple smiling and glad to see them both. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From behind the Mexican couple came running
four young children the oldest being about eight years old. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was taken aback at what
she saw. She said, “You are married?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said, “I was married but
my wife died. This is my brood so far.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“So far?” she replied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed and said, “Yes, so far.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was getting late so they
had dinner and he said it has been a long day so let's get some sleep and
tomorrow I have something I want to talk to you about. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Mexican woman, Elena
showed Sadie her room and in a few minutes all was quiet except for a coyote howling
in the distance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadie was tired but her mind
was rehearsing the day's events and she kept wondering what Lacey had on his
mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To be continued<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-43293311489306347592016-11-28T16:42:00.002-08:002016-11-28T16:42:31.640-08:00THE RELUCTANT BRIDE Chapter One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ss7WLO_4Sos/WDzOvXU4s1I/AAAAAAAAMew/kyb0Rel-LjEWDhPVY-E3rjkV0MkUDjttgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgirl%2Band%2Btrain%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ss7WLO_4Sos/WDzOvXU4s1I/AAAAAAAAMew/kyb0Rel-LjEWDhPVY-E3rjkV0MkUDjttgCLcB/s400/a%2Bgirl%2Band%2Btrain%2B2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadie Waiting for the Train and Her New Adventure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> Chapter One</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Oh, how lucky you are to
have landed Charles for a husband. He is so handsome and has money of his own.
Oh Sadie if only I were you,” so said Sadie's best friend Jenny. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jenny had been gushing over
Charles for a half hour and Sadie was tired of hearing how wonderful Charles
was. She had known Charles for several years now and wasn't sure she wanted him
for her bridegroom. It was the same with going to college. She didn't feel the
necessity for all this education she had gotten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now she was trapped into a
coming marriage that she wasn't as sure about as were all her friends, family
and Charles himself. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was obvious to Sadie that
he could hardly restrain himself from wanting to jump on her and pound her. For
some reason this didn't appeal to her. She knew this was part of the marriage
arrangement but with him it was not what she felt she wanted to submit to. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then sometime before the
wedding date she received a list of available jobs for women from the college
she attended. Her eyes fell upon a teacher’s position in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Montana</st1:place></st1:state>. She immediately wrote and stated
she would like to take the position and gave her qualifications. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The wedding was only two
weeks away when she received the letter saying she was hired if she still
wanted the job. She packed her belonging and left a note explaining where she
was going and why. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As she settled in her seat on
the train a feeling of uncertainty came over her. She realized she was going to
a town in the west that she knew nothing about. The people, their culture and
their habits were sure to be foreign to her. These thoughts began to unnerve
her as she listened to the wheels on the track. For the next three days these
thoughts became torturous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">On the third day the
conductor walked through the train saying “Grassland next stop.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">As she looked out the window
of the train everything was dried up and there wasn't any grass to be seen
anywhere. She told the conductor to make sure all of her baggage was set off at
the station. The conductor told her to get to the steps and be ready to get off
for the train would hardly stop at the station and she was the only one who was
getting off there. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He was right the train never
came to a complete stop and she had to jump off when the train came to it's
slowest. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Two men threw her baggage off
some of which missed the small platform. One of her suitcases came open and
scattered her goods hither and yon. As the train cleared the road next to the
station a wagon crossed the tracks and stopped. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A farmer looking man got off
the wagon and proceeded to help her pick up her belongings. Some of the items
he helped her with were of a personal nature and caused both of them to blush.
He told her the town was down the road a ways and he would help her with her
stuff if she wished him to. She looked down the road and said she would be
grateful if he would help her for she had several pieces of luggage. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He introduced himself as
Lacey and wanted to know where she wanted to go to. She said the county clerk's
office. When the arrived there Lacey went in with her. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Right off, the county clerk
started getting fresh with her until Lacey told him to back off and give her
the information she needed and stop the untoward talk. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The clerk took offence at
that but said, “Take her down to the school house to the house behind it. That
would be her place to live while she taught there.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">When they got to the house
behind the school house Lacey carried her suitcases into the house after he
threw a couple of snakes and one varmint out while she stood on one of the
chairs in the living room. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lacey had to laugh at that
and after Sadie got over her fright she joined in laughing with him. After he
got her baggage in he took her shopping and introduced her around. Finally he
told her he had to head home and hoped everything worked out for her. He said
he only came to town every couple of months but would look in on her the next
time he came to town. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After thanking him he left
and loneliness began to set in on her. She had never felt as alone as she did
that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To be continued <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-72856747926891790022016-11-14T15:31:00.004-08:002016-11-14T15:36:14.830-08:00Randle Chimes chapter 14 The Wedding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Soon a New Story will begin - - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To receive my stories in your e-mail, place your e-mail address in the "Follow me box."</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OaK4SFWNb9E/WCpHu1uUywI/AAAAAAAAMeQ/vS-KSm17RdEdsgg-tQaBI3GxABEFJnu5gCLcB/s1600/a%2Bman%2Bplowing%2Bfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OaK4SFWNb9E/WCpHu1uUywI/AAAAAAAAMeQ/vS-KSm17RdEdsgg-tQaBI3GxABEFJnu5gCLcB/s320/a%2Bman%2Bplowing%2Bfield.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grandpa suggested hard work would rest my mind.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter fourteen (Conclusion)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I must admit that leaving the river wasn't easy for we had
gained a new intimacy there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there
it was just one more step to becoming one in a spiritual sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next six weeks seemed to be an eternity away and it was
clear I had to involve myself in an activity that would help the time to pass
quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told Grandpa my predicament and he squelched a smile while
knowingly said he understood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said what I needed was some hard labor, something that
would make me so tired that all I could think about was getting some rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said there was forty acres he hadn't planned on planting
this year but there was no reason not to go ahead and get a crop this year. He
said he had two teams I could use them alternating every other day or using
them just a half day each day. He said which ever way I decided on the teams
would always be fresh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">To be honest I wasn't to excited for his suggestion but I
knew it would take my mind off of the wedding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to get word to Nell that I would see
her Sunday and tell her what I was doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next morning I hitched up one of the teams and after
breakfast headed off to the field. As I figured it - - there was more than
enough time to plow the entire forty acres and drag and harrow it making it
ready for planting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had no interest in putting the crop in while dreading the
rain we were sure to get. Dirt and water equaled mud and I hated to try to plow
a muddy field. The only good thing about the rain was the teams got some extra
rest which they would need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Come Sunday I was glad to go to church. I surely wasn't cut
out to be a dirt farmer. The thing I hated the most was your shoes were filled
with the new turned soil and was uncomfortable to walk in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I saw Nell the juices began to flow in my mouth. I
didn't know what that was all about but I knew it was somehow connected with
Nell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She wanted me to have dinner at her folks place which I
agreed to but told them I couldn't stay long for I had to get home and get
ready for the coming week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">During dinner I talked to Nell's folks about everything
except the wedding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemed the subject was
off limits at this stage of the engagement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After we finished eating, I helped clear the table and her
mother told us to scat and visit until I had to go. Nell brought me up to date
about how everything was going and I tried my best to show some interest in
what she was doing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me it seemed like
a lot of extra work but it was so very important to the females in both
families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to stop at the mercantile store and pick up some new
harness for the teams. The store owner grumbled for having to open up for
business on Sunday but he didn't dare to refuse because we bought so much stuff
from him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had brought the buckboard from him, and also picked up a
lot of miscellaneous stuff for the ranch like barbed wire, bacon, beans and,
flour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I arriver at the ranch I got a couple of hands to
unload the buckboard while I swapped out the new harness parts for the worn out
ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The ranch hands looked puzzled because I was going to do the
plowing myself when I could have hired three or four farmers to do the work in
a weeks time. I didn't bother to explain my reasons I just went on repairing
the harness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After finishing that task I felt proud of the job I had
done. Both teams had their own set of harness and at least one extra set in
case something broke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next morning I was up farmer style before daybreak for
breakfast. We men were proud about the work we did but as I was eating it
struck me that the women were up earlier than the men to fix breakfast for us
and start preparing the rest of the day’s chores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I never said anything but I had to admit the women really
earned their keep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I hitched one of the teams to the wagon with the new plows
and other equipment and tied the other team to the back of the wagon. Just
after daybreak I was hooked up and plowed my first furrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This continued till about ten when I took a break and
watered the horses. I gave them a fifteen minute rest and then it was on till
dinner time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Once again I watered the morning team and removed their
harness. Then I let them graze till time to head back to the ranch house. Just
before evening came I stripped the harness from the second team and put it on
the wagon with the first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I rode one of the horses and led the others to the barn and
then rubbed them all down. One of the hands had put some feed in the corral so
I let them loose to feed and rest till morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For the next three weeks this continued the same each day.
My feet hurt and I was sore all over. It made me appreciate the work the
farmers did year after year. I had brought in another team so every third day a
team had a full day off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">With the fields plowed I took the next and final week
running the drags and harrows over the fields and prepared them for planting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once finished I turned the planting over to
our farm hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was one more week until I would be a married man. I had
waited for this moment for all my life and I felt both excited and worried. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew the mechanics of being a husband, the part and
responsibilities the man played so it wasn't that but how I was going to
measure up to the job had me bothered not just a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I took a lot of good natured teasing about the coming event.
A lot of it revolved around the wedding night and talk of a shivaree where the
bride was whisked away and kept the whole night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Although I knew it was all in fun I still had a little
apprehension about the whole idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The wedding day arrived and I drove the decorated buggy to
the church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nell and family were late
and I was left standing down in the front of the church with the preacher.
After the longest ten minutes of my life Nell and her father appeared in the
back of the church and started walking down the aisle in step with the music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Epilogue</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZpbKDV44-E/WCpIUSFoQLI/AAAAAAAAMeY/XHSJMVnPWVocXM4VDaUhGZJbxQF9w-RhACEw/s1600/a%2Bbride%2Band%2Bgroom%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZpbKDV44-E/WCpIUSFoQLI/AAAAAAAAMeY/XHSJMVnPWVocXM4VDaUhGZJbxQF9w-RhACEw/s1600/a%2Bbride%2Band%2Bgroom%2B6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything went off well! Nell was the most beautiful woman
I had ever seen. We and the family greeted everyone and had a feast on the
grounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was getting on in the afternoon by the time the people
left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Nell and I headed to the hotel where we would spend the
first night of married life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since my family owned the hotel we had the entire
top floor to our selves with a couple of tough guards making sure we were not
disturbed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Once in a while I think about Jenny and wonder what my life
would have been like with her instead of Nell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My conclusion is the same always; it couldn't have been any
better for Nell was simply wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-5342200599933863282016-11-07T17:17:00.000-08:002016-11-07T17:17:05.652-08:00RANDLE CHIMES Chapter 13 Randle Proposes to Nell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKEmQpJKb9I/WCEnUxrm4qI/AAAAAAAAMeA/iTL6DX7_wZwB0DSXXBvMUvYQkV-BdiuewCLcB/s1600/a%2Bring%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKEmQpJKb9I/WCEnUxrm4qI/AAAAAAAAMeA/iTL6DX7_wZwB0DSXXBvMUvYQkV-BdiuewCLcB/s1600/a%2Bring%2B2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Plain Gold Ring was All I wanted</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter thirteen</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I think back over the years it was again the memory of that
evening I laid Jenny to rest in my mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I realized I couldn’t go through life loving someone who
died and be married to another. It wouldn’t be fair to the new love to be
sharing myself with someone else, someone who the new love couldn’t compete
with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted someone who gave her
whole self to me and in turn I would do the same to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of going home with the grand folks I stayed in town.
As I thought back it had been almost two year since Jenny fell ill and I saw
her last. As long she was still alive there was still some hope but now she was
only a pleasant memory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Especially after kissing Nell I knew I had to have some
female company. If Jenny had lived we might have had a family started by now.
Sister or not I admitted to myself I wanted Nell for my wife… err maybe a
girlfriend at first and then a wife, but I felt time was a wasting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I went to see a man who always has a supply of rings for
sale and told him what I wanted and he asked; “Didn’t I sell you an engagement
two or three years ago?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t want to get into a long story about why I needed
another ring so I just said it didn’t work out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jenny was buried with the ring on her finger
for neither I or anyone else wanted to remove it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I selected a wedding ring for I didn’t want to waste time
with a long engagement. Then I picked up a horse from our stable in town where
we kept several horses and rode over to where Nell spent the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew it was early and the two girls might not be up yet but
when I arrived Nell was up, dressed and preparing to head home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her if we could go for a walk before
she left for home and she said as we went out the door, “What do you have on
your mind?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As we walked I stumbled around but finally got it out. “I know
you will have several guys wanting to marry you and I certainly am one of them,”
then I blurted it out, “Will you marry me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Before she could speak and say no I tried to build a case
which would make me seem to be more worthy in her eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was her turn to be flustered for this was the one thing
she didn’t expect. Maybe ask for another date but marriage… no way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said “I make up my mind rather fast but am always sure
when I speak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“She regained her composure and said, “You are a fast
thinker aren’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes was the only thing I could think to say so I said it, “yes.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then she did it again. She just stared at me with that stare
of hers which caused me to say,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If you
rather…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She cut me off and said, “Well, you know how to sweep a girl
off her feet don’t you?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I
didn’t know what to say so I looked away and said nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After what seemed to be about a week, she spoke and said one
word, “When?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Upon hearing that my legs went weak and I almost fell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said yes I was thinking. Yes, yes, yes,
what she said went around and around in my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Now, next week, a month from now, you decide but
not too long from now if you please.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For some reason she was counting on her fingers and said six
weeks then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Breathlessly I wanted to kiss her but was afraid to break the
spell of the moment and cause her to change her mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally she spoke and said, “Aren’t you going to kiss the
bride to be?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Without speaking I covered her face with kisses until she
said, ‘Down boy, just on the mouth please.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I still couldn’t tell her how I was feeling for I never had
felt like this before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After some time and a lot of kisses, I asked her how she
made up her mind so fast? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought don’t stare, please don’t stare at me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully she didn’t but said, “Oh I made up
my mind several weeks ago.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt embarrassed but managed to get enough courage to say,
“How did you know I would ask you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">At that she just broke out laughing and winked at me a
couple of times while I got redder and redder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After being more embarrassed that I have ever been I said, “How?”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, ‘Because I wanted you to, that’s how.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I hastily retreated from that line of questions for I had
been embarrassed enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We returned to the house for me to get my horse and Nell’s
friend had just got up. I looked at Nell and said, don’t not yet and she got my
meaning and nodded yes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t want the news to get out yet, at least until I
talked to Nell’s folks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I as they say "Forked my hoss," and headed off at
a gallop right in time to meet Nell's folks coming to pick her up in the buggy.
I stopped and chatted with them for a few minutes but I wanted to get away from
them, at least until Nell had an opportunity to tell them the news. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I arrived at my Grandpa’s ranch I was still unsettled
in my spirit. I told them I needed so time to my self so I was going swimming.
It took about an hour and a half to get the swimming hole, actually a deep
place in the river. I stripped off my clothes and made my famous dive onto the
water. It must have rained upstream for the water was a little muddy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Across
the river was a creek which was pouring forth clear water so I figured I could
clean up there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I left my clothes on the other side of the river and I heard
a big splash down stream. I thought I was alone so it startled me for a moment.
I made it back across the river in record. My pants were a bit damp and hard to
get back on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I heard noise behind me and just got a glimpse of someone
heading up stream toward me and a moment later Nell came into full view. She
barely had any clothes on which cause me to redden up once again. She just
laughed at me and said; I didn't know who it was up here so I decided to come
and see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That really set me back for she was all but naked and to
think she was going to expose herself to someone was too much for me. She saw I
was flustered and began to laugh as she took off the bit of clothes she had on.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had managed to get my pants on before she appeared but I
was starring at her as she was wringing the water out of her under garments.
She said, “You know you could have turned around when you saw I wasn't dressed.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That was too much for me, I said, ‘What is it with you girls
both you and Jenny showed yourselves to me here at the river.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She laughed and said Jenny wrote and told me about that so I
said if she could do it then so can I. She said I stopped at your folks ranch
and they told me where you were. I still wasn't satisfied with her explanation
and said, ‘Yes but to show yourself like you did…” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She caught me in the middle of a sentence and said, “I saw
you buck naked while you were swimming so I thought fair is fair.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By now she was standing right next to me. She then turned
serious and said, “We both loved Jenny but she is only a memory now and you are
my man now and soon we will be married.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She went on saying; “It's time to grow up and realize there
is no one else, just you and me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said something else I had to think about which was; we
have to play the hand we are dealt. I got her message loud and clear and from
that time on there has only been me and her and to be frank… she is all I want.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-34863380578316032262016-10-31T16:23:00.000-07:002016-10-31T16:23:00.614-07:00Randle Chimes Chapter 12 - The Funeral and Jenny's sister Nell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmAUFF9z2G8/WBfR19ZRoAI/AAAAAAAAMds/EUCO2mKgI0wCriADqM23OSdgdcsC69IZQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bcasket%2Bat%2Bgrave.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmAUFF9z2G8/WBfR19ZRoAI/AAAAAAAAMds/EUCO2mKgI0wCriADqM23OSdgdcsC69IZQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bcasket%2Bat%2Bgrave.png" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter twelve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A few months later we received
the news that Jenny had passed in her sleep. This was difficult news to bear
for all of us. They had contacted George and he sent the news on to the family.
He said he would escort the coffin back home for the funeral. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">George arrived two days later
and brought my Ma with him. I was shocked and glad to see her at the same time.
I didn’t know how grandpa would act to seeing her. She appeared well, in fact
better than she had looked for a long while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I put them up at the hotel for
I didn’t dare take them out to the ranch. The funeral director picked up the
coffin and the funeral was the next day. The preacher conducted the service
grave side. The families gathered together and were in their own family groups.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was when the casket was
being lowered into the grave that Grandpa saw my Ma. He was visibly shaken when
he saw her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As the grave was being filled
almost everyone was weeping. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Ma was
crying out loud along with most of the people for Jenny was loved by all. I
couldn’t take it any longer and burst out crying so much my tears blurred my
vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone came up behind me and
placed their arms around me. I turned around and hugged the person tightly as I
continued to weep. After a while I released whoever it was for I couldn’t see
clearly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I saw both my grandparents
hugging my Ma. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandpa was saying under
his breath; “I was wrong,” over and over and saying “Please forgive me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All grandma could say was; “My
baby, my baby.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all went to the
church and had a time of remembrance and dinner on the grounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was surprised at myself
crying like that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I had dealt
with my loss and moved on but I still needed to express my grief that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Now things are different, the
past is just the past and I’m moving on. My life is before me and I feel ready
to think on having some female company. The only problem was there was no one I
was interested in. I would meet new women but I wasn’t attracted to any of
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My mind went back to the
funeral and the person who comforted me. I didn’t know who it was but it was
someone soft and kind. That was the only thing I could remember, she was soft
and - - -.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I embarrassingly asked a couple
of people if they knew who she was. If she was old or young and they said they
didn’t know that any one consoled me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t go over to Jenny’s
folks anymore except for business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
this last occasion Jenny’s dad Luke wasn’t there and her ma was busy cooking so
Nell entertained me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said dinner
will be ready soon and Dad should be back shortly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This was the first time I had
sat down with her and had a conversation. She was a year younger than Jenny and
had wanted to go to a girl’s school instead of being stuck at the ranch. She
talked about her time away from her folks and wondered if she had done the
right thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I listened to her I realized
she was completely different from Jenny even though they were sisters. There
was a reserve calmness about her that was a strong attraction to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nell was a warm woman but without the
boisterousness associated with most of the women I had met. She exuded
confidence without being offensive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I was being mesmerized by
her, Luke came in and broke the spell. I wanted to discuss once again the
delivery of the cattle to the packing house. He and some of the others ranchers
were part of the deal. We had to schedule when each rancher would have their
steers at the rail head. After three hours we had everything sorted out and
Luke said, “Well its supper time so let’s eat.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I’m still full from
dinner,” and he said, “Nonsense. A healthy growing boy like you could eat five
times a day and still be hungry.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I agreed to stay the night and
ate a great meal. It had been some time since I had stayed overnight at Luke’s
place. While Jenny was alive I stayed there often. This time it seemed strange
for some reason. It was as if I was out of place although I knew I was welcome.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I talked with Luke for an hour
after supper about the things relating to the coming winter; the selling of the
saleable stock and getting the hay in to feed the stock through the winter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then all at once he said, “I’m
going to join Ma in the bed,” and he got up and left with these words; “I’ll
leave you young folks to discuss things that pertain to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We just sat there for a minute
looking at one another. Then I said, “What do you think he meant by that?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nell smiled and said, “I guess we should talk
about things that pertain to us although I’m not sure what that means.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I haven’t seen you at
many of the doings going on in town, the dances and such.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “No I had enough of
the social life while I was in school. Every week there was something you
needed to attend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew weary of what
amounted to a lot of falseness.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, ‘You must have a
boyfriend.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “Well there a lot of
want-a- bes but I found them boring.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I was about to invite
you to the dance on Saturday night but I guess that is out.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She smiled and said, “Why don’t
you ask and see what happens.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, ‘No, there is a good
chance I would be a lot more boring than the hot shots you met in school.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “Well if you didn’t
mean it…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Yes I did mean it,
will you go?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She kinda of looked out in
space, waited, and then she smiled and said, “Yes it sounds like fun.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After the dance I will stay at
a friend’s house. I could see she was playing with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I went to bed and as I lay
there waiting to go to sleep I wondered if I was doing the right thing dating
Jenny’s sister. I concluded that after the dance Saturday I might be clued in
as to whether I was on the right track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Nell’s folks were going to the
dance this Saturday which was something they didn’t always do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me wonder if it had something to do
with the fact I had a date with Nell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could that be the reason for them attending? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke kind of set the whole
thing up but that meant she would be coming with them instead of me picking her
up. I thought meeting her there made the date little less meaningful which was
alright. I would be taking her to her friend’s house after the dance and that
would be some time alone with her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday night came and I was
ready for it. My grandparents decided to come for they still like to knock a
step or two every once in a while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But there again I wondered if
it had something to do with Nell being my date for the night. I met her at the
door when she arrived and as soon as we entered the ball room guys rushed over
to us and was asking her for a dance as the evening wore on. She graciously
said that she was with me for the evening and that I had asked for all her
dances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I received some hard looks and
I said it would be alright if she wanted to dance with someone else. She said, “Only
if you want me to, if you want to get rid of me for a while.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That took the breath out of me
and when I could speak I said; “Forget I said anything I was just being
foolish. After all why should I share my pleasure with those yokels?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She laughed at that and said; “No
wonder Jenny loved you so, you are a very sweet boy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The very mention of Jenny’s
name caused the pain of losing her rush to the surface again. It had only been
a few months since we buried her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After the first dance I came
back to myself and put all my focus on Nellie. During the evening a couple of
guys came and asked Nell to dance and her answer was always the same; no thank
you, I’m with Randle. Those words gave me a boost in confidence; she was with
me and didn’t have a roving eye looking for someone else as virtually every
other girl was doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You could see games being
played all over the room. Some trying to attract attention to trying to make
their date jealous or get a fight started over them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I noticed her father watching
every move I was making and my grandpa had his eye on me also. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like a fish swimming in a small pool of
water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Nell said for me to relax and
not to be afraid to hold her a bit closer. She said, “You know I won’t break so
loosen up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That helped a little but it
also put a little more pressure on me for I knew her folks would see me doing
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought if I was here with
Jenny I would be squeezing her to me of course she and I had shared a lot of
time getting to know each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After sweating it most of the
evening I finally said to myself forget this and when the next slow dance began,
I pulled her close to me so I could feel her body touching mine. She was a real
live woman and I could begin to see me spending the rest of my life with her.
That moment was a breakthrough for me and from that point on all my focus was
on Nellie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I could tell she had felt
something also for she relaxed in my arms. After the dance I walked her to her
friend’s house. We walked behind her friend and her date. I had become bold
enough to put my arm around her as we walked and we didn’t talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I felt like speaking some
words to fill the silence I would pull her closer instead. When we arrived at
the friend’s home her date said goodbye and Nell invited me in. Her friend said
I’m worn out from being pushed around the whole evening so I’ll say good night.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said perhaps I should go also,
but Nell said, “Do you want to leave?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I replied, “No, not yet.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “Well stay then.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We just sat next to each other
saying very little. Finally I got the nerve to speak some of what was going
around in my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I know you have dated
a lot of guys who were pretty slick with words and I have only had one girl-friend
so I am a bit clumsy with what some would consider to be courting but I have
developed feeling for you. It isn’t something I’ve worked up it has just
happened. I don’t know where this will lead to but it would be a good time to
tell me you aren’t or couldn’t ever have feelings for me.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I went on and said; “Perhaps I
shouldn’t have said this but there isn’t any sense wasting time on something
that has no chance of amounting to something if you can understand what I mean.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She just sat there and said
nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought to myself, “Boy I
have made a fool out of myself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then she looked directly into
my eyes. I waited for her to speak and she just kept staring. I thought I don’t
know if I could ever get used to her doing this. One thing that was encouraging
she moved closer to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While still
staring at me she leaned over, closed her eyes and kissed me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Naturally I kissed her back…
several times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, ‘Did that answer your
question?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We embraced for some time
until her friend came out and said, Perhaps <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you better leave before this gets serious.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Yes I better go.” I
had to kiss her a couple of times while her friend watched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I left I heard her friend
say; “Wow, you sure know how to get a man going, you need to teach me how to do
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-6712322569251018452016-10-24T14:38:00.002-07:002016-10-24T14:38:46.289-07:00Randle Chimes Chapter 11 - The Packing House Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQQ4uAJ_1LU/WA5_DkWcLsI/AAAAAAAAMdc/wKsueld0rDYRErYftFA2DLD8DxXzOt-6gCLcB/s1600/a%2Bceo%2Bparty%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQQ4uAJ_1LU/WA5_DkWcLsI/AAAAAAAAMdc/wKsueld0rDYRErYftFA2DLD8DxXzOt-6gCLcB/s320/a%2Bceo%2Bparty%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The CEO's Were Too Busy to See Us - - -</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter eleven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa and I went to town to
see a lawyer about signing a contract with a packing house to supply one
thousand head of steers a year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After several hours I had a
good handle on what the deal was all about. The lawyer warned me about how the packing
house negotiators would try to get the lowest price they could and some of the
tricks to accomplish that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought Grandpa probably
already knows all this stuff so I don’t have to worry. Then he hit me with the
shocker; I was going to be the one who handled the deal, and that scared me
half out of my wits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Over all my objections Grandpa
said not to worry for the lawyer was going with me and wouldn’t let me be taken
advantage of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sure made me feel better.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When we arrived in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> I was surprise at
the size of the city. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving at the
office of the packing house we were escorted in and plied with all kinds of
treats and drinks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After an hour of waiting and
chatting with the hired help one of the executives came in and greeted us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said they were running a little late but he
would be with us in about an hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I spoke up and said well we
don’t want to put you out so we will return this afternoon and see if you have
time for us then. If not we will be on our way to another appointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As we started to leave the
board room seemed to be having a party and all the executives were having a gay
old time. I stepped in and told one of the big shots we wouldn’t be back this
afternoon after all. It would be rude of us to interfere with their party time.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They said, “You guys are small
potatoes so don’t come back.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The lawyer said, “I know where
the president’s office is so let’s see if he has time for us?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We arrived at a less
conspicuous looking building and the president’s office was not too fancied
just functional. When we told the secretary who we were and why we were there
she relayed the message to Sam the president. He came out and welcomed us and
wanted to know what he could do for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We explained our situation and
he quietly said, “I think we can take care of this without any trouble.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Back we went to the
headquarters and the party was still going on when we walked in with the
president of the company. All of a sudden the music was stopped and the drinks
put down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The President demanded to know
what this was all about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They all looked at each other
and one of the said it was a birthday party. The President demanded whose
birthday it was but nobody seemed to know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We left and the president
summoned the security force and told them all to empty out the board room and
don’t ever let any of them in the building again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He took us to an empty office
and said, “I’ll be back in a minute for I have some business to tend to.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He came back and said, “Now
let’s get the business taken care of for the reason you are here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He took out a standard contract
and handed to my lawyer who looked it over while me and Sam talked about the
cattle business. My lawyer told us it is just a standard contract, and we just
need to fill in the blanks, sign it and the deal will be done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A few minutes later we were on
our way with Sam’s blessings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He smiled and said; thanks to
you I have a lot of hiring to do in the next few days. Seems I have just fired
a lot of my worthless staff, and it serves me right for not watching what was
going on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m going to move my office to
this building so I can keep abreast of what is happening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we left my lawyer said, “I have never
experienced anything like that and I have been in on hundreds of deals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As we left we saw security
escorting the board members out of the building while they were protesting
their ejection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My lawyer said; “They will have
a hard time getting a new job in this city or anywhere else. There is no
telling how much damage they have done to Sam’s company.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “Our train doesn’t
leave until tomorrow so how about us seeing some entertainment while we are
here?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Why not, lead the way.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said you always enjoy the
shows better after a few drinks. So he ordered his favorite and I had a small
brandy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I don’t drink, the brandy
burned all the way down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ordered
another drink for himself but I said I think I will enjoy the show at the one
drink level. The brandy was still burning as the show started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I must say I had never seen
anything like the show. There were men jumping around doing what my lawyer said
were doing the splits and the women were scantily dress dancing all over the
small stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After the show which I enjoyed
except for a few thing were offensive to me I said, “It’s my bedtime so I’m
heading back to the hotel.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The lawyer said he was just
getting started. He hailed me a cab and gave the driver instructions where to
go, and we separated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next morning I went to the
train station alone. He didn’t show up in time to make the train. I figured he
must have had a lot more fun and drinks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Later I found out he ended up
in jail and it was a week before he made it home. It didn’t matter, for I had
our contracts in hand and we were fixed for the next few years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa read the contract over
and said we did real well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked, “Did
you have any trouble. I said, “No everything went smoothly.” He said, “Good, I
must admit I was a little concerned for these men can be hard to deal with at
times.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He asked if the lawyer was
helpful and I said, “Yes I was glad he was there with me.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t mention we went clubbing as he called
it and the fact he never came back with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Some things are better left unsaid!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">TO BE CONTINUED !!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-27163023161025773832016-10-17T14:29:00.002-07:002016-10-17T14:29:21.675-07:00Randle Chimes chapter 10 - Choosing a Ranch Forman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1GnyV_TVcCU/WAVChVXG86I/AAAAAAAAMcY/wLw33CSee58xP68M-KXkZSWTpyahnoSsACLcB/s1600/a%2Bforman%2Bfor%2Branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1GnyV_TVcCU/WAVChVXG86I/AAAAAAAAMcY/wLw33CSee58xP68M-KXkZSWTpyahnoSsACLcB/s320/a%2Bforman%2Bfor%2Branch.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pecos Was my First Choice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter ten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I hadn’t really paid much attention to what the judge had
said about buying the ranch for thirty thousand dollars, but when Grandpa said
he would take it but he wanted to put my name on the deed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For some reason the idea of my name on some property seemed
rather far-fetched. This was partly because I didn’t actually have much money
of my own. I could charge anything I wanted in town but there wasn’t much I
needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Each month grandpa gave me some money for my working on the
ranch but I always put it in a can under the floor. I never counted it so I
wasn’t aware of how much I had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa told me to get my ranch in order which meant hiring
some hands and more importantly a foreman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first choice for foreman was <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>. He knew more about ranching than I’ll ever know.
He agreed on the condition that he get the ranch house to live in. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a girlfriend that he wanted to marry
but so far he couldn’t provide for her. I said sure move right in but get
started hiring enough hands to make the ranch run efficiently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a lot to be put in order and I wanted it to be
done as soon as possible. I took my tin can to town along with <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> and opened an account for the ranch. I put a thousand
dollars for running expenses that <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> could
draw from. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encouraged him to pay with
cash instead of charging everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">With things put in place I found the man that was keeping
track of what was going on with Jenny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had only a little understanding because Jenny’s mother was distraught
and the doctors were not giving much information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Once I called upon George to find out what was happening.
After two long days he contacted me and said he was sorry but the news was very
bad. They had saved Jenny’s life but there was extensive brain damage. He went
on saying she doesn’t remember anyone or for that matter nothing about her
past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They have moved her to a sanitarium where she is getting
excellent care and seems to be happy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
mother is almost ill herself and the doctors insist she return home because the
Jenny she raised no longer exists. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George said I and your mother are going to
accompany her so she won’t be alone on the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They arrived and I could see
Jenny’s mother was in bad shape. I insisted she go to see the doctor before she
went home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny’s younger sister Nellie
had come home from boarding school where she had spent the last few years. I
didn’t really know her but upon our first meeting I could see that she and
Jenny were worlds apart in personalities. It made me wonder if they were really
sisters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that she wasn’t a good
person; she was just different from Jenny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When her mother had recovered
from what she had gone through I visited her and told her I wanted to visit
Jenny in the sanitarium but she immediately objected and said, “Absolutely not.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She then described the scene
she encountered each day and Jenny’s condition with no hope of recovery. She
said the best thing for you to do is remember her as she was and think of all
the happy hours you had together and not see her as she is which will destroy
the image you have of her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After much agonizing thought I
had to agree with her. There was no more Jenny and I had to accept it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-85589273750853140942016-10-10T16:31:00.000-07:002016-10-10T16:31:01.194-07:00RANDLE CHIMES - CHAPTER 9 - Cattle Thieves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3yvdFMYM_-4/V_wkhn6bOKI/AAAAAAAAMcI/WfWvFBX70hM14GEUhETmddTyB87rX2NFwCLcB/s1600/a%2Bsheriff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3yvdFMYM_-4/V_wkhn6bOKI/AAAAAAAAMcI/WfWvFBX70hM14GEUhETmddTyB87rX2NFwCLcB/s320/a%2Bsheriff.png" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glad the Sheriff was on our Side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter nine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As we approached the Barons ranch we were feeling a little
nervous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff said, “Everyone check your weapons.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then asked, “Who was the best shot with a
rifle,” and after he selected five of the ranch hands, he instructed them on
what to watch for and when to shoot if necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
spotted a lookout and said, “Give me a couple of minutes and then you can ride
on in.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After five minutes <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>
returned and said, He won’t be a problem.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode in rather fast and took the hands by
surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff said, “Reach for your guns and you won’t live to
regret it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now line up next to the fence
and drop your guns into the watering trough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He yelled out, “You up in the barn drop your rifle and come
on down here or you will feel what it feels like to be peppered with a half
dozen rifle shots.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The guy threw his rifle out of the barn hay loft and joined
the rest of the Barons hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff then said in a loud voice; “Baron come on out or
I will burn you out.” In just a quick moment a large rough looking man came out
of the house a cursing everything and everybody. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff asked one of the cowboys for a pigging string
and then he tied the Baron’s hands and feet. With everything under control he
waved for the riflemen to ride in. we then tied up all of Barons workmen. The
sheriff slapped one of Baron’s men very hard and asked, ‘How many are out
riding herd?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The man looked at the sheriff not saying anything till the
sheriff drew back his fist and the man said, ‘There are six riding herd.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff looked at me and said, “Take what men you need
and round up those six and I’ll be along in a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We rode in on the men who were supposed to be riding herd
and found most of them asleep. Some of my hands laughed at them but in their
defense they said they had been up all night and day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked why they didn’t get any sleep and one answered we
were changing brands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Three of the six were men I went to school with and I called
them aside after disarming them and they told me everything about them stealing
from all the ranchers in the area. I knew the parents of these three and I
hated to see them hung with the rest. I told them to get out of the country and
never come back. I said if I ever saw any one of them again I would personally
shoot them on sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They lit out and I have never seen them again although I
heard one of them got shot while messing with a farmer’s wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">About that time the sheriff showed up and asked where the
rest were. I told him the story and he said he knew those boys and would have
hated to hang them also. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We hung the Baron, his foreman and a couple of hard cases.
The rest we took to town and they were sent to the penitentiary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That was quite an adventure but in the midst of what was
happening my mind would bring up the image of my beloved Jenny and the hurt it
would bring me was awful to bear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The hand that was waiting for some word about Jenny was at
the ranch and reported that she had arrived okay and was being treated at the
clinic. The hand was sent back to wait for further word which didn’t come till
a week later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa kept me busy and ever so often would remind me that
one of these days this ranch would be mine so I had better learn everything I
could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I took over several phases of running the ranch and I had a
double problem. First I had to learn what had to be done and how to do it. The
hands wouldn’t help me much save for <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>. He
was my right hand man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then the second problem was due to the fact that I was
younger and less experienced that most of the hands working for my grandpa.
They wouldn’t cross him for they knew it would be more trouble than they wanted
to handle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">But they would give me some resistance on every order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> had
watched this go on for some time without saying anything but he finally spoke
up one day when all the hands were having chow. In a voice loud enough where
everyone could hear he said; “There are several of these boys who don’t want to
work here any longer and to be fair you need to ask them which ones have a
problem following your orders. Go right to the house and get the money for the
payroll so you can pay them off. I will find out which ones wish to be let go
while you are gone.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I did as <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> said and
grandpa asked what I was going to do with the pat roll money and I said watch
and see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> was
still asking them who wasn’t ready to follow my orders without grumbling about
it. No one volunteered to be let go for jobs were hard to find. He then went
down the line and asked each one if they thought I was fair and they should
obey my orders and they all to a man agreed they should do what I ask. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I believe they may have been influenced by the fact grandpa
was on the porch watching and listening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After it was settled, Grandpa came down from the porch and
said, “Now you all have said you will act like men and do your job. If you have
a real complaint come to me and I will hear you out but as far as I know Randle
hasn’t asked any of you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He went on and said, ‘Ranching is a tough dirty job and you
men are some of the best and I don’t want to lose any of you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough said; do your job and you will be
treated fairly by Randle.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">From that point on I had no more troubles in fact the men
began to favor me more than grandpa. It wasn’t because I let them get by with
issues but because I gave them respect and was there when they had problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff sent word he wanted grandpa and me to come to
town. When we got there he said, ‘The Baron’s property is going up for sale but
if you want it the judge said you can have for about thirty thousand dollars
cattle and all. Naturally you would have to cut the herd and return the cattle
stolen from the other ranchers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said that is already being done. I contacted
everyone whose branded steers had been altered and told them to come and pick
them up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">TO BE CONTINUED</span></div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-87974520108099268262016-10-03T22:07:00.004-07:002016-10-03T22:07:41.269-07:00Randle Chimes Chapter 8 - Jenny is Very Sick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf8CQN1pIuo/V_M44MVrBXI/AAAAAAAAMb4/3KGLqLBCBcAp_xXK_uN2TjPvNmnxNc-zQCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgirl%2Bsick%2Bin%2Bbed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf8CQN1pIuo/V_M44MVrBXI/AAAAAAAAMb4/3KGLqLBCBcAp_xXK_uN2TjPvNmnxNc-zQCLcB/s320/a%2Bgirl%2Bsick%2Bin%2Bbed.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny is Very Sick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> E</span>ight <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When I arrived I was met by Jenny’s parents as well as my
grandparents which was unusual. Normally grandpa would send one of the hands
(usually <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>) with an extra horse for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We all stood around saying our hello’s when grandpa spoke up
and said I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My response was is Jenny alright? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He spoke with words that were faltering and it was hard to
get his meaning but it was clear enough to tell me something was bad wrong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Impatiently I said, “For goodness sake get it out grandpa.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny’s mother said, “Randle I’m sorry to tell you Jenny has
been stricken with a brain disease. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
didn’t want to alert you until we had some handle as to what was wrong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needs to go to a clinic in the big city
but the doctor said she isn’t able to make the trip with the transportation
available.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Naturally I wanted to go and see Jenny but her mother said, “No
visitors until we are sure it isn’t catchable by others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a room at the doctors house and is in
what he called quarantine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I need to talk to the doctor and get this straight
from him.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The doctor pretty well confirmed what the folks had told me.
He emphasized the need for treatment in the clinic but it wasn’t possible under
the present circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him I couldn’t stand by and wait for her to die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “If you could do something it had better be soon.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I contacted George and told him the facts of the situation
and he said, “Let me handle this for you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A half hour later he wired me saying there was a medical car
not an hour away and he has already ordered it to be sent to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I expressed my gratefulness and asked how he did that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “We Pinkerton’s have a lot of clout so get her on
her way.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The medical car was one used to transport wounded soldiers
and was well equipped. It was stationed near one of the forts so it didn’t take
long to get here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The doctor quickly checked the car over and said everything
I need is there and I will get her loaded immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Still no one was able to see Jenny for she was covered in a
tent kind of a bed. The engine was already up to steam and had one passenger
car hooked to it as well as the medical car. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The doctor said he didn’t want anyone except Jenny’s mother
to come along. He said we couldn’t help her and he didn’t have time to pacify
us every few minutes and beside her mother was the one she needed at this time.
Her mother’s voice would help keep her calm while I would cause her to react
emotionally in a negative way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It took me a while before I got a handle on that. The train
pulled out and I could tell the engineer wasn’t going to waste any time getting
her to the care she needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said, “There is nothing to do now but wait so let’s
go to the ranch and I will have one of the hands wait in town for any news.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The ride to the ranch wasn’t what I had expected and hoped
for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was out of sorts when we got
there so I went to the corral and greeted my horse. He was glad to see me and
acted up a bit. He hadn’t been ridden since I had left so he was a little
frisky. I saddled him and rode out the where Jenny and I often went to. I
couldn’t stay there for long. The memories just tore me apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The only news we got was that Jenny was resting without any
change in her condition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa decided to get me out of the mood I was in so he
told me he wanted to show me part of the ranch I had never seen. I found that
hard to believe for I had ridden over all of it so I thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We left early for he said it was a three hour ride to where
we were going. After a couple hours we came to a canyon that was narrow and
hidden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said, “Let’s go and see what we can find in here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I could see the canyon walls were going to get steep rather
quickly. As we rode in we began to see some our cattle that someone had tried
to use a running iron on them to change the circle D brand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said, “Keep alert for something isn’t right here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought that was evident. We found about fifty head of
cattle when grandpa said, “Lets move the critters out of here for the weather
is changing rather fast.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We were about half way back to where we entered the canyon
when we began to hear a slight rumbling noise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said, “Whip them up for we have to get out of here
fast.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The noise was getting louder by the minute when the first
trickle of water caught up with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “Leave the cattle and ride as fast as you can.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I spurred my horse and he went at a fast gallop just the
water was beginning to cover the floor of the canyon. I was glad to see the
entrance of the canyon where the land widens out. We rode up on a ridge with
the cattle following us at a fast clip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All the sudden there was a torrent of water flooding out of
the canyon which was almost frightening because of the roaring sound it made.
As we watched there were a couple of steers floating by that didn’t make it
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there was a fully saddled horse came floating by. And
then a couple of more followed by three bodies of cowhands. It was obvious what
had happened but grandpa felt the need to explain the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“These men had ran a number of cattle up the canyon and were
changing the brands. They would have kept them there until the brands had
healed and then they would have marketed them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said. “C’mon let’s find one of the dead horses and
check his brand for I want to know who is rustling our cattle.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought “Our cattle” sounded good to me for that was the
first time he solidly included me as part owner of the ranch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had eluded this prior but this event
affirmed that I now was a ranch owner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When we found one of the horses we saw the brand was from
one of the smaller ranches that seemed to be growing by a faster rate than appeared
possible. We also found one of the steers and cut the altered brand from the
carcass. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandpa said, “Let’s head home
and tomorrow we will see the sheriff.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When we got to the ranch grandpa sent a message for the
sheriff to come to the ranch for he wanted him to verify what we had found. In
the morning the sheriff showed up early. He must have left town at daybreak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said for him to sit down and have some breakfast
because it would be some time before we returned. The sheriff had a hearty
appetite and he ate well. After he was finished he said, ‘That will hold me for
the rest of the day.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff, grandpa, me, and <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>,
with about fifteen hands went to the canyon area and surveyed the situation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He checked the brand change and cursed whoever
did this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We went further and found the three cowboys that drowned and
the sheriff said, “I know the men. They are mean and trouble follows them
around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is good riddance as far as
I’m concerned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They work for the Baron
and I have suspected him of rustling but haven’t been able to prove it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you and some of your hands will side me I
will go over and brace this guy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said for three of the hands to round up the canyon
cattle and herd them back to the ranch where their new brands can heal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way to the Barons ranch grandpa told
the sheriff, “I need you to give me an affidavit saying that these cattle are
in fact mine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The sheriff <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told
Grandpa, as soon as he returned he would take care of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-51950944612921366422016-09-26T15:56:00.002-07:002016-09-26T15:57:36.937-07:00Randle Chimes chapter 7 Getting to Know You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuUH1SAJV_s/V-mnPx993lI/AAAAAAAAMa8/b8zXLF9vkg8uGeYFPOK1-K8V5sgiUZc_QCLcB/s1600/a%2Bgetting%2Bto%2Bknow%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuUH1SAJV_s/V-mnPx993lI/AAAAAAAAMa8/b8zXLF9vkg8uGeYFPOK1-K8V5sgiUZc_QCLcB/s400/a%2Bgetting%2Bto%2Bknow%2Byou.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We spent a lot of time just talking and getting to know one another</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter seven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny and I were spending each afternoon together and
learning more about each other every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You think you know someone but just dating doesn’t reveal
the little differences that only become evident after marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the end of two weeks we had explored most of the avenues
of personality traits. I found there was nothing in her that I couldn’t put up
with and that was after scrutinizing her severely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said she wanted my Ma to go with her to pick out a
wedding dress. They left early in the morning and took the train to the big
city and didn’t get home till late. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They said they looked at every dress in town. They were
gushing over the dress they found and she said she couldn’t wait till I saw her
in it. George and I just looked at one another and he said; “That must be a
woman thing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I guess George and I will have to go shopping for
my wedding suit.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The women just laughed and said, ‘You can wear just any old
thing for no one is going to be looking at you any way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">George said, “Supper is on the stove, Randle and I have
already eaten.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny said, “I’m so excited I couldn’t eat a bite,” and ma
echoed that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">George sounded a little disappointed for he had cooked most
of the meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The women sensed that he was hurt and said; “We had better
eat so as to keep our strength up,” and they filled their plates up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone who cooks gets a good feeling when people enjoy
their food and complement them on their culinary skills and George was no
exception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day Jenny was to return home and get on with our
wedding plans. So far we hadn’t set the date other than knowing it wouldn’t be
long from now. I would be following her in two more weeks when I finished my
schooling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This last year has proven to be very profitable for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have studied diseases and how they can
affect people. I also spent time with a vet and watched him treat the animals
in his practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He gave me a list of periodicals that would help me keep up
with the latest treatments for animals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
I was going to be in the cattle business I felt this knowledge would be a plus
for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny and I said goodnight to my Ma and George. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after they went to bed it was apparent
that they were engaged in a marriage ritual most married enjoy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had gone to Jenny’s room for I wouldn’t see her for two
weeks which seemed to be an eternity at this stage of our relationship. She
removed her clothes and put on her night wear right in front of me. She crawled
into bed and said, “Why don’t you join me.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stripped down to my underwear and did as she
had asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Holding her with the action going from my ma’s room was not
an easy task to refrain from going further. We dropped off to sleep and it was
morning when I woke up. I jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A short time later I was having breakfast and George spoke
up and asked; “Did you sleep well last night?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Ma was giggling and had to put her hand over her mouth to
keep from busting out laughing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I turned completely red and realized Ma had seen me in bed
with Jenny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt my appetite leave and a dense feeling in my stomach. I
knew it would be useless to try to deny that anything happened, that we only
snuggled together so I didn’t bother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When Jenny came to breakfast Ma said, “Did you have a nice
night?” To which Jenny replied; “Not near as nice as from what I heard in the
next room.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then it was Ma’s turn to turn red. She smiled and said; “Now
you hush child.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I took Jenny to the station and she said something that made
me feel good. “It was nice having you in bed with me all night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">That threw me off guard for a moment and all I could think to
say was; “I enjoyed it too and soon it will be every night.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She smiled and said; “Yes every night.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As the train pulled out I felt a sadness I hadn’t felt
before, part of me had left and I wouldn’t be relieved until we are together
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Little did I know this would be the last time I would see
her alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next two weeks were intense and the finals were going to
reflect what I had learned doing my school years. I was pleasantly surprised
that I was near the top of my classes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Immediately I thought I’m smarter than I thought or my
classmates aren’t as smart as I thought they were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I decided to accept the former was true because it made me
happier. I was to leave tomorrow and it was going to be harder than I thought.
Leaving my ma and the man who was truly my father wasn’t easy. We went out to
dinner to celebrate my emancipation from the hickory stick as the song goes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The train had an early departure time the next day so I went
to the station by myself. I had said my goodbye’s the night before so I didn’t wake
the house up. I had something weighing on my mind and would deal with it at the
proper time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The trip home to the ranch was pretty much uneventful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there was a couple sailors bothering some
young ladies until the conductor told them he would stop the train and put them
off out on the prairie. That took care of that matter. I noticed that the young
women would slip a peek at the sailors ever so often which led me to believe
they weren’t as offended as they made out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In what they call the club car there were a trio of men
playing cards and they got into a fracas which led to a few punches thrown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there was a drunk who threw up not too far from where I
was sitting. Even after it was cleaned up you could still smell it. The meals
that were served in the dining car were a bit sparse for me. I felt like
ordering another meal after I finished the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the best place for a cowboy to eat.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">There was another little spat going on, apparently one woman
insulted the other by saying something uncomplimentary about her hat. After a
few more words and both being in a huff they turned away and didn’t speak to
each other again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After an all day and night the train was pulling into the
station and I was glad to be almost home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">To Be Continued</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-72416583134755249682016-09-19T16:32:00.004-07:002016-09-19T16:32:46.024-07:00Randle Chimes chapter 6 - We decide to get Married.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3GUqKpWCyA/V-B1WL1KW7I/AAAAAAAAMZ4/SovGWQ5cynk-ayTwbPdncxqHivUhMVnZwCLcB/s1600/a%2Blake%2Bsecluded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3GUqKpWCyA/V-B1WL1KW7I/AAAAAAAAMZ4/SovGWQ5cynk-ayTwbPdncxqHivUhMVnZwCLcB/s400/a%2Blake%2Bsecluded.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Swimming Place was Secluded and Private We Thought !!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter six<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was a week later when Luke and Jenny came over to
grandpa’s place and I was in the office going over some bills when Luke came in
and said he read the Pinkerton report and admitted the man who was courting
Jenny had him completely fooled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said I owe you a debt I can never pay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him he was embarrassing me for I had seen many guys
as slick as him. George had shared many stories with me and he had taken me
with him where some fancy man was trying to bilk some woman out of their money.
I spotted him right off and it was easy to send him on his way. The word
Pinkerton scared him and he was done from that point on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke said he was indebted to me in any case and Jenny wanted
to apologize to me also. I told him that no apology was necessary and that she
needed some time to get over the shock of what she has gone through. I excused
myself and left Luke with grandpa to finish their business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I slipped out the back way and took my horse for a ride to
the swimming hole where the water fall was and decided to go for a swim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My thoughts were bothering me for I hadn’t had time to
analyze my feeling about everything that had gone on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The one thing I have not told anyone was I had a Pinkerton
man check on what was going on with Jenny and when I got there I already knew
what was going on and the man was a fraud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It may have seemed like I was being presumptuous in the way
I plunged right in and unveiled the man but such was not the case. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To tell Jenny I had been checking up on her
may have alienated her and that was not my intent or so I have tried to
convince myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In any case I was going swimming and off with my clothes and
into the water. Getting under the waterfall was exhilarating and I was
forgetting all my worries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I heard another horse whinny and my horse answering back
which told me some else knew about this swimming hole. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ducked behind the waterfall and waited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was then I saw Jenny on the bank. She cried out, ‘You
might as well come out for I can see you behind the falls.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I swam out toward where she was. She started removing her
clothes and said; “Don’t turn your head for I want you to see me again. You can
tell me if I have changed since I was ten years old.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I did the math in my head, she was ten and now was fifteen,
I concluded she must have changed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
this stupid thought raced through my mind she was disrobing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I had to laugh and said; “What about your ma’s new rules”?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She answered, “I can’t remember them all the sudden.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you want me to remind you of what they are?” I said, and
she said, “No not now maybe later.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As she stepped into the water I thought she is perfect.
Where there were two beginnings of breasts now she was completely filled
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She swam over to me and kissed me with a passion I had not
experienced before. She said, “Can you wait till I’m eighteen to marry me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was stunned and said, “I don’t think so, maybe seventeen
or sixteen and a half or less.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Feeling her naked body next to me was almost more than I
could bear. I craved her desperately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She ducked my head under the water and said, “I think you
need to cool off a bit,” to which I agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “I’m going to get out and dry off and put my
clothes on and I suggest you do the same.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She got out but I had to stay in the water for a while until
I returned back to normal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After we dressed we lay on the grass for what seemed to be
hours. We were just holding hands and occasionally kissing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was late evening when we returned to her home and Luke
had returned also. He said, “Where did you two get together?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him we met on the way here and I decided to see her
home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said that was a good idea while grinning all the time. I
said, “Luke is Jenny’s Ma available?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “Yes let’s go into the kitchen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After exchanging greetings I said, “Jenny and I wish to get
married next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have talked it
over and think that will be the best thing for us to do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke seemed to know about what had just happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “I don’t believe in living in the past for the
future and right now is the only thing that counts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Her mother came over and took my face in her hands and said;
“You dear boy you will be like a son to me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke said, “Well if ya’ll have made up your minds then next
year it is. We’ll leave you in the parlor after we eat.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he said, “You can stay here tonight instead
of going home in the dark, cause you need to see Jenny in the morning before
she fixes herself up!” Then he laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next three and a half months were almost torturous and
filled with pleasure at the same time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
stayed over at my grandpa’s or I was at her house so we were together most of
the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time it was to return to my home with Ma and George,
I was worn out. Being with her at arm’s length and learning the inner workings
of the ranch and added to it trying to figure out ways to make it more
profitable was taking its toll. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The months rolled by slowly as I was finishing my schooling
and Jenny was in finishing school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone knew the story (or some version of it) about the
man she had been engaged to and they had many questions about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finally wrote a juicy version of what
happen and posted it on the bulletin board for all to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This was exciting stuff for all who read it especially when
they added their imagination into the mix. She pictured me as her hero and all
the girls fell in love with the story book me. They all wanted to be swept off
their feet by this magnificent hunk of a man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt so very inferior to the story book image of me but
then who wouldn’t. They all wanted me to be their first lover who has taken
them over against their weakly protest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny finished her schooling a month before I did and I
insisted she come and stay with me at my ma’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon her arrival George said I feel I know
all about you for Randy has continuously talked about you day and night since
he came home and told us of your wedding plans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother (Martha) just hugged her while starting to cry. It
took Jenny a moment to adjust to this welcome given to her but then she began
to hug her back. Then they were both crying and talking through their tears
while George looked on wondering about the way they greeted each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said to himself, “It must be a woman thing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A couple of hours later I arrived home and the hug-fest
started all over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so glad to see
her it was difficult to talk so I just stared at her in an adoring way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“I have my afternoons free so we can see the sights, what
few there are worth seeing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “I would like to meet some of your friends. I can
tell a lot about a person by meeting the people they associate with.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Fine you can come to my classes tomorrow and meet
them all but I warn you that the boys will want you and the girls will be
jealous and a few will be catty.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She laughed at that and said, “I have been going to a school
for girls and they all were catty so I won’t have any trouble with them for we
will have an understanding right off.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The next day was filled with introductions and some serious
studies. Jenny stayed in the library/study hall during the actual teaching for
she had enough of being taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of the girls wanted to know how she managed to land
Randle and she knowing how girls think said; “I just showed what he was going
to get.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She thought that should get some of them to show their
colors and waited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One of them said; “Well I showed him what he could have and
he didn’t take it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After that several more spoke up and confessed to the wiles
they used on him. Then one said; “He didn’t turn me down, in fact he and I are
regular lovers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This quieted down the conversation and Jenny smiled and
said; “For some reason I have to doubt what you say but if it is true then let
me thank you for your generous gift to him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should be experienced in the art of love
making which can do nothing else but please me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The girls just stared at Jenny for she had handled that in a
way no one would have expected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Later when Jenny was alone the girl who claimed to be
Randy’s lover came to her and said, “Everything I said was a lie I made it all
up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny said, “I know but I’m glad you got it off your
conscience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They had a long talk after that with Jenny telling about her
experiences at the all-girls school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
she was finished she had a crowd of girls standing listening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I came on that scene and said; “I hate to break up this
gossip session but we have things to do and places to go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The girls responded to that with a lot of innuendos and one
said; “Is the bedroom on the list of places to go?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny interrupted and said; “Not right but later, you can
depend on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said; “I have to get away from all you loose women before
you defile me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He and Jenny waved goodbye to them and were off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “Well, how did you get along with these wild women?”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “Fine but strange as it seems there was one or two
that were jealous of me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Is that all? I thought there would be at least a
half dozen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She answered, ‘No and neither was very convincing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said; “Wow that is a real put down. I’m surprise that you
want me after that experience.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">She said, “I guess I’m a little less demanding and try a
little harder to see a bit of worth in a man.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All I could say was; “Wow and wow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-43764431085184866842016-09-12T22:41:00.003-07:002016-09-12T22:41:47.418-07:00The Old Man and His Bible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This short story is added here - - My continued story will resume soon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw4tkPgNG-g/V9eRV-wWuVI/AAAAAAAAMZE/0T2DSUGvWrs55Jh7r8LF-xiJm9EI6HVSgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bman%2Bold%2Breading%2Bbible.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw4tkPgNG-g/V9eRV-wWuVI/AAAAAAAAMZE/0T2DSUGvWrs55Jh7r8LF-xiJm9EI6HVSgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bman%2Bold%2Breading%2Bbible.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was time for the old man
to do his daily Bible reading and his attention was drawn the following
scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-size: 14pt;">"Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to
the one who knocks, the door will be opened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>old man stared at those words for a long
time. He just couldn't get his mind to believe what he was reading. No matter
how many times he read it, he couldn't make it read differently from the first
time. Surely someone had made a mistake for this was too good to be true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There it was, Ask and get, Seek
and find, Knock and walk right in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He took a sheet of paper, sat
down and began to write. He listed everything he could think of that fit one of
the three categories. He wrote and wrote for he had a hunger for hundreds of
things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some of it was for himself,
and some for others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He would solve the world’s
problems with just a few words. This is too good to be true. Why didn't I know
about this before he thought? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then it struck him, something
has to be wrong. He decided to test it and see if it really worked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What shall I try first? To ask? Seek or knock.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since asking was the easiest
he decided on that for the test.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since he was old he didn't
need a wife but he could use a house keeper. Yes, house keeper it is! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He struggled with how to get
in an asking position. He felt anything that important should require him to be
positionally correct. He finally settled upon a kneeling position and asked for
a house keeper and waited. After a few minutes he got up and sat in his
recliner thinking it won't hurt to be comfortable while I wait. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some hours later he awoke
with a start. He then realized it was dark and he had slept for hours and still
no house keeper. Toward the end of the next week he had all but forgot about
getting a house keeper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The only thing that remained
was the words written in the Bible, Ask, Seek, Knock and - - -. He studied the
scripture for a long time and concluded that he didn't understand them or there
was more to it than what immediately met the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In seeking out other
scriptures he came across <span style="color: maroon;">John 15:5,7</span></span><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: maroon; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: maroon; font-size: 14pt;">"I am the vine;
you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing</span><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: maroon; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">. </span><span style="color: maroon; font-size: 14pt;">If you remain in me and my words remain
in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Well that puts a little
different light on the subject he thought. And in verse eight; <span style="color: maroon;">"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much
fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."</span> The words that stood
out for the old man was; "In me." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This took him to another
subject; What is the meaning "in him?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">His study on this subject took
him to many scriptures like "If any man be in Christ he is a new
creation" and "For in him we live, and move and have our being."
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Once again he was exhausted
from all his study and needed to let it rest there but in summation he
concluded, one must be in union with Christ much like a vine and the branches.
Then everything you do should glorify the Father and that includes what you ask
for. What I ask for must have as it's purpose the glorification of the Father
and that alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If there is also a benefit
which I get to enjoy along with it, then so much the better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He went out and started to
till his garden and think on other things for he could only take so much of
that which he plans to apply to himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvIXHG9HEFU%20"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvIXHG9HEFU</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09716406505904270038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310182803549101760.post-33524237014009952102016-09-12T18:50:00.001-07:002016-09-12T18:50:33.137-07:00Randal Chimes Chapter 5 - Chapter five "The Cheating Bookkeeper"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGaft0XseMc/V9dbSyRvIAI/AAAAAAAAMY0/egO-VDyyw5ktY6QBkkrPyHQwMe0bsOojgCLcB/s1600/a%2Bbookkeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGaft0XseMc/V9dbSyRvIAI/AAAAAAAAMY0/egO-VDyyw5ktY6QBkkrPyHQwMe0bsOojgCLcB/s400/a%2Bbookkeeper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some for You and Some for ME</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter five "The Cheating Bookkeeper"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa said it was time for me to stop fooling around and
get down to business and I agreed with him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the next four months he taught me about everything that
pertained to the business. I requested the book keeper to give me the books so
I could go over them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He had a fit and accused Grandpa of not trusting him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa asked me why I wanted to see the books and I told
him it had to be part of the learning process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It only took me a short time to see the book keeper was
stealing from the ranch account. He was taking almost as much as the ranch was
keeping. I told grandpa about it and he went wild. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to convince him to settle down so we could get some of
the money back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grandpa knew Jenny’s pa was using the same bookkeeper and he
figured he was cheating him as he was doing to grandpa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He took me to Jenny’s Pa Luke’s ranch and we met with him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He welcomed us and we went back to his office.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The book keeper was there and so were the books. Luke asked
for the books and for him to be able to explain anything we didn’t understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After a session of four hours I had everything I needed to
know. Luke looked for the book keeper and he wasn’t’ to be found. A search for
him was started immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the hands said he left in a hurry about an hour ago
with his buggy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke said, “<st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> you know
the short cut to town don’t you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He said, “Yes I sure do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“Then bring that man back and let’s see what he has to say
about what Randy has found.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Three hours later <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place>
came back with the man in tow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time I had explained to Luke how much the man had
pilfered from him. The man denied taking the money and said I didn’t understand
book keeping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> wasn’t
in the mood for lying so he said, “Let’s cut this short and get to the truth.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke said, “Okay go ahead and see if he wants to lie to you.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
grabbed the book keeper by the back of the neck and walked him out to the
watering trough. Without saying anything he shoved him under the water and held
him there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short time he pulled
him out of the water and while the man was trying to clear the water from his
lungs <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> said. “The time under will get
longer each time until I finally forget to pull you up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The man said, “I’m ready to talk now.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> said, “No
you are ready to lie now, and I want the truth,” and down he went again. True
to his word <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> kept him under a bit longer
this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The man almost drowned this time and it took him several
minutes before he could speak. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
exhausted but managed to say, “I have the money in a safety deposit box at the
bank.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> said, “Let’s
all go get it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke and grandpa said okay but if he was lying there were
watering troughs in town to finish him off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As they were leaving, I bumped into Jenny, and she turned up
her nose at me and I handed her the report from Pinkerton about her boy friend,
which showed that he was a fraud bilking young women out of all he could get. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I left with the ranchers to make sure the bookkeeper <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>returned all he had stolen from them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out he was short a thousand, he
said he partied on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Pecos</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> said, “I
think he is lying and I can find where he has it stashed away.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke said if you think you can, then go ahead and find it.
As <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> was dragging him to the watering
trough the man cried out okay I will tell you where the rest is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As it turned out he had hid it in a small cave he had found
and when he reached in to get it he was bit by a viper and lost his arm as well
as suffering great pain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he was
well enough he was incarcerated for five years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Both Luke and Grandpa were singing my praises but I told
them it was <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> who deserved the credit and
should get a reward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">They agreed and gave him a big reward for what he had done. <st1:place w:st="on">Pecos</st1:place> said he didn’t know what to do with so much money
for he had always lived from month to month ranching. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I told him to put it in the bank and pretend it didn’t exist
until he wanted something special and then go buy it. He said that was what he
would do that except he wanted a new pair of boots and a new hat right now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I said, “Then buy what you want and put the rest away for
later.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">He wanted me to go with him to the bank and get everything
set up proper, after he got his boots and hat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
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<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</div>
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