Capital Bride

by Cynthia Woolf

  Sarah wore her green striped shirt and her hair in a long plait that reached to the middle of her back. John had also gotten her and MaryAnn boots. Katy already had a pair. She was tempted to wear them with her skirts too. They were much sturdier than her regular shoes and very comfortable.

  She wasn’t so sure it was a good idea, but the girls had been adamant that they come to her lesson, too. Well, MaryAnn had been adamant; Katy just grabbed her hand and pulled her down here.

  “So, are you my student today?” John said, his voice full of amusement.

  “If you laugh, I’m leaving right now.” Her chin shot up and her back stiffened.

  “I’m not laughing, love. I promise,” he said around a smile.

  He went over to a large gray horse. “This is Bertha. Don’t laugh. Katy named her when she, Katy not the horse, was three. All of us including Bertha thought it was hysterical.”

  “You expect us to get on one of these monsters and stay on top while it moves. And I don’t understand why a little girl naming a gray horse after the gray haired cook would be funny. I’m sure I’ll appreciate it more when I have all of this behind me.”

  He came over, took her by the hand and walked with her to the horse.

  “Sarah meet Bertha. Take your hand and let her sniff it.”

  She did as he asked. Bertha smelled her then butted her hand with her head.

  “She likes you. Scratch her behind the ears. That’s right. See, she’s just a big ol’ softy.”

  “She’s nice.”

  “And she’s gentle. Come on let me help you up. Come around her head to the left side. I’m not sure what the original reason was for the left as opposed to the right. I think it had something to do with the sword being carried on the left side of the body. You couldn’t mount a horse from the right side while wearing a sword. In any case the horse is broken to the left side mount.”

  She walked back to the left side where he stood.

  “Now grab the saddle horn with both hands, put your left foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up. Then swing your right leg over the saddle.

  She tried. She really did. She was barely able to reach the saddle horn. Trying to put her foot in the stirrup was impossible. She was too short.

  Suddenly John’s strong hands were at her waist, lifting her high. She fell face first over the saddle.

  She yelled. “John I’m going to fall off.”

  “No you’re not. I’ve got you.” He hadn’t released her, she was safe. She relaxed a bit.

  “What do I do now?”

  “I’m going to put your foot in the stirrup. Then you put your weight on that foot and stand up. Keep holding on to the saddle horn and swing your right leg over the top and sit on the saddle. Then put your right foot in the stirrup. You ready to try?”

  She nodded and then realized he couldn’t see her. “Yes. I’ve got it.”

  Following his instructions exactly she was amazed to find herself sitting up in the saddle.

  “I did it.” Pleased with herself she grinned down at John.

  He smiled back. “Good. Now take the reins in your right hand.”

  She did.

  “That’s right. Now punch your heels into her sides. This lets her know it’s time to move.”

  Sarah lightly touched her boots to Bertha’s side. She did nothing.

  “You have to do it harder than that. She has to feel it and know you mean business.”

  She kicked her harder and Bertha started walking.

  “Yahoo,” Sarah yelled.

  “Yay, Mama. You’re riding.”

  “This is good but you can’t walk everywhere.” He swung up behind her. “Give me the reins.” He took them and kicked Bertha in the sides. She started trotting and Sarah nearly fell off because of the hard uneven gait. The only thing that kept her in her seat was John’s strong arms.

  “Heeyah.” He kicked Bertha again and she broke into a canter. This smoother gait actually made the ride fun and Sarah found herself enjoying it.

  John kicked the horse again and she started galloping. This was her fastest gait and Sarah was exhilarated. She was free and laughed out loud.

  He ran the horse as far as the gate at the main road, then slowed her down and turned around. The girls jumped up and down on their return.

  “Our turn,” MaryAnn called.

  John dismounted first, then reached up and grasped Sarah around the waist and lifted her down. She slid down the front of his body and she gasped at the intimate contact.

  “That was wonderful. I hope we do it again.”

  “You can count on it,” he said before his lips claimed hers.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

  “Oh, yuck,” said MaryAnn. “You two are mushy. I’m never getting married. There’s too much kissing.”

  John and Sarah laughed. “Someday, you’ll meet the right someone and you’ll like all that kissing,” said Sarah.

  Katy made a face and MaryAnn said, “Nope. Never. We’re never gonna do it.”

  John got back up on Bertha. “MaryAnn you get to ride first because you haven’t done it before. Sarah, hand her up to me.”

  She lifted her up and John bent down and gathered her in his arms, then settled her on his lap.

  He walked the horse a short way then took her up to a gallop. Sarah heard her daughter’s laughter and smiled.

  It was a very good day.

  * * *

  July 4, 1867

  It was Independence Day and Golden City was having a party. There was food and games and a rodeo in the afternoon. Farmers and ranchers from miles around came into town for the celebration.

  “Come on ladies. Let’s hurry it up,” John called from the bottom of the stairs.

  “Hold yer horses,” said Bertha. She was tying her bonnet as she walked to the stairs. “They’s gettin’ all prettied up for ya.”

  “We’re ready,” said Sarah from the head of the stairs.

  She was a vision in pink. Her high-collared jacket buttoned up to her neck, hiding the bounty he knew was underneath. It nipped in at her small waist and flared over her skirt and the generous hips it covered. She’d done her hair up in a loose bun on top of her head and covered it all with a matching pink hat.

  His daughters were visions of their own. Katy was in light blue with lace at the collar, the cuffs and the hem. She wore her best Sunday shoes and Sarah had braided her hair into long pigtails on the sides of her head. MaryAnn was in green. Her dress had ruffles at the bottom. Sarah had braided her hair in one long plait down her back.

  He backed away and looked at all four of the females in his house. “You are all just beautiful. We’re taking the carriage today. Don’t plan on buying anything that has to come home. There’s just enough room for the five of us. And of course the three pies your mother made for the pot luck. Here. You each get to hold a pie. No nibbling!” A small smile escaped through his attempt to project a stern demeanor. He handed pies to Bertha, MaryAnn and Katy.

  Katy nodded her head in agreement.

  “Okay, Papa,” said MaryAnn.

  Sarah beamed. It hadn’t taken MaryAnn very long to attach herself to John. She’d been needing a father all this time but Sarah hadn’t known just how much until MaryAnn decided to call John ‘Papa’ after they’d been there only a week. It hadn’t taken Sarah long to need John either. He was funny and kind, a gentle lover and very protective, not just of Katy, but of her and MaryAnn too.

  John helped each of them into the carriage. MaryAnn first followed by Bertha and then Katy, all sat in the back. Then he helped Sarah in. Did his hands linger just a little longer on her waist or was it just her imagination making wishes?

  If that was the case she had some other wishes. She wished they were alone so she could tell him what she’d just discovered herself that morning. She hadn’t had her menses…she was pregnant probably from the first time they made love. It seemed she was very fertile.

  Tonight she
’d tell him. Hopefully he’d be happy about it. No, she was sure he’d be happy. He doted on the girls. A baby would bring them all closer together. She wanted this baby so very much.

  The carriage made good time and before long she was brought out of her reverie by the sight of Golden City. The streets were packed with pedestrians and vendor stalls. They’d closed off Main Street. Carriages, buckboards and buggies of all sizes were parked on the north end of town by the stable.

  John pulled to a stop and put on the hand brake. Then he jumped down and helped each of them out. Sarah first. Did he feel the snugness of her skirt? Could he tell she was expanding?

  “You girls go with Bertha and stay at her side. Your mother and I will be along in a moment.”

  He turned back to her. “I just wanted a minute alone to kiss you and remind you that you’re mine.” He pulled her close and ravaged her mouth. “There’s something different.”

  “John, I have something to tell you. I was going to wait until tonight but now is just as good.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  His eyes got wide and his eyebrows shot up. “Pregnant?!”

  Sarah nodded.

  He picked her up and swung her around in a circle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life.

  Their antics drew raised eyebrows from some passersby. John didn’t care. He shouted for the world to hear, “We’re having a baby.” Those same passersby now burst into applause.

  “John let me down. John!”

  “Alright.” He lowered her to the ground then placed his hand gently on her stomach. “When?

  “Near as I can tell, early February.”

  “February. That’s not a lot of time.”

  “It’s seven months. What do you need more time for?”

  “I want to put water in the house. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while and always put it off but now….”

  “That will be wonderful but,” she pulled his hand, “now we need to tell our daughters.”

  They walked fast to catch up with Bertha and the girls. They found them outside the ice cream parlor.

  “Ah, just what I was wanting. How did you girls know?” asked John.

  “We didn’t but we’re awful glad you did.”

  The five of them went inside. There was one table unoccupied. John sent Bertha and the kids to get it after getting their orders.

  John and Sarah returned with the ice cream. “Chocolate for my girls and strawberry for Bertha. Your mother and I are sharing a scoop of chocolate and one of vanilla.”

  Everyone got quiet, concentrating on their treats.

  “Are you going to tell them?” Sarah whispered.

  “Tell us what, Mama?” asked MaryAnn.

  “Well, it seems we are expecting a baby. You’re going to have a little brother or sister. What do you think about that?”

  MaryAnn leaned over and whispered something in Katy’s ear. Katy nodded and then looked expectantly to John and Sarah.

  “We think we’ll like having a little brother or sister but what we’d really like is a puppy. Can we get one instead?”

  John, Sarah and Bertha all laughed. So did some of the other customers.

  “It’s not a question of a puppy or a baby. We’re having a baby,” said Sarah.

  Seeing their little faces filled with sorrow, John said, “Maybe we can get a puppy, too. If we find someone who has some to give away.”

  “Oh dear, boss, ya shouldn’t a said that. We passed a farmer with pups to give away on the way here.”

  Katy and MaryAnn both smiled and nodded.

  “Well, hell. I guess we take home a puppy.”

  They finished their ice cream and went in search of the farmer with the pups. They found him by the mercantile. He still had two puppies left. When the girls got sight of the two pups they took off running at the poor man.

  Sarah noticed that the puppies each went to a different girl. MaryAnn and Katy both had big grins on their faces.

  “John, can we get both pups? Did you see how they went to each girl? Like they knew them.”

  “I saw.” He looked down at her. “I’m not going to win this one am I?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then I guess we better take both dogs.”

  The farmer gave them a toothless grin. He tied short pieces of rope to each puppy’s neck and handed the other end to the children.

  “Now you just feed ‘em scraps and they’ll be just fine ya hear?” said the farmer.

  “We will,” said MaryAnn. “Thank you.”

  Katy nodded her thanks, too.

  They all walked around visiting shops and farmer’s stalls. The potluck kicked off at one o’clock. Sarah and the girls went back to the carriage to get the pies she’d made. The girls didn’t want to go because they had to leave the puppies with John but Sarah made them. It was good for them to help out. They were old enough now.

  When they got to the carriage, Sarah gave each of them a pie to carry. They’d started back and were nearing the stable when Katy suddenly dropped her pie and hid behind Sarah.

  “Katy? What’s the matter, love?” asked Sarah. “MaryAnn talk to her and see if you can understand what’s the matter.”

  She went over to Katy. “What’s wrong? Did you see something that scared you?”

  Katy shook her head yes. She pointed toward the stable where several men were standing.

  MaryAnn asked, “It’s one of those men who scare you?”

  Katy nodded her assent.

  “Is he the man who killed your mama?” asked Sarah, suddenly realizing that would be the only reason Katy would be so scared now when she’d never been before.

  She nodded and pointed to the men. One of them wore a bright red kerchief at his neck.

  “Come on. Katy, stay on that side of me so you’re hidden from him.”

  They walked as fast as they could. When they reached John and Bertha they were breathless.

  Sarah and MaryAnn were talking at the same time, all of it coming out in a jumble.

  Katy pulled on her father’s pant leg. “Daddy!” she said.

  Everyone quieted.

  “Katy, what did you say?”

  “Daddy.”

  John took her in his arms and hugged her like he’d never let her go again. Sarah’s eyes watered but she refused to let the tears fall. Now was not the time for tears.

  “Daddy,” Katy rasped her voice harsh from lack of use. “The bad man is here.”

  “What? Where?”

  “By the stable. I dropped my pie.”

  “Never mind about the pie. What did he look like?”

  “He has a black hat, shirt and vest. He’s wearing a bright red bandana around his neck.”

  “Sarah, you and Bertha stay here with the kids. I’m going to get the sheriff.”

  “Be careful,” said Sarah.

  “I will.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips and was off.

  John, the sheriff and half a dozen men went down to the stable. The man Katy described was easy to spot. He seemed to be in charge of the other men.

  The sheriff went up to the man. “Hello, Curly. I haven’t seen you around these parts for a while.”

  “Sheriff. Been traveling.”

  “Enough small talk. You need to come with me. Now.”

  “What if I don’t wanna?”

  “You got no choice. My men got the drop in your men. They aren’t any help to you now. There’s just you, me and John Atwood whose wife you murdered in that robbery of the Golden City Bank two years ago. He’s not waiting for you to draw your gun, he’s already got his out. I’m the only thing between you and a bullet. So you’re gonna give me that six shooter you got on your hip. Nice and slow.”

  Curly looked back at his men who all had their hands up in the air. Then he looked over at John. What he saw there must have convinced him.

  “What makes you so sure I’m the man you want?”

  “W
e have a witness.”

  “Come on you can’t believe a kid over me.” Curly realized his mistake too late.

  “I never said it was a kid. You’re under arrest for the murder of Dorothy Atwood and five other people.”

  John helped the sheriff and his men take Curly and his gang to jail then returned to his family at the potluck. As soon he as walked up to them Sarah and the girls all came running.

  Sarah ran her hands over him checking for wounds.

  “I’m fine. No shots were fired.”

  “I’ve never been so scared in my life.” She kissed him. A passionate, bedroom kind of kiss, right of front of everyone.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. He understood her fear. What had scared him more was that he almost shot Curly before the sheriff arrested him. He’d wanted to, for taking his wife from him, for stealing more than two years of his beautiful daughter’s voice.

  Finally, he and Sarah broke apart. The girls ran to them and hugged their parents. Bertha had tears in her eyes.

  “Is he going to jail? Will he be punished for killing Dorothy?” asked Sarah.

  “Yes, he’s going to jail and will probably hang.”

  “Daddy what is hang?” asked Katy.

  He squatted down in front of his two girls. “It means that he won’t be able to hurt anyone else ever again.”

  “Oh.”

  “It’s a good thing,” said MaryAnn. “We don’t want ‘em to hurt nobody else.”

  “That’s right,” John said through tight lips. He shouldn’t have to explain this to his little girls. They shouldn’t have to think about people hanging. It was just another part of their childhood this man had stolen.

  Sarah slipped her hand around his waist, laid her head on his chest and gave him a hug. As if she knew what he was feeling, she gave him comfort. He put his arm around her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. He understood.

  Dorothy could finally rest. Her soul at peace. Her killer caught.

  “Let’s go home,” said Sarah.

  “You young ladies ready to go home?” asked John.

  “Yes, we want to get our puppies settled in their room,” said MaryAnn.

  “Their room?”