Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

"Dal Odom. I got a farm this side of Ashville…"

  "Good, let's get, it's getting mighty cold." Matthew smiled at him.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  When they arrived, Becky ran out to meet him. Dal was so glad to see her he ran and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm mighty glad to see you feeling better."

  "Me too…thanks to you and the Widow." Becky laughed.

  "Yeah, oh, say…this is Matthew, he's come to help us. I promised him a big meal."

  Becky looked up at the man still on the horse and smiled. "My Sister is the best cook in Texas. Hop down and join us…"

  "Why thank you, Little Miss. Sounds good to me." Matthew dismounted and hobbled his horse.

  When they went inside Bonnie was busy trying to keep the temperature down on Samuel. From the look on her face, she was frantic.

  "I thought you'd never get back." Bonnie cried when she saw them.

  Dal grabbed her, kissed her and then turned to introduce her to Matthew.

  "Ma'am."

  "I promised him a good home cooked meal. Why don't you start some supper and I'll rub Samuel down? You see if it hadn't been for Matthew here, I wouldn't be here right now. I lost my horse."

  "Oh my God, Choko?"

  He nodded with a sadness that spilled out of him.

  "Okay…tell me everything. Where did the two of you meet?" She asked.

  Matthew took his hat off and warmed by the fire a minute then answered. "I found him kind of wandering the plains. He'd been robbed."

  "Robbed. Oh my God. That's why your head is bandaged?" Bonnie went to Dal's side.

  "It's fine now. Don't worry about me. If Matthew hadn't come along when he did, I might not have been. He took me to the nearest town and we got the rum. Course I lost Choko. The money isn't half as important as my horse. And yet…the rum was the only thing I worried about."

  "I'm so sorry…" Bonnie touched his hand. "Do you know the man that took it?"

  "No…I know what he looks like. But I was so desperate for the for the darn stuff by then, I wasn't worried about things like that."

  "At least you're alive," Bonnie said as she went back to cooking.

  Dal left out a few details, but Bonnie didn't need to worry about everything at once.

  "Thank God. And thank you, Matthew." Bonnie smiled at the man.

  "He told me he had some sick youngins. I was hoping we'd get back in time…"

  "Me too," Bonnie mumbled under her breath.

  "Where you from Matthew?" Bonnie asked as she peeled some potatoes.

  "Just came from Ft. Worth, a cattle auction. I got a spread just the other side of Waco."

  "Well, I'm sure glad you happened along and found Dal."

  Matthew watched Samuel for a while, his brow furrowing. "How long has he been sick?"

  "A few days. Becky had it first. Then Martin, Martin is nearly well, but Samuel, I ran out of rum to treat him."

  "Rum huh? Where did you hear of that?"

  Dal looked up from Samuel. "We have an old Widow lady north of town, she about ninety years old and she gave me a recipe for the medicine. One part rum, half part turpentine. Said to rub it on their neck and chin. We did, and Becky got over it. Martin's almost well, and now we got to get Samuel back on his feet."

  "An old Widow woman, huh?" The man scratched his chin.

  "Yeah, the townsfolk call her a witch, but I was so desperate to save Becky, I would have tried nearly anything." He admitted.

  "You know, I've heard of her. In fact…I think I might even know the woman you are talking about. I think she might be my grandmother." Matthew said lowly.

  "Your grandmother?" Bonnie gasped.

  "Her name Harrow?"

  "Yes, it is…" Dal turned to look at him.

  "I'll be danged. I never thought I'd see her again. Is there any way you could tell me where she lives. I need to see her."

  "I'll do better than that. You stay the night, and tomorrow I'll take you to her."

  "I'll be gall-darned, I never thought I'd see her again. I thought she was probably dead by now." Matthew's eyes teared up and he turned away so they couldn't see.

  "She's alive, but she could sure use some help. I had never met her before." He said finishing up with Samuel and coming to sit at the table where Matthew was. "She's a nice lady."

  "Oh…you don't know the half of it. She nursed me and my brothers all through our young years. Hadn't been for her, we wouldn't be alive. I can't wait to see her. My God, it's been twenty years since I laid eyes on her." Matthew's voice grew low.

  "But how'd they come to call her a witch, she was the sweetest old lady on this earth?" Matthew described the woman Dal had seen in those blue eyes of hers.

  "I'm not sure. You know when anyone doctors another, they can get a name like that. Sometimes I reckon some remedies don't work and the people are eager to blame the one that tried to help the most." He explained, he remembered how one of his friends in town had talked about the old lady. But Dal didn't believe in witches, and today he was very glad he didn't.

  "I'll take you over in the morning. She needs you."

  Matthew was near tears, but they were tears of happiness because he'd found her after so long.

  "I'd appreciate that. I just can't believe I found her. Her last husband traveled a lot, and we never knew where she was going next. She's got to be in her nineties by now."

  "I'd say so…" Dal nodded. "If it hadn't been for her, I don't know how my kids would have recovered."

  "She was always good about curing people. And you are right, a lot of times, it got her in more trouble than it seemed worth. I mean she never had no proper doctoring school. Let me tell you though, she could cure almost anything. Said she learned a lot of it from the Indians. You see, she'd been captured by them when she was real young. She escaped after about five years and made her way home. Lord only knows how she managed that. She's a strong woman. But I remember that sweet old smile of hers when she healed someone. She said it was worth being called a witch."

  "I'd love to meet her…" Bonnie came to stand in front of them.

  "Well, if she will, I'm gonna take her home with me. And I'll bring her by before we leave." Matthew promised.

  "That'd be wonderful. I'd like to thank her too." Bonnie smiled sadly.

  Bonnie made a huge meal, with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, canned beans and corn and cornbread and butter. It was a meal fit for a king and Matthew was grateful.

  "You weren't lying boy, the woman can cook!" Matthew slapped Dal on the shoulder.

  Dal smiled. "She sure can."

  When it was time to bed down, Matthew took Daniel's bunk, it was a little longer than the others and he had no trouble going to sleep.

  That night as they lay in their bed, Bonnie kissed Dal. "I'm so sorry about Choko."

  He sighed. "Yeah, me too. But we can always buy another horse."

  "I doubt we'll ever buy one like that one."

  "Maybe…who can tell."

  The next day Samuel's fever broke and he felt well enough to sit up.

  "I can't believe it. That remedy of hers worked." Bonnie cried.

  "God works in mysterious ways. Imagine bumping into a man like Matthew, who is actually kin to the Widow Harrow? If that's not some kind of miracle, I don't know what is." Dal held Bonnie close in his arms.

  "I'm glad he found you!" She kissed Dal's jaw.

  After a big breakfast, Dal saddled the mule and him and Matthew went to the Widow Harrow.

  As they walked in the old house, Matthew looked about and shook his head, but the minute he saw her, tears ran down his cheeks.

  "Granny?" He hollered.

  The old woman jumped and whirled around in her chair. When her eyes connected with Matthew, she stared for a long time. Then she stood up and spread her arms out. "Matthew!"

  It was a homecoming that Dal was glad he witnessed. The two of them hugged for the longest before she even spoke to Dal again.

 
; He didn't mind. They needed this time.

  "You brought him home to me! Dear God….how's your babies?"

  "They are all doin' much better, thanks to you."

  She nodded as though she knew they would be.

  After talking with them a while, Dal felt he needed to get home, so they could talk to each other in private. He started to leave and she called to him.

  "I wrote down those remedies for you. You take them, and take care of those children, you hear?"

  He came up to her and hugged her. "Thank you, Mrs. Harrow."

  She smiled and turned back to her grandson. "I knew you'd come back, I just didn't know you'd have Matthew with you."

  "God works in mysterious ways, Mrs. Harrow."

  "He certainly does." She cried.

  Dal figured he'd hardly be able to read her writing, but he was wrong. She had written each formula down so precisely, and so neatly, he read every word.

  He tucked it in his pocket and smiled.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Three days later, Matthew brought his grandmother by to meet Bonnie and the kids.

  Samuel walked straight up to her, he didn't say a word, he just grabbed her around the middle and held on.

  She was speechless.

  Bonnie and the Widow talked for a long time as Bonnie prepared them a meal.

  "I'm ever so grateful to you, Mrs. Harrow."

  "Just glad I could help them. They are all sweet children. Are they all yours?" She asked glancing at Daniel.

  "They are my brothers and sister," Bonnie explained.

  "Well, I didn't know, Dal just said it was his kids." She laughed.

  Bonnie looked at Dal, he was talking to Matthew out on the porch. "They are his!" She answered with a laugh. "And Samuel sure loves you…"

  "He's a sweet boy."

  When they started to leave, she handed Bonnie a special note. "This is for you when you have your youngins."

  Bonnie blushed. "Thank you…"

  Watching them ride away in their wagon, with Mrs. Harrow's belongings tied on to it, made Bonnie happy.

  "I'm glad she's going home with him. She's too old to be alone…" Bonnie cried.

  "Yes, she is." Dal agreed. He turned to her and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm glad you got to meet her."

  "Me too. I'll never forget her." Bonnie cried. "And you are so right, she's no witch."

  "I won't be forgetting her either!" Samuel was standing close and added.

  Dal rubbed his head. "I'm sure glad to see you up and about."

  Samuel smiled.

  But two days later Dal went into town for some supplies and spotted his horse.

  He went over to him and called his name. The horse's head came up and he eyed him.

  "That's your horse, ain't it Dal?" Samuel asked.

  "Yes, it is…"

  He looked about. The saloon was just in front of him. He told Samuel to stay out and he went inside.

  The old man that roped and robbed him was at the bar, laughing and telling tales.

  "I see you brought my horse back, didn't you?"

  The old man turned around with surprise on his face.

  "Uh…yeah…I did…" The old man swallowed. "He's tied up right outside for you. I took real good care of him."

  "I appreciate that. Did you spend my money, too?"

  "Well I…."

  Dal pulled his gun, "Let's go tell it to the Sheriff, why don't we?"

  "But…"

  The old man hung his head. "Alright….I'm coming."

  Samuel followed them to the Sheriff's office and Dal explained to the Sheriff what went on.

  "Is that your horse out there?" The Sheriff asked Dal.

  "It sure is. His name is Choko."

  "What'd you do with the money, mister?"

  "I drank it."

  "It figures. Well, son, I can't get your money back for you, but I can give you leave to take your horse."

  "Thanks…"

  "Do you want to press charges?"

  "Well, can you keep him overnight until he sobers up? Maybe he'll think twice before he tries that again."

  "I can do that."

  "Thanks, Sheriff." Dal said and motioned to Samuel.

  As they left the Sheriff's office though, he ran into Lee. Lee seemed prepared to end the feud. He wanted a showdown.

  "So…did the little woman tell you about me coming to visit?"

  Dal whipped around and saw Lee smirking as he leaned against the hitching post in front of the general store.

  "Visit?"

  "That's right. I paid the little woman a visit."

  "I thought I told you to stay away from her. Did you hurt her?" Dal felt his anger festering inside and tried to get a lid on it, but it was almost impossible.

  "She's alright. I came to see her. She's sure getting to be a pretty thing since she's eating better. Rosey cheeks and all."

  He knew he had to control himself. He knew what Lee wanted and he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "Say whatever you want Lee. I'm not drawing on you."

  "No?" He snickered. "That's too bad. Maybe I'll have to go see her again. Since you don't seem to mind too much."

  Dal's hand eased down on the top of his gun. He was moments away from pulling his gun. But Samuel was with him and he looked up at him and shook his head.

  "Don't do it."

  Dal nodded. "You're right."

  And they left, with Lee's laughter following after them.

  "I wanted to kill him too," Samuel said later when they were out of town.

  "Bonnie never said a word about him coming out."

  "She doesn't want you getting killed." Samuel hung his head. "Neither do I. We got the place lookin' better. We got the fence up, the roof patched. Everything is going good, but if you draw on him, it could all be over."

  "Samuel you make a lot of sense. I know I should listen, but it's hard when they are talkin' about Bonnie like that."

  "He knows how to rile you. But then, he knows how to rile almost anyone."

  "That's a fact." Dal almost laughed.

  "Don't blame Bonnie. She loves you. She doesn't want to see you hurt any more than you want to see her hurt." Samuel said.

  Dal looked at him then smiled. "When did you get so smart?"

  "Whooping cough will do it." Samuel smiled back.

  But when they pulled into the yard with their supplies, no one was around. It was totally quiet.

  Dal felt that same strange feeling when things weren't going right, crawl up his neck. He called to Bonnie, but she didn't come out on the porch like she usually did. He looked around, even the chickens had scattered. It was too quiet.

  "Something's wrong." He whispered to Samuel.

  Samuel looked around. "Yeah, I feel it too. Where is everyone?"

  "I don't know. Ease down under the seat and hand me my gun, will you?"

  "Sure…" Samuel quietly reached down and handed it to him.

  He jumped down from the wagon.

  "Take the mule to the barn, Samuel."

  Samuel started to argue, but he saw the firm look on Dal's face and knew it wasn't the time. He did as he asked him.

  Dal walked slowly around to the back of the house.

  Sure enough, there was Bonnie and Becky. They were standing by the clothesline, with a gun in their back. Lee had beat them back.

  Dal swallowed hard. He saw the sweat running down Bonnie's cheek. He saw how scared Becky looked. He saw how Daniel stood on the porch with a gun pointed at them. But Daniel didn't have a good clean shot at them and he was smart enough to know it.

  "Don't do this Lee. This is between you and me!" Dal hollered coming a little closer.

  He heard Samuel somewhere behind him, but he didn't let on.

  "I don't figure it that way, Dal. You killed my little brother. Now I aim to take something you love away from you. Just killing you won't get the job done. I want to see you hurt like I hurt when you killed Johnny." Lee snarled, holding a gun to Bonnie's he
ad.

  "I'll do anything you want Lee, but let them go!"

  "Will you beg for their lives?" Lee laughed.

  "If that's what it takes, yes!"

  "Then beg!"

  Dal frowned, but seeing the terror on the girl's faces, he knelt on his knees. "Please, don't hurt them. Please, for God's sake, let's keep this between you and me. You want a showdown, you got one. Just leave them alone. They are innocent in this."

  "That's good begging boy. But not good enough. You are gonna hurt like hell before I kill you, Dal. Because I'm gonna kill them dead. And then I'm gonna watch your agony."

  He cocked the gun.

  "You're sick with hate Lee. You're ate up with it."

  But Dal heard another cock of the gun too. One Lee wasn't expecting. He hated that Samuel had the gun, but it was a chance he had to take. Lee was in a good position for Samuel to get him. If only Samuel could pull the trigger.

  Suddenly he ducked and hollered. "Now!"

  The gun went off and Lee went down.

  First Dal looked at Lee, then he twisted about to see Samuel lowering the rifle in his hand. He threw it to the ground and was shaking like a leaf.

  Dal went to grab hold of Samuel, and hugged him tight. "You did good, son. You did real good."

  "I…killed him?" Samuel asked his face as red as his hair.

  "You did…" Dal bent to Lee and checked him.

  "I ain't never…"

  "I know, but you saved your sister's life. You did good."

  The girls all ran toward Samuel, trying to hold him, thank him. Daniel lowered his gun. "I couldn't get a good shot. I would have hit one of the girls' if I tried." He explained.

  "That's alright, Daniel. I'm glad you had the sense to know that." Dal said, putting his arm around him when he came to join the others.

  Martin was behind, but he got in on the hugging too.

  "I sure was scared," Martin said.

  Becky grabbed him, "Me too!"

  Samuel was still stunned. "Did you really kill his brother?"

  Dal looked down, a sadness welling inside him. "Yes, Samuel. I did. You see his brother robbed a bank, and then he killed the Sheriff. I was working for the Sheriff, so I knew him pretty well. So I killed Johnny. I didn't want to kill him, but I couldn't let him escape either."

  "How old were you?"