Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "It's not the town I like so much, it's the mountain."

  "Oh yes, that is quite a mountain they tell me. Didn't they name it Pike's Peak?"

  "Yes, I believe they did. It's beautiful." Rachel smiled.

  "Are you from there?" They both asked at the same time.

  "No…I'm from Philadelphia." Rachel explained.

  "My you are far from home. Then why go to a place like that?"

  "It feels like home to me, I guess that's why…" Rachel answered as they passed the ham around the table. "You see for a long time now, I've not felt at home, anywhere. Not until now."

  "Whatever possessed you to leave Philadelphia?" Peggy asked, glancing around the table. "Now that's quite a city."

  "I've realized that I'm not a city girl for one thing. And I was supposed to get married." Rachel muttered.

  "Supposed to. Does that mean, you didn't?" Helen asked.

  Rachel had barely been able to eat before another question popped out of their mouths. "No, I didn't marry Frank."

  She gobbled some ham and gravy down and excused herself.

  But she heard Ma mutter as she left. "Now see what you done. You run her off, with so many questions. Poor thing."

  Rachel walked about the town seeing the sights and indulging in shopping, but she didn't buy a thing. She didn't want extra baggage on her trip.

  That night Ma was working on a quilt, pulled from the ceiling on a large frame.

  Rachel watched and talked with her for a long while.

  "Would you like to try?" Ma asked seeing her interest.

  "Could I?" Rachel smiled.

  "Of course, there's needles in the sewing box on the floor and you can start anywhere you like. I often ask guest to join me. Have you ever quilted?"

  "Only once, I loved it, but I was quite young then." Rachel helped herself to a needle and thread.

  She started off slowly and found that sewing had a calming effect.

  "I hope Helen and Peggy didn't run you off this morning." Ma said.

  "No…not really." Rachel glanced at her and blushed.

  Ma seemed to study her a long moment. "I don't know what is in Cripple Creek for you, but I see something in your eyes. I'm sure you are making a wise decision to stay. Always follow your heart in these matters."

  "Yes ma'am, and thank you."

  Her heart was with Buck, and she hoped he felt the same way.

  ~*~

  Buck and the Munson's reached the preacher's place about mid-morning. It was cold and drafty as the wind had picked up.

  The preacher came out to greet them as soon as they headed for the bar for something to warm their insides with.

  "Buck, how are you doin'?" The parson shook his hand.

  "Parson, oh, this is Hal and Turner Munson, Turner here wants to get married. But his intended wants you to marry in the church in town."

  The Parson nodded. "Pleased to meet you, but I can't go down the mountain. I got a man near his deathbed, and could be needed here. Now, if you were to bring her up here, we could get it done, I'm sure."

  Hal and Turner looked at each other. "But she wanted a church wedding."

  Parson Powell shook his head. "I'm sorry. But I gotta stick close to the area right now. If you want to wait…then maybe."

  Turner looked completely frustrated. "What should we do, dad?"

  "I got an idea, but I don't know how your lady would feel about it. I'm a scout for the army, so I know the territory well. I could fetch her up here in a day and a half and you could have your wedding and be on your way…if you want, that is." Buck said.

  "She was sure set on a church wedding."

  The older Mr. Munson put his hand on his son's shoulder and shook his head. "Son, the older you get, the more you realize that some things have to be changed because of circumstance. I admire the parson for wanting to be there for his dying friend, and I really think if you two want to get married so badly, you'll reconsider this church wedding and let this man go get her."

  Turner fretted for a few minutes, walking the floor and glancing at them off and on. "I guess it's the only way to get it done. Alright, will you go get her, then?" He turned to Buck.

  "Sure…will she come, though?"

  "Send her this message. 'I love you dearly, but you need to come up here so we can get married, it's the only way.'"

  "Alright, I'm on my way, with any luck I'll be back by tomorrow night."

  "Thanks…" Turner seemed to turn almost blue from worrying about his bride's reaction.

  Buck left after a couple more drinks and hurried on his way. With nothing but his heavy coat and hat, he was off. He could make good time without carrying a load.

  He trekked through the woodland and was there very late that night.

  He went to Lilly's place first.

  "What in tarnation are you doing here this hour of the night, Buck?" Lilly asked as she tied her robe together tightly and squinted an eye at Buck.

  "I'm in a hurry. I've got to get a gal up the mountain to the preacher. Just stopped off to let you know I might have to bring her by here for some clothes."

  "Again? What do you think I run a ladies' shop or something?" Lilly barked.

  Buck scratched his chin. "Sorry Lilly, you are the only one I know of to ask."

  "Alright, now get some sleep." She motioned for him to spend the night on her couch and went back to bed, shaking her head all the way.

  The next day Buck met Gloria and sure enough she didn't have any traveling clothes. So he marched her over to Lilly's and Lilly provided her with something suitable to go up the mountain.

  "She's kind of young, ain't she?" Lilly smiled slyly at Buck.

  "A might, yeah."

  "You beat all I know Buck. I kind of thought you were sweet on that little red-head your brought here."

  Buck fidgeted, and was about to rebuke Lilly's opinion that Gloria was for him when Gloria marched into the hallway dressed in suitable clothes.

  "How do I look?" She beamed.

  "Looks fine…" Buck nodded. "We better be moving I promised to have you up there by tonight."

  "Just like a man, takes what he wants and leaves…" Lilly muttered.

  "Be back soon, Lilly." Buck waved at her as he escorted Gloria out of the saloon.

  "She seems like a nice lady." Gloria remarked on their trip.

  "She is, but she's got some real fool notions, sometimes." Buck muttered. "I'm sorry about all of this. I understand you wanted a church wedding."

  "I did. But under the circumstances, I just want to get married now. Before Turner changes his mind."

  "Yeah." That's when Buck remembered why he had come up the mountain himself. He needed to get that paper for Rach.

  He wondered if she'd made it home yet? He wondered how she'd get along.

  When he found Gloria lagging behind, he turned to look at her. "Sorry I have to push so hard, but I promised them I'd have you back by tonight."

  "It's alright. I'm just not used to riding."

  "Oh, I never even asked you. I should have known by the way you was looking when I bought the horse." Buck frowned.

  "I'll manage. I'm anxious to get there too." She smiled.

  "How old are you?"

  "Eighteen…"

  "That's pretty young. Well, your Turner seems like a nice young man."

  "He's wonderful. We've been engaged six months. I'm an orphan and he was coming here about a mine. I wanted to come along. His daddy insisted if I did that we get married along the way. I was all for that, so was Turner."

  They didn't talk the rest of the way up the mountain and only stopped once to have some hot coffee and some beef jerky.

  The girl hadn't complained about it though and Buck was thankful.

  It was midnight when they made it to the Parson's.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Buck had to wake the Parson up, and he knocked on the Munson's room to let them know she was there.

  Turner came out and grabbed his youn
g lady, whirling her around in the air. They kissed for so long Buck thought they might run out of breath.

  "I'm sorry about the circumstances, but the important thing is that we are getting married, right?" Turner smiled into her face.

  "Right." She smiled moving a clump of blonde hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear. Her blue eyes were sparkling with life now that she was here with Turner.*

  "My missus has you a room, come on hon." The Parson directed her.

  "Night Turner…" She called.

  "Night…" He returned.

  Turner looked at Buck now. "Thank you for bringing her up. I'd like to pay you for the trip."

  Buck shook his head. "No payment needed, it's a wedding present…"

  "Well, thank you sir…thank you very much." Turner shook his hand. "I guess I'll turn in now. Big day tomorrow."

  "Sounds like it."

  The Parson had gone to bed and Buck had another drink then stretched out on the big couch in the parlor.

  He had to get that paper…and write to Rachel.

  And thinking of Rach he went to sleep and had the most pleasant of dreams.

  The next day there was all kinds of racket going on, preparing the place for the wedding. The Parson was already up and gone to check on his sick friend.

  Buck watched Willa make breakfast and went to wash up.

  Turner approached him after they ate. He seemed hesitant at first. "Buck, I know you've done a lot for us, without taking any pay, but I would like to ask one more favor."

  Buck stared at him, "What's that?"

  "Well, since Gloria's father won't be here for the wedding, my father agreed to give her away. So I need a best man. Could you maybe stand in for that?"

  Buck nodded slowly. "Why not!"

  Buck shaved and cleaned up and when it came time for the wedding to begin, he took his place beside Turner.

  The parson's wife had decorated for the occasion and everything looked almost as lovely as though they were in a church.

  The wedding was beautiful, and the bride even more so. Buck pictured Rach when she stood up beside him to marry Hershel. He wished it had been him she'd married.

  Several times after the wedding, as the crowd gathered around the bar and the couple cut their cake, Buck tried to engage the Parson in a conversation, but everyone was abuzz from the wedding and there was no way he could get a word in edgewise.

  There were numerous toasts to the bride and groom and no one was feeling any pain by the evenings end.

  Still, Buck hadn't got a bit of information from the Parson and that was his whole reason for coming.

  "Lowell…I really need to talk to you."

  "What about, Buck?"

  "Well, you see, I lost that marriage certificate so I need another copy. You see….Hershel went and married a Indian gal, and Rach needs to get an annulment." Buck talked quickly before someone interrupted them.

  "Oh yes, I remember her. Pretty girl. I'll get that for you, Buck. But I've got to make a trip to Sam Walters."

  "Sam's, what for?"

  "He's the one that's dying Buck." The Parson explained.

  Buck's eyes narrowed on the Parson. "Sam's dying? What of? Last I seen of him he was healthy as could be."

  "Consumption. Took sick about three months ago, went downhill ever since." The Parson explained. "'Course you know the Walters aren't much on doctors, and we ain't got one up here, that's official anyway. Still, they might could have saved him."

  "That's bad. I hate to hear it. Sam and I were good friends. Can I go with you?"

  "If you'd like."

  "I haven't seen him in a long while, but I'd like to be there, if I could."

  "Good. Pack you some rations, my missus has enough for both of us, and we'll get started."

  "Now?"

  "'Fraid so Buck. He might not last through the night."

  "Okay…I'm traveling pretty light right now anyway. Let's go."

  Sam had been a friend for a lot of years, he even got Buck a job with the Army. He couldn't not be there. He was a friend.

  The trip wasn't that far and the warmth of Sam's cabin made it a welcome site. The cabin was bigger than most on the mountain because Sam had so many kids. Last time he heard they had eleven kids. Most of them were grown now but he still had two at home.

  Buck and the parson greeted his missus, Loretta and she showed them to Sam's room. Loretta looked peaked and it was plain she'd been up more than a night or two.

  Loretta made coffee for them and they visited with Sam for a long while, even though Sam wasn't up to talking it seemed to lift his spirits just to see the two of them.

  They drank coffee with Loretta and two of the kids were still up. "He's not going to make it through the night, is he?" Loretta looked at her kids, then them. "It's alright, they know."

  "No ma'am, I reckon not. But Sam's right with the Lord and that's a blessing. He's a good man and he'll be missed." The Parson said grabbing her hand.

  "We been married nearly twenty years now. He's been a good husband, and father. Couldn't ask for better. We ain't had much, but what we have is good. The house is paid for, his kids are nearly grown and it's been a good life, I can't complain, but I'll miss him more than I can say…"

  Buck looked at Loretta and his heart went out to her. "We'll look in on you, from time to time Loretta, and if you need anything, you can send one of the kids over, we'll come running."

  "Thank you Buck, you've been a good friend. Sam's told me many stories about you two hunting. Have you ever settled down and gotten married?"

  "No…not yet."

  "You should Buck, it's a good life."

  "I got some plans for the house I'm gonna build though." Buck smiled at her.

  "That's a start." Loretta smiled. "I'm so glad you both came by. I'm sure it brightened his day. Nothing Sam liked better than sitting around the fire, talking about old times."

  "We'll be staying until…"

  "Oh…well, thank you, for that."

  They went back inside the room where Sam was. His eyes were fixed upward, his mouth was smiling and he nodded just a little. "Proud you came…" he barely managed.

  "Glad to." Buck nodded.

  But it wasn't long and Sam expired. Loretta was holding his hand, his children were gathered about him and the parson and Buck stood close.

  He left the world with a smile on his face and it made it so much easier on his wife and kids that his last moments were glad ones.

  "He died right good, didn't he parson?" Loretta turned and asked.

  "Yes ma'am as good as anyone I knowed."

  Buck shook his head, "It's funny, but I came with a sad heart and now…it's not so sad. He died real good, Loretta, you can be proud of that. He had his loved ones right with him and friends too."

  They stayed long enough to comfort Loretta and the kids and the parson promised to get the undertaker to come see her as soon as possible.

  "We'll have a three day wake and then bury him here on the place." Loretta said. "Sam didn't want any sadness. He liked to celebrate life."

  "Alright, I will let everyone know."

  "Thank you parson, and you too Buck both of you for coming it meant a lot to him and to me."

  The trip back to the parson's wasn't so bad. Buck realized that death wasn't so bad after all. It was all a matter of how you approached it. And Sam sure knew how to do that.

  Before they reached the cabin, it began to snow and they bundled up better.

  "I guess I'll be staying for a few days. I want to be there for his funeral." Buck said. "He was a good friend."

  "Alright, we can put you up, Buck. And I'm glad you are staying with us. You can help me get the word out about Sam."

  "Sure…"

  Everyone was asleep when they got back so Buck and the parson headed for bed.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Buck and the parson got the word out all along the mountain, and almost everyone came for the wake. A lot of people sit aroun
d talking to Loretta, trying to make her feel better. Surprisingly though Loretta had a good attitude and only misted up a few times.

  The day of the funeral was a cold day and some couldn't take the cold and left early. Loretta didn't get upset, she encouraged any who needed to get home to go. Most had stayed with her through the wake.

  Buck and the parson stood close as the parson spoke words over Sam. Buck had to admit, the parson was powerful at his job.

  Later some of the mourners sang songs of comfort.

  All eleven children were there to see their daddy buried and to take care of their mom.

  Buck worried about Loretta, but the kids assured him they would take her home with them for a while.

  They all headed back to the parson's place.

  For a long while everyone drank and told stories about Sam and his life. Buck was among them.

  "Where's Hershel, Buck?" The parson asked that same evening.

  "Up the mountain, with his wife."

  "You said he married a little Indian squaw?"

  "Yep, he sure did."

  "That wouldn't be Little Feather, would it?"

  "That's her, how did you know?"

  The parson laughed. "He's been talking about her every time he comes here. I wondered if there wasn't something to it. Well, everyone deserves happiness. I'm glad he found someone."

  "Speaking of which, can you find that paper for me. Rachel is set on me getting it to her as soon as possible." Buck explained.

  "Why sure. I'll dig it up for you…" The parson went to his study and came back some time later, his brows knitted, concern lighting his face.

  "Well, Buck…I found it. But you might be a little shocked when you look at it. I guess I might have made a real mistake on this one. I remember there was a lot of confusion that day, and you and she were in a hurry. I got your names down and apparently forgot exactly how it was supposed to be. Naturally it can be corrected in the same way."

  "Corrected, what are you talking about…"

  "Well—read it for yourself. I guess it was a mistake, I don't know."

  "I don't understand." Buck frowned at him.