Bargain Bessie

by Zina Abbott

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  monarch bend, colorado – late august 1881

  CHAPTER 11

  ~o0o~

  If Zeb had thought Simon Brinks looked like a grinning Cheshire cat the day before after he returned from dinner with Bessie, his expression was far outdone by the gleeful grin on Eddie Joe’s face as he walked into the ranch office to review the tasks for the day.

  Doggone that Rusty. That crazy kid doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.

  “Have a good trip to town, Boss?”

  “Tolerable. As you can see, I got most of what you had on your list. Got your letters mailed too. Never seen you write to so many women before.”

  Eddie Joe refused to rise to the bait. He cleared this throat. “Noticed the barbed wire was a little short.”

  “Brinks didn’t have all we need in stock. He’s ordering it in from Denver on the train. It’ll be in the next week or so.”

  Eddie Joe quickly responded. “I’ll be glad to ride into town to pick it up for you, Boss.”

  Zeb narrowed his eyes with suspicion as he studied his foreman. The man had never been eager to make the long ride into Jubilee Springs, claiming anything he needed he could get in Monarch Bend. What had changed his tune?

  He knows. Drat that Rusty.

  “Brinks said he could have his son bring the wire out on a Saturday afternoon as soon as it comes in.”

  The knowing grin returned to Eddie Joe’s face. “Except that isn’t how it’s going to happen, is it, Boss?”

  Zeb straightened in his chair. “I’m tired of playing your games, Eddie Joe. Now, we got a ranch to run. What did you get done yesterday, and what is your plan today?”

  With that, much to Zeb’s relief, Eddie Joe settled down to business. Soon he left the office to talk to the men and give them their work assignments for the day. Zeb stayed at his desk until he heard the horses leave the yard and quiet return to his ranch.

  Zeb stepped through the inside door to the main house in search of Juanita. He found her in the kitchen finishing up with mopping the floor. He took the bucket of dirty scrub water from her. “Here, I’ll go toss that for you. I need you to do something for me before Sunday. Will you make sure my good suit is brushed and ready to wear? I plan to catch a church service in the Springs before the weather turns bad. It’s the first Sunday, so if you’d like to go to the Catholic services, I’ll take you with me.”

  “Gracias, Señor Jacobson. We see.”

  Zeb next walked out to the horse barn where he caught Rusty mucking out a stall. “Rusty, I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

  Rusty froze in place, a look of apprehension on his face. He swallowed before he responded. “Sure thing, Mr. Jacobson.”

  Zeb walked up to him, his fists jammed on his hips, his feet spread wide apart. “I thought I told you not to say anything about me escorting Miss Carlson back to the mercantile.”

  Using exaggerated motions, Rusty jerked his head side to side. “I did what you said, Mr. Jacobson. I didn’t say you had Miss Carlson on your arm, walking her to the mercantile. No, sir, I did like you said and never said her name.”

  Zeb raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “I find that hard to believe Rusty. The boys know something.”

  Rusty’s forehead creased with concern. “Well, you know, Mr. Jacobson, the men pestered me awful bad once we got back. They couldn’t figure out what took us so long. I had to tell them something.”

  Zeb assumed a fake smile of exaggerated patience. “And what exactly did you tell them, Rusty?”

  “Well, sir…I did tell them you walked a lady to the mercantile, but I didn’t say her name. No, sir. Even when they kept after me, I refused to say her name, telling them you’d skin me alive if I did.”

  “But they do know I walked with a woman to the mercantile.”

  “Yessir. But that’s all. Except I did go into the mercantile where Miss Carlson helped me find a bottle of fruit juice. She was real nice about apologizing that it wasn’t cold, but I told her that was okay, at least it was wet. I got a real good look at her, Mr. Jacobson. She’s real pretty with her brown eyes and all that hair twisted around her head. You done real good finding a looker like her. And she’s too old for me, but probably just right for you, considering your age and all.”

  Zeb grit his teeth. “And just how old do you think I am, Rusty?”

  Rusty’s shoulders nervously twitched. “Ah, I don’t know, Mr. Jacobson. Eddie Joe, now, he says you’re pushing forty. He knows you better than almost anyone else here, so I figure he knows…”

  Zeb jutted out his chin and stepped forward with an aggressive stance. “Well Eddie Joe is dead wrong about my age. I am not pushing forty.”

  “All…all right, sir, I believe you. Still, Miss Carlson seems like a real nice lady.”

  “And did you tell the men about Miss Carlson, and what she looks like, and how she’s such a nice lady?”

  Rusty stepped back until he collided with the back wall of the stall. “Well sort of. I mean, the men were pestering me something awful, Mr. Jacobson. I had to give them something. But, I swear, I did what you told me. I didn’t tell them Miss Carlson was the lady you were walking with down the boardwalk. I didn’t give them that.”

  Zeb stepped back and sighed with resignation. “All right, Rusty. Is there anything else about our trip to town you shared with the men? Better tell me now. It will go easier on you if I hear about it sooner rather than later.”

  Rusty studied the ground as he shuffled from one foot to another. “Well, I may have told them that while I was in the mercantile getting the fruit juice, ol’ Mr. Brinks walked up to me to introduce me to Miss Carlson. He also mentioned you plan to attend church with them this coming Sunday. But, that’s all, Mr. Jacobson. That’s all I know and that’s all I told them. Honest.”

  Zeb closed his eyes and shook his head in frustration. No wonder Eddie Joe had acted so skeptical about his claim Aaron Brinks would be bringing out the wire on Saturday. The man was annoying, but he was smart, which was why he was such a good foreman. At times like this, though, Eddie Joe was too smart. Zeb had no doubt his foreman had put the pieces together and had a good idea of what Zeb’s plans were.

  Zeb knew without a doubt why he had never attempted before to court a woman. He knew he was in for it, especially from that Eddie Joe. It was a good thing Bessie Carlson was worth the hassle he would be enduring for the next little while until he could convince her to marry him.

  ~o0o~

  Saturday morning, Zeb stood in the ranch office by the window. He noticed a great deal more activity than usual in the general vicinity of the bath house used by the ranch hands. Once he saw Eddie Joe go inside, he waited a short while before he moseyed out the wood stoop by the door to stand with his back to the wall and his arms folded.

  Zeb caught Eddie Joe just as he walked outside. “Looks like you and some of the boys are going to a lot of trouble to get all spiffed up. You got plans for tonight or something?”

  Having not seen Zeb when he exited, Eddie Joe jerked with a start at the sound of Zeb’s voice. He spun around and grinned at his boss. “Just the usual Saturday night thing, Boss. Well, most Saturdays, anyway. Some of us are just getting cleaned up a little so we can enjoy a night on the town.”

  “Mighty early to get ready for a night in Monarch Bend. Besides, I thought you said this wasn’t your weekend to leave the ranch.”

  “Well, that’s the thing. I called in a few favors and changed things around a bit. We thought we’d go ahead and ride on in to Jubilee Springs, just for something different. Figured we’d leave out right after dinner.”

  Zeb quirked up one eyebrow. “What brought that on? I thought Monarch Bend was your destination of choice.”

  Eddie Joe shrugged. “Just decided on something different is all. Don’t worry, Boss. I still have enough men staying at the ranch to get the chores covered.”

  “Um-hmm. Well, it’s a
new moon tonight, so be careful riding back to the ranch.”

  “Oh, we plan to stay into town until Sunday afternoon at least. We’re taking our bedrolls and extra grub just in case. If we can’t find decent rooms we can rent, we’ll find a place along the river to spend the night where we won’t bother anyone.”

  As suspicious as he had been before, Zeb was starting to have a real bad feeling about this situation. Eddie Joe knew he planned to attend church with the Brinks family, including Bessie. “Seems like an awful lot of effort just to stay over until Sunday. Not much going on in the Springs that day.”

  Eddie Joe shrugged. “Oh, you never know. Kind of have a feeling something might happen I won’t want to miss. Besides, you were the one who suggested it wouldn’t hurt me to go to church for a change. I’ll see you later, Boss. I need to scrape my face while my whiskers are still soft from the bath.”

  Eddie Joe turned and quick-stepped across the yard without waiting from a response from Zeb.

  With a sinking feeling, Zeb watched his foreman go. He had told Simon Brinks he would be at church and to save a seat for him. He still intended to go. However, Rusty had spilled the beans, and all the men knew where he’d be on Sunday morning. He just hoped the galoots who worked for him didn’t turn the day upside down by acting like a bunch of clowns.

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  jubilee springs, colorado – First Sunday of September, 1881

  CHAPTER 12

  ~o0o~

  Juanita had wrapped Zeb’s good suit coat inside a blanket to keep it clean before she placed it in the back of the wagon next to the picnic basket and extra blankets. He wore his old work jacket over his clean shirt to protect it from the road dust. A couple of the brightest stars still shined in the gray dawn sky as he and Juanita began the trip into Jubilee Springs.

  Hours later, Zeb pulled in the front of the Catholic Church on the opposite side of Church Street from the Community Church where he would attend services. He helped her retrieve her picnic basket and one of the blankets from the back. He also unwrapped and shook out the wrinkles of his dress coat before he donned it. Hopefully it would not get too dusty during the ride down the long block to where he would attend church.

  Zeb checked his watch. Good. He was plenty early. He drove the horses over to a trough and let them drink before he drove them to the lot where church-goers parked their wagons and buggies. After finding a place where he figured they would have shade most of the time he was inside, he set the brake and loosened the leads so they could graze.

  Zeb’s steps slowed as he neared the door. Standing outside and off to the side was Eddie Joe and five other men from his ranch. He had to admit they had cleaned up pretty good for men who had come for a night on the town. Still he was not happy to see them. For one thing, they all wore grins on their faces that resembled a cat that had swallowed a bird whole. With a huff of annoyance, he approached the group. As he expected, Eddie Joe spoke first.

  “Morning, Boss. Glad to see you made it in time.”

  Zeb bit back his annoyance. “And what are you boys doing here? I haven’t known you to be ones to attend church.”

  “Guess I could say the same thing about you, but here you are. She’s sitting in the third row back on the right. You picked a good one. She’s pretty and polite as can be.”

  Zeb fought down the anger building in him. “You already spoke to the Brinks family and…and…”

  “Miss Carlson, Boss. But then, you know her name. Yep, we made her acquaintance. I’d get on in there if I was you. You don’t want to make a bad impression by being late to church.”

  Zeb jabbed his finger in Eddie Joe’s direction. “All right. You boys had your fun. But, don’t you go bothering her, and don’t you hang around us, and whatever you do, don’t say anything to embarrass me. You do, you’ll wish you were never born. Is that clear?”

  “Clear as crystal, Boss.”

  “If they’re sitting up front, you boys stay towards the back.”

  “Not a problem, Boss.”

  Zeb would have loved nothing better than to have knocked the smug look off the face of Eddie Joe and a couple others of his hands who were having far too much fun at his expense. However, engaging in fisticuffs in front of the door to the church just as Sunday services were about to begin would probably not go over well with anyone, especially with Miss Bessie Carlson. Instead, Zeb clamped his teeth tight, nodded to his men and walked inside the church.

  As if sensing he had arrived, Bessie turned her face towards him and rewarded him with a smile. He felt his frustration drain from him as he smiled back and strode with confidence down the aisle to sit in the vacant spot on the pew next to her. He nodded towards each member of the Brinks family, taking note of the young woman sitting next to Aaron Brinks. Then he sat up straight and looked forward as if waiting for the preacher to begin the services.

  Zeb was fully aware that by him sitting next to the newest single woman in town he was making a statement to the community. He was staking his claim. He refused to apologize to anyone for doing so.

  After church, Zeb offered Bessie his arm, which she took, and he escorted her outside with the rest of the Brinks family. He patiently went through the process of being introduced to the pastor, Jeffrey Alwin, and several other friends of the Brinks family. The entire time he remained aware of his hands standing along the perimeter of the crowd watching the show.

  As the crowd thinned, Eddie Joe approached Zeb and Bessie, a smile on his face. “Morning, Boss.” He turned to Bessie and lifted his hat. “Miss Carlson.” Are there any plans for this afternoon?”

  Dumbfounded by his foreman’s audacity, Zeb stared at the man. Finally he spoke. “Why, Eddie Joe, it just so happens there is. The plan is I will help Miss Carlson up into the wagon so I can take her to her home at the mercantile. While I have the ranch wagon there at the back of the mercantile, Mr. Brinks and I will load up the rest of that bailing wire order and settle things up. And then you, Eddie Joe, are going to bring your horse and meet me at the livery where I have rented a buggy for the day. You will leave your horse, tack and saddle with Johnny B. and you will take the ranch wagon with the bailing wire home. Of course, first you will need to find Juanita who should still be over by the Catholic Church, and when she’s finished with her picnic and visiting with her friends, you can take her home in the wagon with you.”

  “Ah, what about my horse, Boss?”

  “That’s the beauty of it, Eddie Joe. While your horse is in the livery resting, I’ll be taking Miss Carlson, to someplace private…” Zeb leaned towards Eddie Joe and carefully enunciated his next word. “PRIVATE. For a picnic. That means we won’t be inviting any company along. Understand? Then, after I return Miss Carlson home to her family while it’s still light, I’ll return the buggy to the livery and have your horse I can use to ride back to the ranch.”

  Zeb smiled at the disgruntled expression on his foreman’s face. He couldn’t help but rub it in. “That was real considerate of you to come to town today to make that possible for me, Eddie Joe. Makes thing real convenient this way. Hopefully, if Juanita doesn’t decide to stay too late, you still may beat me home.”

  With a nod of his head towards his men who were now snickering at Eddie Joe’s discomfort instead of his for a change, he turned Bessie to walk in the direction of the wagon. After he helped her up, he drove to the back of the mercantile.

  Zeb removed his good coat and wrapped it before he helped load the bailing wire. When he was finished, he entered the back of the store. After he settled his account and was assured that the women had two picnic baskets prepared—one for the Brinks family and one for him and Bessie—Zeb looked Simon firmly in the eye.

  “I need you to get Bessie down here, please. We have some other accounts to settle that involves her. I’ll need you present, too.”

  Simon looked askance at Zeb’s demand, but went upstairs and returned with Bessie. Bessie joined
the two men, a puzzled look on her face. “Uncle Simon said you need to talk to me about financial matters. I don’t understand.”

  Zeb took her by the hand. “You know how you told me you weren’t in a position to be courted because of your financial obligations?”

  “Yes, but Zeb, that’s my concern. It doesn’t affect you.”

  “Oh, but it does. You remember how you told me some of the men call you Bargain Bessie because they think they would get off cheap marrying you since you are already in town and they don’t have to pay your fees and rail fare?”

  Simon interrupted. “Wait. What’s this? Bessie, you never told us that.”

  Bessie blushed and pulled her hand free. “I never should have said anything. It bothered me at the time, but it was a harmless statement.”

  Zeb shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. It was rude, and you deserve better. I had a talk with Clive Bainbridge about what’s going on with the miners sending off for brides. I figure if the mine owners and each of their workers can put out decent money to encourage a good woman to come here and marry, I can do that and better. Only instead of me paying some bridal agency and the train company, I’m going to pay your uncle. He is aware of most of these debts you feel you owe, isn’t he?” At Bessie’s nod, Zeb pulled out his billfold and placed several bills on the counter. “This is what the mine owners pay the Colorado Bridal Agency for a finder’s fee.” He riffled through some more bills and pulled some out to add to the pile. “This is what the rail fee was from Terre Haute to Denver. The mine owners paid that.”

  Simon spoke up in protest. “She doesn’t need to pay me back for the train fare out here. It was my idea she come.”

  Zeb turned and glared at the storekeeper. “That’s not the point. This is what the fare would be, and you can put it towards her debts. And this…” Zeb pulled out some more bills. “…is what the fare is from Denver to here. And last but not least…” Zeb pulled out one last large bill. “…this is what each miner chipped in so the women who traveled here would have money for food and incidentals.”