by Duane Boehm
“Hey Zack, Abby and I are planning on riding out to my old homestead today. Do you think that you can keep an eye on things while I’m gone? I don’t think there will be much need for a cripple like you to have to shoot a gun,” Gideon said as he sat at his desk looking at wanted posters.
Zack was sitting in front of the desk cleaning his guns. “I wouldn’t insult me and ask for a favor all in the same breath if I were you. I might just feel too poorly to do it and besides, I’d think that you would want to wait until you could take the whole family with you. I wouldn’t think an old thing like you would care to be alone with Abby or anything,” he said with a smirk.
“My ‘anything’ works just fine, thank you. By the way, I got a new poster on Big Nose and apparently he hit a pay wagon up in Montana. Have you been thinking about what you are going to do?” Gideon said.
“Not really, but I guess when I can shoot again I need to go look for Big Nose,” Zack said.
“Zack, he is making enough nuisance of himself that the law will catch him before long. Leave it to them. You need some seasoning before you go after somebody like that. Your pa wouldn’t have wanted you getting killed trying to revenge his death,” Gideon said.
“Maybe, but don’t you think it’s my responsibility to see that he gets justice?” Zack said.
“No, that is for the law to handle. If everybody went around here avenging everybody else’s death, it would be mayhem,” Gideon said.
“Do you think Ethan would really hire me?” Zack asked.
“I think there is a good chance of it. And if you are interested, I would like to try to talk the city council into letting me hire you part–time as a deputy. I’m not sure I can get them to go along with it. This city council is so tight that they probably will get the vapors if I ask them,” Gideon said.
“That would be nice. I could learn two jobs that way. Do you think I could learn to rope and develop an eye for cattle?” Zack said.
“I think with Ethan teaching you that you could. It’s a better job than getting shot at and more money too if you know what you are doing,” Gideon said.
Zack placed his revolver on the desk and looked at Gideon solemnly. “I shouldn’t try to court Joann, should I? She could do a lot better than me and I bet if she played her cards right she could marry some rich rancher’s son. I’m sure that you would like to see your daughter with somebody better than me,” he said.
Gideon made a snorting sound. “You are making a lot of assumptions there. First off, Joann is old enough to decide whom she wants to court and unless they are no good, I’ll stay out of it. Don’t you think that Sarah and Abby could have had anybody that they wanted? In fact, Marcus comes from a pretty well off family, but that didn’t buy Abby happiness. So I think that you and Joann can figure out whether you want to court each other without my input. Caring about and loving someone goes a lot further than money,” Gideon said.
Zack grinned at Gideon. “Thank you. I bet when you found me knocked silly out there that you never thought that you would have to be dealing with me all the time,” he said.
“Hell no. I might have left you if I had it to do over,” Gideon said as he reached in his drawer and pulled out a badge, tossing it on the desk. “Wear that so people know you are in charge. It should get the city council shook up too and maybe get them used to the idea. Just don’t do anything silly.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you down,” Zack said.
Gideon walked to the stables to retrieve Buck and Abby’s horse, a lively gelding named Snuggles, for their ride. After saddling them, he walked the horses to Abby’s house trying to work the stiffness out of his left leg. On some mornings the gunshot wound that he had suffered earlier that year caused it to need loosening up.
“Well, good morning to you, Gideon,” Joann said as she met him at the door.
“You are certainly in a good mood today. I guess getting Abby out of the house would do that to you,” Gideon said.
“I heard that,” Abby hollered from the back.
“I just think that it is so cute that you two are going courting. Are you going to carve your initials in a tree again?” Joann asked.
“I didn’t think that you approved of me seeing her,” Gideon said.
“Well, if you ever come out and say that you are staying, I could get used to the idea,” Joann replied.
“If I do, you’ll be the first to know since it seems to be such a concern to you,” he said before leaning over and kissing her cheek for the first time. He did it without thinking and became embarrassed by his actions.
Joann, sensing his discomfort, gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so happy that we are getting to know each other,” she said.
Abby entered the room carrying her saddlebag. “I got us a picnic stuffed in here. It should be a good day for it and a ride,” she said.
“Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do,” Joann said as they headed out the door.
Abby began turning red and spun towards Joann. “You better not do what I might or might not do,” she said.
They could hear Joann still laughing as they mounted their horses. “She gets that ornery streak from you, you know,” Abby said.
“Sure she does. Everybody knows how prim and proper you are,” Gideon said.
“Keep talking like that and you will see prim and proper when you have something totally the opposite on your mind,” Abby said.
Gideon had to bite his tongue to keep from telling her that she wanted it as badly as he did, but decided to smile and leave it at that. “Let’s ride,” he said, tipping his hat.
Abby was in an unusually chatty mood as they rode towards the homestead. She was rambling on about all the things that she liked about her horse Snuggles and then she moved on to Buck explaining the things that she found worthy in the animal. Gideon thought back to when they were kids and the days like this when Abby’s talkativeness would about drive him crazy. He glanced over at her and had an epiphany that he was the most content that he had ever been in his adult life. He could think of nothing that he would rather be doing than riding beside her and listening to her talk up a blue streak. At that moment, he realized that he was home for good.
“I love you,” he said, interrupting her.
Abby looked at him, surprised by the spontaneity of his proclamation. “I love you too. Always have and always will,” she said.
Gideon’s declaration of love knocked Abby out of her horse dissertation and made her thoughtful. “Sometimes when we are together it almost seems like we were never apart. It’s as if we picked up right where we left off. Do you feel that way?” she asked.
“Sure do. I think the heart of it is that with all that you have been through that you never lost who you were and I found again who I was and those two people never lost their bond to each other,” Gideon said.
“Sounds like something that somebody that read Shakespeare would say,” Abby teased.
“I don’t know about that. I think the bard would have said it a lot prettier than that. I’m pretty sure that that part of me is lost for good. I can’t tell you the last time that I read a book,” he said.
“Let’s pick up the pace and get to the aspen grove,” Abby said.
They trotted the horses to their spot on the homestead, neither speaking the rest of the way. Abby untied her saddlebag and slung it over her shoulder before marching up the hill with Gideon in tow.
“Slow down, Abby. It’s a picnic not a raid,” Gideon said.
Abby turned towards him. “Maybe I’m really, really hungry for some –,” she said and winked at him.
“You are terrible,” he said.
“Would you rather me be one of those women that hikes up their nightgown and squints their face in displeasure? I’ve heard enough of them complaining to know that a lot of them are like that,” she said.
“Good God, Abby, do we have to have this conversation,” Gideon said.
“No, we don’t, but quit
being such a prude. You need to accept that I like a good romp in the hay with you just as much as you do and if I want to be bawdy once in a while, just enjoy it,” Abby said.
Gideon stopped walking and grinned at her. “I must have been out of my mind to leave this behind and go enlist in a war,” he said.
“I sure thought so,” Abby said as she found the spot that she was looking for and pulled a blanket from her bag, spreading it on the ground. She plopped down on it, leaning back and bracing herself with her hands. “I think this is my favorite spot in the whole world.”
Gideon sat down beside her. “Mine too,” he said before leaning over and kissing her softly.
Abby wrapped her arms around him and they started kissing slow and sensually before falling back onto the blanket and kissing some more. She ran her hand down the side of his face and said, “Gideon, undress me. I want to watch you rediscover me in the light of day.”
Gideon removed her clothes slowly trying to conceal his hands shaking from wanting her so badly. Abby watched silently, her gasp of shallow breaths betraying her state. He stood and removed his clothes quickly before rejoining her. They made love with neither of them saying another word.
Lying face to face afterwards, Gideon broke the silence. “This is my home and I’m not going anywhere. Abigail, will you do me the honor and marry me?” he said.
Abby took her hands and rubbed them down the sides of his face. “I’ve been waiting to hear those words from you since I was a little girl. We’ve never done anything the normal way so I guess a buck–naked proposal is in keeping with the spirit of things. Gideon Johann, I will marry you and go to the ends of the earth with you,” she said.
Gideon leaned in and kissed her. “We have finally got there,” he said.
“Love me again to seal the deal,” Abby said with a laugh.
They made love again and then had their picnic. “This food taste great today. I believe this fried chicken is better than Sarah can cook it,” Gideon said.
Abby winked at him. “I just made you ravenous is what it is. A little good loving and my food is suddenly better than hers. I guess that I know how to work a complement from you now,” she said.
“If that was work, I sure never heard you complaining about it. I hope I don’t have to pay for it,” he said.
“I’ll make you think pay for it,” Abby said.
“After we finish, let’s ride down to the old home and start figuring out our plans for rebuilding it,” Gideon said.
“I’d like that. We can turn it into a home again and a happy place just like it used to be,” she said.
Riding into the yard of the old place still upset Gideon. He had made numerous trips there since his return and never got used to the sight of its decay. Thoughts of what his parents would think if they could see the place always crept into his mind.
“At least the well is still good. Nothing else is salvageable. It will be the same as starting from scratch,” Gideon said.
“I know it’s hard on you seeing the place this way. It’s hard enough on me. Have you figured out anything?” Abby asked.
“Pa had it laid out right. I would put the house and barn in the same spots. We can burn what’s left of them and start over,” he said.
“What happened to all your possessions?” she asked.
“I don’t have a clue. We left everything in the cabin when we enlisted. I guess they were stolen or Frank got them when he bought the place for back taxes. It doesn’t matter now,” Gideon said.
“What kind of home do you envision?” Abby asked.
“Until we were riding out here today I had never accepted that I was definitely staying so I never gave it much thought. What do you have in mind?” he said.
“I’d be fine with a log cabin as long as we make it big enough that we have some room. I know Sarah never feels that she has enough space for anything. After the divorce, we won’t be poor either. You know that on that day that I told you that I was divorcing Marcus that I meant it when I said that the money would be there for us if you ever decided to settle down,” she said.
“We’ll see. I would rather get a loan and pay things off with what I make,” Gideon said.
“No, we will not do it that way. I refuse to go into a marriage where this over here is mine and that over there is yours. I won’t have it. We are in this together all the way and no other way,” Abby said.
“Oh my God, you are bossy. It’s a good thing we got to make love today because I’ll probably lose my manhood the way you order me around,” he said.
Abby leaned over and kissed him. “Mr. Johann, I assure you that you do not have to worry about that. You have eighteen years of loving to make up for. I would be more concerned, if I were you, about them falling off from overuse at your advanced age,” she said.
Gideon turned red, still embarrassed by some of the things that came out of Abby’s mouth. He had never heard such talk from any women besides saloon girls. Embarrassed or not, he couldn’t help but look forward to beginning their life together, deciding that there could be a lot more discouraging things coming from his bride to be than wanting to love on him.
“Let’s just talk about the rooms that we will need and leave it at that,” he said.
“I can do that,” Abby said, grinning in triumph.
They bandied around ideas on the cabin layout for an hour and then took a ride over the rest of the property. “Have you thought about how much land that you want to buy?” Abby asked.
“I was hoping to get this place, of course, and the tract south of here. That would give us some land towards town,” Gideon said.
“What about Frank’s land west of here? I know some of it is mountains, but I remember some good grazing land from when you and I used to go riding over there. I could oversee the ranch and we could hire us a good foreman to run the day–to–day stuff. That way if you ever get tired of being sheriff, we would have the ranch,” she said.
“I don’t know, Abby. You’re talking about a lot of money for land and cattle and then trying to find a good foreman. Ethan is having a hard time finding a decent ranch hand. Did you help Marcus that much with running the place?” he said.
“I did all the books and weighed in on the decisions. I don’t know cattle like I do horseflesh, but I know some and surely could learn more. Just think about it. We don’t have much time,” Abby said.
“Let’s take a quick ride over that way and then head back. I don’t want to give you a chance to come up with any more ideas for today,” Gideon said.
Chapter 16
Mary awoke on the second day after Hiatt’s beating more sore than ever. Nightmares of Hiatt returning with the papers for her to sign had caused her to sleep restlessly and the gambler stayed on her mind constantly during her waking hours. She was able to do little more than get out of bed and her face was too much of a mess to be seen by anyone even if she considered going downstairs. Her lips were busted and swollen and her cheek and right eye were badly bruised. All her facial wounds would heal with time and did not concern her, but her breast was oozing pus and she felt feverish. As much as she hated to admit it, a visit from Doc Abram was going to be in order and she feared that she would be unable to keep him quiet over what he saw. After Delta stopped in to check on her and deliver some breakfast, Mary reluctantly sent her to retrieve the doctor by way of the back alley.
An hour later there was a knock on the door and the familiar old voice of the doctor calling, “Mary?”
“Come in, Doc,” Mary called out.
“What in tarnation happened to you?” Doc said as soon as he opened the door.
“Let’s go with I fell down the stairs,” she said, attempting a smile.
“Those stairs must have one hell of a left hook then,” the doctor said in an agitated voice.
“That’s not the worst of it. Doc, I think I am in trouble,” Mary said and exposed her breast.
“Damn it to hell, Mary. Why didn’t you get me as soon
as this happened?” Doc said and put his hand on her forehead to check her temperature.
“I thought I would be okay,” she said.
“Well, you were wrong. You are burning up with fever and your breast is a mess. It needed cleaning and stitches. I’m going to have to open the wound back up to clean it and sew it back,” he said.
“You just want to play with me for free,” Mary joked.
“Tell me what happened,” Doc said, ignoring her attempt at humor.
“It’s going to be okay. Just let it go,” she said.
“I’m going to go get Gideon and get to the bottom of this,” he said.
“No, absolutely not. He cannot know a thing about this. Somebody is forcing me to sell them this place. Doc, if I don’t, me and others could die. It’s that simple. I can start over,” Mary said.
“That’s why we have a sheriff, for Christ’s sake. Gideon can handle this,” Doc raged.
“Gideon is just getting his life back and I am not about to get him killed, or me either for that matter, for a whorehouse saloon. It’s just not worth it,” she said.
“Why don’t you think Gideon can handle this? I don’t think that there are many men that could get the best of him,” Doc said.
“Doc, in my profession you come to know men and this one is as bad as Hank Sligo or Frank DeVille ever thought about being and he won’t play by the rules,” Mary said.
“Well, Gideon took care of those two just fine. I still don’t see why you think he can’t handle this,” he said.
“This man will ambush him before Gideon knows what hit him. Doc, you have to honor your oath and not tell him about my condition. You are my doctor after all,” she said.
“I guess I don’t have much say in the matter, but I still think it is wrong. I thought you had more grit in you than this,” Doc said.
“I will not get Gideon killed. I can live with a lot of things, but not that. Now are you going to fix me up or what?” Mary said.
“You realize that I am going to know who this person is after they become the new owner of this place,” he said.
“It won’t matter by then. He will have want he wants and all will be fine. He also is the one that killed Mr. Vander. That’s another reason I know he means business,” Mary said.
