Blue Bonnet

by Risner, Fay

  Bat snorted. “Oh, now you're turning into one of them fortune tellers.”

  “No, I happened to see you coming across the street in this direction. The way my gate creaks I always know when someone is headed to my door,” Billie explained. “So are you going to tell me why you're so out of sorts, or are you going to grump around here making me guess?”

  “I just don't know what to do. Leta has the bonnet done,” he said, tapping his fingers on the table as Billie poured his coffee.

  “And that is bad how?” Billie asked, pouring coffee in her cup.

  “I still don't have anyone picked out to give it to. I noticed Leta stopped in to see ya again the other day. Is she still trying to get ya to tell her who the bonnet is for or did ya tell her?” He asked.

  “Don't worry about it. Your deception is safe with me. For your information, I had Leta make me a dress. She was just delivering it. She told me the dress had a narrow escape after it was tromped by your horse when you tried to knock her down on the boardwalk. Really, Bat, you out to get both of us mad at you at the same time?” Billie teased.

  “Nope, that was an accident. I told Leta I'd pay for making another dress if that one was damaged. The dress all right?” He asked halfheartedly.

  “Yes, it turned out better than you seem to be right now anyway. Your burn wound healing all right?”

  “Yip, just a red scar now. Doc says I'm fine, and I'd just as soon ya wouldn't bring it up anymore. I feel foolish enough about getting branded the way it is,” Bat growled.

  Billie gave up. “Then spit it out. What is ailing you?”

  Bat rubbed his forehead. “I guess I just realized I don't have a reason to see Leta anymore. I've kind of enjoyed her company lately.”

  “Why don't you ask her to make another bonnet if you want an excuse to keep seeing her,” Billie suggested, smiling at him.

  “Somehow, it don’t seem practical to pay for another one. I don't know who I'm going to give the one to that I'm already stuck with,” complained Bat. “Besides, I'd just have to go through Leta's grillin' again about who the bonnet is for and all the other questions about trimmin', color and such truck. I didn't have any idea how complicated orderin' something as simple as a woman's bonnet could be. I'd have forgotten about the idea if I had known.”

  “It might be much simpler just to ask Leta to go eat with you or for a ride for no reason at all, other than you want to be with her,” Billie said.

  “I can't do that, and I can't have her make another bonnet just so I can see her,” Bat growled.

  “Oh, for Pete Sakes. Wake up will you, brother. I was just teasing about the bonnet. Of course, you can't keep having that poor woman make you bonnets, one after another, until you decide she's the woman you want to marry.”

  “Is that what I'm doing? That can't be right,” Bat declared.

  Billie plopped down across the table from him and pushed a plate of fresh baked sugar cookies at him. “Why can't it be right?”

  “For one thing, Leta isn't the marrying type. She's just like ya are, a business woman who likes her life like it it,” Bat explained. “That's why it wouldn't work for me to ask her out for no reason other than a business excuse.”

  “Now where did you step in crap, as thick as what's in your pasture, like that?” Billie asked huffily.

  “From what ya said about ya not getting married,” he said quietly.

  “Don't blame me if you misunderstood what I said. For your information, if the right man came along and proposed, I'd say yes so fast it'd make his head spin. In that regard, I think Leta is just like me.

  We can both have our business and a husband, too. There isn't any reason why we can't unless you want to make something out of a woman that works at a respectable job.”

  “No, I don't see anything wrong with a woman ownin' her own business and being married to me at the same time.” Bat chose a cookie and took a big bite. He figured it was better his mouth be full of cookie instead of his foot.

  “What you're doing is making up excuses one right after another to keep from facing the future. If you're not careful, you will let that nice woman get away. Remember what our daddy used to say? The only problem one gets from sitting on the fence too long is a sore backside. Get off that fence on one side or the other, and do it soon before Leta gives up on you,” Billie ordered.

  Bat snorted, doubled his fist and thumbed his chest. “Am I the only one ya shell out this sort of wise advice to or are there others?”

  “So far you're the only one that needs the benefit of my wisdom. Most people right off know what is best for them,” Billie said. She looked at her brother like he was one of his dumb mossyhorns that never knew where he was supposed to go and had to be driven.

  “All right, I guess I asked for that. I did come here for advice, but ya don't have to beat me over the head with it,” Bat said grinning at her. “I surely will give what ya said some thought.”

  By Wednesday afternoon when Bat walked into the seamstress shop, he had climbed off his daddy's imaginary fence and made his decision. He just hoped he climbed off the right side of the fence. “Howdy, Leta. The bonnet done now?”

  “It is,” Leta said, standing up and laying a dress over her chair. “ I have it on the counter.”

  She went to the end of the counter, picked the bonnet up and turned it over so Bat could see the brim. “I went ahead and put gold trim on it. I hope that looks all right to you?”

  “It looks fine. That's a right pretty bonnet,” Bat said, impressed. “How much do I owe ya?”

  “Two dollars.”

  Bat laid the money in her outstretched hand. His fingertips tingled when he touched her warm palm. A notion went through his head. He'd like to just grab Leta’s hand and hold on to it while he leaned across the counter and kissed her, but he couldn’t do that. A show of public affection in her store might make her mad. He was just getting started with his plan. He sure didn't want to upset Leta or scare her off right away if he could help it.

  “Where do I send the bonnet?” Leta's curiosity was as keen as ever. She was dying to know.

  Bat hesitated, looking into her blue eyes. He had come up with a good, truthful answer he hoped would win Leta's hand instead of making her laugh at him. “How about goin' with me to deliver the bonnet?”

  Leta looked shocked. “Really? Are you sure you want me along?”

  “I'm sure. When ya close up the shop, I'll come by with a buggy. We're goin' for a ride,” Bat said.

  “Where?”

  “Out to my ranch. I'd like to show ya where I've lived most of my life. Would ya like to see the ranch?” He asked, evading the answer she really wanted to know.

  “I'd love to see your ranch,” Leta said dubiously.

  She enjoyed the ride and listened to Bat talk, with pride in his voice, about the ranch. He wanted to familiarize Leta with his life. He could tell she seemed interested. So far so good, but he wasn't going to breathe easy until this evening was over.

  Suddenly, Leta said, “You know I really don't know much about you. What I do know I like you understand, but I've been curious. Bat is a strange name. It must be short for something. What does Bat stand for?”

  “Ooh,” he groaned. “I was hopin' ya wouldn't get around to askin' me that.”

  “Why?”

  “I've never been fond of the name my folks saddled me with. If ya got to know, my name is Bartholomew. My daddy tagged me with Bat, because it wasn't such a mouth full to say. I think it was about the time Bat Masterson was makin' such a name for himself. The older I got the more I was grateful to my daddy for helpin' me out like that.”

  “I see. Well, you would be the same nice man with any name your folks chose for you. However, I'm fond of Bat, too,” Leta said, scooting closer to him and wrapping her arm through his.

  When they pulled up in front of the house, Bat, stopped the buggy and pointed toward the bunkhouse. “That was my first home where the cowhands live now. Hannah and I live
d there for a few years before I built this house. We needed a bunkhouse for the men so it was time to move.”

  He held his hand out to help her down. “Climb out of that buggy and stretch yer legs. Seems like a long drive out here.”

  “Not for me. I've enjoyed every minute of the trip,” Leta assured him. She started toward the porch, and he stopped her.

  “Let's go for a walk. It's cool in the shade of the path down to Sidewinder Creek,” Bat said. He took her arm as they walked down the path. “We used this path every day. Sometimes, several times a day when we needed water. We had to carry the water from Sidewinder Creek.”

  “Why is the creek called Sidewinder?”

  “Ever see a sidewinder snake crawl?” Bat asked.

  “Yes, once there was one in my front yard. The snake crawled sideways one way and then the other,” Leta said.

  “Yip, and that is the same way this old creek winds through my ranch,” Bat said.

  The water level in the creek was lower than in the spring. They stood on the edge of the bank, looking at the red, muddy water that moved lazily along. Bat picked up a pebble and skipped it across the water.

  “You have a lot of good memories on this ranch with Hannah, don't you?” Leta asked.

  “Couldn't have held onto the ranch without her helping me defend it. I went off to get supplies not long after we moved in, and Indians tried to carry Hannah and Billie off when they came for water,” Bat said.

  “What happened?” Leta asked in a hushed voice.

  “Hannah and Billie fought like wild cats. Six Indians couldn't calm them down enough to carry them off. The Indians wound up leavin', and they didn't come back,” Bat told her. “That was just the first time of many we fought side by side.”

  “Billie's quite a woman, and it sounds like Hannah was, too,” Leta said.

  “She was. Would ya like to see where she's resting?” Bat asked.

  “Yes, show me,” Leta said.

  They walked on the path and came out behind the house. Leta walked with Bat up the hill. A small green lizard darted among the rocks in front of them all the way to a semicircle of cedar trees. Hannah's large stone was in the middle of the fenced area.

  Bat took his hat off and pointed at the tombstone engraved with Hannah's name and dates. “That's where she rests.”

  Leta studied the landscape she viewed from the hill. “I'm sure Hannah would have approved of this spot high on the hill overlooking the ranch she loved.”

  “I reckon so.” Bat suddenly remembered Billie's warning. He shouldn't talk about Hannah to a woman he dated. He should change the subject, but he had to ask, “Leta, you mind me telling ya about my life on the ranch with Hannah and showing ya where she rests?”

  Leta turned to him, puzzled. “Of course, I don't. This ranch is your life and that included Hannah. You loved her very much. Why would you ask?”

  Bat grinned. “Guess Billie might be wrong once in awhile. She said if I brought a lady to see the ranch I shouldn't talk about Hannah. Most women didn't want to hear such talk.”

  Leta reached for his hand, squeezed it and smiled. “I'd say you're right. For once, Billie is wrong.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Bat took her arm. “Come on. Let's go back to the house and look at where I live when I working.”

  Leta didn't budge. “I'd love to, but after that, do we deliver the bonnet?”

  “Yip, that's the plan if everything goes all right,” Bat said hesitantly.

  Leta questioned, “What could go wrong with giving a woman a pretty bonnet?”

  “I'm hoping nothing when the time comes,” Bat said nervously, taking off down the hill to avoid Leta's stare. She walked up the porch steps ahead of Bat.

  The whippoorwills were calling as he reached into the buggy and grabbed the bonnet package. He held it behind his back as they went into the house.

  He was glad Billie's job of house cleaning had held up as he gave Leta a tour of the rooms.

  She was complimentary about the whole house. “I can see why you love it here. This is a lovely house and ranch. I'm surprised you ever moved to town and left your home.”

  “It got lonesome here after my wife died. Too quiet in here by myself. Too many ghosts and memories,” he said truthfully, knowing his voice sounded sad.

  “I can see how that would be right. Are you ever going to move back here? This is where you belong you know?” Leta told him.

  “Yip, I know. I miss wakin' up to the sun peekin' over the ridge and shinin' in my bedroom window to brighten the room and my day.

  I miss goin' to bed with the coyotes yippin' and a hoot owl answerin' them. Lately, while I've been workin' with the cowhands, I found I missed livin' here where I can help on the ranch. So I'm fixin' to move out here right away. Want to help me move?” Rushed out of Bat's mouth.

  Leta gave him a curious look. “Me? Well, if you don't have enough help, I'd be glad to help you get everything unpacked and into place. I'm glad you're moving back home if that makes you happy. Of course, I'll miss running into you in Dead Horse.” She paused when he looked regretful. “I didn't mean that literally. Now we should deliver the bonnet before it gets any later.”

  Bat licked his lips. It was now or never. He held the small brown package out to Leta. “I brought the bonnet in with me. Do me a favor. Put the bonnet on so I can see how it looks.”

  “I'm not sure a woman would like another woman trying on her gift, before she gets to wear it, but all right,” she said reluctantly. Leta slipped the bonnet on. She turned her head one way then the other, proudly modeling her creation. “The lucky woman you bought this for should be very proud of it. What do you think?”

  “I think that bonnet suits ya to a tee. It matches yer eyes. I’d like ya to be the lucky lady to keep and wear that bonnet for me. That is, if ya will have it and me.”

  Leta stopped twisting around and wobbled on her feet. “What did you just say?”

  “Will ya marry me?” Rushed out of Bat’s mouth.

  Leta gasped and took the bonnet off. She draped it over a rocker. “I'm afraid you've taken me by surprise. I didn't see this coming.” She paused a moment to take in what he said.

  “Say somethin', Anythin',” Bat urged. “I'm dyin' here.”

  Leta's eyes teared up. “I don’t see how I could do that to you, Bat, even if I did want to say yes. Between the store and the house, I have too many debts to marry anyone.”

  Without hesitation, Bat replied, “I have plenty of money. I’ll pay yer debts. If ya want to stay in Dead Horse rather than live on the ranch, we can live in yer house. I don’t mind doing that for ya if ya will have me. It's taken me a long time to figure out I love ya, Leta. Don’t know for the life of me, why it took me so long to realize it. Now I know I want to marry ya no matter what.”

  Leta came to him and put her hand on his cheek. “No matter what? Truth is, I must admit I was a little quicker than you to realize I love you. I've loved you from the first time I talked to you, Bat Kayhill. I just didn't have a clue you felt the same way about me. You've been very good at hiding your feelings.”

  She stepped back behind the rockers and paced back and forth as Bat's forehead wrinkled in worry. “That's why your proposal surprises me. I thought you had another woman in mind to give the bonnet,” Leta said honestly. She stopped pacing and whirled to face him. “Wait a minute! I think you owe me an explanation.” She rushed around the rockers and stood in front of Bat with her hands on her hips. “You said you didn’t know for sure you loved me until now. So what woman was the bonnet really for? What happened? Did she turn you down so you decided to settle for me?”

  Bat scrunched his face up. He hated to admit an answer to that question, but he didn't want her thinking there was another woman in his life. The more agitated Leta got with the way she was thinking might just make her turn his proposal down. “Well --- well ----why did ya have to ask? I feel like a fool telling ya the truth.”

  Leta crossed her
arms in front of her and said, “Go on. You're not getting out of explaining to me, Bartholomew Kayhill.”

  “Ya see, it was like this. The bonnet was a gift for whoever I found that would marry me. I didn’t have anyone special in mind until now, but I intended to be prepared with a gift when I chose a bride that would fit into my life,” Bat stuttered as he grinned boyishly at her.

  Leta gave him a disbelieving sideways look. “Honestly? That's the truth?” Bat shook his head yes. Her hand went over her mouth as she stifled a giggle. “Unbelievable! Aren't you a real caution! You had me make a bonnet for an imaginary woman?”

  “Yip, that's the truth, Ma’am,” Bat declared.

  “Start calling me Leta again, and I'll say yes. I will marry you, Bat.” She put her arms around his neck and kissed him to seal the proposal.

  That next Sunday after church, Bat invited his daughters and sister to join Leta and him for lunch at the hotel. The women in his life knew something was up from the way Bat was smiling all the time.

  At lunch, Bat told them he invited them to eat with Leta and him for a reason. The two of them wanted to tell his family he had asked Leta to marry him, and she said yes.

  After he announced they were getting married, Bat told the story to his girls about Leta making her own bonnet without knowing it. His daughters looked at Leta with concern for her.

  “That must have been difficult to say the least, trying to figure out whether to make a narrow or wide bill,” Tessie said, looking at her father like he was a simpleton.

  “How did you know if you should use narrow or wide ties?” Ethel asked, amazed that Leta even took the order.

  “Well, it was rather a puzzle as to how to style the bonnet. I didn't know who the woman was that was getting it,” Leta said.

  Tessie shook her head at her father.

  Ethel did some loud tongue clicking before she asked, “Did you know about the bonnet, Aunt Billie?”

  “Yes, I knew he ordered a bonnet, but it was only recently he decided whom to give it to. I'm glad Leta knows the story. I was afraid your father wasn't going to tell her the truth, because of what she'd think of him. She might always have gone through life wondering who the other woman was,” Billie said, patting Leta's hand in sympathy.