He ran his hands up her arms until he entwined her fingers and slowly rolled her under him as she locked her feet making it difficult for him to do anything other than accept her control. Meeks with great skill managed to get out of his clothes as he struggled to restrain her. She demanded his full attention as he buried himself in the building heat that she intended to draw off. Her fingers were alive with urgency as she arched bringing the silkiness of her skin against him with a vibration of pure adrenaline.
Meeks rolled off of her and reached over for a cigar. When he turned back she took it away and kissed him. “I didn’t say I was through.”
Meeks pulled her hair away from her face. “I think if you wish to keep me busy all night the least you can do is get the chocolate.”
Mirisa fell asleep as the moon fell behind the trees. Meeks kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. He thought the decision to return to Colorado to raise the children was a good one. Over the holidays, they had gifted James with the land on the river that the small cabin sat on. The cabin had provided such solitude in the summers when Meeks needed to have distance between his love for Mirisa and his impatience at her ability to accept an unhappy life. James refused to remove the small structure and instead drew up plans to attach a house to it. The land was higher than the riverbed so it was taking a lot of work to put in a foundation. Meeks had laughed when James decided to put rope bridges between the two houses which were separated by the deep woods that ran down the very rocky ravine to the river but the girls loved it when he built a treehouse in the largest tree. Life had slowed down mostly because of their age and Colorado was growing as more and more people attempted to leave the crowded east coast for adventure.
James took the girls into town to wait for the train. They had breakfast in the big restaurant that had been built west of the train depot for the traveling passengers. He let them order which was always interesting since they would change their minds ten times until they all ordered the same thing.
Sara was more of a tomboy than any of the girls and always wore her hair in a braid with her hat hanging down her back unless she was riding. Her whole world revolved around her horse and Ghost who was never more than a foot away from her. Lizzie was the exact opposite and even though she was a lot like Garnett, she had a love of life and compassion for anything that she thought was unfair. Cassie was just a bundle of energy that never diminished and she wore her love in her eyes. The one trait that they all shared was a confident independence and assurance that they could do whatever they wanted to in life.
“Daddy?”
“Yes pumpkin.”
“I can see the smoke from the train.” She was pointing down the track.
“Then I guess we should pay up and meet the train.” James motioned to the waiter as the girls stood up.
They walked out onto the platform as the train came around the bend as the brakes started sending out billows of steam. Cassie stood up on the bench as the sound of the metal sliding along the rails made her put her hands over her ears as she laughed.
Garnett stepped down off the car and threw his saddlebag down as Lizzie ran to him. He lifted her up kissing her as she wrapped her arms around him. He shook hands with James before walking down to the livestock car for his horse. James told the girls to load up as Garnett saddled his horse. He lifted Lizzie up on his horse then mounted. It was a beautiful day to ride.
Mirisa was sitting out on the porch weaving a basket and watching Meeks and Jonathan fish off the large rocks. Meeks threw his line out and watched as the trout actually came out of the water to swallow the fly. Jonathan watched at the fluidness of his moves.
“Meeks?”
“Yes Jonathan.”
“I wish to thank you for being part of my life but more so for providing a good home in which I could grow.”
Meeks removed the fish and put on another fly before throwing it upstream. “You have been a good son and your bravery for someone so young is something you should always wear with pride.”
“I am going to spend the summer in the higher mountains at the invitation of Dog Moon. There I will learn the ways of the people.”
Meeks pulled in the large trout and removed him but he turned to Jonathan instead of putting on another fly. “Have you spoken to your father?”
“I believe that I am of an age where my future is now mine to decide. I understand that he believes I should conform to the changing of the times but my life shall be one without restraints of your world or at least without most of them.”
“There were many things that we did in our youth that made us the men we are and most were without those restraints. Some men are made to live outside acceptable society and unfortunately those men are becoming fewer. I think what I love the most about living in Colorado is the freedom to enjoy the beauty of the countryside.”
“Do you trust me?”
“I trust you like I trust myself.”
“I want to take Maggie with me for the summer.”
“I assumed as much and I assume that you have already spoken to your mother.”
“I have and like all mothers she is torn between letting go of her children and pulling them to her bosom with prayers of protection. A mother seeks from a man the essence of his strength and bravery and puts that strength in creating her children. If she lies with a weak man her children will struggle but if she seeks a strong powerful man her children will stand tall in the face of adversity. It took a very strong man to not only approach her but to capture her true love. She will always bow to your needs and obey your commands as is the way of a woman.”
“Obviously you are not aware of her true ability to get what she wants.”
“The spider is rarely seen when she sits in the shadows.”
“I will talk to Maggie as well as her mother but if you are concerned that I have trust in you put that aside. I have never been able to understand your birth but I know you would die to keep her safe. That is something that few people possess.”
Meeks put another fly on his pole and they spent an hour fishing in silence. Mirisa heard the noise of the girls as they came through the door. James stepped out onto the porch and sat down next to Mirisa.
“It’s been a long time since you have sat and weaved a basket.”
“There are a lot of things I haven’t done in a long time. Some I don’t miss and others I miss a lot.” She looked at James who smiled.
“Amazing how just your voice stirs my loins.”
“I’m glad to hear that your memories are still intact.” He lit a cigar and put his feet up on the railing. “Is Jonathan trying to talk him into something?”
“He wants to take Maggie with him this summer.”
“Into the mountains? Isn’t she too young?”
“I would rather send her into the mountains with her brother then watch the Smith boy hang all over my fence this summer.”
Garnett stepped out onto the porch. “He wouldn’t be hanging over the fence if she wasn’t so damn beautiful.”
Mirisa looked up as he bent over and kissed her. “If you are going to renew James’ memories, I insist on being part of it.”
“I have missed you Garnett.”
“Well you will be glad to hear that I will be moving out permanently.” Garnett sat down on the steps. “So does she like this Smith boy?”
“She teases him unmercifully but I don’t know if she understands how stupid young boys can be when they are swimming in dreams of lust.”
James shook his head. “It’s not a matter of being stupid as much as not being able to see danger that is breathing down your neck. He’s not a bad looking young man.”
“Any man who is afraid of a girl’s father doesn’t have what it takes to make a woman happy.”
“We were afraid of your father.”
“No you weren’t.”
“Darling, being afraid of a father is a natural response by any man with an ounce of common sense and you have no idea how threatening your
father could be.”
“It didn’t seem to stop you.”
“No one said common sense won over desire. In fact, it usually doesn’t which is where the danger reaches up and knocks you to the ground. Many a young suitor has ended up with his face in the dirt.”
“Isn’t that Smith boy one of Jonathan’s friends?”
“He is but he follows Maggie around like a sick puppy dog.” James laughed so hard that he couldn’t talk. “James I would not mock me considering your daughter will be pursued by dumb boys one day.”
The girls came out of the house and headed down to the river as Jonathan helped them climb up. He handed Sara his rod and told Maggie to get the cane poles. Cassie sat down and took off her shoes and stockings before rolling up her jeans. She said something to Meeks who looked down at her. He handed his rod to Lizzie and knelt down as she put her hands on his shoulders. He rolled up each leg so they were perfect and pulled her shirt out and unbuttoned the bottom buttons tying it. He turned to Lizzie who was talking to him as he knelt down. Meeks whipped it slightly as she nodded while he put his hand over hers and sent it half way across the river. Meeks showed her how to pull it back in when a trout hit it with a splash and Lizzie leaned back against him screaming that she caught a big fish.
“He’s good with the children.”
“All of you are wonderful with the children. How long are you staying?”
“I’ll be here about three weeks but I must be back for a murder trial.”
“If you move out here will you continue to practice law?”
“Maybe but I haven’t really given it a lot of thought. I understand that someone has gotten a foot hole into the dredges of Denver.”
“A southerner named Randolph Smith. Young man who is slicker than most but also ruthless. Fortunately he has set up in the old part of Denver and away from the newer part of town.”
“Well, it can’t really get any rougher than it was when we first came to Colorado.”
“Yeah, but we were part of that life so it was tolerable.”
The children cleaned all the fish as James got up lighting the outside fire. They sat on the porch talking until the afternoon started to fade behind the trees.
The birthday party started when Mirisa came out with a chocolate cake. James cut the first piece giving it to Lizzie who like all the children loved chocolate. Even though it was late May, they decided to celebrate Garnett and Lizzie’s birthdays while he was home.
“Lizzie?” She turned to her father and took in a big breath. Garnett put a large present down on the table. Lizzie walked over and pulled the ribbon and unwrapped the box. Cassie leaned over the table trying to see what was in the box. Lizzie touched the small leather case and looked at her father. He squatted down and unlatched the case lifting up a beautiful violin. Garnett stood before he handed it to her.
“Daddy, I don’t know how to play.”
“The music teacher will be here at the end of the month. The preacher has agreed to house him while he teaches you and plays on Sundays during services.”
Meeks took a second piece of cake as the children looked at their mother questioningly. “Mom, is he allowed to have a second piece?”
“And which one of you think you can now take it away from him?”
The all looked back at Meeks but didn’t say anything. Meeks took a sip of milk to wash down the chocolate. “Garnett, what is his name?”
“Lenny Winston. I’ve hired him for six months but believe I will probably only get three out of him if I’m lucky. I think if he stays at the rectory that he will feel safer.”
“This sounds interesting.”
“And I thought the church was on your daily route which will make it easier.”
“He doesn’t ride?” Garnett laughed as James shook his head. “We’ll put him in the room across from me. He can keep Mirisa busy while we supervise the building.”
“Whatever you want just don’t let anything bad happen or the man may never leave home again.”
Garnett put the violin back in the case as James gave her a present that she unwrapped finding a small music stand. Meeks gave her a toe ring with her initials and birth date. She sat on the floor and removed her left shoe and stocking before slipping it on her middle toe. Meeks gave the girls toe rings starting on their tenth birthday. Mirisa finally sent the girls to get ready for bed as James cleaned off the table. He put Mirisa’s cake on the table with a cup of tea then broke out the whisky.
“Dominic has been getting rumors about the criminal elements that are moving into Denver and the rise in corruption in the local Politians. Have you noticed anything specific?”
“It is basically confined to the bordellos and card rooms With so many men moving through town, it is very easy to run a con game without raising eyebrows. I have pretty much stopped going into that part of town.”
“So what are you doing for entertainment?”
“Building my own house so I can hire a housekeeper.”
Garnett smiled. “Won’t that be a problem with the girls?”
“Well, it is either that or I get married.”
“Then maybe we need to go into town and see what the problem seems to be.”
Meeks looked across the table. “The problem is riding solo into town and back. There are too many opportunities for those who are less than honorable or down on their luck. If you sit at the table, the last thing you want to expose is any money you have or you leave with. Too many men have woken up in the alley without a memory of what happened.”
“So it’s basically thugs?”
“Right out of the docks of New York but this is a younger far braver group who readjusts whenever someone gets too close to their trade.”
“James are you ready to go play with the big boys?”
James downed his shot as Mirisa came out and curled up next to Meeks. “Going out to celebrate?”
“We’re going out to see if we can find some trouble.”
“Garnett…”
He walked behind the couch and bent over kissing Mirisa. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Mirisa looked at Meeks who shrugged. “The one thing we don’t worry about is whether or not they can find trouble since the two of them love to make it before taking care of it.”
“Well, life has been very quiet so I should have anticipated their inability to be just land barons and gentlemen.”
Garnett tied up his horse as James dismounted in front of The Painted Lady. There were several men standing on the sidewalk as others were heading into the saloon. James pushed open the door to find the card tables filled with boisterous men. They worked their way to the bar where they found the Sheriff leaning up against the bar.
“Boys, it has been a long time since you have come by for a good game of cards.”
Garnett ordered and told the bartender to fill the Sheriff’s glass. “Getting time to enjoy cards becomes harder to find.”
“You still bringing in all those political types?”
“Yes. The hunting and fishing expeditions became very popular after the incident with the Indians. We’re becoming reluctant with all the rumors to allow them to come to town. Is it something we should worry about?”
The Sheriff shifted his weight as James signaled for a refill of the Sheriff’s glass. “There has been a few rumors but I think the town is safe.”
“The room seems full.”
“Yeah, there was a hit up on the mountain so they all have money to burn. There’s been several small veins uncovered so the men have been in town a lot.”
“Is the house winning?”
“Don’t they usually?”
Garnett smiled. “If they know what they are doing. How are the girls?”
“Any way you want them.”
Garnett put a gold piece on the bar. “Then it will be a good night.” James downed his shot and picked up the bottle as Garnett took the elbow of a young girl and headed up the stairs. The Sheriff watched them as th
e gangly man walked up to the bar and leaned over it as the bartender set a shot glass down in front of him.
“Who are they?”
“Ranchers but they aren’t out here that often. Give them a lot of berth because they are top poker players with trigger fingers.”
“Southern?”
“As southern as you…I believe they are all from Mississippi.”
“What’s their preference?”
“Blondes.”
“I meant cards?”
The Sheriff turned leaning back against the bar. “They never pick the game and will join any game with open seats but when they play by themselves it is always five card.”
“Hustlers?”
“No. They rarely walk away from the table winning but they are just as clever at diversion as they could be at winning. Give them a lot of room and they will leave you alone.”
“What do you know about them personally?”
“Not a lot. They are pretty private and very low key.”
“Maybe I’ll just pay them visit.”
“Smitty, leave it alone and everything will be back to normal in a few weeks.”
The man laughed and walked away from the bar. Sheriff Cox shook his head not that he would be sorry to be rid of this lot though the bribes had been nice. Of course, all he had to do is sell what he knew to the right person.
Smitty walked over and turned a chair around sitting down at a table where he could watch the stairs. The game continued without acknowledging that he was even at the table. He lit a cigarette and thought about what he could do to part these men from some of their money.
The girl turned as she entered the room. Generally when she had multiple clients it was because they were cheap and wanted a deal. These two were older, weren’t dirty and hadn’t said a word.
James put the chair up against the door as Garnett pulled back the curtain a sliver to get a view of the street. He stepped back away from the window as James took off his holster and putting it on the small dresser. James turned the lamp down until the room was just barely lit as he approached her.
“What is your name?”
The Visitor_The Final Ride 1875_1928 Page 17
