Similar types of conversations always transpired between those two. Josef would start to complain and then Mr. O'Connor would find a way to mention his unusual upbringing into it. Although his stories did change from time to time, the two of them still provided great entertainment for Nathan. And they could go back and forth for quite some time as well. But Nathan didn't have time for that today.
"Mr. O'Connor, I will require some materials for building new fences at the ranch, if you please." He meddled before either man could say anything else.
Truth be told, he didn't lack time, but patience. Yes, they were entertaining, but Nathan felt restless. He loved his life very much, had a few dear friends, did everything in his power to make the Old Oak Ranch prosperous too. After his parents' passing, he put all his efforts into that piece of land.
But is that enough? came an unexpected thought.
"Certainly, boy, I have everything you could possibly need in the back," O'Connor replied cheerfully.
After paying, Josef and Nathan loaded everything to his cart. Josef handed him the last bag of nails. "That's it," he announced, and Nathan nodded. He started walking toward the front to get the reins but Josef skillfully got in his way.
"Are you forgetting something?" He asked cryptically.
Truth be told, Nathan hadn't. But it was more fun to play dumb. He shrugged noncommittally and waited calmly until Josef cracked, just like Nathan knew he would.
"You promised your brother a drink."
"I am an only child," Nathan said inscrutably.
"Fine, I'll go by myself," Josef replied getting waxed. "And then I'll walk home."
And probably get eaten by a coyote, Nathan thought to himself. Because that was just his luck. He hugged Josef, to ease him. "Of course, I'll go with you."
"You were irritating me on purpose, didn't you?" Josef accused him and Nathan simply simpered. "You are a rotten friend, but I still love you," Josef said, and Nathan had to laugh because he felt the same way.
Many cheered as they walked into the saloon. Unfortunately, Nathan Walsh was some kind of a local hero, and people liked to remind him of that fact constantly. And Nathan detested every second of it. Back then, he didn't act to gain glory, he simply did what was right, so he wished to be left alone in peace.
Alas, he wouldn't be granted such luck. "Isn't it our local hero! Come, a drink is on the house," the barkeep announced.
This is why I don't like drinking here, he reminded himself, while thanking the host. Two years ago, they had a serious problem with some local bandits. They moved in these parts running from the law back east and they started causing trouble for the town’s people. The sheriff and his deputies tried to stop the menace, but the gang still managed to elude the long arm of the law.
At first, they started small, robbing some traveling caravans coming in or out of Helena. Next, they moved on to the bank and kidnapped the mayor's daughter. It appeared that their greed had no limits. "I say we gather all the men of age…" Josef fumed.
"And then what?" Nathan challenged.
"We hunt them for a change," Josef replied, making a face as if that was the most logical thing in the world. But Nathan disagreed. Besides, the sheriff already tried that, and it didn't work.
"Hunt them? Where? They could be anywhere, hiding in the mountains," Nathan tried to reason with him.
"So what? We search everywhere. It's better than doing nothing," he insisted like a petulant child. "Besides, somebody must know something."
Nathan simply shook his head. They needed a better plan than that. And he already started working on one. They needed to be patient and wait for the bandits to become even more arrogant, confident they could actually get away with everything. Because then, they will make a mistake, Nathan mused.
And as if God above heard his wish and decided to comply, that day arrived. Three local ranches were robbed blindly in one evening. It was during a festival so no one was around. Nathan included. They took every last cow he owned, and that enraged him.
Naturally, once it got personal, Nathan was that much more motivated to put an end to this gang of miscreants and hunt them down to the end of the world.
He wasn't that good of a tracker, truth be told, but he knew his herd. They were a stubborn bunch and they would go where they wanted and nowhere else. No force could ever change that, and then he was grateful. Because at that time, they actually had a way to track the bandits down.
So, the ranch owners gathered up a search party and the hunt was on. It took them a fortnight, but they finally discovered them. Nathan killed half of them even before they realized they were surrounded. His father had taught him how to shoot straight and with time and practice he only honed that skill down. All the livestock was recovered but on their way back, really terrible weather fell upon them.
"The cattle won't make it back in this heat, not without water," Josef announced and he was right.
Nathan was ignoring the sighs but if they wanted to bring all the animals back home, they needed a solution, and fast. "We have to go through the mountains, then. There's no other way." Nathan told the group of men.
"Are you mad?" Josef snapped, fully realizing the implications of Nathan's statement.
"Quite possible," Nathan replied calmly. "But I am also right."
"We will all die then. Because that cross is impossible," Josef wasn't trying to be theatrical but he often was.
"I know a way," Nathan replied.
"Are you sure, Nathan?" Mr. Tom Foster, one of the other ranchers, inquired.
"Yes, sir," Nathan replied instantly, with conviction. "I will get everyone safely back home," he promised.
"Very well," Tom Foster answered for them all. "We will entrust ourselves into your hands."
The journey back was tiring, difficult, and not to mention dangerous. A narrow mountain road so steep at times they had to form a single line, and with hundreds of cattle with them, it simply took them forever to pass.
Eventually, Nathan returned everyone to Helena safe. And the townspeople never forgot who was responsible for bringing the last man and the last animal back. He didn't appreciate the attention after all this time though. Besides, there was always one drunken fool who liked to tell him the story as if he wasn't there himself.
The beer they drank wasn't that good, but it still felt good to wet his throat.
"Can we go now?" Nathan urged, drinking his whole glass in one big gulp.
Josef looked at him in exasperation, doing the same with his drink.
"You really don't know how to enjoy life, do you?" Josef asked rhetorically. "I pity you."
Nathan ignored the jibe. In fact, he did enjoy life. It was just that he preferred different things. He liked to stay at his ranch when in leisure and read a book or two. Or if it was particularly nice weather to ride away to the mountains, find a nice clearing on the cliffs and fall asleep under the stars.
Josef whistled under his breath once they left the saloon. Nathan followed his gaze and wanted to groan. He was looking at Susannah Wilkinson, the teacher's daughter, who was walking by with her basket full of groceries.
"Maybe you should finally get a wife, marry, settle down," Josef started conversationally. "Maybe a young bride can turn you around and fix that constant sour mood of yours."
I'm not sour, he wanted to rebel. Am I? No, he concluded. It was just that Josef had no real sense of humor. So he decided not to comment on it.
"I bet Susannah could turn you around," Josef persisted, wiggling his eyebrows like the fiend he really was.
Nathan felt the need to roll his eyes. The notion was that ridiculous to him. "I am not scalding my tongue with another man's porridge. Thank you very much," he replied in all seriousness.
Josef looked at him questioningly. Not as if he was questioning his sanity, simply his meaning. "Miss Susannah is engaged to Peter Flanagan," he explained patiently. He was quite surprised Josef didn't already know that. He usually knew everything.
&nbs
p; "The blacksmith's son?" Josef exclaimed, grimacing. "As of when?" He demanded to know.
Nathan shrugged. "Apparently, since they were children."
Josef scoffed. "Such a waste." He didn't like Peter one bit. Peter bullied Josef while they were in school together and Josef never let go of that grudge.
"Still, that is of no importance," he announced, his mood brightening again. "Engaged is not wed," he declared, winking.
Nathan simply shook his head. "Why do I even bother?" he murmured underneath his breath in exasperation. Yet Josef heard him.
Still, Nathan didn't give him an opportunity to say something even more ridiculous. "Besides, I will recognize my future wife the moment I see her."
"As in providence? Nathan, I didn't know you to be such a romantic," Josef poked fun at him. "It's quite uncharacteristic of you to believe in destiny."
Nathan smiled. "Not destiny, my friend. Just good old fashioned Irish luck. "
Chapter Five
Beatrice had never, in her entire life, felt this tired. For the first leg of their journey, Elaine procured them train tickets that took them away from the city of New York, all the way to Cumberland.
It was a bit risky to stay in one train all that time, traveling first to Philadelphia then Washington. Elaine, however, wanted to put as much distance as possible between them and the assassin before anyone even noticed they were gone. Some of the household help was due to be back in two days.
Beatrice didn't leave any notes or instructions for them; however, she did leave money, feeling guilty she was forced to make such sudden departure without properly taking care of them. She hoped a little financial security would help them until she returned.
What if someone decides to return earlier and mess with our plans? she worried.
They really needed those two days. Even with that, Beatrice still prayed that would be enough of a head-start for them to completely disappear. Because there were no doubts in her mind that the two of them would be hunted from now on.
The person who committed such a heinous crime, and staged an assassination in such a public display, then broke into a house seemingly without a care in the world as to warrant maximum terror, wasn't that likely to give up. But on the other hand, Beatrice wasn't planning on giving up either.
Once they reached Cumberland, the two women had a very uncomfortable and smelly ride to Columbus. Beatrice really tried not to judge, but personal hygiene was very important to her; and no matter the money or circumstances, she was always quite appalled when discovering not all shared her views regarding such matter. She was more than glad that ride was over but then they had to rush, and Beatrice almost lost her shoe running to catch the train ride further west.
"That was close," Elaine commented with a smile after they settled. Her cheeks were flushed from the exertion, but the woman never looked better or more vibrant. Beatrice was glad her governess was still in such good health.
After a while, Beatrice lost all count through how many towns they passed or had to stop to switch transportation. She was surprised to discover how many miles of railroad were yet to be built. It was a constant switch between taking uncomfortable rides in rocky trains, or even more uncomfortable and overcrowded rides in coaches.
Beatrice really lived a very privileged life in New York; she was always aware of that fact, but real-life experience and simple knowledge were two very separate things. Entering yet another carriage that was clearly overloaded, Beatrice felt like weeping.
Oh, don't be such a silly child, Beatrice, she snapped at herself. Yes, she was tired, exhausted and a bit hungry, but the current state was still far better than the alternative. Me being dead, she reminded herself sternly.
"Child, have some cornbread," Elaine urged at some point.
And that cheered her up immensely. "Why, thank you," she replied, accepting.
"Are we remotely close?" Beatrice inquired between bites.
Elaine pondered that for a moment. "I say, we are about half way there.”
Beatrice simply nodded in return.
That was one of those good news/bad news affairs, so she took it in stride. Of course, Beatrice understood the necessity of them doing all this, choosing remote places as their stops since they would be that much more difficult to find, yet she couldn't help but feel drained, and bone tired.
Mere weeks ago, her biggest concerns were if she played every note perfectly while entertaining her parents' dinner guests or what to wear for the winter ball at the New York's governors' residence. She felt like weeping and laughing at the same time at how drastically one's circumstances could change in an instant.
You are just hungry, nothing more, Beatrice told herself, taking another piece of cornbread.
A few crumbs fell on her attire, and she didn't even make an effort to stop them. The plain dress she was currently wearing became so dirty, grimy and at places completely ruined with sweat that the cloth stuck to her like a second skin.
Beatrice wanted to burn the thing to ashes once she reached Helena and finally arrived at Uncle Tom's ranch. She longed to ask Elaine again how long this journey would actually last, but the old woman was soundlessly sleeping next to her. It never stopped to amaze or fascinate Beatrice how that woman could sleep anywhere and with such ease. Beatrice envied that trait.
"Such a fine day to be traveling," a cheerful young lady not much older than her spoke, looking at Beatrice in passing… Oh, I have no idea where I am. Beatrice thought to herself in exasperation. She completely lost track of everything: locations, dates, even time.
Beatrice smiled back. "That it is." And that wasn't technically a lie. The weather was quite charming for a change.
Although Beatrice did notice how the cold was replaced with mild weather then heat as they traveled further west, it was surprisingly appealing to her. It had even rained a couple of times which Beatrice detested since it made her skirt all muddy and wet, and she had to let it dry on herself.
Disgusting, she shuddered at the memory.
"Where are my manners," the woman announced, still in high spirits. "My name is Josephine Mayer, pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Beatrice," she replied simply, leaving out her last name on purpose.
If Josephine found that strange, she didn't comment on it. Nevertheless, they resumed chatting.
Josephine had a very pleasant, kind face, with big brown eyes and an honest smile. Even sitting down, Beatrice could tell she was rather tall yet still quite feminine, not gawky at all.
She was currently smiling at Beatrice, who hadn't even realized Josephine had asked a question.
"I do apologize," Beatrice rushed to explain, remembering her manners in the process. "I got lost inside my head for a bit. Would you be so kind as to repeat that?"
"That is quite all right," Josephine replied instantly. "You do look a bit as if you've had some tiring days of the journey behind you."
That is a rather nice way of saying I look like a disaster, Beatrice thought to herself. And the tiring journey was still up ahead of her as well, although she hoped it was nearing its end. "You have no idea," Beatrice commented eventually.
"What brings you to this part of our fine country?" Josephine asked, conversationally.
"My Nan and I are visiting some relatives, further west," Beatrice replied vaguely.
"Really?" Josephine exclaimed. "That is mighty brave of you."
That comment surprised Beatrice. "How so?"
"I heard all kinds of nasty stories regarding the west. They do not call it wild for no particular reason." She visibly shuddered in revulsion.
To be perfectly honest, Beatrice heard such stories as well. Stories filled with road bandits, lawless gunslingers, and hostile Indian tribes. Yet she never put much thought into them, considering them to be vastly exaggerated. Plus, it was of no concern to her what happens thousands of miles away.
Until now.
So, maybe she ought to revisit such a topic, even though recogniz
ing where she was, it was mayhap a bit too late. "Oh, we will not be in one of those places," Beatrice stated, trying to reassure them both.
"That is fortunate," Josephine replied slowly.
"How about you?" Beatrice asked in return, trying to deflect the attention from herself. She detested being untrue, but if Josephine persisted, she wouldn't have a choice.
Maybe she was beyond paranoid, yet she did not want anyone to know anything about her—not even a perfectly innocent stranger she met on a train by happenstance as Josephine, a lovely girl she would most likely never see again.
That was why Beatrice and Elaine came up with a few different stories for whoever they deemed too nosy.
It is better to be safe than sorry.
Josephine regained her former good mood. "I am going to San Francisco, to meet my fiancé. We are to be married."
"Congratulations to both of you," Beatrice replied instantly.
"Thank you kindly. I was very fortunate to meet someone like him."
"How did you meet?" Beatrice inquired.
Josephine almost blushed. "It is a rather funny story…"
As she started to speak, Beatrice settled and listened.
This long journey blissfully had its rewards as well. She met some rather brilliant people in the most unexpected of places.
And the scenery… The landscapes she was lucky enough to see when the sun and the moon traded places were simply stunning, divine even. There was no other word to describe it. It was easier to believe in God when you experience such wonders, even in her dire state.
Beatrice thought of herself as quite knowledgeable, as she had spent her life traveling a great deal with her parents, yet now faced with such wild beauties of their vast country, she was proven wrong. She knew not about the true natural beauties or its pure wildness up until now. The whole experience was equally heartwarming as was humbling.
"So, this is my stop," Josephine announced many hours later; Beatrice smiled and nodded.
I hadn't even realized we stopped, she thought to herself. I really ought to be more alert, she chastised herself.
Finding the Broken Cowboy Page 4
