CONTENTS
Chapters
2. A country girl’s imagination.
3. A lion’s tale.
4. An extraordinary town sheriff.
5. A vicious Indian brave.
6. A ladies’ wagon train.
7. A Pinkerton’s Adventure.
8. Little Johnny Chicken.
9. An Indian Holiday.
10. Indian Medicine.
11. A Contract of Servitude.
12. The good Doctor is murdered.
13 A Mail order groom.
14 The storekeeper.
15 The Mistress.
16 The Virgin.
17 Stagecoach.
18 A Journey by Train.
19 The School Teacher.
20 A Simpleton Marshall.
21 A Marksman.
22 A Lady Sheriff.
23 The Horse Tamer.
24 A Fantasy World.
25 Son of a Preacher Man.
26 An Unusual Bounty Hunter.
27 A Planned Pregnancy.
Chapter 1
Stories of tough lovers of the old American west.
- Go west young man.
Tommy was walking his horse with another packhorse behind him, down a narrow valley which bordered a trickling stream. Tommy often walked beside his horse to relieve the horse of the burden of having to support him over the many miles, and he had done many miles while exploring the west. He loved not knowing what was around the next corner, or what was over the next hill, and especially who he would meet during his travels.
Tommy was listening to the sounds of the birds, the running waters, the snakes and lizards, and the fish jumping in the ravine. This was what Tommy lived for, but he needed the company of a young woman, and there was not an abundance of them in the terrain over which he travelled.
Tommy thought back to his beginnings in his mother’s brothel. He had always had an ideal life and the brothel had paid very well over the years, and both him and his mother as a result were very wealthy. He had been educated in the finest of eastern schools and then at the age of twenty-three had returned to his mother and the place in which he had spent most of his younger years.
Tom may have been wise to the ways of the world but realized that he had not experienced what he had always read about in the nickel and dime novels, about the west and the gunfighters. He knew that such things were not true, and were exaggerated out of all proportions, even when true, but he still wished to go west where men were men, and a man has to compete to get a beautiful woman to pay attention.
The ways of women were no secret to Tom, who perhaps knew even more of the ways of women, than compared to the ways of men. After finishing his schooling, Tom spent some months with his mother, supervising the girls and doing the financials, but his mother could see in him, the wanderlust that she had seen in many men in the past, and remembered seeing the same wanderlust in his father.
One day Tom’s Mother spoke to Tom and said, “You must go and live your life; find your adventure; find what you love; and find yourself a lover to complete your destiny. You will always have a home to come back to if you wish, and you certainly have enough money to do as you desire. My son, what do you wish to do?”
Tom knew what he wanted to do, “I wish to go west and see what there is to see, and when I meet a woman who I wish to spend my life with, then I will settle down and when you are old and wish to settle down, you can come and live with us.”
His mother replied, “I like the life I now lead looking after the girls, but as you say, one day I will be older and may wish to take you up on your offer. My son, write me of your adventures.”
A Dangerous Liaison.
Tom’s horse, Betty, had been with him for almost three years, since he had purchased her from a dealer after leaving his mother’s establishment. She had been good to him, and Hercules, his other horse, had been purchased a few months later when he realized that cowboys travelling without a pack animal were only found in the nickel and dime novels, but not part of the reality of the west.
Often as Tom dreamed at night; he would come across a young woman in distress and he would save her from imminent danger and they would fall in love, but during daylight hours, all he ever came across was dirt, trees, the odd stream, mountains and the odd township, but all that was soon to change.
As the pathway followed the stream, Tom looked up from the water’s edge and could see a young woman sitting with her back against a tree. Tom seldom held Betty’s reins, as she always followed him faithfully, but now motioned her to stop, which she did. Tom then walked up the ridge some distance to where the young woman sat.
Tom stared at the woman who sat motionless. She had a full figure and a face with beautiful contours, but Tom had seen all that many times before, as there were not many ugly ducklings who were able to work in his mother’s establishment.
This woman was asleep, and so he tried to waken her by placing his hands on her shoulders and shaking her frame. She immediately stirred and began to push Tom away as if she were rebutting an unwanted advance. Tom pulled back and found a log to sit on, so that he could wait until the panic subsided, and only then would he talk to the young woman.
Tom knew that talking logic to an erratic woman was a waste of time and that one had to wait until the storm of craziness had passed. He sat silently waiting for some sort of conversation from this still seated figure. Finally, she formed her words and asked, “Are you planning to molest me?”
Tom totally ignored the severity of the girl’s fearful inquiry and laughingly replied, “That had not crossed my mind, but if you ask me nicely then I may consider it.”
Tom continued laughing and then continued, “You, my dear, can do whatever you please. You are free to leave this place and leave with your virtue still intact.” Tom however remained seated and expected the woman to rise and walk away.
Looking at the still form, Tom started a conversation, “My name is Tom, or Tommy if you wish. Tell me what your name is, and why do you not scurry off with your tail between your legs from the big bad lecherous man who woke you up?”
“My name is Maryanne, and I can’t get up. I was thrown from my horse who has now run off, and I landed hard and bruised the muscle in my upper leg and cannot move. The muscle in my right leg is causing me much pain. I am hoping that my parents will soon find me, but I have been here two days and they have not yet found me.”
Tom looked at Maryanne and said that he wanted to see the bruising, and that he may well be able to massage the leg to give her at least some movement. Tom explained that he had been raised in a whorehouse and was proficient in the art of massage. He told to a stunned Maryanne, that during his younger years he often had to massage the girls working there, as they were often bruised when clients were rough with them, or just too heavy, and put too much weight on the girls.
Maryanne replied that she would rather sit there until she was dead before she would allow him access to her private regions. Try as he may, Tom could not dissuade this girl’s fear of being molested, to allow him access to what she considered was holy ground.
After considerable silence and thought by Tom, he realized that he must do what he must do, to give her at least some relief in her leg. This had to be done so that she could support herself in some fashion to allow him to help her down the rocky slope. Tom went down to his packhorse and came back with a rope and two tent pegs and was soon in the process of tying Maryanne to the tree and securing her feet to the ground.
Maryanne’s situation felt helpless, as she expected to be molested by this strange cowboy. The fact that Tom pushed her frilly skirt up to her waist, exposing her bare legs and frilly knickers, did little to make her feel any better. Tom tried to assure Maryanne that his intensions were honorable, but this of course fell on deaf ears. Maryanne’s legs were pulled slightly ajar which allowed Tom to place both of his hands on either side of her damaged leg.
Invading hands travelled up and down Maryanne’s legs, while her eyes were shut, and her teeth were clenched. Tom had done this so many times in the past that it had been commonplace for him, even though he had not done it for some time. After about twenty minutes, Tom said that he was done and then lowered Maryanne’s frilly skirt back to its original position.
Maryanne was furious but also confused, as she had been at his mercy, and he could have done with her as he pleased. Tom waited until her wrath towards him seemed manageable, and then untied her and spoke, “Woman, your next step is to stand; now give me your hands and I will assist you to stand.”
Reluctantly, hands were joined, and Tom gently pulled Maryanne upright, and to her surprise she managed to stand, even if it was still a painful process. Maryanne still felt violated but could see that it had to be done for her own good. They struggled down the steep rocky slope, and when they approached the horses, Tom said that as the day was coming to an end, they should make camp, eat and sleep, and then in the morning, proceed onwards.
As the night progressed, Maryanne became more at ease with her predicament, and with a stranger having had his hands travelling up and down her outer and inner thighs. No one had ever violated her privacy in such a manner, even her fiancé. She, however, no longer seemed as repugnant of Tom as she had been earlier in the day.
After dinner, while sitting around the fire, Maryanne explained that she lived on a farm, half a day’s travel from where they were. She lived with her parents, Robert and Janette, and her fiancé Roy, and she would soon be married to him. That was possibly a little disappointing for Tom, but he did not let it show.
Tom had thought that this girl may well be the girl of his dreams, but in his dreams, the girl was far more receptive than Maryanne, who was never going to cuddle up to him during the night. Both Tom and Maryanne eventually fell asleep by the fire and slept soundly until early morning.
Morning came and by the time Maryanne awoke, Tom had already made breakfast, and the coffee was steaming into the cool morning air. Tom sat Maryanne up in her roll by placing his own bedroll to support her back. She was again showing discomfort but managed breakfast and when required to stand was again not capable of it.
Maryanne’s eyes looked at Tom begging him to again massage her thighs but could not force herself to ask for what she considered would be the request of a wanton woman. Tom smiled and then walked close to the fire and warmed his hands. Without words being spoken Maryanne lifted her skirt until her legs were visible and could feel the warmth of the fire on her exposed flesh. As Tom shortened his distance between himself and Maryanne, she slightly parted her legs, and without words, was asking for Tom’s warm hands to perform the magic on them that she had experienced the day before.
This time, Tom did not have to fight a struggling patient, and Maryanne readily submitted to his soothing hands. Occasionally When Tom’s hands moved too close to Maryanne’s private world, she stiffened, but these moments soon passed. After twenty or so minutes, the session was concluded, and Maryanne was again able to stand.
After packing up the gear and placing all his rolls and utensils on Hercules, his pack horse, he picked up Maryanne and placed her on Betty. He then started on his journey, walking beside Betty and it was late in the afternoon by the time they reached the homestead, and found that only Maryanne’s mother was at home. Maryanne’s Father and future son in law were still out in the surrounding bushland searching for Maryanne.
Maryanne’s mother was over the moon to see her daughter alive and well and came rushing towards them. Tom pulled Maryanne from Betty’s saddle, and then carried her into the homestead and placed her in what her mother said was their most comfortable chair. Maryanne’s mother then asked Tom and her daughter if they wanted coffee, which they acknowledged they did. Much later when they were on their second cup of coffee, the searchers returned.
Tears were in the eyes of the new arrivals as they saw Maryanne sitting safely in the chair. They thanked Tom for the rescue of their loved one and asked him to stop for the evening meal and said they would accommodate him that night. Joyous festivities were had that night, and after washing herself with the help of her mother, Maryanne requested to be able to sleep in the comfortable chair in which she now sat.
The morning arrived and Tom was already getting his horses ready to continue his journey, when Robert, Janette, and Roy, exited the dwelling. Morning chores always had to be done before the breakfast meal on most farms, and this one was no different. These would include, attending to the animals, milking the cow for milk, collecting the eggs, and feeding the pigs.
As Tom did not have to engage in these activities, and after he had finished getting his horses ready, he again entered the house. Maryanne was hoping that he would return alone and asked if he could massage her leg as it was again causing her discomfort. No longer were there any objections to having Tom’s hands on her upper leg and she welcomed it.
Maryanne pulled her dress upward as far as was practicable, and soon Tom’s hands were again busy performing their soothing magic. Maryanne’s head leant back against a cushion while she embraced the soothing feeling of her immediate pain disappearing. Tom was not yet finished, when the door to the cottage opened and, in the doorway, stood Maryanne’s Mother, Father, and fiancé, who were not able to comprehend what was happening to their modest daughter and future spouse.
This was obviously a precarious situation, and no words were spoken as their minds tried to comprehend the incomprehensible. Here sat a young man with his hands on Maryanne’s inner thigh, and Maryanne’s hands holding the folds in her skirt up around her waist with Maryanne’s head leaning back as if she was experiencing sensual bliss.
Maryanne’s father’s eyes looked across the room to where his shotgun hung on the wall, and Tom, realizing that the scene would quite possibly be misinterpreted, spoke up as if it was the most natural thing in the world for them to witness. He quickly said, “Robert, Janette, I am almost finished attending to Maryanne and would appreciate a coffee before I left. Could someone please put the kettle on the stove?”
Roy could not contain himself any longer, when he spoke up, “Get your filthy hands-off Maryanne’s upper thighs, and Maryanne; pull your dress down and cover yourself.”
Maryanne then spoke, “Roy, just let Tom do his thing, as it helps remove the pain in my leg as then I will be able to walk without major discomfort.”
Tom smiled and then spoke directly to Roy, “Grab a chair and come over here, as Maryanne will need more of the same after I have left, and I will show you what to do.” Roy reluctantly, and yet eagerly, came over and sat beside Tom. Maryanne then again raised her skirt exposing more of Maryanne’s flesh than Roy had ever seen before, all the way up to her frilly knickers.
Roy was a good student as Tom taught what he knew of the art of massage, and soon Roy was becoming an expert. Tom soon realized that while Maryanne showed no reserve by his touching her inner thighs, she trembled when Roy’s hand travelled close to her most private part. Tom smiled at this revelation and was amused by it. He surmised that in Maryanne’s mind; his hands were those of a doctor while Roy’s hands were those belonging to a lover.
Soon the entertainment was over if we can call it that, and Robert stood shaking his head, “I cannot believe that I have witnessed two young men with their hands travelling up and down my daughters’ leg, while the frill of her skirt occupies the space somewhere between her knickers and her nose, and my shotgun has remained on the wall.”
Tom turned to Roy, “Roy, help Maryanne stand up as she should walk for a short distance for exercise, before sitting down again.” Roy did exactly that and slowly walked out the door with Maryanne into the sunshine outside of the homestead.
Janette immediately said that she would prepare breakfast and coffee and insisted that Tom have breakfast as well as coffee before going. Robert smiled as he spoke to Tom, “Young fella, you have no idea just how close you came to have me blow your head off. However, I now realize that your intentions were more than honorable, and I appreciate what you have done for our daughter.”
Tom also smiled, and told Robert to remind him before he left, of a gift that he had for him. It was then, Roy and Maryanne returned and the five sat and had a pleasant breakfast and coffee, until it was time for Tom to depart.
Tom was sitting on his horse, Betsy, with Hercules loaded and about to leave, when Robert reminded Tom that he had said that he had a present to give him. Tom smiled as he reached into his pocket and located two shotgun shells, and then commented, “Robert, I may well live dangerously but am not stupid to the ways of the world. I foresaw the possibilities and removed the shells from the shotgun on the wall before I started on Maryanne’s massage.”
Everyone broke into laugher as Tom motioned Betsy that it was time to go. Tom, Betsy, and Hercules then slowly departed until they disappeared into the tree line. As they travelled along, Tom thought that his often-dull wandering of the west was finally looking up and wondered what was in store for him next.
A game of Chess
Tom had been about four days from a stream in which he could bathe and was eager to get to the next township. He was dirty, dusty, and smelled worse than his horses and was starting to see mirages of water on the horizon. Any town would most likely be situated on a stream, or at the very least, get its water supply from a well or spring where he could have a bath, possibly even a hot bath.
Tom was running short of money and thought that he would either have to win some money from games of cards or get a job, or at the very worst, have money wired to him from his bank back east.
Thankfully, a town appeared on the horizon exactly where it was supposed to be, and slowly became larger and larger until Tom was in the outskirts. The first place Tom stopped was the livery stables where he left Betsy and Hercules in the able hands of the manager. Tom took a bag with some clean clothes to his next stop, which was the bathhouse, where he spent best part of an hour relaxing in the hot soapy waters.
Tom would have spent the rest of his life in the soothing warm waters of the tub, had not the huge woman who supplied the water told him to get out.
Next on his list was to find a meal and a cool drink. He came across a hotel that provided meals and accommodation and entered the establishment. Tom asked where he could get a nice meal from an attendant, who guided him into another area at the rear of the hotel. This outdoor area had views over the river which flowed past the town, where there was a food and drinks servery and many tables and chairs.
This hotel was one of the nicest that he had so far come across, and he surmised that such an establishment must be the result of wealthy customers from a wealthy environment. Tom however did not care, as he just wished to have a meal that was prepared by a person who could cook far better than he himself could.
Tom looked around and saw many tables, some were occupied by families, and others by young men who he thought must be ranch hands. One table was occupied by a young woman who sat on her own. Tom stood for some time surveying the scene and found there was only one spare table in a far corner. Tom however decided for obvious reasons that he would ask the young lady if he could share her table.
Tom walked over and asked exactly that, to the young lady, and she politely pointed out that there was a spare table in the corner. Tom explained that if he sat way over there, then he would have no one to talk to, and as he had experienced no company for the last few weeks, he would appreciate the company.
The young lady smiled and motioned Tom to sit, when almost immediately he asked, “You are extremely attractive and yet not one of the young men here has approached you. There is a room full of virile young men who should, in all good stead, be fighting each other for your company, and yet you sit alone”.
The young lady replied, “I am not alone, you are here.”
The young woman explained that her name was Rosemarie and went by the name of Rosie to her friends, and that she was the daughter of a wealthy rancher. She explained that many cowhands thought that her status was above them and would never approach her. She also explained that her father would not let her associate with cowhands or drifters and wanted only the best for her.
Tom smiled as he said, “Well, that is a relief, as I am a drifter who is trying to find where his destiny may lay, so I won’t have to go to the effort of romancing you, for I would only be wasting my time. Anyway, I am not interested in such things, as I just asked to sit here to enjoy your conversation, as for the last weeks, I have only had my horse Betsy and my packhorse Hercules to talk to, and their conversation is rather limited.”
Rosie smiled and sarcastically replied, “Yes, I thought that may be the only reason you wished to sit down.”
Tom eyed the woman up and down, to her consternation, and then spoke as if he were stating a fact, “There are many ways to judge the appeal of a beautiful woman. You are obviously not distasteful to the eye, but your beauty can be enhanced in other ways.”
From past experience in having been associated with his mother’s ladies, Tom knew that a woman could not possibly break off a conversation when talking about her appeal to the opposite of the species.
Rosie asked, “And what could possibly enhance my appeal?”
Tom then asked, “Just how big did you say your dady’s Ranch was? The bigger the Ranch; the more appealing you will become.”
This caused them both to break into laughter, but Rosie wondered if Tom had said that just to be humorous or if he meant such things. Tom then explained that he was running short of money and that he needed work to make more money to continue drifting westward. Rosie thought for a moment, contemplating whether she should discard this young man or not.
Rosie then said that her father was constantly hiring cowhands, and Tom could call at the ranch and talk to her father to see if he had work for him to do.
Tom looked at the menu and selected a meal and then asked Rosie if she wanted him to spend his last few dollars to also buy her a drink. Rosie smiled at the shallow gesture and politely refused, but Tom ordered two lemonades regardless. Tom then asked Rosie to tell him about herself.
Rosy felt strange, as most other young men that she had experienced prior to this, always wanted to talk about themselves, but this lowly drifter wanted to know about her. Rosie explained that her mother was dead, and her father was overprotective, and that the ranch hands were not permitted to associate with her, and there were only a few young men in the area who were considered good enough for her. While they were mostly fine upstanding young men, she had no romantic feelings towards any of them.
She explained that her father’s whole life revolved around ranching, chess, and protecting his daughter’s virtue. Rosie said, almost with pride, that her father was the best chess player in these parts, and she had never seen him ever lose a game. Tom just smiled at this declaration but gave no further response.
Rosie explained that she was staying in town overnight and travelling back to the ranch in the early morning. She said that he could tie his horses to the buckboard, and travel along with her, if he indeed wanted to ask her father for a job. Tom needed a job but what he needed most was the attention of this appealing young woman.
The young woman had confidence and she saw the world as it was, not as one thought it should be. Not only that, but she was drop-dead gorgeous, and had a figure that was accentuated by the figure-hugging outfit that she wore.
They sat together for breakfast and made polite conversation, but even though Rosie liked this well-spoken and confident young drifter, she at no time considered that Tom could be a possible match for her. She smiled as her mind thought of her father’s expression if she were to introduce Tom to him as her paramour.
Tom, noticing her smile, asked what she was thinking about, but Rosie gave him no reply. After breakfast they travelled to the ranch. With Tom prompting her, Rosie explained just how large her father’s ranch was, and that it occupied half of a large valley and was the biggest ranch in these parts.
Tom then turned towards Rosie who held the reins and again looked her up and down, “My God woman, you are getting more beautiful by the minute. How big did you say your daddy’s ranch is?”
Rosie feigned annoyance but was in fact amused by the abrupt nature of the young man who sat beside her. He could not possibly have any interest in her, as she had explained to him that her father would not let a drifter associate with his daughter.
It was late afternoon before they arrived and were greeted by Rosie’s father, who was in the company of the ranch supervisor and a few cowhands. Rosie’s father greeted his daughter and immediately asked who it was that accompanied her.
Before Rosie could reply, Tom replied for her, “Hello, I am Tom, at present a drifter experiencing western life. I have come to marry your daughter so that we can firstly provide you with grandchildren and in your old age I can take care of running the ranch for you.”
There was complete silence, and everyone’s mouth was ajar and no sound was emitted from any vocal cords until Rosie’s father Frank spoke, “In that case you can just jump on your horse and keep on drifting.” Frank then turned to his daughter who was still in shock, “Rosie, who is this idiot?”
Rosie explained that the young man had sat and conversed with her for a while in the hotel, and said that he was looking for work, whereupon she had told him that her father was hiring.
Before Rosie’s father Frank could again start talking, Tom smiled as if he were having the time of his life, “Frank, I will make you a deal. Rosie explained to me that you play chess, and you consider yourself proficient. If you beat me in a game of chess, then I will pack up and leave in the morning, and if I win, then I will work for you for a full month for free, for only room and board for myself and my horses. Any which way you win.”
Frank looked at this cocky young man with caution, but after all, he was the best Chess player in these parts and had not been beaten for many years, and if worse came to worse, then he would still gain an employee for a complete month for free. He enjoyed the competition of the game so much that his own ego could not let him refuse, “Okay then, you young son of a bitch, we will play after supper on the veranda and everyone who is interested can bring a chair, if they wish to watch you lose.”
Rosie just stood by, not believing what was happening and remained speechless as Tom again spoke to her with everyone in earshot, and with a laugh replied, “Rosie, if I were you, I would give your wedding dress selection some consideration.”
Rosie finally got her voice back and replied, “I don’t know you; you are a drifter; you have a smart mouth; you have no money; no job; and no hope of ever marrying me.”
Tom feigned disappointment and asked, “Rosie, does this mean our engagement is off?”
The ranch supervisor for the first time wore a smile, as Rosie turned and stomped off towards the ranch-house. Soon everyone turned to go back to where they were needed, which left the supervisor with Tom who then spoke, “Young man, you are the cockiest person I have come across for some time. Tell me, do you really know how to play Chess? And by the way, my name is Patrick, and I am the Ranch supervisor.”
Patrick oversaw the workings of the ranch and lived with his wife in a house not far from the main house. Patrick had known young Rosie since birth and was fond of her and knew her innermost thoughts even better than her own father did.
Patrick was a big muscular man well suited to keep everyone in line, and stood waiting a reply when Tom replied, “I think I know what all the pieces on the chessboard do, and how they are supposed to move.” Patrick again smiled, “This should be an interesting night; now come and I will arrange some food for you to eat.”
A game of chess, within a game of chess.
After supper was finished by those in the bunkhouse and in the main house, everyone obtained chairs and awaited the game to begin. Frank and his daughter Rosie emerged from the interior of the house, and Frank, with a confident look, sat himself at the table while Rosie sat with the other spectators. Frank poured himself a cognac and offered Tom one, but Tom refused and said that he had to keep his wits about him and asked for a pot of tea.
As the game began, Tom constantly asked how the different pieces moved, but it soon became apparent that this young man was not a novice at the game that he pretended to be and was certainly not to be underestimated. The game soon became a battle of wits, leaving the audience spellbound for hours until Frank finally conceded, and it was then that his eyes looked across at Tom, “Son, you don’t talk like a cowboy; you don’t look like a cowboy, and you don’t smell like a cowboy, but no drifter is coming anywhere near my daughter.”
This caused the audience including Rosie to break into laughter, but not Frank. He then relented, “You will have to work for me for one month for free and then you can pack up your gear and leave.”
Before Tom turned to go to the bunkhouse, he spoke directly to Rosie by declaring, “My dear, I believe that this means for sure that our engagement is off.” Patrick then grabbed Tom by the collar and smiled and said, “Enough, or everyone will be laughing all night long.”
Rosie went inside and was confused by what had happened the last two days. At first, she had liked Tom, then she had been embarrassed by him, then she had detested him, and now her feelings were a mixture of them all. One thing that she knew for sure was that this drifter would occupy her thoughts during the night.
Rosie went to bed that night, and at times was still annoyed at Tom, and yet she was amused by his brazenness and the way he spoke to her father, as if he were his equal, while everyone in the county spoke reverently to him. These thoughts occupied her thoughts for much of the night, but eventually she succumbed to sleep.
Days passed, and Tom was given tasks to do, which he did to the best of his abilities, but was obviously learning as he went. One day, Patrick came up to him as he was attempting a new task and openly said to him, “Son, you have never worked as a cowhand in your entire life? I don’t believe that you have ever worked a day in your life. You work hard but you are obviously learning as you go. What is the go with you?”
Tom smiled as it was hard not to when conversing with Patrick, “You’re right Patrick, I am an eastern boy who has been pampered for nearly all of his life and has come out west to become a man’s man, a cowboy, a man who all young women would wish to be make passionate love to.” Patrick then looked Tom in the eye, “That woman had better not be Rosie or you will be leaving here in a pine box. However, I know for a fact that she detests you, and so I can’t see that as a problem.”
It was that same afternoon when Patrick again ventured to see Tom and explained that after supper he was required to meet the master for another game of chess. Tom washed and dressed and then after supper, arrived at the house. This time the chess game would be held indoors, and again Tom was asked if he wished to share a cognac with Frank. Tom again declined and said that he would prefer a pot of tea. Frank asked his daughter if she could make Tom a pot of tea and bring him a glass and his usual bottle of cognac. Rosie disappeared and then came back firstly with her father’s request, and then later with a pot of tea and two teacups one for Tom and one for herself.
Frank looked up from the chessboard and smiled at his daughter and uttered the standard acknowledgement for her service. “Thank you, Rosie,”. Tom looked up at Rosie and without smiling, and as if he was nonchalantly making a statement spoken to a stranger, “Some time ago I had a fiancé named Rosie; sweet girl; beautiful smile and facial features, and who had a shape that many women would kill for. For a while I loved her, but I soon found that her status in life was contrary to mine and so I had to let her go. I must say that sometimes I miss her, but such is life.”
Rosie realized that Tom was referring to her, and as she had just poured a cup of tea into the cup, threw the contents of the cup of hot tea onto Tom’s shirt. For a moment Tom winced with pain, but that moment was soon over, and Frank scolded Rosie, “Rosie, you well know that Tom is an amusing good for nothing who would say anything to be amusing; just let it be until we have played our game of chess.”
“Sorry father” was Rosie’s reply, “I will provide Tom another shirt from the ironing room. Come with me Tom and I will find you one. Tom followed Rosie into the ironing room where there was an abundance of workers clothes. As Rosie was selecting a shirt that would fit, Rosie turned to Tom and spoke, “I also once had a fiancé who was not of my standing, and the only thing that I regret was that I had never kissed him.”
Rosie then moved forward and pushed her lips onto Tom’s, and lingered, and Tom then put his hands onto the curvy cheeks of her bottom, and pulled her to him, “I think that I love you Rosie, but what I love most about you is that your daddy has this huge property, and after we get married and have children then I will be a fully-fledged wealthy Rancher myself.”
This of course got a slap across his face which was of course well deserved. Rosie turned and grabbed a shirt and threw it at him and then left the room. Tom soon returned to Frank and sat down. Soon after, Rosie returned to throw a tantrum and said that Tom was the most despicable of people and ordered her father to throw him off the property the following morning.
Frank was confused as to what was the cause of this but was only too happy that his daughter was disgusted with Tom, but he had made a deal with him for a month’s work, and besides, Tom was a good chess player and chess was like a drug to him, that he needed to fulfil his intellect.
While Frank was contemplating his next move, he asked, “And what brought that on with Rosie?” to which Tom replied, “Oh, it was just a lover’s quarrel; it is not an easy task to break off an engagement.” Frank was too concerned with his next move to take notice of any reply, and he perhaps didn’t even hear the words.
Time went on, and Tom learnt about being a cowboy and about the ranch which lay at the start of a picturesque valley with steep high ridges on the sides, which bellied out to provide excellent grazing lands. Lower down the valley was another ranch similar to Frank’s ranch, but ended as Frank’s started, with a narrow exit as the ridges again came together.
Both ranchers employed boundary riders between the two properties to keep their cattle inside and to keep others out. Both ranchers worked amicably with one another, but Frank wanted to control the other ranch as well, as then he could dispense with all the internal boundary riders, saving a lot of wasted money.
As the weeks passed, Frank noticed that in his bookshelf which contained a complete series of ranching books, that one would be missing and then mysteriously reappear, only to find another one missing. At first, he thought that Rosie must be reading them, but when he asked her, she denied that she was. His thoughts then turned to Patrick, but Patrick would not take them without asking, and so the only other one with access to the books would be Tom.
They sat with their regular game of chess and Frank asked if Tom had been stealing his books. Tom replied in his usual way, “Frank stealing is when one takes an item and does not return it. When someone takes and item and then returns it, it is called borrowing, and that I believe is not a hanging offence.”
Frank was getting used to Tom’s way of speaking, even though it annoyed him at times, but his curiosity made him ask, “Why would you read ranching books? Most of the people employed on the Ranch cannot read at all, while others have trouble with nickel and dime novels, and you are reading books in which even I, find sections of which are hard to understand.”
Tom then took a serious tone with Frank and spoke about the possibility of combining the two properties and saving the cost of employing boundary riders and how they could, during time of rain, easily siphon off water from the river to create an inland sea to provide water for times of drought and that they could aid farmers downstream by occasionally opening flood gates to fill up the dams downstream. Tom said that they could charge them for this service, or even provide it to them free of charge as an act of goodwill.
Rosie had been listening to the conversation and had never heard Tom talk in such a way, but a candle was now burning bright in her head as she realized why her father was trying to match her up with the son of the rancher at the base of the valley. Rosie began to lessen her wrath to Tom and then turned on her father, “So that is why you have been trying to set up a match between me and their son. You wish to combine the two properties; is that right?”
Frank was for a moment without words while Rosie was on the warpath, “I would rather marry this useless, good for nothing, money grubbing, son of a bitch drifter, just to spite you for using me to combine these two properties.”
Tom then stood up from his chair and forcefully embraced Rosie, “I accept your proposal of marriage and I will love you until the end of my days, and we will have many children while I look after your father’s ranch.”
Rosie, who was in no mood for humor, broke loose, “I don’t want to marry you, you fool. I never wanted to marry you; I don’t want to marry anyone at the moment.”
Tom, enjoying himself, smiled as he replied, “Then I suppose that our engagement has been postponed again.” Tom laughed but was the only one laughing. Frank, who had enjoyed their games of chess, decided that it would be better for Tom to leave, and told him so, especially as his month was almost up.
Tom feigned disappointment but realized that he was not getting anywhere with Rosie, and it was time for him to leave. He had exhausted his urgency to remain there and decided that he must leave in order for his mission to be accomplished.
Tom then went to his stall in the bunkhouse, realizing that he had outstayed his welcome, and lay on his cot. The other workers were out on the range doing their normal chores, which left Tom there on his own.
Tom was just dozing off when Rosie came through the door and into the stall that contained his bed. She then sat on Tom’s bed while he lay silent, waiting for her to speak which she did, “For some unknown reason Tom, I am in love with you, but you are only after my father’s money, and so I must rid myself of you, and move on”. Rosie then moved towards Tom and kissed him gently as do lovers who are parting and wish to savor the moment. The tender moments passed, and then Rosie left Tom’s bunk, realizing that she would never see him again after he left the next morning.
Next morning, Tom had loaded up Hercules and Betty and was ready to leave, when everyone arrived to see him off. Tom had become popular with most of the ranch hands, and certainly with the ranch supervisor Patrick. Even Frank and Rosie were there to see him off, but nothing was said. Tom, as he was about to ride away, turned and spoke to Frank, “Frank, before I leave, I will tell you why I always win against you at chess.”
This got Frank’s attention, while he waited for Tom to continue, “Frank, you are generally a better chess player than I am at the start of each game, and so I play a safe delaying game at the start of each game. I wait for you to start on your 2nd cognac, and after that we become evenly matched, but then, when you have your third cognac, I go in for the kill and wipe the board with you.”
Tom smiled as he turned his horse and then glanced over to Rosie, and said, “Rosie, I have enjoyed being engaged to you, but you are far too erratic when it comes to romance, and so I have decided to leave you to find love elsewhere”. Tom then tipped his hat and rode off.
Rosie went inside, which left Frank and Patrick watching Tom get smaller and smaller as he rode away into the distance. Frank quietly admitted to Patrick, “I would have loved to have had a son like Tom, but I sure as hell don’t want some drifter like that, marrying my daughter Rosie.
A new neighbor
Over a month had passed since Tom had departed. Rosie missed the brazen young man who had forced himself into her affection, but he was a rogue who was only after her father’s money by paying attention to her, and she was glad to be rid of him, or was she? Rosie thought that over time she would forget Tom, but as yet that had not happened.
On sunny afternoon Frank’s lawyer, Samuel Jacobs, stopped by with news that he knew Frank would be interested in. Samuel was invited inside where they were soon seated in an antique lounge with two separate chairs and a matching coffee table with a pot of tea and three teacups. Frank asked, “Samuel, what brings you out here at this time of day?”
Samuel replied, “I have some bad news and some good news for you. The ranch downstream from you has been sold and a new owner has taken over.” Frank was disappointed and the reason for this was known to Samuel, as Frank had wanted to combine the two properties in the valley to make one large property that would occupy the entire valley. Samuel knew that Frank was hoping that Rosie would take to their son and marry him, and thereby unite the families and the properties.
Rosie saw her chance to interject her feelings, “Well at least the pressure will be off me to marry their son, and I can now marry whom I please.”
Samuel with a stern expression spoke directly to Rosie, “Not so fast Rosie, as things have not changed as much as you think.”
This confused Rosie, but she waited for Samuel to continue. Samuel then turned his attention back to Frank, “Frank, the new owner sees things much the same as you do and can see the benefits of combining the two properties in the valley and wishes to make a deal with you. If he combines with you, he will allow you to control fifty-one percent of the operation and he will control forty-nine percent.”
Samuel continued while the others listened intently, “This will put him in a disadvantageous position, and to overcome this, he had suggested that you provide the hand of your daughter in marriage to him, to seal the contract.”
Rosie was furious, shocked and frightened, “Am I again to be traded as one would trade livestock? Am I just like a heifer that will be given to the largest bull to mate with? I totally refuse.”
Samuel then spoke, “Rosie, things may not be as bad as you fear, as the new owner is a pleasant young man and you may very well like him”, to which Rosie immediately replied, “I already hate him and don’t even want to meet him.”
Samuel then looked down into his teacup and explained that he had already asked the new owner to meet them at their house, so that he could be introduced, and so that they could talk business over supper. Frank then interjected, “Rosie, go and tell the cook that we will have an extra guest tonight.”
Rosie was furious, but what could she do. Perhaps she could run away and start a life elsewhere. She loved her father, but she had always wanted to marry for love. She wanted a man to share her bed who appealed to her, who would hold her tight, and who would match her intellect. Rosie then thought of Tom, but he was a scoundrel who was just after her father’s money. She was indeed in a dilemma.
Patrick and his wife were also to be guests that night and as soon as they arrived, all the happenings that had preceded their arrival, were explained to them. Patrick thought that this would be an eventful night, but he really had no idea of what was in store.
Time dragged on, and the cook had brought the meals to the table. The neighboring Rancher was late, and they were just about to start the meal without him, when the door opened and in walked Tom who immediately asked what was on for dinner.
All the guests except Samuel were shocked, and Frank asked Tom what he was doing there. Tom replied, “I was hoping to have a pleasant meal followed by a quiet game of chess.” Frank then told Tom to get out, as they were expecting another guest.
Samuel was confused and asked Frank, “Do you know who this man is? Have you met this man before?” Frank then explained that Tom had been an employee and had been ordered off his property and told to never return.
Samuel who was still confused continued, “This man is your new neighbor; the new owner of the property downstream to yours and the man who has made you an offer to combine both properties.”
Not a word was said, and the silence remained until Tom spoke, “Frank, the offer has been made and you will still hold a controlling interest, as long as your beautiful daughter agrees to be my wife, to do with as I see fit. Surely all your dreams of combining the properties, will now be possible.
Without being asked, Tom sat down at the table and casually asked Rosie to pass the vegetables which he then loaded on to his plate. The cook who was serving the meals and had always liked Tom, filled his glass of wine and then returned the bottle into the cravat.
Patrick sat quiet and realized that tonight’s entertainment would far exceed any expectations that he had previously had. Here sat a drifter who was obviously not your typical drifter. Rosie had liked Tom but had discarded him, as she saw him as a money-grubbing amateur Casanova, but he had purchased the neighboring property and therefore must be a man of substance. Patrick would not have missed this for anything in the world.
Frank asked how it was possible for a drifter to purchase the other ranch, when he himself did not have sufficient funds to do so. Tom replied that he was indeed a drifter, but not a drifter without means, and then returned to the matter at hand and reminded all at the table of his offer, and that he was expecting a reply.
Rosie was flabbergasted. All this was beyond her, as she loved Tom; she hated Tom; Tom was after her father’s money; Tom however had money of his own. Her mind was spinning with confusion and Tom was trying to trade for her like she was a piece of livestock.
Frank looked down at the table and then began to speak, “I have always wanted to combine the two properties, but I cannot. I know that Rosie detests you even more than I do, and I have recently learnt a valuable lesson, and so will not force Rosie into a loveless marriage. The deal is off, but as you are now my neighbor, and you are my guest, I suggest that we enjoy our supper and perhaps finish off the night with a game of chess.
During the meal, Rosie smiled at Tom and then said to her father, “I believe that it is a daughter’s responsibility, to aid her father in his ambitions, and so I am prepared to enter into the contract of marriage, especially if the result will be the joining of two great properties into a still greater one.”
Rosie’s father Frank saw through Rosie’s veiled statement and was beginning to realize, that he had not judged his daughter’s feelings for the drifter very well, and that she indeed had feelings for him. He had not judged Tom very well either, as Tom was a man who got what he wanted, and the object of his desires right from the start was to wed his daughter, and money was never an issue at all.
Tom’s hand moved over to Rosie’s and drew it to him, and it was then that they both smiled. Poor Samuel had certainly been entertained, and still was a little confused, but all seemed to have worked out well.
After the meal Rosie accidentally (on purpose), spilt her drink on Tom’s shirt and she again asked him to follow her to the ironing room to get another shirt. As soon as the door was shut behind them, Rosie pushed Tom against the wall and passionately kissed him. Tom’s hands rested on Rosie’s waist until she guided then down to her lower cheeks. Tom then pulled Rosie to him, as he had done once before, and kissed her again.
After their embrace, they parted, and Rosie again slapped Tom across his face. Tom enquired as to why, and Rosie explained that as they were not married as yet, that was a suitable ladylike response for wandering hands.
They both smiled and then with Tom wearing a new shirt, they joined the others. Frank had the chess board set up and they soon commenced on their game of chess. Tom asked for his pot of tea and everyone was expecting Frank to have his glass of cognac, but this time Frank smiled when he said, “I believe that I will also have a cup of tea.” which caused much laughter.
Whether or not Tom won the game of chess that night was of no consequence, as Tom had played a larger game of chess, and he had won even more than he bargained for, but exactly what he had aimed for. He had wanted to wed the pretty girl sitting alone at the table in the local tavern, as soon as he saw her, and that was just after he rode into a town that he did not even know the name of.
The End.