The Diary of Jerrod Bently - J.W. Osborn (mobi ebook reader TXT) 📗

Think my future bride likes it’s better too.” Sam threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly “Congratulations, Uncle Elliot,” she said “I am happy for you.
“It is time for me to settle down, Sam”, he said. “If I waited any longer it would be way too late and she is a fine woman.”
“Today has been a day of weddings,” Sam replied.
“For who?” Doc asked.
“Angus Watson and that old squaw he calls “Birdie.” she answered. Doc snickered to himself. “Bet Scrub Pot is glad to have performed THAT wedding!”
“He did not seem to mind.” Sam answered. Then Doc’s expression became serious. “Sam,” he said “I would never ask you this, if it wasn’t necessary, but if you have your mother’s wedding ring with you. Could I borrow it?”
“Borrow it?”, she asked.
“I will have to send to New Orleans for a proper wedding ring for Victoria,” he said “There ain’t no jeweler in Portersville or mostly likely anywhere in the Oklahoma Territory either.”
“I see,” Sam said “But you don’t have to borrow it,” she said “My mother was your sister and I know that you loved her very much. I will give you the ring for a wedding gift. I was too young to know if she and Pa were happy together or not, but I have heard that they were. So I wish the same for you.” She thought she saw a tear in his eye as he looked back at her. “ It is in the wagon with my things,” she said “I will get it.“
“Thank you, Sam,” he said. “And Honey?”
Sam paused as she started to climb into the back of the wagon and looked back at her uncle. “Your Pa and your Momma were very happy,” Doc added “Never knew to people who were so much in love as they were.”

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Angus Watson gazed lovingly at his rotund bride and repeated the vows as Scrub Pot read them. “With this ring,” he said “I thee wed.”
“Birdie:” batted her dark eyes and kissed air at him.” Scrub Pot felt his stomach lurch a little. “Now by the power invested in me by the Methodist Church, I pronounce that Angus Watson and Bird That Squawks ....”
“Talks!”, the bride interrupted, “Bird That Talks!” Scrub Pot glared at her and cleared his throat. “Are man and wife. Angus, you may kiss your bride.” And he did, long and passionately as Scrub Pot closed his bible and started to walk away.
“Zachariah!?”
The old man turned around to see Doc standing by the supply wagon and a grin lit his dark face. “So you have come back,” he said “Just like I predicted you would.”
“Not exactly,” Doc said slyly “I need your help.”
“So she didn’t throw you out on your ear,” the old man stated as the sounds of celebration rose behind him. After all he had just performed a wedding. A guitar and fiddle started to play.
“No, she didn’t,” Doc said “But she was pretty mad at me for a while. I proposed to her this morning and she accepted.”
“You old prairie dog,” Scrub Pot declared, “You are going to marry Victoria Langford?”
“I most certainly am,” Doc replied “And I need you to come back to town to do the service for us.”
“Why?”
“Because Preacher Wilks is sick in bed and we want to get married today, or this evening. Depending on how long I have to stand here jawing with you about it.”
Scrub Pot glared at him. “If it were anyone other than you Doc, I’d say no, but considering your history , I think that settling down with a fine woman like Victoria Langford will be good for you. May be you will do a little ranching, have some babies and you will be out of my hair.”
“Now Zachariah,” Doc defended “I ain’t been that bad, have I?”
“No indeed,” the old man replied with a grin “You and I have had many an adventure over the years but I think that now it is time for you to have more than that with that yellow haired woman. She needs you and so does Portersville.”
“May be so,” Doc agreed “Now. You are coming back with me. Or do I have to hog tie you and bring you along myself.”
“I’ll go,” Scrub Pot said “Just let me get my horse ready and we’ll ride.”
Sam came up to them, leading Trouble behind her. The stud was tacked and ready to go. “Uncle Elliot,” she said , as she handed him a small leather pouch that contained her mother’s ring. “I put Joe up. He is spent.” She then handed the reins of the stud over to him.
“Sam,” he said “I don’t know what to say, here. Trouble is your horse and...”
”He’s a good ride and he is fresh,” Sam replied “And he is just as fast as Joe is, maybe faster.”
“Thanks, honey girl,” Doc said “I’ll take real good care of him.”
“I know you will,” she answered “I’ll ride Smokey Joe back in the morning and pick my horse up. We’ll be moving on tomorrow.”
Scrub Pot rode up on Wakeeze and pulled his hat down on his forehead so it would not blow off. “I hope you can keep up, Doc,” he said wryly, and then kicked the paint the slats, Indian style, and was gone in seconds.
Doc swung into Sam’s saddle. “I am not going to take that from that old coot,” he stated. He tipped his hat to Sam.
“Be happy Doc,” she said “You deserve to it.” Trouble began to snort and side step, wanting to go. “All right,” Doc ordered “ Then go on and catch up with him.” The next second, they were tearing down the trail after the old man and his paint. Sam waved and grinned. “I sure hope he remembers how to stop that stud once he gets started.”

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The Contessa and her housekeeper worked together at getting Victoria ready for her wedding. From her rather large and fashionable wardrobe, Francessca had chosen a beautiful dawn pink gown made of imported watered silk. It was a stunning piece that had come from a fashion house in Paris, France. It had a bustled skirt, and a three foot train that flowed behind and the bodice was a tight fit, which was in style. It was perfect for Victoria. The low cut decole’tege made her look radiantly alluring and the whole ensemble fit her like a glove.
“It is just perfect,” Victoria declared as she looked intently at her reflection in the mirror in front of her. “It is just beautiful,” she added “and I think Doc will really like it.”
Francessca smiled as she threaded her needle “Just one little row of stitches and it will truly be perfect,” she said. “I think it is you who makes the gown look so lovely, Victoria.”
“Aye, Ma’am,” the housekeeper agreed “With that little nip we made at the waist, it is now a perfect fit.”
“I love it,” Victoria giggled as she turned to look at the back of the dress “It is so elegant! But while we were make our choice of the dresses and working on the fit, I thought of someone I really would like to have at my wedding tonight” she said. “ Could we send a note to her? There is no time for me get the buggy and drive out to Clear Water Ranch. Doc could be back with that preacher any time.”
“Don’t worry.” Francessca replied as she tied off the thread at the end of her stitches and put her needle away. She crossed to her secretary that stood in the corner of the room. She took out some stationery and a pen and gave them to Victoria. “Write her a note and Sinie will see that it is delivered to The Bradford ranch.”
“Thank you, “, Victoria replied a she sat down and began to write.

Dear Fran,
I know this is very sudden, but please don’t worry. Everything is fine. Doc has asked me to marry him and we are saying our vows tonight at the church. Please come and stand up with me as my matron of honor.”


“Victoria,” Francessca said “Tell her to meet us here and to bring that ranger with her. He will be Doc’s supporter.”
“Yes,” Victoria agreed “,Doc probably did not think of asking someone to stand up with him.”
“I would say he was in a bit of a hurry when I pulled up with my cart,” The Contessa replied with a grin.