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

the past, remembering that I rode into town on a stage like that, but it felt like a lifetime ago.
“Well, come on,” Doc prompted as we walked through the swinging doors of the Painted Pony Saloon . I followed him across the street to the hotel. The door of the coach swung open and a tall dark haired man stepped out and looked around. When I looked at his face and saw those hazel colored eyes, I knew that had to be Brian Dodge. In a way, he reminded me of Doc only younger. “Brian?”, Doc inquired . The young man turned around. “Uncle Elliot!” he said as he stuck out his hand “Yes, it is me. Brian, your nephew.” Doc shook hands with him and then they embraced. “It is so good to see you, boy.” Doc said , “We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
“How is my Grandfather?”, Brian asked “Has he been well?”
“Indeed he has,” Doc replied “He’ll be at the ranch by the time we get there. “
”And Sam?”
“She’s just fine, Brian,” Doc replied proudly “She’s happier than I’ve ever known her to be.” Doc put his hand on my shoulder and pushed me forward . “This here is Jerrod Bently,” he said with the same glowing pride that was in his voice when he had spoken about Sam. “He’s going to be family in a day or so.”
Brian turned to me and grinned “I am pleased to meet you,” he said “and congratulations.” We shook hands and then it was time for the women to climb out of the coach. I could hear a litany of complaints from inside the coach as Brian Dodge reached in to take his aunt’s hand. A moment later, there she was, all dressed in black, a matching black hat with fashionable feathers around it and a light veil over her face. “Elliott,” she said as she climbed down from the coach “This has been the most deplorable trip I have ever taken in all my born days! ”
”Good to see you too, Lillie Belle,” Doc said as he drew on another, freshly lit cigar and let the smoke flow. I could not help but notice the great care Brian took as he helped the next lady off the stage or the way they looked at eachother.
Lillie Stevens-Black looked back at her younger brother. “I suppose we will be staying here in this dreadful hotel,” she said as she watched him smoke. “And were is Samantha Ann?”
“Sam is over at Bear Claw with Zachariah,” Doc drawled victoriously “And you will be coming back to The Flying S with us.”
“Good,” she replied haughtily “In Philadelphia, the hotels are.....” Doc cut her off, “I know,” he said “So much better than here in Texas.” Lillie seemed a little embarrassed by his remark, but smiled back at him. “You are looking well, Elliott, marriage agrees with you.”
“Indeed it does, sister,” he replied as he jerked his thumb towards me. “This young man is Jerrod Bently, Lillie,” he continued “and I expect you to treat him with respect. He’s one of those “New York” Bentlys!”
“Oh, Elliott!” she cooed as she gave me the once over, “you should have told me that right away.” She walked over to me and offered her hand. “Jerrod Bently,” she said “How wonderful it is to meet you. Why just the other day I was talking to my friend Mildred, about The Bentlys of New York and.....” Doc cut her off. “Lill,” he said “Let’s get your bags and head back. Looks like it might rain and I don’t have the canopy on the buggy.”
“Dear me, Elliott,’ she criticized “how could you forget such a thing.”
“Easy.,” he countered “I don’t predict the weather, like up in Philadelphia, now GET IN THAT BUGGY! NOW!”
She looked shocked, and may be a little frightened , but she did what she was told . Doc, Brian and I unloaded at least thirteen satchels and valises from the top and back of the stage. One large box wrapped in white canvas was handed down to me. As I started to the buggy with it, Lillie spoke up again “Be careful with that, young man!”, she ordered “, I will take that parcel.” I carried the box over to the side of the buggy and handed it to her. “You can not see that, Mr. Bently,” she said proudly “Not until the wedding day.” Doubtfully, I handed her the box. “Ah, thanks,” I said “I am sure that will be a sight to behold.” We were loaded heavy, and Doc grumbled to himself as he climbed into the drivers seat and took up the reins. “Elliott!,” Lillie barked “If you need me to advise you on how to drive that team, I will. You know I attended the “Philadelphia Ladies School for Driving.”
Doc turned around and glared at his sister. “Lillie Belle,” he said tauntingly “You never drove a team in your life, so don’t you be telling me what to do.” Oh, this woman was irritating, and I could tell that Doc was not pleased. Well, may be once we got back to the ranch, she would go take a powder or lie down with a head ache. I felt sorry for Sam. She would soon be reunited with her aunt, and I had a really bad feeling about it, but may be having her brother there would soften the blow. All the way home, Lillie chattered on and on about her friends and her life in Philadelphia and how wonderful the Bentlys of New York were. If she knew any Bentlys of New York, they sure weren’t my kin. Our blood ran red, not blue like that of Lillie Stevens-Black and I began to wonder if she was really the person she presented herself as.
It didn’t rain and we got back to the ranch just about sundown. Sam was waiting for me on the porch swing when we drove in. As soon as they saw each other, there was no holding Brian Dodge or Sam back. He jumped out of the buggy, ignoring his aunt’s protests, Sam ran to him and he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her high into the air, and swung her around . She was laughing and crying at the same time, thrilled to see her brother for the first time in a very long time. Scrub Pot was standing by the front door, a wistful smile on his face as he removed his hat. His grandson had come home. The old man was not about to make Doc’s overbearing sister the center of attention like she’d always expected to be. This moment was about his grandchildren and the wedding that would unite Sam and me forever as husband and wife. He marveled at the sight of his grandson. He had not seen him in years and how he favored his father, and the old man smiled. After a joyous reunion, they went to Scrub Pot. With out a word, he opened his arms and embraced Brian and Sam. He spoke to them in his native tongue and they both smiled with understanding. “What did he say?”, Essie whispered as she appeared behind Doc’s shoulder.
“He is welcoming Brian home,” Doc replied as he watched a family reunited. “Is that Samantha?”, the girl asked.
“Sure is,” Doc replied proudly.
“My, she is even more beautiful than Brian told me she was, I mean, Doctor Dodge, told me.” Embarrassed her voice trailed off. Doc turned around and faced her. “It’s all right , missy,” he said “I ain’t blind you know. I saw how he looks at you.” Essie blushed and returned to the buggy to attend to her rather irate mistress.
Miss Lillie was out of the buggy and admonishing and criticizing , and ordering who ever was in ear shot of her sharp and demanding voice. However, to her dismay, no one was listening and there she stood by the buggy (which was loaded heavily with her baggage) and a look of disapproval on her face when her green eyes met those of The Reverend Zachariah Dodge. All attention was focused on Sam and her brother. Doc and I heard Lillie’s complaining, and decided her visit to Texas had all ready been to long. It became very obvious to me as I watched my fiancee and her brother that Mrs. Lillie Stevens-Black ‘s problem was that she was jealous of her niece and nephew and probably everything else too.
Lillie scowled at Doc as he stood on the front porch of the ranch house, looking straight at her as though offering up some kind of a challenge. He pulled out another cigar and lit it. “Aren’t you tired of smoking those things, Doc?” I asked as I stood next to him. He glanced over at me and grinned, “As long as it irritates my sister, I may smoke ten of ‘em.,” he replied.
“But not in the house,” Sam said as she and Brian joined us. I reached out and caught her, pulling her close and she responded with a kiss that made me wish we were all ready husband and wife.
“You know you are getting the best girl in Texas, Jerrod,” Brian said as he started toward the buggy to help with the unloading.
“I know,” I replied as I released Sam so she could greet her aunt. I was not worried about her, she could hold her own against this woman if she had to. By now the ranch hands has come to carry all thirteen valises and carpet bags into the house and Lillie was now on the porch with Sam.