Eerie Saloon: Seasons Of Change -- Spring, Part 7 Of 13 free porn video

Pablo talks with Don Luis. Red Tully talks to Abner Slocum and Dr. Upshaw about taking Abner to Philadelphia. Nancy starts her new job. Milt and Jane meet with Reverend Yingling. Milt and Jane marry. Roselyn advises Flora. Arnie talk to the Spauldings. The church board meets. Nancy gets a telegram. Trisha admits the truth. And lots more. Eerie Saloon: Seasons of Change - Spring By Ellie Dauber and Chris Leeson © 2012 Sunday, May 12, 1872 "Before we sing a final hymn to our Savior," Reverend Yingling began, a benevolent smile on his face, "the president of the church board, Mr. Horace Styron, has asked to say a few words." He turned to glance at Horace, who was sitting behind him along with the other board members. "Horace, if you would..." Styron rose and stepped up to the altar as Yingling walked over to his own seat. "Thank you, Reverend, for that introduction and for the fine service you've led us in this morning. I'll try to be brief, so we can all finish that service and go out to enjoy this holy day of our Lord." "Folks," he continued, "the month's come around, and the next meeting of the church board of elders is this Wednesday. You all heard me thank the Reverend for what he's given us in this service today. You're all invited to come to the meeting on Wednesday and thank him yourselves by supporting my motion of continued support for his petition to wrest control of that magical potion from Shamus O'Toole." He paused for the round of applause that followed. "And you can also make your voice heard in the matter of an errant member of this congregations whose actions show that she no longer deserves a seat on the board -" "What!" Trisha leapt to her feet. "Horace, you've got no right to say things like that." He turned to face her. "Please, Trisha, I promised to be brief. You don't want to waste a lot of these good people's time with your ranting." "Ranting? Why, you... you --" Yingling hurried back to the altar. "Thank you, Horace... and you, too, Trisha. I'm sure that the meeting will be a most interesting one. And now," he said, barely cracking a smile, "please turn to page 109 and join with me in Psalm 3, 'Peace in the Midst of the Storm.'" * * * * * On pleasant days like this one, the congregation of Eerie's Catholic Church generally milled around in the churchyard for a while after services. Friends caught up on what had happened to each other in the previous week; men, as well as women, shared the latest gossip; and young people engaged in the sort of casual flirting that young people always did when they were together, even if their parents _were_ watching. Father de Castro walked over to a group of teens who were happily so engaged and tapped one on the shoulder. "Pablo, may I speak with you for a moment?" "Is something wrong, Padre?" the young man asked. The priest shook his head. "No, I just wanted to talk to you about that... odd job you did for me a while back." "You see how important I am, Raquel," he boasted to a pretty girl standing next to him. "Even the Padre comes to _me_ for help." She smiled. "I will remember that the next time I need some odd job done around my house." She giggled then added. "Will you be very long?" "Only a few minutes, Raquel," de Castro answered, "and he will be yours once more." She gave a quick nod. "Then I will wait." Pablo grinned as he followed the priest back into the church. They went through a doorway near the front of the room and into Father de Castro's office. "Don Luis," Pablo said in surprise when he saw a man rise from a corner chair. He turned to the priest. "Padre, I will wait outside while you and Don Luis talk." Luis Ortega shook his head. "No, Pablo, you're the one I wanted to talk to. I just asked the Padre to bring you in here, so we could speak in secret." "Secret? I-I don't understand." "You were a great help in warning us about that conversation Horace Styron had with Clyde Ritter. I wanted to thank you for that." Pablo gave him a slight bow. "You are most welcome, Se?or. I was glad to do it. I did not like the way that they were talking about us." "I don't like it either, and from the way Styron and Reverend Yingling - and others - acted at the town council meeting last Wednesday, you were very right to tell us what you heard." De Castro interrupted. "How did Mr. Ritter act on Thursday, after the meeting?" "He was not happy," Pablo replied. "He snapped at everyone, especially Nando -- Fernando Hidalgo - and me, and I heard him muttering about 'those damn sneaky Mex' all day." The boy shook his head. "He didn't get much better the next few days, either. He is still mad." Don Luis nodded gravely to the priest. "Just what we thought." He turned to face the boy. "Pablo, I don't want you to risk your job, but could you... keep listening to your boss, especially if he's talking to Reverend Yingling or Se?or Styron? If you hear them say anything about the Padre or me, or talk about the potion and what they want to do with it, get word to us as soon as you can." "Be careful, though, my son. I do not want Se?or Styron to get mad and fire you over this." Pablo smiled. "Do not worry, Padre; I will be careful." "See that you are," Ortega warned. "But if anything _does_ happen, know that you will have a job - just as good a job - with me. I promise you that." The boy's smile grew into a grin. Something about the vaquero life appealed to him. Such men had dignity that stable boys lacked. "Thank you, Se?or. Are we done now? I do not mean any disrespect, but Raquel Gonzales is waiting, and I do not want her to get mad at me either." * * * * * "Hey, Mr. Slocum," Red Tully said, walking into Doc Upshaw's small ward. "How're you doing t'day?" Abner carefully put down his spoon next to the bowl of porridge on his tray. "Not too bad... considering, but I am glad you came in." "Why's that, sir?" "I wanted to ask if that offer of yours, that you'd go east to Philadelphia with me, was still good?" "It is. Why wouldn't it be?" "Because taking care of a... a cripple like me for the two weeks or so that it'll take to get me there is a lot of work." He chuckled. "I was afraid that you might've come to your senses and decided you didn't want to be stuck with me for so long." "Like I said, I'm still willing. When d'you wanna get started?" "As soon as we can. Do me a favor and get the Doc. I think he needs to be a part of this conversation." Red nodded. "Be right back." He left, returning in a short time with Dr. Upshaw. "Are you all right, Abner?" the physician asked. "Red said that you needed to see me about something." Slocum shook his head. "I'm fine - fine enough, anyway. Red's agreed to go to Philly with me. I wanted to know how soon we can start, and what you think we'll need on the trip." "The first part of that's the easiest; you'll probably be able to travel by the end of the week. I should have Vogel's letter by then, and I expect that it will be very useful in letting us know how to treat _and_ how to transport you. I can teach Red how to best care for you on route in the meantime. He probably knows most of it already from his Army days." Red mumbled a word of agreement. "The tricky part," Upshaw continued, "is how to get you from here to Ogden, north of Salt Lake City, to catch the train east. It's a long, bumpy road, and that can't be good for your spine." Red glanced over at his employer. Abner was in a hospital bed, his upper body raised by the top half of the bed and supported by a number of pillows. "I've been thinking about that, Doc. You ever hear of a Rucker ambulance?" "I have," the physician replied. "We didn't have them on our side during the War, though. I hear they were very good at keeping Union Army patients comfortable during transport, as good as our own Chisolm ambulances." "That they were. The first ambulance my unit had back in '62 was so bad that men fought not t'be stuck in 'em. An officer even tried t'pull his pistol once and _make_ us take him out of it, the damn thing bounced him around so much." Abner raised a curious eyebrow. "And this Rucker ambulance is better?" "A lot better. The wagon has a real good suspension, and the patient's on a platform supported by more springs." Abner studied the younger man. "You sound like you know a lot about these things." "I do. Us orderlies had t'keep the thing working 'cause there wasn't always a mechanic or a blacksmith around t'do it. I was thinking - if you want - I could talk to Mr. Caulder and Sam Braddock, the carpenter. I'll bet you they could rig us up something that'd work near as good outta one of the wagons we got at the ranch." "How long do you think it'd take?" The cowman shrugged. "A few days; maybe a little more." He grinned. "We probably could have the thing ready right about the time the doc here says you can go." Abner frowned. "Not if we stand here jawing about it. Get started, Red. Bring Arsenio and Sam in to see me if they have any questions. I'll make it worth their while to give the job priority." "They should talk to me, as well," Upshaw added. "I'm going to want to make sure that thing is as comfortable as Abner needs it to be before I let him ride through a few hundred miles of countryside in it." * * * * * "I have been watching you these last few days, Wilma." Cerise took a sip of coffee and leaned back in her office chair. Wilma was sitting across from Cerise. She looked up from her own coffee and gave the other woman a mischievous smile. "Oh, have you now?" "Mais oui, and I have been most pleased to see the return of the Wilma of old, the cheerful, wanton demimonde that you were... before Ethan. I am pleased that you have gotten him out of your head." "He ain't outta my head. He's sorta locked away in a closet in here..." She tapped the side of her head with a finger. "...where he can't do no harm." "Why have him in there at all?" "I know what I am, Cerise. I'm a whore, but I like being a whore. I'm damned good at it, and I ain't gonna let that skunk ruin it for me." She hesitated a moment. "But there's some things I gotta figure out yet, and having him around might just help." "What are these 'things'? Perhaps I may also help." "I-I liked being in love, the way it made me feel inside. It felt so good that I never noticed that Ethan didn't feel the same way about me." "It is easy for the heart to fool the head in such matters." "It surely fooled me - and I don't _like_ being made a fool of, even by m'self." "That is the risk one takes for love." "Maybe it's a risk I don't wanna take. Maybe I should do like Beatriz says, 'n' make my heart hard - stay away from love from now on, maybe forever." "Forever?" Cerise waited for Wilma's grim nod before continuing. "Forever is a long, long time. That advice may be right for Beatriz, but I it right for you?" "You are young right now, Wilma; beautiful. Love is there, eager for you to find it. But in twenty... thirty years what will you be? Time, they say, is a woman's greatest enemy. It steals away her proud breasts, her round derri?res, and leaves her a _hag_, with no man seeking her favors. Where will you be then, Wilma Hanks, a poor old woman with no one to care for - or who will care for you?" "Is that what you say I'm chasing, if I take that road?" "I am. Do not lock the door of your heart to love; that would be a _plus_ _tragique_ a most tragic waste." "What do I do then? "Examine _closely_ each man who knocks on that door. Is he worthy of you? Does he want more of you than a quick romp? Do _you_ want more of _him_ than a quick romp? When you are sure - and _only_ when you are sure - then you let him in. You still tread carefully, then love, the love you want may blossom between the two of you." "That sounds like a lot of work." "It is, but the results - mmm - they are worth it. That is how I found my Herve and - I think - how your sister found her Paul Grant." Wilma considered what her friend had told her. "I'll have to think about that for a while." "While you think about it, think also what would have happened had you applied this advice to Monsieur Thomas." "That's real good advice," Wilma grinned. "I do believe that I will." "Bon, and now that we have solved the problem of your love life, let us get back to the running of my House." * * * * * Nancy Osbourne walked into the Saloon, carrying a brown valise tied with a darker brown leather strap. Ramon and Maggie followed behind her. He was toting a second valise, while Maggie had a bushel basket tucked under her arm. "Is Mr. O'Toole about?" Nancy asked R.J. The barman glanced upward. "He and Molly are up in their room having a bit of lunch. They eat up there sometimes on Sunday, while she changes out of her going-to-church dress." "Would it be all right to interrupt? He said to bring my things over today. I-I'm taking a room here, part of my pay for working as his waitress." R.J. nodded. "I know. They knew you were coming and - hey, Dolores, did Molly give you that key?" "She did," Dolores said, hurrying over to the bar, "and you do not have to shout." She turned to Nancy and smiled. Since Nancy had been working at the Saloon, the two women were becoming close friends. "Molly asked me to take you up to the room and help you get settled in." Nancy looked behind her. Ramon and Maggie were sitting at a nearby table. The valise was at Ramon's feet, and Maggie had set the basket down on the table. "Dolores has the room key; if you two don't mind..." "Lead the way," Ramon said as he and Maggie came to their feet. They all followed Dolores up to the second floor. There was a set of four small rooms at the top of the stairs. She led them to the third of the four. "That's Bridget's room right across the hall there," she told Nancy, pointing to a door on the opposite side where the hallway turned left and led to a second set of rooms. She unlocked the door, "and Shamus and Molly's apartment is just beyond it." "It's... nice," Nancy said, as she walked it. 'A bit larger than the one I had at the Carsons',' she thought, 'but no window.' She set her valise down on the bed and looked around. There was a two-drawer dresser set against one wall, with a white porcelain pitcher and bowl resting on a matching linen cloth. A narrow closet was built into the wall next to it; a bar hung within it held four wooden hangers. An overstuffed, green chair was angled into the corner, with a small table set on one side. An oil lamp was positioned on the table. "Where should I put this?" Maggie asked, shifting the basket on her hip. Dolores took the basket from Maggie. "How about on the dresser?" When Nancy agreed, Dolores walked over and put it down where she had said. "_Sonnets_ _from_ _the_ _Portuguese_ ," she remarked cheerily, picking the book up and out of the basket. "Do you know the work?" Nancy sounded more than a little surprised. Dolores nodded. "I do, but my copy is back in Mexico City." "You can borrow mine sometime if you'd like," Nancy said, smiling. "Thank you; and, maybe, we can talk about the poems sometime when Shamus is not working us so hard." Nancy felt herself relax. She hadn't been certain that moving out of the Whitney's guesthouse was a good idea, but she didn't want to impose any longer than she had to. Already, though, she felt a sense of satisfaction, occupying a place where she would earn her own keep. So, it seemed, the move _had_ been worthwhile. It not only forced her to face up to starting a new life, but it also had brought her a new friend. * * * * * Teresa came into the house with a basket of newly dried linens. "Can you give me a hand, Arnolda?" "Si, Mama." Arnie had ceased to flinch when her mother used that name. She walked over and took the basket, setting it on the worktable. Her mother took out the top item, a large bed sheet. "Hold the other end and help me fold this, please." She waited till Arnie had grasped the other end of the sheet. "And while you are helping, you can tell me what happened yesterday." "What do you mean?" "You came home much earlier than you usually do from the Spauldings', and you had the same unhappy look on your face that you have even now. Do you not remember what your Papa used to say, 'Al mal tiempo, buena cara' [To bad times, good face]." Arnie gave her a sad sort of smile. "Is this any better?" "A little; now, tell me what happened." "Se?ora Spaulding, she... she knows about potion girls, and she knows that I-I am one." "Who told her? What did she say to you?" Arnie looked down in embarrassment. "I-I told her about the potion earlier - but I did not say that I..." She sighed. "...am one who took it. Someone else - I do not know who - told her that." She frowned suddenly, wondering it had been Pablo. He was such a _serpiente_. "What did she do? What did her children do?" "She said that she wanted to think about things. I do not think that Hedley - or Clara - know, but she _will_ tell them sooner or later." "Que cr?a cuervos [You bred crows], Arnolda, and now, as your Papa always said, nos han robado los ojos [they have stolen your eyes]. Did she say anything about how she felt or what she was going to do?" "No; mostly, she was mad that I lied to her about who I was." "That _may_ be to the good. They may like you enough to want to get over being mad." She smiled, just a little, to encourage her. "At least, they still gave you laundry to be washed. When is it due back?" "Tuesday; she said that she would talk to me, then." "Bueno, I do not want you to lose your friends any more than I want to lose their business." * * * * * Rachel Silverman looked up as soon as she heard the bell over the front door jingle. "Molly," she greeted her friend, as she hurried over from behind the counter where she'd been sitting. "What can I do for you today?" "T'be telling the truth, Rachel, I ain't sure." She glanced over at a long rack of women's clothes. "I need some... dresses, special dresses for me two new ladies." "Special? What sort of thing _exactly_ are you talking about? Ain't what you got them in now fancy enough for you?" "The dresses they've got now are just fine - fine for everyday, anyway. But - ye know that we made 'em into dancing girls, don't ye?" "Do I know?" She pointed to the store window. "Ain't that one of your flyers right over there?" "Aye, it is. If ye know that they're dancing girls, then ye should be able t'guess that they needs t'be wearing something fancy when they do thuir dancing." "And what sort of shmatas - excuse me, _outfits_ are they in now?" "Lylah's wearing a yellow corset and petticoat and Flora's in bright red drawers and a matching jacket and cap. We didn't want t'be buying no fancy costumes for 'em till we was knowing that they was a success." "And now you know?" "Aye, we do. We got back a lot o'the business we lost to Sam Duggan and his Dancing Darlings. So now Shamus 'n' me want t'be getting some regular dancehall girl outfits for 'em. You got anything like that?" "In a little town like Eerie, we should stock such things? No, we don't, but you come in the back with me. Catalogs, we do got, and it seems to me that we got a couple from some big dress company out in San Francisco that'll have just the sort of fancy-shmancy dresses you want." "Sounds good. I'd like t'be ordering a couple of extra sets. We're hoping to hire a girl or two more, but who knows what sizes they'll be?" Rachel nodded amiably. "You order what you need now, and you can change your order later, when you hire them new girls. In the meantime, I'll put on the teapot and get out some of them rugalah you like." "Rugalah, that's them little roll-up buns with the honey and nuts, ain't it?" "I thought you'd remember them. We can have some tea... talk... eat some rugalah; you can even look through the catalogs, maybe even order something. You will have to give me some idea how respectable you will want those outfits to be." "Well..." Molly said, letting herself be coaxed. "No less respectable than the costumes I wore on the Barbary Coast meself. Have you seen any of those posters advertising the dancers over at the Lone Star?" "Oy, those are wicked! And you being a church-going woman," said Rachel, but with a smile and a playful shake of her head. * * * * * Monday, May 13, 1872 On Monday mornings, Thaddeus Yingling liked to catch up on his leisure reading. He looked up from his copy of _Scribner's_ _Magazine_ when someone knocked on the half-opened door to his study. "Milton," he cheerfully greeted his visitor, "what brings you in here today?" "I... _We_ came to ask a favor, Reverend." He walked into the room, leading a nervous-looking Jane by the hand. Yingling studied the woman for a moment. The face was Laura Caulder's but this woman was decidedly not pregnant. "You're... Jane, aren't you, Mrs. Caulder's twin?" "That's me, Jane Steinmetz." She gave him a quick smile. "How d'you do, sir?" The reverend rose and leaned across his desk to offer her his hand. "I am pleased to meet you, Miss Steinmetz. I am the Reverend Thaddeus Yingling." "And I'm right pleased t'meet you, Reverend." She took his hand and pumped it eagerly. "Especially 'cause of _why_ we met." Milt chuckled. "What she means is that we want to get married, and we'd like you to perform the ceremony." "As soon as possible," Jane quickly added, blushing as she spoke. The minister frowned. "Am I correct that you are one of those so- called 'potion girls', Miss Steinmetz?" "Yeah, I am," Jane replied. "Why're you asking?" "And where do you propose that I marry the two of you?" Milt raised a suspicious eyebrow. "I had originally thought we could do it in the church, perhaps, next Sunday after the service, but we sort of promised Shamus O'Toole that we'd get married in his Saloon. Is there a problem with that?" "I got a problem," Jane protested. "I don't wanna wait till Sunday t'marry you." Yingling shook his head. "You two have a bigger problem. I do not intend to sanction your marriage in _any_ way, either by performing the ceremony or by permitting it to take place in my church, had you asked." "What!" Milt looked shocked. "How can you say something like that?" The reverend scowled. "Because I do not approve of Mr. O'Toole, his potion, or anything associated with it - or with him. I feel that my participation in any way in your wedding would be seen as my accepting Mr. O'Toole's previous actions while he was in control of the potion. You've done a great deal of good work for the church, Milton, but you seem too personally involved to view the matter of Mr. O'Toole's potion clearly." "You don't seem to have any trouble accepting Laura Caulder's marrying Arsenio," Milt chided. "I do have concerns, and I would not have performed the ceremony for her and Arsenio, had I been asked. However, she seems to have risen above her past. The two of them have attended my service almost every Sunday since they wed. She has become a dutiful daughter of the church, and I believe that such actions have redeemed her in our Lord's sight." He shook his head and continued. "I can hardly say the same of you..." He looked directly at Jane. "...young woman. You have not attended my church, have not shown me any remorse for the crimes that led to your... transformation. For all I know, you're behavior - and morals - have worsened since that time." "No they ain't!" protested Jane. "And how much remorse d'ya want? I said I was sorry to Jessie and Laura. If they don't hold it agin me, how can a man of the cloth?" She was shocked, indignant, and her tears had begun to flow. "Reverend Yingling!" Milt took hold of her shoulders, a sign to let him do the talking. "You have no right to say such things, no right at all." He shifted and put his arm around Jane. "This woman is worth _ten_, worth a _hundred_ of you. And, after what you've just said, we wouldn't let you marry us if you got down on your knees and begged us." Jane seemed to want to have another say of her own, but Milt pulled his kerchief from his pocket and wiped at her eyes as he gently steered her from the room. * * * * * "G'morning, Mr. Quinlan," Obie Wynn greeted Milt as he and Jane walked into Judge Humphreys' outer office. The clerk was searching in the top drawer of a file cabinet. "The Judge is busy just now," he told them in his thick Kentucky drawl. "You 'n' your lady friend'll have t'wait a bit." "This is Jane Steinmetz," Milt said, "my..." He grinned and gave her hand a squeeze. "...fianc?. Are you sure I can't talk to him? It's _very_ important." "Fianc?? Well now, congratulations. Lemme go see if he can squeeze you in." Obie took two manila folders from the top of the file cabinet, closed the drawer, and walked to an inner door. "Your Honor," he said, knocking on the door, "can I bother ya fer a minute?" The Judge's deep baritone could be heard through the door. "It better just be a minute, Obie." The clerk, a short man, smoothed back a mass of unruly brown hair before he scurried in, closing the door behind him. He was back out a moment later. "He'll see ya." He opened the door wide for the couple to come in. "Milt Quinlan and _fianc?_, is it?" Humphreys walked out from behind his desk. "Congratulations to you both. And what can I do for you?" "Can you marry us," Jane said quickly, "just like you done for Laura and Arsenio?" "Of course, I can, and I shall be most happy to do so. When and where do you want the ceremony to be held?" "Today, if you can, and it'll have t'be the Saloon, seeing as we can't use the church." The Judge raised an eyebrow. "Why can't you use the church?" "That ba - 'scuse me, Reverend Yingling, he said we couldn't 'cause..." Jane blinked, trying not to cry. "...'cause I'm a-a... _sinful_ potion gal." Milt put a comforting arm around her. "We just spoke to him, and that's the gist of what he said." "Absurd." The Judge shook his head. "I think the good reverend is acting very foolishly, with all this nonsense about Shamus' potion, but that's neither here nor there." He looked at his pocket watch. "It's still fairly early. I see no reason why I couldn't perform the ceremony today." Jane gave him her best smile. "That'd be great. We could do it - oh, shit; we can't." Her smile faded. "What's the matter, Jane?" Milt asked. She looked down, not ready to face him. "I can't get hitched t'you today - much as I want to. It wouldn't be fair t'Maggie." "What does Maggie have to do with it?" Milt inquired. "She seemed more than pleased when we told her the good news about our getting married." Jane shook her head. "I know, but we didn't say when we'd be doing it. She needs time t'find somebody t'take my place while I'm..." She blushed prettily. "...while _we're_ on our honeymoon. You are gonna take me on a honeymoon, ain't you?" "I have every intention of taking you... on a honeymoon." Milt leered for a moment before his expression changed to a loving smile. "But Maggie may already have made some arrangements. Let's check with her." He turned to the Judge. "Your Honor, I'll get back to you with the specifics, but it will be tonight, tomorrow evening at the latest." The Judge nodded. "I shall be happily available to you either night." "Today," Jane said, blushing at her eagerness. "I wanna do it today." Milt shrugged and put his arm around her waist. "So do I, but we'd better be married first." "Milt!" She giggled and felt a blush come to her cheeks. Her body tingled as he pulled her close, and she knew just how much she did like the idea of what was going to happen to her - to them both, possibly that very night. * * * * * Clara used the edge of her knife to push the carrots she'd just finished slicing onto a plate. "Mama," she asked, "will Annie be coming by tomorrow?" "I expect that she will," Mrs. Spaulding replied. "She's always been punctual, bringing back the laundry she picked up on Saturday the following Tuesday." The woman studied her daughter's expression. "Why do you ask, dear?" The girl took a breath, not at all sure how her mother would react. "I-I'm not really asking if she's going to come. I'm wondering if she's going to... stay, like she usually does, for lunch and to give us a Spanish lesson." "That I... I don't know." "What happened on Saturday, Mama? Everything seemed fine until the two of you went into your bedroom. Then she came rushing out. She grabbed the bag of dirty clothes and ran for the door. I saw her face. She looked so sad, too, like she was ready to cry." "Did she?" The woman felt a pang of guilt. But it was a brief pang. 'I don't like being lied to,' she thought, 'especially for so long a time.' "Mother, what do you know? Why was she so upset all of a sudden?" Mrs. Spaulding drew in a deep breath. "Did it ever occur to you that _I_ might be the one who was upset, that Annie did something that I didn't like, and _that_ was why she left?" "I - no, I-I didn't think... what _did_ happen?" "I don't believe that I _wish_ to explain to you - or Hedley - what happened. Perhaps tomorrow, _if_ I decide that she deserves the chance, I'll let Annie explain herself to you both; to all three of us." She looked sternly at Clara. "Now toss those carrots into the pot, so they can be ready for our lunch." Clara cast her mother a glum look, but she obeyed. * * * * * "Good morning, Milt," Abner greeted his lawyer. "What brings you in today?" Milt set his briefcase down on the empty bed next to Abner's. "Paperwork, I have your will and the partnership agreement here for you to look at." "I thought you were going to be bringing them in tomorrow. What's the rush?" The younger man grinned. "I'm getting married at two this afternoon, and, frankly..." His smile grew even more broad. "...I'll have better things to do the next few days than your legal work." "Well, now, congratulations, and I don't blame you one little bit. Put the paperwork down and get out of here." "Do you have any questions before I go?" He placed the papers on the wheeled tray to the right of Abner's bed. "Just one, when will you be back?" "Thursday... I'll come in Thursday morning to talk to you. I promise." "And I'll be waiting. Cap should be back on Wednesday, so he'll be here, too. In the meantime, go - and give Jane a kiss for me." Milt laughed. "I may... eventually. I plan to be busy for a while, kissing her for myself." He winked at his client as he headed for the door. * * * * * "I got it," Molly shouted in triumph, bursting into Jane's bedroom. "Laura loaned ye her blue petticoat." She held up the garment that she'd carried, folded, under her arm. Jane was sitting on her bed, wearing only her best white drawers, a matching camisole, and a pale blue corset. She looked up and gave Molly a wan smile. "Thanks, Molly. Is she gonna be able t'get over here for my wedding?" "Aye, she told me the only way she wouldn't make it was if that baby o'hers decided t'be born t'day." She waited a moment. "Arsenio went over to Doc Upshaw's t'get one o'them wheeled chairs, so she wouldn't have t'walk." "Good; I was worrying about that. Much as I want her t'be at my wedding, I don't want her to hurt herself. She's gonna be the - what you call it - the matron of honor." Jessie was sitting on the chair near Jane's bed. "And I'm a bridesmaid, me and Maggie. Now that we know who we are, let's get to it. A bride don't need t'worry about nothing on her wedding day." "Except maybe the wedding night?" Molly said, a chuckle in her voice. Jane blushed and looked down at the floor. "I ain't worried about that - not too much anyways." She smiled enthusiastically. "I remember being up in Colorado, under Pike's Peak. I was looking for some place to warm up..." She caught herself. It wasn't a story that fit the occasion. "From the way you 'n' Milt keep looking at each other, I don't think you got a thing to worry about." Jessie glanced over at the small clock, ticking away on the wall. "Now, you better get that petticoat on, 'cause it's time for you t'get down there and get hitched." * * * * * "So you'll be my best man?" Milt asked. Arsenio shrugged. "Might as well, I'll be standing up front with Laura, anyway." He waited a beat. "Besides, we're going to be brothers-in-law in a few minutes." "That we are, de facto brothers-in-law, if not de jure." He saw the confused look on Arsenio's face and quickly added, "Never mind, it's a lawyer's observation." He offered his hand. "Welcome to the family." They shook hands. "The same to you. Say, does this mean that I have to make a toast to you and Jane at the dinner after the ceremony?" "It does. Do you want me to write something for you to say?" "No, it has to be nice things about you, and I can lie well enough on my own, thanks." He winked. Just then, Judge Humphreys sat down at their table. "If I can interrupt you two liars for a moment, I need to talk to Milt about something... something official, sort of." "Do you want me to leave?" Arsenio asked. The Judge shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I just wanted to remind Milt that the church board of elders is meeting this Wednesday night." "That's right," Milt said unhappily. "I-I'm sorry, Your Honor, I forgot." "Milt, if I had my choice of whether to think of the church board or a girl like Jane, I don't think I'd be able to remember the meeting, either. I just wanted to see if you were going to be there as our parliamentarian." "Probably not; I'll still be on my honeymoon and -" "And it won't be _board_ motions that you'll be concerned about. I understand. I'm just sorry that you can't be there. Between reconsidering the Reverend's petition again and the motion about Trisha -" "That's right; they'll be trying to throw her off the board, won't they?" "I'm afraid that they will. It's not going to be an easy meeting. I can act as parliamentarian, but some people - Cecelia Ritter, for sure - are going to complain of bias." Arsenio chuckled. "You're trying to make him feel guilty, aren't you, Judge?" "Yes, I'm afraid I am, and I'm sorry for that." The Judge gave a hearty sigh. "Look, Milt, if you want to show up Wednesday night, show up. If you decide that you'd rather spend the evening with your new bride, then no one - least of all, me - will blame you." Milt studied the older man's face for a moment. Humphrey seemed sincere in what he'd just said. "Thanks, Judge. I'll keep that in mind." "Now that we've settled _that_ point, we'd best get started." Arsenio pointed at Shamus' clock. "We've got us a wedding to do." * * * * * "What are you doing, coming in here?" Maggie asked, sounding angry. Jane startled. "I just come in t'see how you're -" "You chased me out of the kitchen on my wedding day, so I get to do the same to you today. Get out of here." "Only if you come out like you promised when it's time for things t'get going, okay?" "I will be there." Maggie's eyebrows narrowed in mock anger. "Now, go!" Jane nodded and left. "That was not nice, mi coraz?n," Ramon said. He was sitting at the worktable, waiting for Maggie, once the wedding meal was prepared. He thought for a moment. "By the way, has Jane told you where they will be going on their honeymoon? I know that Milt doesn't have a house. He lives in the back room of his office." Maggie nodded. "That is where they will be. It was either that, or stay in Jane's room upstairs." She sighed. "I do not think that his room has much more than a bed, but how much more than that do they need?" "It was enough for me. Any place would be enough, so long as you were there with me." He walked over and kissed her on the cheek. Then he shifted and kissed her on the side of the neck. Maggie shivered. "Ramon, if you kiss me like that I will... oohh!" She stopped as he kissed her again. "Please, I-I... much as I love what you are doing, I must finish with the cooking." "I will stop - for now, but after the ceremony and the meal, we can start again." "Mmm, I hope so." "So do I, but just now, I need to take care of something. I will be back as soon as I can." "Where... oh, never mind, just be back for the ceremony." "I will try. Adios." He gave her another kiss, this one much more chaste, and hurried out the back door. * * * * * "Here they come!" R.J. yelled, pointing towards the second floor. All eyes turned to see Jane walking along the landing towards the steps. Shamus walked with her, very much the father of the bride, holding her arm in his. The Judge stood in front of the bar. Milt and Arsenio were in front of him on the left, Molly Maggie, and Jessie stood on his right. Laura was with them, sitting in her wheelchair. As they started down the steps, Jessie grabbed for her guitar and began singing. ` "Here comes the bride dressed all in white, ` Radiant and lovely she shines in his sight. ` Gently she glides, sweet as a dove, ` Meeting her bridegroom, her eyes full of love." ` "Long have they waited; long have they planned. ` Life goes before them opening her hand. ` Asking G-d's blessing, as they begin ` A life with new meaning, a life shared as one. ` Entering God's union, bowed before His throne, ` Promising each other to have and to hold." ` "Gently she glides, sweet as a dove, ` Meeting her bridegroom, her eyes full of love. ` Here comes the bride dressed all in white, ` Radiant and lovely in her true love's sight." Jessie timed her singing, so that she sang the last line just as Jane and Shamus reached her. Shamus smiled and stepped back, as Jane stepped up, to stand next to Milt. "That's my present t'you 'n' Milt," Jessie whispered to Jane, moving back. "Thanks, Jessie." Milt reach over and gently lifted Jane's veil, borrowed from Maggie. "Hello... wife," he greeted her. "Not quite yet," the Judge said softly. Then, speaking in a loud, clear voice, he began, "Dearly beloved..." * * * * * Arsenio slowly rose to his feet, tapping his glass with his knife as he did. "Folks, when Milt asked me to be his best man, he said I had to make a speech. Of course, he asked me all of forty minutes before the ceremony, so I hope he isn't expecting much of a speech." "Milt, congratulations, you just got married to the second prettiest woman in town - maybe in the whole country. I know Jane is my Laura's twin, but Laura's been Laura longer than Jane's been Jane, so Laura has more practice at being so beautiful. And she's -- _we're_ -- gonna have a baby, so that makes her even prettier, at least to me. Of course, you and Jane can do something along that same line, and I expect you'll be trying to as soon as we all get finished here. I guess that means I better not make this speech too long, so you two can get started." "Like I said, Jane's a very beautiful woman, and, best of all, that beauty isn't skin deep, it goes down into her soul. She's a sweet, caring, woman, and she's one of the best cooks in town - hello, there, Maggie; great meal, as always." "Milt's a good man, too, even if he is a lawyer. He's smart, a real hard worker, and, as we all found out a few days ago, he's got a real nice singing voice." "And, speaking of his singing in public, Jane, my Laura's told me how you used to fret that he was ashamed of you because he wouldn't kiss you in public. I think - just to show her how wrong she was - he should get up and kiss Jane right now, in front of all of us. What do you say, folks?" He started clapping. "C'mon, everybody... Kiss her... Kiss her... Kiss her!" As he chanted, he motioned with his hands for the crowd to join in. They did. "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" "Well, I suppose... if we _have_ to." Milt stood and offered his hand to Jane. "Mrs. Quinlan, if you would, please stand up." Jane blushed. "Here, in fronta everybody?" "Now who's embarrassed?" Milt said with a chuckle. He took her hand in his and gently pulled her to her feet and into his arms. "Great speech, Arsenio." The couple embraced. Jane's arms snaked up around his neck as their mouths met in a kiss. "To the happy couple," Arsenio said, raising his glass. "And may you always be as happy and as in love, and _as_ loved as you are right now." Everyone else clinked glasses, and more than a few applauded, but Jane and Milt were far too busy to notice. * * * * * Bridget sat, alone, at one of the tables, finishing a piece of the wedding cake. "How're you doing?" Laura asked. Arsenio pushed her wheelchair in close, so that the two women could talk. Bridget frowned. "Not too bad. It was a nice wedding. I was glad to see you show up. How're you feeling? Do you expect to be back here any time soon?" "I don't know. It's more up to Doc Upshaw - and the baby - than it is to me. In the meantime, I'm stuck in bed at home." Arsenio took Laura's hand in his. "And I'm stuck having to take care of her. That's the only good part." "It is nice, having him hovering over me all day long." She smiled up at him. "I'll miss it when I come back." "Then I'll just have to be more attentive." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Before Laura could say anything, Flora came over to the table. She was wearing an apron and carrying a large tray filled with dirty dishes. "Are you done with that, Miss Bridget?" She pointed to the remains of the cake, still on the plate. "No, Flora," Bridget answered. "You can come back for it later." The waitress curtsied. "V-very good, ma'am." She grimaced as she said it and hurried off. "What was _that_ about?" Laura asked. Bridget smiled. "Flora was ragging at Jessie and me about how pretty we looked and asking when _our_ weddings were going to be. She... she got to me, I guess. I got all upset and started to cry. Molly said she had to be extra polite to me - to us both -- for the rest of the day. She has to call us 'Miss Bridget' and 'Miss Jessie' and curtsy and act like she's our lady's maid." She giggled. "I wish I could think of a way to make it permanent." Laura smiled, but only politely. "I'm just glad nobody had me curtsying and gushing when I was a convict," she said. * * * * * "Congratulations, Milt," Davy Kitchner said. "I guess _you're_ Jane's partner now. You're gonna love putting aside those lawyer books and laying to with that ol' pickaxe." Jane interrupted before Milt could answer. "Davy, you 'n' me'll always be partners in that mine. Milt..." She clenched her new husband's arm. "Milt 'n' me's a whole different kind of partners." "I know that, gal. I'm just having a little fun with you." He shook her hand, then Milt's. "I heard you was getting hitched, and I had t'come down and say congratulations." "I'm glad you could come, Davy," Milt said. "When are you heading back up to our claim?" "I ain't gonna try t'find my way back up in the dark. I gonna spend the night... down here with... with a friend." He didn't want to mention that he'd be spending it - happily - with Edith Lonnigan. Not that many people knew of their relationship. Jane did know, and she looked around. "Where is Edith, by the way?" "Over there." He pointed. "Talking to Laura. I better get back over to her. Congratulations, again, to you both." Milt smiled. "Thanks, Davy. I know how far you and Jane go back and what the two of you have been through, so I'm very happy to hear that you approve of our getting married." "Yeah, like you wouldn't have married her if I'd said no." Jane laughed. "There ain't a snowball's chance in Hell of that, partner." * * * * * "Where'd you find that song, Jessie?" Laura asked. "It's from some fancy opera called _Lohengrin_," Jessie replied. "Hanna Tyler, that little gal I rescued down near the border, she's getting married in June, and she asked me t'come and sing it at her wedding. I figured I'd get in some practice singing it for Jane." She paused a half beat. "What'd you think of it?" "It's... beautiful. I wish you'd been around to sing it at my wedding." "If I'd been here t'sing it at your wedding, I wouldn't have been there t'stop them commancheros from taking Hanna to Mexico." "In that case, I'm glad you weren't here." "My not being here surely didn't slow you and Arsenio down from getting married." She gently touched Laura's belly. "Or from anything else." * * * * * Ramon and Maggie came over to where Milt and Jane standing. "I hope that you will be as happy as Ramon and I have been," Maggie said, hugging her friend. "We're gonna be." Jane hugged her back. Ramon shook his head. "Perhaps, but you are not getting off to the best of starts." "What do you mean, Ramon?" Milt asked cautiously. Ramon continued. "Where are you going when you leave here tonight?" "I live in the back room of my office," the lawyer replied. "We'll be buying a house soon, but until then..." Maggie shook her head. "That is no place for a honeymoon." "Why not," Jane said quickly. "It's got a bed and - " She stopped, blushing at what she had said. Ramon tried very hard not to laugh. "If your marriage is going to be as happy as ours, then it should start out as ours did." He took a large and rather ornate brass key from his jacket pocket. "This is the key to my former quarters, the guesthouse at Whit and Carmen's home. I spoke to them a little while ago, and they agreed. It is yours for the next three days. Call it our wedding present." "Ramon!" Jane all but threw herself at him, giving the man a generous hug. "We'd better pull them apart, Maggie," Milt teased her. "Your husband and my wife are enjoying that hug far too much." Ramon and Jane separated, each turning to their own spouse. "You have nothing to worry about, my friend," Ramon replied. "Jane was just practicing on me what the two of you will be doing tonight,"Jane nodded, blushing in happy agreement. * * * * * Tuesday, May 14, 1872 Molly opened the bedroom door a crack. "How're the two of ye doing this morning?" she asked Flora and Lylah. "We're getting there," Lylah answered. Molly opened the door and walked in, closing it behind her. "So I see. I want the both of ye t'be hurrying up getting dressed." "Why," Flora remarked, sarcastically. "Breakfast won't be done any quicker." The older woman frowned. "As a matter of fact, it will, 'cause it'll be the both of ye down there helping Maggie t'make it." "How come?" Lylah asked. "All we ever had t'do before was t'set the table." "That's because '_before_' Jane was down there t'be helping Maggie with the cooking, and today she ain't." Molly looked at the pair. "Lylah, ye're the furthest along, so as soon as ye get that dress on ye, I want ye t'go down and see what Maggie needs ye t'be doing." Flora laughed. "Yes, Lylah, you go down now, and I'll be down directly." "Aye, ye will, Flora, and after breakfast, it'll be ye that clears the table and does all the morning dishes." She chuckled at the sudden shock on Flora's face. "Now get moving, the both of ye." She started for the door. "Ye can switch off tomorrow if ye want, but it'll be ye two that do the extra kitchen chores till Jane comes back here on Thursday." * * * * * "Having fun?" Rosalyn asked. Flora looked up from her place on the back steps of the Saloon. She wore a large muslin apron to protect her dress, as she worked to scrape out the dry chaw from inside the spittoon on her lap. "Not in the least. Care to join me?" "I should say not. Chores like that are far below a woman of _my_ station." She grimaced. "I don't know how you can stand them." "A man can stand a lot of things when he doesn't have any choice in the matter." Flora sighed. "And I don't." Rosalyn noticed, but said nothing about Flora calling herself a male. "Ah, but you do have a choice... if you want to take me up on my offer." Flora paused in her labor. "I've been thinking about that. I'm very tired of the shit O'Toole throws at me. The dancing, prancing around in next to nothing in front of all those..." She shivered. "...men, is horrible, and doing things like this..." She held up the spittoon. "...is even worse. They -They enjoy humiliating me, and all because they love that Irish card cheat so much. Yesterday at that stupid wedding, they had me behaving like a damned maid. I had to call that bitch Kelly, 'Miss Bridget' and curtsy while she ordered me about." "How terrible. They're trying to break you like some kind of animal." "Only I don?t plan to let them, and I think that your idea is about the best option I have. I remember how mad it made me when I couldn't make Wilma Hanks' face turn red. Two can play at that game, if both of them are mean enough. They'll find out what Staffords are made of. No matter how much you train a lion, sooner or later it's going to rip your arm off.? ?Good, can we start now?? ?I?ve got to get these finished before they start the Free Lunch. I?ve no time for lessons.? ?I wish you could visit me at the Parisian.? ?Fat chance of that. O?Toole won?t let me out of the building unless he or his wife tags along.? ?I?ll come back tomorrow, then.? Rosalyn thought for a moment. ?How?s one o?clock? I?ll join you for some of that Free Lunch, and we can talk while we dine.? Flora frowned. ?We don't want anyone to hear us talking about such things. It would spoil everything.? Rosalyn reassured her with squeeze of her hand. ?In my business, a woman learns how to be discreet.? ?Thanks.? ?My pleasure.? To herself, she added, ?though it?ll be _your_ pleasure soon enough, I suspect.? * * * * * Arnie parked the laundry cart next to the Spauldings? back steps. She was wearing the prettiest of the dresses that her mother had pinned up to fit her, rather than wearing her old, male clothes for doing laundry deliveries and bringing a dress to change into at the Spauldings? home. She picked up the three packages of laundry _and_ the Spanish textbook and started up the steps. ?Be calm, Arnolda,? she told herself. ?Be calm.? ?Annie,? Hedley opened the back door just as she reached the porch. ?I?m glad you decided to come back.? Arnie held up the packages. ?I-I had to. I have your clean laundry here.? ?Yes, but I hope that?s not the only reason that you came back.? He smiled and reached out to take the packages from her. ?No?? She felt a pleasant tingle run through her, as she handed him the laundry. ?I came for your momma?s lunch. And to see Clara, too,? she quickly added. He seemed to consider her words. ?I suppose those will do.? He winked and gave the door a quick kick. ?If you don?t have any others, I mean.? The door popped open a bit. Hedley caught it with his right foot and pulled it fully opened. He stepped quickly in to hold it open and gestured with a tilt of his head. ?After you.? ?Good afternoon? Annie,? Mrs. Spaulding greeted the pair from her place at the stove. ?Hedley, Clara?s in her room. Would you please go and tell her that Annie?s here?? ?Certainly, Mother, I?ll be right back.? He put the parcels on the kitchen table and headed for the door into the front room. Mrs. Spaulding waited until the door shut behind him. ?I?ve given the matter some thought, Annie ? or do you prefer _Arnie_?? ?A-Annie is fine, Se?ora Spaulding.? She looked carefully at the woman?s face for a clue of what she was about to say. ?Annie, it is then. I?m still somewhat hurt at being lied to, but I believe that I can understand why you did it.? ?Thank you. I am sorry that I lied to you, to all of you.? She took a breath. ?What did Hedley and Clara say, when you told them about me?? ?Nothing, because I _haven?t_ told them. I leave that to you.? ?T-To me? I? I do not know how to tell them.? Her voice caught. ?C- Can you help me? please. I-I do not want to hurt them.? ?Well? you will have to tell them, but I don?t want to hurt my children either, so I?ll give you some time to think of a way to do it. We?ll say nothing more of this today, but I will expect you to tell them who you really are when you come back on Saturday with those clothes over there.? She pointed to a pair of Annie?s laundry bags, both stuffed full, sitting on a chair over in the corner. Arnie felt as if a massive weight had fallen from her shoulders. ?I-I will. I swear that I will, and thank you for the extra time; thank you very much.? She let out a sigh. ?And you owe my Mama $3.75 for the laundry I brought back today.? ?Very well.? She fished in her purse for the money, pulling out a silver half-eagle. ?You?re not entirely off the hook though,? she said, handing Arnie the money. ?I still expect you to join us for lunch today, with a Spanish lesson afterwards.? Arnie gave her the change. ?Of course, Se?ora Spaulding.? * * * * * ?Cecelia,? Grace MacLeod said, ?this pound cake is lovely.? Cecelia took a quick sip of tea before she answered. ?Thank you, Grace. Does everyone have a slice?? ?We do,? Lavinia Mackechnie answered for the others. ?But you didn?t invite us over here for an afternoon tea. What did you want to talk to us about?? ?Couldn?t I have just wanted to throw a little party for my friends?? Hilda Scudder shook her head. ?Frankly, no; what?s going on, Cecelia?? ?Well? tomorrow night is the May meeting of the church board, and we have to be ready. Not only is there going to be another vote to support the Reverend Yingling?s petition --? ?I wish we could be finished with that,? Zenobia Carson interrupted. ?I?m getting tired of all these games.? Cecelia frowned. ?They are most decidedly _not_ games, Zenobia. We are supporting our spiritual leader in his battle to rescue the town from the un-Christian influences that have held sway here for so very long.? ?You make it sound like some sort of heavenly crusade,? Grace said. ?As far as I am concerned, it is, and I had thought that you ? all of you ? agreed with me.? She glared at Grace. The other woman took a long drink of her tea. The cup clattered just a bit when she set it down on her plate. ?I-I do. I just? oh, never mind. Of course, I support the man.? Lavinia tried to smile. ?We all do, and we?ll all be there to show it.? ?Be prepared to do more than just fill a seat, ladies? Cecelia told them. ?Some of the members of the board are foolish enough to oppose the petition, Judge Humphries and Dwight Albertson, to name two.?~ ?And Trisha O?Hanlan,? Lavinia added. ?One would think that she?d be the most eager to take that potion away from the man whose carelessness changed her into a woman.? ?I can hardly forget _Miss_ O?Hanlan, but I don?t expect her to be voting on the motion. It?ll be my Clyde casting that vote.? Hilda looked puzzled. ?Clyde? I?m afraid that I don?t understand.? Cecelia gave what she hoped sounded like a sympathetic sigh. ?Stupid cow,? she thought to herself. ?All the blood is going to her belly and none to her brain.? Aloud she said. ?It?s understandable, my dear, what with the baby and all. Tomorrow night, we finally vote to throw Trisha off the board for her scandalous behavior at the dance.? ?We need to get that done, first,? she continued. ?It?ll put those others in their place, and it?s one more sure vote for the Reverend.? ?It won?t be easy,? Zenobia observed. ?A lot of people enjoyed that dance ? I know that I certainly did. Everyone knows that it was Trisha?s idea, and they?ll be thankful to her for it.? Cecelia thought for a moment. ?I?ll readily admit that I enjoyed myself as well. But the success of the dance was due to many, many people besides her, and, _maybe_ we can get them thinking that she?s hogging too much of the credit.? ?Besides?? She gave them a malicious smile. ?We all enjoyed the dance with our husbands, dancing with them and talking to each other. But who did she dance with? Any number of unmarried and less than honorable men, if I may say. And? what _else_ besides dancing did she do with them by way of enjoying herself?? Grace blushed. ?Cecelia, you don?t mean?? Her voice trailed off. Hilda looked equally shocked. ?I most certainly do. Trisha O?Hanlan is a woman of _very_ low morals, and the sooner she?s of the board, the better we?ll all be for it.? Lavinia took up the thread of thought. ?And _that?s_ the message we have to deliver -- and deliver in force -- at tomorrow?s meeting.? * * * * * ?A nickel for your thoughts, Jane,? Milt said, smiling at his new wife and stepping up behind her. Jane smiled back at his reflection. She was sitting at a dressing table in a bedroom in the Whitney?s guesthouse. She had been gazing into the mirror on the wall behind it, as she brushed her long, light brown hair. ?Ain?t it supposed t?be a penny for my thoughts?? ?Usually, but _your_ thoughts are worth more ? at least to me.? ?Well, now, thank you for that. If you gotta know, I was thinking ?bout Laura. I hope it wasn?t too much for her, coming to our wedding getting all dressed up like she done, being a part of the ceremony, and staying there for so long after.? ?I?m sure that she?s all right. Between Arsenio and Molly ? and you, for that matter ? watching her the way that you all did.? ?You?re right, I guess, but that don?t stop me from worrying about her.? ?I?ll tell you what; later on today, you and I go over to her house for a quick visit?? ?You don?t mind, do you?? ?Not really, not when I see how concerned you are. In fact, I?ll trade you a visit for a visit.? ?What d?you mean, ?trade? visits?? ?Tomorrow night is the church board of elders? meeting. It?s got a lot to deal with. I?m? I?m parliamentarian, and I should be there ? if you don?t mind, of course.? ?Can I come with you? I wanna show that? show the good reverend how happy I am t?be your wife.? ?You can. But right now, I?d like to show you how happy _I_ am to be your husband.? He leaned over and kissed the side of her neck. Jane rose and turned to face him. Her hand moved down to cup the large bulge in his drawers, the only garment he wore. ?I can see how happy you are.? ?Likewise.? He tugged at the bow that held the collar of her camisole up tight, just below her neck. The ribbon came undone. He gently pulled the cloth down, until it dipped low, freeing her breasts. Her nipples were erect, tight, and long as his little finger above the top knuckle. They were ready, eager, to be touched. He leaned in and ran his tongue across the left one, relishing her scent and her soft moan of delight. His lips closed around it, and he began to suckle. At the same time, his left hand spider walked across her right breast, and his right hand reached down to her crotch. His index finger traced the outline of her nether lips through the thin material of her muslin drawers. ?Mmm, v-very happy,? her voice was almost a purr. She trembled, dazed by the heat building within her, consuming her. She pressed her loins against his hand, while her own hands cradled his head to hold it in place at her breast. The arousal grew and grew in her. She was weak, overcome by it. Then suddenly, the feelings burst forth, like a river swollen with spring rains breaking through the wall of an earthen dam. ?Ohh, yess,? she whimpered, ?yes? Yes!? Milt straightened up and put his arm around her waist. ?We?ll go over to Arsenio and Laura?s place later, okay?? ?Much later,? she replied in a soft voice, barely more than a whisper, as she took his hand in hers and they hurried to the bed. * * * * * ?Okay,? Judge Humphreys said, ?how are we going to go about tomorrow night?s meeting?? The group gathered at the O?Hanlan kitchen table: Humphreys, Dwight Albertson, Rupe Warrick, and Liam O?Hanlan, all turned to look at Trisha. ?Umm? ahh,? she stammered. ?You know more about running meetings than I do, Judge. What do you think?? ?Well,? he started, ?the motion to? to expel you should be the first order of business ? if, for no other reason, than to keep you from voting on the motion about Shamus? potion.? Rupe raised his hand. ?You think Horace?ll do that, put the motion about Trisha first?? ?He should,? the Judge replied, ?and if he doesn?t, I?ll make a motion to that effect. It?s what we did back in December when we had to vote about keeping Trisha on the board. So it should pass without any problem.? Rupe nodded. ?Okay, then what happens?? ?Then the fun starts,? Humphreys continued. ?Since Horace was one of the people to sign the petition against Trisha, he shouldn?t preside over the discussion. Rupe, as vice president of the board, you get to preside.? Albertson frowned. ?Horace won?t like that.? ?If he fights,? Trisha said, ?_I?ll_ make a motion for him to let Rupe run things.? ?I?ll second it,? the banker replied, ?but we?ll still need four votes.? Trisha shrugged. ?We won?t get Horace?s, but Willie?s a possible, and Jubal ? you all know that he hired my Emma as a helper, don?t you? After she graduates in June, he?s going to train her to be a surveyor.? ?What?s that got to do with anything?? Albertson asked. ?He talked to me about hiring Emma before he did it, and we?ve talked a few times since. I may not agree with him on a lot of things, but I?d judge him to be a fair man. If we put the question in terms of fairness, I think he?ll vote with us.? Humphreys thought for a moment. ?I believe you?re right. And once Rupe?s got the gavel, we can start on our _real_ plan. ? * * * * * Kirby Pinter walked into the Saloon. He glanced around before he headed over to intercept Nancy on her way back to the bar. ?Good evening, Miss Osbourne.? ?Mr. Pinter,? she said, not a little surprised, ?what brings you in here tonight?? ?I wanted to talk to you, if I may.? ?Pick out a chair, and I?ll bring you a drink momentarily.? ?Beer, please, and bring one for yourself, as well. As I? uh, understand things, you?re allowed to sit with me for a while if I?m buying you a drink.? ?Very well, I?ll be right back.? She headed off to the bar, while he took a seat at a nearby table. She was back almost at once, carrying two beers on a tray. Pinter rose to his feet. ?The way it works, Mr. Pinter,? she told him, ?is that you sit down, and I serve you.? ?Force of habit, I suppose.? He sat down. She set the tray on the table. She moved one glass in front of him, and then seated herself opposite him. ?What was it you wanted to talk to me about?? ?I-I?m afraid that I don?t get out very much. I only just heard that you refused the chance to regain your teaching job, and I wanted to ask about it -- if you don?t mind, that is.? ?I suppose I don?t. I was exonerated on the charges against me, but too many people didn?t care. I was guilty in their eyes, and they would have just kept looking for more of what _they_ considered improper behavior on my part. I just couldn?t stand the idea of having their eyes on me every minute. As long as I was teaching, they?d be twisting everything I said and did into something vile and ugly.? ?I don?t necessarily agree, but I will concede the possibility. Mrs. Ritter and her? _cronies_ ? if you will excuse the pun ? gave ample evidence of how they operate when they disrupted the party at my store.? ?Yes,? she smiled. ?I remember that. I?m grateful for your support in that matter.? ?You will always have my support ? if you wish it, Miss? Nancy? and a place in my store as a clerk, should you wish that, too.