SILENT COMMUNICATIONS
By Chip
There are many ways to communicate with your neighbor. Talking across the fence or visiting inside of the house are two ways. My neighbor and I have a silent way of communicating. We have an unwritten agreement. The first one who sees garbage cans on the street after the truck has emptied them assumes the task of returning the cans from the street to the garage. It works. You know that your neighbor is there for you.
Misneachail
She stands at the counter and informs the clerk of her opinion on the subject. Like her grandmother before her, the young woman is tough, proud, and spirited. However, beneath the tough shell, there is a soft and loving center. Her family and friends are woven around her heart.
She is distinctly human and, although she may stumble and fall, the young woman refuses to lie down. The passion for life, love and happiness guides her through the days.
Kimberly Moynihan
The Things We Experience
The things we experience throughout our everyday life, it hits all of us. The tensions, worries, and frustrations, with a little bit of joy and happiness thrown in. Everything has a beginning, and everything has an ending, and this is where I begin. I moved to Wallingford 3 ½ years ago from West Haven, my job is located in New Haven. This makes my day start very early in the morning. Wishing I could stay in bed a little bit longer, I reluctantly get out of bed. Slowly I walk into the kitchen, trying not to trip over anything, with eyes half closed. I take my medicines – medicines to get things started, that slowed down with age, and medicines to slow things down that now are going too fast. Oh those wonderful “Golden Years” you know they were coming, but when then do, you don’t know where the time went. Now it’s time for me to get started, taking a shower – brushing my teeth – blow drying my hair, and getting dressed. I’m on my way to the bus stop that has a shelter to protect us from all kinds of weather. I can see Linda, Barbara, Cathy, and Carol waiting there. The five of us catch the 6:38 a.m. bus six, and soon we’ll see our bus driver AL. AL is very quiet, and always is soft spoken; he always greets us with a good morning and gentle smile. At one time there were other people, Jeanne and Cindy were part of the original crew. Cindy and I got a petition going to get the bus shelter, some people said –it would never happen, we proved them wrong. Now because we all just got acquainted with each other for a few months or so, we had to get adjusted to each others ways. It’s like a marriage, if there’s a problem, you work on solving it. The first thing was the seating arrangement, you think we were at the Ritz and had numbered seats. Sitting closer to the bus driver got us where? Then there was the thing with having heat or air, who wanted air conditioning (me) and not windows open please. We seem to have that solved – but it’s still iffy. We’re still working on it. Everyone takes the same bus home together, except for Barbara. This is where we have out adventure / or nightmare. We encounter many people and characters, and I do mean characters. First there was Tony, we call him the water man, because of him always having a gallon of water with him. He would like us to call him Capt. Tony, but we don’t. He starts by standing up in the front of the bus, and stretching out his arms and legs, kicking his legs this way and that way. As he is doing this, he is laughing and talking to himself out loud, then he sits down. He takes a drink of water, and grabs a handful of bus schedules, stuffs them in his bag – he does this every time he gets on the bus. We don’t see him anymore – he may be taking the train. To fill his shoes, is this may with a lot of tattoo’s on his arms, and has a CD player with ear phones in his ears. He pretends he is playing a guitar or drums. His arms stretched out as though he was playing the guitar – his hands and fingers moving to the music. Then he would change and act our playing the drums. With hands swinging up and down – his eyes closed and head moving in different directions. He did this from the time he got on the bus, until he got the Meriden – and hour later. We haven’t seen him for a while, but have no fear, there is more.
A young man took our bus, that wasn’t noticeable to us, but he had drank too much alcohol. What goes in must come out, and halfway home, he stood up and went to the bathroom. Everyone from the back ran to the front, of course he denied doing so, and with everyone wanting to get home – we just continued on.
Our next adventure/nightmare now was with the bus itself. First was the day the bus started smoking thick black smoke. Bill our bus driver, made sure to get us off the main road – out of traffic. We stopped on a residential road, with many beautiful homes. The lawns were green, and nicely trimmed, with many beds of flowers planted in the front of their homes. You could smell the aromas of cooking and coffee, oh how I could have loved a cup of coffee. It was warm outside and even warmer in the bus, we lost power, and nothing electrical was working. All of a sudden Kevin yells out, hey bill can you open the doors, it’s hot in here. Bill yells back, I would love to, but we have no power. He suggested we open the windows until he regained some power back. We all sat there – telling stories – laughing – and getting to know other people. Here we were this big bus filled with people, and no one came out to see what was wrong – AMAZING. We had to wait about 30 minutes until the next bus came by, the time went by fast. Here comes the bus and off into the sunset we go.
A few days go by, and here we go, someone pulled the cord to get off. The light goes on – the person gets off, but the light won’t go off. Bill does something and it goes off. The next person pulls the cord, now the light won’t go on. Our next best thing to do now is to yell out loud before we got to our stop. We all laughed, shook our heads, and on we went. Like I said everything has a beginning, and everything has an ending, “I lied”. With us it’s never ending. I would like to thank everyone that I ride with, for it’s because of them that make my ride interesting and enjoyable. Barbara, Irma, Marion, Vicky, Linda, Cookie, Megan, Martha, Carol, Joe, Jan, John, Carol, Frank, Ann, Cathy, Krysta, and our wonderful bus drivers: Jo Marie a.m., AL Barnes a.m., Bill p.m.
Jo-Ann Buccetti
Life
Life is like a rocky road,
Uneven and unsure,
With ruts and stones everywhere,
Like the problems we must endure.
But if you look so very close,
You will begin to see
The answers to your questions
On what your life could be.
It shows how you can clear away
The path on which you tread,
Put all; your troubles far behind
And see happiness ahead.
So, walk on down life’s rocky road,
Believing all the while
You’re solving your problems one by one
And conquering each troubled mile.
For, at the end of every day,
When you lay your head to rest,
You’re feeling good about yourself,
Knowing you’ve done your best.
Priscilla Louise Waite
Marriage of Convenience or Love?
The coolness of the morning made Beth Ann shudder when her father’s foreman, Buck Buchanan told her the news about her father being ill and that he wanted to see her. He had ridden all the way from Boulder, Colorado to Charleston South Carolina to deliver this message. She shuddered again. Was it from the coolness of the morning or the news she had just been told? It could have been both, she thought to herself.
“When can you be ready to leave,” asked Buck as he put his hand thru medium brown hair, wishing he didn’t have to do this. Beth Ann Walters was a beautiful woman, with her long auburn hair that she wore tied back in a blue ribbon that matched her dress. She had the prettiest of green eyes he had ever seen on a woman.
“Let me get this straight,” she said as she sat down on the swing chair on the porch. “My father owns this big ranch in Colorado and he wants to see me because he’s dying. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” answered Buck and he reached into his pocket and pulled a envelope addressed to Beth Ann. She took the letter and she eyed Buck as she took the letter from him. She looked at and recognized her father’s writing. She opened and skimmed through the letter.
“Do you know what this says?” she asked.
“No, Ma’am, I never read anything that’s not addressed to me.”
“Well, it says that you are to escort me to Colorado.”
“Yes, Ma’am, I knew that much. Your father told me that.”
“Well, it’s a good thing Aunt Margaret isn’t here for a few days. I can do this without listening to her because I know she will forbid me not to go.”
“Then the earlier we leave the better.” Buck said. “How much stuff will you be bringing?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because I have to purchase another horse and a buggy and trade this horse for another one before we leave.”
“Oh, I see. I’ll probably have a good size trunk.”
“Ok. Leave some clothes out so you can change on the way. It will take us a while to get there.”
“I see. Give me two hours and I will be ready, and thank you, Mr. Buchanan.”
“Ok, I’ll be back in two hours and please call me Buck.” he said as he smiled.
“OK, Buck see you in two hours.” she turned to go back into the house to start packing. She pulled the trunk out of the hall closet and started packing. It was hard to decide what to take and what to leave. She didn’t have many clothes so most of them will go in the bag for traveling. She wished she had time for a bath but she didn’t so she washed up as best she could and changed into her green traveling dress that she wore when she, and Aunt Margaret and Uncle Harry went to see Aunt Meryl in the next county. Finally she put her brushes and mirror in the carrying bag and went downstairs and wrote the note to Aunt Margaret.
Two hours later right on the button, Buck arrive with a covered wagon. She led him upstairs to her trunk and he lifted it with no problem which amazed her because there were a lot of books in there. He helped into the wagon and they started heading west.
They rode for two days and ran into a wagon train that was headed to St Louis. The wagon train master invited them to ride along with them as far as Missouri, so that ‘s what they did. Riding on the trail was rough on Beth Ann. She wasn’t quite prepared for this trip and it’s hazards. She was in shock when a man got thrown from his horse because of a snake and the man died from his injuries. Beth Ann went over to try to help the widow who had eight kids, ages three to ten to tend to. Through the whole tragedy, the woman, who told her her name Martha, Connors, she was going through it as though it didn’t matter that her husband died. She seemed to turn the energy to her kids rather dwelling on his death. On evening after Beth Ann had helped her put her children to bed, she asked Martha how she was coping with it all.
“The only way I can” she answered,” By the grace of God. Actually I am terrified. Tom’s brother, John and his wife are here too, so that helps, but mostly God is helping me through. He’s the only way I can cope.” Beth Ann listened to her and couldn’t imagine how God could be helping her. She didn’t know much about God, so she sort of took it for granted.
Two days after the funeral, the train moved on. The train master told everyone to keep on their toes for more snakes etc. The trail was rough going but they were moving along as fast as they could go, but if they traveled twenty miles in a day that was good for them.
Beth Ann walked a lot so she met a lot of the women on the train. There was Mrs. Barlow, she wasn’t actually that enthused about being on this trip but she had married her husband so she had to go where he went. And Mars Chambers had four children and another on the way. She was hoping to get to St Louis before the baby came. Mars Barstow and Mars Thomas kept throwing insults at each other. Sometimes Beth Ann thought they were joking with each other but other times she thought they were serious. All they did from sun up til sun down is throw insults at each other. There never was a dull moment with them two. When Beth Ann got tired of hearing it, she went and Buck stop the wagon and she road for a while.
It took them three months and they were just outside of St Louis. The wagon formed it’s customary circle of the people who were going northwest from there. Buck and Beth Ann drove into town. He got them rooms in the hotel. They would rest there for a day or so and replenish their supplies and head out again. Buck also sent a wire ahead to Beth Ann’s father to tell him where they were. The next day Buck received a wire back than her father was going down hill fast so for them to get there as soon as possible. So they started out again sooner than they wanted to. As it was it would be another two months before they got there. Beth Ann agreed with Buck that they should travel as far as they could from sun up til dark to get more miles in. Several evening along the way, Beth Ann saw Buck take out a Bible and start reading it by the campfire light. She asked him one day about the Bible and why he read it. He explained to her about salvation and what it meant to be saved. He started reading the Bible to her each night on the trail and when she had questions he would gently answer them. They were a couple days outside of Boulder and she told him she wanted his Lord in her life as well. He went over the plan of salvation again with her and she prayed the prayer of faith. She asked him if her father was a Christian and Buck told her that he was and that when Jesus returned he would be with Jesus.
Finally they arrived in Boulder and Beth Ann went into her father’s room. He looked very pale. He told her that it was his heart and he didn’t really know how long he had, but he knew it would be soon. He explained a little to her about the ranch and told her that Buck would help when she needed it, he knew everything about the ranch including the books which he had been showing Buck when he first found out about his illness. Martha Mae knew all about the household dealings, she would teach her about that. After their little talk, he asked to see Buck alone. There was some business things he needed to discuss with him. He would see her after supper. Beth Ann left his room and went in search of Buck. She found him in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee and chatting with Martha Mae.
“Papa wants to see you, Buck” she told him as Martha Mae handed her a cup of coffee and she sat down in a chair. He set his coffee cup in the sink and went upstairs to Mr. Forester’s room.
“Ah, Buck. It’s good to have you back.” as the two men shook hands.
“It’s good to be back, sir” Buck answered.
“I’d like to talk to you about something.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you think of my daughter?”
“I think she’s a real nice lady.”
“Buck, I need someone to take care of her so her aunt won’t start any problems here. I’ve really been thinking about this over the last couple of months.” He reached for the glass of water that was sitting on the bedside tray beside his bed and took a drink. “I want you to marry my daughter.”
“Sir, wait a minute. We hardly know each other.” protested Buck.
“You’ve spent the last five months with her.”
“Yes, but....”
“Now that she’s here and when I’m gone, she is going to need someone to take care of her, and I’d like for that to be you.”
“Have you talked this over with her?” asked Buck. He couldn’t believe he was asking him to do this. He cared a lot for Beth Ann but he knew that she wouldn’t go along with this idea. Jonathan Forester’s face started turning red and he was starting to feel frustrated at Buck.
“Ok, if she goes along with this idea, then I’ll marry,” he said finally after he saw what the negative response was doing to him.
“I’ll talk to her after supper. I just know she’ll say yes.” he said confidently. “Oh, before I forget, would you tell Mark Sadler to come see me in the morning. I have an errand I want him to run for me tomorrow.”
“Sure, I’ll tell him.” answered Buck as he opened the door and left. He walked slowly to his room. He had to think this thing through and pray about it. After praying he felt better about the proposition. He washed up and went down to the supper meal. He didn’t say anything to Beth Ann about what his father had told him. He’d let him tell her when she saw him after supper.
After supper Buck went to the bunkhouse to deliver the message to Mark to see the boss the next morning, while Beth Ann went to see her father.
“Beth Ann, I really want to talk to you about something. It’s very important to me.”
“Sure, Papa, what is it?”
“Honey, you know I love you and I only want the best for you. You know that don’t you?”
“Yes, Papa.” she was getting really curious at what her father was getting at.
“I....” he got into a coughing gag. Beth Ann ran to the other side of the bed and poured her father a glass of water from the pitcher and handed it to him. He was better after he drank some.
“As I was saying, honey. What I am going to ask you to do is so it will help you. I don’t want your Aunt Margaret to cause any trouble after I’m gone.” She got tears in her eyes.
“Papa, please don’t talk like that.”
“Honey, I want you to marry Buck Buchanan.” Her mouth flew open and she stared at her father. “Iknow this is a shock, but it’s for you my darling. I want to protect your interest in this ranch and if you aren’t married when I die she will get it because you are twenty-one yet, and who knows what she’ll do with the money. She’s been awful selfish with you over the years and I’m afraid she might do something stupid.”
“But Papa, I hardly know Buck.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yes, but...”
“Then that is all you need. You can learn to love each other.”
“But Papa.....”
“Honey, please do this for me. You know I only want the best for you, don’t you?”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Then you’ll marry Buck.”
“I guess so.”
“Okay, I’ll get everything set up, and don’t worry honey, things will work out for the best. Now why don’t you let and old man get some sleep now. I am very tired.”
“Yes, Papa,” she answered as she left the room. She ran into Buck as she was headed for her. They both stopped in their tracks when they saw each other. Finally Buck spoke.
“He told you?” he asked.
“Yes,” as she turned away from him.
“I’ve been praying about it and I get a certain peace about it. Why don’t you pray about it too?”
“Did you really get peace about it?” she said turning back to him.
“Yes, I did.”
“Well okay. I’ll pray about it.” They both turned to go to their rooms. Beth Ann took out the Bible that Buck had bought her in Boulder just a few days before. She opened it and she just happened to open it to Romans 8. She read the page until she came to the twenty-eighth verse. She read it aloud. “For all things work together for good for those who are the called according to His purposes.” She rushed from her room to Buck’s door. She knocked and he answered.
“Is this what you mean about peace?” She showed him the verse she just read.
“That’s the same verse I got.” answered Buck smiling at her.
“Then I guess it is meant to be for us to marry.” she said.
“I guess so.” he said. They wished each other a good night and Beth Ann went back to her room and got ready for bed. She lay there in the bed praying.
“Lord,” she prayed. “I guess it is in your will for Buck and I to marry. With Your help we can make this marriage work, but I am scared to death about getting married.” She seemed to get a sense of peace as she dozed off to sleep.
The nest day Papa had two visitors. One was an attorney who helped Jonathan rewrite his will leaving everything to Buck and Beth Ann. And the other visitor was the minister from Hope Church. He was setting up the wedding for Thursday morning right there in Jonathan’s bedroom.
After they left, he told Martha Mae to find Buck and Beth Ann. He wanted to see them both. When they came he told them what he had done with his will and that they would be married on Thursday. Beth Ann prayed so much for the next three days that she ever did before. She still had that same peace that she got that first night when she found the same verse that Buck had found.
On Thursday at 2:00, Beth Ann dressed in her Sunday dress and went to her father’s room. Rev Thomas was there waiting. Now they were just waiting for Buck.
Buck was getting dressed in his best shirt. All he had was jeans so that’s what he wore. At least they were neat and pressed. Martha Mae had made sure that his clothes were clean. He opened the door and Martha Mae was just about to knock.
“They’re waiting for you.” she said and he followed her into Jonathan Forester’s room. Rev Thomas greeted Buck by shaking his hand.
“What is your sir name, Buck?” he asked.
“Ah....William” he stuttered.
“Ok, fine. Let’s get started. Stand over here by Beth Ann so her father can see all of it” They moved to where he showed them to.
“Now, do you William Buchanan take Beth Ann Forrester as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“Yes, I do,” he smiled at her and she smiled back.
“Do you Beth Ann take this man, William Buchanan as your lawful wedded husband?’”
“I do,” she answered smiling.
“Now I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Buck reached over and put his arms around her and gave her the sweetest kiss she had ever felt. She felt kind of dizzy when he stepped away.
“Martha Rae has made a good meal and you are welcome to stay, Rev Thomas.” said Jonathan.
“I would love to, but my little one is waiting for me at home. So I’ll take a rain check on the meal.” He turned and congratulated Buck and Beth Ann and he left.
“Now go on down and have a good meal.” Jonathan told them.
“Couldn’t we bring our meals up here and eat with you?” asked Beth Ann. But then Martha Rae had answered that question by bringing a tray in for Jonathan. She told them to go down and eat theirs, that it was setting on the dining room table waiting for them. They reluctantly went down to eat, but neither one of them was really hungry.
“Did you see Papa’s face? How flushed he was?” she asked Buck, as she was pushing her food around on her plate.
“Yes, I did and it worries me.”
“It does me too,” she answered.
After supper they went up to see him again before they went to bed, But he was sleeping. He didn’t look much better but at least he was resting, Beth Ann thought. Beth Ann had packed her things in boxes and asked Buck if he’d move them for her into his room. After he did that, they got ready for bed. They lay there talking for awhile after they got into bed. Then Buck reached over and kissed her and she thought she had died and gone to heaven with his caressing and kisses.
The next morning he woke up before Beth Ann and got up quietly and dressed and went downstairs. He was in the kitchen talking to Martha Rae and drinking coffee. They were talking about Jonathan. Buck couldn’t believe the words that Martha Rae was telling him.
“He went peacefully in his sleep,” she had said, but he still did not want to believe those words. How was he going to tell Beth Ann that her father was gone? They heard a scream from upstairs and knew that she had found out herself. He rushed to her with Martha Rae at his heels. She rushed into his arms when he got to the top of the stairs. She was really crying by now. Martha Rae patted her back in comfort her but there was no comforting for the moment. Buck led Beth Ann to their room and laid her on the bed and held while she cried her to sleep. When she was asleep, he sent for Mark and told him the news and for them to go out on the range without him today. He had to stay here with Beth Ann.
The next few days Beth Ann went through the motions of her days in a daze. She didn’t even remember the funeral. She went through the motions. She picked at her food at meals times. Buck was getting really worried about her because she was starting to loose weight. He called the doctor and he told him that she just had to go through the process of grieving in her own way but for him to be there for her when she needed him. It was hard for Buck. But that’s all he could do.
One evening, he went upstairs and found Beth Ann sitting in the rocking chair in her father’s room. He walked and sat on a stool beside her.
“Why? Why did God have to take him?” she cried.
“I really don’t know the answer to that, Sweetheart, but he was suffering with pain from his heart, and maybe God didn’t want him to suffer any more. Would you want to continually see him suffering?” His words were soft and gentle.
“I suppose not, but I miss him so much.” she cried on his shoulder.
“I miss him too even though I’ve only known him for a short time, I respected the man greatly as a boss and a father-in-law. Buck held Beth Ann until all her tears were spent and then she told him to go to work, that she would be okay now. He wasn’t sure he wanted to leave her alone, but she insisted. On his way out the door, he found Martha Rae in the kitchen getting dinner ready. He asked her to keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay. He would be in the north field of she needed him, to send someone out for him. She said she would and that eased his mind a little so hopefully he could keep his mind off his wife. It seemed like the day had lingered on and on and finally 5:00 came and the men headed back in to the bunkhouse and Buck back to the ranch. He took care of the horse and rushed in the house. He washed up for supper which Martha Rae and Beth Ann were putting on the table. He pulled his wife to him and kissed her.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she answered kissing him back. They sat down to eat. The meal was delicious as usual. Martha Rae was definitely a good cook. She was teaching Beth Ann to cook because she didn’t know how.
After dinner they had their coffee and dessert in the living room. Buck asked her again about her day. She told him that Martha Rae was giving her more cooking lessons and that she had made the rhubarb pie that he had for dessert. He told her that she had done a good job because the pie was delicious.
The next morning, Beth Ann wanted to be near Buck, and she knew he was in the barn, so she walked down there. When she got there she heard voices. She heard Buck talking to one of the hands, Bob Thomson. She didn’t know him well because he was one of the newer hands that Buck hired to go on the drives. They would be leaving in a few days for another drive to sell some of the cattle.
“Are you content with your new position?” asked Bob.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Buck asked sharply.
“Well, I mean, now you are the proud owner of a big high paying ranch since you married the boss’s daughter.”
“What are you saying?” asked Buck again.
“Well you married into money and that put you in a high position.”
“Are you saying I married Beth Ann for the ranch?”
“I guess that what I’m saying.” Buck was angry now but he didn’t really care what anyone thought about their marriage because it wasn’t true.
“You know I really don’t care what you guys think about it because it’s none of your business. If you don’t like working for me, you know where the road is.” He started to mount his horse.
Beth Ann heard all of this and ran out of the way so neither one of them would see her when they left the barn. After they left she ran into the house and to her room and cried. She was angry because Buck didn’t say that the statement wasn’t true. She couldn’t stay here with a man that just married her because of the ranch. She packed some things in a small bag and snuck outside to the barn. She hitched up the horse to the buggy and ran back to the house to get her jacket because it was kind of cool out. When she went back into the house she ran into Martha Rae.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m going into town,” she answered.
“I’ll go with you. I need to pick some thing up at the general store.”
“No, I’d rather you didn’t,” said Beth Ann. I’ve got some things to do and I’d like to be alone. Besides I have a surprise for Buck that I want to bring back if I can find what I want.” Martha Rae was hesitant but she finally agreed. She could feel something was amiss but she’d have to wait to see what it was.
When Beth Ann got into town she went to the bank and got some money out. She left the horse and buggy at the livery stable for Buck when he came in to get it. She quickly ran to the stage office and bought a ticket. She just barely made it in time for the stage and she was on her way.
She arrived in Salem the next morning. She wandered around town for a while and went to the hotel diner for something to eat. She didn’t take a whole lot of Buck’s money and she would soon run out if she didn’t find a job and a place to live. While she walked into the diner, she almost ran into this beautiful woman with blond hair. She wore her hair high on her head.
“Whoa there,” she said, holding her by the arms. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes,” answered Beth Ann. The woman had a name tag on her white blouse that said “Lydia”. She showed Beth Ann to a table. The place wasn’t busy. She handed her a menu and she saw the prices. She took out her money and started counting it. She had enough for a few meals but not many at these prices. Lydia was watching her while she brought her a cup of coffee.
“You new in town?” Lydia asked.
“Yes, I will need to find a place to live and a job, but I don’t have much money left.”
“Our special today is meatloaf, mashed potato and gravy, corn and apple pie for dessert. If you want that, it’ll be on me. And we could talk to my boss. He needs someone to wash dishes. The fellow that was doing it just quit on him, and he might give you a room and take the rent out of your wages. Would you like me to talk to him?”
“Yes, I’ll take the meatloaf and if I can have the job and a place to live, I’ll take that too.”
“What’s your name?”
“Beth Ann For– ah Buchanan.”
Okay Beth Ann, I’m Lydia. I’ll get your supper and be right back.” She ran off to put the order in and went back in the kitchen to talk to her boss. A little while later, Lydia came out from the kitchen with her meal and a tall, stout man followed her. The front of his head was bald. He only had hair on the sides and in the back. He wore a white dirty apron.
“Beth Ann, this is my boss, Carl Tanner.” Lydia introduced them. They both sat down across from her.
“Lydia tells me you need a job and a place to stay. Is that right?” he asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Do you have any experience?”
“I have a little in washing dishes.”
“Do you have any experience waiting tables?”
“Well, no, not really.” she answered truthfully. He sat there thinking for a few minutes.
“Well, I do need someone to wash dishes. And I have a few rooms that I keep for workers who need a place in back over the kitchen. They aren’t much but you’ll be warm and dry. They are $1.00 a week and your pay is $8.00 per week and if you learn how to waitress you’ll have tips too. Lydia can show you the ropes when we’re not busy. You can start tomorrow at 6:00 in the morning. Lydia will see that you get up on time. She lives up there as well.” He turned to Lydia. “It’s almost closing time so while she’s eating just wipe down the tables and make sure the sugar and salt and peppers are filled and take her up and show her the room next to yours.”
“I will,” answered Lydia. He got up and headed back to the kitchen.
“Thank you, Mr. Tanner.” said Beth Ann.
“It’s okay,” he answered and gave her a smile. “And call me Carl, everyone else does.” Beth Ann nodded, and he left. Lydia busied herself with the job that Carl gave her as Beth Ann ate. She even swept the floor while Beth Ann ate her pie. Then Lydia poured them both a cup of coffee and they sat there chatting for a few minutes.
“He seems like a nice gentleman,” said Beth Ann.
“Yes, he is. He’s a good Christian man.” Beth Ann didn’t know what that meant but she didn’t feel right asking about that, so she let it drop. After they had finished their coffee, Lydia got the key for Beth Ann’s room and Beth Ann followed up the stairs in back near the kitchen. Lydia unlocked the door and led her in. It wasn’t much, there was a single bed, a chest, a night stand by the bed and a small desk and chair by the window. There was a blue quilt on the bed. Blue was her favorite color. She thanked Lydia for all her help.
“If you need anything, I’m right next door.” said Lydia pointing to the left. “I’ll knock on your door about between 5:15 and 5:30. How much time do you need to get ready in the morning?
“Oh, I’d say about 15 minutes.”
“Okay, that will give you plenty of time.”
“Good night.” said Beth Ann, “and thanks again.”
“No problem. I know what you are going through, I’ve been there myself. Good night.” said Lydia as she closed the door and went to her room. Beth Ann heard her open her door and shut it. She put her bag on the bed and took out the few clothes she brought with her. She hung the dresses on the nails by the window and took out her nightgown and robe out of the bag and changed into them. Her under things she put in the chest. She pulled the covers down on her bed and crawled in under them. Before she knew it she was asleep.
In Boulder
Buck had an uneasy feeling as he walked into the house. He found a frantic Martha Rae. She told him about what had happened that morning with Beth Ann and she hadn’t returned. Buck ran from the house and saddled his horse and headed for town. He asked everyone he saw if they had seen his wife. Some said they saw her at the back and some said they saw coming from the livery stable but no one seen her get on the stage or anything. The stage office was closed so he couldn’t find anything out there. He could n’t find anything else that night so he headed back home. He would start again in the morning and have Martha Rae get him provisions for a few days on the road. He didn’t sleep at all that night. In the morning, he told Martha Rae to get his provisions ready; he went down to the bunkhouse and told Mark that he was in charge, that he would be gone for a few days. He didn’t go into details, he just informed them that he wouldn’t be here. He went to the barn to saddle his horse and back to the house to get his provisions and he set out. First he went into town to talk to the person who sold the stage tickets. The person that was there wasn’t there the day before and the person who was left the day before after work to visit his sick mother in Arizona. So he was no help. He rode to several towns and no one seen her. He even went to Salem and no one had seen her. So he went back to Boulder. For days he could not do anything. He couldn’t eat or sleep. He went out looking again to no avail. Finally Martha Rae got after him. He couldn’t run this ranch the way he was going. Maybe she’d come back, maybe she wouldn’t but he needed to get with it and take care of himself and this ranch. He knew she was right and he finally pulled himself out of it and returned to work.
In Salem
Beth Ann woke the next morning to Lydia knocking on her door. She hurried to get dressed and straightened the room and when Martha knocked again when it was time to go downstairs, she followed her. Carl was already there making coffee. He poured them both a cup and he went to get the grits going and fry some ham and bacon ahead for the customers. Beth Ann helped Lydia get the coffee for the customers while she took the orders. The morning was quite busy. Before she knew it it was dinner time and Lydia brought her plate with ham, mashed potato and peas. She sat in the kitchen by the sink and ate quietly. Carl kept asking her how she was doing and she kept telling her “fine.” She seemed to keep up with the dishes considering how busy it was. At 7:00 that evening, Carl told her to go on up to her room. She looked very tired. As soon as she changed for bed, she crawled in bed and fell fast asleep. She didn’t know anything til Lydia woke her the next morning for work. She had slept well but she had her mind on Buck also. She had it in her mind that he had married her for the ranch and she really believed he did.
On Sundays, Carl found other people to work for him while Lydia, Beth Ann and him went to church. Beth Ann had never been to church before and was very nervous about going. She grew learning that God punished you for everything you did wrong. She listened to the sermon and this man was saying the total opposite of what she had learned about God. He was saying that He was a loving God and He sent His Son to die for all our sins. She couldn’t believe it. She asked questions on the way back to the hotel, and Lydia and Carl answered her questions. After a few weeks of hearing this, she decided she wanted this love that God had for her and she accepted Christ into her heart.
Lydia was sitting on Beth Ann’s only chair in the room, on Sunday. Beth Ann was sitting on her bed while they chatted.
“You’re putting on some weight there, girl,” said Lydia.
“I know, I’m going to have to go get me couple of new dresses for work. Maybe we could do that tomorrow when it settles down a little in the diner.”
“Maybe I can go with you and help you.” said Lydia.
“I don’t know why I’m putting on weight, I never used to.”
“Do you think you might be-----?”
“Be what?” asked Beth Ann.
“Ah—in–ah —a family way?”
“Oh, no! I hope not!” exclaimed Beth Ann.
“Have you been sick lately?”
“A little sick to my stomach.”
“That’s a good sign that you are.”
“Oh no, Lydia, what am I going to do?”
“I think that you might need your husband at a time like this.” Beth An had told her weeks ago why she left her husband.
“I don’t think I can do that,” she said.
“It may be none of my business, but I think that you should be with your husband and help you through this. I’m not good at things like that. I puke at the sight of blood, so I won’t be much help.” said Lydia. Beth Ann had to think about this. She knew she should forgive her husband for marrying her for the ranch but she didn’t know if she could live with him again.
In Boulder
Buck went into town to get supplies. He ran into a new face in town when he went into the general store.
“Hello,” said the man. “I’m Solomon Greer,” He should hands with Buck.
“I’m Buck Buchanan.” Buck answered and they started talking small talk and Solomon invited Buck to dinner at the hotel. Buck went with him and Buck and Solomon became good friends. They started getting together each week for dinner and one Saturday when they met, Solomon asked Buck to go to church with him. Buck wasn’t sure that he wanted to but he said he would. After going a few Sundays, Buck started asking Solomon questions and in a few more weeks Buck had asked the Lord to save him. Now Buck was praying for his wife’s return. He had no idea why she left, but he knew he wanted her back.
On Tuesday when Martha Rae had come back from town, Buck helped her bring the groceries in. She handed her the mail. There was a letter there that had no return address. He went into his study and sat down and opened it.
“Dear Buck,
I know it’s been six months since I left and I wondered if we are still married. I am doing fine and working washing dishes for a restaurant. God kind of led me to write to you, I really don’t know why because I don’t know if I can ever live with you again since I found out that you married me just for the ranch. Please don’t look for me just yet. I need time to think and pray about is and what His will for our future together. I need time, Buck. I need to pray and think about our child as well so please give me some time.
Your wife, Beth Ann”
He looked at the post mark on the envelope. It said Salem. He rushed out of the study and hollered for Martha Rae to put together some provisions for a few days as he headed out to the barn to hitch the horses to the buggy. He was going to get his wife and his unborn child. It was a cold ride to Salem. It felt like it could snow at any time. When he arrive in Salem, he went to the hotel and got a room. There were only two restaurants in Salem, one at the hotel and one down the street by the Sheriff’s office. He decided to check the hotel first. Lydia was waiting on customers when he walked in. He took a table by the window. Lydia brought him over some coffee and a menu.
“Our special is roast beef, mashed potato and gravy and peas or corn and pie for dessert.” she said setting the coffee and the menu on the table.
“I’ll take the special. Also I was wondering if you could help me.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I’m looking for a woman with red hair, tall and thin. Have you seen her?”
“That’s depends on who you are.” she answered.
“I’m her husband. She wrote me a letter,” he took it out of his shirt pocket as he was talking. “ And I’ve been trying to find her for months.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said as she ran back in the kitchen to see Beth Ann.
“There is someone out there who is asking for you.”
“Oh, who?”
“He says he’s your husband. He says he got your letter and he’s been looking for you for months.”
“He’s been looking for me?”
“That’s what he said.”
“I’m not sure I want to see him.” answered Beth Ann.
“Honey, he wants to take care of you and that baby. You should let him. After all he is the father and he has a right to that child as much as you do.”
“I know you’re right, but----“
“You should forgive whatever he’s done to you, Beth Ann and let him take care of you,” said Carl. “I don’t know the whole story with you, but if he’s been looking for you, he must really care about you.”
“Go at least talk to him,” suggested Lydia. “Carl gives me a roast beef dinner for the man.” Beth Ann followed Lydia out to the floor. She left after she put the place down in front of him. Beth Ann eased herself reluctantly into the chair across from him.
“Hello, Buck,” she said softly.
“Oh, Beth Ann, you had me so worried. I’ve been looking for you for months. Igot your letter and I came right on.”
“I don’t know, Buck.”
“Honey, I didn’t marry you because of the ranch, I married you because I love you.”
“Then why didn’t you rebuke Bob for saying that?”
“You heard that?”
“Yes.”
“I really don’t care what others think of me. They don’t know the truth and it’s really none of their business.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Darlin’ I love you with all my heart and I want you to come home with me.” Beth Ann sat there thinking. Carl brought a plate of roast beef out from the kitchen. He took it to Lydia and told her to take it over for Beth Ann. She was probably going to be leaving tonight and he wanted her to eat before she left. He told Lydia that both meals were on him. She took the plate over to Beth Ann.
“The boss says that you’ll probably be leaving and he wants you to eat before you go.” said Lydia as she placed the plate in front of Beth Ann. Beth Ann looked from one to the other.
“Well, I guess I am, at that.” and she ate what was placed front of her.
“By the way, those dinners are on the boss. He wants you to come say goodbye before you leave.” Beth Ann smiled at her. When she finished eating the pie, she excused herself and went upstairs to pack her things. When she came back down Carl was talking to Buck. Buck saw her come in the room.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked as she walked up to them, and he took her bag. They went outside and he helped her into the buggy. Lydia and Carl followed them out and had a prayer for them before they left.
“Let us hear from you once in a while so we’ll that you are doing okay.” said Carl.
“I will. I’ll try and write at lease once a month. It depends on how busy I am with the baby. Maybe you can come visit sometime and see the little one.”
“I can’t promise but we’ll try.” answered Carl.
Part of the ride home was quiet. Beth Ann thanked God for her husband and that he didn’t marry her for the ranch, so it wasn’t a marriage of convenience, it was a marriage of love.....true love.
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