Chapter 2: The Princess and the Green Frog
As a precaution, Rooster took the next few weeks living off the land and riding on his horse. He only ventured into town when he needed supplies. Eventually, Rooster became tired of roughing it and ended up in Cairo, Illinois where he started going by the name Reuben Burroughs. He used his money to buy himself a small living quarters and a local saloon called The Green Frog. While the saloon served mostly men, one afternoon Rooster had an unusual customer.
While Rooster was busy fixing up a drink for a customer, the saloon doors swung open and the room suddenly got quiet. Rooster didn't look at who sat down at the bar but he asked "What can I get for you bud?" Instead of hearing a deep voice asking for a sarsaparilla, he heard a small feminine voice say "Just a glass of milk for me." This catches Rooster's attention and he turn to see a woman. She looked to be around the age of twenty, dressed in a nice blue dress, definitely not attire for a saloon.
Rooster stared for a good three or four seconds before replying "Coming right up!" He quickly finished the other customer's drink and started on the glass of milk immediately. The rest of the saloon went about their business as usual.
"So what brings a pretty little thing like you into a place like this? Don't you have a husband to get to or some children to look after?" asked Rooster.
"Hello to you too. You don't have very good people skills for a barkeeper. You don't even have the decency to ask my name first?" she replied.
"Sorry but you caught me off guard. You're the first woman I've gotten in here."
"So you're the new owner of this place? Don't you think you're a bit young to be buying and running a saloon?," she asked sarcastically.
"I had some very rewarding jobs."
"I see. Sounds like trouble to me. Just don't go bringing any of us into it."
Rooster laughed. "What makes you say that?"
"Just a hunch."
"Well anyway, my name is Reuben Burroughs. What do they call you?"
"'They' call me Nola Wilds."
"So Nola then, you got a husband and kids?"
"He left me after the war. Said he wasn't fit for the boring house life yet. As for children, I don't have any of those either."
"That's too bad. I'm sorry to hear that."
Rooster and Nola talked until closing time. Anyone in the saloon that afternoon could tell you that there was instantly something between them and they were right. Nola came in everyday from then on, always ordering just a glass of milk then spending the rest of the day talking to Rooster.
Two weeks later he hired her to help him run the saloon. She would take of of ordering supplies and preparing the food since he wasn't good at it. Then again, neither was she. They kept it running with the money from his last heist.
A few months later, Rooster and Nola got married. Rooster would be seen around the saloon with a big smile on his face everyday as his wife worked next to him, which helped with his people skills. The two could often be seen making googly eyes at each other while working. Rooster was happy.
Within a year, they had a boy named Horace, who was goofy and not all that bright. Rooster was a tough father to say the least. By the time Horace was six they had him helping in the saloon, although he was clumsy and would often break plates and glasses. Rooster would take him to the back to swat and scold him every time.
Despite how happy they they were, business was slow and Rooster was running low on money. The tension between them grew whenever they would see that they were losing money and they began to argue more and more often. One night as they were closing up the saloon, Nola said to Rooster, "You know, I think maybe we could make some more money if you became a lawyer."
"How the hell am I going to learn to do something like that?" replied Rooster.
"Well I went out and found this book on it. It's called Daniels on Negotiable Instruments." She dropped a heavy book in front of him. It looked bland and dusty.
"And you expect me to read this?" Rooster asked.
"If we want some money to take of your wife and ten year old son, then yes."
Rooster sighed but he knew that arguing wouldn't do any good because she was even more stubborn than him, so he tried to read it. He couldn't get a grasp of it so he went out with some friends to drink without telling Nola. By the time he got back, Nola was furious and yelling at him, again, and telling him how he should take some responsibility in life and for his family.
This pattern continued for a couple of weeks where he would come back, they would fight, and he would leave again. Whiskey became his new love. Sometimes it would seem like he drank more alcohol than his customers. Eventually Nola got tired of it.
Finally, Nola told him "I'm leaving you Reuben. Horace is growing and we're not getting any younger. I need someone reliable who can take care of us instead of going to drink with some river fools. I'm going back to find my first husband in Paducah."
Rooster was angry and a bit shocked, but he was able to contain it and say sternly "I know we've been having some troubles but I think we can still do this. If you want me to become a lawyer, I'll become a lawyer. I'll read that Daniels book and we'll be happy again. Just don't leave."
"It's too late. I can't take you leaving all the time and coming back drunk. Our own son fears you now. It's not just about the money. It's not like it was in the beginning. Goodbye, Reuben, a love for decency does not abide in you."
At that, Rooster let his anger go and yelled "Goodbye, Nola, I hope that little nail-selling bastard will make you happy this time." Nola left with Horace and Rooster never saw them again.
He tried running the store with some other hired help, but he couldn't hold it for long. He became even grumpier and meaner than he was before he met Nola. His broken heart showed on his face and on his gut. He started to look older and fatter from the drinking as well. Eventually he decided he was better suited to go back to his old lifestyle. So, he sold the saloon for nine-hundred dollars and set off again in search of a new adventure.