Me and Ellie went into the house, where Doralice and Benny were sittin' in the kitchen drinkin' coffee. With all the dust off, the young man looked more like the Benny we knew and less like a stranger. "Uh, oh, here comes the inquisitors. Guess I better get used to answering questions."
"We're not here to make you crazy," Ellie told him as she sat down. "We're just concerned for your welfare. And your father didn't tell us anything except that you were coming."
"I'm surprised he told you that," Benny answered. "We weren't exactly speaking when I left."
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well, it all started when I got a notice in the mail that I was eligible to pursue a master's degree in business. Father was all excited . . . he wanted me to register for the master's degree; I said no emphatically. I was fed up with learning, I'd never wanted to go to college at all, and I certainly didn't want any more schooling. He insisted, and when his persuasion didn't work, he enlisted mother. That was too much for me – the only reason I'd gone to college at all was that Pa promised if I went he'd give me money to come back out here. I'm not a businessman; I want to work on a ranch, preferably this one, and Pa didn't have a problem with that. It seemed like a fair trade . . . four years of college for the rest of my life.
"He started pressuring me, told me he didn't want me to be a 'cowboy.' He's changed so much you wouldn't know him, Uncle Bart. I think when they lost the baby it broke him . . . and then there was mother. She blackmailed him, he'd wanted another baby so badly and she told him she'd get pregnant again if he'd sell The Gilded Lady. It didn't take him any time to agree, and the saloon was gone. After he'd spent so much time on it! After Joseph was born, it was almost like I didn't exist anymore. Even Abby felt like he didn't care about her, and she was the good child. So two weeks ago I quit school and started working for a local farmer, trying to save enough money to come out here. But the atmosphere at home got so toxic that I had to leave, whether I had enough or not. That's why I ran out of money."
I couldn't believe the things I was hearing, and I sat there shakin' my head. What had happened to Beau? And what was Ben going to want to do about it? As far as I was concerned, Benny had a job here if that's what he wanted. When he was here before he worked hard and got along with everybody, and I'm sure he would do fine working under Lucien. I knew he wanted to learn the business; the only one that wanted it more was Maudie, and she certainly got along with Benny. But I had to ask myself, was Benny telling the absolute truth? Or was there something' goin' on that we didn't know about? I would try to keep my doubts to myself and see how it all worked out.
"Listen, everyone, I'll be glad to answer questions, as long as we can do it tomorrow. I'm exhausted right now, and that bed is sounding awfully good."
"Sure, Benny, no problem. The guest rooms in the same place. Sleep as long as you'd like, we ain't goin' nowhere. I'll explain to everyone where our dusty cowboy went."
"Give me a day or two, Uncle Bart, and I'll be ready to work, long as you've got a spot for me."
"Take your time, Benny. I'm gonna have you get started with Lucien, he's our ranch foreman. You two will like each other. Take a couple days to visit with Maudie and everybody else, including your grandpa. And we can get started on Monday."
"Thanks. I want to spend some time with Grandpa and Miss Ellie. And Uncle Beauregard. And if I can persuade Maude to show me around the ranch again . . . "
"I'm sure you can. She likes nothing better than riding around the ranch."
Benny stood up and yawned. "Well, goodnight everybody."
"Goodnight."
"'Night."
"Sleep well."
I waited until I heard the door to the guest room close and then I turned to Ellie. "What are you gonna tell your husband, Ellie?"
Ellie had almost as good a poker face as Pappy. "I don't think I'm gonna tell him anything, Bart. I think I'll let Benny tell his grandpa himself."
"Do you believe him?"
"He' got no reason to lie. And Beau's letters have gotten . . . odd, ever since Joseph was born."
"Odd, how?" Doralice asked.
"Like Dani was dictating what to write. It didn't sound like Beau anymore."
"Maybe she was. Dictating, I mean."
Ellie stood up. "I'm going back to the house. Benny's not the only one that's tired. Great party, Bart. Those are two fine girls you and Doralice have."
"Thank you, Ellie," Doralice replied.
"Come on, Ellie, I'll walk you out to Uncle Ben. If he's still alive, that is."
We found Ben sitting with Maudie and Belle, and he looked like he was ready for bed, too. "Did you get a story out of Benny?"
"We did," Ellie told him. "But I'm going to let him tell you, tomorrow."
"That good, huh?"
"It's certainly feasible. You can make up your own mind."
"Old woman, I'm about worn out. What do you say we go home and make passionate love?"
"Too much information, Uncle Ben. Take Miss Ellie home."
"Yes, nephew. Your wish . . . "
"Yes, yes, Ben, let's go home." And I watched as the two of them headed for their house. So the mystery remained. What was the truth about Benny coming to Texas?
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