Chapter 9
Buck kept his daughter's development to herself, but he was sure Ezra, Nathan, Josiah, and Chris had figured it out by the noon on Sunday. JD was pretty clueless and he was happy to keep him that way. Vin knew something was wrong but not necessarily what. He after all knew very little about the private lives of women. All the men would have realized something was wrong when her usual bubbly and outrageous self was also replaced but a subdued but polite girl. It seems good manners was a trait she held onto. Although her manners were fairly basic for the late 19 century, being raised in the 21st century manners had deteriorated in 140 years, especially among those taught and used by children. Though she had better manners in her memory banks thanks to the Zoe 1.0 memories not that she used them often. All Seven Peacekeepers, Rain, Mary, Casey, Billy and Zoe were having an afternoon picnic on some springy green grass, near where the Preacher's house was being built. Kat was off taking pictures again and had desire to be a 13th wheel. JD kept wondering why Buck keeps passing Zoe small chucks of Milk chocolate. And Why it seems to be affecting her mood so much. Every time she gets the least bit sullen he passes her a piece of chocolate. Doesn't he think it'll spoil her meal? Rain, Mary and Casey seem especially sympathetic whenever anyone tries to say anything to Zoe about her behavior or mood. He wonders why. By now Vin has figured it out. And Wonders if Zoe and his relationship is going to change. They're all sitting and Zoe and everyone is eating roast turkey and gravy sandwiches, fresh coleslaw, fresh Strawberry tart, and Ginger Ales and Sarsaparillas all around. When the Lunch was finished they played a game of charades, and then Ezra decided to introduce them to a game he read about on Zoe's Laptop contraption and had been playing with her to get her to learn to control her emotions called two truths and a lie. It had been working. They all had a good time, and went home, laughing.
Monday morning came dawning bright and early and Buck was trying to get Zoe out of bed for her chores. It didn't seem to be working however.
"Zoe it's time to wake up."
"No, G'way. Let me sleep." She pulled the covers over her head and borrowed deeper into the bed.
"Zoe if'n you don't get up, I'm gonna use that water rifle ya have in yer trunk ta wake ya up." She ignored him. "Okay, hav it yer way." He came in with her Nerf Super Soaker Barrage gun filled to capacity, and began shooting her with cold water. She yelled swearing at him and bolted up "I warned ya….now get up, dry yerself off, get dressed, Ya got chores and ya have school today."
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Would it kill anybody to let me sleep one day, it's not like I don't know everything Miss Dawson is gonna teach me."
"That don't matter none, Cub ya got responsibilities. Yer not gonna be able to get to the rest of yer future where ya make a difference if ya don't go to school and graduate."
"I don't know why I don't just apply for colleges now."
"I'm not ready ta let ya go yet, not sure ya'd be safe, that far away. Lot of dangers that far away. Especially since Yer Uncle Chris found out yer worth a lot more than $500,000." Chris had found out Zoe was actually worth about $5 Million. She owned stock in Sears & Roebuck, the Atlantic and Pacific Tea company, Thomas Edison's company, American Express, Wells Fargo, Several textiles and manufacturing companies, most of the rail-roads, Western Union, several Silver mines, a few patent medicine companies, she owned the rights of several patents, she owned a great deal of real estate, a lot of it in and around four corners, for rental purposes, more than the Bank manager Mr. Webber did. But Chris and Buck were insistent she finish school when she was 15. Zoe insisted they order her as many books, on as many 19th century subjects as they could 'to make it look good', they recently ordered them. Through Westfall and Pattison Booksellers in Chicago. Zoe got up and reluctantly did her chores but did them quickly and efficiently. She helped with breakfast. Then ate, eggs, toast and bacon, and a glass of milk, just like always, she knew the farmers, sold their goods to the non-farmers in town, sometimes daily, and though Mrs. G did have hens, she didn't have enough chickens to slaughter, or any pigs, or enough cows to keep slaughtering. And she only had a small vegetable garden. The Farmers made a pretty good living that way, before they took their livestock and crops to the railroad for sale. The town wasn't that large, there were 18 working farms (not counting JD and Vin's), and another maybe a total of 30 to 50 non-farming people in town, not counting the Chinese, and the Cheyenne as neither of them live in town.
When Zoe gets to school, Miss Dawson calls Zoe over. "Yes, Miss Dawson."
"I've spoken to your father and he's given me permission to give you special assignments rather than the same ones the class are working on. So, these are some of these are some of my own books but I wasn't sure which you were able to write a report on what you weren't.
Zoe read the titles. "You have a lot of books, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Moby Dick by Melville, the Celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Twenty-thousand leagues under the sea by Jules Verne, Descent into Man and Sex in Relation to the Species by Charles Darwin, Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain Man and Nature or the Physical Geography as modified by human action George Perkins Marsh, Conduit of Life Ralph Waldo Emerson, Geological Evidence of the Antiquity of man by Charles Lydell, Treatise on Natural Philosophy by Thompson and Tait….Julius Caesar, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer's Night Dream, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors."
"Now you are to two of these a Novel, and one of the science books. I think I'll start you on Physical Geography as Modified by Human Actions by George Perkins Marsh. It's all about How we humans affect the world around us. I think it's the perfect science book to start with." She hands me the book."
"Thank you, Miss Dawson." Zoe says.
"Now as for the Literary work you can choose."
"I think I'll read Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain, I haven't had a chance to read Twain….and it's a travel book. I want to read all about the places he's been."
"Well he is a relatively new Author, and it is a very good read. I would recommend it. You'll enjoy it, and now. Here take these two books, and I want them Both finished and reports written in the next two weeks. If You need an extension tell me well before you need one, now onto the algebra problems." She handed Zoe several sheets of paper.
"There are 30 Problems here." Zoe said.
"You have until your other assignments are Due Zoe, at the end of two weeks. June 23rd."
"I appreciate that. Do I have to stay here to do them, since they're special assignments and you'll be teaching the other kids?"
"You'll need supervision, but I've already spoken to Brother Josiah, he's willing to supervise you at the Church while you work on your assignments so it'll be quieter so you can concentrate. You'll check with me before school in case I am teaching something you need to be here for and if not spend the school day with him, and we'll have our usual language lesson after school."
"Yes, Ma'am." Zoe said brightly.
"Go on."
"Yes, Miss Dawson." Zoe left the School and headed over to church.
"Josiah?" She called out.
"In here Zoe!" Josiah called out. "Miss Dawson spoke of your current assignments, why don't you get started."
"Well, I have to read the books first. So I should probably do that." So she began to read the Physical Geography book first. It was a little hard to understand because it was written in 19th century language but she understood it well enough, and she began making notes in the notebook she kept on her. When lunch came. She had her Chicken and Gravy sandwich Mrs. G made her. Then she switched to her Algebra problems which were fairly simple solve for X or Solve Y problems that she could do in her sleep. But there were 30 of them. One Problem was 3x + 2 = 20. X = 6. They were all pretty much in that vein, sometimes there was an X and Y, but they were pretty much all that easy. And with the calculator on her phone, she could do it easily enough. At the end of the school day she went back to school, and spoke to Miss Dawson showed her the algebra problems she'd already done. 10 in all. Then she showed her notes for the Geography book, and her teacher looked pleased than she did more sign language teaching for her teacher and her friend Lizzie. Then she went to take care of Sky, she took her time grooming her, and really spent some time with her. She saw David Jones hanging around Abilene Yosemite's daughter, and rolled her eyes, she so called it. Then she went home and did some of her chores and worked more on her schoolwork, and until Mrs. G needed her. It was Marinated Pork Loin tonight, with carrots, String Beans and Mashed Potatoes, gravy and Biscuits. For dessert was Strawberry Tart. Then She and her dad, JD, Uncle Chris, and Vin played Jinga for a while, she loved that her dad and Uncle Chris got her the game, then they played a Homemade 19th century version of apples to Apples which was in her trunk, and Jenga which her Uncle and papa had made for her. then she went to bed. The week flew by in a cycle of Chores, Schoolwork, and meals, and before they knew it was Friday, Zoe was in good spirits, her reading and Algebra problems were done. She was now working on her reports, in Josiah's office.
Tuesday an unfortunate but run of the Mill incident with a Bank robbery happened, and all the bank robbers were taken alive, and placed in Jail.
Meanwhile in the morning a Wagon arrived driven by a Man, with a woman and two children, and off stepped a sickly looking but truly stunning dark-haired beauty with bright Blue eyes, in finely tailored clothes or they once were she had lost some weight, two children both 9 years old, a boy who looked exactly like Ezra with her eyes, and a girl who looked exactly like her with Ezra's eyes stepped off next, followed by a Man who looked a great deal like her, also in fine well-tailored clothing.
"Where would be Dear sister?" The man had a Missouri Accent.
"The Saloon, taking some fools for their money." She said, her accent matching his. He nodded. He got the luggage, and they all went to the Saloon. When Ezra looked up. He saw her only woman he had ever truly loved.
"Lilah…." He whispered. "I am out this round Gentleman thank you for the game" He collected his Money and approached her. "My Dear Lilah are you well?"
"No, Ezra, I am not. It is my Heart."
"She is Dying Mr. Standish we are here to make sure her, your children are taken care of after she dies. Ah'm her Brother Bennett St. James." The Man said.
"Our…." He could hardly believe it. Then again the circumstances at the time necessitated him leaving immediately after their liaison and he hadn't had a permanent residence since. She may not have been able to find him. He looked at them. They looked like their children. A combination of the two of them, though the boy favored him, and the girl favored her. Lucky he thought. "What are their names?"
"Ezra Philip Standish Junior, or Junior, and Amelia Marie Standish, or Millie." Lilah said.
"Ah would like to meet them."
"Junior, Millie yer Daddy wants to meet ya." The two children hurried to her side.
"Junior, Millie this is yer father, Ezra P. Standish."
"It's a Pleasure to meet ya." He said. "Lilah we need to talk, One of my fellow Peacekeepers has a daughter she's doing Independent study at the church she is 12, the Preacher Josiah is with her. Why don't we drop the children off with her, and then I can take you to our Healer Nathan….."
"Yer Healer, won't tell ya anything I don't already know, my heart is dying, but alright, if it'll make ya feel better."
Nathan frowed as he listened to Ezra's lady friend with his new Stethescope Clarissa's money bought him. "Her heart as a Murmur, that's not a good thing Ezra. She's unwell, I can see that, without examining her."
"My own physician hasn't given me long to live, I am using my time left to put my affairs in order. I do not want my children placed with my parents." Ezra paled he remembered Simon and Elaine St. James he wouldn't want them as parents either. His bedding of Lilah was actually her request she was to married against her will, and she wanted to be deflowered so the marriage wouldn't go through. He was in St. Louis on another matter, He had been Seeing Lilah on the side and gave into the request, his mother had been so disappointed in him had torn strips into him with her razor sharp tongue even though she had not been involved in his business, and it hadn't affected the job, He wondered if she had known. Lilah had been one of the few to truly see the real him and care for the real him. He wasn't naïve enough to think his mother did, she only cared what he could do for her.
"Lilah I suggest we marry, It would give the children some protection." He said.
"Ah already have an affidavit swearing and signed by a Justice of the Peace you are their natural father, and one from ma physician stating Ah was a virgin before our liaison and dates and progression of my pregnancy." Lilah said.
"Why would you do that?" Nathan asked.
"Because Ah don't want to give Ma parents an Inch of room to work with, they are as evil as they are conniving."
"She's not wrong, when I was in St. Louis I knew to stay away from Simon and Elaine St. James, but I couldn't stay away from their daughter."
"The Judge is here for the Thompson gang, he can sign off on the Paper work after Josiah married ya." Nathan said. So that afternoon after school, gathering the seven peacekeepers, the St. James, Standish, Wilmington, Travis, Wells families there was a wedding. Now Since Zoe Owned a lot of real estate in Four Corners she told Chris to give one of her houses to the Standish's as a wedding present. Now Chris couldn't do that, Ezra would never accept it.
"Zoe wanted me to give you one of the houses she owned in town but I know you wouldn't accept it. But there's a three bedroom relatively large house, already furnished right here in town just a few minutes' walk from the Saloon, the Clinic, and the school, make me an offer."
"I'd have to see it." He did and it was perfect. It was definitely one of the Ryland's better made homes. A Show piece, it was exquisite. It Even had its own Bath tub. That's what sold Ezra. He hated taking public baths, he thought of how much disposable income he currently had access to, and Chris seemed willing to take any offer and made the offer of 150 dollars. He took the offer even though it was extremely low for a house of this quality and size. He gave Chris the money, and Chris gave him the deed, they went to the bank and signed some papers. The Seven brought all his, Lilah, and the children's things over. There was a lot of it, since they took a wagon. Bennett chose to stay at the Saloon. Millie liked the Rosebud wallpaper in her room, and Junior didn't like it in his room. The next day was Saturday and it was to be, Casey and JD's wedding. Zoe was the Maid of Honor, and Vin was the Best Man, Chris was giving away the bride, Josiah was officiating. JD was hardly nervous at all.
"Boy yer the calmest I've ever seen ya." Buck said.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He said with absolute certainty. "Casey is the love of my life. I love her more than anything, and I'll love her until the day I die. There isn't a doubt in my mind, Why shouldn't I be calm."
Chris smiled. "I felt the same way the day of my wedding."
The wedding was beautiful. There was a small reception, and the Bridge and room rode out on their horses back to their newly redone farm. Which now had some animals, and crops.
"Ya sure you didn't want to go to the hotel?" JD asked when he carried her over the threshold.
"I'm sure. There's no place I'd rather be." She said kissing him. Their Coonhound Rusty had followed them in. He started making the fire, and she pushed him away and started doing it herself.
"I'm glad. I told Mrs. Grayson, I probably wouldn't be living there much. Only a few days during the week, she said that fine she was happy for me."
"I'm sure she was." Casey finished building and stoking the fire, and they cuddled up on the rug in front of the fire.
"So, what do you want to do?" she smiled at him seductively
