AUTHOR'S NOTE:
In case you haven't figured it out yet, the "Rachel" I reference throughout this story is the character in the movie, Coyote Ugly, played by Bridget Moynihan, the actress who plays Erin Reagan in Blue Bloods.
In response to a comment I received and posted in the reviews, women did attend law school in 1889. The life Erin is leading in this time period is authentic. In numerous cases, mothers died on the travels west and eldest daughters became the family matriarchs, raising younger siblings, cooking, cleaning, etc. Children in those days did not get sent to their rooms, or talk psychobabble with a shrink. They got their asses tanned, and criminals were dealt with swiftly, often by being sentenced to hard labor or death by hanging. The only possible exception to the authenticity of this story would be whether Abby was a chief teller at a prominent bank. Most likely, only men served in this role, but hey, that's what artistic license is for. Besides, after you read the completed story, the answers to these questions should be self-evident.
December 25, 1891: Reno, Nevada
Christmas morning had arrived, and with it, the annual ritual of Erin, Joe, and Jamie sneaking into Danny's room and pummeling him with pillows, tickles, and noogies.
"Come on, can't a guy sleep around here?" Danny frustratingly asked.
"Not on Christmas morning Danny, we have presents to open." Jamie answered.
"Fine, you go open yours, I'll be there in a few hours. I'm going back to sleep." Danny mumbled as he placed his pillow over his head.
Erin ripped the pillow away.
"Come on Danny, we can't start without you, so get moving or I'll tell Linda that you spoiled Christmas morning for your little brothers." Erin threatened.
"That's low Erin." Danny retorted, as he slowly sat up in bed.
It was well known in the Reagan household, that Danny couldn't care less about Easter or Christmas mornings, hunting for eggs, or opening presents, that all he wanted to do was sleep in but his family never afforded him that privilege, especially Jamie who for some reason thought it was necessary to wake up before the roosters crowed.
"You've got ten minutes mister or I'm coming back in here and dragging you out, jammies and all." Erin warned.
"Yeah, I hear you Erin. You're back for three days and you're already back to being bossy." Danny remarked.
"That's my job as your big sister." She grinned.
"If you haven't noticed, I'm 18 now. You can't boss me around or spank me like you used to." Danny replied.
"Trust me Danny, I'll always boss you around and as for the other, I'm sure Rachel can more than help me take you behind the barn if I feel you deserve it." She stated.
"Go, get out. I'll be down in ten." Danny frustratingly relented.
Erin arrived downstairs to find everyone including Jack waiting.
"He'll be down in ten minutes." She announced.
Frank shook his head. "The hardest part of my being a father has been getting Danny out of bed before the crack of noon."
"He needs his beauty sleep for Linda." Joe joked.
"Joseph, don't start." Whitney warned.
"Okay Mom." He smiled back.
"Where is Linda, I thought she would be here?" Erin inquired.
"She's with her family. She should be by shortly." Frank answered.
Danny descended the stairs to the applause of his brothers and sister.
"Very funny." He retorted.
"Merry Christmas son." Whitney stated as she hugged and kissed her oldest son.
"Merry Christmas to you Mom, and to you Dad, Gramps, Jack. The rest of you, I hope you all got a big lump of coal in your stockings for waking me." Danny stated.
Jamie stuck his tongue out at his oldest brother.
"Yeah, how about I put some salt on your tongue?" Danny asked, where upon Jamie quickly retracted it into his mouth.
"Thought so." Danny smirked.
There was a knock at the door which Frank went to answer. He returned with Linda and Rachel, who had collected Linda from her family. All three were carrying presents which were placed under the tree.
Erin hugged Linda before introducing her to Jack.
Then Danny came over and exchanged hugs and pecks on the cheek with his girlfriend.
Once everyone was settled, they began handing out presents and opening them. Joe served as the Master of Ceremonies, reading off names as he handed out the wrapped packages.
Erin's opened her present from Rachel, and was shocked to discover a brand new hand tooled rawhide bullwhip.
Jack's swallowed hard. "You know how to use that thing?" He haltingly asked.
Erin gave Jack a disconcerting look. "Very much so."
"She's an expert with it, so if I were you Mr. Boyle, I'd be on my best behavior." Rachel warned, before looking at the smirk plastered on Danny's face.
After all the presents had been opened and the room cleaned of ribbons and wrapping paper, the family and their guests sat down to their Christmas day feast.
Frank and Henry took their customary seats at the head and foot of the table, while Whitney sat to Frank's right and Erin to his left. Jack sat next to Erin, with Rachel to his left, and Joe to her left. Danny sat to Whitney's right, followed by Linda, and Jamie.
A large Prime Rib was served as the main course, fresh from the slaughterhouse courtesy of the Vaquero Ranch. Vegetables grown in the ranch gardens supplied the potatoes, carrots, green beans, and the salad. Homemade condiments, sauces, and dressings rounded out the table.
Milk from the ranch's cows, cold water from its well, and wine pressed from its grapes served as the beverages.
Erin looked at Jack who sat in wonder at learning that the ranch was virtually self-sustaining.
"This is amazing." He stated in response to what Erin had informed him.
"And a lot of hard work." Erin replied.
"After a dinner like this, it would do you good to get some exercise to work it off." Rachel stated.
"Such as?" Jack inquired.
"Erin and I will show later this afternoon." She answered.
Erin looked over at Rachel. "I don't think this city boy has ever held a shovel or a pitch fork."
"I have shoveled snow." Jack replied, earning a laugh from everyone else.
"Trust me when I say that what you'll be shoveling isn't as pure as snow." Rachel informed him before returning to her meal.
January 4, 1892: The California-Nevada State Line.
Erin, Jack, Michael, and Alex relaxed in their compartment as the train continued its trek towards its next stop at Sacramento.
Stories of Christmas were being shared.
"Are you serious, you made Jack muck out the horse stalls?" Alex laughed in between sips of champagne.
"I most certainly am." Erin smiled back.
Jack had anything but a pleased look on his face. "After that, she had me shoveling shit out of the livestock pens, and that was ten times worse." He stated.
"Now that I would have loved to see." Michael chuckled.
"Maybe next time we head home, you two will come with and have your own experience with nature." Erin offered.
"Oh sure, that I can see. These two up to their knees in cow shit." Jack retorted.
"I can imagine Alex getting it in her blond locks" Michael stated.
"Which you would be more than happy to wash for me afterwards." Alex replied.
Erin leaned back into her chair and looked out the window.
"Everything alright?" Jack asked.
"I miss everyone already, especially my brothers. They've grown so much since I was last home and I'm feeling guilty for spending so much time away from them." She admitted.
"Maybe we should take this summer off instead of interning for a law firms, and each of us spend some time at home with our families." Alex noted.
"I would very much like to introduce you to my family." Jack stated to Erin.
Erin looked at Jack and nodded. "Maybe we should go over our spring recess, but let's be honest, if we're going to find employment after we graduate, we need to have references and experience, and we can only get that during our summer break."
The train finally arrived back into Palo Alto. In two days classes would resume and Erin and her friends would begin the push towards completing their second year of law school.
Michael and Jack escorted Alex and Erin to their dorm and helped them carry their luggage to their room. Goodbyes were exchanged and the men departed.
Then the women entered into a more serious conversation concerning their boyfriends.
April 10, 1893: Hartford, Connecticut.
Over spring recess, Erin and Jack headed back east to Connecticut where Erin met Jack's parents. It was the first time Erin had returned to the east coast since she left New York in 1876. Jack was an only child, but Erin noticed how his mother in particular maintained an almost formal attitude towards her son. One night Jack explained how his parents did not approve of his career choice, demanding that he pursue a Master's degree in finance followed by working in his father's financial firm.
"It was all I could do to get them to pay for Stanford." He informed Erin. "They consider a law degree a waste of my time and their money."
Erin found this difficult to comprehend, for she had always found her father, mother, and step-mothers supportive in whatever she strove to accomplish.
Erin also had no doubt that Jack's mother did not approve of a woman with her social pedigree and had bigger plans for Jack's marital future, and that Jack's present choice of spousal material may damage dear Mom's standing in polite society.
What Erin did learn was that Jack came from a very affluent family, but he seemed to have no interest in it. He wanted to earn his own way in life and make his own good name in the process, rather than relying upon his father's name and fortune, the major reason he had chosen to enter a career in the law, and to live his life in California, rather than returning to Connecticut. This was one of the major reasons Erin found herself drawn to Jack, rather than to the boys she had met while at the University of Reno.
On the return trip, they spent two nights at Vaquero before returning to Stanford. Erin was happy as she missed her family and even a short visit was more than enough to console her.
One afternoon when Frank was having a talk with Jack over his plans for both his future and for Erin, Danny took his sister aside and suggested they take a walk.
"How are things going with Jack?" He asked.
"Very well." She answered.
"Uh huh." Danny responded.
Erin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as she knew what this conversation would be about.
"You don't like him much, do you?" She asked.
"I don't like him at all, at least not for you." Danny candidly answered.
"It's my decision to make on whom I choose to be involved with Danny, not yours." She replied.
"I know, but since the day I was born, you have looked out for and protected me. Now it's my turn to start doing the same for you. Something about him gives me a bad feeling, and I'm not the only one who thinks so." He stated.
"Oh, and who else feels this way." She inquired.
"Rachel and Joe." Danny answered.
"Joe will agree with whatever you tell him. I'm surprised you haven't dragged Jamie into this." She retorted.
"He likes everyone so there's no point." Danny smirked. "As for Rachel, I've come to discover that we are a lot alike in how we look at things."
"Suspiciously?" Erin asked, knowing her good friend was a female version of her eldest brother.
"You could say that, or maybe we just have good instincts and a refined skill at observing people." Danny replied.
"Danny, I love you dearly, maybe more than I do Joe or Jamie because you and I have been through the most together, but please, stay out of my affairs with Jack." Erin implored.
"Alright, I just felt as your brother, I owed it to you to be honest and speak my mind." He responded.
"I appreciate it and you've done your brotherly duty by informing me of your concerns, but please understand if I don't agree with, or accept those concerns." Erin stated.
"Goy ya." Danny nodded.
"So, how are things with you and Linda?" Erin asked.
"Great, I'm thinking about proposing to her." Danny stated.
Erin stopped mid step and turned to face her brother. "Danny, that's wonderful." She smiled, pulling him into a hug. "I think Linda would make a wonderful wife and mother, not to mention a great addition to our family."
"Yeah, I kind of think so too. Not sure if she would accept, but I've been saving up for a ring and I'm hoping to ask her next Christmas." He replied.
"I am sure she will say yes." Erin grinned.
"I hope you're right, I mean, she could have anyone she wanted, and I'm not that much of a catch." He stated.
"Daniel Fitzgerald Reagan." Erin sternly stated as she held her brother's face in her hands as she stared him in the eyes. "Don't you ever say anything like that to me again, don't you even think it. You are a wonderful man, a devoted son, grandson, and brother, and a very well regarded Deputy Sheriff. Linda is lucky to have you."
"Yeah, but you know, not like I ever went to college like you did." He stated.
"Does that bother you? Erin asked as she crossed her arms.
"Sometimes, I mean my big sister's going to be some hotshot lawyer, and I know Joe and Jamie will probably go to college, and Linda's going to be a nurse which means college and nursing school for her, and here I am, having barely made it through high school." He stammered.
"Then take college classes in the evening if you want, but don't ever feel that you are less of a person for not going. Jamie, Joe and I may have all done well in school, but you are a student of the streets, you have all the common sense. Trust me little brother, not everything is learned in from a book or in a lecture hall." Erin informed him.
The next morning Erin and Jack boarded their train back to Stanford. Erin had much to think about for Danny's concerns did mirror those which she had regarding Mr. Jack Boyle.
May 10, 1893:
"ERIN RILEY REAGAN, summa cum laude," the Dean of Stanford University's School of Law proudly announced.
Erin gracefully ascended the stage and made her way across to receive her diploma. She was now a lawyer.
She looked down into the audience to see the proud and smiling faces of her family as they applauded her, much as she had four years earlier when graduating the University of Reno at Nevada.
She had also observed that when Jack's name was called, only his friends applauded. His parents had elected not to attend however Erin was past caring for Jack.
After the ceremonies concluded, she returned to her dorm to collect her things and to say goodbye to Alex, Michael, and other friends she had made over the past three years. She had nothing to say to Mr. Boyle.
Erin had elected to return to Nevada, but she had not shared these reasons with her family. In time she knew that there would be no choice but to do so as events were beyond her control.
A week later, she was vomiting into her face bowl when Whitney entered her room.
"Erin, are you alright?" She inquired.
"I'm fine, just a touch of something." Erin answered, not able to look Whitney in the eye.
"This is the third morning in a row that you've been unwell. Would you care to talk to me about it?" Whitney asked, having some idea of what was going on.
As if someone had opened up the floodgates, Erin began to cry. Whitney quickly closed the bedroom door lest anyone else hear Erin, before sitting down next to her step-daughter and cradling her head in her arms.
"You're pregnant." Whitney stated matter-of-factly.
Erin nodded as she sobbed.
"How far along are you?" Whitney inquired.
"Ten weeks." Erin answered.
"And Mr. Boyle is the father?" She asked.
"Yes." Erin blubbered.
"Does he know?" Whitney inquired.
"He sure does." Erin cried.
"And when he found out, he ended your relationship and wants nothing to do with you or his child." Whitney surmised.
"I caught him in bed with another woman." Erin cried, deep racking sobs which were loud enough to arouse Danny, whose bedroom was next door.
He came barreling into Erin's room. "What's wrong, what happened?" He asked.
"Erin's upset about something Danny. Please give us some time to talk." Whitney requested.
"It's that jerk Boyle, isn't it." Danny yelled.
Erin turned to look at her brother and nodded.
In school Danny may not have been the sharpest knife in the drawer, but when it came to reading people and situations, the man was a straight razor.
"You're expecting his child and he bailed on you." Danny stated, in a voice so low she could barely hear him.
Erin stopped crying and felt fear, not for her but for Jack Boyle, because she had never seen such uncontained fury in the eyes of another human being as she did looking into the eyes belonging to her eldest brother.
Danny always had dark eyes, but Erin could swear at that moment they were positively black and most worrisome to her, there was no soul or humanity to be found behind them.
"Danny, please don't do anything." Erin pleaded.
"I knew he was no good. I tried to warn you." He spat out.
"Danny, now's not the time." Whitney chastised.
"Fine." Danny stated, before turning around and leaving the room.
Whitney turned to Erin. "We're going to have to tell your father and the rest of the family soon because even if you can hide your little surprise for another two months, there is no way Danny is not going to give it away."
"I know, but please Whitney, we have to keep Danny from doing something we'll all regret." Erin pleaded.
What they didn't know was that Danny was next door in his room packing.
-30-