Here is the second part. I hope you like it! It came very easily to me.
Now that I am back for good. I will have more fics coming your way.
Hope that you like…
*********************
The Cattle Drive
*******
The winter was not as tough as they originally thought. It was still pretty bad, but it could have been worse. The first part of it was the harder part. The rest was quit mild. Cold as heck, but mild in that not much more snow fell. Although Chandler did while walking on the ice and he sprained his ankle. It was a good thing it was winter and there was not that many chores that had to be done. But Chandler did not get off that easily, he had to help Monica with the inside chores and they got to know each other better.
By the time that the snows melted and spring had finally come, Monica was no longer a city girl. But a young woman who was a pioneer and ahead of the ranch house or cabin. Joey was now able to read, not as well as Chandler and Monica, he still stumbled over certain words. But he read better than a lot of people out west. Considering not too many could even sign their names. And Chandler found that, besides Joey, he had the best friend ever.
*************
Once most of the snow had melted away, Chandler, Monica and Joey went to the saloon/hotel/restaurant. All three of them were riding horses. All wearing heavy coats, flannel shirts, pants, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves.
As they were riding, they noticed how everything seemed to be coming alive or waking up after a long winter's nap. And for safety's sake. They were all carrying pistols and Chandler was carrying a rifle and Joey a shotgun.
The rifle and shotgun were not the ones that would have saved their lives. They could not get them out in a hurry, it would have been the pistols that would have. Chandler and Joey were carrying two each and Monica had one. And they carried them in their belts.
Finally after three hours, they arrived in front of Phoebe's. Once arriving, a young man came and took their horses from them and took them over to the stables. They then went inside. Where they sat themselves down at one of the tables. Chandler was distracted by one of the poker games and Joey was buys straining his neck to get a gander at the females. Monica just looked bored.
Phoebe was talking with one of her many girls when she noticed their arrival. She took two of them to be brother and sister and the girl to be married to the man with the light brown hair. She walked over to say hi. And to introduce herself.
Monica then noticed a beautiful blond haired woman in an emeralrd green dress that was off the shoulders and showed off her cleavage. Monica felt out of place and self conscious in her jeans and flannel shirt.
"Hi, Phoebe Buffay, owner and manager of this establishment." phoebe then shook each of their hands.
"Monica Geller." Monica smiled weakly atPhoebewhile shaking her hand.
Phoebe smiled. "Hello, Monica."
"Joey Tribianni and How areYOU doin?"
Phoebe placed herhandoverhermouth and giggled like a schoolgirl. She then blushed. "ok."
"Chandler Bing, I just now own some land up near Rock Bend Creek."
"That was Lance Caldwell's land."
"He was my mother's uncle."
"Uhmmmm, are you anything like him?" Phoebe asked looking at him slyly?
"Didn't know him, except that he knew of me."
"Well, he was proud of you for sticking up for yourself like you did." Phoebe smiled.
"My stomach bothered me for exactly three and a half weeks afterward."
You know when it ended?" Monica asked.
"Yup, July first through the third 1864."
"You were at the battle of Gettysburg." Monica softly wanted to know.
"We both were." Joey sighed out.
"Oh." Monica stated.
"Gunther." Phoebe called out.
A white haired man wearing an apron and carrying a towel walked over. "Yes Phoebe, what can I do?"
"This is Lance Caldwell's great nephew, him and his friends are now living on his old homestead to do some mining."
"Nope, no mining. Ranching." Chandler replied.
Gunther smiled, in short it would be easier to get steaks. "May I take your orders?"
"Steaks and beer for this three and my usual." Phoebe stated. Gunther walked away only to return quickly with four ice cold beers. And then went to get the steaks started.
"I figured that you would go for the easy money." Phoebe stated.
"Veins run out. But the need for food does not. And since I do not see me being a farmer, and I like working with livestock, I am wanting to be a rancher." Chandler replied.
"A smart man. Not too many in these parts. And the rest of you?"
"Well, I am going to be the ramrod of the ranch." Joey stated.
"And I am the housekeeper or I will run the ranch house and do the cooking and laundry."
"HMMMMM… are you sure you want to, I can give you a job here and you will make more money and a pretty thing like you, it will be hard to keep the guys in line."
"Uh, thanks but no." Monica blushed and looked down at the table. Phoebe seeing this smiled. Monica had just confirmed, what she guessed. Monica had not yet been with a man.
While waiting for the food to arrive, All four of them sat and talked with each other. Getting to know each other. Monica who had been lonely for some friendship that only a female could provide got to be really good friends with Phoebe and the other way around.
Phoebe found her to be delightful and sweet. While Monica found Phoebe to be a bit hardnosed yet had a sweet nature as well.
"Phoebe told her new friends that she was born in a whore house with her twin sister and both were put into an orphanage. They both went to work at a saloon at an early age. And while her sister became a prostitute, Phoebe still worked at the saloon, first as a maid then as a singer. Until she saved enough to move out west.
"Once I had enough money saved up, I purchased supplies and hired some help together out here and built this saloon. Now I own it and run it myself!" Phoebe exclaimed with pride.
"You started from nothing?"
"Yes Joey I did!"
"Then you were in the same boat as we are in."
"We are going to head south to buy some cattle and to start a cattle drive up toward Big Rock Creek." Chandler exclaimed.
"When will that be?" Phoebe asked. These people were the only ones around this part besides her who wanted to start something that would last. Instead of looking to get rich quick schemes. And she respected that.
Right now only forty-niners were scurring around this area looking for one of the elusive metals. And they were finding no luck at it. In short what money they had they either gambled away at her saloon or had to buy supplies. And it seemed like the miners were starting to leave the area. Phoebe was even starting to wonder if she should try and sell her saloon. But since a ranch was coming, she thought better of it.
With a rancher came, ranch hands who would want a drink, blacksmiths, Wells Fargo when the town got big enough or the telegraph and the stage coach and then even general stores. In short a whole town. Phoebe smiled. Yup she would stay right here.
"We were thinking of leaving in two weeks time."
"Two weeks? I thought that you would want to leave sooner?" Phoebe asked.
"We have Monica who will drive the chuck wagon and Joey and me and two cow dogs to work the cattle. We need more." Chandler simply stated.
Phoebe smiled, "I have just the men for you. Stay here and eat your steaks and I will be right back."
While she was gone, Gunther returned with more beer, three steaks and a plate full of vegetables. "Ms. Buffay does not like to eat meat." He explained.
When she returned, she had a man with her. "Gary Larson happens to be the best horse wrangler I have ever seen. I am sure that you could easily use his services. Gary, this is Monica who is the head chef and in charge of the chuck wagon, Joey who is the ramrod and Chandler Bing who know owns the…. What is the ranch's name again?"
"The Four Queens. I got the money from winning a poker game with that hand."
"The Four Queens Ranch."
Phoebe smiled. Gary then extended his hand and shook then each in turn. "Miss Monica, Mr Chandler and Mr Joey."
Just plain Monica, Chandler and Joey. Monica insisted."
"People might take offensive. I mean an ex-slave. Especially when it comes to a white woman."
"Joey and I fought in the Union army against slavery. And Monica was from New York and did not agree with the concept. Do you want a job or not?"
Sure do." Gary replied with a smile.
"Good. The pay is $25 dollars for the cattle drive. And depending on how good you are with the cattle and horses will determine on whether you have a full time job at the ranch. We can discuss your wages for working there later."
"Sir…er Chandler it is a deal!" Gary grinned and then shook Chandler's and Joey's hands.
One more young man named Roy rounded out the group. He really did not want to drive cattle but he got tired of the west and decided to go back east and wanted to have a safe trip there. So he rode with them to Dodge.
It took them half the time since they only rode on horseback. Monica drove one of the farm wagons that they were going to sell. Well Monica and Chandler who taught her to be on the lookout for everything from the current of a river, not to go against the current when crossing it and how to get up and down the hills. In short he was training her to be a good wagon driver.
By the time they reached there, everyone was ready for some rest and relaxation time. After they rested up a bit, Roy took the next train east, Joey went and started to look for some fun and to let off some steam. Chandler and Gary both went and looked at the different horseflesh and cattle, made some decisions and bought 150 head of cattle and 20 horses. Monica looked around the stores at the different dresses and materials.
Chandler who was buying some more supplies, noticed what she was doing and smiled. Soon after she left the store. He discretly purchased the bolt of cloth she had fingered and a dark blue dress and a straw hat with a dark blue bow around the brim. For Joey he bought him some candy a new belt and a new pair of gloves.
The shopkeeper smiled when he brought them up to be rung up. "Gifts, I presume." The man said.
"Yup." Chandler replied.
"Want some advice from an old man? You can give her all the gifts in the world. But remember it is the little things that she will remember."
"I will keep what you said in mind. Thanks."
Chandler then paid for the purchases. As he was walking out, he saw Gary who grinned at him. Chandler gave a half smile back.
A week later, after recruiting five more people to help, they were on their way. Joey rode front, Chandler rode side as well as three others and two pushed the herd from behind. While Gary was the wrangler or drove the horses. And Monica drove the chuck wagon.
Which everyman was grateful for. They still might have been on the trail and had the same provisions that all trail rides had, but there is something about when a woman prepares food and smiles when she is handing the food that makes the meal more enjoyable, even though she insisted on them washing first.
While on the trail, stories and songs were told around the campfire. While some slept waiting their turn to watch the cattle. From bandits, cattle thieves and animals.
The trip took about a month. And soon across many rivers, up and down many hills, over the endless stretch of plains and being hit by dust storms, downpours that hit them so hard that they hurt. They finally made it home and lost only forty eight cattle. At least they had a hundred and two left.
*****************
Now hopefully the story will get interesting. I do KNOW about how life was back in the old west. I have an AA degree in history and I did see a program on cowboys narrated by Kenny Rodgers on PBS. So I will not be that far off track.
Now that I am back for good. I will have more fics coming your way.
Hope that you like…
*********************
The Cattle Drive
*******
The winter was not as tough as they originally thought. It was still pretty bad, but it could have been worse. The first part of it was the harder part. The rest was quit mild. Cold as heck, but mild in that not much more snow fell. Although Chandler did while walking on the ice and he sprained his ankle. It was a good thing it was winter and there was not that many chores that had to be done. But Chandler did not get off that easily, he had to help Monica with the inside chores and they got to know each other better.
By the time that the snows melted and spring had finally come, Monica was no longer a city girl. But a young woman who was a pioneer and ahead of the ranch house or cabin. Joey was now able to read, not as well as Chandler and Monica, he still stumbled over certain words. But he read better than a lot of people out west. Considering not too many could even sign their names. And Chandler found that, besides Joey, he had the best friend ever.
*************
Once most of the snow had melted away, Chandler, Monica and Joey went to the saloon/hotel/restaurant. All three of them were riding horses. All wearing heavy coats, flannel shirts, pants, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves.
As they were riding, they noticed how everything seemed to be coming alive or waking up after a long winter's nap. And for safety's sake. They were all carrying pistols and Chandler was carrying a rifle and Joey a shotgun.
The rifle and shotgun were not the ones that would have saved their lives. They could not get them out in a hurry, it would have been the pistols that would have. Chandler and Joey were carrying two each and Monica had one. And they carried them in their belts.
Finally after three hours, they arrived in front of Phoebe's. Once arriving, a young man came and took their horses from them and took them over to the stables. They then went inside. Where they sat themselves down at one of the tables. Chandler was distracted by one of the poker games and Joey was buys straining his neck to get a gander at the females. Monica just looked bored.
Phoebe was talking with one of her many girls when she noticed their arrival. She took two of them to be brother and sister and the girl to be married to the man with the light brown hair. She walked over to say hi. And to introduce herself.
Monica then noticed a beautiful blond haired woman in an emeralrd green dress that was off the shoulders and showed off her cleavage. Monica felt out of place and self conscious in her jeans and flannel shirt.
"Hi, Phoebe Buffay, owner and manager of this establishment." phoebe then shook each of their hands.
"Monica Geller." Monica smiled weakly atPhoebewhile shaking her hand.
Phoebe smiled. "Hello, Monica."
"Joey Tribianni and How areYOU doin?"
Phoebe placed herhandoverhermouth and giggled like a schoolgirl. She then blushed. "ok."
"Chandler Bing, I just now own some land up near Rock Bend Creek."
"That was Lance Caldwell's land."
"He was my mother's uncle."
"Uhmmmm, are you anything like him?" Phoebe asked looking at him slyly?
"Didn't know him, except that he knew of me."
"Well, he was proud of you for sticking up for yourself like you did." Phoebe smiled.
"My stomach bothered me for exactly three and a half weeks afterward."
You know when it ended?" Monica asked.
"Yup, July first through the third 1864."
"You were at the battle of Gettysburg." Monica softly wanted to know.
"We both were." Joey sighed out.
"Oh." Monica stated.
"Gunther." Phoebe called out.
A white haired man wearing an apron and carrying a towel walked over. "Yes Phoebe, what can I do?"
"This is Lance Caldwell's great nephew, him and his friends are now living on his old homestead to do some mining."
"Nope, no mining. Ranching." Chandler replied.
Gunther smiled, in short it would be easier to get steaks. "May I take your orders?"
"Steaks and beer for this three and my usual." Phoebe stated. Gunther walked away only to return quickly with four ice cold beers. And then went to get the steaks started.
"I figured that you would go for the easy money." Phoebe stated.
"Veins run out. But the need for food does not. And since I do not see me being a farmer, and I like working with livestock, I am wanting to be a rancher." Chandler replied.
"A smart man. Not too many in these parts. And the rest of you?"
"Well, I am going to be the ramrod of the ranch." Joey stated.
"And I am the housekeeper or I will run the ranch house and do the cooking and laundry."
"HMMMMM… are you sure you want to, I can give you a job here and you will make more money and a pretty thing like you, it will be hard to keep the guys in line."
"Uh, thanks but no." Monica blushed and looked down at the table. Phoebe seeing this smiled. Monica had just confirmed, what she guessed. Monica had not yet been with a man.
While waiting for the food to arrive, All four of them sat and talked with each other. Getting to know each other. Monica who had been lonely for some friendship that only a female could provide got to be really good friends with Phoebe and the other way around.
Phoebe found her to be delightful and sweet. While Monica found Phoebe to be a bit hardnosed yet had a sweet nature as well.
"Phoebe told her new friends that she was born in a whore house with her twin sister and both were put into an orphanage. They both went to work at a saloon at an early age. And while her sister became a prostitute, Phoebe still worked at the saloon, first as a maid then as a singer. Until she saved enough to move out west.
"Once I had enough money saved up, I purchased supplies and hired some help together out here and built this saloon. Now I own it and run it myself!" Phoebe exclaimed with pride.
"You started from nothing?"
"Yes Joey I did!"
"Then you were in the same boat as we are in."
"We are going to head south to buy some cattle and to start a cattle drive up toward Big Rock Creek." Chandler exclaimed.
"When will that be?" Phoebe asked. These people were the only ones around this part besides her who wanted to start something that would last. Instead of looking to get rich quick schemes. And she respected that.
Right now only forty-niners were scurring around this area looking for one of the elusive metals. And they were finding no luck at it. In short what money they had they either gambled away at her saloon or had to buy supplies. And it seemed like the miners were starting to leave the area. Phoebe was even starting to wonder if she should try and sell her saloon. But since a ranch was coming, she thought better of it.
With a rancher came, ranch hands who would want a drink, blacksmiths, Wells Fargo when the town got big enough or the telegraph and the stage coach and then even general stores. In short a whole town. Phoebe smiled. Yup she would stay right here.
"We were thinking of leaving in two weeks time."
"Two weeks? I thought that you would want to leave sooner?" Phoebe asked.
"We have Monica who will drive the chuck wagon and Joey and me and two cow dogs to work the cattle. We need more." Chandler simply stated.
Phoebe smiled, "I have just the men for you. Stay here and eat your steaks and I will be right back."
While she was gone, Gunther returned with more beer, three steaks and a plate full of vegetables. "Ms. Buffay does not like to eat meat." He explained.
When she returned, she had a man with her. "Gary Larson happens to be the best horse wrangler I have ever seen. I am sure that you could easily use his services. Gary, this is Monica who is the head chef and in charge of the chuck wagon, Joey who is the ramrod and Chandler Bing who know owns the…. What is the ranch's name again?"
"The Four Queens. I got the money from winning a poker game with that hand."
"The Four Queens Ranch."
Phoebe smiled. Gary then extended his hand and shook then each in turn. "Miss Monica, Mr Chandler and Mr Joey."
Just plain Monica, Chandler and Joey. Monica insisted."
"People might take offensive. I mean an ex-slave. Especially when it comes to a white woman."
"Joey and I fought in the Union army against slavery. And Monica was from New York and did not agree with the concept. Do you want a job or not?"
Sure do." Gary replied with a smile.
"Good. The pay is $25 dollars for the cattle drive. And depending on how good you are with the cattle and horses will determine on whether you have a full time job at the ranch. We can discuss your wages for working there later."
"Sir…er Chandler it is a deal!" Gary grinned and then shook Chandler's and Joey's hands.
One more young man named Roy rounded out the group. He really did not want to drive cattle but he got tired of the west and decided to go back east and wanted to have a safe trip there. So he rode with them to Dodge.
It took them half the time since they only rode on horseback. Monica drove one of the farm wagons that they were going to sell. Well Monica and Chandler who taught her to be on the lookout for everything from the current of a river, not to go against the current when crossing it and how to get up and down the hills. In short he was training her to be a good wagon driver.
By the time they reached there, everyone was ready for some rest and relaxation time. After they rested up a bit, Roy took the next train east, Joey went and started to look for some fun and to let off some steam. Chandler and Gary both went and looked at the different horseflesh and cattle, made some decisions and bought 150 head of cattle and 20 horses. Monica looked around the stores at the different dresses and materials.
Chandler who was buying some more supplies, noticed what she was doing and smiled. Soon after she left the store. He discretly purchased the bolt of cloth she had fingered and a dark blue dress and a straw hat with a dark blue bow around the brim. For Joey he bought him some candy a new belt and a new pair of gloves.
The shopkeeper smiled when he brought them up to be rung up. "Gifts, I presume." The man said.
"Yup." Chandler replied.
"Want some advice from an old man? You can give her all the gifts in the world. But remember it is the little things that she will remember."
"I will keep what you said in mind. Thanks."
Chandler then paid for the purchases. As he was walking out, he saw Gary who grinned at him. Chandler gave a half smile back.
A week later, after recruiting five more people to help, they were on their way. Joey rode front, Chandler rode side as well as three others and two pushed the herd from behind. While Gary was the wrangler or drove the horses. And Monica drove the chuck wagon.
Which everyman was grateful for. They still might have been on the trail and had the same provisions that all trail rides had, but there is something about when a woman prepares food and smiles when she is handing the food that makes the meal more enjoyable, even though she insisted on them washing first.
While on the trail, stories and songs were told around the campfire. While some slept waiting their turn to watch the cattle. From bandits, cattle thieves and animals.
The trip took about a month. And soon across many rivers, up and down many hills, over the endless stretch of plains and being hit by dust storms, downpours that hit them so hard that they hurt. They finally made it home and lost only forty eight cattle. At least they had a hundred and two left.
*****************
Now hopefully the story will get interesting. I do KNOW about how life was back in the old west. I have an AA degree in history and I did see a program on cowboys narrated by Kenny Rodgers on PBS. So I will not be that far off track.