Thanks for all the reviews folks….
First off, I am not going to try and say that Phoebe is an innocent. So, I will be getting into her past, as well as her sister's. And it will not be Ms. Kitty kind of glamorous. But I will be touching on everything, hopefully, you will see! I mean she owns and runs a saloon. What do you think goes on in a saloon? Try lap dances, gambling, drinking and whoring.
But her place has a bit more of class. In short she will not allow any of her girls to get ruffed up! And instead of the saloon looking dirty and sawdust on the floor or just plain hard dirt floor, which was the way a lot of saloons looked back then, it was kept up fairly nice. IE a scrubbed wooden floor. And cleaned linens.
Most of the time I will have Ross being the rotten one. Well, suffice to say, this time it will be different and you will understand why he is the way he is. He is hiding a dark secret of what happened the night that his wife and son died. I will go into that much later.
Rachel is going to be Rachel. In short after all the letters that she receives from Monica, she goes out west looking for a start on a new life and to try and to find love with a man that is not soft. Or a city fat cat!
Gunther is still Gunther. As well as the others that I eventually incorporate into the story! And I will try to put as many into it as I can!
I was using a bit of leeway when it came to the Alaska Gold strike. It was kind of important for the foundation. I will admit that the date is a bit off. But, I felt that having Ross shanghaied and put on a ship to the Orient would be too cheesy. So I thought that would do.
And relatives would still inherit land as long as they are next in line if the land has deeds on in. If not, then a claim jumper could get it or a person could get the land by filling out a deed. And the land is big enough up in the wild west that a person could ride for days without leaving his or her properties. Remember in the west, it took more land to support cattle. Particularly, if there was very little water or not that much rain fell. And the herds had to be moved more often to prevent overgrazing.
Also remember the west was more about equality than the rest of the US was at that time. In short women were treated with almost the same equality as men. They were in a sense partners when it came to running farms, ranches, and stores. There were even a few women blacksmiths and doctors around. While there were reports of women being beat, the western states were the first to grant women the right to vote.
And another point to remember that the three bonanzas of the west were mining, cattle ranching and farming. The occupation of the west began when the news of the gold and silver strikes started circulating. And the rush began. Then came the ranchers, who did not tame down the west but helped to feed a nation. And the farmers, who were the civilizing influence on the west.
The next part of my fiction deals with the foundations of the town and how it came to being. Hopefully, I will show how a small town or a few buildings became a boomtown almost overnight……
*****************************
The Boomtown: Central Falls
Montana Territory
After a long hard drive they arrived back to the ranch they ended with a hundred and two cattle, a wagon half full of supplies and they now have less than $6,000. So they have to make that stretch, unless Chandler went to gamble again.
While he wanted to, a bit because of him gambling over the years, the dream of owning a ranch was too hard to pass up. It would require more work and a lot of sacrifice by everyone, but it would be worth it. A place where they could putdown roots and have a steady income. Although ranching was a lot like gambling. It depended on the weather and if the herd contracted some disease, you could go bankrupt. But, if a person made a ranch, then that person was respected and looked up to. While a gambler was not thought too highly of. And Chandler wanted to have a family that was proud of him.
Once arriving back, they hired Gary in a permanent position to work at the ranch. He would be sleeping in the extra room or tack room of the barn. And he would get paid $125 a year, (which is a lot folks, considering that the average working man made a hundred) and that included food and board.
His jobs included driving the herd and breaking the horses and seeing to the leather and making sure that the leather had not dried out. Which included everything from saddles, whips and bridles. He also was pretty handy with tools when it came to repair jobs.
And of course they worked on the outside buildings and did the chores that they could not do because of the winter. They re dug the well, for it had gone dry years ago. Fixed the bad places on the roofs, mended the fences and did the other maintaince work. All that in the afternoon after they took care of the cattle during the day.
They had to brand the cattle and move the cattle around from one grazing spot to another. Not to mention round up the wild horses, gelded them and then broke them. They then sold them to the army. Which helped them with their money situation.
While the guys were busy, Monica was busy spring cleaning. She would scrub the floors, wash the windows, clean the laundry and sweep out the attic and the cellar. Getting them as clean as she could. As well as tackling the hated task of cleaning out the chicken coup.
While she was doing that, she also did the cooking, sewing, mending and ironing, and the laundry. So when the guys came home, they were all exhausted.
When they had the chance, they had fun. Like fishing trips, picnics, and the swimming hole. And at night, if they were not too tired, they played music and told stories and read newspapers and wrote letters.
Monica wrote to her family a lot at first, but when they did not answer her back, she gradually stopped, It was Rachel who kept asking her questions on the west. How pretty was it out there? Was there truly more opportunities out there for women than in the east? Were there a lot of good looking men?
Monica had to smile at that part, Rachel would never change. But of course she responded. Truthfully….
************************
New York…..
Eight weeks later
Rachel arrived home from Finishing School. What a boring day! So what if she was to act a certain way if she meets the Queen? As far as Rachel was concerned, she was not going to come over to America and since she did not like boats, she was not going over there!
Soon after she arrived, her father entered from his study. "Rachel, you have a letter from your friend out west."
Rachel almost tore the entire letter in half trying to open it. Leonard Green chuckled and took it from her and sliced it open with a letter opener. He then handed the letter back to Rachel. Who began to read it out loud.
Dear Rachel
I was very happy to have received your letter. I look forward to each and every one of them!
Now to explain to you about the west. It is very beautiful out here. I can not even begin to explain to you how good it looks. Let me just say that there are no buildings where you can not see the stars at night. And that there are so many you can not even count them! And there is so much land and wide open spaces, a person could ride for days on end without seeing anyone. And there is no limit what you could do. The imagination is the limit.
You asked about opportunities. Well let me say yes, there are more things a person can do and the person is not defined by how much money they have but their word and if they keep it. And how good of worker that the person is.
The more a person's hand have work lines on them or are roughed up. The more that the person is thought of as a good worker.
You asked about jobs for women. There are plenty, housekeeping, school teaching, mission work, laundry, store keeper, and a few others that your mom would not like for me to mention. But I will anyway.
Dance hall girl, barkeeper, prostitute and saloon owner. My best friend out here owns and manages her own saloon/bar/hotel. But, while she has girls working for her as waitresses, she does not run a whore house. What the girls do on their own time is their own business. But she dose not allow anything bad to happen to them.
After reading that, Rachel looked up at her father, he had an amused expression on his face. "Please continue."
You asked about the men. The same rule I talked about applies. If that person works hard and keeps his word, that person is thought very highly of. Here anyway. Although are plenty of good looking men out here.
I know in some towns, they have a class system. But since this is a territory. There is too much to do out here than trying to keep up with the newest fashions and who threw the biggest parties.
There is a lot of work, but we do have fun. Berry picking, swimming, fishing, horse riding and many other things to do.
While there are a lot of things to do, we really do not have that big of a town. None really and we still need a doctor. The nearest one is in the town of Helena. Which is two days away. One way.
When he heard that, Leonard Green smiled. "I will leave you to your reading, Rachel. I had better go." He then walked back to his study. Rachel shrugged it off and went up to her room to read the rest of the letter. And to write back.
*******************
When Ross reached Alaska, he found out his folly. (Get it Steward's Folly) There was NO gold laying around. And he had went back on his word. And Monica was stuck with a gambler. But at least it was the younger one and not the older pervert.
Although he probably took her to his bed the first night he found out. Or forced her to marry him. She could be carrying his child right now.
When he had gone to Alaska, he thought that he was going to get rich fast and go back and get his sister and get that debt paid off, but now he knew better. He had to find a job and quick and a place to stay before winter hit. So he took a job as an assistant store clerk and he slept in the store room with a gun to keep people from stealing.
He had to make enough money to get a ticket to get back to San Francisco. And then get another good job to save up the money to get Monica back. Now how was he going to do that? The only thing he knew how to do, besides loosing his money at poker, was reading and writing. By the time he had saved up, her working time could probably have ended. Or she could be married and have a couple of kids. He really goofed up royally, this time.
While there on those cold and lonely nights, he remembered the reason why he came out west.
************
One year ago
New York
Ross and Carol Geller's home.
Ross had been out of town on business for a week. He was suppose to be gone for two more days. He was able to wrap the meeting up earlier, so he decided to surprise his wife and young son. When he opened the door to his bedroom, he was in for the biggest shock of his life. There lay his wife naked with some woman who was also naked in their marriage bed.
Carol sat up with the covers gripped in her hands. "Ross, I was not expecting you home until two days."
"Apparently not." Ross tried to keep his temper down as well as the vile that was rising up in his throat. "How long has this been going on?"
Carol murmured something that Ross did not catch. The woman decided to talk. "There is nothing to be ashamed of Carol." She then ran her hand down Carol's back in a very intimate way. "We have been lovers since we were fifteen."
"Carol? What about us? We are married and have Ben together." Ross's voice was scratchy.
"I am sorry Ross, I do not love you. I was forced into this marriage by my parents after they found out that Susan and I are lovers."
Ross trembled. "but we are married…"
"Ross, I want a divorce. Susan and I are going to remain lovers and raise Ben."
Ross's eyes flashed. "Oh no you are not! When I tell the judge what you prefer to be doing, there is no court in the land that will let you even look at my son, I will make sure of it. Besides father has friends in high places and you will get nothing. No money, no place to live no clothes. I want you out of here in an hour! And you are not to have any contact with Ben before you leave. You are not allowed to see him again."
"No! I can not live without Ben!"
"Pick either him or your lover." Seeing that she said nothing, "Fine then, you made your choice! I want you and your slut out in ten minutes."
Ross then turned around disgusted and walked away. He then walked down to the study to get himself something to drink, only to discover they were out. So he decided to go to a tavern to get a bottle of much needed whisky. After he was sure he heard the front door slam shut, thinking that both Carol and her lover were gone.
When he came back, the house was already up in flames. After the fire, his father who had arrived as soon as Ross got word to him, who convinced the fireman not to go inside, had Susan's body taken by a very trusted employee, out to sea and put into a bag with some rocks and thrown in. Thus everyone but Ross and him knew that it was a regular house fire. But for Susan and Carol it was suicide and they had taken three year old, innocent Ben with them. They were found on the bed in an embrace with Ben between them. And had left a note on the fence ensuring Ross of what really happened.
************
Soon after that, Jack felt that a change of venue was needed. And wherever Ross went, Monica went along or would tag along. Even from the time that they were kids. Except for different things. While Monica went outside to play in her spare time, Ross would go and read for hours on end.
Ross tried everyway together thoughts of his former wife and child off his mind. Whether it be alcohol or women. He found that no matter how hard he tried, in his dreams and when he was alone, he could not help but hear Ben's screams of 'daddy'.
So now he lost Monica as well. Now he had to get her back. But how? He tried to get money from his father, but got no answer, so he figured that his father would no longer help him out. He only hoped Monica had better luck.
*************
Chandler turned out to be a shrewd business man. When he heard of a ranch or farm that was selling their herds or wanted to make extra money, he would go in and buy their cattle. So by the fall, he had over eight hundred cattle. Most of them from purchasing them from neighbors and about one hundred more from them giving birth.
It looked like they were going to go over one thousand four hundred easily by next year. Even if the winter turned out to be hard or if there was a disease that would hit the herd. They should still be all right.
They had so many, they hired on five men. Al, Jim, Aaron, Mike and Sam. They even built a bunkhouse and added on a storehouse where food could be kept and a stove. They got paid each one hundred dollars a year. And that also included food and board. Monica being the cook for them, for lunches anyway. They had to make their own dinners and breakfast.
She had finally got a routine started. Right when she woke up, she would milk the cows, collect the eggs, feed and water the chickens, get the water, and then start on breakfast. Or finish it up. She usually made oatmeal the night before and let it set on the stove overnight, which Chandler bought her in the midsummer. So when it was time for breakfast the next morning, All she had to do, was to toast the bread, set the butter out, set out the coffee, set out the cream and ring for the men to come inside the house to eat. When they set down, she walked around and poured some oatmeal into the bowels and let the men eat from there.
After they left, she cleaned the kitchen which included dishes and wiped down the table and swept the floor. Before leaving to the next job, she would then start the stew. By throwing in some meat and going into the cellar to get the vegetables that she would be using. Carrots, celery, onions and potatoes. She then left to get started on other chores. Like, making cheese, the butter churn and starting on the laundry and hang it out to dry before the mid day sun got over head.
An hour before lunch time, she would come back into the cabin with another bucket of water and start to prepare the lunch. She first stared to make biscuits, and while she let the dough set, she then started to prepare the vegetables. She washed them and peeled them and cut them up and put them into the pot while stirring it. Afterwards, she made crust for a pie and then washed, peeled and then cut up apples. Combined them with brown sugar and cinnamon. Put the crust into two pie pans and the apples in it and then put the rest of the crust on top of them and put them in the Dutch oven by the fireplace. Made the dough into biscuit shapes and put them aside. She put another pot of coffee on and then prepared to go out and get some more water and went and brought some milk in. Wiped down the table and set it. Stirred the stew and put the biscuits in. And went and rang the bell for lunch time.
By the time the men had arrived, after they put up their horses and washed up, lunch was ready. And Monica was putting the biscuits on the table to cool off. But the men were so hungry, they did not care. They just wanted something hot and good in their stomachs.
After they left, Monica started cleaning the dishes and pots and pans. There was noodle since the guys came in hungry. And if there were scraps, she feed them to Rosita and Stevie. After finishing up the kitchen, she would poor Chi-Chi a bowel of warm milk.
The little kitten had grown out and up. And soon enough she was going to be a mother as was Rosita. Joey and Chandler planned to make her puppies all cow dogs. Reason being that Stevie was the father and Rosita was the mother and the puppies would all have good bloodlines. And two milk cows were too. The chickens had hatched their eggs and chicks followed their mothers around the yard. The pig had had babies or piglets. Seeing all the baby animals, made Monica want a baby of her own. She shook off the feeling and would start to get back to her chores.
After the everyday choruses, she had to do the canning, the candle making and other countless other choruses that needed to be done. It seemed to her that there was not enough time in a day to get half of what she wanted done. So if the time came to get away from the ranch for a bit, she would gladly take them up on the offer. Whether it be to go to the store or to go to Helena to get supplies and mail they would get once a month. Except in winter time when they got enough supplies to last for six months at most.
**************
New York
Townhouse
Home of Jack and Judy Geller
Morning
Jack sat reading the paper, he felt bad. Giving Ross the money to go out west and allowing Monica to go with him. But he felt it was the right thing to do at the time. And of course Monica had to go. She always tried to prove herself to gain his and Judy's attention. But the truth was they loved her no matter what.
Now if only they could hear from her to find out if she was okay. All that they got was a telegram saying that she was marrying a gambler and was traveling with him of all things. And that was it, no more messages. Which was strange to say the least.
And it seemed as though Ross had jumped off the face of the earth. He would not even contact him for some needed money. Something was wrong. He hoped that he was still okay. Both Judy and him were nearly sick with worry and hoped for some word about their children.
Judy walked in. "Still no word from either of the kids?" She asked as she sat at the table.
"No, Judy." Jack then sighed. "I am about ready to go to see a detective about trying to find Monica at least."
"It should not be that hard. She married a gambler."
"I am not so sure, Judy. She would have tried to contact us at least once."
"Unless that husband of hers will not let her." Judy sipped her coffee.
"I am still going to look into hiring a detective. Maybe we could get Monica back here where she belongs if she was forced into marrying him."
While they were talking, an employee of Jack and Judy Geller's was listening on the other side of the door and did not look too happy.
***********
Phoebe's saloon was making enough money she decided to expand it a bit. Add some more gambling tables and add more space to make a bigger bar. She even started on a classy hotel and boarding home. She was sure that she would not finish it until sometime next year. But she wanted it started at least.
Phoebe was a self made woman. Anybody could tell it. She had plenty of horse sense and street smarts to know exactly what she wanted, how to get it and what she would have to do to obtain her goal.
Her mother gave birth in a convent in Minnesota. Her mother, who she did not know anything about except that she was a rich socialite who could not be bothered with kids, especially kids that would be the downfall of her and her family. If the truth were to get out a very rich influential family would be ruined. For her mother's brother, a male cousin and their uncle took turns with her. That was what a nun told her before she died.
Her sister Ursula just shrugged it off. She did not care that her mother was raped by virtually all the men of their family. And since they were so high up in society, their mother could tell no one. But when Phoebe and Ursula's grandmother found out, she took a whip to her daughter's back and beat her all the while calling her a slut. So they shipped her off to have the baby. While there, the young woman told what really happened to a young nun, who was her best friend and then relayed on the message to Phoebe and Ursula.
After a while, Ursula ran off to work at an upscale whorehouse in Chicago. She wanted to wear nice clothes and have pretty things. While Phoebe went to work in the hotel as a maid. She cleaned the rooms, made the beds, washed the bed linens and the clothes. At night, she went to work at the local saloon as a singer/barmaid/dancer and even one time fell in love with a local magistrate.
Not caring that he was married. She was convinced that he would leave his wife. Their children were already grown and had children of their own. So he moved her into a nice room at the main hotel and had her as his mistress, banging her anytime he felt like it. She was in love. Having a very nice place to stay, good food, expensive clothes and some spending money. That he would give her as bonuses for all the different stuff she tried. She soon learned stuff from different prostitutes as they explained to her and let her observe what they did to each other and a few times even to her how to do certain things to make a man go wild, and what positions could be used best.
SO everything was going just fine. Until, he was trying to convince member of the town consul to vote a certain way. The man made it clear to vote that way, he wanted three nights with Phoebe. And he could use or abuse her in any way he wanted. Without hesitation, the man slammed his hand down on the counter and pronounced 'DONE!'
That night, he did everything to Phoebe that he could thing of. Phoebe knew she was in trouble when he walked into the room carrying a horse whip, ropes and a gag. That night she was never so humiliated in all her life.
She had begged the man she was in love with not to do this to her or let this happen. But he didn't care about her. He was so turned on, he watched. Not caring about her cries and the torture the man was inflicting on her body. About two in the morning, the man pounded into her in as many ways as he could. As soon as he was done with her, he made her lick him clean.
Later that morning, after the two men had gone, that Phoebe grabbed what money she could get a hold of and left on a stage to San Francisco. But she traded tickets with a young woman and instead went to work in a saloon in Denver. Where she went back to singing, dancing and waiting tables. Now a lot wiser and very leery of men in general.
It wasn't until she met Joey and Chandler did she really make some good male friends. But she was still scared of having a long term relationship with any man.
She then saved up enough money to come out to this place and start her own saloon/hotel. She hired Gunther, on seeing that was another man she trusted as well, as her personal assistant. And assistant manager.
One day, while going over the liquor inventory with Gunther, she looked up and saw that Monica walked in. "Hi, Monica. How are you doing?"
"Is there somewhere we can talk in private? I really need advice from a female right now."
Looking intently at Monica's face. Phoebe smiled and turned to Gunther. "Please continue with the inventory. I will be back as soon as I can."
Phoebe then led Monica to her office and closed the door. Instructed Monica to have a seat and did so herself. "Now what is important?" The next words through her through a loop.
"I want a baby!"
"A baby?"
"I mean a family! You know a husband and children!" Monica sobbed.
"Oh, Monica honey, you know there are plenty of men around here that would be glad to provide both." Phoebe then handed a handkerchief to her friend.
"Most men are too busy trying to get rich. I want a steady, dependable, hardworking man. Who will be willing to make sacrifices for his family. There is no man that would be what I want that is close enough here."
"There is one." Phoebe mussed.
"Who?"
"Chandler." Phoebe smiled. Monica looked startled. "Think about it. He is not running after getting rich real fast. And he really likes you."
"But he is Chandler!" Monica stated.
"He would take very good care of you. Think about it."
"Do you even know our history? He won me in a poker game." Monica looked down at the floor.
"Has he taken advantage or forced you in any way?" Phoebe asked already knowing the answer.
"No."
"Then you know he really cares for you."
"I care about him. But only as a friend."
"Monica, are you really sure about that?" Phoebe asked. She knew what she saw. And she saw denial and uncertainty written on her friend's face.
***************
New York
Shipping Yards
Office
Jack was on his way out, when his worker stopped him at the door. "Mr. Geller, here is your mail."
"Thank you, James."
He then took it with him and left. James then took a letter out of his pocket that was dated a month ago from Monica Geller and threw it in the oven. He then closed the door on the stove and went to take Victoria Sailings out on a date. Victoria was a maid of the Geller house and she was stopping mail from Monica as he was stopping mail and wires from her in the office.
Their reasoning: When something would happen to Jack and Judy, they will get the house, business, money and investments.
*******
Earlier that year, Chandler had bought Monica some seeds for vegetables. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra, green beans, green peas, onions, celery, lettuce, turnips and more. So when it came time to pick the harvest, they had plenty of vegetables. And Monica was taught to can and preserve the food. By way of instructions and a book that Chandler got her to go along with the seeds. So they not only had vegetables but also fruits they had gathered from various plants.
Pickles, tomatoes, peppers, green beans and peas were canned. While other vegetables were stored away like carrots, potatoes and onions. The fruits were made into preserves like wild grapes, strawberries, chokeberries and blueberries. Some of the fruits were also canned like blackberries and a few others. While others liker apples were stored away in barrels to wait the long winter that was sure to come. They got to the point anymore that the only food they had to buy was sugar, flour, preserved potatoes, cornmeal, yeast and some other supplies that they could not obtain.
While Chandler and Monica went to Helena to get the supplies, Chandler found out some interesting news. The man who was the REAL owner of the town, started out with the only general store and people were willing to pay what ever price for the goods. Because they did not want to have to drive all the way down to Denver at the time to get supplies.
While waiting for the supplies to be loaded up, Chandler was talking to a well dressed man. The man then looked down at his watch excused himself and left the store. Chandler then went to talk to the clerk.
"Who was that man?"
"Mr. Callings?" The clerk asked. "He owns this store and a few other properties around town. He became rich by building the first general store in these parts and the rest you might say is history." While there, he bought Joey a new pair of gloves and a belt and got Monica a new dress that she was looking at and a hat and some material.
On the way back, Monica noticed that Chandler hardly said any words. Finally she could take it no longer. "On the way to Helena, you could not stop talking, but now, you have hardly said anything. What are you thinking about?"
Chandler halfway smiled. "Nothing."
"Chandler!!!!!!!!!!!!" Monica moaned.
"I will tell you, for a price."
"A price." Monica asked cocking an eyebrow at Chandler.
"A kiss."
Monica huffed and pouted looking away from Chandler.
"Fine then have it your way." Chandler stated and started to ignore her, knowing very well, that Monica would eventually give in.
A little while later, they were setting camp. Monica looked over at Chandler and decided what would one little kiss hurt?
"Fine! I will kiss you. Now tell me what you are thinking?"
"I am going to open a general store right by Phoebe's new hotel." Chandler announced.
"Chandler that is brilliant!" But before she could ramble on, like she usually would do…..she was stopped.
Chandler then smiled and put his finger on Monica's lips to quiet her and leaned down and kissed her. When Monica tried to get away from him after a bit, he deepened the kiss and pulled her tight to him by pulling her towards him with his right hand around her waist while his left held her the back of her neck so she could not get away.
Monica was too astonished to say much, but there was no way she could not stop Chandler from kissing her and she found that she did not want to. Chandler saw this as his dream coming true and could now see a future with Monica looming very near on the future.
When a clasp of thunder was heard, they broke apart and Chandler and Monica quickly covered the supplies of the wagon with a tarp, tied it down and went into the tent to dry off.
When it thundered and lightening, Monica held onto Chandler and dug her face in his chest. From the time of when she was a little girl, she was scared of thunderstorms. And that amazed Chandler and Joey, because that was the only thing she was scared of. They both stayed that way for the whole night while the storm raged, with a blanket Chandler threw over them both.
The store would be started on next year. Before Chandler left Helena, he went and bought up some land opposite of Phoebe's hotels and businesses, she had already bought up the land along the other side where her hotels were at.. He knew one way or another that a town was going to be there. Whether it would stay or it would wind up being a ghost town was another thing entirely.
Once they arrived back at the ranch, they discovered that some missionaries had decided to stay and were trying to get funds together to build a church. The missionaries were Mr. Waltham, his second wife and his daughter, Emily, from his first marriage.
While waiting for the church to be built, they set up a tent and started having services in there. Mr. Waltham dove into everything and anybody, except over indulgence of alcohol. He was tipsy, had a hangover or just drunk when he started preaching. Everybody preferred him drunk or tipsy so that he felt good when he was preaching. But they got blasted if he had a hangover.
Mrs. Waltham was more along the lines of an airhead. But it was not that she was not smart. She just had a problem with opium.
Emily was snobby, but she was the nicest one out of the whole bunch. She never preached to anyone and wanted to open a school up. Since she had a teaching degree.
But sometimes she was a busy body and at times could not stand Monica. And all the attention she got, so she thought of a way to get the attention from her. She would have never done this, except she got mad when Monica stole her partner at the 4th of July dance.
Chandler had volunteered to take her. He got a bath, shaved, and put on his best suit. Before he did, he put down Monica's present on the bed in her new room that he and Joey added on and left the room to get cleaned up.
An hour later, Monica had bolted the door and gotten a bath in the kitchen and went and found the dress and put some undergarments and it on. As well as the hat, shoes and her cloak. She smiled and sent a silent thanks to Chandler for being so thoughtful.
By the time she emerged, Chandler had hitched up the surrey that someone had given him in exchange for a cow. They were then on the way to the dance.
While there, Monica ignored Chandler and danced with every man in the room. And had three dances with Colin, or Emily's beau. And with a doctor that was traveling through by the name of Richard Burke. She even told Chandler that Richard wanted to take her home. Chandler didn't say another word, just left and borrowed a horse and rode as fast as he could have out of there.
"What is wrong with him?" Monica wondered aloud.
"You really have to ask?" Emily frowned at her. "First off he took you to the dance, second, you would NOT dance with him and thirdly, you want someone else to take you home."
"I…."
"You are acting like a slut. Not caring about his feelings at all." Emily then turned around and walked away. She would get revenge for not only her but Chandler as well. He was too nice a guy to have this happen to him.
The next Sunday, Mr. Waltham was not drunk or tipsy he had a slight hangover and was in a ferocious mood. He yelled down eternal damnation on prostitutes, harlots and the like. Emily had convinced her father to preach about this last night. And made sure that he would not drink after a certain time. So that he would have a major hangover the next day. And thus rant and rave brimstone.
He then stated that any unmarried woman that shared a room with a man was nothing but a low class whore. Monica knew he was talking about her and Chandler knew something had to be done to counteract this destruction of Monica's character. Finally he had enough, he jump to his feet and yelled that he and Monica were engaged.
"Fine then, no more waiting, you will both get married four Sundays from now! That ought to give Miss Geller enough time together trouser set up and for an engagement party or two to be arranged." He then went back to preaching.
Chandler sat down and shook his head, Monica glared at Chandler and was sure to give him a piece of mind later and Emily smiled smugly. Now no man would be after Monica. It wasn't that she did not like Monica, It was that she felt that Monica was asking for trouble flirting with the whole territory. And she knew that Chandler really liked Monica, and he would be good to her.
On the way back, Joey rode on ahead while Chandler and Monica rode in the surrey. Monica was yelling at Chandler for goofing up so royally.
"What did you think you were doing?" Monica was in the middle of a tirade that had started as soon as they were out of hearing distance from the town.
Finally chandler stopped the horse. "Trying to salvage your reputation. I mean everyone knows that you are a major flirt, and I have overheard some of the men talking as well as Joey at the saloon about you and it is none too flattering. So you might want to take me up on my offer. Then the talking will stop."
"Fine, but know this, you will not touch me or anything else. We will marry only in name and in three years, I want a divorce."
Chandler sighed and looked sadly ahead, "Fine. We have a deal." He then flicked the reins and the horse moved home.
Over the nest three weeks, Emily, Mrs. Waltham, Phoebe, Susie Moss, Bonnie Jacobs, Ellen Radcliff (who all three worked for Phoebe), Jenny Stevens whose husband was a prospector, and Monica all worked on her wedding dress and bed linens, blankets and other items.
They also planned and had an engagement party for both Chandler and Monica, where people brought them gifts they could use during their marriage, which included a set of pewter dishes that Phoebe gave to them, Gary made a rocking chair and Joey made a baby cradle. Then there was a bridal shower given by the ladies. The ladies gave her home made baby clothes, bibs, blankets, and a hat. Phoebe and her girls even gave Monica some nightclothes that left little to the imagination. Monica was embarrassed and felt bad, considering that Chandler and her agreed to divorce in two years time.
Soon enough, they were standing in front of everyone repeating their vows. And then afterward, there was the wedding feast at Phoebe's new hotel/boarding house that she had finally decided to finish before the snows started. Everybody brought food and drink with them. And Mrs. Waltham made a cake.
That night at the cabin. Joey had moved his stuff to the bunkhouse with the other guys to give the newly weds some privacy. Giving Chandler some hints and nudges of what he and Monica could do together that night.
"Monica I am sorry, But I could not allow him to go on about you like that." Chandler had repeated that apology for four weeks now. By now Monica had forgiven him.
"That is ok Chandler. But you do KNOW that this is not a real marriage. In two years, I will be going back east." Monica stated. Chandler stood there at the door with a very determined look on his face.
Monica then turned and went to the other room and got into bed. Chandler went into grab some clothes, when he saw Monica nestled there, he decided on a course of action. He took off his clothes and shut the door. Then he walked over to the bed, intending to make this a marriage in every sense of the word.
After she went to bed, she felt Chandler's hand on her shoulder pulling her to him and his mouth clamp down on hers. He then ripped the night gown she was wearing off her body and started to make sure they would consummate their marriage.
The next day, Monica was sore, since that was the first time she had been with a man. Tired and sore, he would not let her rest.
That night Monica had had it. He had no right to do that. And she was going to let Chandler know a couple of things as well.
"Since the marriage is validated, you will not touch me again, got that!." She went over and into her room and bolted the door and walked to the other side of the room. Just in time to get away from Chandler kicking the door open.
He was over at her side in no time flat and kissed her hard. Monica pulled away from him and slapped him hard across the face. Chandler then threw her on the bed, all the while saying. "I will never hit you or hurt you in any way shape or form. I only want to and will make you happy any way I can." He then started to kiss her and soon, they were having a repeat of last night's encounter.
Over the next couple of days, Monica got used to Chandler so much, she nearly ached for his touch. Just the thought of him sent her imagination into overdrive. When they were alone and sure no one was around, they were intimate with each other.
On top of the kitchen table, when Chandler had entered to get something to drink, when he saw that Monica was doing nothing and had just finished cleaning up after lunch, he pushed her back on the table. One time when she had bent over the table to grab a dish, Chandler pushed her dress up and pulled down her pants and undid his gun belt and took her. Four times in the barn up in the hayloft, once up against the side of the barn and numerous other places. It was a real marriage all in all. Two months later in October, Monica found out that she was expecting. So the baby would be born in April. Which was no surprise really for how close they had become.
*****************
New York
Late November
Jack arrived at the Green residence. He was going over more often because Leonard and Saundra would argue more often than not. And he and Leonard would go into the study to talk about anything and everything. Just so that Leonard would not have to spend time with or alone with his wife.
They had moved into separate rooms and were now living separate lives. She with all her society friends and parties and he with all his friends at the race track and the billiard rooms. The only bright part of his family life was his daughter Rachel, the youngest, Jill was always so sick that she barley left the room so he would always try and stop by and see her, but since she had TB she was not expected to live that long. The other was so much like her mother that they never got along.
After he was let in, he was shown to the sitting room and told to take a seat. The butler went and got Leonard. While waiting Rachel walked in.
"Mr. Geller, hi." Rachel stated weakly. She could not understand a man's indifference to his children. She had once thought better of Jack Geller, but now, she really did not know.
Jack smiled at his daughter's best friend. "Hi Rachel."
Just then Leonard entered. "Hi Jack! Rachel, you got another letter from Monica. It was sent late June." Leonard then handed Rachel a letter.
"Monica sent you a letter, but she has not sent one to me or her mother! We have not heard from her for two years now!" Jack asked astonished.
"She said in her last letter that she gave up writing to you because she never heard back."
"What? We never got one of her letters!"
"Let me go and get the letters she sent to me." Rachel, who as well as the others realized that someone had been holding back the letters, ran to her room to get the letters. In half an hour, Jack had finished reading the letters and sat down with a strange look on his face.
"I am going out west to get my little girl back. But I will have to wait until next spring. Leonard, could you and Rachel come with me back to the house. I want to show Judy the letters."
One hour later, Judy was crying after she read the letters. "My little girl! Who knows what that awful man has done to her or forced her to do?"
"According to the letters, it sounds like he happens to be a good man." Leonard tried to diffuse the situation.
"What do you know? Your daughter is not out there!"
"Maybe so Judy. But we have a bigger problem. Who has been stopping those letters and telegrams from reaching us?" Jack wanted to know.
"Jack, Judy I am going to go out west. They need a doctor and well, I have had it with New York and I feel that I could help out much better out there. So I will see for myself if Monica needs or wants to come back." Leonard stated.
"What? Daddy!"
"Rachel, I am sorry, I do not like it around here. And your mother's marriage and mine is no more. So, we are going to get a divorce. She will have the house and a few other properties here. But I want to go out west where I am needed."
"Then I am coming with you!" Rachel decided. There were times when Rachel could be just as stubborn as Monica. The only difference was that while Monica's came naturally, Rachel was from being spoiled way too often. So she was used to getting her way.
"So am I" Jack decided as well.
"I will stay and leave it up to you to decide what needs to be done." Judy decided. "just please make sure that my little girl is in good health and is ok. And if she wants to come back, then get her out of there! Wire me if you need any more money and I will send it to you. While you are gone, I will find out who has been misleading us and have them taken care of."
******************
April
Montana territory
Two events occurred that spring. One the birth of Chandler and Monica's baby. And the other…….The other would have major effects on the inhabitants of the town and the ranch.
Monica lay in her and Chandler's room panting and in great pain. Letting words fly out of her mouth that she heard the ranch hands use and screaming in pain. She would never have thought that she would be the one using them. And putting Chandler's name in among them.
While making the baby was great after the first initial pain, trying to push out something the size of a cannon ball out was not. As far as she was concerned, she hoped Chandler enjoyed his time with her over the past nine months, because he was never going to touch her again.
Who was she kidding, the only way to keep Chandler from touching her was to geld him. Hmmmmm…now that idea had merit, she….. Monica screamed aloud again. That kid wanted out.
"Alright, Monica, you are so close, now push!" Phoebe, Emily and Mrs. Waltham were there. Dr Burke left soon after Chandler announced they were getting married. So Phoebe was the midwife. Mrs. Waltham had also helped with some births as well, and Emily also wanted to help in any way she could.
Phoebe positioned herself at the bottom of the bed, Emily and Mrs. Waltham both held her hands and helped her sit up so that she was crouched at the bottom of the bed so the baby could come out easier for both Mother and child. Finally the next contraction started, Phoebe yelled for her to push. Monica closed her eyes, she could only yell out something indescribable and Phoebe then helped to guide the baby out while Emily and her stepmother were encouraging Monica to continue. Finally after one last yell from Monica a baby's screams filled the air.
Outside in the kitchen, Chandler was standing there with the ranch hands. "I'm a dad! I'm a dad?" Chandler's eyes went back into his head and he fainted.
"Poor lad. Well he is lucky he has his Uncle Joey to look up to." Joey stated as he walked over to his friend.
After a bit, Emily emerged from the door. "Monica just gave birth to the most beautiful boy that I have ever seen. He…" She stopped talking looking at Chandler and shook her head. "I will not feel sorry for him in any way. With all that work his poor wife had to do."
"A boy? I h-have a son?" Chandler had some how come around.
"Yes, and you had better go and see your wife." Phoebe stated as she walked out of the room. "She is done being cleaned up now." He ran in when Mrs. Waltham had walked out.
"Monica?" he did not know what to say. His wife was wearing a pained expression and was nursing their son. He had learned a long time ago never to say too much if she had a certain look on her face much like the look she was wearing now.
"Had a lot of 'fun' with me over the winter, eh?" Monica was referring to the many times that they were trapped in doors because of bad weather and Chandler and her both kept each other warm and did things to keep from going board. "Well, I hoped you enjoyed 'it'. Because 'it' is never going to….ughhh, he is defiantly YOUR son." Referring to the baby that was latched on tightly to her right breast. "If you can not keep your hands to yourself, then you will move to the bunkhouse, understand?"
Chandler shook his head yes. Muttered sorry and then turned to leave.
"Where are you going? Don't you want to see your son?"
Chandler smiled shyly as he walked over to the bed. "Would you like to get another cover so you could…"
"Chandler, you know how I look with nothing on."
"Well, I…." Monica did not let him finish, she just unhooked her son and passed him to his father.
Chandler smiled happily at his son, that was wrapped in a soft white blanket that the ladies had given her as a bridal gift.
"Hey, buddy. We are going to be great friends and have so much fun together. And we are going to be one happy family." The baby opened his eyes and looked steadily into his father's eyes. Instantly father and son formed a bond that would last a lifetime. Monica just smiled. The sight in front of her made her see that all that pain was worth it.
They decided to name the baby Daniel Joseph Bing. And Joey had made it know that since he was his godson, that he was going to have Daniel down to inherit his half of the ranch after he passed on. Much later on in life.
****************
Four weeks later, Joey followed a trail that a female cow left up into the hills that was about to give birth. He stopped at a stream to get some water for him and the horse, and he saw it…….GOLD!!! He yelped out loud. He and Chandler and Monica were rich!
Within three weeks, he had hired on some miners to mine for the gold from the stream and the mountains that the stream flowed from. And then soon after, he opened a lumber mill, to meet the ever increasing needs of wood that were met. And soon enough was making a huge profit.
Soon enough, word of the strike hit like wildfire. Soon people were coming in to town from all directions. Both of Phoebe's establishments were filled to capacity. She soon made more plans to open another saloon and even a dance hall. So she was soon very rich as well.
Chandler's huge general store that he started was doing a brisk business. He even rented various locations to various people. One to a Pete Becker who opened the first bank, another to Wells Fargo so that the stage and the mail could stop there. He opened a livery stable and feed store. He then even opened a grocery store.
Monica talked Chandler into letting her open a restaurant to serve the miners, who gladly paid $8 each for some home cooked stew, bread and sometimes some bacon and beans. She hired on three other people to work there during the whole day and night, and she came in there only at lunch to make sure everything was running right, while the ranch hands all ate at the bunkhouse with their new cook, Lanky.
And because of the strike, the ranch's profits increased. And Chandler sent Joey and few of the hands to get 10,000 head of cattle, that he bought off of a ranch, using his share of the gold strike that he let Joey buy off of him. While Joey was gone, Chandler watched over the mine, the lumber mill, and the ranch at the same time as well as his other holdings.
After the cattle drive arrived back, Chandler sold the lumber mill to Joey. Thus everything was divided up as this….Joey and Chandler both owned the ranch. Joey owned and ran the mine and the lumber mill, Chandler owned the general store, the livery stable, and the feed store as well as some rental properties. Phoebe had built a boarding house. A grand hotel, and two saloons. So they were the richest people in the town.
That was how the town looked when four people emerged off the stage from a long, hard trip……..
*********************
Now, I wonder who they could all be? What do you think will happen next? Read and review and I will tell….hehehehehehehe
First off, I am not going to try and say that Phoebe is an innocent. So, I will be getting into her past, as well as her sister's. And it will not be Ms. Kitty kind of glamorous. But I will be touching on everything, hopefully, you will see! I mean she owns and runs a saloon. What do you think goes on in a saloon? Try lap dances, gambling, drinking and whoring.
But her place has a bit more of class. In short she will not allow any of her girls to get ruffed up! And instead of the saloon looking dirty and sawdust on the floor or just plain hard dirt floor, which was the way a lot of saloons looked back then, it was kept up fairly nice. IE a scrubbed wooden floor. And cleaned linens.
Most of the time I will have Ross being the rotten one. Well, suffice to say, this time it will be different and you will understand why he is the way he is. He is hiding a dark secret of what happened the night that his wife and son died. I will go into that much later.
Rachel is going to be Rachel. In short after all the letters that she receives from Monica, she goes out west looking for a start on a new life and to try and to find love with a man that is not soft. Or a city fat cat!
Gunther is still Gunther. As well as the others that I eventually incorporate into the story! And I will try to put as many into it as I can!
I was using a bit of leeway when it came to the Alaska Gold strike. It was kind of important for the foundation. I will admit that the date is a bit off. But, I felt that having Ross shanghaied and put on a ship to the Orient would be too cheesy. So I thought that would do.
And relatives would still inherit land as long as they are next in line if the land has deeds on in. If not, then a claim jumper could get it or a person could get the land by filling out a deed. And the land is big enough up in the wild west that a person could ride for days without leaving his or her properties. Remember in the west, it took more land to support cattle. Particularly, if there was very little water or not that much rain fell. And the herds had to be moved more often to prevent overgrazing.
Also remember the west was more about equality than the rest of the US was at that time. In short women were treated with almost the same equality as men. They were in a sense partners when it came to running farms, ranches, and stores. There were even a few women blacksmiths and doctors around. While there were reports of women being beat, the western states were the first to grant women the right to vote.
And another point to remember that the three bonanzas of the west were mining, cattle ranching and farming. The occupation of the west began when the news of the gold and silver strikes started circulating. And the rush began. Then came the ranchers, who did not tame down the west but helped to feed a nation. And the farmers, who were the civilizing influence on the west.
The next part of my fiction deals with the foundations of the town and how it came to being. Hopefully, I will show how a small town or a few buildings became a boomtown almost overnight……
*****************************
The Boomtown: Central Falls
Montana Territory
After a long hard drive they arrived back to the ranch they ended with a hundred and two cattle, a wagon half full of supplies and they now have less than $6,000. So they have to make that stretch, unless Chandler went to gamble again.
While he wanted to, a bit because of him gambling over the years, the dream of owning a ranch was too hard to pass up. It would require more work and a lot of sacrifice by everyone, but it would be worth it. A place where they could putdown roots and have a steady income. Although ranching was a lot like gambling. It depended on the weather and if the herd contracted some disease, you could go bankrupt. But, if a person made a ranch, then that person was respected and looked up to. While a gambler was not thought too highly of. And Chandler wanted to have a family that was proud of him.
Once arriving back, they hired Gary in a permanent position to work at the ranch. He would be sleeping in the extra room or tack room of the barn. And he would get paid $125 a year, (which is a lot folks, considering that the average working man made a hundred) and that included food and board.
His jobs included driving the herd and breaking the horses and seeing to the leather and making sure that the leather had not dried out. Which included everything from saddles, whips and bridles. He also was pretty handy with tools when it came to repair jobs.
And of course they worked on the outside buildings and did the chores that they could not do because of the winter. They re dug the well, for it had gone dry years ago. Fixed the bad places on the roofs, mended the fences and did the other maintaince work. All that in the afternoon after they took care of the cattle during the day.
They had to brand the cattle and move the cattle around from one grazing spot to another. Not to mention round up the wild horses, gelded them and then broke them. They then sold them to the army. Which helped them with their money situation.
While the guys were busy, Monica was busy spring cleaning. She would scrub the floors, wash the windows, clean the laundry and sweep out the attic and the cellar. Getting them as clean as she could. As well as tackling the hated task of cleaning out the chicken coup.
While she was doing that, she also did the cooking, sewing, mending and ironing, and the laundry. So when the guys came home, they were all exhausted.
When they had the chance, they had fun. Like fishing trips, picnics, and the swimming hole. And at night, if they were not too tired, they played music and told stories and read newspapers and wrote letters.
Monica wrote to her family a lot at first, but when they did not answer her back, she gradually stopped, It was Rachel who kept asking her questions on the west. How pretty was it out there? Was there truly more opportunities out there for women than in the east? Were there a lot of good looking men?
Monica had to smile at that part, Rachel would never change. But of course she responded. Truthfully….
************************
New York…..
Eight weeks later
Rachel arrived home from Finishing School. What a boring day! So what if she was to act a certain way if she meets the Queen? As far as Rachel was concerned, she was not going to come over to America and since she did not like boats, she was not going over there!
Soon after she arrived, her father entered from his study. "Rachel, you have a letter from your friend out west."
Rachel almost tore the entire letter in half trying to open it. Leonard Green chuckled and took it from her and sliced it open with a letter opener. He then handed the letter back to Rachel. Who began to read it out loud.
Dear Rachel
I was very happy to have received your letter. I look forward to each and every one of them!
Now to explain to you about the west. It is very beautiful out here. I can not even begin to explain to you how good it looks. Let me just say that there are no buildings where you can not see the stars at night. And that there are so many you can not even count them! And there is so much land and wide open spaces, a person could ride for days on end without seeing anyone. And there is no limit what you could do. The imagination is the limit.
You asked about opportunities. Well let me say yes, there are more things a person can do and the person is not defined by how much money they have but their word and if they keep it. And how good of worker that the person is.
The more a person's hand have work lines on them or are roughed up. The more that the person is thought of as a good worker.
You asked about jobs for women. There are plenty, housekeeping, school teaching, mission work, laundry, store keeper, and a few others that your mom would not like for me to mention. But I will anyway.
Dance hall girl, barkeeper, prostitute and saloon owner. My best friend out here owns and manages her own saloon/bar/hotel. But, while she has girls working for her as waitresses, she does not run a whore house. What the girls do on their own time is their own business. But she dose not allow anything bad to happen to them.
After reading that, Rachel looked up at her father, he had an amused expression on his face. "Please continue."
You asked about the men. The same rule I talked about applies. If that person works hard and keeps his word, that person is thought very highly of. Here anyway. Although are plenty of good looking men out here.
I know in some towns, they have a class system. But since this is a territory. There is too much to do out here than trying to keep up with the newest fashions and who threw the biggest parties.
There is a lot of work, but we do have fun. Berry picking, swimming, fishing, horse riding and many other things to do.
While there are a lot of things to do, we really do not have that big of a town. None really and we still need a doctor. The nearest one is in the town of Helena. Which is two days away. One way.
When he heard that, Leonard Green smiled. "I will leave you to your reading, Rachel. I had better go." He then walked back to his study. Rachel shrugged it off and went up to her room to read the rest of the letter. And to write back.
*******************
When Ross reached Alaska, he found out his folly. (Get it Steward's Folly) There was NO gold laying around. And he had went back on his word. And Monica was stuck with a gambler. But at least it was the younger one and not the older pervert.
Although he probably took her to his bed the first night he found out. Or forced her to marry him. She could be carrying his child right now.
When he had gone to Alaska, he thought that he was going to get rich fast and go back and get his sister and get that debt paid off, but now he knew better. He had to find a job and quick and a place to stay before winter hit. So he took a job as an assistant store clerk and he slept in the store room with a gun to keep people from stealing.
He had to make enough money to get a ticket to get back to San Francisco. And then get another good job to save up the money to get Monica back. Now how was he going to do that? The only thing he knew how to do, besides loosing his money at poker, was reading and writing. By the time he had saved up, her working time could probably have ended. Or she could be married and have a couple of kids. He really goofed up royally, this time.
While there on those cold and lonely nights, he remembered the reason why he came out west.
************
One year ago
New York
Ross and Carol Geller's home.
Ross had been out of town on business for a week. He was suppose to be gone for two more days. He was able to wrap the meeting up earlier, so he decided to surprise his wife and young son. When he opened the door to his bedroom, he was in for the biggest shock of his life. There lay his wife naked with some woman who was also naked in their marriage bed.
Carol sat up with the covers gripped in her hands. "Ross, I was not expecting you home until two days."
"Apparently not." Ross tried to keep his temper down as well as the vile that was rising up in his throat. "How long has this been going on?"
Carol murmured something that Ross did not catch. The woman decided to talk. "There is nothing to be ashamed of Carol." She then ran her hand down Carol's back in a very intimate way. "We have been lovers since we were fifteen."
"Carol? What about us? We are married and have Ben together." Ross's voice was scratchy.
"I am sorry Ross, I do not love you. I was forced into this marriage by my parents after they found out that Susan and I are lovers."
Ross trembled. "but we are married…"
"Ross, I want a divorce. Susan and I are going to remain lovers and raise Ben."
Ross's eyes flashed. "Oh no you are not! When I tell the judge what you prefer to be doing, there is no court in the land that will let you even look at my son, I will make sure of it. Besides father has friends in high places and you will get nothing. No money, no place to live no clothes. I want you out of here in an hour! And you are not to have any contact with Ben before you leave. You are not allowed to see him again."
"No! I can not live without Ben!"
"Pick either him or your lover." Seeing that she said nothing, "Fine then, you made your choice! I want you and your slut out in ten minutes."
Ross then turned around disgusted and walked away. He then walked down to the study to get himself something to drink, only to discover they were out. So he decided to go to a tavern to get a bottle of much needed whisky. After he was sure he heard the front door slam shut, thinking that both Carol and her lover were gone.
When he came back, the house was already up in flames. After the fire, his father who had arrived as soon as Ross got word to him, who convinced the fireman not to go inside, had Susan's body taken by a very trusted employee, out to sea and put into a bag with some rocks and thrown in. Thus everyone but Ross and him knew that it was a regular house fire. But for Susan and Carol it was suicide and they had taken three year old, innocent Ben with them. They were found on the bed in an embrace with Ben between them. And had left a note on the fence ensuring Ross of what really happened.
************
Soon after that, Jack felt that a change of venue was needed. And wherever Ross went, Monica went along or would tag along. Even from the time that they were kids. Except for different things. While Monica went outside to play in her spare time, Ross would go and read for hours on end.
Ross tried everyway together thoughts of his former wife and child off his mind. Whether it be alcohol or women. He found that no matter how hard he tried, in his dreams and when he was alone, he could not help but hear Ben's screams of 'daddy'.
So now he lost Monica as well. Now he had to get her back. But how? He tried to get money from his father, but got no answer, so he figured that his father would no longer help him out. He only hoped Monica had better luck.
*************
Chandler turned out to be a shrewd business man. When he heard of a ranch or farm that was selling their herds or wanted to make extra money, he would go in and buy their cattle. So by the fall, he had over eight hundred cattle. Most of them from purchasing them from neighbors and about one hundred more from them giving birth.
It looked like they were going to go over one thousand four hundred easily by next year. Even if the winter turned out to be hard or if there was a disease that would hit the herd. They should still be all right.
They had so many, they hired on five men. Al, Jim, Aaron, Mike and Sam. They even built a bunkhouse and added on a storehouse where food could be kept and a stove. They got paid each one hundred dollars a year. And that also included food and board. Monica being the cook for them, for lunches anyway. They had to make their own dinners and breakfast.
She had finally got a routine started. Right when she woke up, she would milk the cows, collect the eggs, feed and water the chickens, get the water, and then start on breakfast. Or finish it up. She usually made oatmeal the night before and let it set on the stove overnight, which Chandler bought her in the midsummer. So when it was time for breakfast the next morning, All she had to do, was to toast the bread, set the butter out, set out the coffee, set out the cream and ring for the men to come inside the house to eat. When they set down, she walked around and poured some oatmeal into the bowels and let the men eat from there.
After they left, she cleaned the kitchen which included dishes and wiped down the table and swept the floor. Before leaving to the next job, she would then start the stew. By throwing in some meat and going into the cellar to get the vegetables that she would be using. Carrots, celery, onions and potatoes. She then left to get started on other chores. Like, making cheese, the butter churn and starting on the laundry and hang it out to dry before the mid day sun got over head.
An hour before lunch time, she would come back into the cabin with another bucket of water and start to prepare the lunch. She first stared to make biscuits, and while she let the dough set, she then started to prepare the vegetables. She washed them and peeled them and cut them up and put them into the pot while stirring it. Afterwards, she made crust for a pie and then washed, peeled and then cut up apples. Combined them with brown sugar and cinnamon. Put the crust into two pie pans and the apples in it and then put the rest of the crust on top of them and put them in the Dutch oven by the fireplace. Made the dough into biscuit shapes and put them aside. She put another pot of coffee on and then prepared to go out and get some more water and went and brought some milk in. Wiped down the table and set it. Stirred the stew and put the biscuits in. And went and rang the bell for lunch time.
By the time the men had arrived, after they put up their horses and washed up, lunch was ready. And Monica was putting the biscuits on the table to cool off. But the men were so hungry, they did not care. They just wanted something hot and good in their stomachs.
After they left, Monica started cleaning the dishes and pots and pans. There was noodle since the guys came in hungry. And if there were scraps, she feed them to Rosita and Stevie. After finishing up the kitchen, she would poor Chi-Chi a bowel of warm milk.
The little kitten had grown out and up. And soon enough she was going to be a mother as was Rosita. Joey and Chandler planned to make her puppies all cow dogs. Reason being that Stevie was the father and Rosita was the mother and the puppies would all have good bloodlines. And two milk cows were too. The chickens had hatched their eggs and chicks followed their mothers around the yard. The pig had had babies or piglets. Seeing all the baby animals, made Monica want a baby of her own. She shook off the feeling and would start to get back to her chores.
After the everyday choruses, she had to do the canning, the candle making and other countless other choruses that needed to be done. It seemed to her that there was not enough time in a day to get half of what she wanted done. So if the time came to get away from the ranch for a bit, she would gladly take them up on the offer. Whether it be to go to the store or to go to Helena to get supplies and mail they would get once a month. Except in winter time when they got enough supplies to last for six months at most.
**************
New York
Townhouse
Home of Jack and Judy Geller
Morning
Jack sat reading the paper, he felt bad. Giving Ross the money to go out west and allowing Monica to go with him. But he felt it was the right thing to do at the time. And of course Monica had to go. She always tried to prove herself to gain his and Judy's attention. But the truth was they loved her no matter what.
Now if only they could hear from her to find out if she was okay. All that they got was a telegram saying that she was marrying a gambler and was traveling with him of all things. And that was it, no more messages. Which was strange to say the least.
And it seemed as though Ross had jumped off the face of the earth. He would not even contact him for some needed money. Something was wrong. He hoped that he was still okay. Both Judy and him were nearly sick with worry and hoped for some word about their children.
Judy walked in. "Still no word from either of the kids?" She asked as she sat at the table.
"No, Judy." Jack then sighed. "I am about ready to go to see a detective about trying to find Monica at least."
"It should not be that hard. She married a gambler."
"I am not so sure, Judy. She would have tried to contact us at least once."
"Unless that husband of hers will not let her." Judy sipped her coffee.
"I am still going to look into hiring a detective. Maybe we could get Monica back here where she belongs if she was forced into marrying him."
While they were talking, an employee of Jack and Judy Geller's was listening on the other side of the door and did not look too happy.
***********
Phoebe's saloon was making enough money she decided to expand it a bit. Add some more gambling tables and add more space to make a bigger bar. She even started on a classy hotel and boarding home. She was sure that she would not finish it until sometime next year. But she wanted it started at least.
Phoebe was a self made woman. Anybody could tell it. She had plenty of horse sense and street smarts to know exactly what she wanted, how to get it and what she would have to do to obtain her goal.
Her mother gave birth in a convent in Minnesota. Her mother, who she did not know anything about except that she was a rich socialite who could not be bothered with kids, especially kids that would be the downfall of her and her family. If the truth were to get out a very rich influential family would be ruined. For her mother's brother, a male cousin and their uncle took turns with her. That was what a nun told her before she died.
Her sister Ursula just shrugged it off. She did not care that her mother was raped by virtually all the men of their family. And since they were so high up in society, their mother could tell no one. But when Phoebe and Ursula's grandmother found out, she took a whip to her daughter's back and beat her all the while calling her a slut. So they shipped her off to have the baby. While there, the young woman told what really happened to a young nun, who was her best friend and then relayed on the message to Phoebe and Ursula.
After a while, Ursula ran off to work at an upscale whorehouse in Chicago. She wanted to wear nice clothes and have pretty things. While Phoebe went to work in the hotel as a maid. She cleaned the rooms, made the beds, washed the bed linens and the clothes. At night, she went to work at the local saloon as a singer/barmaid/dancer and even one time fell in love with a local magistrate.
Not caring that he was married. She was convinced that he would leave his wife. Their children were already grown and had children of their own. So he moved her into a nice room at the main hotel and had her as his mistress, banging her anytime he felt like it. She was in love. Having a very nice place to stay, good food, expensive clothes and some spending money. That he would give her as bonuses for all the different stuff she tried. She soon learned stuff from different prostitutes as they explained to her and let her observe what they did to each other and a few times even to her how to do certain things to make a man go wild, and what positions could be used best.
SO everything was going just fine. Until, he was trying to convince member of the town consul to vote a certain way. The man made it clear to vote that way, he wanted three nights with Phoebe. And he could use or abuse her in any way he wanted. Without hesitation, the man slammed his hand down on the counter and pronounced 'DONE!'
That night, he did everything to Phoebe that he could thing of. Phoebe knew she was in trouble when he walked into the room carrying a horse whip, ropes and a gag. That night she was never so humiliated in all her life.
She had begged the man she was in love with not to do this to her or let this happen. But he didn't care about her. He was so turned on, he watched. Not caring about her cries and the torture the man was inflicting on her body. About two in the morning, the man pounded into her in as many ways as he could. As soon as he was done with her, he made her lick him clean.
Later that morning, after the two men had gone, that Phoebe grabbed what money she could get a hold of and left on a stage to San Francisco. But she traded tickets with a young woman and instead went to work in a saloon in Denver. Where she went back to singing, dancing and waiting tables. Now a lot wiser and very leery of men in general.
It wasn't until she met Joey and Chandler did she really make some good male friends. But she was still scared of having a long term relationship with any man.
She then saved up enough money to come out to this place and start her own saloon/hotel. She hired Gunther, on seeing that was another man she trusted as well, as her personal assistant. And assistant manager.
One day, while going over the liquor inventory with Gunther, she looked up and saw that Monica walked in. "Hi, Monica. How are you doing?"
"Is there somewhere we can talk in private? I really need advice from a female right now."
Looking intently at Monica's face. Phoebe smiled and turned to Gunther. "Please continue with the inventory. I will be back as soon as I can."
Phoebe then led Monica to her office and closed the door. Instructed Monica to have a seat and did so herself. "Now what is important?" The next words through her through a loop.
"I want a baby!"
"A baby?"
"I mean a family! You know a husband and children!" Monica sobbed.
"Oh, Monica honey, you know there are plenty of men around here that would be glad to provide both." Phoebe then handed a handkerchief to her friend.
"Most men are too busy trying to get rich. I want a steady, dependable, hardworking man. Who will be willing to make sacrifices for his family. There is no man that would be what I want that is close enough here."
"There is one." Phoebe mussed.
"Who?"
"Chandler." Phoebe smiled. Monica looked startled. "Think about it. He is not running after getting rich real fast. And he really likes you."
"But he is Chandler!" Monica stated.
"He would take very good care of you. Think about it."
"Do you even know our history? He won me in a poker game." Monica looked down at the floor.
"Has he taken advantage or forced you in any way?" Phoebe asked already knowing the answer.
"No."
"Then you know he really cares for you."
"I care about him. But only as a friend."
"Monica, are you really sure about that?" Phoebe asked. She knew what she saw. And she saw denial and uncertainty written on her friend's face.
***************
New York
Shipping Yards
Office
Jack was on his way out, when his worker stopped him at the door. "Mr. Geller, here is your mail."
"Thank you, James."
He then took it with him and left. James then took a letter out of his pocket that was dated a month ago from Monica Geller and threw it in the oven. He then closed the door on the stove and went to take Victoria Sailings out on a date. Victoria was a maid of the Geller house and she was stopping mail from Monica as he was stopping mail and wires from her in the office.
Their reasoning: When something would happen to Jack and Judy, they will get the house, business, money and investments.
*******
Earlier that year, Chandler had bought Monica some seeds for vegetables. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash, okra, green beans, green peas, onions, celery, lettuce, turnips and more. So when it came time to pick the harvest, they had plenty of vegetables. And Monica was taught to can and preserve the food. By way of instructions and a book that Chandler got her to go along with the seeds. So they not only had vegetables but also fruits they had gathered from various plants.
Pickles, tomatoes, peppers, green beans and peas were canned. While other vegetables were stored away like carrots, potatoes and onions. The fruits were made into preserves like wild grapes, strawberries, chokeberries and blueberries. Some of the fruits were also canned like blackberries and a few others. While others liker apples were stored away in barrels to wait the long winter that was sure to come. They got to the point anymore that the only food they had to buy was sugar, flour, preserved potatoes, cornmeal, yeast and some other supplies that they could not obtain.
While Chandler and Monica went to Helena to get the supplies, Chandler found out some interesting news. The man who was the REAL owner of the town, started out with the only general store and people were willing to pay what ever price for the goods. Because they did not want to have to drive all the way down to Denver at the time to get supplies.
While waiting for the supplies to be loaded up, Chandler was talking to a well dressed man. The man then looked down at his watch excused himself and left the store. Chandler then went to talk to the clerk.
"Who was that man?"
"Mr. Callings?" The clerk asked. "He owns this store and a few other properties around town. He became rich by building the first general store in these parts and the rest you might say is history." While there, he bought Joey a new pair of gloves and a belt and got Monica a new dress that she was looking at and a hat and some material.
On the way back, Monica noticed that Chandler hardly said any words. Finally she could take it no longer. "On the way to Helena, you could not stop talking, but now, you have hardly said anything. What are you thinking about?"
Chandler halfway smiled. "Nothing."
"Chandler!!!!!!!!!!!!" Monica moaned.
"I will tell you, for a price."
"A price." Monica asked cocking an eyebrow at Chandler.
"A kiss."
Monica huffed and pouted looking away from Chandler.
"Fine then have it your way." Chandler stated and started to ignore her, knowing very well, that Monica would eventually give in.
A little while later, they were setting camp. Monica looked over at Chandler and decided what would one little kiss hurt?
"Fine! I will kiss you. Now tell me what you are thinking?"
"I am going to open a general store right by Phoebe's new hotel." Chandler announced.
"Chandler that is brilliant!" But before she could ramble on, like she usually would do…..she was stopped.
Chandler then smiled and put his finger on Monica's lips to quiet her and leaned down and kissed her. When Monica tried to get away from him after a bit, he deepened the kiss and pulled her tight to him by pulling her towards him with his right hand around her waist while his left held her the back of her neck so she could not get away.
Monica was too astonished to say much, but there was no way she could not stop Chandler from kissing her and she found that she did not want to. Chandler saw this as his dream coming true and could now see a future with Monica looming very near on the future.
When a clasp of thunder was heard, they broke apart and Chandler and Monica quickly covered the supplies of the wagon with a tarp, tied it down and went into the tent to dry off.
When it thundered and lightening, Monica held onto Chandler and dug her face in his chest. From the time of when she was a little girl, she was scared of thunderstorms. And that amazed Chandler and Joey, because that was the only thing she was scared of. They both stayed that way for the whole night while the storm raged, with a blanket Chandler threw over them both.
The store would be started on next year. Before Chandler left Helena, he went and bought up some land opposite of Phoebe's hotels and businesses, she had already bought up the land along the other side where her hotels were at.. He knew one way or another that a town was going to be there. Whether it would stay or it would wind up being a ghost town was another thing entirely.
Once they arrived back at the ranch, they discovered that some missionaries had decided to stay and were trying to get funds together to build a church. The missionaries were Mr. Waltham, his second wife and his daughter, Emily, from his first marriage.
While waiting for the church to be built, they set up a tent and started having services in there. Mr. Waltham dove into everything and anybody, except over indulgence of alcohol. He was tipsy, had a hangover or just drunk when he started preaching. Everybody preferred him drunk or tipsy so that he felt good when he was preaching. But they got blasted if he had a hangover.
Mrs. Waltham was more along the lines of an airhead. But it was not that she was not smart. She just had a problem with opium.
Emily was snobby, but she was the nicest one out of the whole bunch. She never preached to anyone and wanted to open a school up. Since she had a teaching degree.
But sometimes she was a busy body and at times could not stand Monica. And all the attention she got, so she thought of a way to get the attention from her. She would have never done this, except she got mad when Monica stole her partner at the 4th of July dance.
Chandler had volunteered to take her. He got a bath, shaved, and put on his best suit. Before he did, he put down Monica's present on the bed in her new room that he and Joey added on and left the room to get cleaned up.
An hour later, Monica had bolted the door and gotten a bath in the kitchen and went and found the dress and put some undergarments and it on. As well as the hat, shoes and her cloak. She smiled and sent a silent thanks to Chandler for being so thoughtful.
By the time she emerged, Chandler had hitched up the surrey that someone had given him in exchange for a cow. They were then on the way to the dance.
While there, Monica ignored Chandler and danced with every man in the room. And had three dances with Colin, or Emily's beau. And with a doctor that was traveling through by the name of Richard Burke. She even told Chandler that Richard wanted to take her home. Chandler didn't say another word, just left and borrowed a horse and rode as fast as he could have out of there.
"What is wrong with him?" Monica wondered aloud.
"You really have to ask?" Emily frowned at her. "First off he took you to the dance, second, you would NOT dance with him and thirdly, you want someone else to take you home."
"I…."
"You are acting like a slut. Not caring about his feelings at all." Emily then turned around and walked away. She would get revenge for not only her but Chandler as well. He was too nice a guy to have this happen to him.
The next Sunday, Mr. Waltham was not drunk or tipsy he had a slight hangover and was in a ferocious mood. He yelled down eternal damnation on prostitutes, harlots and the like. Emily had convinced her father to preach about this last night. And made sure that he would not drink after a certain time. So that he would have a major hangover the next day. And thus rant and rave brimstone.
He then stated that any unmarried woman that shared a room with a man was nothing but a low class whore. Monica knew he was talking about her and Chandler knew something had to be done to counteract this destruction of Monica's character. Finally he had enough, he jump to his feet and yelled that he and Monica were engaged.
"Fine then, no more waiting, you will both get married four Sundays from now! That ought to give Miss Geller enough time together trouser set up and for an engagement party or two to be arranged." He then went back to preaching.
Chandler sat down and shook his head, Monica glared at Chandler and was sure to give him a piece of mind later and Emily smiled smugly. Now no man would be after Monica. It wasn't that she did not like Monica, It was that she felt that Monica was asking for trouble flirting with the whole territory. And she knew that Chandler really liked Monica, and he would be good to her.
On the way back, Joey rode on ahead while Chandler and Monica rode in the surrey. Monica was yelling at Chandler for goofing up so royally.
"What did you think you were doing?" Monica was in the middle of a tirade that had started as soon as they were out of hearing distance from the town.
Finally chandler stopped the horse. "Trying to salvage your reputation. I mean everyone knows that you are a major flirt, and I have overheard some of the men talking as well as Joey at the saloon about you and it is none too flattering. So you might want to take me up on my offer. Then the talking will stop."
"Fine, but know this, you will not touch me or anything else. We will marry only in name and in three years, I want a divorce."
Chandler sighed and looked sadly ahead, "Fine. We have a deal." He then flicked the reins and the horse moved home.
Over the nest three weeks, Emily, Mrs. Waltham, Phoebe, Susie Moss, Bonnie Jacobs, Ellen Radcliff (who all three worked for Phoebe), Jenny Stevens whose husband was a prospector, and Monica all worked on her wedding dress and bed linens, blankets and other items.
They also planned and had an engagement party for both Chandler and Monica, where people brought them gifts they could use during their marriage, which included a set of pewter dishes that Phoebe gave to them, Gary made a rocking chair and Joey made a baby cradle. Then there was a bridal shower given by the ladies. The ladies gave her home made baby clothes, bibs, blankets, and a hat. Phoebe and her girls even gave Monica some nightclothes that left little to the imagination. Monica was embarrassed and felt bad, considering that Chandler and her agreed to divorce in two years time.
Soon enough, they were standing in front of everyone repeating their vows. And then afterward, there was the wedding feast at Phoebe's new hotel/boarding house that she had finally decided to finish before the snows started. Everybody brought food and drink with them. And Mrs. Waltham made a cake.
That night at the cabin. Joey had moved his stuff to the bunkhouse with the other guys to give the newly weds some privacy. Giving Chandler some hints and nudges of what he and Monica could do together that night.
"Monica I am sorry, But I could not allow him to go on about you like that." Chandler had repeated that apology for four weeks now. By now Monica had forgiven him.
"That is ok Chandler. But you do KNOW that this is not a real marriage. In two years, I will be going back east." Monica stated. Chandler stood there at the door with a very determined look on his face.
Monica then turned and went to the other room and got into bed. Chandler went into grab some clothes, when he saw Monica nestled there, he decided on a course of action. He took off his clothes and shut the door. Then he walked over to the bed, intending to make this a marriage in every sense of the word.
After she went to bed, she felt Chandler's hand on her shoulder pulling her to him and his mouth clamp down on hers. He then ripped the night gown she was wearing off her body and started to make sure they would consummate their marriage.
The next day, Monica was sore, since that was the first time she had been with a man. Tired and sore, he would not let her rest.
That night Monica had had it. He had no right to do that. And she was going to let Chandler know a couple of things as well.
"Since the marriage is validated, you will not touch me again, got that!." She went over and into her room and bolted the door and walked to the other side of the room. Just in time to get away from Chandler kicking the door open.
He was over at her side in no time flat and kissed her hard. Monica pulled away from him and slapped him hard across the face. Chandler then threw her on the bed, all the while saying. "I will never hit you or hurt you in any way shape or form. I only want to and will make you happy any way I can." He then started to kiss her and soon, they were having a repeat of last night's encounter.
Over the next couple of days, Monica got used to Chandler so much, she nearly ached for his touch. Just the thought of him sent her imagination into overdrive. When they were alone and sure no one was around, they were intimate with each other.
On top of the kitchen table, when Chandler had entered to get something to drink, when he saw that Monica was doing nothing and had just finished cleaning up after lunch, he pushed her back on the table. One time when she had bent over the table to grab a dish, Chandler pushed her dress up and pulled down her pants and undid his gun belt and took her. Four times in the barn up in the hayloft, once up against the side of the barn and numerous other places. It was a real marriage all in all. Two months later in October, Monica found out that she was expecting. So the baby would be born in April. Which was no surprise really for how close they had become.
*****************
New York
Late November
Jack arrived at the Green residence. He was going over more often because Leonard and Saundra would argue more often than not. And he and Leonard would go into the study to talk about anything and everything. Just so that Leonard would not have to spend time with or alone with his wife.
They had moved into separate rooms and were now living separate lives. She with all her society friends and parties and he with all his friends at the race track and the billiard rooms. The only bright part of his family life was his daughter Rachel, the youngest, Jill was always so sick that she barley left the room so he would always try and stop by and see her, but since she had TB she was not expected to live that long. The other was so much like her mother that they never got along.
After he was let in, he was shown to the sitting room and told to take a seat. The butler went and got Leonard. While waiting Rachel walked in.
"Mr. Geller, hi." Rachel stated weakly. She could not understand a man's indifference to his children. She had once thought better of Jack Geller, but now, she really did not know.
Jack smiled at his daughter's best friend. "Hi Rachel."
Just then Leonard entered. "Hi Jack! Rachel, you got another letter from Monica. It was sent late June." Leonard then handed Rachel a letter.
"Monica sent you a letter, but she has not sent one to me or her mother! We have not heard from her for two years now!" Jack asked astonished.
"She said in her last letter that she gave up writing to you because she never heard back."
"What? We never got one of her letters!"
"Let me go and get the letters she sent to me." Rachel, who as well as the others realized that someone had been holding back the letters, ran to her room to get the letters. In half an hour, Jack had finished reading the letters and sat down with a strange look on his face.
"I am going out west to get my little girl back. But I will have to wait until next spring. Leonard, could you and Rachel come with me back to the house. I want to show Judy the letters."
One hour later, Judy was crying after she read the letters. "My little girl! Who knows what that awful man has done to her or forced her to do?"
"According to the letters, it sounds like he happens to be a good man." Leonard tried to diffuse the situation.
"What do you know? Your daughter is not out there!"
"Maybe so Judy. But we have a bigger problem. Who has been stopping those letters and telegrams from reaching us?" Jack wanted to know.
"Jack, Judy I am going to go out west. They need a doctor and well, I have had it with New York and I feel that I could help out much better out there. So I will see for myself if Monica needs or wants to come back." Leonard stated.
"What? Daddy!"
"Rachel, I am sorry, I do not like it around here. And your mother's marriage and mine is no more. So, we are going to get a divorce. She will have the house and a few other properties here. But I want to go out west where I am needed."
"Then I am coming with you!" Rachel decided. There were times when Rachel could be just as stubborn as Monica. The only difference was that while Monica's came naturally, Rachel was from being spoiled way too often. So she was used to getting her way.
"So am I" Jack decided as well.
"I will stay and leave it up to you to decide what needs to be done." Judy decided. "just please make sure that my little girl is in good health and is ok. And if she wants to come back, then get her out of there! Wire me if you need any more money and I will send it to you. While you are gone, I will find out who has been misleading us and have them taken care of."
******************
April
Montana territory
Two events occurred that spring. One the birth of Chandler and Monica's baby. And the other…….The other would have major effects on the inhabitants of the town and the ranch.
Monica lay in her and Chandler's room panting and in great pain. Letting words fly out of her mouth that she heard the ranch hands use and screaming in pain. She would never have thought that she would be the one using them. And putting Chandler's name in among them.
While making the baby was great after the first initial pain, trying to push out something the size of a cannon ball out was not. As far as she was concerned, she hoped Chandler enjoyed his time with her over the past nine months, because he was never going to touch her again.
Who was she kidding, the only way to keep Chandler from touching her was to geld him. Hmmmmm…now that idea had merit, she….. Monica screamed aloud again. That kid wanted out.
"Alright, Monica, you are so close, now push!" Phoebe, Emily and Mrs. Waltham were there. Dr Burke left soon after Chandler announced they were getting married. So Phoebe was the midwife. Mrs. Waltham had also helped with some births as well, and Emily also wanted to help in any way she could.
Phoebe positioned herself at the bottom of the bed, Emily and Mrs. Waltham both held her hands and helped her sit up so that she was crouched at the bottom of the bed so the baby could come out easier for both Mother and child. Finally the next contraction started, Phoebe yelled for her to push. Monica closed her eyes, she could only yell out something indescribable and Phoebe then helped to guide the baby out while Emily and her stepmother were encouraging Monica to continue. Finally after one last yell from Monica a baby's screams filled the air.
Outside in the kitchen, Chandler was standing there with the ranch hands. "I'm a dad! I'm a dad?" Chandler's eyes went back into his head and he fainted.
"Poor lad. Well he is lucky he has his Uncle Joey to look up to." Joey stated as he walked over to his friend.
After a bit, Emily emerged from the door. "Monica just gave birth to the most beautiful boy that I have ever seen. He…" She stopped talking looking at Chandler and shook her head. "I will not feel sorry for him in any way. With all that work his poor wife had to do."
"A boy? I h-have a son?" Chandler had some how come around.
"Yes, and you had better go and see your wife." Phoebe stated as she walked out of the room. "She is done being cleaned up now." He ran in when Mrs. Waltham had walked out.
"Monica?" he did not know what to say. His wife was wearing a pained expression and was nursing their son. He had learned a long time ago never to say too much if she had a certain look on her face much like the look she was wearing now.
"Had a lot of 'fun' with me over the winter, eh?" Monica was referring to the many times that they were trapped in doors because of bad weather and Chandler and her both kept each other warm and did things to keep from going board. "Well, I hoped you enjoyed 'it'. Because 'it' is never going to….ughhh, he is defiantly YOUR son." Referring to the baby that was latched on tightly to her right breast. "If you can not keep your hands to yourself, then you will move to the bunkhouse, understand?"
Chandler shook his head yes. Muttered sorry and then turned to leave.
"Where are you going? Don't you want to see your son?"
Chandler smiled shyly as he walked over to the bed. "Would you like to get another cover so you could…"
"Chandler, you know how I look with nothing on."
"Well, I…." Monica did not let him finish, she just unhooked her son and passed him to his father.
Chandler smiled happily at his son, that was wrapped in a soft white blanket that the ladies had given her as a bridal gift.
"Hey, buddy. We are going to be great friends and have so much fun together. And we are going to be one happy family." The baby opened his eyes and looked steadily into his father's eyes. Instantly father and son formed a bond that would last a lifetime. Monica just smiled. The sight in front of her made her see that all that pain was worth it.
They decided to name the baby Daniel Joseph Bing. And Joey had made it know that since he was his godson, that he was going to have Daniel down to inherit his half of the ranch after he passed on. Much later on in life.
****************
Four weeks later, Joey followed a trail that a female cow left up into the hills that was about to give birth. He stopped at a stream to get some water for him and the horse, and he saw it…….GOLD!!! He yelped out loud. He and Chandler and Monica were rich!
Within three weeks, he had hired on some miners to mine for the gold from the stream and the mountains that the stream flowed from. And then soon after, he opened a lumber mill, to meet the ever increasing needs of wood that were met. And soon enough was making a huge profit.
Soon enough, word of the strike hit like wildfire. Soon people were coming in to town from all directions. Both of Phoebe's establishments were filled to capacity. She soon made more plans to open another saloon and even a dance hall. So she was soon very rich as well.
Chandler's huge general store that he started was doing a brisk business. He even rented various locations to various people. One to a Pete Becker who opened the first bank, another to Wells Fargo so that the stage and the mail could stop there. He opened a livery stable and feed store. He then even opened a grocery store.
Monica talked Chandler into letting her open a restaurant to serve the miners, who gladly paid $8 each for some home cooked stew, bread and sometimes some bacon and beans. She hired on three other people to work there during the whole day and night, and she came in there only at lunch to make sure everything was running right, while the ranch hands all ate at the bunkhouse with their new cook, Lanky.
And because of the strike, the ranch's profits increased. And Chandler sent Joey and few of the hands to get 10,000 head of cattle, that he bought off of a ranch, using his share of the gold strike that he let Joey buy off of him. While Joey was gone, Chandler watched over the mine, the lumber mill, and the ranch at the same time as well as his other holdings.
After the cattle drive arrived back, Chandler sold the lumber mill to Joey. Thus everything was divided up as this….Joey and Chandler both owned the ranch. Joey owned and ran the mine and the lumber mill, Chandler owned the general store, the livery stable, and the feed store as well as some rental properties. Phoebe had built a boarding house. A grand hotel, and two saloons. So they were the richest people in the town.
That was how the town looked when four people emerged off the stage from a long, hard trip……..
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Now, I wonder who they could all be? What do you think will happen next? Read and review and I will tell….hehehehehehehe