This fic picks up where the last one left off…
Disclaimer…I do not own Friends…..
Enjoy…. BTW: I think the dates are right. Although I may be a bit off….
And I do not want to offend anyone so I am not going to put anything about Native Americans in the fic. That is too much of a senstive subject. I am one eight Cherokee, but I would still feel like I would be ranting about how awfully the American government treated them as a whole.. What do you think?
Rachel could see the expanse of the fertile land below her from the bluff. She watched the buffalo grazing on the plains below. Then a sharp cry was heard top her left. She followed the cry until her eyesight came upon a huge eagle that glided gracefully up to the cliffs above her and settled on it's nest.
The wind whipped threw her hair and lifted it gently off her shoulders. Unlike back east, where everything was proper, she almost always wore her hair down. The hat she had on was on was attached by a not at her neck and was on her back under her hair.
She then breathed in the clean, crisp air. The air was even different than the air at New York. The air seemed stale and stiffened. While the air seemed or smelled like freedom. That was the best way she could put it.
Her well worn boots were under her pants. Her shirt tucked in her pants and her jacket over the shirt. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she rode her horse. Which was grazing over to her right.
Her horse. She had a beautiful palomino that her husband gave her as a wedding present. She promptly named the beautiful mare, Connie. Short for Constellation.
Her husband. Rachel smiled. Her husband was the everything that she had ever dreamt of.
Just then Connie walked over to her and begun nudging her. "Go away, go away." Rachel murmured.
"Go away, go away." She then pulled the covers over her head. Someone had other ideas and pulled the covers down.
Rachel moaned as someone shook her out of a deep slumber. "Rachel, Rachel….."
Rachel then rolled over and grabbed a pillow and put it over her head. "Go away." Rachel murmured. So much for her perfect dream.
Monica laughed. "If you do not get up soon, you will miss out on breakfast."
Rachel then removed the pillow. "What time is it?" She asked as she looked at Monica.
"Six thirty."
"Too early." Rachel whimpered. Pulling the pillow back over her head.
"Not for a ranch." Monica then continued. "It is actually a little late."
"Well, I think that it is too early." Rachel countered. Peaking from out of the corner of the pillow.
"So does mom. Dad has been up about as early as Chandler. He wants to see what Chandler has to do everyday and in short the whole ranch. So in short he has been following him around since he went outside. And also has been trying to help him with the work. In short he has been driving Chandler crazy." Monica then laughed.
"Can't you holdback breakfast?" Rachel half pleaded and whimpered.
"I already have. If I hold it back much more, I believe Joey, Chandler and dad will all mutiny on me."
"Alright fine. I will be down in twenty minutes." Rachel threw the pillow aside.
Monica then folded her arms and raised her right eyebrow. "Ten minutes or you will NOT get any. Understand?"
"When did you become such an early bird and such a nag?" Rachel then sat up, bringing her knees to her chest.
"I have been up since five this morning, and I have to be this way or I will fall behind schedule. You see, if I do not time everything just right, then certain things will not get done. And everything I do around here is important. You see, I have a house to clean, food to get on the table, milking, gathering eggs, washing, ironing, mending, sewing and my garden to tend. That does not include the other chores like canning, making preserves, picking berries and other edible plants, taking the rugs out once a week and hitting them, cleaning out the oven once a week and fireplaces once a month, gathering certain wild vegetables, the weekly churning and butter making, making cheese, and spring cleaning although I am preparing for the winter by cleaning out the store rooms and stocking them. And don't forget that I have to watch Daniel as well as feed and bathe him. He is getting to be a huge handful. So I do not have time to be late on anything. So you see, I do not have time to be tired." Monica then sat down on the bed and closed her eyes as she sighed.
"What is wrong?" Rachel asked concerned.
Monica had tears in her eyes. "Rachel, I am pregnant. What am I going to do? I have so much that needs to get done, that I do not have time for resting I already have a toddler that is a handful enough and now I will be having another." Monica placed her right hand on her stomach. "I am so tired that all I want to do is to get under the covers and fall asleep for the rest of the year."
"MONICA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is she up yet?" Chandler's voice yelled upstairs.
"ARGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! I am just now getting dressed, I will be down in a minute!" Rachel yelled back. Rachel then put her hand over Monica's. "Your friend is here now, and we will talk about this. And I will help!" Rachel then quickly got up and started to get dressed.
Monica then left the room and walked over to her mom's to see if she was done. Looking inside, she could see that her mother had fallen back to sleep. Monica decided to let her sleep, knowing that her mother was not used to getting up past nine. If she got up before nine, Judy Geller would consider that early.
So she turned around and left and decided to put an extra plate in the holder of the stove. So that the plate and it's contents could be kept warm.
As she was walking down the stairs, Rachel caught up with her. "So what is for breakfast?"
"That was fast." Monica committed looking at her clothes.
"Well, putting on pants tends to be faster than those fancy dresses. Not as many stays and buttons. And no corsets, thank God!"
Monica then smiled. "I know, it feels so much better without those confine things."
"What does Chandler think?"
"He hates them. I will explain why later." They then arrived in the kitchen.
"Let me guess, the clothes are easier to get off without those things." Rachel then smiled. "He looks like the type of man who will not leave you alone for very long." They then entered the kitchen.
Rachel sat beside Jack and Joey. While Jack sat beside Monica who sat beside Chandler. In the middle of the table was a huge bowel of eggs, a gigantic serving dish of bacon, gravy, hash browns, biscuits, oatmeal, sugar, fruits, coffee, milk, cheese, butter and three types of jam and preserves. Rachel was amazed at how much food there was.
"Rachel, you had better sit down and eat before Joey eats it all. And he will." Chandler deadpanned.
Rachel sat down and laughed. "That is funny Chandler."
"Rachel, he is not joking." Monica looked at her friend.
Seeing how much Joey was stuffing in his mouth, she quickly grabbed a serving spoon and started serving herself. As well as the others who were trying to quickly consume as much as they could before Joey ate it all..
"Your mom not hungry?" Chandler asked between mouthfuls of food.
"She is still asleep." Monica replied. Carefully eating her food. She was only eating fruits, oatmeal with a bit of milk and sugar in it and drinking some milk and water. Something that did not go unnoticed by Chandler.
Fifteen minutes later, Rachel and Monica had finished with the dishes and were letting them dry. And were sitting down, talking while peeling potatoes for lunch.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I am tired all the time. I can not stand fried foods or spicy foods. I have already thrown up at least three times. I can no longer sleep at night not to mention that I want to cry all the time and over nothing. Rachel, there is so much that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks. I have no idea what I am going to do. " Monica sat her knife down and clasped her hands.
"Well, for one thing, I am going to stay and help you out. I can and will learn everything that needs to be done. So you will not be alone."
Monica smiled. "Thanks Rachel."
"I have a question for you. How much do you two well…how often…" Rachel could not finish.
"Every chance he gets."
"What? WOW!" Rachel looked at Monica and tell that she was about to say something else. "Well, that is a good thing right? I mean he really thinks a lot of you."
"Yeah, but only as a bed partner and a way to get rid of his frustrations."
"Chandler…"
"Rachel, don't get me wrong, I care a lot for him. And I know that he loves me. But…"
"Wait a minute. You don't love him?"
"Yes I love him. I just don't think in the same way he love me. I mean I care for him. He is my husband and the father of my child soon to be children. But that is as far as it goes. You see, I was given no choice in the marriage. He tricked me into it."
"What? I don't understand."
"Well…..it all started.…" Monica then went on to explain. "So now you see the reason why I feel the way toward him that I do."
"You know that you could have had it worse. Marrying a man who would beat you or mistreat you."
"I know that. I told you yesterday a good friend of mine was killed because of that. And she was totally in love with the man."
"Chandler would never lift a finger toward you. I'd wager."
"You are right. He never has even though I probably deserved a good spanking at times." Monica shook her head at some memories.
"At least give him a chance."
"I am doing just that. But after this child, I do not want any more. But, Chandler will not leave me alone. I know that about him. I am just tired of it. That is until he goes in and kisses me or touches me, then I want him just as much. You see he has me well trained, just like one of his horses that he broke or a dog that he trained."
"Monica, he does not feel that way about you." Rachel was shocked to say the least.
"Well, it feels that way. There are times that he makes excuses to comeback to the house so he could take me upstairs to our room. I feel that my main job around here is to lay on my back and let him go at me."
Rachel shook her head. "Tell him that you are tired and need your rest. Particularly now. He will understand.."
"I mean after the baby." Monica sighed. "You just don't understand, Rachel. You probably never will."
Just then a knock at the door. "Am I interrupting anything?" Chandler asked as he walked in.
"Nothing much, just getting the stew for lunch started." Monica explained. "What do you need?"
"Pemmican. We will be gone until dinner tonight so you will not have to hurry today for food. We have to get the calves branded today."
"How much do you need?"
"One for Jack, Joey and myself." Monica then got up and filled up five bags full of bread and pemmican.
"Three for Joey and one for each of you. That ought to see all of you until dinner." She then handed Chandler the bags.
"If this is not enough, I am sure he will be back." Chandler stated referring to their mutual friend.
"I am sure he will." Monica stated.
"Later, ladies." Chandler then tipped his hat to Rachel and Monica.
"Do you think that he heard?" Rachel asked after he left.
"Who knows." Monica shrugged her shoulders and sat back down again to keep peeling the potatoes. They then added the potatoes to the meat that was boiling on the stove. And started on the carrots and the onions. Monica let Rachel do the carrots and she did the onions.
Soon enough, the stew was simmering and starting to smell more and more delicious. Monica then added pepper, salt, garlic and other spices.
After that, they then went outside to work on the garden. Monica showed Rachel which plants or weeds were to be pulled and when to gather up the ripe vegetables and when not to. Afterwards, they went back into the house and Monica washed and added some beans to the stew.
They then started cleaning the house and soon enough, they sat down in the kitchen with Daniel and Monica let Rachel feed him. He was eating mashed potatoes.
"Aren't you the cutest little boy." He then opened his mouth to get some potatoes. "Which are you hoping for a baby brother or sister?" Rachel wiped his mouth off after he finished his last bite. "All done." Rachel then looked over at Monica who happened to be quiet. "hey, Mon….." Monica was asleep at the table with her head resting on her arms.
"How long has she been like this?" A voice asked from behind. Rachel turned in her chair to see that it was Chandler.
"Not very long." Rachel looked up at Chandler. "I thought that you left."
"I noticed how exhausted Monica was acting this morning and decided to stay with her today. So I gave the food to Gary and he is going in my place."
"Oh I see. You think a lot of her, don't you?"
"She means the world to me. Do you know what is wrong?"
"I think that she should tell." Rachel explained.
"Fair enough." He then looked around. "Rachel, I was wondering if you could look after Daniel for me and watch the stew. Just stir it and make sure it does not stick." Chandler then picked Monica up. "I am going to put her to bed."
"Chandler? I bet you know what is wrong, huh?" Rachel knew that Chandler was no idiot, and he had a pretty good idea of what was wrong with his wife.
"I have an idea. I will ask her in a minute once I get her in bed." Chandler then started to carry his wife up the stairs. Meeting Judy as she was coming down. "Your breakfast plate is in the holding box of the stove downstairs. Rachel will show you where it is." Chandler said no more. Chandler then carried Monica to the room and put her down.
Chandler then gently shook Monica awake. "Where am I?"
"In bed. You fell asleep at the kitchen table so I brought you up here. Now why did you fall asleep?"
"I am pregnant." Monica flatly replied.
"I figured as much." Chandler stated as he sat on the bed. Taking off his jacket as he did and throwing it on a chair as well as his hat.
"When?"
"This morning." Chandler then caressed her face. "From what you were and were not eating and the way you have been acting for a bit. I could tell."
"After this one, I do not want any more." Monica told him.
"We will talk about it later." His hands were starting to get a lot more demanding.
"I mean it Chandler." Chandler leaned forward and kissed her. "You hear me?" Chandler didn't answer. He just kissed her harder. Pushing Monica back on the bed. Monica tried pushing up against him and then gave up once she felt Chandler's hands moving around her sensitive areas. She then started to become more active.
Twenty minutes later, Chandler got up and dressed and kissed Monica before he left the room. As quiet as he could. Monica was finally in a deep slumber and he felt that she should get every bit of her rest that she could.
After he arrived downstairs, he saw Judy and Rachel talking in the living room taking turns holding Daniel. They both looked up as he entered.
"How is she?" Judy asked.
"Sleeping peacefully. But totally exhausted."
"You are working her too much." Judy committed.
"She is pregnant. I am going to hire someone to come in and cook and clean up a bit around here."
"That is good. Just what she needs." Judy responded.
"No you will not!" Monica stated firmly as she stood in the doorway.
"Mon…"
"No. This is my house and we are not going to hire someone to come in here and mess it up or to make horrible food."
"At least someone to help you out with the babies." Chandler tried reasoning.
"No and that is that!" Monica then stalked towards the kitchen.
"That is what she thinks." Chandler muttered half aloud.
"I heard that! And NO! End of discussion."
"So she thinks." Chandler then thought a bit and grinned. "I will be right back. Ladies." He smiled and then left.
An hour later, Chandler returned with two young ladies. An Oriental and a young black woman. "Monica I would like you to meet your help. This is Julie, she is to help you with your cooking and Charlotte is to clean around the house." Before Chandler could go on, Monica turned calmly to Rachel, Judy, Charlotte and Julie.
"Please excuse us, I have something to discuss with my husband." She then pulled Chandler back into the study and started screaming at him. And then after a bit his voice could be heard as well.
While they were in the middle of the 'discussion', Rachel turned toward the two young women. "They both are very passionate about what they do." Seeing that neither said anything. "So tell me about yourselves."
"My name is Julie Chan. My mother and father came over from China and I was the first born of my family here in America. My father died in a cave in when they started working on the railroad. My mother died two years ago. Before she did, she made me promise to get a good job as she would be proud of. In short no prostitution. I felt that I could be a good cook and that is what I have been doing. I heard about Central Bluffs needing cooks and laundrusses.. So I came out here."
"My story is not as pretty." Charlotte started, with a bit of a southern lilt to her voice. "I was a slave when I was a young girl. But I worked up in the big house cleaning, laundry, tending the house gardens, and every now and then and taking care of the babies. I guess you could say that I ended up here, because I wanted as far from the south as I could get. And I felt that Central Bluffs would give me a fresh new start."
At the end of that, Chandler and Monica both emerged from the study. "Fine, only on a trial period."
Soon after she said that, Gary walked inside, "Uh, Mister Chandler, you had better come on outside. The marshal wants to see you." Then noticing Charlotte, he nodded his head towards her and smiled. She smiled back.
Chandler went out to talk to the marshal. "Paul won't you come in and get something to drink?"
"As tempting as that is, I have to warn the other ranchers around this area. Patterson was found gut shot this morning, his barn and house burnt down and his heard gone."
"Rustlers?"
"Uh huh."
"Forming a possey?"
"Yup."
"Alright, Let me get some provisions and we can go get some hands." Chandler walked back into the house.
"Chandler, what happened?'
"Jake Patterson is dead."
"What?"
"I need some food. Pemmican and so forth. And you had better make up some for six others."
"You are going on a possey."
"Yup." Chandler then went to the study and got some bullets and other supplies while Monica went and got some food gathered.
She then put the bags on the extra horse that Gary had brought around. Monica looked up at Chandler. "Take care."
Chandler looked down at Monica. "Monica, take Daniel, your mother and father, Charlotte, and Julie and go and stay with Phoebe."
"But…"
"Monica, those people mean business. Jake is already dead, I have no wish to have you or the others die either. Now get packed and get started." He then turned toward Gary and told him to see that they got to town. Then kicked his horse into high gear and rode off toward his ranch hands.
Judy Geller stood there shaking her head. "What kind of a mother are you to raise your kid in this barbaric place? When you would be safe and sound in New York.." Soon after saying that, Judy Geller walked back into the house to pack. Grumbeling about getting back to civilization as soon as she could.
It took a bit, but Ross had finally found a job working with the railroad. The Trans Continental Railroad was completed in 1878. But even though it was completed, they were still adding on to it. Whether it be extra lines or tunnels dug Into the mountains.
He worked on the railroad in the mountainous parts of California. Seeing that the jobs that he did were not exactly easy. He started as a hired back and then when they found out about his past work with numbers and so forth. He worked with dynamite and so forth trying to explode open the huge bowels of the earth that would eventually swallow up the trains.
After the exploding, he used his back to help get the residue out of the mountains forming tunnels. There were a few misses when the tunnels collapsed. Only one time he was in one, but somehow managed to escape.
His hands were getting blistered and he was getting stronger. Soon enough, he was no longer thought of as a soft easy man from the city.
After a while, he soon discovered that he changed. Both physically and mentally. For example, he no longer was attracted to rich, flighty females. He liked women that had a bit more substance to them.
The woman of his dreams had to be independent and he wanted one that was used to hardship and was sure of herself and what she wanted. He would never again look toward status as a prerequisite to determine what he wanted. He wanted someone as his equal. Who knew what life was truly like. And not just sugar coated.
Ok so how am I doing? Please review. BTW: Sorry about taking so long, my computer has been giving me fits! Hopefully, all has been worked out!
Disclaimer…I do not own Friends…..
Enjoy…. BTW: I think the dates are right. Although I may be a bit off….
And I do not want to offend anyone so I am not going to put anything about Native Americans in the fic. That is too much of a senstive subject. I am one eight Cherokee, but I would still feel like I would be ranting about how awfully the American government treated them as a whole.. What do you think?
Rachel could see the expanse of the fertile land below her from the bluff. She watched the buffalo grazing on the plains below. Then a sharp cry was heard top her left. She followed the cry until her eyesight came upon a huge eagle that glided gracefully up to the cliffs above her and settled on it's nest.
The wind whipped threw her hair and lifted it gently off her shoulders. Unlike back east, where everything was proper, she almost always wore her hair down. The hat she had on was on was attached by a not at her neck and was on her back under her hair.
She then breathed in the clean, crisp air. The air was even different than the air at New York. The air seemed stale and stiffened. While the air seemed or smelled like freedom. That was the best way she could put it.
Her well worn boots were under her pants. Her shirt tucked in her pants and her jacket over the shirt. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she rode her horse. Which was grazing over to her right.
Her horse. She had a beautiful palomino that her husband gave her as a wedding present. She promptly named the beautiful mare, Connie. Short for Constellation.
Her husband. Rachel smiled. Her husband was the everything that she had ever dreamt of.
Just then Connie walked over to her and begun nudging her. "Go away, go away." Rachel murmured.
"Go away, go away." She then pulled the covers over her head. Someone had other ideas and pulled the covers down.
Rachel moaned as someone shook her out of a deep slumber. "Rachel, Rachel….."
Rachel then rolled over and grabbed a pillow and put it over her head. "Go away." Rachel murmured. So much for her perfect dream.
Monica laughed. "If you do not get up soon, you will miss out on breakfast."
Rachel then removed the pillow. "What time is it?" She asked as she looked at Monica.
"Six thirty."
"Too early." Rachel whimpered. Pulling the pillow back over her head.
"Not for a ranch." Monica then continued. "It is actually a little late."
"Well, I think that it is too early." Rachel countered. Peaking from out of the corner of the pillow.
"So does mom. Dad has been up about as early as Chandler. He wants to see what Chandler has to do everyday and in short the whole ranch. So in short he has been following him around since he went outside. And also has been trying to help him with the work. In short he has been driving Chandler crazy." Monica then laughed.
"Can't you holdback breakfast?" Rachel half pleaded and whimpered.
"I already have. If I hold it back much more, I believe Joey, Chandler and dad will all mutiny on me."
"Alright fine. I will be down in twenty minutes." Rachel threw the pillow aside.
Monica then folded her arms and raised her right eyebrow. "Ten minutes or you will NOT get any. Understand?"
"When did you become such an early bird and such a nag?" Rachel then sat up, bringing her knees to her chest.
"I have been up since five this morning, and I have to be this way or I will fall behind schedule. You see, if I do not time everything just right, then certain things will not get done. And everything I do around here is important. You see, I have a house to clean, food to get on the table, milking, gathering eggs, washing, ironing, mending, sewing and my garden to tend. That does not include the other chores like canning, making preserves, picking berries and other edible plants, taking the rugs out once a week and hitting them, cleaning out the oven once a week and fireplaces once a month, gathering certain wild vegetables, the weekly churning and butter making, making cheese, and spring cleaning although I am preparing for the winter by cleaning out the store rooms and stocking them. And don't forget that I have to watch Daniel as well as feed and bathe him. He is getting to be a huge handful. So I do not have time to be late on anything. So you see, I do not have time to be tired." Monica then sat down on the bed and closed her eyes as she sighed.
"What is wrong?" Rachel asked concerned.
Monica had tears in her eyes. "Rachel, I am pregnant. What am I going to do? I have so much that needs to get done, that I do not have time for resting I already have a toddler that is a handful enough and now I will be having another." Monica placed her right hand on her stomach. "I am so tired that all I want to do is to get under the covers and fall asleep for the rest of the year."
"MONICA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is she up yet?" Chandler's voice yelled upstairs.
"ARGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! I am just now getting dressed, I will be down in a minute!" Rachel yelled back. Rachel then put her hand over Monica's. "Your friend is here now, and we will talk about this. And I will help!" Rachel then quickly got up and started to get dressed.
Monica then left the room and walked over to her mom's to see if she was done. Looking inside, she could see that her mother had fallen back to sleep. Monica decided to let her sleep, knowing that her mother was not used to getting up past nine. If she got up before nine, Judy Geller would consider that early.
So she turned around and left and decided to put an extra plate in the holder of the stove. So that the plate and it's contents could be kept warm.
As she was walking down the stairs, Rachel caught up with her. "So what is for breakfast?"
"That was fast." Monica committed looking at her clothes.
"Well, putting on pants tends to be faster than those fancy dresses. Not as many stays and buttons. And no corsets, thank God!"
Monica then smiled. "I know, it feels so much better without those confine things."
"What does Chandler think?"
"He hates them. I will explain why later." They then arrived in the kitchen.
"Let me guess, the clothes are easier to get off without those things." Rachel then smiled. "He looks like the type of man who will not leave you alone for very long." They then entered the kitchen.
Rachel sat beside Jack and Joey. While Jack sat beside Monica who sat beside Chandler. In the middle of the table was a huge bowel of eggs, a gigantic serving dish of bacon, gravy, hash browns, biscuits, oatmeal, sugar, fruits, coffee, milk, cheese, butter and three types of jam and preserves. Rachel was amazed at how much food there was.
"Rachel, you had better sit down and eat before Joey eats it all. And he will." Chandler deadpanned.
Rachel sat down and laughed. "That is funny Chandler."
"Rachel, he is not joking." Monica looked at her friend.
Seeing how much Joey was stuffing in his mouth, she quickly grabbed a serving spoon and started serving herself. As well as the others who were trying to quickly consume as much as they could before Joey ate it all..
"Your mom not hungry?" Chandler asked between mouthfuls of food.
"She is still asleep." Monica replied. Carefully eating her food. She was only eating fruits, oatmeal with a bit of milk and sugar in it and drinking some milk and water. Something that did not go unnoticed by Chandler.
Fifteen minutes later, Rachel and Monica had finished with the dishes and were letting them dry. And were sitting down, talking while peeling potatoes for lunch.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I am tired all the time. I can not stand fried foods or spicy foods. I have already thrown up at least three times. I can no longer sleep at night not to mention that I want to cry all the time and over nothing. Rachel, there is so much that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks. I have no idea what I am going to do. " Monica sat her knife down and clasped her hands.
"Well, for one thing, I am going to stay and help you out. I can and will learn everything that needs to be done. So you will not be alone."
Monica smiled. "Thanks Rachel."
"I have a question for you. How much do you two well…how often…" Rachel could not finish.
"Every chance he gets."
"What? WOW!" Rachel looked at Monica and tell that she was about to say something else. "Well, that is a good thing right? I mean he really thinks a lot of you."
"Yeah, but only as a bed partner and a way to get rid of his frustrations."
"Chandler…"
"Rachel, don't get me wrong, I care a lot for him. And I know that he loves me. But…"
"Wait a minute. You don't love him?"
"Yes I love him. I just don't think in the same way he love me. I mean I care for him. He is my husband and the father of my child soon to be children. But that is as far as it goes. You see, I was given no choice in the marriage. He tricked me into it."
"What? I don't understand."
"Well…..it all started.…" Monica then went on to explain. "So now you see the reason why I feel the way toward him that I do."
"You know that you could have had it worse. Marrying a man who would beat you or mistreat you."
"I know that. I told you yesterday a good friend of mine was killed because of that. And she was totally in love with the man."
"Chandler would never lift a finger toward you. I'd wager."
"You are right. He never has even though I probably deserved a good spanking at times." Monica shook her head at some memories.
"At least give him a chance."
"I am doing just that. But after this child, I do not want any more. But, Chandler will not leave me alone. I know that about him. I am just tired of it. That is until he goes in and kisses me or touches me, then I want him just as much. You see he has me well trained, just like one of his horses that he broke or a dog that he trained."
"Monica, he does not feel that way about you." Rachel was shocked to say the least.
"Well, it feels that way. There are times that he makes excuses to comeback to the house so he could take me upstairs to our room. I feel that my main job around here is to lay on my back and let him go at me."
Rachel shook her head. "Tell him that you are tired and need your rest. Particularly now. He will understand.."
"I mean after the baby." Monica sighed. "You just don't understand, Rachel. You probably never will."
Just then a knock at the door. "Am I interrupting anything?" Chandler asked as he walked in.
"Nothing much, just getting the stew for lunch started." Monica explained. "What do you need?"
"Pemmican. We will be gone until dinner tonight so you will not have to hurry today for food. We have to get the calves branded today."
"How much do you need?"
"One for Jack, Joey and myself." Monica then got up and filled up five bags full of bread and pemmican.
"Three for Joey and one for each of you. That ought to see all of you until dinner." She then handed Chandler the bags.
"If this is not enough, I am sure he will be back." Chandler stated referring to their mutual friend.
"I am sure he will." Monica stated.
"Later, ladies." Chandler then tipped his hat to Rachel and Monica.
"Do you think that he heard?" Rachel asked after he left.
"Who knows." Monica shrugged her shoulders and sat back down again to keep peeling the potatoes. They then added the potatoes to the meat that was boiling on the stove. And started on the carrots and the onions. Monica let Rachel do the carrots and she did the onions.
Soon enough, the stew was simmering and starting to smell more and more delicious. Monica then added pepper, salt, garlic and other spices.
After that, they then went outside to work on the garden. Monica showed Rachel which plants or weeds were to be pulled and when to gather up the ripe vegetables and when not to. Afterwards, they went back into the house and Monica washed and added some beans to the stew.
They then started cleaning the house and soon enough, they sat down in the kitchen with Daniel and Monica let Rachel feed him. He was eating mashed potatoes.
"Aren't you the cutest little boy." He then opened his mouth to get some potatoes. "Which are you hoping for a baby brother or sister?" Rachel wiped his mouth off after he finished his last bite. "All done." Rachel then looked over at Monica who happened to be quiet. "hey, Mon….." Monica was asleep at the table with her head resting on her arms.
"How long has she been like this?" A voice asked from behind. Rachel turned in her chair to see that it was Chandler.
"Not very long." Rachel looked up at Chandler. "I thought that you left."
"I noticed how exhausted Monica was acting this morning and decided to stay with her today. So I gave the food to Gary and he is going in my place."
"Oh I see. You think a lot of her, don't you?"
"She means the world to me. Do you know what is wrong?"
"I think that she should tell." Rachel explained.
"Fair enough." He then looked around. "Rachel, I was wondering if you could look after Daniel for me and watch the stew. Just stir it and make sure it does not stick." Chandler then picked Monica up. "I am going to put her to bed."
"Chandler? I bet you know what is wrong, huh?" Rachel knew that Chandler was no idiot, and he had a pretty good idea of what was wrong with his wife.
"I have an idea. I will ask her in a minute once I get her in bed." Chandler then started to carry his wife up the stairs. Meeting Judy as she was coming down. "Your breakfast plate is in the holding box of the stove downstairs. Rachel will show you where it is." Chandler said no more. Chandler then carried Monica to the room and put her down.
Chandler then gently shook Monica awake. "Where am I?"
"In bed. You fell asleep at the kitchen table so I brought you up here. Now why did you fall asleep?"
"I am pregnant." Monica flatly replied.
"I figured as much." Chandler stated as he sat on the bed. Taking off his jacket as he did and throwing it on a chair as well as his hat.
"When?"
"This morning." Chandler then caressed her face. "From what you were and were not eating and the way you have been acting for a bit. I could tell."
"After this one, I do not want any more." Monica told him.
"We will talk about it later." His hands were starting to get a lot more demanding.
"I mean it Chandler." Chandler leaned forward and kissed her. "You hear me?" Chandler didn't answer. He just kissed her harder. Pushing Monica back on the bed. Monica tried pushing up against him and then gave up once she felt Chandler's hands moving around her sensitive areas. She then started to become more active.
Twenty minutes later, Chandler got up and dressed and kissed Monica before he left the room. As quiet as he could. Monica was finally in a deep slumber and he felt that she should get every bit of her rest that she could.
After he arrived downstairs, he saw Judy and Rachel talking in the living room taking turns holding Daniel. They both looked up as he entered.
"How is she?" Judy asked.
"Sleeping peacefully. But totally exhausted."
"You are working her too much." Judy committed.
"She is pregnant. I am going to hire someone to come in and cook and clean up a bit around here."
"That is good. Just what she needs." Judy responded.
"No you will not!" Monica stated firmly as she stood in the doorway.
"Mon…"
"No. This is my house and we are not going to hire someone to come in here and mess it up or to make horrible food."
"At least someone to help you out with the babies." Chandler tried reasoning.
"No and that is that!" Monica then stalked towards the kitchen.
"That is what she thinks." Chandler muttered half aloud.
"I heard that! And NO! End of discussion."
"So she thinks." Chandler then thought a bit and grinned. "I will be right back. Ladies." He smiled and then left.
An hour later, Chandler returned with two young ladies. An Oriental and a young black woman. "Monica I would like you to meet your help. This is Julie, she is to help you with your cooking and Charlotte is to clean around the house." Before Chandler could go on, Monica turned calmly to Rachel, Judy, Charlotte and Julie.
"Please excuse us, I have something to discuss with my husband." She then pulled Chandler back into the study and started screaming at him. And then after a bit his voice could be heard as well.
While they were in the middle of the 'discussion', Rachel turned toward the two young women. "They both are very passionate about what they do." Seeing that neither said anything. "So tell me about yourselves."
"My name is Julie Chan. My mother and father came over from China and I was the first born of my family here in America. My father died in a cave in when they started working on the railroad. My mother died two years ago. Before she did, she made me promise to get a good job as she would be proud of. In short no prostitution. I felt that I could be a good cook and that is what I have been doing. I heard about Central Bluffs needing cooks and laundrusses.. So I came out here."
"My story is not as pretty." Charlotte started, with a bit of a southern lilt to her voice. "I was a slave when I was a young girl. But I worked up in the big house cleaning, laundry, tending the house gardens, and every now and then and taking care of the babies. I guess you could say that I ended up here, because I wanted as far from the south as I could get. And I felt that Central Bluffs would give me a fresh new start."
At the end of that, Chandler and Monica both emerged from the study. "Fine, only on a trial period."
Soon after she said that, Gary walked inside, "Uh, Mister Chandler, you had better come on outside. The marshal wants to see you." Then noticing Charlotte, he nodded his head towards her and smiled. She smiled back.
Chandler went out to talk to the marshal. "Paul won't you come in and get something to drink?"
"As tempting as that is, I have to warn the other ranchers around this area. Patterson was found gut shot this morning, his barn and house burnt down and his heard gone."
"Rustlers?"
"Uh huh."
"Forming a possey?"
"Yup."
"Alright, Let me get some provisions and we can go get some hands." Chandler walked back into the house.
"Chandler, what happened?'
"Jake Patterson is dead."
"What?"
"I need some food. Pemmican and so forth. And you had better make up some for six others."
"You are going on a possey."
"Yup." Chandler then went to the study and got some bullets and other supplies while Monica went and got some food gathered.
She then put the bags on the extra horse that Gary had brought around. Monica looked up at Chandler. "Take care."
Chandler looked down at Monica. "Monica, take Daniel, your mother and father, Charlotte, and Julie and go and stay with Phoebe."
"But…"
"Monica, those people mean business. Jake is already dead, I have no wish to have you or the others die either. Now get packed and get started." He then turned toward Gary and told him to see that they got to town. Then kicked his horse into high gear and rode off toward his ranch hands.
Judy Geller stood there shaking her head. "What kind of a mother are you to raise your kid in this barbaric place? When you would be safe and sound in New York.." Soon after saying that, Judy Geller walked back into the house to pack. Grumbeling about getting back to civilization as soon as she could.
It took a bit, but Ross had finally found a job working with the railroad. The Trans Continental Railroad was completed in 1878. But even though it was completed, they were still adding on to it. Whether it be extra lines or tunnels dug Into the mountains.
He worked on the railroad in the mountainous parts of California. Seeing that the jobs that he did were not exactly easy. He started as a hired back and then when they found out about his past work with numbers and so forth. He worked with dynamite and so forth trying to explode open the huge bowels of the earth that would eventually swallow up the trains.
After the exploding, he used his back to help get the residue out of the mountains forming tunnels. There were a few misses when the tunnels collapsed. Only one time he was in one, but somehow managed to escape.
His hands were getting blistered and he was getting stronger. Soon enough, he was no longer thought of as a soft easy man from the city.
After a while, he soon discovered that he changed. Both physically and mentally. For example, he no longer was attracted to rich, flighty females. He liked women that had a bit more substance to them.
The woman of his dreams had to be independent and he wanted one that was used to hardship and was sure of herself and what she wanted. He would never again look toward status as a prerequisite to determine what he wanted. He wanted someone as his equal. Who knew what life was truly like. And not just sugar coated.
Ok so how am I doing? Please review. BTW: Sorry about taking so long, my computer has been giving me fits! Hopefully, all has been worked out!