Hey, this is it, the final chapter...but you guys have been so nice, I will try my hand at a short epilogue and somewhere down the line, after I've updated The Greatest Gift of All and my Merlin story, I'll try to do a couple of out-takes.
Thank you for giving the story a chance and for your continued, KIND support.
Standard disclaimer.
Sam went out onto the porch, where Will and the two politicians were still drinking. Will looked at him curiously.
"What's going on in there?"
"Nothing," he lied. "But, I need you to do something for me."
"Now?" Will looked surprised.
"Yes, now…legal stuff." Will frowned.
"Look, the fireworks and the festivities will be starting in about an hour. It'll be dark soon..."
"I don't care. This is important. I'll have Josiah bring the car around."
He left the surprised lawyer and went to find his errand boy.
Soon, Josiah brought the car around and both Sam and Will got in.
As they started off, Sam told Will what he wanted and Will's eyes widened.
"Are you drunk or just crazy?" Sam sighed.
"I'm not drunk. I maybe a little crazy…but I love her, Will. I love Mercedes." Will laughed.
"Unbelievable! The great ladies' man, finally brought down by a plain little schoolteacher…"
"She's not plain," he defended hotly. "She's got beautiful eyes, milk chocolate skin as soft as silk, and her hair is like black velvet…and she's smart…super smart."
Will lit his pipe, as they drove towards his office.
"Oh boy, you've got it bad. You tell her?"
"Yes. She doesn't believe me. That's why I've got to do this, to prove it to her."
"This is a big sacrifice to make, Sam. I'd think twice about it." Sam shook his head.
"I've got to do it, Will. I've helped mess things up for her and now, I've got to make it right for her."
Will smoked his pipe, as they drove down the main street.
"Alright, but what about the lieutenant?"
"I can't do anything about him…she thinks she loves him."
"Ha! Women are such fools," Will said.
"Don't I know it? But she's a spirited filly. I just have to give her space and not rein her in. Maybe she'll realize what a dirt-bag he is, before she goes down the aisle with him."
"You're a good guy, Sam, but I'm surprised you haven't challenged him to a duel."
"Don't think I haven't thought about it…but I can't…she loves him and I've caused her enough heartbreak."
"He doesn't know what a lucky bastard he is, then," Will muttered.
Back at the house, Mercedes dug through the box, reading the letters between the two sisters, and looking at photos and documents.
Now she knew it all.
She was Sue Sylvester's bastard child, sired by a Martin Riley, the rich owner of a leading nightclub.
Sue was just a young, innocent girl, working as a maid in Riley's house, when he seduced her and got her pregnant.
He fired her and refused to help her, in any way.
A few months later, Riley had been shot and killed, by a jealous husband, of another woman he was seeing. Sue had given her baby to her half-sister and have been sending money, to support them all these years, including the private school education, that was supposedly funded by a scholarship.
Evening shadows slanted and lengthened into Mercedes' room, as she read everything.
At first, she had been horrified and furious at the duplicity, now, she was saddened for the two sisters, who had both sacrificed so much…and all for her.
'Sam was right, after all.'
Tears came to her eyes, as she studied the faded picture of the two women and the baby. Sue looked so sad, as she held the baby, Mercedes' heart went out to her.
"I've been a judgmental snob and a fool…I'm a bastard. People who judge others by their bloodlines, ought to be breeding livestock, because it's who you are on the inside that counts," she said to herself.
She sighed, unsure of what to do now.
After the way she'd behaved, Sam would surely tell Buford about sleeping with her and about her scandalous background.
But she wasn't sure if she'd blame him. It would be a fitting revenge, after she'd acted so high and mighty.
She decided, she'd better tell Buford tonight, after the Fourth of July festivities.
'The Fourth of July festivities.' The thought jolted her back into reality.
The fading light slanting through her window, told her it was dusk.
No matter how she felt, she had duties to take care of.
She boxed the letters and documents, and placed it in the back of the closet. She took the faded photo and lay it carefully on her bureau.
She intended to frame it and display it proudly. Two women loved her enough, to make great sacrifices and from this moment on, Mercedes must show herself worthy, of that sacrifice.
Tomorrow, she would go to the cemetery and put flowers on her mother's grave and ask her forgiveness.
She went to the sink, washed her swollen eyes and combed her hair. After smoothing out her dress, she got ready to go down for the evening celebration.
Mercedes entered the kitchen and Carmen looked up and nodded sympathetically.
"I'm sorry you had to find out that way, Miss."
"You knew all along didn't you?" The old woman nodded.
"Not everything, but enough. I never would have told you, because she tried so hard to protect you. Sue was a wonderful, generous woman and I'd have given my life for her."
"But you didn't know about the box?"
"No, ma'am, or I would've burned everything, to keep you from finding it. I thought you maybe, was up in that closet, looking for the gold folks think she had."
"Guess there isn't any."
"Reckon not, except for the diamond lily pin."
"The diamond pin?" Mercedes asked. Carmen nodded.
The diamond pin, Mr. Sam gave her for her birthday, the day before she fell off that balcony."
'So Sam had been telling the truth about the pin.'
There had to be a reasonable explanation. She didn't know what to think. She grabbed the edge of the table to keep from collapsing.
The old woman came to her side.
"You alright, Miss Mercedes? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Mercedes took a deep breath.
Sam must've told Carmen to say this, so that she would think Buford is a rotter.
And to think, she'd been about to change her mind about the rascal. He was an oily one, but she would not be fooled now.
"I…I'm fine," she lied. "We'll talk more later. Right now, we've got guests to entertain." She looked out of the kitchen window, onto the porch. "You seen Mr. Evans?"
"Saw him leaving in the car with Will Shuester."
Mercedes frowned.
Crafty fox that he was, Sam was probably not losing a moment of time, having Will draw up the papers she'd need to sign, to keep him from telling her secret to Buford.
He'd demand she give up her half of the Lily. Well, he could forget blackmailing her, because she fully intended to tell Buford tonight.
She was certain Buford loved her enough, that he wouldn't care about anything.
She stood looking out the window.
In the dusk of the hot July evening, people were already gathering out on the front lawn.
"We're running late Carmen. Call the girls and let's start decorating those tables, we've got set up on the lawn."
She pasted a smile on her face and went out on the porch.
The two congressmen sat there on the porch swing, looking as happy as clams.
"Are you gentlemen having a good time?"
"We certainly are," one said. "Mr. Evans mixed us up something called mint juleps, that were real tasty."
"In a few minutes, the whole town will be here and we'll have even more food, drinks, a band concert and of course, fireworks."
They leaned back on the comfortable swing and sighed happily. One said,
"You know, this seems like the perfect sleepy little town. I'll bet a dog could sleep in the road for a week without being disturbed. I think, maybe our colleagues were wrong, about the town needing a fort for extra protection."
'Oh dear! This isn't good.'
"I realize it may look that way, but there's all sorts of violence, just simmering under the surface of this town. We really need to keep the fort open," she said.
Both congressmen looked out across the lawn. Sherwin the goat stood placidly, chewing grass, out by the big bird bath.
In the distance the town seemed as quiet as a graveyard. This called for drastic measures.
"Here, let me get you both another julep."
She took their glasses and went inside.
She didn't know much about how Sam made them, but she poured in extra whiskey just in case. Then she took them out to the porch and handed them to the beaming politicians.
After that, she went down the steps, to direct the women setting up punch bowls and big platters of cake.
Some of the women had brought tubs of homemade ice cream, an idea she silently applauded.
She told herself, that if she kept busy, she wouldn't have to think about anything, that had happened today, neither the diamond pin.
She would straighten this all out with Buford later.
As darkness fell, the crowd got bigger and more boisterous.
There was so much to do, Mercedes had no time to think.
The giant front lawn of the Texas Lily, was now covered with people bustling about.
She looked up to see the band coming down the driveway, in smart formation.
As they approached the house, they played, much to the delight and applause of the crowd. As they passed her table, Buford nodded to her, his cheeks puffed out with the effort of his tuba.
She smiled and waved.
He wasn't as tall as Sam, or nearly as handsome, but she was sure that he would make her a good husband.
He nodded to her again and kept playing, as the band marched up the driveway.
People gathered on the porch, around the politicians, who were grinning like polecats. Evidently, someone had given them, some more mint juleps.
People lined up at the ice cream booth and Mercedes was kept busy, serving up the homemade treat.
She managed a quick spoonful and it was delicious…cold and creamy.
When she got a moment, she put a big slice of chocolate and Lady Baltimore cake in a dish and spooned some ice cream over it.
It tasted so good, for a moment she forgot her troubles.
In the light of the torches set up around the lawn, she saw Buford making his way towards her and she dreaded it.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sam Evans frowning, as he looked first at her and then the approaching Buford.
"Everyone! It's time for fireworks," he shouted.
The crowd cheered.
Mercedes cheered too, but she was as tense, as a barbed wire fence.
Out in the crowd she spotted Quinn.
The girl seemed to be having a good time, flirting with all the men.
Mercedes studied her for a few moments.
She pictured Quinn as a girl, who'd had rotten breaks and had been treated badly by life. Perhaps Quinn was just like Sue, just struggling to make it in a tough world.
Tears came to Mercedes' eyes, at the thought.
Buford joined her in the booth a few minutes later, as everyone turned and looked expectantly, towards the area, where Sam and some others, were setting up the fireworks.
"Hello, my dear Mercedes. Did you like the concert?" The band hadn't played any worse than usual, so she smiled and said,
"As always." He grabbed her hand and kissed it and once again, she managed not to wipe the kiss off, on her dress.
"After this evening is over and the fort is saved, we'll sneak off for a little alone time."
Wet kisses. She needed to tell him her secret, but she hesitated. Did he really love her enough to accept her and did she really want to marry him?
She was getting more and more unsure by the minute.
"Buford, we need to talk."
"Later. They're going to set off the fireworks," he said.
The fireworks display began. Roman candles, shooting into the dark sky, as small children squealed and the crowd applauded.
Firecrackers and rockets blasted into the warm Texas night, while cowboys and soldiers alike, shouted with approval.
Mercedes loved Texas, she realized.
It might be a bit different than, what she's accustomed to, but there was something special and ornery and independent about Texans, from the strong virile men, to the acres of rolling prairie and the blue sky.
She would never be happy living back in Lima again, where the skies were often cold and grey and the cities crowded.
She had changed over the past few months.
Texas had changed her…or was it a Texan?
Buford shouted to her during a lull in the fireworks.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" How to begin?
"Maybe we should go where we can have some privacy."
"And miss the rest of the fireworks?" he said shaking his head.
"I…I wanted to tell you, I found a box in my aunt's closet." Immediately, she had his attention. He grabbed her hand.
"You found the gold everyone says is hidden in the house, didn't you?" She shook her head.
"No, just papers and photos. Buford, I really doubt that treasure story." He looked crestfallen.
"Oh well, we still have half the Lily. If managed right, it could make plenty of profit."
"Buford, listen to me. I have lots of things to tell you, but one of them is, that I'm going to let Sam have my half of the Lily. You and I can go back east and…"
"Give up our half of the Lily? Hell no! Have you lost your senses?" he roared at her, as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
If it hadn't been for the noise of the crowd, someone might have overheard him.
"You don't understand Buford, I just found out…" He shook her again.
"I don't care what you found out, we are not gonna give up the Lily. It's a gold mine and we can be rich, if we turn it back into what it was before."
She tried to pull away from him, but he hung on.
"No, Buford! Don't you understand? I can't be part of running a bordello." He put his face close to hers and there was no tenderness in his eyes, as he hissed at her.
"As my wife to be, you'll do what I say, you hear me?"
Mercedes was too astounded to say, or do anything, but stare back at him, in the sudden silence, as the sound of the fireworks died away.
The air was full of acrid smoke, as people milled about and talked.
It was time for the big fight, Mercedes thought, as she turned away from him.
Even as she thought that, a fuss broke out among a bunch of soldiers and cowboys near the porch.
Instantly, insults and fists were flying.
"Fight! Fight!" someone yelled and the crowd pushed forward, to get a better look.
Sam struggled to get through the crowd.
A soldier grabbed him by the shoulder, whirled him around and hit him. He shook it off and hustled away without a second thought, his green eyes blazing with anger, as he strode towards Mercedes and Buford.
"I've been waiting to do this for a long time," he snarled and punched Buford squarely in the mouth.
Mercedes could only gasp, as Buford went down. Then he stumbled to his feet and started swinging his fists.
Sam side-stepped easily.
"Mercy, get up on the porch," he ordered. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me!" She started to argue with him, but the look in his green eyes, told her he meant it.
She ran for the porch, side-stepping fighting men to get there.
All the women and children had scooted to the sides of the lawn to watch.
Mercedes approached the two congressmen, who were watching, eye wide in shock.
"My God, I've never seen anything like this before," one said and the other piped in with,
"It's just like our colleagues said. Texas is a wild, uncivilized place. They need all the soldiers and law enforcement they can get."
"Amen!" Mercedes said.
The three of them watched the big fight on the lawn and in the midst of it all, Sherwin walked through the battling males, calmly munching lilies.
The major stepped up on the porch, just as a train whistled in the distance.
"I think we ought to put more money into the fort and get more soldiers," one of the politicians said.
"That's a fine idea and a wise decision," the major said.
"That's our train, but we still want to see the fight," the other congressman said.
"I think the fight's just about over," the major said and fired his pistol into the air. The brawlers paused and looked towards the porch.
"Alright, that's enough. You cowboys get out of town and my men, get back into formation, or I'll throw someone in the guard house."
The men started to walk away, rubbing bruised jaws and wiping bloody lips. Only Sam and Buford were still fighting, out in the middle of the lily bed, near the bird bath.
"Stop it! Yelled the major, but the two kept going for each other.
"Someone stop them," Mercedes pleaded, but no one moved. She started down the steps and across the lawn. As she passed Quinn, the saloon girl grabbed her arm.
"You're making a bad mistake. Buford ain't no good. Let Sam whip him."
"You're wrong," Mercedes replied.
"Am I?" Quinn grinned and then, "Sam's a right guy. I love him, but he ain't interested in me. It's you he wants. That Buford, he's been coming to the Bucket to sleep with me."
"I…I don't believe you. We're engaged," Mercedes said, pulling away from her. Quinn laughed.
"I'm leaving on the evening train, so I've got no reason to lie. That diamond pin he gave you? He stole it outta Sue's jewelry box. He was up in her room snooping to find the treasure. When she caught him, there was a struggle and she went over the balcony."
Mercedes stood blinking at her.
'No…I won't believe any of this.'
In the meantime, the two men continued to fight and other men gathered in a circle to watch.
"Sam, stop it!" Mercedes called.
She ran across the grass and the crowd parted to let her through.
Sam appeared to be giving Buford a terrible beat down, and in his heart, it was merited.
However, Buford pulled a knife and Sam grabbed his arm, twisting it until he howled and dropped it.
Then, he hit Buford one last time, sending him to the ground and stepped away.
He looked at Mercedes with hurt in his eyes.
"You love him, so I won't kill him."
"You uncivilized rogue," she shouted. Sam grabbed her arm.
"Mercy, I need to tell you something."
"Whatever he's got to say," Buford wheezed, as he struggled to get to his feet. "Don't listen to him. I do love you and we'll get married." She whirled on Sam.
"You see? He does love me." Sam merely looked down at her and she has never seen such sadness in a man's eyes.
"I love you, too Mercy and I hope this proves it. Here." He reached into his pocket and thrust a piece of paper in her hands.
"I've got my bags packed. I'm leaving on the evening train," he said.
"What?" She blinked and tried to see what was on the paper, by the moonlight and the lit torches.
"What is it?" Buford asked, stumbling towards her. She ignored him, as she made out what was on the paper. She went speechless for a moment.
"You're giving me your half of the Texas Lily?" Sam nodded.
"It's legal. Will drew it up for me late this afternoon." Buford put his arm around her.
"It's probably a trick, Mercedes, don't trust him." Sam's face furrowed with anger. He wanted to finish the bastard off, so bad.
"It's no trick. And you'd better take good care of her, Buford, or I'll come back and beat you, like cornbread batter. I love her and I want her to be happy."
He turned and started to walk away. In the distance, the train whistled again, as it approached the outskirts of town.
Mercedes stared after Sam, still holding the paper in her limp fingers.
Next to her, Buford laughed.
"Hey, this is great. What a fool! You know how much money we can make running the Lily?"
Mercedes' eyes burned with tears, at the tall, broad-shouldered, handsome southerner, striding away from her and out of her life. He was walking towards a car, where Quinn and the two congressmen were waiting. In a few minutes, he would be on that train and gone forever.
She had what she wanted…the Texas Lily and Buford. Mrs. Buford Arthur Reginald Fortenbury. Buford would never know about her past now.
At her side, Buford said,
"Well, say something. Aren't you happy? The idiot is giving us the whole thing."
Yes, she could have it all and be part of the society she's always wanted. Money and social position. She could close the door on her past forever…and the two women who had sacrificed so much for her.
And yet…
Sam was almost to the car now.
He was rough and tough, uncivilized and a rascal…but she loved him, she really did.
"Wait, Sam! Wait for me!" she shouted and took off. Sam paused and whirled in surprise. Mercedes ran as fast as she could, behind her Buford shouted,
"Are you crazy? He's just a low-class Texan."
"Low-class just like me!" she shouted back to him.
And then she ran across the grass, where Sam stood holding out his arms for her. She ran into them and he kissed her, like he never wanted to let her go, while the crowd cheered and applauded.
"Marry me," Sam whispered. "And we will turn the Lily into the best damned hotel, in all east Texas."
"Done!" she said and kissed him. "Now take your bags out of that car."
"Yes, ma'am." He grinned and winked at her, as he strode over to the car and did as told.
Buford came up, with the major on his heels and Mercedes turned to him, even as the crowd grew closer.
"I know everything, Buford. I know you've been going to the Bucket and all about what happened on the balcony." Buford turned as white as a ghost.
"I didn't mean it…mean to kill Sue…I was looking for the treasure…and she caught me…taking the diamond pin…"
"I've heard enough. I think you're headed for a court martial, Lieutenant," the major said, gesturing for two soldiers to grab him. "Come along, now."
Buford groaned, as he was marched away.
He spotted Sherwin munching away, on some lilies and kicked at him. As he walked along, his hat dropped and he leaned over to pick it up.
The sight of his rear, must have been too tempting to Sherwin, because he suddenly lowered his head and charged Buford.
"Look out!" someone shouted, but it was too late.
Sherwin's horns caught Buford in the pants and threw him hard, into the bird bath. With a resounding clang, the man slammed against it and it toppled over.
There was a collective gasp all around the lawn, as everyone stared in disbelief.
"Sam," Mercedes whispered. "Come quick!" She was barely aware that Sam had walked from the car and put his arm around her.
"So, there was treasure after all," he said.
They both stood staring, at the base of the toppled bird bath. Gold coins poured out of the bottom of it. Thousands of dollars worth of gold coins.
They ran over to it, knelt and ran their fingers through the shiny objects.
"So, this is what Sue was doing early in the mornings, when no one was up. Hiding money in the base of the bird bath. You did good, Sue. Thank you," Sam said.
Mercedes smiled at him.
"You're rich Sam." He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
"No, we're rich," he corrected her. "There's plenty to hire people to do some improvements and turn the Lily, into a first class hotel. For a while, I thought Sue didn't care about me, I reckon the old girl did, after all."
Tears stung the backs of Mercedes' eyes, when she heard that.
"She must have been a wonderful, generous woman. When we get the time, I want you to tell me all about her."
Sam just looked at her, this time with such love in his eyes. He leaned in and softly kissed her, lingering, because he could.
"She'd be so proud of you…of the woman you are."
"I've been a real snob…a heartless fool," she quietly said and Sam just hugged her.
Just then, Josiah started the car, to take the congressmen and Quinn to the train.
Quinn turned and looked at Sam with tears in her eyes, then turned to Mercedes and said,
"Take care of him, honey. He's a good one."
"I will," Mercedes promised, looking after the girl who had loved and lost. 'There but for the grace of God…' She turned towards Sam and asked,
"Can you ever forgive me?"
"Nothing to forgive, baby." He kissed her again, then yelled to his lawyer,
"Hey Shuester, gather up all that money, will you?" Will stepped tentatively from the crowd and asked,
"Will Sherwin butt me?" Sherwin dangled his beard, bleated and continued munching the lilies.
"No. It seems as though, he had a particular dislike for a certain lieutenant. Old Sherwin gets the run of the place from now on," Sam said with a grin.
He grabbed Mercedes and started back towards the house, with an urgency in each step.
Mercedes could hardly keep up with him, but managed to wave to the grinning crowd, that was now dispersing.
She gently tugged on his hand, making him stop.
"I love you Sam. I didn't know how much, until I saw you walking to the car." Sam held her close to him and kissed her head.
"I love you more." He started walking again, her hand in his. Quietly and playfully, he said,
"Baby, when I get you inside, I'm gonna make you glad you didn't let me leave."
"In the morning room," she cheekily asked.
"Nope, in a big comfortable bed. Tomorrow, you can ask Mrs. Bottoms and the ladies to help you plan the biggest wedding, east Texas ever saw."
Carmen stood, smiling on the porch, as they approached.
"Miss Mercedes, everything alright now?"
"It sure is, and please, call me Mercy, she said, as Sam picked her up and carried her up the steps. Carmen grinned at the two, as they passed her.
"Miss Sue would like this. She'd be so proud," she said.
"I hope so," Mercedes said.
"And I hope, that she'd love those Texas grandchildren I plan to give her," Sam said, and Mercedes hid her face in his neck.
"Amen to that," Carmen said with a smile, as she watched Sam kissed Mercedes again.
The Town Beautification Committee stood on the porch also, looking on in disbelief.
"Hey, Sam, looks like you ain't giving up your title, as Champion Ladies' Man, are you?" Luke asked. Sam grinned widely.
"I sure am. I'm getting married and you're all invited to the wedding." He carried Mercedes through the door, up the stairs to her room and kicked the door shut.
"Do you want me, baby?"
"I want you," she answered. He laid her on the bed and went to lock the door.
"Come here, baby," she said. And he did.
She closed her eyes for the kiss she knew was coming. His mouth covered hers in the sweetest, deepest kiss she could imagine, as his hands went to unzip her dress.
"I love you," he mumbled against her lips.
"And I love you," she replied.
She sighed with pleasure at his touch.
It was going to be a long, long night of love and many more thereafter. She could hardly wait.
There you have it folks. I re-wrote this chapter so much and added to it so much, I hope it was good enough. Stay tuned for the epilogue.
Buford who? :) By the way, his full name makes the acronym B.A.R.F Ha! Ha!