While Benny and Maudie went for a ride, I walked down to Bret's and told him what was goin' on. Then I went to the barn to spend some time with the new crop of foals. When the kids came back and had unsaddled and groomed their mounts, Benny and me walked back to Ben's house. Ellie answered the door. "What good timing, you two. Ben just woke up from a nap, and I've got some sweet tea for everybody. Come in, please."
We went into the little kitchen and sat down at the table with Ben, while Ellie poured tea. Benny then proceeded to tell his grandpa the story he'd told us last night. Ben sat quietly and paid attention to him, taking small sips of tea while he listened. He'd interrupt now and then to ask a question, but for the most part he was still. When Benny finished, Ben had some concerns to express.
"Is Joseph bein' smothered with attention?"
"Just about, Grandpa. Somebody's with him almost every minute. And if they're not, they come running as soon as he makes a sound. Abby offered to take care of him so that Mama and Pa could go out together, just the two of them, and they refused. It's like he's made of gold."
"And how does your mother treat Beau?"
"Better than she used to, but he might as well be one of the maids."
"Maids?"
"Oh yeah, didn't I mention the maids? She's got three. One is the parlor maid, one is the kitchen maid, and the third one takes care of the housework."
"And I suppose Beau is payin' for all three?"
"Well sure, how would mama pay for any of them? She doesn't work."
I had the feelin' that Ben was going to explain how she could pay for them. I didn't have long to wait. "When Dani's parents died, they left her a small fortune."
It was apparent that Benny didn't know about the inheritance. "Really, Grandpa? Are you sure you're not exaggerating?"
"Son, it was over a quarter of a million dollars."
That even made me gasp. I had no idea it was so much.
"A-a-a quarter . . . over two hundred fifty thousand dollars? Are you sure, Grandpa?"
"Positive, Benny. They made me the executor of the estate. Your Grandpa Joe didn't trust lawyers."
"Then why does she make Pa pay for everything?"
"Probably some kind of penance for defying her and buyin' a saloon," I told the young man.
"Bart's right. She's gettin' even with him for having bought The Gilded Lady to begin with. Did she tell you about your inheritance? I can tell from the look on your face she didn't."
"My inheritance? Does Abby get one, too?"
"Yes sir. Joe know you wanted to come back to the ranch, but he didn't want you to be spoiled. So he only left you five hundred dollars, to be paid when you turned twenty-one. He left Abby one thousand dollars since she wouldn't be working and making a living. The funds were to be paid to both of you out of your mother's money. No doubt that's why she didn't tell you about it."
"I had no idea." Benny looked like somebody had just hit him. "Are you going back there, Grandpa?"
"You bet your bottom dollar I am. That woman is out of control, and I need to find out why."
"Do you want more tea, darling?" Miss Ellie asked.
"What? Oh yeah, more tea, please. Ellie, start packin.' We're leavin' the day after tomorrow."
"Do you want me to go into town and buy the tickets?" I asked Ben.
"Would you? And find out what time the stage leaves. It's time for a face to face talk with my son and his wife."
On the way back to the house, Benny and me talked about his grandpa's trip. "If you wanna go with him, I'll pay for your ticket," I told him.
"Thanks, Bart, but I'm not going back there, not for any amount of money. I got out, and I intend to stay that way. Besides, I start work for you on Monday. I've waited a long time for this job, and I'm not going to miss it."
"You'd still have a job when you came back, Benny."
"I appreciate that, but unless something changes back in Baton Rouge, I'm not going back."
The next day I rode into Little Bend and went to the Wells Fargo office to buy tickets fot Ben and Ellie. The stage left at ten in the morning, so at least they didn't have to be in town much before nine-thirty. That meant we didn't have to leave much before nine. I say 'we' because Doralice and Benny had already told me they were goin' with us. I let Lucien know that Benny would be down to see him as soon as we got back. He wanted to start Benny off with the cross-breed yearlings because they weren't as volatile as the foals and hadn't learned all the bad habits of the older horses. I thought it was a good choice, but I made it clear to Lucien that Benny was to get no special treatment.
Monday dawned bright and clear and, of course, Ben and Ellie were ready before eight o'clock, so we all sat in our kitchen and discussed the situation they were facing. Ellie was a sweetheart and made the coffee, and we all had a good laugh at my expense. I wonder what she could do with the Black Carada coffee that Anderson Garrett used to import?
"Bart, take good care of my grandson, would you? It sounds like he had a rough go with his mother and father."
"I will, Ben. I'm sure he's gonna be fine, I have great faith in Lucien as a trainer. Benny'll probably be runnin' the place by the time you get back."
"I doubt that, but I'm going to do my best to learn everything that gets done at the B Bar M. I need to if I'm going to have my own ranch someday."
"You just work hard, son, and I'm sure you'll do fine."
I went out to get the big buggy ready, and Benny came with me to help harness the horses. "Gosh, I sure hope grandpa is gonna be alright. Miss Ellie will take care of him, won't she?"
"Of course she will. And don't worry about your grandfather. If he can hold his own with Pappy for almost eighty years, he can certainly handle your mother and father."
"Still, I wish they were coming back instead of leaving. I'd feel a whole lot better."
Just then Ben entered the barn. "You boys need any help?" he asked.
"No, sir," I told him. "We're doin' just fine. Go say goodbye to Miss Betty Lou the fourth's puppies. They'll be almost grown by the time you get back."
"And I'm sure that peculiar brother of mine will have found Miss Betty Lou the fifth. Honestly, couldn't he find a different name?"
"You know Pappy. When he finds somethin' he likes he tends to stick with it. Okay, Ben, we're all set. You wanna get in here or at the house?"
"I'll walk back to the house with you. Ellie says I need to get out more."
"She just worries about you, Ben."
"Hmpf." He wasn't about to say any more; Ellie might hear him.
"Are we all ready?" I asked
"Yes."
"Yes, sir."
"Get in, blue-eyes."
"Yes, sir, gamblin' man."
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