Chapter 6: New Beginnings
A/N: I don't own any of the characters or stories of Bonanza.
Ruth
I had made up my mind to stay in Virginia City, but that was only a portion of my problems. Granted, those problems were none too terrible. They had to be solved nonetheless, and so I got out of bed, dressed, and as a first order of business of the day, went over to check on Lancer.
Though I knew he had been properly taken care of the last couple days, I still went and brushed him, making his coat shine. I paid the livery for his stable and feed, taking into account how little money I had left. I needed to get a job.
That thought made me smile. I had spent a good amount of time running from my past, and the realization that I wanted to stay here felt so good and so right. I reached up to the locket at my neck, feeling the tarnished metal against my skin. There would be much to uncover yet, much to settle, but I could do it. And I felt that Virginia City was the place to do so.
I spent the rest of the day looking for both a job and more permanent lodging than the hotel, because I was planning on staying.
Joe
The dinner had gone incredibly well, and what had come after had left my head spinning that night and the next day. The only thing I could think of was whether or not she would decide to stay. I didn't know what she was running from, but I was prepared to protect her from it.
I went about my day and my chores at the Ponderosa, and the wild, natural splendor of the ranch only reminded me of her. I hoped with everything in me that she would stay. I might have sensed her saying yes to me, but I also sensed the part of her that was still uneasy about staying in one place. I'd go see her tomorrow, I decided, and hopefully, give her more reason to stay.
Ruth
I left a message at the hotel for Joe, telling him of my new lodgings. I had found a respectable boarding house in the south part of town, and the matron there, a Mrs. Barton, had also recommended me for a job as the livery clerk, knowing I enjoyed being around horses. It was all falling into place much easier than I'd imagined it could have.
I went back to the hotel after brushing and saddling Lancer and packed up the few belongings I had. The little wood-paneled room was easy to leave. Not ugly, but also not home, it was ready to be replaced. I slung my packed up saddlebags over my shoulder and walked across the street to McLean's livery, where I'd soon be working. I tightened Lancer's girth strap. The stable boy, Ian, approached me.
"Wouldya like a step up, miss?" A good boy, but one that needed to learn that not all women were frail and helpless. I curtsied to him, my culottes not revealing their secret-yet.
"Thank you, Ian, but I think I can manage." I winked, and with a leap, I was up on Lancer's tall back, cowhand style. My culottes fell nicely on either side of the saddle, allowing me to have the same freedom as if I were wearing pants. Ian's jaw dropped.
"Bet you've never seen a lady do that, now have ya?" I was off across town with a wave of my hat and a kiss to my horse, chuckling at the boy's reaction.
As I trotted Lancelot to Barton's Boardinghouse, the warm spring sun shone down on me, welcoming a new chapter in my life. A little breeze picked up and brushed stray strands of hair away from my face. The hustle and bustle of Virginia City around me was a very welcoming sound, and I reveled in it. This is my city now, I thought, and a smile spread across my face.
I arrived at the boardinghouse and took Lancer out back to the barn that Mrs. Barton had so generously opened to her tenants. Sun shone through from the western end of the barn, lighting up the air with little sparkles. Some horses were still in the barn, and I could hear them shuffling in their stables. Chickens clucked in the barnyard, a cow lowed somewhere, a dog barked in the distance. I felt very much at home. I slung my leg over the horn of the saddle, hopping off Lancer, and led him into the barn. There was a small piece of parchment paper with Lancer's name and my name on it, next to an open stall. I smiled, feeling very welcomed. I loosened Lancer's girth strap, planning on coming back later and going for a ride after I dropped off my things in my new room.
Slinging Lancelot's reins over the manger in his stall, I untied my saddlebags from the saddle. I dusted myself off a bit, patted Lancer, and walked towards the house. It was a lovely spring day, and there were already some tulips and daffodils blooming in the little beds by the door. The front porch was large and had a rocking chair, a porch swing, and a small card table, and it was all nicely swept. The house itself was also a good size; two stories tall, I guessed it must have at least five rooms upstairs and maybe a few small ones downstairs. The shutters were green and the house was a pleasing cream color, all newly painted. A very handsome house, I thought.
There was a boot cleaner at the bottom of the steps, and I took care to brush my shoes off before I ascended the porch steps. I dusted my skirts off one last time and walked up to the front door with my head held high. I used the knocker and gave the door three sharp raps.
"Come in dear, the door's open!" A voice sounded from inside immediately after I knocked. I went in and was greeted by the wonderful smell of bread baking. Mrs. Barton, an older woman perhaps in her late forties, came out of the kitchen, wiping flour-covered hands on her apron.
"Hello dear, I was just baking some bread for everyone, I'm very pleased you decided on staying here. Let me get your key and show you to your room," She gushed, all in one breath, a sweet smile on her weathered face. I wondered what her story was, how she came to be here. All in good time. I would be staying here for a while, I felt it.
We went up a flight of worn, creaky stairs, covered in a brightly patterned floral runner. Mrs. Barton led me to the end of a short hall, and brought us to a door on the left, seemingly in the northern corner of the house. She unlocked the door with a small gold key, and the door swung in to reveal a bright, airy room. The wallpaper was a cream color with little pink roses, white daisies, and a blue flower I didn't know the name of. The window and door frames, as well as the baseboards, were painted a light blue, and the windows were covered by faded white lace curtains that were dancing softly in the slight breeze. A double bed made of a light pine sat in the corner, right underneath both windows. A nightstand with an oil lamp sitting atop it, a bureau with drawers, made of the same pine, and a little desk with a wicker chair gave the room a cozy feel.
"Oh dear, I guess I left the windows open when I dusted in here the last time! Do forgive me, I don't want you to catch a chill just as you settle in." She went on to start closing the windows, but I stopped her with a gentle touch on her arm.
"Mrs. Barton, I love fresh air, and this room suits me fine. I'd not like to be rude, but I'd like to be upfront; I got the job you recommended me for, and I still have a bit of my own savings, but I can't afford much. What I'm asking is, how much money would you like now and how much are you asking per week?" I prepared for a large sum that would leave me struggling.
"I appreciate your honesty. I ask seven dollars a week from my boarders, due Monday morning. That price includes two meals a day. Does that work for you, Miss Armenta?"
"Mrs. Barton, that is just dandy! I can give you the seven dollars right now." I was jubilant, and I reached for the little purse that hung at my belt, but Mrs. Barton stopped me with a smile on her face.
"It's Saturday, and as I said, board is due at the beginning of the week. I won't charge you extra for the two nights. I will ask that you help with the evening meal," she grinned, with a kind twinkle in her eye. Becoming more solemn, she continued, "We have rules, though, and it is required all my boarders abide by them. I keep a good Christian house, which means no visitors of the opposite sex may stay overnight, and no visitors of the opposite sex in your room with the door closed, especially seeing as you are not married. Is that understood?" I nodded, and she went on with her oration. "If you wish to have guests, you may entertain them in the parlor or on the porch. I expect you keep the room neat and tidy. I provide tubs for laundry every two weeks on Saturday-next Saturday is washing day. Quiet hours are from eight in the evening until five in the morning. I also have a washroom behind the house, where you may choose one night of the week to bathe, and I will help you with heating up and carrying the water. Breakfast is served promptly at six in the morning, and dinner at six in the evening. Manners and deportment are essential at all times as well. Do you have any questions?"
"None right now, Mrs. Barton. I am sure I'll be a good fit for your house. Thank you for renting your room to me," I answered with a slight curtsy. She smiled and handed me the key.
"There you go then. I'll introduce you to everyone at dinner tonight." With a smile, she turned and went downstairs, back to her baking. She seemed nice enough, but I could tell that she meant what she said about her rules, and were I to go against any of them, I would be sent packing. But that was to be expected, and I also respected the way that she handled herself. It is not an easy task to run a boardinghouse.
I closed the door behind me and began unpacking my few clothes. I folded them up and laid them in the drawers of the bureau, noting that I would need to buy some new skirts, shirts, and stockings once I got paid. My journal was tucked under my mattress; it needn't be read by anyone besides myself. My meager savings were also hidden underneath the mattress. I would have to look for a loose floorboard or something of the sort when I came back tonight.
For now, though, I set my saddlebags and rifle on the floor and closed the windows slightly so that nothing would fly in. After closing and locking the door behind me, I tucked the key away in a pocket of my culottes. I'd make a string to keep it around my neck later. I wanted to spend my Saturday exploring Virginia City and its surroundings.
I went to the barn, untied my canteen from Lancer's saddle, then filled it up at the well. The water was cool, and I washed my face and neck in it before sending the bucket back down the damp, dark well shaft. I tightened Lancer's girth strap, untied his reins from the manger, and walked out of the stall into the warm sunshine.
I stepped up onto Lancelot and we trotted out to explore our new home.
Joe
After hastily finishing my chores at the ranch, I cleaned up a bit and rode into town, aiming to find Ruth. I arrived at the hotel, stepped off Cochise, tied him to the hitching post, and ran up the steps into the big hotel. The clerk looked up as I walked in, and smiled, recognizing me.
"Ah, Mr. Cartwright! Hello! I believe I have a message here for you, from a Miss Ruth Armenta." He handed me a small hotel envelope with my name on it.
"Thank you," I smiled at him, and walked out the door, hastily ripping open the envelope.
Joe,
I found a boardinghouse, Mrs. Barton's, on the south side of town. It's the closest I could find to the Ponderosa. Come find me, I'd like to see you again.
Yours,
Ruth
I ran to Cochise and swung onto him, kicking him into a gallop. We ran hot all the way to Ruth's new home, and I jumped off Cochise before he'd even slid to a stop in front of the front stoop. I dropped the reins, ground tying him, and raced up the steps, my heart racing, and knocked on the front door. An older woman, Mrs. Barton I guessed, answered the door.
"Please, I'm looking for Ruth-Miss Armenta. Is she here?" I gasped, trying to catch my breath. She raised her eyebrows, a wide grin on her matronly face.
"I'm sorry, young man, she just rode off, and I can't say where she went. That dun stallion of hers though, he'll be easy to spot. Especially with such a charming rider atop him," she laughed. I tipped my hat to her in thanks, and turned and went down the steps, then stepped up onto Cochise. I turned him into town at an easy lope and went up and down the streets of Virginia City, my eyes peeled for Ruth's stallion. I must have spent an hour looking for them but to no avail. I began to feel quite dejected, thinking that maybe she was avoiding me, or that she had changed her mind about wanting to see me. I was worried.
Just as I was about to turn Cochise toward home, a voice reached my ears.
"Joe! Joe! Wait!" I turned in my saddle to see Ruth loping Lancer up to me. She brought Lancer to a sliding stop right beside me and Cochise, her hat flying off, and her hair coming undone in wisps, framing her face. I was happily surprised.
"Ruth! I…I thought you didn't want to see me, I thought, oh…" I turned my head away.
"Joe. Joe, look at me." I looked at her, saw her atop her handsome dun stallion, steady and still amid the busy street, an intricate island amid a wild world. "I wanted to see you! Someone just now told me that you had been looking for me for the past hour. I was getting acquainted with the town, learning the lay of it. I didn't know you were coming to see me, otherwise, I'd have stayed in one place. I'm sorry I caused you all that trouble. Joe, I always want to see you." She leaned over, pulling Cochise and me closer to her and Lancer. Then she leaned towards me, and I could smell her particular scent. I breathed it in, my heart pounding against my throat.
Ruth pulled at my kerchief, pulling me closer to her. Looking me in the eyes, she kissed me first on one cheek, then the other. In the middle of the road, in the middle of Virginia City.
And in that moment, I knew Ruth Armenta was going to stay in Virginia City, with me.