Mail Order Bride- Illinois

Chapter 15

Abby spent the whole Sunday morning in bed catching up on her sleep. She had spent every day since she met her husband working her behind off.

She cooked, cleaned, and mothered children with no break or even acknowledgment. Abby truly didn’t mind as she knew this was just her lot in life. As it was with so many woman around the world. But she was heavily pregnant. Abby just wanted a little help, or maybe even more than five hours of sleep every night. This was just her reality.

Abby stretched in the bed and rolled over as the sunlight was bothering her eyes. The snow had finally let up, to which she was very thankful. Abby never minded the snow that much, but she didn’t have to work out in it. She knew the men had to be miserable. Especially Jonathan, he was from Texas. Abby didn’t know if it snowed there. Just thinking of her husband made her mad. He had humiliated her in front of everyone, not only that he belittled her. Jonathan didn’t even notice how hard things have been for her these last few weeks.

So for the second time that day she heard Jonathan’s bootsteps come up the stairs. Abby didn’t want to deal with him as she was still very mad at him.

“Abby?” She heard him ask tentatively. She really considered pretending to be asleep.

“What?” She asked in a no nonsense tone. She had turned to him while she answered so she could see that brought him up short.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” Abby sighed heavily.

“Okay,” she replied simply. She could tell Jonathan didn’t know where to go from here. He expected her to forgive him right away like always. Abby did her best to never hold grudges, and to forget the way people had wronged her. Jonathan was her husband and she was pregnant with his child, she was really struggling here. Jonathan didn’t seem to care, so she was having a hard time not being mad at him. They stared at each other for a few moments.

“So are you going to come down and make dinner?” Abby’s temper went through the roof. He can not be serious. He just apologized to me so he would get me to cook dinner?

“Why would I do that? You don’t want to eat what I make to begin with, so I stand by what I said last night. Make it your own damn self!” Abby said and rolled over.

Son of a b***h he isn’t winning at all around here. Jon went back down the stairs and avoided the looks of his brother and Buzz. Jonathan simply went outside and went to talk to the sheriff who showed up. Things couldn’t get any worse.

That night they had eggs, and burnt toast. Jonathan would have loved to have some of Abby’s chili for dinner. Once again he cursed himself for being an i***t.

The next day dawned a clear blue sky. Jonathan rolled out of bed and went to work. He looked over at Abby, and was tempted to say something to her. However, he stopped himself, Jonathan knew he would only screw it up like he did before. So he headed out to his cattle.

He came back expecting to find another burnt meal, only to be brought his usual delicious breakfast.

“You getting better at cooking James?” Jonathan asked, and James gave him a confused look.

“What are you talking about?” Now it was Jonathan’s turn to be confused,

“You didn’t make this?” James literally rolled his eyes,

“No your wife did.” That brought Jonathan up short. He assumed that James was still cooking. Jonathan finished eating breakfast and then got up and went to the kitchen. Jonathan entered to see his wife moving around the kitchen just like any other day. Jonathan decided not to press his luck mumbled a “thank you,” and went back to work.

The rest of the day continued on like normal, as if yesterday never happened. So when Abby made another dinner of soup he simply thanked her and ate it.

Abby got her day of rest, and decided to go on like normal. Yesterday didn’t change anything. Jonathan didn’t give her some grand apology, or words of appreciation. Life simply went on. Abby woke up that morning, and treated it like every other day.

Jaime was walking through Kansas City saloon, one of James old haunts when he heard his name being called out.

“Jaime Smith! Jaime Smith is that you, you old son of a b*tch?” Jaime turned to see the saloon owner approach him. Jaime walked up to the bar,

“Hey Johnny how are you? You old bastard?” Johnny let out a loud laugh.

“Jaime Smith, what are you doing in this part of the country? Haven’t seen you in a few years?” Johnny poured him a shot of liquid fire. Jaime through it back in a quick succession and let it burn down his throat. He let out a wince.

Jaime had drifted since the war ended, he did all kinds of work, but mostly ushered people through the wagon trails. Jaime thought about signing back up, but now all the army did was s*******r Indian tribes. He’d seen enough of that during the war.

Jaime had received a letter from James a couple of months ago about a family reunion. He thought why the hell not, so he packed up his meager belongings and started the trek to Oregon.

“So you want to tell me why my brother had to high tail it out of here a few months back?” Jaime asked the saloon owner after taking another shot of whiskey. The saloon owner just laughed.

“The reason you are thinking. The stakes of a game got too high with some hoity-toity player. James got caught cheating, I don’t know if he was or not, cause he was winning. Then you know the rest, he skipped town.” Jaime just nodded,

“Is it settled?”

“Yeah, he sent money a month later.” Looks like Jonathan bailed him out again.

“I think I heard your name at postal call,” the saloon owner said randomly.

“I doubt that,” he said dismissively.

“I swear I heard the Smith name,” Johnny said determined.

“Well it could be for James so I’ll swing by.”

Jaime swung by the post office only to find that it was a letter to him from James.

Jaime

I’m not sure if you got my first letter, but this one is more urgent. Jonathan needs our help, some one is trying to steal his cattle by tampering with the brand.

We have all dealt with this before and know it is the beginning of a larger issue. Jonathan and his family will need hired guns to help protect his farm. There is no one better than family to help in a situation like this, please come if you can. I know you talk to Jimmy as well, while I’ve sent a letter to him I thought you might be able to get through to him.

James.

This was bad, when some one tampers with the brand it generally means they are after the whole ranch. Jaime decided to write a letter to Jimmy before booking a train ticket to Oregon. The railroad only just reached Oregon back in 1861 so the ride may be a little rough.

The things we do for family he sighed as he got everything in order for the ride. It was going to be a long ride, at least two days on the train, maybe three depending on the stops. This was going to be a long ride.