The Diary of Jerrod Bently, J.W. Osborn [the false prince series TXT] 📗

the welcome sound of a wagon coming along. Maybe this would turn out to be his lucky day after all. He waited about ten minutes and sure enough, a freight wagon drawn by six mules came around the bend in the road. The mules were trotting along at a good even place. Obviously this driver had a schedule to meet and was headed for the nearest town. The mule skinner squinted into the distance, not at all sure that he was seeing what he thought he was seeing. A man in his underwear, at the side of the road, waving his arms wildly.
The wagon began to slow down. “Guess I won’t make it in to Portersville in time to meet Frances at the Bake Shop,” he sighed as he drew the mules to a stop. He looked down from the wagon seat at the man standing on the side of the road. “Howdy,” he said “You got some trouble?”
“You bet I do,” Ned replied “Indians. Took everything.”
“Well, not everything,” the man replied “You still got your ridge runners.”
Ned scowled at him. Not finding any humor in his remark. “Are you heading for the next town?”, he asked.
“Yes,”the man replied “Got a shipment of whiskey for the saloon and dry goods for the mercantile.” Hmm? Dry goods.?. That was just what Ned needed. “I’ve got family in town,” Ned lied “Can I ride with you? This is down right embarrassing.” The wagon driver chuckled to himself. “Well, we all have our misfortunes,” he said as he moved over to the side of the wagon box. “Come on, mister. Climb up and I’ll take you where you need to go. “
”Much obliged ,” Ned replied as he scrambled into the seat, his eyes on the Winchester, at the man’s feet. “Oh yes, this was going to be his lucky day after a not so lucky night.

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Now Doc was not one to pass up a trip to town. He’d ridden on ahead to Portersville with a list of supplies from Scrub Pot and Sam. Things seemed real quiet when he rode down the main street, except for a dusty looking man who was hurriedly tying his mule to the hitching rail in front of a law office. “Howdy,” Doc said as he rode up to him. The man was jockeying a stack of files and papers and fooling with the reins of his mule. “Mornin’,” he said “Welcome to Portersville. “ Doc stopped by the hitching rail. “Is there a place around here where a man could find some breakfast”, he asked. “Maybe a saloon?”
“Well, we don’t really have a saloon to speak of here,” the man said as he fumbled in his pocket with his free hand, searching for his keys. “But Miss Victoria has a really good bake shop just up the street and around the corner. Will you be staying long?”
“No,” Doc answered “I am with the Hinkley Cattle Drive, set to come through here is a day or so. I’m here to get supplies for the crew.”
“The mercantile is across the street from Victoria’s,” the man said as he unlocked the door of his office. “My name is Jake Titus,” he said “I am kind of standing in for the sherif these days.”
“Doc,” Doc replied as he noticed the man looking at pearl handle of his gun, then up at him. “You’re Doc Stevens!,” he said “Aren’t you?
“Let’s not make that public, Mr. Titus”, Doc defended “I don’t care for the attention my name causes. “
”During the war,” Titus said “I saw you, when you were Captain Elliot Stevens. I was to be one of your sharp shooters, but Appomattox happened and I never got to my assigned unit.”
“Always felt the war should have been extended, Mr. Titus,” Doc replied “Lee surrendered and I sent my men home, and ended up in Texas.”
“Well, let me buy you a cup of coffee,” Jake said. “I will leave these files on my desk and be right with you.”
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The bell above the door of the bake shop jingled, letting Victoria Langford know that she had a customer. She closed the oven door on the batch of cookies she was baking and wiped her hands on the front of her apron. She had been working since early that morning, filling a large order for the local the upcoming church social. She had most of her tins filled, just a few more to go and then she could sit down for a while. Turning from the stove Victoria and walked through the kitchen door but stopped short, when her eyes met those of the stranger standing beside Jake Titus.
“Mornin’, Victoria,” Jake said “Got the coffee on?” The delightful smell of baked goods and the aroma of fresh coffee wrapped the room in a warm welcoming atmosphere. Doc stared back at the woman standing behind the glass baker’s case.
“Vick?” Jake prompted , finding the crackling silence unsettling.
“Good morning, Jake,” Victoria replied as she shook of the feeling that had taken her breath away. “And welcome to my shop,” she addressed to the stranger. “I am Victoria Langford,” she added as she reached out her hand to greet him.
“I am charmed, Madame,” Doc replied as he took her hand and raised it to his lips. He was a bit disappointed when he realized she was wearing a wedding band. “My name is Elliot Stevens,” Doc said warmly, “My friends call me Doc.”
“Well gentlemen,” Victoria replied “What will it be?”
“Coffee and a slice of peach pie for me,” Jake chimed in, noticing there was quite an attraction between the man who had almost been his commanding officer and his friend Victoria.
“ I’ll have the same,” Doc replied. Victoria gestured to one of the café style tables in the corner of the shop. “Have a seat,” she said “I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks,” Doc replied hoping she would hurry. Since he met and courted his first wife , long ago, he did not recall feeling as he did when he laid eyes on Victoria Langford. Since Elizabeth’s death , Doc had kept to himself and gave no thought to home or family. He’d drifted for the last several years, working on the ranches here and there. He’d closed the chapter in his life when he had been a Texas Ranger and given it all up after hunting down the man who killed his brother in law and destroyed his sister’s family. He’d seen him hanged, then turned in his badge and disappeared.
Victoria returned with their order. Her smile was so warm and gentle, and Doc thought he had never seen anyone so welcoming or so beautiful. All the weeks on the trail and eating Scrub Pot’s cooking made this moment feel like a divine blessing. “How far away is the herd?” Jake asked as he forked into his pie.
“They are a few days behind me.” Doc answered as he watched Victoria walk across the room and disappear back into her kitchen. “Now that is what I call a woman.” he added. “Too bad she is married.”
“Victoria?” Jake replied as he raised his coffee cup “She ain’t married.”
“She’s got a ring on.,” Doc said, sounding a little disappointed.
“Most widows wear their wedding rings,” Jake said “ Her husband was killed at Shiloh and she never remarried. Victoria Langford is the best cook in these parts. She built this shop herself and has made it quite successful.
A cock eyed grin spread across Doc’s face after he tasted his pie. “A woman who can bake a peach pie like this and looks like an angel sure won’t be a widow for long,” he comented.
“She is a spit fire,” Jake cautioned “She doesn’t put up with any funny stuff..”
Doc just smiled, “It was almost as though his future had just been revealed to him. Suddenly the bell clanged again and a young woman dashed in, her face flushed. “Jake!” she cried “Jake! Come quickly!! Some one robbed the fright wagon and Alex has been knocked senseless.” Titus jumped up from the table and caught the woman as she nearly tripped on the hem of her skirt. “Take it easy, Franny girl,” he said “Now, calm down and tell me what happened.”
Doc was quick to realize, as Jake Titus talked with the woman that he was not only a lawyer, but a law man of sorts. He rose from his chair “Mr. Titus,” he said calmly “maybe you should deputize me.” When Jake turned to reply, Doc had never seen a man look so relieved as Jake Titus did.
“You mean...” he started.
“Yes,” Doc replied “Swear me in.” Victoria hurried out of the kitchen when she heard the commotion. “Fran!”, she cried seeing the frantic state her friend was in. “What happened?”
Fran sat down in an empty chair. “I left Alex at the Doc O’Brien’s office. He is going to be alright, but his wagon was robbed and the crook too his