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

Texas Ranger and for good while, now, he’s held down the sheriff’s job and been courting Miss Victoria in his spare time.”
“Mrs. Langford is a fine woman,” the Judge comented “and the best cook in town too. Now, when can I meet this man.”
“He’s gone over to the Livery,” Jake said “Old Pede was going to groom his horse for him. Said he had something special to see to and he wanted that black of his shining like a new 5 dollar gold piece..”

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Victoria was still angry over the events of that fateful Sunday, when she opened the shop early Monday morning and started making bread dough. How could two grown men have embarrassed her and Frances Bradford so badly.
“Childish.” she said out loud as she mixed the butter and milk together and prepared to the yeast. “I surely would have thought better of him than to ruin the social by smashing my cake in that ranger’s face.” She had been up all night nursing her anger and hurt, but no matter how hard Victoria Langford tried, she could not stay angry with Doc and knew that she would ultimately forgive him, but he had to make it right first. Just how right Doc Stevens was going to make things was about to unfold right there in the kitchen of the bake shop.
Smokey Joe had never looked shinier or pranced so beautifully as Doc rode him down the street from the livery. He and Joe understood one another and it sure seemed to anyone who saw them together that they could communicate just as clearly as two people might. That horse was a looker and every head turned as they passed. Ladies paused as they traversed the boardwalk.
”Good Morning, Sherrif,” one said as she smiled at him as he rode by. Doc grinned back and tipped his hat. “That’s a fine looking horse, Sherrif.,” the barber called out as he unlocked the door of his shop. “Thanks,” Doc returned as he rode on. He saw Wakeeze standing outside the black smith’s shop. Scrub Pot was visiting Kane Wolfe and soon would be heading back to the cattle camp. Doc pulled the black to a halt and waited for him to come out. Soon the old man walked out of the door with as rasp in his hand. He stooped over and picked up the paint’s right front foot and began to file out a broken spot in the hoof. Then he glanced up to see Doc sitting quietly on his horse. “Are you coming back with me or not?,” Scrub Pot said.
“At this point, Zachariah, I don’t know.,” Doc replied. “Got some unfinished business to attend to.”
Scrub Pot shook his head. .”You have been eating fancy pies and cakes for days,” he said “It’s that woman you want isn’t it.”
“If she will have me,” Doc replied worriedly.
“After you smashed that cake over Travis’s head, she will probably throw you out in the street.”Scrub Pot stated.
“Well,” Doc said “If she does that, then I guess I’ll be heading back to the herd.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“I am needed here, Zachariah,” Doc replied.
“It is a calling with you, Doc,”, Scrub Pot replied “I’ve known it since your days with the Rangers. You will be very successful here. The people already are at ease knowing you are about to take the job.”
“Yup,” Doc said distractedly “But I have to have a conversation with one golden haired lady and then I will make a final decision.”
“A woman never stopped you before,” Scrub Pot said as he filed away.
“Never was one like her before, Zachariah,” Doc replied “I believe she is the one.”
Scrub Pot finished his work and turned to go back into Kane’s shop.“I’ll see you back at camp.”, he said “She was pretty upset with you last night.”
“Watch that paint, “ Doc said “He’s looking pretty mean today.”
Scrub Pot shot him a sour look. “He is fine.”, he glowered “Like I said. I’ll see you back at camp.”
Doc moved Smokey Joe forward “Don’t count on it.” he said firmly. The old man laughed as watched him ride away. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Victoria calmed down , forgave Doc for his little indiscretion and the two would continue their courtship.

Doc looked like a true hero of the West as he rode up to Victoria’s cottage between the church and main street. He straightened his hat, dismounted from his silver studded saddle, and strolled to the door. Now, Doc was not a man who had a lot of time for emotions, he was a law man, but when it came to Miss Victoria, he’d changed, and his feelings for her were real and honest and he had to make things between them right. “In your hands I leave this Lord,” he prayed as he knocked on the closed front door. There was no answer. Doc waited and knocked again. Still now answer. “Victoria?”, he called out. No answer. The door was locked.
She was probably at the shop getting ready for her usual Monday customers. So he climbed back into his saddle and rode down the street to the bake shop. As he tied the black’s reins to the hitching rail, he saw there was a light in the back where the kitchen was. Hoping she had not locked the door, he stepped up tried it. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was open. He’d spent a lot of time with the Indians when he was young and he had learned how to move soundlessly just as they did . He hoped he would not startle her too much when he saw her at the counter, kneading bread dough, her back to him. He watched for a moment, almost afraid to speak. “I can’t say as I blame you for being angry with me, Victoria,” he said quietly. She just kept kneading the dough and was quiet for a moment.
“I am very disappointed and hurt,” she said finally “You did not even listen to Nate Travis and you smashed my cake,” she added tightly ‘You acted like a jealous school boy and made a spectacle of yourself and Captain Travis. Fran is beside herself and I am so embarrassed. “
”What can I say, Victoria,” Doc replied contritely “I am a jealous man, when it comes to the woman in my life.”
“Doc,” she sighed as she added more flour “You had nothing to be jealous of. Captain Travis was at the church to help me set things up. He was waiting for my friend, Frances to arrive. His interest is in her. Not me.”
Doc looked down at the floor. “I am sorry,” he said “That is all I can say. May be I ought to gather up my things and head back to the cattle drive.”
Victoria stopped kneading her dough and turned to look at him, then dropped it in a large crock and covered it with a checkered towel. “What about Jake Titus?” she asked as tears burned in her brown eyes. “You know we need you here.”
Doc went to her, reaching out and taking her hands in his. She let him. “What about you, Victoria,?” he said quietly “Do you need me?”
She was quiet, biting her lower lip. “My husband died a long time ago, Doc,” she said “I have met other men since his death, but there was no sparks or fire with them. Then you came into my shop that day with Jake and I knew right away that I wanted to be with you. Call it fate, love at first sight, but please know that I do not want you to go. Not now, not ever.”
He drew her into his arms and held her close. “Marry me, Victoria,” he whispered. “I never thought I ‘d feel like this again after the war and losing my wife. Truth is, you are a real lady, and I will be a good husband if you will give me the chance.”
She drew back and looked into his misty hazel eyes. “Doc?”
“Yes,” he answered hopefully.
“Did you just propose to me?”
“I did.” he replied, What do you say Vic? Marry me and we will make a good life together.”
“I accept your proposal, Elliot Stevens,” she replied with a warm smile “And I will love you always.”
“You mean it?,” he said afraid she might have mispoken.
“With all my heart,” she replied.
He kissed her as he had been wanting to kiss her since the day they met. When he broke away, that cockeyed smile crossed his face. “Well,” he said happily “I’ll be a monkey’s but.”
Victoria laughed until there were tears rolling down her face. “Not that, my love,” she said “try “uncle” next time.”