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

/> Victoria folded her note and slid it into the envelope that Francessca had given her and handed to Mary O’Riley , the Contessa’s Irish housekeeper.
“Tell Ira to saddle Banner’s Lady and deliver this note to Mrs. Bradford at the Clear Water Ranch.” Francessca instructed “Tell him to hurry as we do not have much time. “
As Francessca began to style Victoria’s long golden hair, they heard a horse and rider tear off down the lane to the main road. La Contessa smiled as she heard her prize racer thunder passed. That mare was a winner and racing season was not that far away.


Frances Bradford sat next to Nate Travis on her front porch swing. They had enjoyed a day of fishing out at Buzzard Creek and a picnic on the banks. They had been courting more or less for a while now. Frances forgave Nate for defending himself in the cake fight with Doc and they had been happy , but the widow also knew that Nate would have to leave soon to take his brother back to Texas to stand trial. It would not be easy for her to see him ride away.
“Iced Tea is good, Fran,” Nathan declared as he held up his empty glass.
“Would you like some more?”, Fran asked
“Yes, I would,” Nathan replied “But I’ll get it. You stay put. After catching all those trout today, especially that big one, you must be plumb tuckered out.”
Fran giggled. “You get to clean them,” she said “and cook them too.”
“As long as you got ice in that ice house of yours, they’ll keep just fine till tomorrow, Nate said “Then we will have us a fish fry.” As the ranger was getting up from the swing, he thought he heard a rider coming fast up the road that passed in front of Fran’s house.
“Do you know who it is?”, he asked, his hand on his gun.
“No,” Fran replied “But I think that horse is one that belongs to Francessca Belleeza.”
“The Contessa?”
“Yes.”
Ira O’Riley rode Banner’s Lady up to the front porch and removed his hat. “I have an urgent message for Mrs. Frances Bradford,” he said with his thick Irish brogue.
“I am Mrs. Bradford,” Fran replied as she rose from the swing. Ira handed the envelope to her over the railing. “Her ladyship says to come as quickly as you can,” he said as he turned the mare around and rode off.
Nathan Travis watched in wonder at the speed of that horse, as she left them as quickly as she had arrived.. He wondered if his long legged Tabasco could beat her in a race or not.”
Fran opened the envelope and began to read. “Nate!.” she cried “ It is from Victoria. She and Doc are getting married tonight. She wants us to meet her the Belleeza mansion right away.”
“Well, I be dogged.”, Nathan declared “ Stevens is finally taking the plunge.” He turned to Fran. “I will hitch up your team,” he said “You get changed and we will head out right away. I got to be there to see ole Doc take his vows!”

Now Portersville was a small town and everybody knew everybody and word travels fast and even before Nathan Travis and Frances Bradford arrived at the home of La Contessa Francessca Della Belleeza, word of the wedding of Doc Stevens and Victoria Langford was out.

+++++++++++++++++++

“I hope there is food when we get to town” Scrub Pot complained “I am starving. I have had to work today.”
“I imagine the boys at camp will be too,” Doc commented “ considering you left Floyd and Gus to do the cooking.”
Scrub Pot muttered something. “Lets ride,” he said “We will lose the light soon.”
Before too long the lights of Portersville began to wink on. At seeing them, Doc heaved a sigh of relief. His Victoria was waiting for him and as soon as he and Scrub Pot got washed up, he was going to make her his wife.

At the church, roses of white and pink graced the modest altar. The small sanctuary was bathed in the gentle light of the coal oil lamps. The windows were open to let in the fresh early evening air but inside the church and its parish hall there was a flurry of activity going on.
“Be careful with those,” Alemda Wilks instructed as one of the ladies placed her fancy candle sticks from St. Louis near the two vases of roses that had come from The Contessa’s garden. Victoria’s quiet wedding was not going to be anything like she and Doc had imagined. Every one was busy getting the ready for the wedding, and not a soul had noticed an unwelcome guest that had arrived, and was watching from the bushes outside the church. Seeing his chance, a rather large black and white critter scurried across the yard and under the front steps. This would be a good hiding place for him.
“Hey Pede! Where’s the broom?”, someone shouted across the sanctuary.
“Don’t know,” the old man said “Forgot where I put it.” On seeing it standing right next to Old Pede, Hap Johansen Jr. retrieved it and began to sweep . “Can’t have a wedding with sand and dust on the steps,” he said to himself. “You smell something, Pede?,” Hap asked as he finished sweeping.
The old man sniffed the air. “Pole cat somewhere,” he said and went back inside to help light the rest of the lamps.
As Doc and Scrub Pot rode into the church yard, there was a rousing cheer to welcome them from the citizens of Portersville. The circuit Judge stepped out of the crowd with Jake Titus at his side. The two men stopped right next to Doc as he was preparing to get off his horse. The soon to be sherrif of Portersville did not even have time to dismount. “Let me be the first to congratulate you, Doc,” Jake said as he offered his hand, “Victoria is a fine woman. All the best. We had been looking for you till we heard about the wedding. Judge Douglass want’s to offer you a job.”
“Since I am going to be a married man soon,” Doc said as he and Scrub Pot slid off their horses. “I guess I will take it. Where is Victoria?.”
“She’ll be on her way in just a minute.,” Nate Travis said as he pushed through the crowd that was growing around Doc and Scrub Pot. “They are waiting for me to signal them. “You boys just come along with me,” the ranger added “I’ve got my orders.” He led the way with Doc and Scrub Pot arguing as they came along, followed up by the circuit Judge and Jake Titus.
Once sequestered in a small room off the back of the sanctuary, Judge Douglass stated his case. “I know this is not a good time, Mr. Stevens”, he said “You are about to get married, but Titus here has told me of the fine job you have done here and well, I’d like to offer you a hundred dollars a month, and swear you in right now.”
“A hundred and twenty five,” Doc replied firmly. Scrub Pot grinned as he dusted off the cover of his bible.
“That’s a lot of money, Mr. Stevens,” Judge Douglass complained.
“Gainful employment, Doc,” the old Indian said “You are a former Texas Ranger with much experience.”
“That is true,” Doc agreed “one hundred and fifty dollars, and you and Titus can swear me in right now.”
“Alright,” the judge said “Done. Now raise your right hand.”
It took less than ten minutes for Doc to promise to uphold the law in Portersville and his jurisdiction in the Oklahoma Terriory and for Jake Titus to hand him his silver badge. “Congratulation, Doc,” he said “On both counts. Now I am going to find J. W and get seated for the wedding.”
Doc’s head was spinning as everyone but Nate Travis and Scrub Pot left. “Before I give the signal for the bride to leave that big house up on the hill,”, Nate said “I am going to give you two a chance to get dusted off. Zachariah, you need anything for the service?”
“No,” Scrub Pot replied as he turned to the correct pages in his bible. “I have it all right here. This will be the second time today I have read these words.”
“All right,” Nate said “You have five minutes. Oh yeah”, he added. “The Contessa says I am your “Supporter”, Doc.”
“Supporter?” Doc groused “What is that? Something to wear?”
“That is what they call the “best man” over where the Contessa comes from,” Nate said “You got a ring for Miss Victoria?”
“I sure do,” Doc said “And I’m hankerin’ to put it on her finger too.”
“All right,” Nate said