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

hiding place marked by the rocks that looked like a buffalo. Could that fragment of memory help Joseph find his way back?
Rain was coming soon, Scrub Pot could smell in on the chilly breeze that swept through the open window. “You must rest now,” he said as he rose from the chair he’d spent so many hours in and closed the window.
“I saw a wedding,” Joseph said , “But I can’t be sure if it was real or not. My mind plays tricks on me. The bride was beautiful, she looked like... like....” His voice trailed off.
“Who did the bride look like, son?,” Scrub Pot asked, cautiously encouraged “Think. You will remember her name..” As he watched, the man’s eyes closed and tears began to stream from the corners. “It was Sarah.. My Sarah.”, he said.
“Yes, “ Scrub Pot said softly as he sat back down by the bed. “It was Sarah. Your wife.”
Joseph was still weak and unwell, taxing him would set back his recovery, so his father pulled the quilt over his bare shoulders and left the room. Joseph had seen Sam, his daughter, at her wedding and wearing her mothers wedding dress. Except for her dark auburn hair , she had looked very much as her mother had when she wore the same dress many years ago. The old man was encouraged, but there were still so many questions. How had he survived? What happened to him that caused him to lose his memory and who was it who had lain in his grave for the last twenty odd years?


+++++++++++


The excitement of the past few weeks was over and life returned to normal at The Flying S. There were a few more horses now, a second stallion and two more mares. Brian and Essie told Lille Stevens-Black that they would not be returning to Philadelphia with her. After several tantrums, a fake collapse and “near death experience”, Lillie saw that she was not going to change Brian’s mind. He and his new wife were staying in Texas to help Scrub Pot run the Flying S until Sam and I got back.
Doc smiled as he drove the buggy all the way back from Three Forks after leaving his sister and all of her thirteen satchels and trunks at the train station there. Lille had a train to catch and as far as she was concerned it could not be soon enough. The man said to be Scrub Pot’s son was recovering from dehydration and extreme exhaustion under the care of the old man and Esparanza, and Doc and Victoria were getting ready to go home to Portersville. Now Sam’s dog, Goldy had been around the ranch the whole time, sniffing out rabbits, chasing ducks and hanging around Victoria. For some reason, he didn’t seem to miss Sam much I was told. May be in the end of it all, when Doc and Victoria left and he went with them, the truth behind his betrayal would come clear.


“What if that man isn’t Joe Dodge?,” Victoria asked as she closed her saddle bag and tied it shut.
“I don’t know what to think., “ Doc replied as he sat on a bale of hay watching his wife finish saddling her mare. “I was up there in his room a little while ago.,” he said “That fellow looks like Joe, but he doesn’t know me, or anything else. He seems to understand who Scrub Pot is, but that is all. He seems better, and getting a little stronger. I don’t know Vic, I just don’t know what to think. “
”He is very sick.,” Victoria replied. “And if he is Joe Dodge, how will Sam take it when she comes home and finds out that her father is alive?”
“Don’t know how she will take it, Vic,” Doc replied “But if it ain’t Joe, well then something will have to be done to protect Sam. I won’t have her hurt over this.”
“Scrub Pot says he is starting to remember bits and pieces about his past,” Victoria replied. “He told me that he has asked about his wife.”
“There is only one way that I will ever believe that that drifter is Joe Dodge,” Doc said as he got up and crossed the barn to the stall where the black waited for him. “Come on , Smoke,” he said “Time to go.” He took hold of the reins and led the horse toward the open barn doors.
“What do you mean, Doc?”, his wife asked as she followed him.
Doc paused at the door and turned to face her. “Joe and I had a long history,” he said “I was with the Texas Rangers before the war, and so was he. Joe Dodge would remember certain things about me and about what we did in those years. So far he only stares at me and doesn’t make any kind of connection between us at all.”
“Maybe he will in time,” Victoria said encouragingly. “Now, let’s go in a say good bye. It is time to go home, my love.”
Doc smiled at her “Yes, Ma’am,” he drawled, “It surely is.” With horses left waiting at the front porch rail, The Stevens’ went into the ranch house. Scrub Pot was sitting in his favorite leather chair in the parlor, napping as a warm fire burned in the fire place. “Zachariah?”, Doc said. The old man snorted and woke quickly from his short nap. He turned around as Doc and Victoria entered the room. They were both dressed for their long ride home, long dusters and all. Scrub Pot grinned when he saw that Victoria was wearing a gun belt just like her husband’s, a Navy Colt in the holster.
“You are a woman of many talents,” Scrub Pot declared as he rose to his feet and went to her. He took her hands in his rough and calloused ones. “You are a blessing to this family, to me and my Granddaughter,” he said “I will miss you, as you have left your mark on this place.”
“Thank you,” she said with tears in her brown eyes as she hugged the old man “I love you Zachariah,” she said “and I will miss you too. Please write whenever you can.”
“I will,” he said as he drew away and took Doc’s hand. “Go with God, my friend,” he said “that town of yours is growing and it needs you. One day the territory will become a state and then who knows, with your gift for gab, you might end up as governor.”
“I rather doubt that,” Doc replied as he hugged his friend “But I intend to make us a good life. Will you come to Portersville when the baby comes?”
“We will try to be there,” he replied.
“We?”, Doc questioned a little worried.
“Yes,” the old man replied , “Esparanza and I married one another last night. So congratulate me and be on your way.”
“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s butt!,” Doc declared. Victoria hugged him once more. “I knew you two were up to something with all those visits you made to the kitchen and when she was leaving early a few times to “visit her son.”
Scrub Pot winked , “We are telling her family today,” he said “She was at Bear Claw with me when she was not here.”
“I’ll bet that cabin of yours is spotless now,” Doc declared in amazement.
Esparanza appeared at the door of the parlor, a feather duster in her hand. “Zachariah told me you were leaving today,” she said “I wanted to say good bye.”
“Congratulations, Mrs. Dodge,” Doc said as he gently kissed her on the cheek, “I hope you can get him straightened out.” She smiled and joined Scrub Pot near the fire place. “He is a good man,” she said as took his hand.
“That he is.,” Doc replied .
They said their good byes on the veranda. Even Goldy showed up to see them off. He was muddy and wet, obviously he’d been after the ducks in the pond again. Victoria petted him. “Good bye, Goldy,” she said “You be a good boy for Sam when she gets back, and you have to quit chasing her ducks.” The dog looked up at her with soft brown eyes and whined.
Doc and Victoria mounted up and waved to Scrub Pot and his wife as they rode away. They were headed home to Portersville and Doc smiled to himself, he had a surprise for his wife when they got there too. He now owned the Double J and he’d decided to name it The Two Hearts One Love Ranch. Victoria had no idea and Doc was happy about that. They were not even half way down the lane to the road that led into Grants Creek when they heard a series of sharp barks. Victoria drew Fancy to a halt and turned in her saddle to see Goldy tearing down the trail toward them, barking and carrying on. He dashed up to her and jumped up, putting his paws on her leg and wagging his