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

tail. “What is going on, Goldy?” she asked , then looked over at her husband’s wry grin. “I think Goldy has made a choice,” he said. “Looks like he’s going home with us.”
“I hope Sam won’t be upset,” Victoria said as the collie licked her hand “But I really do like him and I was feeding him, even back at home.”
“Well, let’s get going,” Doc said “Sam has Diamond if she wants a dog. I kind of like this one myself. ” Doc and Victoria rode off with their collie bouncing along beside them. Their adventure had drawn to a close and a new one was about to begin.


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THE FLYING S RANCH

ONE MONTH LATER


Joe Dodge was a tall man with a powerful build. He wore his dark hair long and straight as his Blackfoot ancestors had. His skin was dark and the handsome features of his face showed that he was part Indian but those haunted grey blue eyes could break one’s heart. He was in his mid fourties and a little bit of grey was showing in his hair as he stood at the open door of the horse barn. He had regained some of his memory, with the help of his father, but there were still so many parts of his life that he did not understand or remember. It was a gunshot wound to the head that had robbed him of his memories. How he survived was an untold story. He had grieved at the knowledge of his wife Sarah’s death and was happy to know the young man who worked with him every day to help him get his life back was his son, Brian. He also knew he had a daughter, though he could not remember her. Everyone had faith that one day he would. The ranch hands loved him, he was a hard worker and had a stoic kind of way about him, but a sense of humor too and he knew horses. They called him Dakota Joe, as that was the only name he knew and had gone by it for years. He was the best wrangler most of them had ever seen or worked with. Brian and Scrub Pot watched in amazement as he walked up to Trouble, speaking Blackfoot to him, then vaulted onto his back and rode him around the field with no tack of any kind. When he got back , he put the big horse back in the barn and turned to Scrub Pot, his expression filled with questions. “Where is Black Joe?”, he asked. “I left him near the cabin?”
Sadly the old man looked up at his son. “Joe,” he said, knowing the truth would break his heart “Black Joe died a long time ago.”
“He died?”
“He was old, my son,” Scrub Pot replied “But he made many colts. You just rode one of them. That is Trouble, one of his last colts. He belongs to Sam.”
“But I saw my horse in the paddock. I was looking out the window of my room,” Joe said quietly “I know it was real, and not just an image.”
“You saw Smokey Joe,” Scrub Pot said comfortingly “He is Doc’s stud. Your Black Joe was his sire.”
“He was a fine horse,” Joe said sadly “I have missed so much.”
“Yes,” the old man replied “but you are alive and getting better all the time. You must have faith, Joseph. Today your daughter and her husband are coming back from California. Are you ready to meet them?”
“I-I don’t know,” Joe replied “You tell me she my daughter, but I don’t remember her.”
“But you remembered her mother,” Scrub Pot said , trying to encourage Joe to work his damaged memory and find his daughter. “Maybe when you see her it will help you to recall.”
“I will try,” Joe promised “Now I better get back to work or Ely is going to be cleaning those stalls on his own.”

Joe Dodge stood by the open barn door, his pitchfork resting in his hands. He had paused there when he heard the sound the buckboard pulling up to the front of the ranch house. Floyd Jax was driving and the young couple about to climb down seemed to be so happy and glad to be home. As Joe watched, a tall cowboy, stepped down and then lifted the young woman and set her on her feet, kissed her soundly. She was such a pretty girl, and she seemed so happy, just like a bride should be returning from her honeymoon.
For a moment the man standing at the barn door caught her eye and she looked his way for a moment, then some one called out to her , “Sam! Jerrod! Welcome home!” Essie Stevens met the newly weds on the steps of the ranch house. There was something about that dark haired girl that pulled at Joe’s misty mental images. When he looked into her dark eyes for only a second, he remembered his wife, Sarah. Ely Jax walked up behind him, a wooden water bucket in his hand. “Looks like the boss lady is back,” he said “Come on Joe. I’ll introduce you.”
“He said that she is my daughter,” Joe said quietly as he watched many people crowding around Sam and Jerrod.
“How’s that?”, Ely asked as he walked to the door and out into the yard.
“Nothing,” Joe replied as he set the pitchfork down and followed Ely. “I have not met her yet. She was gone off with her bridegroom when I hired on.”

By now we were completely surrounded by everyone who worked on the ranch or in the house. We were happily surprised by Scrub Pot and Esparanza’s news but sad to see the Doc and Victoria were gone. Sam had not noticed yet that her dog was gone too, but that would be later on, right now we were just glad to be home. I’d never been hugged and kissed so much or made to feel more like I belonged to this family in all of my life. It was good. Everyone was talking all at once and milling around, unloading the buckboard. I looked up and saw Joe Dodge at the edge of the crowd of well wishers. He looked a whole lot better than he did the last time I‘d seen him when he collapsed off the back of his horse. I’d helped carry him into the house on the day Sam and I got married. I stepped forward offering my hand. “I am Jerrod Bently,” I said “It is good to see you up and around. Sam joined me and smiled up at the man. “I hope you are well again,” she said “You gave us quite a scare.”
Joe smiled at her, “Yes,” he said quietly “And thank you for taking me in. Your grandfather has been a blessing.” Sam reached out and took his hand. “We never did get introduced that day,” she said “I am Samantha Bently.”
“Dakota Joe,” he replied. He could feel himself falling backward into the past as he held his daughter’s hand. He was not ready for this. I knew that Sam wasn’t either. I knew the truth about him and could not say a word to her about it. Not yet. I knew the minute I saw them together that there was no mistaking it. This man was Joe Dodge, my father- in- law.
“I don’t mean to be rude, Mrs. Bently,” Joe said “But I have work I must do. Welcome home.” At that he turned and walked away.
Sam looked after him and smiled. “I am glad Brian and Grandfather hired him.” she said “He seems nice, and in a small way, he reminds me of Grandfather.”
“What makes you think that, Sam?” I asked and wondered if she was sensing the truth about the man she now knew as Dakota Joe.
“I don’t know,” she said an she grabbed stack of wrapped boxes from the back of the buckboard.
“Come in side! Everyone!,” Esparanza called out from the open front doors. “Dinner is ready!” It seemed like everyone was waiting for us to do something. My wife stood there looking expectantly at me and then it hit me. I scooped Sam up in my arms , carried her up the steps, across the porch and over the thresh hold to the cheers and shouts of welcome from our friends and family. The Bentlys were home at The Flying S.

THE END