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Epilogue - Part 2 - Fatherhood, for Beginners
The following morning, John awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Rubbing his eyes free of the crust-like feeling, he looked to see Abigail dressed in her town clothes, a gleaming grin on her face. "Hey," She whispered, fearing to wake up Jack, frowning as she received nothing but an irritated grumble from John's throat. "I made you some coffee."
"Thank you."
"You gonna get up and eat breakfast or are you gonna lay in bed all day?" She scoffed.
"Abigail, don't start. It's not even eight in the morning."
"Well, then lay there for another hour and feel sorry for yourself for bein' sore for doing a day's worth of work. Your food will be on the table."
"Where are you going?" He asked, seeing her gather her side purse.
"I'm headed to work today myself. Stay out of trouble... If you can."
"Where are you workin'?" John asked.
"I told you. Cleanin' at the doctor's office," She grinned. "Bye."
"I bet she's cleanin' at the doctor's office..." Jack mumbled, his pre-teen hormones getting the better of him as he wasn't very shy in expressing his inner thoughts. John's brow arched at his son's comment, however, he felt as if he had to agree with him as he didn't blame Abigail for finding lust in another man, especially since confessing her wish to marry Arthur emerged in their previous argument.
John let out a soft chuckle, "Jack, I'm gonna go to work. Keep the place tidy."
"Okay, Pa." Jack replied, his eyes fixated on the Otis Miller draft he had been reading while he ate his breakfast.
"Where are my other hands?" John heard Mister Geddes shout from the main ranch house as he was still standing at the barn finishing his morning chores. "Dammit, Abe! Where are the other hands?"
"I-I thought I said I don't rightfully know, Mister Geddes, sir."
"Well, what good is that to me? We got three horses lost, possibly more, a mare about to foal-"
"Sir-"
"And no hands to help with any of it. I'm supposed to be heading into town. This place is chaos! Milton! Mister Milton! Over here, please!"
"Yes, Mister Geddes, sir?" John replied after rushing to get to his boss.
"You good with horses?"
"I'm okay. I'll do whatever needs doing, sir."
"Good man. Can you help my boy, my youngest, Duncan? He will insist on riding Jeremiah, a horse that is far too strong for him and my wife will need help with this mare if she goes into foal today," Mister Geddes explained, mounting his horse. "Abe, you and Mister Dickens better not make no more mistakes like you two did today, you hear?"
"No, sir."
"Thank you. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to run over to Mister Blake's place to see if I can buy some more horses off of him. With the three we got missing, we can't afford to be losing any more horses, especially the ones he's trained for us."
"Understood, sir."
"I will be in town the rest of the day, so keep the place secured until I return."
"Will do, Mister Geddes." John assured him.
"I'll show you to Duncan." Abe sighed.
"I'm good. You get on and see if you can find them horses."
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"Hey there!" Mister Geddes shouted from the front gate of Hanging Dog Ranch as both Minnie and Arthur were atop their trusted and senior mounts as they had felt they were long overdue for a ride together. Knowing Isaac was safe with Hosea learning how to skin an elk he and his father hunted with the assistance of Charles, Arthur knew he had plenty of time to spend with his wife that was well needed, which there was no better way than saddling up and taking a ride through what Minnie called the Lavender Meadow that was snug against the quiet and flowing river.
"Howdy, Mister Geddes!" Arthur tipped his hat, pulling Dahlia to a stop, the senior mare chomping at her bit as her impatience never simmered down in her age. "What can I do for ya? Them cows doin' good still?"
"They're wonderful. That Hereford got out yesterday I reckon, but my new ranch hand and Mister Dickens got it squared away. I was riding into town for a meeting and figured I'd stop by and see you first to see if you had any horses you were ready to sell?"
Arthur sighed and scratched his bearded chin, "I got three colts in the barn now I'm workin' with, but I haven't roped or done nothin' on them yet. I'm still desensitizing one to gunfire and the other two are needing to work under saddle. I'd say it would be another six months before they're ready."
"No worries. I still have plenty of horses, but according to Abe, three of them have run off."
"You still have that bay mare I sold you?"
"Yes, my new ranch hand rides her. He's really well with horses and he has earned to ride her."
"Good. Aside from this mare here, she's my favorite one I've trained so far."
"Agreed. Your horses are worth the money, Arthur. I'm in no rush, but I'd like to see them perform once they're ready. That is, if you're planning to sell them in the future?"
"Absolutely. I'll come by and get you one day when they're ready."
"Thank you. I'll see you around, Arthur. Madame." Mister Geddes tipped his hat in departure, turning his horse around to go back onto the main trail leading to Strawberry.
"I guess you can't get away from work for a day, huh?" Minnie asked, now nudging Trace into a walk as the only thing on her and Arthur's agenda was to spend time together without interruptions.
"Unfortunately not, but we make good money off of those horses. That would be good money in the spring. I'd say we're well set now for winter." Arthur explained.
"I'm proud of you, Arthur. You've really built your dream here for yourself and us." Minnie smiled, grateful for his presence.
"You know I can't take all the credit, darlin'. You've given me the best gift I could've asked for."
"Oh, I know. You were more of a mother to Isaac than I was!" She laughed. "You done had everything else down pat. I think if you could've breastfed him, you would have!"
"I can't help it, darlin'. He's my little buddy," He grinned. "He's been wantin' to learn how to ride here lately."
"Then let him, honey. You've already taught him how to fish, the basics of hunting, and now our seven-year-old is learning how to skin an elk hide with his grandpa Hosea and uncle Charles. I think riding a horse will be a little easier for him. He's already really smart and mature for his age."
"He gets that from his momma. I think I might in the next couple of days. I need to figure out how I'm gonna fix that roof." He sighed.
"You've been goin' on and on about this roof for weeks!" She laughed. "Just patch it."
"I've thought about either patchin' it or getting Charles to help me build a whole new roof."
"Ain't nothin' wrong with that whole roof to replace it. I'd say just patch it and it'll be fine. Besides, if you and Charles start on it now, you won't be done with it before winter hits. It's harvest season now, so if anything we need to be worrying about getting our garden out of the way."
"I know, darlin', but it'll look better..."
She giggled, "You even know how you're sounding right now? Who's gonna come by and see our roof and say: "Damn, old boy done did a good job on that damn roof?" Huh? Nobody!" She teased, making Arthur laugh along with her.
"I guess you're right. I guess my options for my Honey-Do list have been short this month." He chuckled as Dahlia picked up a short-strided trot as he and Minnie were now about a half-mile out from the ranch, enjoying the scenery of the mountains ahead of them, seeing a small herd of Pronghorn in the distance.
She bit her bottom lip in excitement, "Well, I have an option for you."
"What's that?" He asked, slowing Dahlia down to a fast walk.
"You can... Patch the roof, or... A baby."
With that, he pulled his mare to a stop, looking at his wife in pure excitement at the mention of another child. He had never had the nerve to ask, knowing he would never want to put her in the pain he experienced her doing to give him Isaac. But her mentioning it willingly? Oh, he'd gladly take her by the river if she wanted to. He felt as if he were thirty-six again, but was rather nervous to try for another child at his current age of forty-four. "Come again?"
"I don't think I have to repeat myself." She smirked, biting her bottom lip, knowing it drove him wild.
"You sure you want that?"
"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have suggested it."
"Then we best be gettin' to it."
"Race ya back?" She giggled, turning Trace back around towards the ranch. "Go!" She shouted, not giving Arthur the chance to say anything else.
The couple galloped across the meadow, tears forming in their eyes as the wind irritated their vision and smiles plastered across their faces. "Last one there has to take their clothes off first!" Arthur teased her, holding his hat down on his head as he nudged Dahlia to go faster, her signature ears pinning against her neck as she and Trace still shared their competitive nature.
"Looks like it'll be you doin' it!" Minnie taunted him, staying ahead.
"Ah, I doubt that, darlin'!" He replied, nudging Dahlia faster again as the ranch was in view, loosening the reins to let her have her head in her full stride, easily leaving a cloud of dust behind her as Trace was behind her by just a foot, leaving Minnie to be the last one enter the ranch.
"The hell's gotten into you two?" Hosea asked, peeking his head from the barn where the elk hide had been displayed for tanning.
"Just a friendly race is all." Minnie shrugged, dismounting Trace and loosening his cinch, Arthur following as his cheeks were flushed with red as the couple lazily hitched their horses at the hitching post outside of their cabin.
Hosea knew Arthur well enough that if he didn't get action while they were out, he had the hint to not enter the house for another hour or two. "Understood."
Shutting the door behind him with his boot, Arthur wasted no time in keeping space between he and Minnie. Hanging his hat and jacket up on the coathanger, he wrapped his arms around her waist and latched his lips to the hot skin of her neck, her giggles sounding distant as his focus was clear: to get her to their bedroom as quickly as possible.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he effortlessly picked her up, carrying her up the stairs and easily laying her on their bed, seeing that the sight before him was more beautiful than any painting. She bit her lip and reached for him, "There ain't no time to take clothes off, Arthur."
"And why not?"
"Because we got a curious seven-year-old that doesn't know how to knock, that's why." She giggled.
"He won't come in here."
"Fine, if you don't want to listen to me, then I guess we can wait until tonight." She playfully pouted, forcing herself to turn over to show that she was going to get off of the bed, her primary goal of arousing him quicker.
"I don't think so," He growled, grabbing her waist and turning her back over to face him. "You've been teasing me for a while now, you know that, right?" He asked as he settled between her legs.
"I know, that's why I do it." She grinned, raking her fingers through his hair, feeling his free hand nestle between her folds, smirking at how she was already aching for him far before he could do anything else to arouse her.
"Well ain't I so lucky to have you constantly teasing me?" He scoffed playfully, his hips involuntarily jerking, eager to make entry.
"Now you're teasing me, Arthur!" She whined, her hips rolling into him, begging. With a smirk, he buried his face into her shoulder as he carefully slid into her, the warm reunion almost making him lose it right then and there as well as her aroused whines.
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