Marcus
By
Sharon R. Barrett
********
Smashwords Edition
copyright 2011 Sharon R. Barrett
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Edition, License Notes
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Adult Reading Material
This story is a work of fiction and resembles to person living or dead, places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are production of the authors imagination used fictitiously.
Author’s notes
This story is about Marcus Reams a wild and free man who runs a wagon train across Canada heading for Alberta. Marcus is romantic, handsome, and wild as they come. No woman will ever tame him so he has said over a dozen times. He liked his freedom and he was as wild as the country he headed for. Brittany beautiful untamed as the wind, educated; socialite joins the wagon train under a dark cloud of a gambler name Brentwood who her brother sold her to in a high stakes poker game.
The picture for the book cover was taken by Sharon R. Barrett
Tag (s) Historical romance, fiction, suspense, erotica, and mystery, western
Chapter 1
Brittany had just closed school down for the spring planting time and summer. She stood in the one class room cleaning off the black board with a damp cloth. The one room school house took grades one through ten. It had been along winter and four students had graduated leaving her feeling fulfilled on her mission to teach children how to read, write, cypher, With the school shut down for a few months she would get her two bedroom home cleaned, prepare for the fall when school opens up again.
Brittany stood five foot four, had beautiful long blonde hair it was so light blonde that it appeared to look like sun beams when the sun was shining. Her blue eyes saw everything she was stubborn, smart, and well educated. She had a line of men in town that chased after her until she put them in their place. She felt she was just too young to marry at the tender age of twenty.
When the school house door open and she turned around to see her brother Lenny she smiled. Lenny stood five foot eleven inches tall had blonde hair only darker then hers but had the same beautiful deep blue eyes as Brittany had. “What brings you to the school today Lenny? Oh don’t tell me you need more money to gamble with tonight!”
“No sister I actually won a few hands today and I got a thousand dollars in my pocket.”
“Then that is good news for a change so stays home tonight don’t go back to the gambling hall again.”
“Now sis I can’t do that I am on a winning streak but I will leave you three hundred dollars.”
“Please don’t go tonight stay home with me we haven’t talked in a long time.”
“See you later sis! Do not wait up for me kiddo!”
Brittany walked out of the school locked the door placed her shawl around her shoulders and walked out and down the road towards town. The school was just fifty yards out of town. As she walked it was the usual heads turning to look at her, and some remarks of about a date but she continued on her way she stopped in at the local store picked up a few things and then walked to her small house that the town supplied to the school teachers.
At midnight her brother was still not home so she crawled into bed. Just before the sun was coming up Lenny came in and Brittany woke with a start, her brother was packing his things and yelling at her to pack her clothes. “Why must I pack and leave Lenny? What is going on tell me!”
“I lost a lot of money to the gambling house and now the owner wants you in exchange and he will mark my debt paid in full. We have to get out of here now!”
Lenny went to the building out back saddled his horse and hitched the wagon up and stuck his things into the wagon and then took Brittany’s carpet bag two boxes she ask him to take and shoved them into the wagon. “Let’s go now before the town wakes up.
“What if I talk to the man and pay him a little each month out of my wages Lenny?”
“It would take you a long time to pay the man I owe him two thousand dollars Brittany.”
Brittany jumped into the wagon Lenny opened the door and came face to face with a man who had a gun pointed directly at Lenny. Going someplace Lenny it seems you own the man money and you put your sister up as part of the bet. Brittany gasps and the man looked up and Lenny pulled his gun and fired it hitting the man square in the chest and he dropped like a stone to the ground. Brittany slapped the reins to the two horse’s backs and the two drove out of town and west ward. “How could you have lost so much money Lenny? How could you put me up on a bet your own sister? I will never speak to you again Lenny for this one.”
“The game was set for me to lose so the owner would have you as one of his girls Brittany.”
Brittany stammered, “one…one of his girls…you mean become a saloon whore?”
“Yes Brittany one of his whores.” Brittany began to cry. “Don’t cry sis I know I got us into this and I will find us a way out maybe I can get into a game and win some money and send it to the S.O.B.”
“No Lenny it was your gambling that got us into this situation. And it won’t get us out only in deeper then you are now.” Brittany clamped her mouth shut and refused to say another word to Lenny.
Slowly they made their way west, the first town was nothing but a fast and loose town and not fit for Brittany to stay in. The second town Lenny saw a wagon train heading west and went to see the wagon master Marcus Reams. “Hello I am willing to work my way and my sister’s way across Canada if you will hire me. I can herd horses, drive a wagon, stand watch anything at all we just need to get west.”
Marcus looked at Lenny and thought he looked like he couldn’t herd a dog let alone a herd of horses. When Marcus looked at the female sitting on the wagon he thought wow she is a looker. “Can your sister cook?”
“Yea she can cook she is a great cook matter of fact.”
“Ok I will hire the both of you, she can cook and you can herd the horses and stand watch part of the nights on the trail. Get yourself a wagon if you can’t afford one just say so and I will put your sister in a wagon. My scout is Gunner his real name is Romeo Sanchez but call him Gunner.”
“How much does a wagon cost with a team of horses and to supply the wagon?”
Marcus looked at the young man, I would take three hundred dollars and you can herd horses and your sister can help cook rather than do all the cooking.”
“It’s a deal!” After a few words with his sister Lenny came back handed Marcus three hundred dollars.
The next morning a wagon filled with supplies was in the line-up and Lenny walked to his sister, “come sis our wagon awaits. You can sleep inside and I will sleep under the wagon sis!” Brittany said absolutely nothing to her brother. “I have to go now and herd the horses, but I will help you get up on the wagon sis and here is a pair of gloves for your hands.” Lenny wanted to help Brittany up onto the wagon but she pushed him away he stood there a minute and then stepped up into the saddle and rode his horse over to a herd of horses. Brittany crawled up onto the wagon and made it on her second attempt.
Marcus sat his saddle and looked at Lenny he wondered if the young man could manage a herd of horses but he would soon find out. He should be ok as long as he listened to Samuel on how to do it.
By the end of the first day Marcus was impressed with Lenny’s abilities with the horses. And just as surprised at Brittany’s abilities to handle a wagon and a six horse harnessed team. She looked exhausted and he hated to ask her to cook but she hired on to help. And he knew Cookie’s food was not the greatest and maybe just maybe this woman really could cook.
When the wagons were lined up in a circle and the teams had been removed Marcus walked down the wagon and stopped at Brittany’s wagon. “Miss you are needed to help cook for the men on the wagon train.”
Brittany came out of the back of the wagon stepped down pushed her blonde hair back from her face and took a deep breath. “Where do I go to do this cooking?” Brittany looked up into the face of man who stood six foot one had dark blonde hair with even darker eye brows and blue eyes. He had a full beard but kept himself cleanly shaved and when he smiled his white teeth were even. Brittany noticed hair sticking out of his shirt and wondered if it covered his chest or just part of his chest. And her tummy did a flip flop and she blushed at the thought.
Marcus looked at her and thought she was one of the most beautiful females he ever laid eyes on. She was stunning in the moon light. Marcus shook her head smiled, “come with me please!” Brittany wore a simple plain dark blue dress with a white apron in front.
Marcus walked down the wagons until he reached the chuck wagon and a man stood there, “you can help Cookie cook.”
Marcus walked away and sat down and started talking to his scout Gunner. “Well Gunner what do you think?”
“I think that woman is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life friend.” Marcus turned his head and watched Brittany doing what the cook was telling her to do. Then he heard her arguing with the cook over the stew needing a spice or two. And Brittany seemed to have won the argument and she was adding some spices to the stew. Marcus thought she is a stubborn bit of baggage.
When the stew was ready the chuck wagon man rang a bell and all the men that worked for Marcus and Gunner came forward each man was served with stew and a pan biscuit, most came back for seconds when they had all eaten Brittany sat down and ate some stew herself.
Marcus brought a dish and Brittany jumped up filled it with stew, the stew smelled great and he tasted it. “Great stew Miss.”
“Since I work for you please call me Brittany or Britt.”
Marcus smiled warmly, “ok Britt.”
Then Brittany stood and turned towards the back of the chuck wagon and started doing the dishes when she had finished washing and drying the dishes the cook sat and ate taking his time so he would not have to do any dishes, and Marcus frowned at the old man. The old man was on his third plate of stew.
When Brittany finished she dragged herself back to her wagon crawled inside and laid down on the pallet she made to sleep on and fall asleep. She never changed her clothes she just laid down pulled a blanket over her.
The next week was the same drive all day; cook the meals do up the dishes and the drag herself off to bed from exhaustion. But once the first week was over she seemed to have more energy and even walked around the wagon train speaking to some of the other women. Most of the married women were stand offish and she didn’t blame them at all. She had noticed their men admiring her so she chose to stay away.
Lenny walked up to Brittany, “how long are you going to ignore me and not speak to me Britt?”
Britt looked at Lenny and walked away, and Lenny screamed out, “I should have let them have you.”
When Britt got into her wagon she began to cry, she had loved her teaching job, she loved the small town she lived in and she missed her friends and for the first time since her mother died she missed her mother. The world suddenly was extremely unfair to her. Her brother had sold their parents’ home for a stake in a poker game and lost it all. That was when she took the teaching job that came available.
Chapter 2
Well into the second week Marcus was impressed with Brittany and was beginning to take an interest in her. He found himself often riding down the row of wagons as they travelled and he always smiled at Brittany and she would smile back.
The wagon train stopped for the night and Lenny grabbed Brittany by the arm and forced her out away from the wagon train. “Now listen to me sis you acting childish not speaking to me. I thought a full house would have won the hand but as I said the hand was padded so I would lose. The man had a royal flush.”
“You had no right to put me up as collateral for you debt to such a man or any man for that matter! How could you do something so stupid so unloving as cruel as to sell me off to the highest bidder?”
“It wasn’t like that sis and you know it.”
“I know no such thing it is exactly as I said you put me up to the highest bidder in a game of cards!”
Lenny stormed off and Brittany began to cry.
Marcus was sitting under a tree smoking a cigarette and listened to the entire argument between Britt and her brother. Marcus frowned and suddenly he detested Lenny with his whole being. The man was weak, thoughtless, and sure as hell didn’t love his sister. Marcus got up from where he was sitting and walked over to Britt. “Britt are you going to be alright?” Britt turned around with tears running down her cheeks and she looked so sad so broken that before Marcus realized what he was doing he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. When she stopped crying he refused to let her go and she didn’t seem to want to be let go. She felt good in his arms and she smelled like a field of flowers. Marcus felt if he let her go at that moment she would collapse instead he held her for a few moments longer then he moved back from her lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
Britt had never been kissed by a man before in such a way, oh there had been a few who tried to kiss her and their lips were punishing but this was so gentle and so warm that her heart melted in her chest and her eyes glazed over with passion and desire and when he pulled his lips away from her he smiled, he walked her back to her wagon helped her in and she undressed and laid down on her pallet. The kiss had left her with Marcus on her mind for the night and when morning came she looked tired. Britt helped make breakfast for the men and then did up the dishes and headed to her wagon climbed up.
When Marcus reached Britt’s wagon he smiled. Marcus said smiling, Sei incredibile”
Britt looked at him and smiled, “what did you say?”
“I said you’re incredible in Italian. And you are an amazing woman.” Marcus moved down the wagon train on his black stallion and yelled; “move them out,” then rode pass Britt up to the front of the wagon train yelling, “Move them out!”
Britt smiled to herself, he was Italian and she really had not given it a thought to his nationality just that he was handsome and a great kisser. He did not have an accent so he must have been born in Canada or came when he was a young boy. In any case it made no difference to her at all.
Britt was sitting smiling as she drove the wagon and her brother came up a long side, “don’t get any ideas about that Marcus fellow your better then he is.” Britt said nothing, “Did you hear me Britt you can do a lot better than him, he nothing but a two bit wagon master.”
Britt turned to her brother, “I can do a lot worst like being a whore in gambling establishments; which is what you wanted for me to be!”
“Damn it Britt if I had wanted that for you I wouldn’t have gotten you out of town.”
“Yea out of town, give up my teaching job, move away from my friends, and on the run do you think they won’t come after us, because they will? If they discover we are on this wagon train God help the others on this wagon train. Or didn’t you even give them a thought?”
Lenny moved back towards the herd of horses he was on watch that night and first watch was better than second watch he didn’t mind third watch it just made the day longer is all. He only had watched every other night so it was not so bad. Lenny had to admit his sister was right she could do a lot worse than the wagon master. And his plans from what the scout had told him were; he was going to start a ranch of beef and horses when he reached Alberta. So a rancher’s wife was not so bad maybe his sister could teach school again. She loved children and she loved teaching. He had to admit there were probably men after him and his sister. He thought that after the first hundred miles they would forget him, but his sister was right they won’t give up and he has put the wagon train in danger. If Brentwood padded the hand of cards to get his sister then he was not about to give up easy.
As the day came to an end early because they were near a small river Marcus decided to cross the river set up camp let the women wash clothes fill up the water barrels on the wagons and give everyone a little break from driving the wagons.
Britt filled the water barrels to the wagon first so she was carrying water buckets back and forth from the river to the wagon. When she finished doing that she took out a tub rolled it to the fire she had started went to the river filled the wash tub with water, put on a kettle over the fire to heat water up to wash clothes, she sat down after she gathered her clothes. When the kettle was hot she added the water to the tub washed her clothes hung her under clothes inside the wagon and laid her three dresses out on a small line she put up from a tree nearby to the wagon.
Britt then marched up to the cook and ask what he wanted her to do and he said she could make dinner whatever she wanted to make he was taking a bath. Britt made soup homemade pan biscuits and rang the dinner bell. Marcus came up to Britt and she dished out the food gave him two biscuits and a cup of coffee. Marcus went to the fire and sat down then she filled Gunners plate handed him two biscuits and a cup of coffee. When she had finished waiting on the men she put some soup and a biscuit in a dish and walked over to the fire and sat down. Britt sat silently listening to the men talking about the trail up a head being a little rougher because it was hilly when she finished her meal she walked to the chuck wagon began doing up the dishes. When she had finished she moved away from the men and went to her wagon and thought a bath up stream would be great. She took a change of clothes a bar of soap and a towel.
Slipping away she made her way up stream a ways slipped out of her clothes left her under things on deciding to wash them on her she slipped into the cold water and shivered. She ducked her head under the water and gasp for a breath of air. Realizing it was colder then she had thought it would be she began to wash her hair quickly then rinsing it out she began to wash her under clothes standing in the stream she heard a splash and ducked down into the water to her neck and looked around in all directions. She could see nothing. Thinking maybe it was just a large fish or an animal she quickly finished washing and then rinsed off. She was about to leave the water when a voice out of nowhere said, “Can I borrow your soap.”
Spinning around Britt looked into the eyes of Marcus who stood behind her about five feet away. “I…I suppose so.” Reaching her hand out to him with the soap in it; Marcus smiled at her warmly.
“It is a nice time for a bath I didn’t know you were up here bathing until after I was in the water. I did not want to ruin your bath so I kept quiet. Since you’re finished now I thought you might share your soap with me.” Marcus took the soap from her hand and began washing his chest and his hair. Britt stood in the water up to her neck not knowing what to do or how to react and getting out of the water was out of the question he would be able to see her through her wet clothes.
When Marcus rinse his hair and stood looking at Britt, “can you turn your back and close your eyes while I get out of the water please Marcus?”
“Now why would I want to do that and ruin such a beautiful vision of a mermaid?”
“It is the proper thing to do if you were gentlemen!”
“And who said I was a gentlemen?” Marcus smiled and raised his left eye brow.
“Please I am getting rather cold now I must get out of the water.”
“I could put my arms around you and warm you up if you wish?”
“No…no thank you sir, please turn your back and close your eyes I am beginning to shiver.”
“Very well Britt I suppose for once in my life I could be a gentlemen and let you get out of the water without watching you to make sure you get safely to shore. All I ask in return is a kiss before you leave the water.” Marcus made his way towards Britt and he watched her face blush at his suggestion and he smiled. Slowly he lifted her chin and he kissed her lips as her lips parted his tongue went inside her mouth and began stroking her tongue. Then Marcus stepped back and looked at Britt her eyes were glazed over filled with desire and his shaft was hard and in need of release. “Be on your way!” Marcus turned his back but he did not close his eyes. He was not that much of a gentleman.
When Britt was out of the water and on the bank she dried herself with the towel stepped behind some bushes and began to undress and then redressed herself in clean clothes fresh under things. When she came out of the bushes Marcus was waiting for her with her bar of soap. He was dressed and smiling at her. “Thank you for the use of your bar of soap.” He put his hand out to her she looked down at the bar of soap then took it placed it inside her wash cloth and began to move back towards the wagon when Marcus grabbed her pulled her back into his arms. “Sei bellissima oh you are so beautiful. Sto cadendo nell'amore con voi Britt. I am falling in love with you Britt.” He spun her around and kissed her lips.
Britt melted into his arms put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When Marcus rubbed his shaft up against her hip Britt came to her senses, “let me go please don’t do this, please let me go?”
“Don’t do what, don’t fall in love with you, and don’t want you? Do not fear me I will not throw you to the ground and take you here, I will wait until we are married first. For now Sono dipendente dei tuoi baci I am addicted to your kisses. Just let me kiss you one more time and I will walk you back to your wagon.” Marcus bent down and kissed Britt’s lips until she was breathless. Then he turned her around took her by her arm and walked her to her wagon. “Once we pass these hills Britt I will have to be more on guard and will not be able to spend time with you, but once we reach our destinations I am going to court you properly. Can you wait until then?”
Britt nodded her head and smiled at Marcus. He kissed her forehead and she got into her wagon. Slowly she undressed put on a night gown on and then crawled into her pallet and smiled. She thought sleep would never come her heart was beating so fast but before she knew it morning sun was rising.
Chapter 3
“We found Charlie shot in his side lying in the barn, he’s going to live boss, but he says they left town took the buckboard and three horses. We searched the country side and came up empty handed.”
Brentwood looked at his man, find the two of them bring him back dead or alive I don’t care but bring back the woman unharmed, I mean unharmed don’t lay a hand on her! Search the surrounding towns if you have, but I want them found. With Brittany on my arm people will know when I want something I damn well get it.”
“Right away boss get right on it, now.” Russell walked out of Brentwood’s office. Russell thought to himself that Brentwood was crazy to go to all the trouble to stack the deck against Lenny just to get his sister but if it was the bitch Brentwood wanted then he would have her.
Brentwood leaned over a table Crystal come sweetheart I want a little attention from you darling. As Brentwood took Crystal by the arm and pulled her along to his private suite of rooms. Crystal knew better than to fight Brentwood he could be mean it was bad enough he was rough when he had his way with the girls, but if a girl would fight back he could kill her easy. One girl was dead who fought back once; she lay buried behind the saloon. When Brentwood entered his suite of rooms he pushed Crystal into the room and walked in and closed the door. Brentwood slapped Crystal a few times and when she begged him not to hurt her he tore her clothes off of her and took her brutally driving his shaft deep inside of her until she cried out in pain and then he released his seed deep inside of her. He crawled off of her and yelled, “get the hell out of here bitch.” Crystal grabbed her clothes and rushed out of the room and back to her room.
Crystal stood in front of the dresser mirror, ‘one of these days I am going to kill the son of a bitch for what he does to me!” Crystal opened the dresser drawer looked at the gun that lay in her drawer covered by a pair of pantaloons.
Packing up his horse Russell jumped up and headed out. Two weeks went by and nothing so he headed towards the town west of Brentwood and finally came up with a man who saw Lenny and Brittany said they stayed two days and left town heading west.
The next town produced the buckboard and no horses, but that a wagon train pulled out shortly after they arrived in town so they might have joined the wagon train. Russell thought I rather doubt it, it takes money to join the wagon train but they could be following behind it a short distance for safety sake.
Russell walked to the telegraph office sent a message to Brentwood asking him what he wanted to do about it. Three weeks following the wagon train would have taken them a long distance.
Two hours later a message came back, “Hire a couple of men…stop…go after them…stop…Brentwood
Russell went into the nearest saloon sat around for a while decided on the two men he would hire and got up and walked over to their table. “Hi I am in need of two men to help me bring back a woman and her brother to Brentwood, is you interested in the job.”
“How much does the job pay?”
“Fifty dollars each when the job is completed; my name is Russell do you want the job or not?”
“I am Wes and this is my brother Parker and yea we will take the job.”
“Good we start in the morning bright and early.”
Chapter 4
The next morning the sky was over cast and it appeared as if it would rain. Dressing quickly Britt made her way to the cook found him drunk so she began making breakfast. When breakfast was ready Britt rang the breakfast bell and the men came to eat.
Marcus smiled at Britt, “where is the cook?”
“He’s in lying down I think he had a little too much to drink last night and she smiled.”
Marcus was angry he walked over to the cook’s wagon jumped in side and gave the cook a kick in the leg, “get the hell up Cookie!”
After swearing and slurring of words, Marcus started going through the wagon tossed out ten bottles of booze out into the dirt outside the wagon. Marcus picked up the bottles that didn’t break which were eight of them walked down to Britt’s wagon stuck the eight bottles in side her wagon then walked back up took a dish, Britt filled the dish, “I put the eight bottles in your wagon it is for medical reason not for Cookie to be drunk on. After I eat I will also check the chuck wagon and make sure there are no more bottles.”
Marcus sat down to fried pork fried eggs and biscuits with an apple and a cup of coffee. After breakfast he got into the chuck wagon found four more bottles of whiskey and took them out and took them down to Britt’s wagon.
Marcus pulled Lenny off the herding of the horses and had him drive the wagon for the cook Cookie and the wagons pulled out. When the rain started to come down Marcus stopped the wagon train got into a supply wagon got out his oil slicker got one for Lenny since he didn’t have one and one for Britt as well. Gunner came riding in and grabbed an oil slicker and the wagons were told to move out again. It was a light drizzle all day long and when the sun went down Marcus told Cookie to make dinner for the men that Britt was taking the evening off because of weather. Cookie was sporting a hangover that would drop a horse and dinner was not fit to eat and Britt ended up tossing it out and making dinner herself. To which made Marcus angry to the point he did not dare speak to anyone. And Gunner took one look at Marcus and knew not to say a word.
As the evening progress the second meal was great tasting seemed to have made the men happier about waiting for the second meal to be cooked. Marcus was in a better frame of mind and Gunner spoke up, “we will reach the last town tomorrow before we hit the forts maybe you should purchase a ring for your lady.”
Yea I could purchase the ring but there is plenty of time for us to get married. We can get married at one of the four forts we will hit on the way to our destination. I am going to take a look around and then hit the bedroll for the night.
Marcus took his rifle and headed out walked around when he reached Britt’s wagon he smiled when he saw her sitting next to the fire she was stirring up a pot and he walked up to her. “What is cooking in the pot darling?”
“Tea would you like a cup?”
“That would be nice a cup of tea before I turn in!”
Just as Marcus sat down a gun shot rang out and he jumped up. “What the hell?”
Four men came rushing in with Lenny being carried by them. “Lenny oh Lenny is he alright?”
“NO miss he’s shot in the chest we have to get him to a doctor right away. Take him to the Cookie’s wagon and hurry. Britt stay here I am going to have him into town. Town is about six hours from here if we hurry and only take one wagon.”
Gunner rushed up I will go with them you stay here Marcus in case there is more trouble.”
“Ok we will start out first thing in the morning and hurry into town.”
Britt looked at Lenny he was unconscious and in a bad way. “I can’t just stay here. I have to go along please let me go along?” Britt began to cry and Marcus took her in his arms and held her tight.
“You can’t go it’s too dangerous for you to go into town and be there by yourself you will stay with the wagon train when your brother is better he will re-join the wagon train I will leave Cookie to look after him in town he will be just fine Britt.”
Britt leaned back and looked at Marcus, “you would do that for us?”
“No for you Britt I know you love your brother even if he did try to sell you off to the highest card player.”
Britt moved to her wagon and stepped inside and lay down. “I can’t believe this is happening to me just a few weeks ago I was a school teacher happy and could ask for nothing more out of life. Now I am on the run and Lenny’s been shot and I will be next.” Britt began to cry again until she falls into a deep sleep of nightmares. Britt woke several times during the night and she heard the breakfast bell ringing in the morning. She got up quickly brushed her dress off brushed her hair and stepped out of the wagon. She rushed up to the cook, “I will help!”
Cookie smiled, “no need have some breakfast and get ready to move out.” Britt took a slice of ham and two biscuits and took them back to her wagon. Marcus had her team hooked up to the wagon when she reached the wagon he helped her up and then stepped into the saddle and yelled move them out.
Seven hours later the wagon train pulled into town and out the other side. Gunner rode up spoke to Marcus. Marcus yelled circle up. Once the wagons were in a circle and everyone got down Gunner undid the team to Britt’s wagon and Marcus came down. “Your brother is alive the doctor says he will make a full recovery I will take you over to see him right away.”
As Marcus took Britt by the arm and walked her down the street to the doctor’s office a man stepped up to them. “I don’t know who you are Mister, but I have come for the woman she belongs to Brentwood!”
Marcus looked at the man, “What makes you think she belongs to anyone but me mister?”
“Her brother sold her to Brentwood my boss.”
Marcus looked at the man, “now how the hell would he sell off this woman when she is my wife and I didn’t sell her off?”
The man stammered, “What…your wife…?”
“Yes my wife we have been married now for the past ten weeks!”
“You can’t be married; her brother sold her off in a deck of cards.”
“He can’t lose what he didn’t own at the time Mister, how about if we play a game of cards and I put that woman over their on the street up for collateral.” Marcus looked at the woman with the chestnut hair and dark brown eyes.
“We can’t do that you don’t own her.”
“My point exactly Mister you can’t sell something you don’t own.”
The man stepped off to the side and let Britt and Marcus by Marcus walked into a gold smiths store and walked out with a diamond ring for Britt and a wedding band. “Britt we have to get married now, and then we will go see your brother.”
“But you don’t love me?”
“I sure do love you!” You don’t love me? Well whether you do or you don’t if you want me to save your life then you have to marry me today. The minister is a friend and we can get him to back up the date! Come!”
“I don’t know Marcus your taking on a lot marrying me. I have everything to gain and you have nothing to gain at all except trouble.”
“I want to take it on, now come! And I have a lot to gain by marrying you. I have my own private cook, woman to rub my back and I want to have children someday. I think you will do fine on all accounts!”
“But…But I am not sure I love you Marcus!”
“Do you like my kisses? Do you like it when I hold you in my arms, or do you get sick on both accounts?”
“I don’t get sick and yes I like your kisses and love it when you hold me when I cry!”
“Then you will love me in time! In the meantime I can love you enough for both of us!”
An hour later they were in the church and two witnesses one was Gunner who was at the church making arrangements and the minister’s wife was the other witness. The minister backed up the date and they signed the papers and the papers were handed to Marcus he stuck them in his pocket. The minister would record the wedding and all was legal. Britt had on an engagement ring with one diamond and a wedding band.
They walked down to the doctor’s office. Marcus spoke to Lenny told him that he and his sister were now married and that marriage took place ten weeks ago. “The marriage was recorded at the county seat. I am leaving Cookie here to protect you! When you can travel in five more days you two can catch up with the wagon train. We will be leaving in the morning. The doctor says you can’t be moved for at least two days. I can’t stick around that long due to weather further west.”
“I understand Marcus; take good care of my sister. Have a safe trip!” Lenny shook hands with Marcus.
Britt kissed her brother on the forehead see you in six days Lenny. Then she hugged him and moved out of the doctor’s office.
Russell contacted Brentwood and asked him what to do now that Brittany was married to Marcus Reams; word on the street had it he was no one to mess with he shoots first and ask questions later and he was no fool and extremely fast with a gun.
When Marcus and Britt got back to the wagon train Marcus was all smiles he went got his bedroll, his things and walked down to Britt’s wagon and put his stuff inside it. Britt was making lunch for the men and when she finished she went to the wagon. Britt stepped up and into the wagon and found Marcus’s clothes, bedroll, oil slicker and other person things. She began to put his clothes into a box and his shaving things. Then she stood there thinking now what when Marcus stepped up into the wagon with his sleeping pallet. Britt spun around and Marcus was smiling at his new bride. “I came to help you make up our bed for sleeping. Britt blushed and turned her face away from Marcus.
“Yes I can use your help to move a few things in the wagon to make room for two people. Marcus began moving boxes and when he came to one very heavy box he said, “What the hell is in this box?”
“Books, school books, I was a school teacher.”
Marcus looked at Britt, “really what else don’t I know about you?”
“I was Brittany Williams I taught school grades one through ten. I am twenty years old born in February during a storm. My mother died when I was ten years old, my father brought me and Lenny up until I was eighteen I started teaching school at age nineteen and taught for a year. Maybe you should tell me about yourself?”
I am Marcus Reams, I am handsome, quick tempered, don’t give up what is mine. I am fast with a gun. My parents are from Milan Italy; my parents are still alive and live on the east coast. I am twenty four years olds. I love my new bride!” Marcus stepped up to Britt and pulled her into his arm and kissed her lips softly as her hands crept up and around his neck he deepened the kiss.
“Marcus can I see you for a minute please.”
“Be out in a minute Gunner!” Marcus smiled; I can’t step outside right now I would be embarrassed. Marcus whispered to Britt.”
“Oh my,” Britt began to smile and then she blushed.
“Yea oh my and Marcus smiled down at Britt. A few minutes later and Marcus stepped out of the wagon and up to Gunner. “What is it Gunner you caught me at a bad moment!”
“Marcus there is a couple that wants to join the wagon train, but honestly I don’t like it!”
“Then tell them no, they can’t join.”
“They would not take no from me because I am not the wagon master. There right over there.”
“Stay here at the wagon and watch that no one tries to get near Britt.” Marcus walked off to talk to the couple. As Marcus walked up to the couple he did not smile, there wagon looked like it was thrown together in quick time lacked a good team of horses. “I understand you wish to join my wagon train the answer is No. My reasons are this, you don’t have a good team of horses pulling your wagon, and it looks like it was tossed together and not organized find another train to slow down.”
Sir please we need to join this wagon train it is the only one going west right now.”
Marcus turned around, “I said no that is final!”
The female began to cry and Marcus kept walking he never would fall for a females tear not ever again once was enough. That time nearly got him married, when he refused it cost him one hell of a beating by three men. His mind slipped back in time, he was dating a female named Lillian, Lil was pretty and she threw herself at him often and he refused her advances he did not want to settle down at the time; when Lil’s tears did not work on Marcus to marry her. She went to her father and told him she was pregnant and he had refused to marry her. When it came down to it he had refused the father calling his daughter a liar if she was pregnant it wasn’t his because he never slept with Lil. The father not being sure his daughter was telling the truth had him beat badly instead of shot. As time went by Lil’s father came to him and offered him a great amount of money and his prized black Arabian stallion Pegasus to leave town he did not want him around reminding him of what a fool he had been when it came to his daughter. Marcus took the money and the horse and left town. Lil was shipped back east to a school for women.