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John Wilson’s ranch was a good ten miles from town. Eight years ago, when he purchased the land, there had been as nothing but a rundown shack on the land.
It had always been his dream to build a fine ranch. He had seen so much destruction in the war that now he just wanted a place that was peaceful and not have had suffered the ravages of war. When he saw Wyoming, untouched by the war and still young and untamed, he knew that he had found the place he wanted to settle down in. It was as if heaven had found a place on earth to put a piece of itself in.
He tried to get the ranch in shape, but there had been an early winter that year, and it had snowed for four days and nights straight. The snowdrifts were piled up against the window panes, and the wind howling outside let John knew that it was going to be quite a while before he would be able to venture out far. It was on that fourth day when he realized he was running low on firewood. Though the wind and snow had stopped, he still knew there was a wood pile not more than ten feet from the back door. It would be easy to step out and back in again with no problem.
He took a step outside and didn’t expect it when he sunk into the snow up to his waist. Trying to make his way to the pile, he first had to find it under the four feet of snow. In the midst of this, he had suddenly lost his footing, falling backward in the snow and hitting his head on the wood pile. There was no telling how long he had been in the snow, and he would have died if it hadn’t been for a band of Cheyenne who had come along on their way back to camp.
They had found him half frozen in the snow and took him to their camp. The Braves knew the kind white man who had always treated them with kindness and respect. He even had given them two cows when he saw they were starving and there was no food. Now he needed their help.
He regained his strength, and during his stay with them he learned their customs and culture. He grew to have, a deeper understanding of them during this time. He learned how the Cheyenne believed death was a spiritual process, how at birth the child was given the gift of breath and spiritual potential. These gifts were developed as the child grows, then the process reverses itself with the grown man’s age. They believe that when the human dies his spirit travels along the hanging road to the campfires in the sky where it will find peace.
His respect for the Cheyenne and their cultures and beliefs made him a brother to them. The Cheyenne. he was with had also given him a name that he would be known as. He stayed with them until the first sign of spring. It was then that he felt it was time to go back home and rebuild his ranch and his dream.
Pedro and Carlita Vasquez, a young couple, were the first he hired to help with the building process. They like Johnny, they also had a dream, and Johnny was willing to let them start it with him. With the help of a few ranch hands, they were able to get a start on the makings of a real ranch. Eight years later, with hard work and dedication, it had turned into a fine working ranch, showing a profit each year with the promise of a fine lumber business starting up.
As Johnny came down the stairs, Carlita took one last look at him and smiled. This was the day Johnny’s bride was to arrive.
“Señor Johnny, if I weren't married I’d marry you myself.”
John just smiles and blushes. He heads out the door as Pedro brings the carriage to the front of the house, saying as he passes,
“If you weren't married Carlita, I would marry you too .”
Pedro smiles at his boss and wife as Johnny crossed over to him. .
“Here you go Señor,” he says as Johnny climbed up into the carriage.
“Thanks, Pedro.’’”
He smiles as Carlita comes out to watch him leave for town. As he drives along he wonders is if he is doing the right thing. After all, he really can’t expect a young, refined lady to live out here in this wilderness. But he hoped that once she saw the beauty and grandeur of this land that she would fall in love with it the way he had. According to Miss Goldington, Miss Goodwin was raised as a southern lady. But when he saw her face, in the picture that Miss Goldington sent him, there was a sweetness and honesty in her eyes. There was a spirit in her soul that captured him even though he was only looking at a picture.
Meanwhile, Kathryne is sitting in a stagecoach on the last leg of the trip to meet her intended. She had hoped that he would not be disappointed with her. Though her trip was almost over, there were times in this eight-day trek that she had wished she was back home. The rail system may have sped up the travel time, but it was still a long process from start to finish.
Kathryne realized she has no idea what Mr. Wilson looked like. She had seen his picture, but did he still look like that? She even wondered it that hadn’t even been a picture of him, and not someone else. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a man was not the one he was posing as. She certainly hoped that Miss Goldington had thought this small detail out.
She began to have doubts, but she then remembered that if she put her trust in the Lord everything would turn out as he intended. It was another few hours before the coach finally came to a stop in Cheyenne. Passengers were slowly getting out of the coach, and Kathryne was the last one as she made her way off the coach. She looked around and saw that there was no one there that seemed to be looking for her. She made her way inside the station, thinking that maybe someone was in there waiting for her. That seed of doubt was forming again. Slowly she places her suitcase on a bench and then she heard a voice call her name.
“Miss Kathryne Goodwin?”
She turned to see a handsome young man with brown hair flecked with reddish gold, and the bluest eyes the likes of which she had never ever seen before looking back at her.
“Yes, I’m Kathryne Goodwin.”
“Miss Goodwin permit me to introduce myself,” he said, drawing closer to her. I’m Johnny Wilson.”
Kathryne stared at him, still mesmerized by this handsome man before her. Though it couldn’t be possible, he was even more handsome in person than he had been in the photo, and now he was clean shaven. She seemed to like him more this way though there was still a hint of mystery in his eyes. Could there be a secret behind them, or was it just that he had that effect on her? Whatever it was, she was drawn to him as she extended her hand to in his direction. He was truly handsome. All the doubts she had drifted away when he spoke in a soft mellow voice that somehow made one feel safe.
“I’m happy to finally meet you, Mr. Wilson.”
“Please, it’s Johnny. There’s no need to be formal. After all, we are to be married.”
She started to blush and smiled at him. He offered to take her suitcase. She nods her head and they walked out of the station
“I have the carriage just across the street. Once you get in and we can head to my ranch.”
She looks back at him, asking,
“Am I to believe that I am to be living at your ranch before we are married?”
“I assure you, Miss Goodwin, it’s all very proper. My housekeeper and her husband are at the ranch as well, and your room is on the other side of the house, completely away from my quarters. If you like, I could sleep out in the bunkhouse if that will be more suitable for you.”
She sees the look in his eyes and feels as though she had offended him by her remark, something she had totally not intended to do.
“I’m sorry if I have offended you, Mr. Wilson, it’s just that it was unexpected. I thought I was staying at the hotel, but I will be fine with the arrangements you have made.”
His face softened, and there was almost a smile forming. How silly of him to think that she wouldn’t find staying at the ranch a bit odd. He just thought she would be more comfortable there, and that it would give her a better chance to get familiar with the ranch and how things were run.
When they had reached the carriage, he gently picked her up and helped to place her luggage on the back of the carriage. Within seconds, they were on their way to the ranch.
Kathryne had to admit the scenery was breathtaking. Every turn held Kathryne in awe with the beauty of it all. John saw the smile on her face when she looked out beyond the trail. It was as if she couldn’t wait to see what was around the next bend in the road.
After a while, she turned back to Johnny, asking,
“So tell me, Mr. Wilson, is there anything you want to know about me? I mean, any questions that you want to ask me?”
“Well,” he started, “can you cook?”
“I can make sure you don’t starve if that’s what you’re asking.”
“What about children? Do you like children?”
“Do you have any? If so, then yes, I like children.’
“I don’t have any children, I was asking if you like children woman!”
There was that temper again. This was going to be a problem if he couldn’t control it. Maybe this whole marriage was a mistake, but then again, she remembered Miss Goldington saying that her faith would carry her through her new path. It was clear that he did have a problem controlling his temper, but that was something she would either tolerate or have to leave. She looked at him as she saw that his expression had once again return to his normal calm manner.
“Mr. Wilson, I like children and have no objection to having children should you want to have them in this marriage. Now, if you are satisfied with that answer, shall we go on?”
He looked at her and stopped the carriage. She saw the anger building in him again.
“Look, ma’am, I told ya once already, it’s Johnny, not Mr. Wilson. And as for your name, Kathryne, it’s too long. I’ll just call you Lee. Am I making myself clear?”
She looked at him and jumped off the carriage, with such grace he was surprised. She would not stand for such bullying from any man, husband to be or not. She demanded to be treated in a civil manner and would not be subjected to these outbursts by him.
“I will not be called Lee!” she cried. “My name is Kathryne Morgan Goodwin, and as for me calling you Johnny, why it sounds like I’m referring to a child. And as for all of these outbursts of yours, you lead me to believe that you really don’t want a wife, but more of a servant to jump at your commands and be at your beacon call. If that’s what you are looking for then I feel I have come out here for nothing. Now, if you don’t mind sir, I would like to go back to town and find a way to get back to Louisville. I’m sure Miss Goldington can find you a more suitable girl than I. Though I doubt she has any who are willing to deal with a child.”
He looked at her. So she’s got spunk, he thought. A woman who demands respect.
He had not been looking for a simple minded woman who cowered in a corner when he raised his voice. She would definitely do well here.
“Now you just hold on a minute ma’am. I paid for you fair and square, and Miss Goldington says there are no returns. I suggest you get yourself back in this carriage and let me take you to the ranch.”
She looks back at him a questioning look.
“I’m not sure I want to go to your ranch Mr. Wilson, or any other place with you.”
He had had enough. This was not going as he had planned. He had realized that all he had to do was to control his temper and apologize to her.
“Ma’am, you are a stubborn woman and I’m gonna have to change my habits. I understand that I’ve been alone too long out here. I ... If I have offended you by my rudeness, I apologize ma’am. I wasn’t brought up to treat a lady so badly I apologize. Can I ask you to just please get back in the carriage and we can continue to the ranch?”
She turned to him when she heard him say please and smiled.
“Why, Mr. Wilson, you do have manners. It seems there is hope for you yet. In that case, I would love to get back in the carriage.”
He offers his hand to her and she climbs up on the carriage. Once again they are were headed for the ranch.
