Today was the day that Chloe was leaving for Texas to begin her college education. It was bittersweet for both her and Joshua, for they knew it was a step closer to the future that they both had imagined for themselves, but it also meant being apart in the oh-so-important present.
Most of the work was done for the day and there were quite a few people gathered out by the corral. There was a mixture of my men consisting of the stable hands and ranchers along with a number of JW’s goons, including Abraham McCarthy, of which I will classify them all as a notch just below outlaws. I wouldn’t go so far as to say there was a racial divide among the group because I had both blacks and whites working for me, but Mac’s men were all pale faces, to quote the Indian Natives.
The mood for the most part was jovial. The conversation was what you would expect from a bunch of ego-driven manly men, mostly lies, swearing, and talk of women. Some of the men took turns exchanging stories about their deeds, and they were clearly tall tales of little more than entertainment value. If one man told a tale about riding a bull across Arizona, the next would tell that he rode two bulls across Arizona and New Mexico. If some said they slept with three women in one night, then the next would say he slept with six women and the two bulls he rode in on. Yeah, there is no doubt that if you get a bunch of men together, especially cowboys and ranchers, the bullshit is going to get pretty deep.
In the midst of the good-natured humor going on, JW and Chloe appeared on the back porch where a couple of the men had loaded and prepared her coach to take her off to college. There was barely an audible mumble in the group of men now, but I could make out a few comments in reference to Chloe’s beauty. By now I had found me a perch on top of the fence that enclosed the corral and was leaning against one of the post. Joshua had made his way by my side and leaned his back up against the fence but facing away from the main house. I knew it was eating him up inside, the fact that she was leaving mixed with the lewd remarks for some of the men. Although they had said their good-byes the night before, it was still unbearable for him to watch her go. As she and JW embraced for the last time, I placed a hand on Josh’s shoulder for reassurance as she got into the coach and rode off.
“I sure hate to see a sweet piece of ass like that go” was the comment from one of JW’s thugs, Doug O’Connell.
A few of the men nodded in affirmation, and you could hear a few others verbally chime in with their mutual consent. All of this infuriated Joshua even more and Doug sensed it, so he set out to tease my brother.
“What’s the matter, little buck? Did you think you were the only one who had eyes for little Ms. Chloe? Well, she ain’t so little no more. Oh no, she is all woman now.”
Joshua didn’t speak, but he turned toward Doug as his breath quickened and his chest began to heave in and out as he attempted to hold back the fury raging inside him.
“Aww, look, fellas, I think he’s gonna cry. Little buck, you don’t stand a chance with a fine white woman like that. You may as well stick to dreaming with your hand in your pants because that’s as close as you will ever get to getting a piece of that, boy.”
Just as Joshua went to take a step toward Doug, I spoke, “The man is just teasing you, Josh, be a man and let it go.” Now understand that I love my brother and I will never let any harm come to him, but having said that, I don’t fight nor pick his battles for him. My comments to him were not as a brother, they were coming from the head rancher and a friend who both believed that what Doug said was just a fact of life as to how men talk and were not grounds for a physical altercation.
My words instantly had a calming effect on Josh. He immediately gained his composure and let his intellect take over.
“You’re right, Buck. Ignorance knows not what it does. He can’t help himself. The unenlightened are destined to live a lifetime of fear. So it is no surprise when they turn to ridiculing others to compensate for and cover up their own insecurities.”
Well said, little brother, I thought to myself as I nodded my approval. But it was apparent now that Doug was feeding off the crowd that had gathered and was now buzzing because Joshua had gotten the best of him by being the bigger man and taking the high road.
“See, fellas, that’s what happens when you educate a nigger, they start to think they are better than you.”
Neither Joshua nor I had heard that word in a very long time. Just then it became more than poking fun or mild harassment for the sake of entertainment. Now it was personal that word made the entire situation inflammatory. I was ready to handle this situation myself at this point, but I glanced up at Mac and his look made me realize that me getting involved would cause for him to get involve and that could lead to a racial divide that could have catastrophic fallout. Involvement at that level was pretty much at a stalemate. What happened next was the best thing I could have hoped for. Doug laid a personal challenge at Joshua’s feet.
“What you need, boy, is to be taught some manners. You need to learn to respect your elders. You see, you think you a man, but you still just a young pup.”
“What could you possibly have to teach me that I don’t already know?” Josh said in a condescending tone as he chuckled.
“Imma teach you how to take an ass whooping!” Doug snarled like a mad dog, not taking kindly to Josh’s nonchalant response to his very serious threat.
The unfortunate part about Doug’s challenge was how he grossly underestimated Joshua’s fighting ability. It’s true that Josh’s demeanor is that of a more passive cerebral type who would not engage in a physical confrontation. However, as much as it is his preference to resolve things in an intellectual manner, he is fully capable of defending himself should diplomacy fail. What most people fail to realize is that although he is the smallest of the Abbott brothers he may be the scrappiest. If you think about being the baby of two older and bigger brothers, you would know that you would have to learn to fight to have a voice and be respected just in your own family. But the biggest little known fact that tipped the scales in Joshua’s favor is that he was trained to fight by my father. Yes, every father attempts to teach his son to defend himself, but the difference with having my father as a trainer is that he was actually an amateur boxer. Mr. Wright decided to enter my father in an underground boxing match so that he could gamble and win more money, and my father did so well it began an amateur career for him. Since Bear and I had to work and couldn’t go, he would take Josh along when he trained, so, of course, Josh had the benefit of learning firsthand and became a mighty fine pugilist himself—a fact that my parents hid from Mr. Wright.
Not knowing what I know Doug was making a big mistake, but who am I to stop a man from displaying his manhood?
As Doug rushed at Josh, Josh stepped aside, brushing him off, and the crowd roared as they formed a circle around the two fighters. Doug picked himself up and readied his fighting stance.
“C’mon, little buck, don’t be afraid to take your ass whoopin like a man.”
Now the two were circling each other with their fist up in a fighting posture. Josh was in a conventional pose, and Doug displayed a rather awkward stance. Every now and then Doug would fake a jab to feel out his reach for Joshua, and when he did, Josh would nail him with a flashing jab of his own, just to display his superior hand speed. Each time this drew oohs and aahs from the spectators which only infuriated Doug, so he rushed in wildly with a looping right hand that he telegraphed so much that a little old lady in a wheelchair could have dodged it. Instead of dodging it, Josh blocked it with a high guard and then countered with three lightning fast blows to the abdomen that made Doug fall to his knees, and Josh finished him off with a crisp right hook that spun Doug around and planted him face down in the dirt.
As the dust settled, Mac stepped up and declared the fight over.
“All right, men, that’s enough. I’m sure whatever lesson Doug was going to teach Joshua he has learned it by now,” Mac spoke as only he could put it.
The clamoring of the crowd died down as they dispersed—some rejoicing, others disappointed. Joshua stood there feeling proud of himself and basking in the admiration of well-wishers as they passed and shook his hand or patted his back to show their approval. I walked up and put my arm around his shoulders.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you fight, baby brother,” I said to him, trying to conceal the pride in my voice.
“I still got it, don’t you think?” he replied as he jabbed the air in front of him a few times in demonstration.
“Yeah, Pop trained you well. He would have been proud of how you handled yourself.”
“You think so?”
“I know he would have because I am… Champ!” I said, raising one of his hands in the air as to announce him the winner.
As we turned to head into the stable house, I heard JW call out my name. As my sight fixed on him, I saw him motion for me to come up to the main house.
“Go ahead, Buck, I will get the horses ready.”
“Thanks, Josh, this shouldn’t take long.” At least I hoped it wouldn’t. I didn’t even know what it was about, but I suspect I have a clue.
Before I made it to the porch, JW stood there questioning me about the fight.
“So what was that all about?” he asked, but I felt he already knew the answer.
“Well, sir, nothing you should really be concern with. Just men being men.”
“What does men being men have to do with my daughter? I’m being told that mention of her came up and that is what sparked all of this.”
“Actually, Mr. Asher tempers flared based on some name-calling and a challenge was laid down and accepted. I’m sure in your day when a man challenged another man’s manhood a fight was sometimes the only way to settle things as well. But I assure you it was under control the entire time and handled in a fair manner.”
He looked at me for a moment without speaking and then pulled out a cigar and played with it. I wasn’t sure if he was deciding if he believed me or thinking of what to say next. He finally bit the tip off his cigar and lit it up. After taking a few buffs, he spoke to me in a calm but deliberate manner.
“Buck, I put you in charge of my ranch for a reason. That reason is because I believe you to be a fair and honest man. The color of your skin doesn’t matter to me because as a business decision you have proven to be one of the best that I have made since coming to Arizona. So if you tell me that you have it under control, I have no doubts that you do.”
“Well, thank you for putting your trust in me, sir. It truly means a lot. I have always been certain that I didn’t disappoint you with my performance.”
“That will be all.” He dismissed me and disappeared back into the house.
By then Josh was approaching with the horses.
“So what did he want?” he inquired.
“Guess,” I said to him in response.
“Was it about the fight? What did you tell him?”
“Hopefully enough to satisfy him.” That was my last remark, and then we rode off in silence.