Chapter 4
The sun shining through the window awoke the newlyweds the next morning. Carl slapped Mary Jane on the bottom and told her it was time to get up because he was starving. She turned over with a start and glared at him through sleepy eyes.
“We can have breakfast in the hotel dining room and then we can do some shopping if you would like,” Carl said. “I don’t know what kind of clothes you brought, but I am sure the climate here is much warmer than you are used to. You might want to purchase something more suitable for the heat.”
“Yes, I fear the heat is going to be the hardest thing for me to adapt to,” she said. “In the mountains there was always a cool breeze and the days were nothing like as hot as it is here.”
The shopping trip turned out to be a much bigger excursion than she expected. She left the small shop with three new cotton dresses that were much cooler than anything she had brought with her. In addition to the dresses there were new boots, a colorful scarf, and a bonnet to protect her head from the sun. She also picked out some pretty fabric that she would use to sew more dresses and perhaps there would be enough left to fashion a quilt. She had protested the money that Carl was spending, but he insisted.
“Once we leave town it will be a long time before we return,” he said. “The climate here is very hot in the summer, but often the winter months can be just as brutal. You will need enough clothes to last you until we come back to town. And besides, I can’t have my wife running around in rags. What would the men who work for me think?”
“You have men who work for you,” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. My farm is large and I have several head of cattle. It is more than I could do alone. I have three men who live in the bunkhouse and help me with the daily chores. The life of a cattle farmer is a very busy one, but it will be much better now that I have you waiting for me at the end of the day.”
Mary Jane felt her cheeks color again at the implication. Would she ever get used to her new life and not blush every time Carl said something personal?
“Come. Let’s take these purchases back to the room and then we will go for a wagon ride around town,” Carl said. “I’m sure you will enjoy seeing all of the sights.”
She did indeed enjoy seeing the town. Carl pointed out various points of interests and explained them to her. They ate lunch, took in a play, and walked hand in hand to some of the local shops. Mary Jane couldn’t remember ever being this happy.
“If it is okay with you we will leave for the farm first thing in the morning,” Carl said. “We can stay in town if you like, but there is really nothing more to do here. Besides, I am anxious for you to see your new home.”
“I would love that,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing the farm.”
“You will especially enjoy it this time of year,” he said. “In a couple of weeks the cows will start birthing their young. The baby calves are always fun to watch. It is one of my favorite times of the year.”
The following morning Carl checked out of the hotel and loaded the covered wagon that would take them home. Mary Jane was excited to be officially on her way home, but she was totally unprepared for the oppressive heat. The early morning started out fairly cool, but soon the hot sun was shining overhead, making her miserable. The trail they traveled was dry and dusty and before long she felt like she had dirt and grime on every inch of her body. She was determined not to complain, but she silently wondered if she would ever get used to the heat.
Carl couldn’t help but notice the sweat that broke out on Mary Jane’s brow. He knew she was probably miserable, but he admired her for not complaining.
“It will be much cooler for you if you ride in the covered part of the wagon,” Carl said. “I know that you are not yet used to the heat, and you don’t want to get sunburned.”
Mary Jane had been determined to ride up front with Carl, but when he mentioned sunburn she decided to take his advice and take cover. She was instantly gratified to be away from the glaring sun. It didn’t take long for the rhythm of the wagon to lull her into a restful sleep.
When the wagon came to a stop Mary Jane awoke from her nap feeling guilty that she had fallen asleep while Carl managed the horses. She peeked out of the wagon to find him standing beside a small body of water. He had unhooked the horses and they were enjoying a good drink. She eyed the water warily, wishing she could just jump in and cool off.
Feeling like he was being watched, Carl turned to find Mary Jane awake.
“Well, I see you finally woke up,” he said. “I hope you had a good nap.”
“I am so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I am used to riding all day so it doesn’t bother me. You will get used to it in time. This is just one of the places that I always stop and allow the horses to get a drink. Just over the hill is a fresh stream if you are interested in freshening up a bit.”
It was almost like he had read her mind. She hopped down from the wagon and started in the direction Carl had indicated. She hadn’t gone far when she heard a strange rattle. She looked down and discovered that she was about to step right in the middle of a rattlesnake. She gave a yelp and took off running, unmindful of the rough terrain. She caught her toe on something and suddenly the ground was coming up to meet her. Her breath made a whooshing sound when she landed flat on her stomach.
Carl had heard the yelp and looked up in time to see Mary Jane hit the ground, causing a cloud of dust. He dropped the reins of the horses and ran up the hill to see if she was hurt.
“What happened,” he asked. “Are you hurt?”
“There was a rattlesnake and I almost stepped on it,” she answered. “You forgot to tell me that I had to watch for them,” she said almost sarcastically. “Now I am really a mess!”
“It’s nothing that won’t wash out,” he laughed. “Now let me help you up and I will escort you the rest of the way. We can’t have you getting snake bit before we get to the farm.”
Mary Jane stood up and brushed as much of the dust away as she could. Nothing was hurt except her pride, but now she was even more miserable with dirt and grit covering her entire body. Carl reached in his pocket and brought out a handkerchief.
“Here, why don’t you take this and wash up a bit,” he said. “The water in the stream is very cool and is suitable for drinking. You will feel much better after a good, long drink.”
Mary Jane snatched the handkerchief from his hand, still feeling the effects of her embarrassment. Carl was right about the water. It was very cool and refreshing. She took the handkerchief and washed as much of the dust off as she could before cupping her hands and getting a drink. The cool water tasted great and felt very good going down. When she stood up again she felt a little more human.
“All better,” Carl asked.
“Better,” she said. “I wish we could take this water with us.”
“There are other streams along the way, but I fear they are several miles apart,” he said. “Now, let’s see if we can get you safely back to the wagon without upsetting a rattlesnake.”
Carl let out a laugh when Mary Jane gave him a snarly look. His wife had a lot of things to learn about living in the west, and he looked forward to watching her learn. One thing he was sure of, life with Mary Jane was not going to be boring.