"The Denton Boys"
Part 9
Back at the house, there were two strange mounts tied to the hitching rail by the stoop. "It looks like ma's got somebody come a calling!"
Sawyer recognized one of the horses belonging to Chad, or at least, he believed he did, once he got closer to the horse.
Sitting on the stoop and rocking in the rope swing, was Chad with a stranger. They were chatting away like a family reunion paying no attention the Jesse, Sawyer and their pa, coming towards them from the barn.
Clara had given them lemonade and they were bustin friendly words back and forth, laughing and having a grand old time. Pa perked up seeing Chad. It was clear he was fond of him. Chad had a positive strength about him, with the gentleness of a little boy. Ezra admired that quality in a man, whishing he was Chad's pa. Wouldn't that be something, having three strapping sons working the ranch? One never knew what thoughts travelled through Ezra Denton's head. The boys had no choice; on a working farm, everybody worked, starting at a young age.
"Put up the horses," said Pa, speaking to whoever would listen.
"I've got it pa," Sawyer replied, grabbing the reins to lead back to the barn.
"Chad jumped from the rope swing, landing on the ground, with barely a stumble. "I'll give you a hand," he volunteered.
Clara poured some lemonade for Jesse and pa, giving them a place to sit on the stoop.
"Now, there goes some mighty fine boys," said Clara watching Sawyer and Chad walking together, towards the barn. "They darn near look like family," she concluded.
"I didn't catch your `howdy," said pa, to the strange cowpoke who came with Chad.
"They call me Rudy, Mr. Denton."
"Mighty please," said pa. "Just call me Ezra, we are all friends here."
"Chad is mighty fond of you folks and he wanted y'all to be the first to hear about us going to Colorado panning for gold. I'm his prospecting partner. Who knows, maybe even mining is something we can try!" said Rudy.
"So you've got the gold fever too, huh," said pa!
"Sure nuff. I'm plenty tired of scratching out a living workin in a corral. I need to be rich," replied Rudy, in a rough manner of speaking.
"I guess there is no accounting for a man's interest," added Clara. "Nothing wrong with being rich."
"Got a point there, dear lady – got a really good point," said Rudy, setting down his empty glass of lemonade. "Yes 'em, no accounting for any of it!" ******
Sawyer and Chad unsaddled the horses and put them into stalls in the barn.
"Powerful good seeing you," said Sawyer, looking at Chad in a distinct way. Nobody was around to see it, so he touched his face as a way to be near him.
Chad made sure nobody was looking, and then kissed him. It was a quick peck on the cheek lacking passion, but nice – yes indeed, it felt truly passable.
"Yeow, don't start something, when I can't do anything to stop myself," pleaded sawyer.
They were both getting aroused and it was noticeable, but nobody touched a thing. They looked and smiled at one another – they knew. What they knew was debatable, but a whoosh feeling sparking through their bodies, was attacking both of them.
"Naw, I'm not starting a thing. I wanted to do it. What I really would like I won't even talk about. I came to tell you, and your folks, that I am going to Colorado.
"So you are going for the gold?"
"Yup, I wanna have money to buy a ranch," replied Chad. The feller back on the stoop is my prospecting partner. He is not my first choice, (you are) but he has the money to stake half of the equipment and willing to do it. I don't touch anybody, and no cowpoke touches me – only you. – I just wanted to mention that," continued Chad.
"Plum sweet, hitting it rich. You are coming back?" questioned Sawyer, ignoring everything else Chad just told him.
"Count on it. Rich or poor, I am coming back for you."
"I'm not sure what that means," confessed Sawyer.
"You will, don't be hookin up with some strange cowpoke."
"Don't talk crazy," replied Sawyer.
"How about doing something quick?" suggested Chad, pushing his body into Sawyer.
"Naw, I'm afraid somebody will walk in, it's too risky."
When Sawyer and Chad got back to the house, Clara had moved everybody inside and she was preparing supper for the men.
Rudy was a kindhearted feller, not bad looking, and older than Chad. He sported a mustache and beard. He was married at one time, but no longer. Rudy's hope was to mine for silver but that never happened. After meeting Chad, they teamed up as partners, deciding to find gold.
Chad heard about a tributary river to the Colorado called "The Caydutta," So that is where they were going to start panning for nuggets.
"When are you leaving," asked Sawyer.
"We are sleeping at the Livery stable. Earl is putting us up for the night. Tomorrow, gonna breeze outta here, at first light," replied Rudy.
"Yup, we got the fixings for panning, grub, water, blankets and tools packed and ready to be loaded in the morning," Chad added.
They stopped talking about Colorado, as the words were wearing thin. It didn't seem as important now with the food sprawled out on the table. Clara called everybody to supper.
The night before, Clara made bread using homegrown corn. She roasted a couple of chickens, stuffed with sage dressing and herbs. The Denton's grew a variety of vegetables. A heaping bowl of mashed potatoes, swimming with butter, even tho she had gravy available, set at the end of the table. Squash, peas and carrots all picked from the farm, filled ceramic bowls to pass around the table.
After an rousing time stuffing their faces, it was time to call it a day. The usual after supper talking out on the stoop, didn't happen. Chad and Rudy had to get back to the livery stable and hit the sack for an early rise.
It wasn't long after that, a cloud of dust swirled into the air as Chad and Rudy road into the evening, back to town and soon to be out of Texas.
"Well, there they go, said Ezra."
"Yup, - there they go," added Sawyer, with a nameless gut feeling, about the days ahead.
****** To be continued...
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