jail?”
“Well it so happens those boys had a pressing engagement, somewhere far away. They drew their wages and lit out. So, where should I put this bedroll, do you have a corner that Jake and I can sleep in?”
“Well Jake can sleep by the kitchen stove, you can put your stuff in the bedroom upstairs at the far end.” I picked up my roll and went upstairs, I opened the bedroom door and went in. I stopped, looking around, it was a woman’s bedroom. I started to back out, Brie was behind me.
“What’s the matter?” She said.
“Well, you must of made a mistake, this room looks like someone already has it.”
“No mistake, it’s my bedroom. Of course if you don’t want to share it with me….”
Now that was a silly statement, “Of course I do, but what will people say, we’re not married yet?”
“Trego, I’ve been a widow for five years, do you think I’m going to let a little piece of paper stand in our way. We both know we’re going to be married as fast as we can. I’ve been weak in the knees from the first time I laid eyes on you….
The only problem that I had with it, was getting that blasted corset off of her…
The snow had stopped, and the moon was shining bright through the frosted pains of the bedroom window. Brie was sleeping soundly on my left arm. Her hair was across her face, I brushed it back. She had a few freckles across the bridge of her cute nose. I leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. Her eyes opened and she stretched a little.
“Hmm, that was nice. What time is it?” She said.
“I think it must be after midnight. The snow stopped and the moons bright.”
“Yes, it is bright. Uh, I have to pee, I’ll be right back.” Brie crawled out of our warm bed. Her nipples hardened as the cold air engulfed her. She bent over and pulled the chamber pot from under the bed, she squatted over it. Then stood up and walked to the window. “Oh, come see, it’s beautiful. The moon is so bright and with the snow it’s just like daylight.”
I got out of bed and went and stood behind her, holding her tight I looked out. She was right it was a pretty sight. But nothing like the view I got when I glanced down over her superb form.
“Ooo, I’m getting cold, let’s go back to bed.” Brie said, I agreed.
“I’ll be right with you, it’s my turn to go.” I said, as I bent and picked up the chamber pot, I didn’t think I would ever stop going. Brie giggled, as she lay there watching me in the moonlight.
“You don’t know how often that I’ve dreamed of you, just like that in the moonlight.” She said.
“Dreamed of me? It couldn’t of been very much, we’ve only met yesterday.”
“Oh, I’ve dreamt of you for years. The only thing different, you didn’t have the beard. You did have the mustache tho. But your thing wasn’t as big in my dream, I’m glad I was wrong on that.” She said, reaching for me.
The next time we woke up the moon had gone down, and it was just the starlight that pushed back the shadows in the room. This time it was her waking me up. We were cuddled down in the feather bed. We lay there awhile talking:
“Tre`, you know we really don’t know too much about each other. You never really said, where you came from. Or anything about your family or even how old you are?”
“Alright, but you go first. How old are you?”
“I’m twenty five. I’ve been a widow for five years. He got killed in a mine accident. We were only married for a few months. My Father and Mother didn’t want me to marry. But they did give me a dowry, I bought this house with it.”
“Alright, where are your parents?”
“Chicago. He’s a meat packer, Dad is. Mom’s a housewife. I have two brothers and three sisters. I am the oldest.”
“How come, you just didn’t go home when your husband got killed?”
“I was going to. But then I started having those dreams about you. You certainly took your time getting here.” Brie said, then playfully hit me on my arm. Of course one thing led to another…
But when that was over, I asked. “You say that he was killed in a mine accident? I didn’t know the mine was in operation five years ago?”
“It wasn’t, he was prospecting on his own, he had sunk a shaft about twenty or thirty feet in. He said, the color looked promising. Anyway, it caved in and killed him.”
“What happened to his claim?”
“I don’t know. It was where the Wise River is now.”
“Did he ever officially file on his claim?”
“Yes, he went to Helena about a month before he had his accident.”
“How soon did they, whoever they were, move in on his claim?”
“That same week I believe, I went over there to get some of his things and they were already working it. Why what are you getting at?” Brie said, as she rolled over on top of me, looking into my eyes.
“Well, I don’t know too much about mining law, but it seems to me, if he had legally filed the claim, that it would belong to you upon his death. Did you ever see his body?”
“No,” Brie said, as she rolled back off of me. “They said, he was too badly broken up, it was a closed casket.”
“Then you really don’t know for sure, just what killed him. Or if he was even in that casket? Now think back, you were newly weds, did he act like a newly wed? I mean was he head over heels in love with you?”
Brie laid there, then she said, “Yes he was, we both were. I’m sure he is in that casket. But like you said, I didn’t see the body, so I don’t know really how he died.”
“Was any of that bunch that now runs the Wise River, among those that were working the mine right after your husband died?”
“Yes, a few them. And those two you ran out of town, they showed up two months later, they weren’t here before though.”
“Did you keep a copy of your marriage license? You didn’t throw it away, did you? I said, as I kissed her.
“No, I kept it. Along with other keepsakes. I even kept his clothes, I guess I’m too practical. Waste not, want not.”
There was a knock on our door. “Brie, are you alright. It’s past six.” It was Brona’s voice.
“Come on in Brona, we’re awake.” Brie called out.
Brona opened the door and took a step in, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She started to back out.
“Don’t be silly, it’s alright, Trego and I are to be married. Has the cook got breakfast about ready?”
“Yes, but she said that you’re usually down there by five. We thought you might be sick.”
“No, we’re fine. We’ll be down shortly, have Caitie milk the cow will you?”
“She’s already out there.” Brona said, as she closed the door behind her.
We both jumped out of bed and did a quick wash in the washbasin. Brie started to put her corset on. “Honey, why don’t you leave that thing off, you don’t need it. You’re perfect just like you are.” I said.
“But what should I wear, my dress’s won’t look right without a corset.”
“How about just some pants and a shirt?”
“You mean like a man wears?”
“Sure why not?”
“Well, the only clothes that might fit,