literature

The Uncertain Future Ch.2

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Literature Text

Chapter 2

Woody led Bo through the small town, it facades throwing misshapen shadows across the ground. As he looked at his beloved's face, Woody couldn't help but think that he was the luckiest man in the world. He was the sheriff of a prosperous, if small, town, with almost no crime, and he had the prettiest girl in the West on his arm. He couldn't help but smile at his own good fortune.

Bo was special. She came from a long line of southern plantation owners who had quit their plantation to move West a year before the Civil War. Her father and brother had been educated in the top schools, and had passed their knowledge on to her. She was intelligent, witty, kind, sweet... he could go on all night.

They traveled West during the fall of 1860. A little over half-way through their journey, Bo's father and brothers had gone off to get water and food and left them with the wagon and horses. They waited there for three days. Bo decided to go after them, and, a day later, she had discovered their bodies by a riverbed, scalped. Bo buried them, and returned to her mother and the wagon. They continued on their journey.

They didn't make it very far before they were beset by the natives, a small band of Hopi indians. They were surprised to find only two white women, alone. One member of the band could speak and understand a broken form of English and he served as a translator. The Hopi said that the Navajo people must have been responsible, for they had seen a small Navajo band in the area a few days before, and the Navajo and the Hopi were not friends.

The Hopi took pity on the women, and led them across the plains, and to a mountain valley where there was a small boomtown, and a friend of the Hopi. The left them there, under Dolly's capable care, and left. Bo's mother died soon after, leaving Bo alone, and completely dependent on the town for help. She was 15 years old.

To help pay her way, Bo began to run errands for anyone who needed it. One day, when out on the northwest side of the valley, she was attacked by a mountain lion. If Sheriff Woody hadn't come along, she would have died. He distracted the beast long enough for Bo to get away, then he killed it with his pistol, suffering only a shoulder wound, and a ripped shirt.

Bo helped him home, and, as the doctor bandaged his wound, Bo repaired his shirt. She had always been skilled at embroidery, but she was the Queen of sewing. After his recovery, during the process of which Bo was practically glued to his side, he spoke to Mrs. Tate, the old seamstress who ran the milliner's shop down the road, and convinced her to take Bo in.

Bo was now almost 20 years old. Her birthday was in a week and a half, and she had blossomed into a fine young woman. Woody, nearly six years her senior, considered himself lucky to have captured her affections, and half the town seemed to be in agreement.

Woody slid his free hand into his pocket, and he felt smooth cold metal against his finger. I'm so glad that it came today. He thought to himself as he ran his fingers over the ring. He had ordered it from the Sears-Roebuck catalog two months prior, and it had arrived on the train this morning.

He led Bo behind the corral, which sat adjacent to the sheriff's station and jail on the eastern end of town, where he had stacked up old crates to form a sort of rudimentary staircase up to the roof.

"You're so spontaneous." Bo said with a smile.

Woody laughed, "Well, I try." He helped her up onto the crates, "Now, I assure you madame, these are quite safe, I tested them myself."

"I trust no one so much as I trust you."

They quickly ascended to the flat roof of the building, where Woody had previously spread out several blankets and pillows facing West, so as to watch the sunset over the mountains. They settled down, Woody holding Bo close to his chest, just as the sun began to disappear behind the peaks.

Bo watched as the colors danced across the sky, and Woody watched as they danced across her heavenly face. The sky turned the prettiest shade of pale pink, and Woody decided.

"Bo," he began, beginning to sit up.

"Yes, Woody?" She asked, turning to face him.

"Bo, I have something that I need to ask you." He squirmed a little bit. He was so nervous!

"Anything, Woody, you know that." She smiled at him, and his confidence was bolstered, a little bit.

He needed to stand. He needed to move. He began to pace across the roof, the words not coming to his mouth.

"Bo-" He swallowed. How many times had he rehearsed this speech? At least a hundred. "Bo, do you love me?"

A surprised look crossed her face. "Of course I do." She said softly.

"More than just as a friend, or brother?"

Bo stood and reached out to take his hand in her's. She turned it over, and looked down at the rough, callused skin, and kissed his palm. "I love you more than life itself." She said, looking up into his eyes.

It took all of Woody's self-control not to shudder with relief.

"Bo,"He took her one hand in his, and knelt on the ground at her feet. "Bo, you are the most precious thing to me in the world, and I will do anything to make you happy. All I ask of you," He reached into his pocket an pulled out the small silver band, "is that you accept my hand." He held the ring up to her left hand, poised to put it on her finger, but waiting for her consent.

The last vestiges of the sun flashed across the silver as Bo put her right hand on his, and guided the ring onto her finger.
Yay! chapter 2!

I wanted to leave it on a sweet note. I might add another chapter tonight, but I will definitely update tomorrow.

CHAPTER 3: [link]

DISCLAIMER

I did not mean to insult anyone's heritage with all of the Native American backstory. I did a little research into what are considered peaceful Native American Tribes, and the Hopi showed up. In 1850, 7 Hopi leaders went to Santa Fe to meet with John S. Calhoun, who had recently been appointed official Indian agent of Indian Affairs for the Southwest Territory of the U.S. The Hopi went there to ask for government protection against the Navajo, who were their enemies.

They seemed like an easy choice to me, even though this story takes place nearly 15 years later, in 1865.


If you read my story, please post a comment that says "read" or something, then I know if it's generating enough interest for me to post the next chapter or not. Thanks!
© 2010 - 2024 Neverfallforfun
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toystoryfanatic's avatar
I love your story it is great