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Category:
Western
Publisher: Lulu Self Publishing
ISBN-10: 1458381714
Type: Fiction
Pages: 270
Copyright: March 2011
ISBN-13: 9781458381712
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
A collection of Western fiction involving a cross section of life , customs and historical events that occurred in the 1860 era of our western frontier. All of the stories utilize authentic period weapons, techniques and customs in the narrative.
Tales of Gun fighters, murder, Indian conflict, gold mining, mystery, suspense,, horse racing, wild horse capture, hanging, romance, marriage and the amazing Pony Express all captured in this work. Bring your imagination and Hard core American heritage as you stand shoulder to shoulder with these heroic men and women defining Western Justice,. Ride with a daring young rider of the Pony Express as he blazes his way through Indian ambush and ‘Hold your Breath” as the young lady Anita picks up a rifle and carefully squeezed off a shot ending the life of a suffering murderer. To be a part of this literary experience “You Better Come Shootin ! “
Excerpt
Chapter 7 Shut up and Marry Me
“Shut up and marry me!’ she said. Don Diego Peralta was astonished when he lifted the veil to see the face of his bride! This was not his intended, Senorirta Glorita Valverda; but Sue Calloway, his Foreman’s daughter! “ What the Hell’s going on?” he angrily whispered. Sue returning his whisper , said, “ Gloria ran off with her Cousin Antonio! You’ve gotta have a wife to secure the Land Grant! So Shut up and Marry Me and we’ll straighten it out later!” This was absolutely crazy! He couldn’t marry Sue! His Bride to Be was the lovely Glorita Valverda, not Tomboy Sue! “ Just one moment, Father!”he said, “I must speak with the bride!”
Moving with Sue to the side isle, he said, “Are you crazy? I can’t marry you! We’ll have to put off the wedding until I can talk some sense into Gloria’s head!” “ Diego!” she said, “You haven’t got time! The government survey came in today and you know that the Territorial Governor David Meriwether has decreed that all Spanish Land Grant Conformations must be completed by midnight May18, 1855. Guess what? Today, in case you forgot; is May18! This Conformation must be signed by Senor Don Diego Peralta and his wife or all of the lands surveyed as Rancho Peralta become property of the Territory of New Mexico. You haven’t got time and the Government would love to grab your Ranch!” Diego said , “ I can’t do this, it’s just not right! What the Hell got into Gloria? I thought everything was settled! I don’t know what to do . We’ll just lose the Rancho!” Sue said, “No! No! Let’s go through with the ceremony. Once the Rancho ownership is confirmed for you , we’ll nullify the wedding! How’s that ?” Diego just shook his head. This was too much. He said, still much confused, “OH God! I don’t know what to do! Lose the beautiful Rancho Peralta that’s been in the family for 200 years! I can’t lose it!! But Marriage? Oh Good God!,” Then throwing his hands in the air! “ OK, OK, Get on with it!”
The ceremony was so beautiful and so real that Sue was over taken with emotion and cried because she knew it was unreal and not for her! Diego answered the questions mechanically and then signed the Marriage Document as Don Diego Estabon Peralta and Sue signed as Susan Bethany Calloway (Peralta). Diego for the first time in his life actually took a close look at Sue and kissed her in fitting custom, as the Priest expected! The wedding ceremony was complete! Who was this girl he had just married? He had known her for two years as the daughter of his Foreman John Calloway and only knew of her Tomboy ways. He had danced with her on a number of occasions at the local Ranch Parties. She was fun to be with but his attention and infatuation had always been on the beautiful elegant Gloria! He knew that it wouldn’t be a real marriage and he wondered what Gloria was gonna think ! This was really a mess and he wished that he had never gone through with it! He became mad at Sue for ever talking him into such a thing!
Saying to Sue, “ I think this was all a pretty dirty trick and Gloria will never forgive me for marrying you! I wish that I had never gone through with the wedding!” Sue looked at him and said, “ Diego , I gave you more credit than that. Why do you think Gloria ran off with Antonio? You’ve still got your head in a cloud! Let’s get over to that Commissioner’s Office and get those legal papers signed!” Diego said , “Wait a minute, now I know why you married me! Was it because you get half ownership of the Rancho when we sign those papers?” “Mister Don Diego Peralta!” Sue said angrily, “ You believe what you like, but if I don’t sign those papers as your wife, you’ll be the ex-owner of Rancho Peralta tomorrow! If you don’t believe me; then ask the Commissioner! Maybe you’ll believe him!”
Diego was beginning to see some logic in her argument and decided he’d better shut up until he knew more about this document certification. The Commissioner examined the Marriage Document and approved it. Then he instructed the Government surveyor’s to go over all the boundary papers and ensure that they matched the dimensions of the original Spanish Grant! There was nothing wrong with the land mass size , but the west end of the Rancho was not properly staked off. The known boundary markers did not match the government survey. Someone in past years had moved the markers. There was a large portion of land to the west that they were not using, but it belonged to the Rancho. Diego and Sue were very curious about this obvious piece of deception. They had no knowledge of anyone using that wasteland area. It was something that they would have to check out , but signing the papers was much more important at the moment. Sue gave Diego a good eye roll when the Commissioner said, “ Don Diego it was a good thing that you got in here with your wife to sign these papers. Tonight is the deadline you know! Tomorrow, I would be sending an Official out to ask you to vacate!”
Well, now Diego had a problem. He had angered his new sudo-bride and found out that she had saved his Ranch for him. A Marriage document was the only legal paper acceptable to the Governor as it was recorded by the Church and had a Priest Seal Authentication. It was time for an apology and a big thank you. He had no idea what that evening would bring and what about the Ranch hands? They would all be terribly surprised at the turn of events and all would want to celebrate his wedding to Sue! How about Sue?
Sue had a big problem also. Her Dad had objected violently to her scheme for saving Diego the Ranch. He was not happy with her decision, but had to go along or the Ranch was lost for everyone, he and Sue included. Luckily Gloria’s wedding dress had fit. Sue was thinking , “How could Gloria be such a dope running off from Diego. Luckily, the dress had been a little large and it was easy to keep concealed until Diego lifted her veil! There just hadn’t been time to let him know before the wedding! Well everything will work out!” She hoped!
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