I was riding back into town in a one horse buggy that the owner of the livery stable let me borrow. His daughter is one of my students. I was retuning from talking with the father of another student of mine. He wanted his son to quit school so he could do more work on their farm. I understand how he felt; it's a common situation out here. I told him I would be more than happy to tutor his son on Saturday's at any time that he said would be okay. I think he was relieved by my offer and he even relented in letting his son come to school two or three times a week. I was feeling happy about my successful visit when I heard a loud clap of thunder. It spooked the horse a little but I was able to control him. Then the skies open up with torrential rain. I mean it was coming down in buckets and I was getting soaking wet. I realized that Mrs. Brown's ranch was just a few miles away and I headed right for it. I drove the buggy right up to the barn door, hopped out and unharnessed the horse and put him in an empty stall. I hope I wasn't breaking some kind of western law. I made a quick dash to the front of the house and stood under the roof covering the porch trying to catch my breath, I'm only 23, but it was hard work!
The front door opened and Mrs. Brown was looking at me and not saying anything, it took a minute looking at the drowned rat on her porch to realize it was me.
Mrs. Nice get in here right away, I didn't recognize you at first," she said with a laugh.
Lightening flashed, followed by more thunder as I entered her home.
"This is no storm to be out in," she said.
"It came up on me all of a sudden," I said, I put my horse in your barn I hope that's alright."
"That's what it's there for Honey," she said.
"I just didn't want to something wasn't right."
"You schoolmarms worry about the craziest things, she said; now let's get you in some dry clothing."
I was getting a chill from the cold rain soaked clothing.
"Go get undressed in front of the fire and I'll fetch you something to wear," she said.
"I don't want to stand here naked if someone should come," I said.
"My boy's would think they died and went to heaven if they saw you standing there naked, but don't worry about the men they won't be home for days. They're taking some cattle to the market, now strip."
Mrs. Brown looked different than how she spoke. I guess being around her husband and three sons made her a little gruff. As for her appearance she would turn heads in any city in the world. Her face was beautiful, long dark hair and I could tell from the shirt and pants she was wearing that she had a well rounded body. I would guess her to be in her mid to late 40's.
I was down to my chemise and drawers when she came in from the other room with some clothing.
"Don't be shy girl, take off those wet things."
I untied my chemise and let it drop, then pulled down my drawers, and there I stood totally naked. I must say the warmth from the fireplace on my wet skin felt good. She tossed me a towel to dry off with. I might have been wrong, but I think her eyes were giving my breasts and private area the once over.
"You get dressed and I'll make us some tea."
I put a mans shirt on and a pair of men's pants and heavy socks. I didn't look like much, but I was comfortable.
"Those clothes belong to my son Jeb, she said while walking into the room with two mugs of tea, you still look cute as can be even in his clothes."
Even though it was mid afternoon it was almost dark out from the storm, lightening flashes and thunder and buckets of rain.
" You might as well plan on staying the night Mrs. Nice, because this isn't going to clear up any time soon."
"Please Mrs. Brown call me Gloria," I said.
"Okay as long as you call be Becca, that's short for Rebecca."
"Okay Becca it's a deal,"
We sat at her table and talked while the storm raged on.
I told her how I met my husband and was sent out west. She knew he was a US Marshall and was killed in a shoot out, but listened when I told her about it any way.
She seemed very interested when I told her I went to a girls boarding school, but I couldn't tell why the interest.
She in turn told me about her childhood right up to what she had for breakfast that morning, the woman could talk! I did like her though.
She made us a light dinner which was delicious. Then offered me an alcohol drink which she said "has a kick to it."
I took a drink and almost spit it out; I couldn't even describe the taste or the burning down my throat. She laughed and said" told ya."
Oddly enough after the first drink, I think it numbed everything, the second and the third swallow went down better.
She stepped out of the room for some reason and I was looking around the maim room we were sitting in. By the way it was very nice and large, meaning more room than most homes in the area. I was looking at her bookcase when she entered the room
"Who's the reader?" I asked," You have a lot of books here."
