He rode into our valley in the summer of '89, a giant of a black man dressed in clothes as dark as his skin. He was tall and terrible in the road looming up gigantic in the half-light. I was a kid then, watching him approaching from several miles off. Even from a distance there was something about him. My pa came out just as he rode up to our ranch.
"I'd appreciate some water for my horse," said the black giant.
"Help yourself stranger," said my pa. "Troughs around back. Take all the water you need.
I watched the man ride around back. He had a gun on his hip and a Winchester rifle sticking up from his saddle. I would have followed him, but at that moment some of Bodie's men rode up to hassle my father. They came from the opposite direction the black man had, from where Bodie drove his herds. My ma came out on the porch then to see what all the fuss was about.
"My you fill out that dress right nicely, ma'am," said one of the thugs leaning down on his saddle.
"What do you men want?" asked my father stepping in front of mother.
The cowboy's eyes lingered on mother a second before speaking again. "Mr. Bodie still wants this land."
"It's not for sale."
"Who said anything about buying it," said the cowboy resting his hand on the pistol dangling from his hip.
Then I watched as the cowboy's eyes grew wide and he slowly removed his hand from the gun. He was staring over my shoulder. I turned to look, the black man was standing behind me with the rifle slung over his shoulder. His eyes were cold, but he smiled and said, "Thanks for the water sir."
"Think about what we said," growled the cowboy turning his horse and galloping off. The two others followed him.
Father watched them go an angry look on his face before turning to the black man and smiling. "Well stranger, seeing how it's getting late and that horse of your could probably use a rest, why don't you join us for dinner? You can bed down in the barn tonight."
"Much obliged sir," said the black man.
"I'm Elijah. You won't regret it stranger, Hetty's the best cook in the Wyoming territory."
"Call me Shame," he said. He never told us more.
* * * * *
Pa didn't lie about mother's cooking. Dinner consisted of chicken, cornbread, beans, and fresh apple pie. Both Shame and Pa greedily shoveled ma's food into their mouths.
My sister showed up about half-way through dinner and Ma flashed her an angry glance for being late. Mary, my sister seemed fascinated with Shame, as was I. I quietly ate, staring at Shame the whole time. Between mouthfuls, he spent all his time staring at ma and my sister.
"What's so interesting boy," said Shame finally tuning his attention on me.
"Mr. Shame," I blurted out. "Whys your skin so dark? You burnt in a fire or something?"
Mother gasped. Father said, "He's a black man Caleb. Now hush up."
We finished eating and Shame sat back contentedly and patted his belly. "Ma'am that was the best meal I ever had." Ma blushed. She loved feeding us.
After dinner, pa got out his pipe and I was ushered off up stairs to bed. I tried to listen, but all I could hear were mumbles.
* * * * *
Hetty peeked through the barn door at the black man. A lantern lit the room. Shame was unrolling a bedroll on the cot Elijah had built for a farm hand that Bodie's men had run off.
"Can I help you ma'am?" asked Shame without turning. It was like he was aware of everything around him whether he was staring at it or not.
Hetty walked in and Shame slowly turned to face her. "Mr. Shame, I was wondering if you'd like to stay on and work for us. My husband could sure use the help."
"Help on the farm or help from those men?"
Hetty blushed and looked at her feet. "Both sir."
"Elijah's a big man. How come he didn't stand up to them?"
"It's against our religion to raise our hands against another human being, sir."
"A real man fights for what he believes in Hetty," said Shame. "What did they want with you?"
"Mr. Bodie is the most powerful cattleman in the valley. Us homesteaders are standing in the way of his cattle drives forcing him further out of his way. Our land has some springs on it, he needs to water his herd. How about it, will you stay?"
"I've vowed never to work the dirt again ma'am," said Shame, "but I'd consider staying if the price was right."
"We don't have much money, but we could offer food and shelter."
"Not enough," said Shame staring her in the eyes.
"What else then?"
"I ain't been with a woman in a long time Hetty," said Shame.
Hetty gasped. She fully believed that all men were animals and that the first duty of any wife was to tame a husband's more carnal desires. "I thought you were a gentleman Mr. Shame. I was wrong. Good night sir."
"Hetty wait," sad Shame before she reached the barn door. She stopped and turned. "You ever hear of a hand job?"
"No sir."
"It's where you stroke my cock untils I cums. Do that for me each day and I'll stay awhile and protect your family."