*Author's Note: Any and all persons engaging in any sexual activity are at least eighteen years of age.
Disclaimers: This story has been edited by myself, using Microsoft spell check. You have been forewarned.
Blackrandl1958 had recently organized a 'Writers Go West' soiree. The bulk of those stories were posted in Literotica on November 23, 2017. I was not asked to participate; I felt no slight at not being contacted. Most of the writers that did participate are far more talented than I. But after reading their wonderful tales, I felt compelled to try my hand at the Western genre.
I hope you enjoy this series. It will be posted in two parts.
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The train chugged along slowly, rocking and swaying from side to side. The clackety clack of the iron wheels as they struck the joints in the rails was a comforting sound.
Merilee Burgess leaned her beautiful brunette head against Dr. Daniel Richard Jordinaire as she slumbered. He smiled down at the girl, knowing she'd be horrified to learn that she snored as she slept. It was a light, wheezing snore, but the eighteen year old girl did snore.
He had seen the beautiful Merilee Burgess on the station platform in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Crescent City, they called it, as it was nestled in a curve in the Mississippi River. A slice of Hell, he called it. In truth, he would miss it; he had called New Orleans home for thirty six years.
He had grown up along Canal Street, had played hoops with friends, cousins. He had met and married Annette Tulle and had fathered two boys and a girl. His three children had perished, victims of the Ague.
It was with elation, and some fear that Annette disclosed that she was again, with child. The birth was a long, difficult one, but with a final scream and sob, Annette pushed her baby out of her belly.
And the newborn child was black. Upon recovering from his bewilderment, Daniel vowed to horse whip the Negro that had fathered this black bastard. That night both Moses Edwards and Cleofus Jones fled the Jordinaire home. Whether they had fled because they believed that they might be the father, or they fled because they feared Dr. Jordinaire would horse whip them without bothering to determine their innocence or guilt made no matter to Daniel. Moses had been lazy, adept at avoiding work and Cleofus had been a dullard, good at physical labor, but in need of constant supervision.
What had become of mother and child, Daniel did not know. The moment she was fit for travel, Daniel had packed four satchels with Annette's clothing and brought her to her father's door stoop. Mr. Tulle took one look at his daughter and her bastard child and slammed the door. He refused his only child entry into his Christian home. Daniel turned a hard face to Annette's pleas as he climbed into his buggy and sped away.
"It didn't mean anything, my eye," Daniel thought bitterly. "And no, my dear harlot of a wife, we shall not be getting past this blatant act of betrayal."
Twelve years; twelve years of courtship, then marriage frittered away. He had held her letters to his heart as the bitter war toiled on, looked forward to the day he could return to his home and marry his beloved Annette Tulle.
Upon volunteering, Daniel had informed General Daigrepont that he was a dentist. General Daigrepont stated emphatically that Daniel was now a surgeon.
"I've no need for dentists, man, but we've always need of good surgeons," the man stated.
"No, I'd say some are in dire need of a skilled dentist," Daniel had said drily, looking at General Daigrepont's horrible chipped and stained teeth.
But Daniel had learned the skills of an Army surgeon, setting bones, removing bullets, amputating limbs that were too badly mangled by the horrible instruments of war. When General Lee finally surrendered, Daniel had wearily returned to his beloved New Orleans. His dental practice again flourish, he did enjoy the inclusion into New Orleans' upper society. But in truth, Daniel Jordinaire was a defeated, hollow man. The marriage to Annette Tulle had slowly begun to lift the clouds from his eyes. The births of his children had buoyed his spirits.
But this blatant infidelity of his beloved Annette stripped him of the shreds of any happiness the cursed war had not scoured away.
Daniel believed people were whispering about him from behind his back. He believed there were those that laughed about the poor cuckolded dentist whose wife deigned to consort with Negros.
The newspapers were filled with accounts of the glories that lay out west and Daniel decided that a new beginning was in order. After the ravages of his wife's betrayal, the west beckoned, offering fresh skies, fresh soil.
Selling all of his holdings, except for the tools of his trade, Dr. Jordinaire decided upon Colorado. The newspapers described the majestic sight of a sunrise as it peeked over the towering Rockies, the clear and sweet tasting springs that wound its way through those mountains, the plentiful game, and the newfound lodes of gold and silver.
So, with a final farewell to friends, acquaintances, Daniel stood on the platform and waited. And he saw Merilee Burgess, dressed in her Sunday's finest, waiting to board a train. Two female relatives, he supposed them to be mother and sister, or perhaps mother and aunt fussing about the beauty.
A conductor called out for them to board and immediately, a ruffian in threadbare suit politely offered to help the lady with her baggage. Daniel knew, the majority of these 'helpful' lads would grab the baggage and scurry away.
"See to it that you do assist her," Daniel said in an imposing voice.
The ruffian glanced over his shoulder and saw the broad shouldered, muscular man. The female and her two companions would find it difficult to give chase, but this man would give chase and would most likely apprehend him. With a grim nod, the youth did assist in helping the woman with her carpet bag.
"Thanks, sir," the ruffian then smiled when Daniel handed him a nickel for his labors.
"I would have done fine without your assistance," the young lady said petulantly.
"I am quite sure you could have," Daniel smiled and found a seat on the car.
Soon, the train lurched. With a squealing and grinding, with several hard jolts, they were finally underway. As New Orleans began to pass by in a blur, Daniel allowed himself one last thought of his beloved Annette. Then he turned his thoughts to what lay ahead of him in the west.
Before the train had even reached Baton Rouge, the young beauty was approached by three different men, each offering to keep her company during her travels.
"Train's got all kind of varmints might take advantage of pretty young thing like yourself," one grinning dandy said.
He had sat on the bench next to Merilee, even casually draping an arm over her shoulders. The woman was seated close to the window; the suitor's position had her trapped.
"Do you wish to be rid of this buffoon?" Daniel asked the young woman in French.
He knew she spoke French, she and her female companions had chattered in French and in English. He knew not, nor cared if the leering man spoke French.
"Please," the flustered young lady responded, all trace of composure gone.
"Sir, kindly leave my daughter be," Daniel said in English, making sure the dandy saw the Colt .45 pistol at his sides.
"Oh! I am terribly sorry, I uh, I didn't realize," the man stammered.
"I'm sure you didn't," Daniel said, leaving the man with his pride intact.
"Thank you," the young woman said.
Daniel took the seat opposite her, giving her the bench to herself.
"I am grateful to help," Daniel smiled kindly.
They chatted pleasantly. He discovered that she was eighteen years old, was a native of New Orleans as himself, and as himself, was on her way to Colorado.
