A Dozen Steps – A Dozen Seconds

March Round-Up Challenge

By

Beppina

It was one of those bright sunny days when everything was going right. We’d just returned from a month-long cattle roundup. Pa and Hoss were back at the house, and I had my wages burning a hole in my pocket. Virginia City seemed a little more interesting than usual. I guess that was the effect of looking at cattle butts for far too long.

I’d got my day planned. Do the errands pa had set me; collect the mail that would have accumulated, call in the bank for some cash, drop off Hop Sing’s supply list, then the day was mine. A visit to the bath house, a shave and then a couple of beers. Cold ones if I was lucky.

With a jaunty step and whistling to myself, I headed down to the barbershop. C Street was bustling with people. The ladies, in their fancy hats and brighter spring wear, flitted in and out of the stores. Being the gentleman I am, I greeted them with a tip of my hat or a cheerful, “Good morning, ma’am,” to each one.

All was well in my private world.

I stuck my head over the bat-wing doors of The Golden Nugget. Considering the time of day, it was empty. Oh well— never one to be fussy where to have a beer, I carried on towards The Bucket of Blood, still whistling and still full of the joys of spring.

A flash of glorious red hair caught my eye, swiftly followed by a dainty, but curvy, vision of loveliness sashaying along the boardwalk.

It couldn’t be… could it?

“Jennifer – Jenny?” I called across the street.

The vision stopped, turned and blessed me with the warm and wonderful smile I had fallen in love with years ago. A dozen steps and a dozen seconds later, I was standing at her side.

“Jenny? What are you doing here?”

“Hello, Joe…” The girl I had once asked to marry me. Who had then run away days before our wedding, stood right there in front of me. All my thoughts of a beer had vanished.

“How are you?” I wanted to know so much, “Come and have a coffee with me?”

We sat in the front window of Miss Daisy’s Café. I had nothing to hide; Jenny had been engaged to me, so why not? Daisy bustled about, bringing coffee and a slice of pie. Jenny and I had plenty to catch up on.

“How are you?”

Lord, what a pitiful way to start.

“Good, Joe, thank you. I can see you are.” Jenny sipped her coffee.

“How have—”

“Why did you—” We started together, talking over each other.

Jenny smiled that smile I remembered so well, her green-hued eyes lit up and shining.

“Why did you leave?” I asked, one small, soft hand held in mine.

“I… I…I suppose I was scared. We were so young. What were you, nineteen?”

“Almost, you were sixteen, the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.”

Memories flooded back, along with the pain I’d felt when Jenny’s father had come to tell me the wedding was off.

“It wouldn’t have lasted,” Jenny broke through my thoughts, “ I was too naïve, too innocent.”

“You never gave me the chance.”

“No, I suppose I didn’t. How are your family? Are they all still on the ranch?”

I snorted, “Ever the expert at changing the subject. Pa and Hoss are fine, Adam is somewhere in Europe, France, I think.”

“Are you married, Joe?” Her question shook me. I’d seen the gold band on her finger; it was obvious she was.

“No. I’m still free and single. The ladies of Virginia City haven’t managed to corral me yet, though plenty have tried!” I grinned at that thought, “I can see you are. Is that why you’re here?”

“Andrew, my husband, has just qualified as a doctor. He’s going to practice in Carson City. We stopped here to get a few things and have a break from travelling. We’ll be going the day after tomorrow.”

“He’ll be a welcome addition. Paul Martin said they’re building a hospital there.”

“Were you angry… back then?” Jenny dropped her gaze to the now-empty plate.

“No. Not to start with. Hurt, yes. Confused, for certain. But angry? No.”

“I am sorry for hurting you. Have you forgiven me?”

I looked deep into her eyes, trying to read what was hidden in their depths. Part of me still held the love I’d had five years ago, but another part remembered the anger that had filled me for a long time after she had disappeared from my life.

“Where did you go?”

“My aunt’s house in San Francisco. I couldn’t stay here and face you. Or take the chance of seeing you every time you came to town.”

A sharp tap on the glass made us both jump. The bell tinkled, announcing the tall, blond-haired man who stepped through the door.

“There you are.” He bent forward to plant a kiss on Jenny’s cheek. My heart lurched. “You must be Joe Cartwright. Jenny’s told me so much about you.” He reached out a hand in greeting, “I’m Andrew McFarland, Jenny’s husband.”

I shook his hand and pointed to the empty chair.

“Jenny has been telling me you’re a doctor. Heading to Carson to practice.”

“Yes. I wanted out of the big city. Jenny’s family are here, and her father said they were desperate for another doctor. I applied, and here we are.”

We talked for a while before I made my excuses to leave. Andrew struck me as a straight-up kind of guy, and they appeared to be genuinely happy.

Before I left, I invited them to visit the Ponderosa on their next trip into Virginia City.

The door closed behind me with a soft tinkle of the bell. I turned towards the saloon.

Now I needed that drink.

I glanced back, just able to see them seated, heads together, smiling. I nodded goodbye.

Free of any anger, I ordered my beer.

The End

General audience

Word Count 1000

March 2026 Round-Up Challenge