Life’s a Bitch

by jfclover

~*~*~*~*~

She tells me it’s over, says she never loved me, but I know better.  I know a lie when I hear one, but this one hurts more than any other.  Those few wretched words end a courtship that had blossomed over the last few weeks into something special.  But now, she wants nothing to do with me.  Something isn’t right, and I’m determined to find out what prompts her to tell me a bald-faced lie.

*~*~*

“Pick up the mail, and here’s the list of supplies.”

I take the paper from my father.  “We’ll be back before lunch.”

“Good.  See that you are.”

“Yessir.”

Although I’m not fond of sitting atop a buckboard’s wooden seat, but we’d be bringing home a heavy load, much more than would fit in our saddlebags.  After parking in front of Jake’s mercantile and handing him the list, we’re free to gather the mail and have a cold beer, one of the perks of coming to town for supplies. 

When the stage pulls to a stop, I grab Hoss’s arm and make him wait for the passengers to climb down.  Another advantage of picking up supplies is seeing any newcomers entering our fair city, and today we hit the jackpot.

A woman, dressed in blue, holding a matching drawstring bag at her side, climbs down the three steps and stands alone on the boardwalk.  As she tries to brush the trail dust from her shoulders, I leave my brother behind and trot across the dusty street to see if I can be of assistance.

“May I carry your bags?”

“How nice.”

I don’t miss the twinkle in her blue eyes.  She’s a pretty girl, about my age, and all alone in the world.  “Are you booked into the International?”

“How did you know?”

“Just a guess.”

My brother won’t be happy.  “We’d better get those supplies back to the house,” he’ll say, but Hoss worries too much.  What will an extra hour matter anyhow?  I’m just being polite and offering to carry the woman’s bags.  Isn’t that the gentlemanly thing to do?

*~*~*

Her name is Lorena Robson, and she’s a native of Salt Lake City.  It isn’t long before the two of us are a couple, and everyone in town turns their heads to gawk when Joe Cartwright and his lady-friend walk down the boardwalk during a night on the town.   She thinks it’s funny, and at first, she wonders why the interest, but as time goes by, she gets the impression that any Cartwright man is considered a catch.  Money and good looks.  The Cartwright boys have made their mark in the world. 

But that’s not what had drawn us together, and that’s not what keeps us together.  At some point, we fall in love, and at some point, we plan to get married.  Every week is an event.  We are seen at Piper’s and The Washoe Club, Crown Point, or Chauvel’s, the best that Virginia City and Gold Hill has to offer, but it isn’t just the nights that I wine and dine the love of my life.  We often ride down by the lake or up the north side of Sun Mountain for a Sunday picnic.

Keeping my mind on work is more difficult than ever.  I only want to be with Lorena, and when I can’t be by her side, holding her hand, or kissing her lips, it causes an edgy reaction that’s hard to control.  When we set out to brand the new calves, Adam hollers at me to pay attention.  Even Hoss becomes irritated with my dreamy disposition and makes his opinion known more often than not.

Since Pa understands my need to be with Lorena, he lets me be the one to drive into town for the next several weeks.  Hoss is put out at first.  Stopping at the saloon has always been part of the deal, and we both miss the time we have together, drinking and chatting over nothing at all.  But he has to get used to the fact that Lorena will soon become my wife, and life as we know it will change.

*~*~*

On the third week of heading to town alone, my world is shattered.  I don’t see it coming, and I’m not prepared for the outcome.

“I can’t marry you, Joe.”

At first, Lorena’s declaration doesn’t register; it takes a minute for her words to sink in.  I stare at the woman I love.  Her eyes are clear, and every feature of her face looks the same.  She doesn’t seem nervous or out of sorts, so I don’t understand what has happened.

“What did you say?”

“I’m sorry, Joe, but we can’t be married.”

I scan through the last couple of weeks and try to think of something that should’ve been a clue, but we’re happy.  We’re in love and enjoying each other’s company.  And then a man wearing a church coat, vest, and black hat steps out from the shadows of her hotel room.

“I don’t understand.”

The man smiles, but his features remain harsh as though he’s challenging me to a duel.  “Let me explain, Mr. Cartwright.”

“Please do.”

“Lorena is my wife.  We were married two years ago.”

“Wife?”

“Yes.  My third.”

“Third?” I turn my attention back to Lorena.  “This is true?”

Tears fill her eyes, and when she dips her head, I know that the truth has come out.  She’s a married lady, and she and her husband will go back to Salt Lake and live happily ever after.  I won’t beg her for any more details, but when I turn for one last look, I refuse to smile.  I can’t wish her well, and before I can walk away, my anger soars. 

How could she?  But I won’t ask.  With my head held high, and a look she’ll never forget, I’ll walk out the hotel door, ride back to the ranch, and back to the family who will welcome me home with open arms.

The End

7 – 2026