| Subject: The New World - Part #27 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 19:57:41 06/12/03 Thu
PART #27
Two days later Joshua and Catherine were married at Jennings. After they reached Jennings, Joshua sent Catherine out to do some shopping for a dress, and whatever else she needed. That gave him an opportunity to meet with the buyer of the painting. The buyer looked over the Monet, and said, “I see it is as you promised.” He gave him the money, and the business was transacted. With money in hand and a smile on his face, he met Catherine at the hotel where they were staying. He had managed to find a Justice of the Peace to marry them, and had brought the man to the hotel. Catherine wore the dress she had purchased, and they were married in the lobby of the hotel.
When the marriage ceremony was complete, Joshua gave Catherine a kiss. He stepped back; and looking into her eyes, he said, “Oh, if Bow could only see us now. I would give anything to see his face.” Catherine had a puzzled expression on her face when she heard him say those words. “Why would you say that Joshua?” she asked. He laughed; and said, “You silly woman, don’t you know he is in love with you?” She shook her head; and said, “You have to be joking, Bow doesn’t love me.” Joshua threw back his head; and roared with laughter, “Oh this is rich, she didn’t even know.”
Catherine was becoming upset by what Joshua was saying. She said, “Why is this so funny to you Joshua?” He said, “Don’t you see? I took you away from Bowregard?” Catherine was becoming quite confused by the talk. She said, “Joshua, you told me you loved me, and wanted to marry me. What is this talk now about taking me away from Bowregard?” Joshua said, “Catherine, of course I love you, but knowing I took you away from Bowregard makes the marriage even sweeter.”
Catherine stomped her foot; and her eyes flashed. She said, “Joshua, I am not some prized horse that you have just won. I am your wife, and I would like to be treated with a little more respect. I can’t believe you are saying these things. Don’t you realize how this makes me feel?”
Joshua stopped talking about Bow, and put his arm on Catherine’s shoulder. He apologized for causing her discomfort, and promised not to mention Bow in that way ever again. They returned to their room where Joshua immediately consummated their marriage.
After that Joshua left the room, and went to the local saloon for a card game. He had heard there was going to be a high stakes game of poker being played, and he certainly did not want to miss out on the excitement of the game. Joshua was known in Lake Charles as a high roller, and was not always an honest player. Bow had warned him many times over he would get himself in trouble one day. Joshua was a man who liked living on the edge of danger. It seemed that he just could not help himself.
Tonight he was feeling lucky. He had stolen Catherine away from Bow; and now that they were married, there was nothing Bow could do about it. As he sat there waiting for the game to begin, he thought once again how he wished he could see the expression on Bow’s face when he found out he had lost Catherine.
Catherine was feeling pretty discouraged about Joshua leaving on their wedding night to go play cards. She felt used, and what was all that talk about stealing her away from Bow? Had she been wrong in agreeing to marry Joshua? He had convinced her he loved her, and wanted nothing more then to marry her. Now it was their wedding night; and he couldn’t wait to get out of the room to go play cards. She decided she was not going to allow herself to wallow in self pity, and she defiantly wiped tears from her eyes.
Catherine had been asleep for awhile when she heard pounding on the door. She awakened, startled. What was going on? Where was Joshua? She said, “Yes, who is it?” She heard someone say, “This is the hotel manager, please get dressed, something has happened to your husband.”
Catherine jumped out of bed, quickly dressed, and appeared at the door. She was ashen as she said, “What is wrong?” The hotel owner said, “Come with me, please.” He was hurrying her along to the saloon where Joshua was lying on the floor. There was a pool of blood beside him. Catherine screamed, “What has happened?” A small group of men were standing in a circle around Joshua, and a man, whom Catherine presumed was a doctor, was trying to treat Joshua.
She pushed her way through the circle of men, and cried, “Joshua, can you hear me?” The doctor stood up, turned to Catherine, and said, “I am afraid your husband is dead.” When Catherine saw Joshua’s face, she knew it was true. She fell to the floor in a faint.
To be continued...
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