Once in a Blue Moon (28 page)

He was glad it was
payday. He needed the money. His family hadn’t had one cent to
spend in the month they’d been there. He wasn’t sure how much he’d
get since the widow had provided necessities for his family, but
any amount would be welcome.

John, the foreman,
looked up from his position under the big willow tree where a table
and chair had been set up in front of the ranch house. He paid each
man in turn, marking a notation in a ledger, then angling the book
around for every man to sign.

Richard envied him the
shade.

“Next.”

Willie, James, Merrill,
Tex, David, and the others moved forward, and Richard followed.

Willie turned to
Richard. “What ya gonna to do with your money?”

Merrill interrupted.
“I’m getting something to drink.”

“I’m going to see
Stella,” James rubbed his hands together.

David, who usually
didn’t say much, spoke up. “I’m saving it.”

Willie scowled. “You
always save it.”

Tex gave Willie a slow
grin. “Well at least he don’t waste it all on no girls.”

Merrill crossed his
arms. “What about me? I’m not spending money on girls, either.”

Willie lifted his chin.
“Not anymore anyway. But there was a time--”

Merrill’s fists
clenched. “Shut your trap before I shut it for you.” He turned
around, facing forward.

Willie hit James in the
shoulder and pointed at Merrill’s back and they both tried
unsuccessfully to stifle laughter.

Merrill turned to glare
and looked ready to explode. “Next.”

The line moved up and
it was Frank’s turn.

Nathan, already paid,
stepped back in line to stand between Merrill and the two younger
boys as if nothing were happening. “I don’t know what happens to my
money. I turn it over to Amanda, and I never see it again.”

Joe nodded from his
place next to the table. “I know what you mean. Sarah’s set on
having new shoes for the kids.”

Merrill’s gaze turned triumphant and he lifted a finger.
“See,
that’s
what
I’m talkin’ about. I don’t have to turn my money over to no
girl.”

Frank chuckled. “Don’t
see me complaining. What about you, Richard?”

Richard shrugged and
held back a grin. “No complaints.”

Merrill made a sound of
disgust. “Yer all idiots. I’m glad I don’t have no petticoat
telling me what to do.”

Richard realized
Merrill would change places with any of them in a heartbeat and
felt a little sorry for him. He was obviously still very bitter
about his girlfriend leaving him to marry some other guy.

Tex, always the
peacemaker, clapped Merrill on the shoulder. “I’m with Merrill.
Women are nothin’ but trouble.” Tex probably meant it. His wife had
left and, according to him, good riddance.

Actually, there were a
few confirmed bachelors in the group. John, the foreman, smart and
wily, always kept the men in line and acted like he’d be at the
ranch forever. He’d never married and didn’t seem to want to. But
perhaps there was a story there? And David, shorter, but strong as
an ox, never said too much. Richard realized he had no idea where
David stood on the issue of marriage.

Willie and James were
still pretty young to be married. They just wanted a good time.

Joe, Frank, and Nathan
were married, like himself.

They were a great group
of guys: fun loving, dependable, and, above all, hardworking and
worthy of respect. They were exactly the sort he liked to pal
around with.

“Better save some money
for the picnic,” said Willie.

“Good idea.” James
nodded. “We might want something to drink besides punch.”

Willie grinned and leaned toward James. “Besides, there will
be
women
there,”
he whispered the word and glanced at Merrill.

David grinned. “And
poker.”

Merrill glanced from
Willie to Richard, a sudden grin lighting his face. “You ever play
cowboy poker?”

Richard pushed his hat
up a bit. “Sure. I’ve played poker before.”

Willie laughed. “No,
what he means is--”

Merrill hit Willie in
the chest. Hard.

Willie bent over,
gasped for breath, and coughed.

Merrill smiled. “Well,
perhaps we’ll get up a game at the picnic. What do you say,
boys?”

Everyone smiled and
nodded. Nathan, who loved practical jokes was grinning like a
fool.

Somebody was going to
be made to look the idiot, and Richard knew very well it was him.
He shook his head. “Sorry, my wife has assured me that I’m not
interested in playing poker. I can’t afford to lose any money.”

Merrill’s grin widened
and he slapped Richard’s back. “Don’t you worry, we’ll figure
something out.”

Richard glanced around
into the grinning faces, sighed and shook his head. No doubt he’d
eventually find out what this was all about. And no doubt it would
be unpleasant, but he could handle anything they sent his way.

Nathan and Frank, pay
in hand, went off to get the wagon hitched so they could take their
wives into town. Some of the other men were going, as well. Since
Richard had no seniority, he had to stay behind to work.

He wiped his brow
again, and his shirt stuck to his back. He’d rather be working than
standing in the sun. Waiting in line for pay was a lot different
than receiving a check in the mail for services rendered. Or better
yet, direct deposit.

Willie started talking
about girls again.

Merrill frowned.

Tex sighed. “Willie,
give it a rest. Women aren’t everything.”

Richard glanced at Tex.
“You were married, right?”

Tex pursed his lips.
“Yeah. Far as I know, I still am. Been there, done that, glad I got
out alive. There’s no way to keep a woman content. She turned out
to be cousin to a rattlesnake and miserable to be around. Said she
was unhappy, whatever that means. She said goodbye and I said good
riddance.”

Tex could easily have
been describing Melissa’s state of mind before they came out here.
Once again Richard remembered he’d barely escaped a divorce by
coming to the past.

A familiar pain pierced
his chest. Coming here might well have saved his marriage. But they
had to go home sometime, didn’t they? And then what? Would he lose
her?

He didn’t share Tex’s
views on married life. If he could keep Melissa happy somehow, he
would. Perhaps staying in the past was the answer? Perhaps they
were meant to be here?

The line moved forward
again.

Willie spoke to
Merrill. “...and she has a friend. And I’ll introduce you, but only
if you promise to be pleasant and smile a lot.”

Merrill shrugged as if
reluctant, but his eagerness was transparent. “Okay. I guess it’ll
pass the time.”

The guys wandered off
and finally it was Richard’s turn to stand in the shade. It was at
least ten degrees cooler.

John counted out three
gold eagles and handed them over.

Richard grinned. They
were real antiquities, and in mint condition. Gold Eagles worth ten
dollars apiece. He frowned. “Thirty dollars?”

John nodded.

“Full pay? I didn’t
know how much I’d earn, since the widow has supplied my family for
the month.”

“She don’t ever charge
for that. No question the woman’s a saint. Besides, that boy of
yours helps a lot. Sign here.”

Richard took the
metal-tipped pen, and when it didn’t work, realized he needed to
dip it in the ink jar. He noticed some of the others had signed
their names with an X, and it surprised him to realize they
couldn’t read.

There were definite
advantages to be had in the future; advantages for their family,
advantages for the children.

They had to go
home.

He needed to keep his
marriage together.

How did he do both?

He straightened and
gripped the three gold coins.

“Thanks.”

Willie called to him
from across the yard. “You comin’?”

Richard shook his head.
“I’ll catch up.” He headed to his cabin. First he needed to keep
his woman happy, and, if he knew Melissa, he knew just the way to
do it.

* * *

“What do you
think?”

Melissa stared at the
three coins in Richard’s hand.

That was it?

Laughter bubbled up
inside her chest and she quickly stifled it. She looked up into
Richard’s excited eyes, then back at the money. The gold coins were
bigger than quarters, and reminded her of chocolate candy
coins.

She
swallowed, and glanced a little wildly around the cabin, but the
inappropriate laughter continued to push at her. She bit the inside
of her bottom lip. She couldn’t laugh out loud.
Wouldn’t
! She didn’t want to hurt
Richard’s feelings, or his ego.

But
really, after a month of work and the anticipation of some money,
somehow Melissa had expected...
more
. Against her will, her gaze was
drawn to the coins once again.

The pressure pushed
harder, coming up into her throat. She put her hands to her face,
palms under her chin, fingers cupping her mouth and nose.

“Pretty exciting, isn’t
it?” Richard grinned at her, then at the coins in his hand. “These
are Liberty Head Eagles.”

He
picked one up and held it to the sunlight streaming through the
open doorway, making it shine. “Look. This one was minted in 1875.
That’s a rare coin. It’ll be worth a lot someday.” He picked up
another. “And look at this 1884 one. See the little
s
? That means it was
made at the San Francisco mint.”

Melissa nodded, her
eyes scalding with the effort she was expending not to laugh. Her
eyebrows burned. She was reminded of the Jack and the Beanstalk
fairy tale; the part where the boy proudly presents his mother with
his handful of beans, expecting her to be happy. A few sounds
escaped her throat and she tried to muffle the noise. She pressed
her hands hard onto her face and bent to stare at the linoleum
where it curled up by the door. “Melissa? Are you crying?”

Melissa shook her head,
and met Richard’s worried gaze. Her eyes filled with tears, and
couldn’t hold it in any longer. She dropped her hands, threw back
her head and howled! There was no other word for it. She simply
howled with laughter, panted, gasped, clutched at her chest and
roared!

Holding out a hand
toward Richard, she tried to stop, to apologize for her
inappropriate mirth, but when she saw his chagrined expression, she
laughed even harder; so hard she choked.

Richard glanced down at
the coins, back to Melissa and his mouth twisted into a scowl. “I
don’t see what’s so funny.”

She
couldn’t stop! He looked so adorable, so miffed, with his lips
puckered and his brows drawn together, clutching
his three coins
! She
whooped, tears fell to her cheeks, and she pressed the heels of her
palms to her temples.

Richard crossed his
arms and looked outside.

Melissa gasped for breath. “Richard, I’m sorry, I don’t know
what’s the matter with me. Perhaps they could pay you in dollar
bills next time?” Her voice wobbled, and she tried to look serious,
attempted to, but her own words set her off again, as she
pictured
thirty whole
dollars
. Her face crumpled with mirth as
giggles spilled out.

Richard looked up at
the ceiling and took a deep breath.

“I was thinking pennies
next time. A big bag of ‘em.”

She laughed, choked,
crossed her arms over her chest and chortling, bent over
double.

Jessica tripped up the
stairs and into the cabin. “What?”

Breathing hard, Melissa
gasped, straightened, focused on Jessica’s face and tried to get
hold of herself. “Your father got paid today.” Melissa strangled on
the words.

Richard’s lips puckered
in a scowl, and he opened his hand for Jessica to see.

Jessica studied the
coins. “They look like chocolate dollars.”

Melissa shrieked. She
could hardly breathe. Ribs burning, abdomen aching, she threw
herself onto a chair and slumped over the table, her shoulders
shaking with mirth. After a few minutes she finally calmed down,
worn out. She straightened, sighed loudly, wiped her eyes, and
turned toward Richard with a smile.

Jessica’s mouth was
partially open. “Jeeze, Mom, get a grip.”

Richard raised a brow.
“Finished?”

Melissa nodded, and
feeling slightly abashed, stood, then giggled.

Richard held out the
hand with the coins, clenched his fist around them and shoved the
coins in his pocket. “I was going to entrust you with our bounty,
but I think I’ll take the coins with me.”

Melissa put a fist to
her mouth. “Richard, I’m so sorry. I don’t know where all that came
from.”

Richard shook his head.
“I’m leaving.”

He stood there;
waiting.

Melissa walked over and
rubbed his arm. “Don’t go. I’m really sorry. I don’t know what came
over me!”

“Well, whatever it was,
just make sure--” he smiled at her, wrapped both arms around her
and bent her over his arm, “that it happens again.”

Richard bent down,
kissed both her cheeks, her mouth, then stared into her eyes. “I
love it when you’re happy.”

Melissa’s mouth parted
at the sweetness of his words.

Jessica made a sound of
disgust and left the cabin.

Richard smiled,
straightened and eased Melissa upright. “Why don’t you make a list.
Plan out what we need to buy. And when I get off work, we’ll go
shoppin’!”

“Can I hold the money?”
She giggled.

Richard shook his head
decisively. “You had your chance.”

* * *

As Melissa, Richard,
and the kids walked into the general store, a bell rang over the
door.