Lady of Scandal (Historical Victorian Romance) by Catherine Hamill

Author:Catherine Hamill [Hamill, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

Uncle Jim’s wake was a major event in the life of the community, as was befitting a man who’d lived to the ripe old age of 89. Everyone had turned out. Gertie made it, despite the fact she was wheelchair bound. For that, Louisa was grateful.

“I know what a bother it is for you to have to come out like this with your arthritis, Gert.” She said, welcoming her to the ranch.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Gertie told her, allowing one of Louisa’s children, young Thomas Bradford, to wheel her about. “Uncle Jim was a good man. One of the last of the pioneers of this town, you know.”

“I suppose that’s right.” She allowed. walking beside her.

The spread was offered in the barn, a huge affair with cornbread, roasted chickens, and steaming baked potatoes alongside rows of pies. Thomas tried to abandon the wheelchair and go for food right away, but Louisa admonished him.

“You see to it Gertie gets a proper place at the table before you try any such foolishness young man.”

“Sorry, ma. Didn’t mean anything by it.” He apologized.

Gertie smiled up at the woman. “I swear, he’s looking a bit more like his father every day.”

White-haired Jeb Bradford came up behind her then, stroking his short-trimmed beard. “I don’t know about that. I see a bit of Louisa in all the children.”

“I’ll allow that’s true enough.” Gertie agreed.

The family took their places around the table, as practically all the town sat as well.

“Father,” young Rebecca asked Jeb, “Is it good that Uncle Jim lived to see the new century?”

“I should say so.” He agreed. “He had said often enough that he hoped he’d have the opportunity to know what the world looked like in 1900. It’s a different world, to be certain. It is certainly no longer the West we knew when we first settled these lands.”

Louisa nodded her agreement. The Lucky Star had been torn down long ago, as had most of the original buildings along Main Street. The Daisy’s building still stood, but the restaurant had become a bank. The church was among one of the few original buildings left during the wave of great change that had taken place with the increased settlement of Colorado.

She looked down the table at the line of family members and acquaintances, looking for friendly faces. Ann had come from Denver, where she had married and had children of her own. It was wonderful to see her, she thought. Surprising everyone, Bob Tate had come to town as well, though he was only a little younger than Uncle Jim and was having trouble getting around.

Jeb felt like a few words should be said, so he stood up. “I want to thank you all for coming to pay your respects. Louisa and I have come to feel you’re not just neighbors. You’re all family.

“Uncle Jim was loved by everyone. He had a big heart and was the most loyal, kind man I ever knew. He taught me everything I needed to know about raising a family and running a ranch.

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