Ben and Bebe

(From Chapter Eight)

Ben and Becky had been married about two years and were expecting their first child soon.  Both were delighted and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the infant. Marla, Becky's mother was the typical grandmother to be.  She was constantly  advising Becky about what to eat, what work not to do and never ceased buying things for the baby. They were sitting on the front porch talking about the big day, when they observed Bebe riding the big black up the lane in their direction. They were pleased to see Bebe coming for a visit.  It had been sometime since he had been around.

Bebe slid down from the big black and said, 'Howdy folks.  I shore been missing the company of you two.'  With his hat in his hand, he stepped toward them on the porch.

Ben stepped off the porch to greet Bebe and asked 'Bebe, what in the world you been up to?  We ain't seen you in neigh on a month.'  

Bebe shook his hand vigorously and said, 'Well Ben, soon as I get me a hug from that purty woman on the porch, I aim to fill you in on all the good news.'  Becky greeted Bebe on the porch.  Bebe embraced her and congratulated her on her appearance.

'Bebe Kalan,' she said, 'You have been away much too long. Where is that pretty wife of yours?  Its about time for the two of us to get together and talk women talk.'

Bebe grinned and promised to bring her for a visit soon.  Ben and Bebe sat on the porch while Becky went to the kitchen to prepare them a cool drink.

Bebe started the news by saying, 'Ben, I think you will be interested in what I'm about to tell you.  As you know, he continued, the war put most folks out of work and brought difficulties to this whole area.  Most of the ranchers and farmers are still having it pretty rough.  However, most of them are back on their feet enough to provide for their families.  We were lucky to have a small herd to build onto with the cattle and horses we could bring down from the hills.  What I'm leading up to, is this.  An old man came to my place about three weeks ago looking for work.  His name is Jasper Cook and he was a slave over on the Jenkins spread before the war.'  He paused, then continued, 'Well, as you know the Jenkins spread was destroyed by union solders and has never been rebuilt.  All the slaves were left with no shelter or means of providing for themselves.  Jasper told me about a group of them that were starving and couldn't find work.  Jasper and I built a large bunk house over on my place and have taken in about a dozen of them.  I expect that number will more'n triple when the word gets around.  I aim to have Jasper and those men build a cook house and another bunk house.  We'll need them to take care of any freed slaves who want to stay there and work.'  Bebe went into the details of his plan for paying the men.  He added, 'I'll need to convert more of that river bottom land into farm land.  Do you have any objections to my plan?'

Ben was not surprised to hear that Bebe was going all out to help the destitute men and women who had no place to live or work.  He had learned sometime ago, that was what Bebe did.  He helped people in any way he could.  'No, I have no objections to your plan,' he said.  'I think you're to be commended for your efforts, and I'll do whatever I can to help you.  You take whatever land you need.  I well know that we would never have rebuilt this ranch, if it wasn't for those people you brought up from the river.  They helped us get those horses and cattle from the hills.  I'm sure you can get a contract with the army to provide them with fresh produce.  With the railroad operating through Jensen, you could ship all the way to Kansas City and St. Louis.  I think you have come up with an excellent idea, both as a business and a means of helping your friends.'

(193 pages in book)