Just Common

Dry?

Folks, I do hope ya are all doin well. Beth has, touch that Fever goin round. No worries, as of yet, she is up an about mostly. Gave her a good dose a corn licker an honey. That should gets her ta rest a touch. Hell I am fine, water froze up fer the horses.  Been out twice ta break it up. Might cold, fer Virginia I am tellin ya.

Well, I am goin ta tell ya a story. This cold spell been goin on now, five days folks so cold it slurs yar talk. Stay out ta long yar beard a freeze up! One those colds that even inside it's cold! Gots the pot belly goin an the fireplace!
Still some chill in the Station. Almost reminds of the time, up Maine ways. Folks that was, just cold! Hell took three days in Carolina ta warm back ups. Nough on this cold spell. Could be worse, hell could be one those blizzards.

So folks, what am I goin talk abouts taday? How abouts befer I was a Ranger? Hell I was abouts 10 it was befer Pa, ya know Chester folks. Came an gots me, fer my trainin. That could be borin ta say the least. Hell ifin ya don't minds, thinks I will talk bouts that.

Folks, it happened north an west a York City. Mommas sister, lived up that ways. It was called Dry somethin Fork or Ridge maybe even creek. Just remembers it was Dry. It may come ta me later, folks then again, who knows. Aunt Marge, Mommas older sister. My she was sweet lady. Always had a smile, never looked like she was down. Least ways, the few times I seen her.

Once every summer, Aunt Marge would pay fer us ta come up an visit. We spend abouts week with her, then go on back ta York City. This was an odd visit, ya see we had already been ta see her. Can tell ya, that White! Hate that man, honestly do, hate that man! He was just evil, he tried ta make me leave! One those visits ta Momma!
Folks! Don't want ta go inta that! Let's just say, he beat me with his walkin stick! Then near drug an pushed me down the steps!

Mrs. White grabbed me! Stood between me an Mister White. She say, best leave the boy alone! Folks Momma tried ta stop him. White shoved her inta that room, one wasn't allowed in. Then locked the door! Mrs. White stood her ground, told that White! She tell Chester, what was goin on, next time he came ta visit!

Folks that made him even madder! Why I thought he was goin ta hit her! Why she pulled out a pistol! Folks told him, he best back off! Then she say, Common two Lincoln on the table. Go on out fer awhile hour at least.
Folks, I ran out that house. Did hear Mrs. White shout ifin I hear more noise, in that attic than normal! I'll come up an shoot ya! Folks, that White yelled he is nothin but a Common Law child, an she is just my bitch!

That evenin we was on the Stagecoach ta Aunt Marge. Momma cried most that journey, do remember she looked hurt. That hurt in the body an the mind type. Folks that is when, I decided ta find out! What that White had over Momma, ta control her! Then I would fix him, but good! Even ifin it meant tellin Pa!

We only had, one bag folks an it was small. Me an Momma only had three change a clothes between us. The Stage let us off, bouts a mile from Aunt Marge's place. We made the walk just after dark, we had full moon ta see the way. Aunt Marge, looked just a bit surprised yet, not in the least. Folks best ways I can put it. Ya know, somethin happen ya expect, but don't.

She hugged us both, Momma took ta cryin again. Marge took her inta her room. Then she came back out, asks Common when ya eat last? Folks, I didn't rightfully know. I say not sure as ta when, I last ate. She gave me a couple biscuits an some jam. Folks that was just heaven, my stomach was empty. As Momma would say always tomorrow Common.

We been with Marge about a day, Momma took ta lookin better, an actin like herself. Ya see folks, Marge she ran a small Hotel. The Rich Folks, come up stay weeks at time. They had dances, golf, horse back ridin. Thins the well off like ta do. Although thinks we all like ta dance on occasion. I asks Marge, ifin she owned this Hotel on the hill. Folks wonders never cease, she tell me she did. Also that Momma could have her part it, when ever she wanted.

Folks, I didn't say a word, thinkin her part? Why we been doin with out, puttin up with that White? I finally asks Marge, why Momma was stayin in York City?

She just say, best let yar Momma, tell ya the why. I say, Marge give me the reason, fer her a puttin up with that White!  The other part, I ask Momma. Marge say, we won't speak on this, with out yar Momma. Then she say it is time fer ya ta know. Let me speak with yar Momma.

Folks, I learned, thins later that day. Some that made me feel fer Momma others that angered me towards her an that White. Still what I learned did not stop my love a Momma. What I learned at Dry Fork, Ridge, or Creek what ever the place was. I wasn't just an odd name, but that name meant somethin.

Folks what I learned. Well it pains me some, still so this next part, well ya may not fully understand the why. Hell even I ain't sure as ta why she put with that White!

First off, Momma an Aunt Marge well, they come from rather well ta do people. Aunt Marge never married, she had control of the family wealth. Momma, well met that Mister White, when she was just 16 folks. White was, nothin more than, what most call new wealth. He wasn't near as well off, as Momma an her family. Folks this one was lookin ta build on his stature through Momma.

He cuddled up ta Momma, put her under a spell. Least ways that is how Marge put it. Momma say she just fell in love. Marge say, he just wanted our Trinkets. She say he chased after her first, not Momma. Folks Momma did agree on that. So this is how Momma put it, I'll add Aunt Marge's feelins on this a bit later.

Momma fell in love, with him, this Nathen Samuel White. Folks he went by Sam! Now ya know where I gets Sam White Hell, from. Hate the man, hates him more with every breath! Well, Momma found outs he was just after her Trinkets! She figured she could change is ways.

She signed an agreement that any her holdins with the family would only go ta her children. Only after they reached age. Not tellin that White, she left with him fer York City. Momma left with near 20,000 Washington. Ta help set up her house. Momma only had rights ta that 20,000 nothin more. Per her agreement. All other holdins would be mine I reckon, at 14 occordin ta York Law. Occordin ta Marge, the Family is worth over 80,000 Kennedy. Folks most never heard a that Trinket, one Kennedy is worth over 500 Lincoln!

Well Momma got her house set up, put the left over Trinkets in the bank under her name an White's.  That White asked, about the rest her share. Momma told me she say, ifin we need it. Why I can look inta it, only take a few days ta get some. White she said, just nodded said nothin more on it. Few weeks later, she asked on settin a date ta get married.

White say, next Saturday ta early? Momma agreed, Momma told me by that time, she was preggers with me. She wanted ta get married so I had a name. White put off the marriage, he say he wanted this deal ta go through first. Folks that deal must a went through, month later Momma say this lady came inta the house. That Sam White introduced her, as Mrs. Nathan Samuel White!

Momma say she, was at a loss fer words. This Mrs White say I am Anna, pleased ta meet ya. Momma say, Anna ya say! I was ta marry him, this is my house! Not his my share made this place! I am with child! I claim my right under Common Law, ta expect care fer me an my child!

White say ya have no proof the child is mine! Ya have lived here, slept in the same room as myself! The child is yars! Momma told thum. Then she say, watch yar Trinkets lady, he a take thum all! Anna say, he may try, ya an the child, will stay in what ever room ya like.

Mrs. White then say, Mister White we shall have one child only, ifin ya have a worthy seed. This is a marriage only fer my gain, ya have only the wealth of my family in name only. Folks, Momma chose the attic, only so she could stay out of sight a White. Momma I think still hoped White, would pick her over Mrs. White.

Momma say, White had the right ta name me. He chose Common, usin the Law ta name me. Didn't know I had a middle name it was only, when Momna say it was Law.
That it rang true, Common Law child. Folks Momma say, he did it, ta hurt her. Momma laughed, an say I called ya Common, ta prove ya were his. Besides she say it is a right fine name. Common I did this ta protect ya, I didn't know how evil he would get.

I asks Momma, what does he do ta ya, in that room? Momma say, Common I won't talk about that. Marge say Nora do ya want me ta tell him? He should know. Momma say, I need air an a walk. Tell him what ya like.

Folks think this is might long winded, start this same place next time.