How His Grandparents Met, Part Ii

“...Of course she said nothing of this to me, tried to act as if things were just like before, yet I noticed the time between meetings seemed to just be growing more and more. “One morn I went to her house unexpected, and only her little brother was home, he shook nervously when I asked for her, said she was gone, to where he didn’t know. “I went home and prepared a small bag, the rode my horse for the viscount’s estate, he was so used to being feared by folk that he didn’t both barring his gate. “Viscount Edgerly, the last of his name, lived in the house with only two servants, one worked outside and saw me approaching, he nodded sadly, but no word was sent. ‘The other, a butler, met me at the door, and in rage I punched that man in the face, I suppose he didn’t deserve that blow, but knocked out cold he was out of my way. “I walked up the stairs, tried to make no noise, heard a squeaking sound coming from ahead, my anger grew because it was quite clear that the noise was being made by a bed. “I balled my fists so hard that I drew blood as I approached those ornate bedroom doors… I kicked them open, saw my love naked, riding Edgerly like a god-damned horse! “There was a shriek, my fiancé leapt clear, the viscount stuttered, still shocked and surprised, but to me it all made unquestioned sense, she was getting her fortune with her thighs. “She blubbered that she ‘Didn’t want to cause pain,” but I was in no mood for showing mercy, I pulled out a pistol from my small bag and stalked towards both of them angrily. “It only took two shots, them it was done, after that I put the gun in his hand, pulled out a note that I'd written back home, and left it on the bedside of the man. “I walked out the back and went to the port, knowing that the servants might choose to talk, got on a ship that was bound for New York, in England never again would I walk. “I told them my name was Charles Welsner, though I had been born Charles Burrington, some might think that I’m a murderer, but I have never regretted what I’ve done. “I came out west, I was tired of laws, with some money that Edgerly had ‘loaned,’ got some cheap rangeland, bought me a herd, and soon had built up a ranch of my own. “You know the rest, I have done very well, made a fortune that I’ll leave to my kids, the ironic thing, for my cheating lofe, I made more coin the Edgerly ever did!” CONCLUDES IN PART III.