Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [0]
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Caldwell, Jack.
Pemberley Ranch / Jack Caldwell.
p. cm.
1. Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Pride and prejudice—Parodies, imitations, etc. 2. Darcy, Fitzwilliam (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 3. Bennet, Elizabeth (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 4. Ranchers—Texas—Fiction. 5. Texas—History—19th century—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3603.A4355P46 2010
813’.6—dc22
2010027078
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Barbara,
my life, my love, my muse.
CONTENTS
Pemberley Ranch
Dramatis Personae
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
In Appreciation
About the Author
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
[*]—Historical Character
Natives and/or longtime residents of Rosings, Texas:
Catherine “Cate” Burroughs—Owner of the B&R Ranch and Rosings Bank; widow of Lewis Burroughs and cousin by marriage to Matthew Darcy, William Darcy’s father
Anne Burroughs—Only daughter of Catherine Burroughs
William Darcy, Captain, Texas Legion, Confederate States Army (CSA)—Owner of Pemberley Ranch and Darcy Bank
Gabrielle “Gaby” Darcy—Only sister to Darcy
José Estrada—Assistant trail boss of Pemberley Ranch
Hill—Farmhand at the Bennet Farm
Deputy Jones
Father Joseph—Rector of the Santa Maria Catholic Mission chapel near Rosings
Sheriff Lucas—Longtime sheriff of Rosings; widowed
Charlotte Lucas—Only child of Sheriff Lucas
Judge Alton Phillips
Margaret Reynolds—Cook and housekeeper at Pemberley; former slave.
Deputy Smith
Reverend Henry Tilney—Minister of the Rosings Baptist Church
Sally Younge—Owner and madam of Younge’s Saloon, inherited from her late husband
Carl Zimmerman—Owner of Zimmerman’s General Store and titular mayor of Rosings
New to Rosings:
Thomas Bennet—Native of Ohio; now owner of former Thompson farm west of Rosings
Fanny Bennet—Wife of Thomas Bennet
Jane Bennet—Eldest Bennet daughter
Elizabeth “Beth” Bennet
Mary Bennet
Kathleen “Kathy” Bennet
Lily Bennet
Dr. Charles Bingley, Medical Corps, CSA—Native of Georgia, now practicing doctor in Rosings
Billy Collins—Native of Georgia, manager of Rosings Bank
Joshua “Kid” Denny, Quantrill’s Raiders, CSA—Native of Missouri, gunfighter and foreman of the B&R Ranch
Richard “Fitz” Fitzwilliam, Major, Virginia Cavalry, CSA— Native of Texas, now foreman and trail boss of Pemberley Ranch
Pyke, Corporal, XIII Corps, United States Army, (USA)—Native of Illinois
Thorpe—One of Denny’s gang
Washington family—Newly freed slave family from Louisiana, owners of new homestead farm east of Rosings
George Whitehead, Major, XIII Corps, USA—Native of Illinois, now Recorder of Deeds of Long Branch County, appointed by the governor
Others:
Caroline Bingley—Native of Georgia and sister to Bingley, now resident of New Orleans
Capt. John Buford—Member of the U.S. Army Cavalry stationed at