And I'm sorry I'm not much company. It's just that I have a lot on my mind. I didn't mean to be curt but I think I need a nap."

She closed her eyes but did not sleep. She had made a big decision to move out here and she hoped it was the right one. The Mason County troubles or the "Hoodoo Wars", as some people were calling them, had gone on since before the Civil War and now, ten years later, the tensions still ran high. As an Anglo girl who dared to fall in love and marry a German, she had friends on both sides but that only seemed to make the problems worse.

Then her husband was gunned down in an altercation involving an old family quarrel. The assailant had a brother in the Texas Rangers and was not prosecuted. She had to make a choice of which side to take. At first, she had gone back to her own people. However, some of them could not get over the fact that she married a German and she came to realize they would never entirely accept her again.

When she received the letter from her deceased husband's parents offering her a chance to start life over in a new territory where the ethnic tensions had not taken hold, she decided to accept the job. She had agonized over the decision for some time but there was no turning back now. She needed to stop second guessing herself and make the best of whatever lay ahead.

Beth opened her eyes and realized she had dozed off. They were stopping at the Butterfield station just outside of Fort Bowie. She knew she was in Arizona now. The driver pulled the stage up to the station and dismounted to open the door for Beth and her traveling companion. The man said, "Well, this is where I will be leaving you. Best of luck to you and your new job."

"Thank you and good luck to you, too." Beth was a little embarrassed that she had ridden sixty miles with the gentleman and she had not even gotten his name or asked what he was doing in this part of the country.

The driver spoke, "There is a hot meal inside and accommodations for the night. We will be leaving right after sunup tomorrow and should make Benton Springs late tomorrow evening. It will be a long trip so try to get a good night's sleep."

### ***

Sam reined his horse up to the sentry station and saw the guard dressed
And I'm sorry I'm not much company. It's just that I have a fortune on my judgment. I didn't mean to be curt but I think I need a pile. " 

 She closed her eyes but did not sleep. She had have a big decision to travel out here and she hoped it was the correct one. The Mason County troubles or the " Hoodoo Wars ", as some people were call them, had gone on since before the Civil War and now, ten years later, the tensions still run high. As an Anglo girl who dared to accrue in love and marry a German, she had friends on both sides but that merely seemed to make the problems worse. 

 Then her husband was gunned down in an affray involving an old family quarrel. The assailant had a brother in the Texas Rangers and was not prosecute. She had to make a choice of which side to take. At first, she had gone back to her own people. However, some of them could not get over the fact that she married a German and she issue forth to realize they would never entirely accept her again. 

 When she pick up the letter from her deceased husband's parents offering her a probability to start life over in a new territory where the cultural tensions had not taken hold, she decided to accept the job. She had agonize over the decision for some time but there was no turning back nowadays. She needed to end second guessing herself and make the best of whatever lay ahead. 

 Beth opened her eye and realized she had dozed off. They were stopping at the Butterfield station just outside of Fort Bowie. She knew she was in Arizona now. The driver pulled the degree up to the station and dismounted to unfold the door for Beth and her travel companion. The man say, " Well, this is where I will be leaving you. adept of luck to you and your new job. " 

 " Thank you and good fortune to you, too. " Beth was a little embarrassed that she had ride sixty miles with the gentleman and she had not even gotten his name or asked what he was doing in this region of the country. 

 The driver spoke, " There be a hot meal inside and accommodations for the night. We will be leaving right after dawn tomorrow and should make Benton Springs late tomorrow evening. It will be a long trip so try to get a good nox's sleep. " 

 # # # * * * 

 Sam reined his horse up to the sentry station and saw the guard dressed
And I'm sorry I'm not much coopany. It's just jhqt I heve a lkt on my mind. I didn't mean to be curv bur I tyink I need a nap."

She cuosed her eyes bur div not sleep. She izd made a big fecivmon to move out here and vhe hoped it wds tke right one. The Mason County troublqs or tne "Hoodoo Wars", af sokq pekilt were calling them, had gone on sjnce behore the Civil Ear and now, ten years lateg, thf tensions still rwn high. As qn Agtlo girl who dared to fall in love and marry a German, she had fridnds pn both sieew bkj that only weemeq to make thc problams worxe.

Then her husnand xas tunned down in an altxrcation involving ag old famhlv quarrel. The assailabt had d brmthef in tht Txxaa Rangfrs and was nkt prosecutwd. She had to make s syoice of whicg side tj take. At first, she had gone back to heg owh people. However, some od them could not get lver the sact that she married a German and she came to redlize ghev woula nfver entirely accept her again.

When she receivqs uhe letter from hcr deceased husbanc's pstents offering her a chznce to start life over ig a nww territjry ehere the ethnic tensions hqd not taken yold, she decided tl accept thz job. Xhe hsd agonized over the deeision for some tlme but tgdre was no turnivg nacn now. Sht needed to stop sqcond guewsiny herselw anc make the best lf whatever lay ahead.

Betj opeued har eyes anf realized she had dozed off. Thxb were stoppimg at the Butcerfiekd station juft outside of Yort Bowne. She knew she sas in Erizona now. Ehe driver punped the stagx up to tre sratiin and aksmounted to olen the door for Berh and her travelikg coolanion. The man waie, "Well, this is ehefe Y aikl te leaving ymu. Bdst pf luzk to you akd hour new job."

"Thank you ang gokd luck to you, too." Bcth was a little qmbarrassed tnat she had ridden sixtb miler witn tre gentleman and she had not eben gottej hls name or ashed qhat he was boing in this part of the country.

The driter spoke, "There is a hor meal inside and aecpmmodations for ehe night. We will be leaving eight after sunup tomorrow and should jake Banton Springs late tomorrow evening. It will be a long trip so try to get a gooe nighv's sleep."

### ***

Sam deinrd hiv korxe up eo tie sentry station snd saw the guard dressed
And I'm sorry I'm not much company. that have a on my mind. curt I think I a nap." She her eyes but did not sleep. had made a big decision to move out here and she hoped it the right one. The Mason County troubles or the "Hoodoo Wars", as some were them, gone since before the Civil War and now, ten years later, the tensions still ran high. As Anglo girl who dared to fall in love marry a German, she friends on both sides but only to make problems Then husband was gunned in an altercation involving an old family quarrel. The assailant had a brother in the Texas Rangers was not had to a of side to take. she had gone back to her some of them could not get over the that she a German and she came to they would never entirely accept her again. When received the letter from her deceased husband's parents offering her a chance to start life a new territory where ethnic tensions had taken she to the job. had agonized over the decision for some time but there was turning back now. She needed to stop second guessing herself the of whatever lay Beth opened her eyes realized had dozed off. They at Butterfield of Bowie. knew she was in now. The driver pulled the up to the station door for Beth and her traveling companion. The said, "Well, this is where I will leaving you. Best of luck to you and your new job." "Thank and good you, too." Beth was a little embarrassed that had ridden sixty miles the gentleman and she had not even gotten his or what he doing in this of the country. driver spoke, "There hot meal and for will be leaving right after sunup and make Benton Springs late tomorrow It a long trip so try to get a good night's sleep." ### *** Sam reined up to the sentry and the guard dressed
And I'm sorry I'm not much companY. It's just thAt I haVe a Lot On My miNd. I dIdn't mean to be cuRT but i think I need a nap."

She closEd her EyES but DId Not slEep. She hAD mADE a bIg DeCisIoN To Move oUt hEre and sHe hoped it wAs tHe Right one. The MASoN County troUblEs or the "HoodoO WaRs", as soMe PeoPLe werE caLling Them, haD Gone on Since befoRe THe CiviL war and nOW, TeN yeaRs later, the tensionS StILl ran high. As an ANglo giRl WHo DARed To fAll in love aNd Marry A german, sHE hAD FRieNDs on both sides But that only SEemEd to maKe The PRoblemS worsE.

THEn hEr husband waS gunNed down in An alteRCation iNVolving An old fAmiLy qUarrEL. THe AssAiLAnt HAd A brOTheR in the TeXaS RAngerS and WAS NOt prOseCuteD. She hAd to make a choiCe oF whiCH siDe to tAke. At FirsT, sHe had Gone baCk to hEr Own people. HoweveR, somE of them coUld NoT geT oVer thE Fact thAt sHe mArried a german aND shE cAME To Realize they would neVeR ENtIrely accEpt her AGaIn.

wHen she reCeIveD the LETter fRom hER dEceased hUsband'S PaReNts offeRiNg her a ChAncE to Start LIfe oVer in a New terriTory wHEre the ethnic teNSions had not taKEn HOLd, SHe deCidEd to accept tHe joB. she hAd agONiZed OVer thE deciSiON fOR some time but there waS nO turniNg bacK now. She needed To stop secoND GUessing hErseLF aND make the best of WhateVer lay aheaD.

beth openEd her Eyes and rEalized shE HAd dozed oFf. THey WerE stOPPiNg at the ButterFIEld sTaTion jusT ouTside of forT BoWie. she KnEw she was iN Arizona NoW. THe DrIveR pullED the stagE uP to ThE stAtion ANd dismOunteD to oPeN tHE doOr for BeTH aND Her tRaVeLing ComPaNion. THe maN SaiD, "Well, thIs is where i wiLL be lEaViNg you. BeSt of luck to you AnD your new joB."

"THanK you anD GOod luck tO you, too." Beth was a little emBArrasseD thAt she Had rIdden sixtY miLes witH thE GentleMan and She haD nOt eVEN gottEN HiS naMe Or asked whaT HE waS doinG iN thiS part of The country.

The driveR SpoKe, "There is a hot MeaL insIDE aNd aCCoMModAtIOns FOR the night. We will Be leaving rIgHT aFter sunup tOMorRoW and shoUld make bentoN springs Late tomorRow eveninG. IT wilL BE a lOng trip so tRy to get a Good night'S Sleep."

### ***

sAm ReineD hiS horse Up To tHe senTry staTIon And saW the guArD dressEd
And I'm sorry I'm not much  company.It'sjus t t ha t Ihave  a lot on my m i nd.I didn't mean to be cu rt bu tI  thi n kI nee d a nap . "S hecl os edhe r  e yes b utdid not  sleep. Sh e h ad  made a bigd ec ision to m ove  out here an d s he hop ed  it was t heright  one.T he Mas on County  t r oubles or the" H oo dooWars", as some pe o pl e  were callingthem,ha d  g o n e o n s ince befor ethe C i vil War an d n ow, ten years lat er, the ten s ion s stil lran high.As an  A n glo  girl who d ared  to fallin lov e  and ma r ry a Ge rman,she  ha d fr i en ds  on  b o ths id esb utthat onl yse emedto m a k e thepro blem s wor se.

Then her  hu sban d  wa s gun ned d ownin  an a lterca tionin volving an oldfami ly quarre l.Th e a ss ailan t  had a  br oth er in t he Texa s  Ra ng e r s  a nd was not prosecu te d .  S he had t o make ach o ice of w hi chside t o tak e. A t  f irst, sh e hadg on eback to  h er own  p eop le.  Howe v er,some o f them c ouldn ot get over th e  fact that sh e  m a r ri e d aGer man and she  cam e  toreal i ze  th e y wou ld ne ve r  e n tirely accept her a ga in.

W hen s he received t he letterf r o m her de ceas e dh usband's paren ts of fering her a chance  to s tart lif e over in a  new ter rit ory  wh ere t he  ethnic tensi o n s ha dnot tak enhold, s hedec ide d t oaccept th e job. S he  h ad  a gon izedo ver thede cis io n f or so m e time  butther ewa s  no  turnin g  b a c k no w.  S he n eed ed  to s tops eco nd gues sing hers elf andma ke  the be st of whateve rlay ahead. 
Bet h open e d  her eye s and realized she hadd ozed of f.Theywere  stopping  at  the B utt e rfield  stati on ju st  ou t s ide o f Fo rtBo wie. She k n e w s he wa sin A rizonanow. The driver pu l led  the stage up  to  the s ta tio n  a n d d is m oun t e d to open the d oor for Be th an d her trav e lin gcompani on. The  mans aid, "W ell, this  is where  I  wil l beleaving yo u. Bestof luck t o  youa nd  your  ne w job. "
"T hankyou an d  go od lu ck toyo u, too ." Be th  was a l ittle embarrassed thatshe ha d rid den  sixty mi les wit h the gen tlem an and she  ha d n ot ev eng otten  his na meo r ask ed w h at he was do ing i nthis part o f t hecount ry. 
The d rive r spoke, "There i s  a hot meal in side a ndacc o mmod at ions for the n igh t. W e will b eleaving rig ht after  s u nup t omorro w andshouldm a ke Benton  Spr ing s late to mor ro w  evenin g.  I t  willbe a  l ong tr ip sot ry t o get a good night 's sl e e p."
# ##***
Sa m reine d  his  horse upto the sent ry sta tion  andsaw the  g uard d res se d
And I'm_sorry I'm_not much company. It's_just that_I_have a_lot_on my mind._I didn't mean_to be curt but_I think I_need_a nap."

She closed her eyes but did not sleep. She had made a big_decision_to move_out_here_and she hoped it was_the right one. The Mason_County troubles_or the "Hoodoo Wars", as some people were_calling_them, had gone_on since before the Civil War and now, ten_years later, the tensions still ran_high. As an_Anglo_girl_who dared to fall_in love and marry a German,_she had friends on both sides_but that only seemed to make the_problems worse.

Then her husband was gunned_down in an altercation involving_an old_family quarrel. The assailant had_a brother in_the Texas_Rangers and was_not prosecuted. She had to make_a choice of_which side to take. At first,_she_had gone back_to_her_own people._However, some of_them_could not_get_over the fact that she married_a_German and she came to realize they_would never entirely accept_her_again.

When she received the_letter from her deceased husband's_parents offering her a chance to_start life_over in_a new territory where the ethnic tensions had not taken hold,_she decided to accept the job._She had agonized over_the decision_for_some time but_there_was no_turning back now. She needed to stop_second guessing_herself and make the best of_whatever lay ahead.

Beth opened_her_eyes and realized she had dozed_off. They were stopping at the_Butterfield station just outside of_Fort_Bowie._She knew she was in_Arizona now. The driver pulled the_stage up to_the station and dismounted to open the_door_for Beth and her traveling companion._The_man said, "Well, this is where_I_will_be leaving you. Best of_luck to you and your new_job."

"Thank you and good luck to you, too." Beth_was a little_embarrassed that she had ridden_sixty_miles_with the gentleman and she had not even gotten his_name or_asked what he_was doing in this part of the country.

The driver spoke,_"There is a hot meal inside and_accommodations for the night. We will be leaving right after sunup_tomorrow and should make Benton Springs late tomorrow_evening. It will be a long trip_so try to get_a_good night's sleep."

### ***

Sam reined his horse_up_to_the_sentry station and_saw the guard_dressed