Cactus Flower by Alice Duncan Page A

indulgently, prompted Charles, clutching
the apron and scrub brush to his breast, to blurt out, “Oh, Uncle
Nick, if you could help Bill and me, we’re building a tree house,
only there’s no trees, so we’re going to have to stick it somewhere
else. And Clarence,” he added belatedly. Nick understood. Being the
youngest boy, Clarence was kind of a pest. Nick figured that was only
because he didn’t get enough attention from his siblings because he
couldn’t do as much as they. Again his heart twanged. He wished like
thunder it would stop doing that.
           “I
reckon I can do that,” said Nick.
           “Thank
you, Uncle Nick!” And Charles fled the room, still clutching the apron
and scrub brush, a huge smile on his face.
           Nick
flashed Eulalie a quick peek to see if she was sneering at his softhearted
attitude toward the boy. To his surprise, he saw that her face had lost
its set expression, and she appeared almost pleased with him.
           He
was probably imagining it.
           After
clearing his throat, Nick got to the point. “Say, Mrs. Johnson, Miss
Gibb is going to need a place to stay while she’s singing at the Opera
House. As you can imagine, the Opera House isn’t … um …”
           “You
don’t have to explain it to me, Nicky.” Mrs. Johnson smiled at Eulalie.
“We’d be right proud to have you stay with us, Miss Gibb.”
           “Naturally,
I’ll pay you for room and board, Mrs. Johnson,” Eulalie said.
           “I
reckon you will, sweetie. I’m a charitable woman, when I’ve got
it to give, but I expect you’ll be earning enough to pay something.”
           “Of
course. I’ll be happy to give you a deposit.”
           Nick
didn’t want to offend either lady, but he felt compelled to intervene.
“Are you sure you’ll be all right here, Miss Gibb?”
           “Good
question, Nicky,” Mrs. Johnson said with a grin. “I’ll warrant
this isn’t what you’re used to, Miss Gibb. We’re a little rugged
out here in the territory.”
           With
perfect graciousness, which Nick ought to have anticipated but hadn’t,
Eulalie said, “Don’t be silly, Mrs. Johnson. I assure you that I
knew what I was getting in to when I chose to move to the West.” She
shot Nick a glance. “Well, for the most part. I must say I hadn’t
anticipated some aspects of the New Mexico Territory.”
           Nick
gave her a cold eye. “She’s talking about Uncle Junius. I expect
you heard that story.”
           With
a hearty laugh, Mrs. Johnson said, “I do declare, Nicky, your uncle
is a caution!”
           “I
don’t think Miss Gibb thought so,” grumbled Nick.
           “As
I said, while I was prepared for many … ah … circumstances that
are not what I’m used to, I was unprepared for Mr. Junius Taggart.”
Eulalie lifted her chin in a gesture Nick was beginning to recognize
as one she used when she was irritated.
           “Why
don’t you go collect Miss Gibb’s traps, Nicky, and I’ll set the
boys to cleanin’ out the back room. Reckon Sarah and Penelope can
share a room with me.”
           Eulalie’s
eyes opened wide. “Oh! I had no idea you’d have to oust your children,
Mrs. Johnson. Please. I’m sure I can find another place to stay. I
don’t want to be a pest.”
           Both
Mrs. Johnson and Nick looked at her in a way that made Eulalie’s cheeks
get pink. Mrs. Johnson said, “You’re not a pest, believe me. It’ll
be a plumb pleasure to have another woman to talk to. There aren’t
a whole lot of us here yet. And as for finding another place to stay
… well, I reckon I’ve heard folks talk about building a hotel here
in Rio Peñasco, but it’s not built yet. I expect we’ll have to
get a speck more popular with drummers and the like before a hotel could
be considered profitable. I think