saloon,
reminded her of it. Am I on the right track?”
“Yeah. She’s scared stiff that they’ll find her and hurt
her again, and I believe she’s frightened for her friends, as well. I’m going
to hold a meeting right after Emily goes outside to tend to her garden. It’s
going to take all of us to keep her safe.
“Come on out to the kitchen when you can. But for now, I’m
going to get me some grub.” Blake hurried across the lobby to the kitchen,
eager to join the others.
Emily was ravenous and had piled her plate two hands high.
She had at least one of everything on the table, making Dora happier than she’d
been in days.
“There you go, dear. Eat a hearty breakfast and you’ll feel
like your old self, soon enough. It’ll put some roses back on those cheeks.
What do you plan to do today, honey?” Dora inquired. She knew she was
prattling, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her nerves had been so
stretched, lately; it felt good to be speaking of everyday, mundane things.
Between bites, Emily tried to respond. “I’ve been away for
so long, I’m certain that everything needs attention. I’ll start with the
vegetable gardens, and if there is still enough light, I’ll head to the cutting
beds. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the play yard. It’s getting too tall. My roses
will have to wait a few more days.”
Blake spoke up, with his mouth full of biscuits slathered in
blackberry jam. “Whiskey is going to help you with the vegetable gardens
today. Ain’t that right, Whiskey?”
The old man was surprised, but he knew the Doc has his
reasons for assigning him this particular job. “That’s right. I ain’t got
nothin’ else to do, and I’m hankerin’ to get my hands good and dirty. If
that’s all right with you, Emily?”
She smiled brightly, “I’d love to have you work with me,
today, Whiskey. It’ll give me someone to talk to besides the zucchinis.” She
giggled. Wiping her face on her napkin, Emily announced she was stuffed, and
ready to go outside and get started.
Everyone let her go. It was only after the door closed that
they all began to talk at once. Patty joined their number. “So, Doc. What’s
the plan of yours?”
“I believe that Emily may be in real danger from her
stepfather. He’s a bastard and none of you ladies are truly safe around him.
I want you all to be on the lookout for a big, bearded man hanging around the
hotel. He answers to the name of Lucas. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a real
good look at his face, but I could smell him from across the street. Her
brother may have been with him. I don’t yet know what part he has to play in
all this. Emily told me that many years ago, her stepfather murdered the
elderly couple that was caring for her. He’d tried to sell her.”
The women gasped. Whiskey swore under his breath and fisted
his large hands. Cassie’s eyes were as big as saucers and all the blood had
drained from her innocent face.
“She ran away, more than once, I’m guessing. I didn’t learn
the whole story, but obviously she fears the man is alive and is still a danger
to her. I’m going to turn this town upside down looking for him or anyone that
might know him. In the mean time, Emily is going to need all of you to stay
close. Make sure someone is always with her. Don’t let her stay out in the
yard by herself. Don’t let her go to the Post Office or the mercantile alone.
Find some excuse to accompany her. She won’t like it if she thinks we’re
guarding her, but I believe it’s necessary for a while.” He looked at all the
stunned and worried faces.
Dora stood up and cleared her throat. “I’ve fought Injuns,
fever, and floods. I figure I can stand up to a stinkin’ drunk. I’ve got me a
pistol in my drawer and I’m gonna put it in my pocket. And don’t you fear
none—I know how to use it.”
Whiskey growled and cracked his massive knuckles. He nodded
and left the kitchen through the garden door, without saying another word.
reminded her of it. Am I on the right track?”
“Yeah. She’s scared stiff that they’ll find her and hurt
her again, and I believe she’s frightened for her friends, as well. I’m going
to hold a meeting right after Emily goes outside to tend to her garden. It’s
going to take all of us to keep her safe.
“Come on out to the kitchen when you can. But for now, I’m
going to get me some grub.” Blake hurried across the lobby to the kitchen,
eager to join the others.
Emily was ravenous and had piled her plate two hands high.
She had at least one of everything on the table, making Dora happier than she’d
been in days.
“There you go, dear. Eat a hearty breakfast and you’ll feel
like your old self, soon enough. It’ll put some roses back on those cheeks.
What do you plan to do today, honey?” Dora inquired. She knew she was
prattling, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her nerves had been so
stretched, lately; it felt good to be speaking of everyday, mundane things.
Between bites, Emily tried to respond. “I’ve been away for
so long, I’m certain that everything needs attention. I’ll start with the
vegetable gardens, and if there is still enough light, I’ll head to the cutting
beds. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the play yard. It’s getting too tall. My roses
will have to wait a few more days.”
Blake spoke up, with his mouth full of biscuits slathered in
blackberry jam. “Whiskey is going to help you with the vegetable gardens
today. Ain’t that right, Whiskey?”
The old man was surprised, but he knew the Doc has his
reasons for assigning him this particular job. “That’s right. I ain’t got
nothin’ else to do, and I’m hankerin’ to get my hands good and dirty. If
that’s all right with you, Emily?”
She smiled brightly, “I’d love to have you work with me,
today, Whiskey. It’ll give me someone to talk to besides the zucchinis.” She
giggled. Wiping her face on her napkin, Emily announced she was stuffed, and
ready to go outside and get started.
Everyone let her go. It was only after the door closed that
they all began to talk at once. Patty joined their number. “So, Doc. What’s
the plan of yours?”
“I believe that Emily may be in real danger from her
stepfather. He’s a bastard and none of you ladies are truly safe around him.
I want you all to be on the lookout for a big, bearded man hanging around the
hotel. He answers to the name of Lucas. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a real
good look at his face, but I could smell him from across the street. Her
brother may have been with him. I don’t yet know what part he has to play in
all this. Emily told me that many years ago, her stepfather murdered the
elderly couple that was caring for her. He’d tried to sell her.”
The women gasped. Whiskey swore under his breath and fisted
his large hands. Cassie’s eyes were as big as saucers and all the blood had
drained from her innocent face.
“She ran away, more than once, I’m guessing. I didn’t learn
the whole story, but obviously she fears the man is alive and is still a danger
to her. I’m going to turn this town upside down looking for him or anyone that
might know him. In the mean time, Emily is going to need all of you to stay
close. Make sure someone is always with her. Don’t let her stay out in the
yard by herself. Don’t let her go to the Post Office or the mercantile alone.
Find some excuse to accompany her. She won’t like it if she thinks we’re
guarding her, but I believe it’s necessary for a while.” He looked at all the
stunned and worried faces.
Dora stood up and cleared her throat. “I’ve fought Injuns,
fever, and floods. I figure I can stand up to a stinkin’ drunk. I’ve got me a
pistol in my drawer and I’m gonna put it in my pocket. And don’t you fear
none—I know how to use it.”
Whiskey growled and cracked his massive knuckles. He nodded
and left the kitchen through the garden door, without saying another word.
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