Chapter Three
Bang! Bang!
Hope stirred restlessly in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering as she tried to stave off the attackers in her dreams. A silent scream worked its way up from the back of her throat, and she sat up abruptly, heart thudding in her chest.
Sunlight streamed through the second-floor bedroom window, its rays shining warmly on the bed. Running a hand over her face, Hope climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb Maggie, who lay next to her, sound asleep.
Voices from the street caught her attention and Hope turned towards the window. Sweetwater was far from big, but even at this early hour of the morning, the streets were bustling. Two women in shawls and bonnets manoeuvered their ways past the steaming piles of horse manure littering the dirt road, baskets in hand, while a couple of cowboys stepped out into the early morning sunlight from the saloon, wincing at the bright glare and rubbing bleary eyes.
A movement from the corner of her eye caught Hope's attention, and she bent forward slightly, pressing her face to the glass.
Calvin McKay was standing on the front stoop of the building at the head of the street, the sign above his head proudly proclaiming: Gerson's General Store. His hat shielded his face, but the dark blue shirt and hide jacket were unmistakable. As he stood there, a second man walked up to him, carrying two cups of coffee. He handed one to Calvin and the both of them stood drinking, occasionally exchanging words.
Hope frowned. Calvin McKay had saved her life, and Maggie's. She was going to have to find a way to pay him back--somehow.
As she stood there, there was a sudden knock on the door and Hope turned around. Nellie Woods stepped in, a couple of dresses draped over her arm. She opened her mouth to speak and then, glancing at Maggie, moderated her tone slightly.
"Thought you might want these." She patted the clothes on her arm. "Your own clothes are a mite...dirty."
Hope glanced down at her dress, the mud in her hem and the deep, dried bloodstains on her front making a shiver run up and down her spine. Suddenly yesterday's attack seemed all the more real, and she found herself fighting hard to swallow. "Thank you," she managed, her voice thick.
"Got a couple of dresses for your little gal, too," Nellie said. She put the clothes down on the nearby dresser and then turned to Hope. "Breakfast's in a half hour, iffen ya want to come down." As if involuntarily, she reached out and patted the younger woman on the arm awkwardly, and then turned and quietly left the room.
Hope watched her go, the strange kindness making another lump rise in her throat. Forcing the tears back, she dried her eyes and pushed her hair out of her eyes. Today was a new day.
~
"Didja talk to the sheriff?"
Luc's quiet voice, thick with a Louisiana drawl, made Calvin look up from surveying the street. "Yeah," he replied. "He said he was gonna send out a posse. Won't do much good, though." He took another swallow of coffee and grimaced, the taste suddenly bitter in his mouth. "They'll be long gone by the time Wyatt's group get there."
Luc nodded. Draining his cup, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, taking a few drags before speaking again. "What 'bout you? Will you go out?"
"Reckon so, if I can pick up the trail again." Calvin scowled. "Animals like that don't deserve to get away scot-free." He took another sip. "She's just a girl, too."
Luc stared at him, and then understanding dawned in his eyes. "You mean the one you brought in?"
"How'd you know?"
A tiny smile, rarely seen, flashed across the Louisianan's face. "This is a small town. Everybody knows."
Calvin sighed. "Guess you're right." He glanced at the boarding-house, thinking about her.
Hard to believe she had a daughter. She was so tiny and thin it looked like a good puff of wind would knock her down, but the fire in her dark eyes had been anything but weak yesterday. That little girl-woman had a whole lot of guts.
"Speakin' of which..." Luc elbowed him in the side, drawing him away from his thoughts. "Miss Landry's comin' this way."
Calvin's gaze flickered down the street, to where a pretty blonde young woman was wending her way in the direction of the store, a slightly pained look on her face as she sidestepped the droppings on the street. "Great."
Luc stifled a laugh and Calvin glared at him. The two men had been best friends ever since they met up in an Army hospital after the war. While Calvin had the tendency to say what was on his mind, Luc was quieter and more thoughtful, but Calvin trusted him better than anyone he'd ever met.
Miss Landry was coming closer. Calvin poured out the rest of his coffee and put down the cup. "Let's go. Miss Nellie's expectin' us for breakfast anyways."
"Cal."
His friend's tone made Calvin turn around. Luc's dark eyes had gone back to their usual serious hue. "About the Carson gang...don't make it personal. Like it was with...Andrew."
Calvin stared at him, the coffee suddenly roiling in his gut. Things he would rather forget forced themselves to the forefront of his mind and he jerked away from Luc, straightening. "Let's go."
~
I will not throw up...I will not throw up...Hope stood outside the closed door of the kitchen-cum-dining-room, stomach lurching nervously. Maggie clutched her hand, hair freshly combed and braided, and wearing her new dress. "Mama? Are we going to eat? I'm hungry."
Her daughter's voice made Hope look down. Managing a smile, she squeezed the toddler's hand. "Come on, then."
Like the rest of the house, the dining-room had a warm, homely feel to it. A long oak table stood in the center of the room, with benches down both sides and a chair at each head. About half a dozen people, both male and female, were seated at the table, waiting for breakfast to be served, while Miss Nellie and a teenage boy brought plates heaped with food to the table.
Hope hadn't eaten since yesterday and the smells made her ravenous. With wide eyes, she surveyed the table. There was a huge pot of oatmeal porridge, with sugar in a bowl nearby for those who wanted it, a kettle of hot coffee and another of tea, as well as a jug of milk. A plate heaped with toast and a plate of butter were placed next to the milk, as well as a veritable mountain of flapjacks and a jug of syrup, not to mention the containers of jam and honey that were there. It was a veritable feast.
As though noticing her quandary, Miss Nellie called out, "Come on in and get yourself a seat; we're just about to say grace."
Smiling slightly, Hope sat down at one end of the long bench, lifting Maggie up beside her. Her daughter's eyes were as wide as saucers and she surveyed everything with hungry impatience. "Mama? When can we eat?"
"As soon as we say grace, sweetheart." Hope tried to recall the last time she had prayed before meals and couldn't.
The last of the food was brought and Miss Nellie took her place at the head of the table, while the boy, whoever he was, sat in the corner of the room.
The old woman looked around the room and, as if on cue, all heads bowed. Hope followed suit automatically, closing her eyes.
"Lord, we ask that You bless this food--"
The door opened just then, and two men entered. Hope, glancing up, felt her heart nearly stop in her throat. It was Calvin McKay and the other man with him. Trying not to make too much noise, they made their way over to the table and sat down.
Miss Nellie continued. "Lord, we ask that You bless this food and all who partake of it, and may our steps be guided by Your hand throughout this day. Amen."
Hope glanced up, meeting Calvin's eyes just as he raised his head. His bright blue eyes held hers for a minute, and then he looked away.
"Calvin McKay. Reckon if you're gonna get the best food, you've gotta be here on time." Nellie's tone was slightly scolding, and Calvin smiled.
"Sorry, ma'am. We'd've been here sooner, only Luc couldn't bear to go without finishing his mornin' coffee." He shot a mischievous grin at the man next to him and then turned to Nellie. "Can ya find it in yourself to forgive us?" His Texas lilt made Hope think of honey pouring off a spoon.
Nellie glared, although the effect was dampened by the smile threatening to break out on her wrinkled face. "Oh, stop it, you, and eat. Lord knows you could do with some fattenin' up."
Calvin smirked and then turned to Hope. "Mrs McClellen." His tone was remarkably more guarded this time, but kind nonetheless. "How are you this morning?"
Hope managed a slight smile. "Fine, thank you for asking." She looked away, busying herself with fastening on Maggie's napkin.
Nellie, as if noticing the unspoken tension, spoke up. "You're gonna have to get used to these two rascals eatin' around here, Miz McClellen. Ain't no other place in town that'd feed 'em for free." Her grey eyes held a fondness that belied the sarcastic tone in her voice. "You already know Calvin; Luc Dumont's the man next to him. He works at the carpenter's and does some doctorin' 'round here as well."
"Ma'am." Luc smiled at her. Like Calvin, he had a Southern drawl, but it was intermingled with another accent Hope couldn't quite place. He was about the same height as his friend, with dark hair and midnight blue eyes.
After Nellie had introduced all the other people at the table, she spoke to Hope again. "What do you plan to do with yourself, Miz McClellen?"
"I was going to Montana...I have relatives there...I think." Hope fiddled with her fork. She hadn't seen her aunt or uncle since she was little, but Montana was the last place she'd heard they were living, so she was heading there. At least she had been. "I don't know what I'm going to do now."
"Sheriff Wyatt's comin' 'round later today. Says he wants to talk to you about what happened," Calvin cut into the conversation. His eyes met Hope's again and she read something there--was it sympathy?
But then it was gone and Hope began to believe she'd imagined the whole thing.
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