Dorothy Garlock (23 page)

Blue got to his feet and stood in front of Justine. “You takin 'her in now, Joe? I'll give ya a hand.” He bent down as if to adjust Justine's feet. Instead he swiftly hooked his arm beneath Lloyd's legs and tipped him backward over the porch rail.

“Hey! ”Lloyd's cry was one of fear and surprise.

“Uh-oh.” Blue looked down at the man sprawled on his back amid the cannas. “Gotta be careful of these porch railin's. A feller can fall off 'em mighty easy.”

Radna let out a peal of musical laughter. Even Justine smiled. A grin spread across Joe's handsome face. He reached down and lifted his aunt in his arms.

“Wasn't that worth seeing, Aunt? ”he said on his way to the door. “I wouldn't have missed it for a horse.”

“Tell Mr. Blue to watch his back.” Justine's voice trembled.

“Blue can take care of himself.” Joe chuckled. “Madison is lucky he just got dumped in the flower bed. Blue can be rougher than a cob when he's riled. He's as strong as an ox and as ornery as one on locoweed.”

Joe carried his aunt through the hotel lobby, where several guests were sitting in the big padded chairs reading or smoking. All were interested in the young man carrying the older woman so gently.

“He'll
get even, ”Justine said worriedly as they started down the hall to her room.

“Don't worry. Blue knows what he's doing. It was the
little colored gal
thing and the slur on the Indian school that set him off. He's pretty mild-mannered until he thinks he's being made the goat. Then watch out. The fur will fly and he's likely to hurt someone.”

“But Blue will be the one to be hurt, ”Justine said urgently. “Or …killed. You don't know
him.”

“And you do? ”

“Yes, I do, ”she said firmly.
“He's crazy
mean and vindictive.
He'll
get even if it takes… years.”

Radna held open the door to Justine's room as Joe carried his aunt inside and placed her gently on the bed.

“Thank you, ”she whispered wearily.

“It was my pleasure.”

“Joe, will you and Blue bring down the daybed from the room in the attic? I'm staying in here tonight.” Radna was removing Justine's shoes.

“You don't need to stay in here with me.”

“I think I do, and I'm going to.” Radna's firm voice cut off Justine's protest.

“We'll bring it down, but first I'd better get back to the porch and make sure Blue doesn't lift the big-shot lawyer's hair with his scalping knife.”

Justine spoke as soon as Joe closed the door. “What am I going to do, Radna?
He's
got something in mind. I wouldn't be surprised that
he
burned down his own house so
he'd
have an excuse to come here.”

“Right now, you're going to get a good night's sleep. I got another bottle of booze today. The doctor said it was good for you to have a drink at bedtime.”

“I'm such a bother to everyone.”

“Horse hockey. I can remember when I said the same thing to you. You said, and I quote: 'Bother, my skinny ass, Radna. What are friends for?' ”

“That was different. You had been so badly beaten, I was afraid you'd not live.”

“But I did. Shows you how stubborn I am. I'd have lain in the back alley and died if not for you. So don't be giving me any of that
bother
shit. Here, let me get that housecoat off you and the pins out of your hair.”

“He
despises me. I can see it in his eyes. When
he
came here I was able to get around and
he
wasn't so bold. Now I'm helpless.”

“I wouldn't say that. With three big men looking out for you, you're far from helpless.” Radna chuckled. “Wasn't that Blue a caution? He tipped that smart-mouthed buzzard over the rail before he could bat an eye. Too bad it didn't break his dang-blasted neck.”

“He'll
get even.
He'll
have Blue arrested on some trumped-up charge or else put a knife in his ribs or pay someone to do it. The judge was rich. I imagine he left it all to
him.”

“We won't worry about it now. If you're settled for a while, I'm going out to see about that daybed. I'll leave the light on and lock the door, but I'll keep an eye on it anyway. I'll be back with the booze. Might even have a snort myself.”

“Aren't you going out tonight? ”

“No, I'm staying right here. I'll go out tomorrow. The sheriff is so busy looking for the rest of that woman, he'll not be bothering about me.”

“Be careful, Radna.
He'll
hurt you if
he
gets the chance.”

“I'm aware of that. I carry a pistol in my pocket and a knife in my garter.”

Justine's eyes went to the bureau and the picture of her late husband.

“Ralph would have known what to do about
him.
Ralph was the kindest person I ever knew. Kind and generous to a fault. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Oh, he wasn't so good with money, but he made up for it in a hundred other ways.” Justine's eyes swung back to her friend standing beside the door. “Go on, Radna, dear. You don't have to fear that I'll get up and run off.”

Jill and Thad paused on the porch steps. Joe and Blue were standing in front of Lloyd Madison, blocking his way to the door of the lobby.

“She doesn't want to see or talk to you. If you come near her, you'll find your jaws unhinged and your mouth flopping open like a fish out of water. I suggest you find another place to stay.” Joe's voice was loud and stern.

“Are you threatening me? ”

“I didn't hear anyone threatening you. Did you, Blue? ”

“Nay. Me just dumb Indian.”

“I've paid for a month, I'll stay a month. Try to get me out and I'll take her to court. I could file so many lawsuits that the court costs would take everything she's got.”

“You'd do that? ”

“If I have to.”

“You're a real shit heel.”

“Yeah, I am, and proud of it.” He stepped around Joe and Blue and went into the hotel, crossed the lobby and climbed the stairs to his room.

“What's going on? ”Thad asked.

“The smart-mouthed bastard was needling Aunt Justine. Blue tipped him over the railing. He landed on his butt in the flower bed. Lost his eyeglasses. Worse luck, he found them.”

Thad slapped Blue on the back. “Good goin', ole hoss. I owe you one.”

Joe continued, “Now he's threatening to have Blue jailed for assault and to file a court case against Aunt Justine if we try to get him out of here.”

“Can he do that? ”Jill asked.

“I don't know who his witnesses would be because we didn't see anything. Did we, Blue? ”

“I dunno. I just — ”

“Dumb Indian.” Thad hit Blue on the shoulder again.

“He's as mad as a peed-on snake, ”Joe said. “Not that I care how damn mad he gets. I told him if he came around Aunt Justine again, I'd unhinge his flapping jaw.”

“Is Aunt Justine all right? ”

“Radna's with her. Aunt Justine thinks Madison will do something to Blue.”

Blue snorted with disgust. “It'd take more than a scrawny two-bit mouthpiece like him to do me in.”

Jill expressed her opinion of Lloyd emphatically. “He gives me the shivers, and not because of that mark on his face.”

“Radna wants us to bring a daybed down from the attic. She's going to sleep in Aunt Justine's room.” Jill's hold on Thad's hand had not gone unnoticed by Joe, but wisely he realized that now wasn't the time to tease them about it.

Jill released Thad's hand and led the way into the hotel lobby. She went to the desk to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Evans.

“It's a slow night, miss. But the train came in a half an hour ago. We should get a few more.”

“I'll be in the kitchen or in my aunt's room if you need me.”

Officer Hurt came into the lobby as Jill was leaving the desk. With him was a dapper young man wearing a black suit and a red-patterned tie. A gray felt hat sat tilted on his head. Showing beneath the hat brim was thick black hair. He appeared to be what some folks might call a “dandy.”

“Good evening.”

“Evening, miss.” Officer Hurt put his fingers to the brim of his Stetson. He was a man with a long upper body and short legs. His iron-gray hair and the lines in his face put his age in the late forties. “This is my friend and fellow officer from the city, D. A. Bryce.”

“How do you do? ”Jill extended her hand.

“Very well, ma'am.”

“Do you need a room? ”Jill asked, nodding toward the heavy suitcase the man had left inside the door.
Officer Hurt did say he was a police officer. But he didn't look old enough.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“For how long? ”

“For as long as I'm here, ”Officer Hurt said.

Jill gestured toward the desk. “Welcome to Rainwater, Mr. Bryce. Mr. Evans will help you.”

“Thank you, ma'am.”

While his friend was signing the register, Officer Hurt asked, “Does the hotel have a laundry service, miss? ”

“Yes, we do. If you have things to be washed, leave the bundle on your bed. Mrs. Cole will be here tomorrow.

She'll take it home and bring it back the next day. Do you want your shirts heavily starched? ”

“No, ma'am. Lightly starched front and collar. Ready to go up, Jelly? ”he said to the young officer.

Jill watched the men climb the stairs, then went down the hallway to the kitchen. Radna was helping Joe and Blue maneuver the daybed through the doorway into Justine's room.

“I'm sleeping in with Justine, ”Radna explained, unaware that Joe had already mentioned this to Jill.

“I could have slept here with her, ”Jill offered.

“We'll take turns. Set the bed there by the bureau. Before I go to bed, I'll shove it up next to the door.”

“Yes, ma'am, ”both men said in unison.

“Mr. Blue, ”Justine called.

“You don't need to be calling me mister, ma'am, ”Blue said when he approached the bed.

“I want to thank you for what you did and to tell you to be careful. Watch your back.
He's
got the devil right in him, and I'm not talking about the mark on his face.
He
has no conscience, no compassion, no feelings for anyone at all. He dislikes Radna because she's Indian and she's close to me. I'm afraid
he'll
do …something to her and now to you because of what you did.”

“Don't worry, ma'am. I may not have run into his kind before, but I'll not underestimate him. I'll not turn my back to him and we'll watch to see that he doesn't harm Radna. Although I think that feisty little twister-tail can take care of herself.” Blue added the last when he became aware Radna was listening. His dark eyes twinkled when he heard a grunt of disgust, then a whispered obscene word.

“Thank you.” Justine closed her eyes wearily. Blue patted the limp hand that lay by her side and then, ignoring Radna, hurried from the room.

When Blue entered the kitchen, Thad was at the icebox chipping ice to put in the tea glasses Jill had set on the table.

“I can't let you out of my sight five minutes before you're in trouble, ”Thad said with his back to Blue. “Why did you have to pick a fight with that nice, friendly man? Didn't anyone tell you that he's one of the town's leading citizens? ”

“Nice man my …my rear end! ”Blue snorted.

“You've gone soft, Blue. Soft. As long as you were at it, you could have given him something to remember you by. A few missing teeth, perhaps, or a broken arm would have put the message across. Couldn't you think of anything more to do than dump him in a nice, soft flower bed, for God's sake? ”

“There were ladies present.”

“It hasn't stopped you before. Remember that flapper you were chasing down in Tulsa, the one with the big headlights? You were — ”

“All right, all right. Next time I'll step on his glasses! ”

“Thad! ”Jill scolded. “Stop teasing Blue and pour the tea.”

“If you'll come here and give me a kiss.”

Without waiting for an answer, he reached for her, grabbed her around the waist and swung her off her feet. She yipped in surprise.

“What's got into you tonight? ”she asked between giggles after he had kissed her soundly.

“You know, ”he whispered in her ear before he set her on her feet.

“Hey, there, boy.” Joe came in through the back door. “Stop manhandling my little sister.”

“Tend to your own business, farm boy.”

“Get fresh with her again and there'll be a shotgun wedding before you can say
scat.”
Joe hit Thad on the shoulder with his hat.

Jill's face turned a bright red. Thad turned her loose and swung at Joe. The two men began scuffling around the kitchen like a couple of frisky puppies. They almost upset a kitchen chair, then bumped into the table.

“Joe! Thad! Stop it before you break something. You'll turn the table over. Blue, make them stop, ”Jill pleaded when the scuffling continued.

“I'm not getting between those two clabberheads.” Blue sat down at the table and reached for a glass of iced tea. “Old Thad's been bit by a bug. He's going be a hard dog to keep under the porch for a while.”

“What do you mean? ”

“Don't listen to him, honey.” Thad stepped away from Joe and pressed Jill down in a chair. “He's jealous because he didn't see you first.”

“I was sure a herd of buffalo had come through.” Radna stood in the doorway. Her small feet were planted on the floor, her hands on her hips. “I could hear you in Justine's room with the door closed.”

“Sorry, ”Joe said with a sheepish look on his face. “I went out to get our bedrolls and found Thad messing around with my little sister. Missouri men protect their little sisters from mashers and lechers and fast men who have designs on the virtues of young girls, ”he added seriously.

“For crying out loud, Joe. I'm not your
little
sister, ”Jill protested.

“I'll get you for this, Joe, ”Thad said in a loud whisper.

“Land-a-livin'! ”Radna rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Is it always like this? ”She directed her question to Blue.

“Pretty much.”

“It's too thick in here for me. I'm going to the porch for a while. Keep an eye on Justine's door.” As she walked past Joe, she placed the door key on the table.

Blue stood up and followed Radna. “I was just going out to the porch to get away from all this hullabaloo myself.”