Quicksilver Passion (153 page)

Cherokee winced. Obviously the kid was used to eating scraps from the back of the restaurants.
Inside. Let’s go.”

The child took his sleeve.
I know everything about this town, boss, you just tell me what you need.”

First we eat, and then you find me a doctor, okay? One that you know is the most successful.”

And off they went.

But that doctor told him about the same thing that Doc had. The wound was healed but there must be some nerve damage. His sight might improve, but there was no guarantee Cherokee would ever regain his sight completely.

Sunk in gloom, Cherokee let Keso lead him to a cheap hotel on McGaa Street and then he paid the boy and told him to come back early in the morning.

But it’ll be Sunday. There won’t be much going on.”

That’s okay. We’ll eat and you can take me around town.”

Are you gonna stay in Denver, boss?”

Keso, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I just don’t know.” He collapsed across the bed and heard the boy leave quietly.
What was he going to do?
His money wouldn’t last forever and he couldn’t just sit here, hoping his eyesight would improve. If he could see, he’d go looking for that big, bearded man with the whip Doc had described. He was helpless! Helpless without his sight!

In sheer frustration, Cherokee rolled over and pounded his pillow with his fist until he was exhausted and dropped off into a troubled sleep. He dreamed of beautiful Silver. She ran from him, laughing and looking back over her shoulder, teasing him to follow her. And when he tried, he stumbled over something and fell. Come back . . . come back, sweet darlin’ ...

When he sat up in bed suddenly, there was enough light streaming into the room to know it was morning.

True to his word, the little street urchin came back to take him to breakfast. Later on the street, Cherokee asked him,
Do you really know everything that goes on around here?”

In this section of town I do.” He sounded confident, almost cocky.

I want to know if you’ve seen a new man in town, big, bearded, maybe looks like a buffalo hunter.”

There’s lots fit that description.”

This one has been partially scalped and carries a silver filigreed-handled bull whip.”

There was a long moment of silence.

Keso, didn’t you hear me?”