Sharon Poppen (3 page)

With no moon to guide her, she carefully made her get-away through an alley behind the businesses. Thoughts of her late husband and his bullet-ridden body began to eat into her concentration. Hannah shook her head as if to dispel memories of her short life with Caleb as they’d sought to establish their cattle ranch.

“No!” She focused on what had become her obsession. Soundlessly moving her lips, she began her chant, “Drake. Benny. Beware. I will find you. Beware.”

“No what?” A soft voice cut into the night.

So deep was Hannah into her thoughts she almost missed it. It took a tiny, orange circle of fire and the earthy rich aroma of tobacco to catch her attention. “Who’s there?”

“You’re the one skulking about. You should be answering questions.”

Hannah heard the rustle of silk. That and an off-key piano echoing out into the night, lead her to believe it had to be one of ‘those’ women. Before she could answer, the night became illuminated. A chubby, blond woman had lit a lantern.

The woman puffed on a long, slender cigar, smiled warmly and exhaled. “Honey, look at you! Good thing you’re such a pretty thing or that plumb awful outfit would make a body think you were a boy.”

After a quick look down at her outfit, Hannah looked back at the woman, and without a word she turned to hurry away.

“Wait, honey. I don’t mean no harm.”

Hannah kept walking.

“Where you going, dressed like that?”

The question brought Hannah to a halt. Where, indeed, was she going? She turned around. “Don’t know. Just know I’ve got to go.”

“Wait,” the woman stepped to the end of a porch. “Aren’t you the girl the Reverend took in?”

Hannah turned away again.

“Honey, listen. I understand. He’s a pig.”

Hannah turned back and met the woman’s eyes.

The woman nodded with a smirk. “Oh, yeah. I’ve seen that birthmark on his...”

“He...” Hannah began.

The woman raised her hand, “Never you mind. I can guess.”

Hannah nodded.

“Listen, girl. She tossed her cigar stub into the night. “I got some time. You want to talk?”

Hannah’s Christian upbringing reared its influence. Color raced into her cheeks. “I ..., uh ..., well you’re ...”

The woman smiled. “Well yes, I am.” The smile radiated warmth, along with pride, as she continued. “Name’s Ruby.” She held out her hand. “Girl, I’ve done a lot of things along the way, but honey, I seldom regret much of anything. Never seems to help. Out here, a woman, especially a woman alone, needs to do a lot of things to survive. But, I’ve learned that talking to someone often makes life a little easier.”

Hannah managed a slight smile of agreement. Her first smile since...

“Honey, among other things, I’m really good at listening.”

Hannah remained where she was, but met the woman’s eyes. She reached for the extended hand. “I’ve been …, uh attacked.”

“The Reverend?”

Hannah nodded and blurted on. “And before him. Many men. They killed my husband and ...” Her body began to tremble. She could not speak through the flood of emotion she’d held in check for so long. The lantern light began to spin. As darkness began to overtake her, Hannah felt herself folded into Ruby’s warm arms.

*****

Hannah snuggled into the warm, downy bedding and scanned her surroundings. The ornate, but cozy, bedroom was awash in laces, velvets and satins in more shades of pink and red than she knew existed. The room was dominated by a large brass bed that had offered Hannah her first good night’s sleep since the attack.

She managed a smile remembering her encounter with Ruby last night. Hannah had come around in this very room. Ruby had provided soup and hot scented tea. Hannah shared the horror of the attack at the ranch that resulted in her husband’s death and the ravaging of her body. The effects of the tea kicked in and the last thing Hannah remembered was feeling safe. A knock on the door brought Hannah out of her reverie.

“Yes?”

“It’s Ruby. May I come in?”

“Yes, of course.” Hannah threw back the covers and was about to get up when Ruby entered carrying a tray.

“No, no. Don’t get up. I’ve brought some coffee and pastry.” She motioned for Hannah to sit back against the pillows, and then set the tray across her lap. Ruby poured the coffee, and then sat on the edge of the bed and sipped the hot brew.

“I don’t know what to say,” Hannah began.

Ruby smiled. “Don’t say anything until you’ve had some coffee.” She saluted Hannah with her cup.

Hannah took her advice. “It’s wonderful.”

Ruby nodded. “Yes. There’s nothing like a good cup of coffee.” She took another sip and sighed with satisfaction. “So, now we talk. Before you fell asleep last night I got the feeling that you were about to tell me something about the men who attacked you.”

“It’s why I came to Nacogdoches. I’ve got to find them.”

“And then what?”

“Kill them.”

“Ah, you make it sound so easy.”

“Well, I …, they must … a …, well wouldn’t you want to kill them, too?”

“Yes. I would.” She raised her hand to silence Hannah’s response. “But, wanting to and doing it are two separate things. You need to think this through.”

“I have a plan.” Hannah set her cup down indignantly.

“A plan? Hum, did it include the hypocritical man of God you were running from last night?”

Hannah bit her lip and turned to avoid looking at Ruby.

Ruby smiled. “Hey, girl, I’m on your side and so is half this town. Why that poor wife of his puts up with him is a mystery.”

“She’s afraid of him. He beats her, but only where people can’t see.”

“The bastard! Poor Bertha.” She took a moment to refill their cups. “But you, Hannah, you got away from him. You had the inner strength to get away. You need to focus that strength on making a new life for yourself.”

Hannah shook her head. “Not until those men have paid for what they did to my husband, to me.”

Hannah watched reluctant acceptance appear in Ruby’s eyes. The older woman’s face softened into a smile that let Hannah know she’d gotten into Ruby’s heart. It came as no surprise to Hannah to hear Ruby’s next words.

“Describe these men to me. I see all kinds come through my doors. Maybe I can help.”

“The leaders name is Drake.” Hannah described the men in great detail.

“They aren’t familiar to me. Have you talked with any lawmen?”

“I can’t go to the law.” She dropped her eyes and grew quiet.

“They can probably help. I know …”

“They would want to see the bodies.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t go back there. I barely had the strength to leave when I did. If I go back, I’d have to see where …” Her voice broke.

“It’s okay. I understand.” Ruby waited for Hannah to gather her composure.

Finally, Hannah cleared her throat. “Do you have my clothes?”

Ruby smiled. “They’re being laundered.”

“I need to move on.”

“Why don’t you stay here for awhile?”

“This is a …”

“Yes, it is.” The women shared a moment of acceptance and then Ruby continued. “You can work for me. Serve drinks, clean, sew and help in many ways.”

Hannah pondered the offer. “I wouldn’t have to …”

“That would be up to you.”

Hannah found that Ruby’s offer didn’t give her the nagging concern that she’d experienced when trying to decide whether to accept the Reverend’s offer. She saw honesty in Ruby’s eyes. She made her decision. “Thank you.”

Ruby smiled. “Now, let’s try out these lovely apple fritters.” She handed one to Hannah and took one for herself.

Once Ruby left the room, Hannah thought about her decision to stay. She was quickly learning that a woman alone had to do whatever it took to survive out here. And, Ruby’s offer gave Hannah a new opportunity to continue her search for the men who’d killed her husband. As she sat up and reached for the rose-colored, silk robe Ruby had laid out for her, Hannah reminded herself, “Now is not the time to wallow in regret of what might have been. I’ve got a lot of wrongs to right.”

She opened the door and set out to explore this new chapter of her life dealing with the search for Drake and his gang. The name of her husband’s killer and the ravager of her body and soul generated a dreaded chill up and down her spine. Hannah pulled the ties to her robe together in a manner she’d like to use around Drake’s neck.

Chapter 5

Benny, the Judge, and Hannah

Hannah was pouring a second cup of tea when she noticed Ruby’s smile. “Something’s funny?”

“You.” Ruby teased.

“Me?”

Ruby nodded. “I see you so poised and lovely, and then an image appears and I see you on that night we met in the alley.”

Hannah blushed. “I was a sight.” Self-consciously, one hand combed through her long scented hair, while the other caressed the coolness of her pink satin dress.

“Now, girl, don’t question yourself.”

Hannah stopped fussing. “I’m not.” She sipped her tea. “It’s just that I never dreamed I’d be here a week, let alone six months.”

“You expected Drake and his cowards to just walk in here?”

“Ruby, there were so many. I felt sure one of them would wander in here or that I’d hear that murderer’s name mentioned with a lead as to his whereabouts.”

“Hannah, it’s time you let it go.” Ruby waved off an interruption. “Look at you. You’re beautiful, the men adore you, you seem happy and you’ve become like a ..., well hell, a daughter to me. Let it go. Don’t let the past take away your future.”

They’d been over this countless times. Commonsense agreed with Ruby. Hannah would never be Caleb’s innocent bride again. If fact, after the last six months, she’d probably never be anyone’s bride again. She’d endured the fawning and pawing of countless men as she cooed and coaxed them into whispering their fantasies and dark secrets. She sipped some tea to stem memories of their disgusting revelations. But, it had all been in vain. Not one man had mentioned Drake or Benny.

“Go ahead, cry.” Ruby offered a handkerchief. “You’re going to bite your bottom lip off if you don’t.”

Hannah relaxed and took the handkerchief. “Thank you.” The distraction had curbed her tears and helped her gain control of her emotions. “I’m sorry. I know you’re right, but...”

Angry voices from the street below stalled further discussion about her future. Both women abandoned their tea and went to the window.

A crowd of men, some mounted, had surrounded a hapless fellow. Multiple lassos held him like a doggie that had strayed from the herd. Yelling, “Hang ‘em,” “Shoot ‘em,” and “Lemme at ‘em,” the crowd headed for The Langtry.

“Wonder what he did to get folks so riled? Ole Roy will have him tried, found guilty and hung within the hour. His Honor hates for dinner to be late,” said Ruby. Her voice carried a hint of anticipation that made Hannah wonder if she was thinking about Roy or her girls, who were healthy and ready for the surge in customers this was sure to bring.

At first, Hannah caught only glimpses of the short, nearly bald man.

“Come on, girl.” Ruby turned from the window to gather the remnants of their tea break. “Looks like a busy night.”

“Ruby! It’s Benny!”

Ruby caught her arm. “Benny? The one you talk about?”

“Yes! I’m sure. Let go. I’ve got to talk to him.”

Ruby held tight. “Wait. Think this through.”

“There’s nothing to think about.” Hannah pried her arm loose. “I’ve got to get there before Judge Bean ...” Her response was absorbed into the rose-colored Persian rug hugging the stairs as she raced down them.

Reaching the street, Hannah found that the crowd had entered The Langtry, the office and courtroom of Judge Roy Bean. Knowing his trials were short, biased toward townsfolk and usually resulted in a “hang ‘em high” verdict, she stepped up her pace.

Pushing through the saloon doors, Hannah found the room crowded with boisterous men talking or yelling, loudly. Dust swirled amid cigar smoke adding a sense of heat to the mix of sights and sounds. She’d begun pushing her way through when a gunshot brought an uneasy silence.

“Well, boys, now that I got some quiet maybe we can get on with the law and bring some order back into my courtroom.”

Hannah used the lull to work her way forward.

“Now, tell me what crime this rascal committed.” The judge pointed to the cowboy closest to Benny. “You, tell me what he did.”

“He done stole three of my ...” A dry throat brought the accuser’s voice to a whisper.

“Pour some whiskey for these fine constituents, bartender.” The Judge waited for the cowboy to down his drink. “Go on.”

“He stole three of my best stallions, along with another dozen belongin’ to neighbors.”

“That a fact?”

A nervous smile crossed Benny’s face. “I’ll tell ya, Judge. They’s runnin’ loose. Was just fixin’ to return ‘em.” Denials and grumbles filled the air.