He was riding across country into the treed areas, which spread for miles across the foot of the mountains. It was greener and cooler here, good for hunting he thought.
He smelled smoke wafting in on the breeze then he saw it. “Well, this place isn’t as empty as it looks, Daisy.”
She still hadn’t spoken and he was beginning to fear she never would. They broke out of the trees and Eli spied a dilapidated cabin. It had a chimney with smoke pouring out of it, so there was obviously someone living there. The fencing was in poor condition, mostly tumbled down.
All three of them needed rest. He didn’t like forcing Devil to keep going when he was tired; the last few miles had been rough. “Maybe it hadn’t been such a smart idea to take a short cut across country, Dev.” He patted the gelding’s sweaty neck. “It would have been easier for you if we’d kept to the tracks.”
A figure wearing buckskins came out of the building and stood in the doorway. “What do you want, Mister?” said a gal holding a Winchester.
“I need somewhere to rest my horse for a while.”
“Don’t move. I know how to use this and I will. Throw down your guns.”
“I will not.”
She raised the rifle to her shoulder. “Your rifle and your holster. Do it.”
Sonofabitch, how could he have let a gal get the drop on him? He carefully took his rifle out of the scabbard and dropped it on the ground. Cursing under his breath he unbuttoned his gun belt and dropped it also.
“Now dismount, slow and easy. Who’s the little gal?”
“Daisy.”
“All right, Daisy, step away from your Pa.”
“Do what she says, little darlin’, or the gun might go off.”
“You bet your britches it will go off, but only if I want it to.”
“Listen, I need water for my horse and something to eat and drink for Daisy. Also somewhere to rest for a while.” He took off his hat and wiped a hand across his forehead. “I don’t aim to cause you any trouble.”
****
Alfie stared at the tall, dark haired man. He looked weary as did the child. Poor little mite was exhausted. He had only asked for help for his horse and the child, which made him come up in her estimation.
“What’s your name, cowboy?”
“Eli.”
“I’m Alfie. Come inside. I can give you coffee and pancakes. I don’t have much myself at the moment.”
“Thank you, something for Daisy and a shady spot for my horse will do.”
“What about you?”
“I’m all right. I could chop wood for you in return.”
“Lead your horse around the back, there’s shade there and a water trough, then come inside. I’m not that desperate I can’t give you a little food. Well, Daisy, would you like a nice cool drink of water?”
The child clung to his leg. “She doesn’t speak. Go with Alfie I’m just going to take Dev out the back for a drink.”
“What do you mean, she doesn’t speak? Was she born deaf?”
Briefly he told Alfie what had happened.
“Poor little mite. So, she’s not yours?” Alfie took hold of the little girl’s hand. “No wonder she looks so sad.”
The child held on tightly to Eli’s leg. “What relation are you?” She was starting to not feel good about this situation.
“None. I just happened to come upon the scene. I could hardly leave the child there. I was taking her to a friend of mine and his wife. They were the only people I could think of who would give her a decent life. Go with Alfie.” He leaned down and unwrapped her little arms. “I’ll only be a couple of minutes. Dev’s hot and tired, too. He wants a drink and a rest.”
Alfie put her rifle down and picked the little gal up, but she kicked and sobbed as she fought to get free. “You take her inside, I’ll see to your horse, Mister.”
“No, I’ll take her with me.” He looked as reluctant to let Daisy go as the child did herself.
“All right, come in when you’re ready.” Alfie gathered up his rifle and gun belt and returned inside. The ivory handled guns rested in a carved leather holster. This man was a gunslinger, she’d stake her life on it.
Since arriving at this place three weeks ago, she had cleaned it up as best she could. Nadia’s sister, Florence lived in a similar cabin about half a mile away. She was a strange old woman, but had been kind, handing over a couple of tin plates and cups and a pan, also a hammer and some nails. She had also given Alfie her spare axe in exchange for her chopping her wood also.
Alfie had paid her for some of the items. Florence drove herself into a town, about four miles away, when she needed to buy provisions, otherwise she lived in isolation also. Her husband had apparently left her a small annuity when he died, and in later years she had managed on that.
Alfie had mended the broken floorboards and fixed up the door so it closed and could be bolted from the inside. Florence assured her the place was safe, but she wasn’t taking any chances until she got to know the area better. With a little money spent on it and some livestock, she could live here quite comfortably.
She had cleared the fireplace and hearth up, and after finding an old steel grate she had rigged up an area for cooking. It had taken about three hours, but she had cleaned up a frypan and a dented coffee pot, and a large saucepan she had found under the porch. She could easily cook something reasonable if only she had a few ingredients.
“Can we come in?” Eli called out.
‘Yes.” He entered carrying his saddle with Daisy clutching on to one of the stirrups. Glancing around, he pursed his lips.
“The place isn’t much,” she said. “I haven’t had time to fix it.
“How long have you been living here?”
“About three w…., months.” She could have kicked herself for being so careless and answering without thinking. A mistake like that could prove fatal.
At least she knew for certain she wasn’t carrying Toby’s child. On the one hand she was glad because the Montagues wouldn’t be so hell bent on killing her now. On the other hand, she felt sad because it would have been a part of Toby to remember him by.
“Where are you from?” He hung his hat on a nail at the back of the door.
“Guilford Crossing.”
“How did you end up here?”
“It’s a long story and my own business. Where do you hail from?”
“Name any county in the West and I’ve probably been there at one time or another.”
“A rolling stone?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“This little gal needs a bath and a change of clothes.”
“Well, there’s not much I can do about it. She’s got no other clothes they were burnt with the wagon, and I haven’t been in any town to buy her replacements.”
“What about these people you’re going to dump her on?”
“Listen,” he growled. “I’m doing the best I can for her. I’m a man and she’s a little gal. What in tarnation do you expect me to do?”
“Here you are, Daisy,” Alfie said, wondering why she was attacking Eli. Under the circumstances he hadn’t done too badly, some men would have left her out there to die.
Daisy took the cup of water and guzzled the contents. “Not too quickly, I’ve got plenty more.”
Eli raised his eyebrows in query. “There’s a well here.” A few years ago this was a good little ranch according to my neighbor Florence. After the war things were bad here and a lot of people just up and left. Florence thinks they might have been Yankee spies.”
He assessed her, intent, speculative and she caught him frowning.
“I can only offer you black coffee, I don’t have any milk left.”
“Black coffee is what I drink, no sugar, thanks.”
“Well, I’m drinking it black and unsweetened too. The little sugar I have is too precious to waste on coffee. You can stay the night if you want.”
His eyes widened.
“Daisy can st
ay in here, you’ll have to sleep on the back porch, or that wreck of a barn.”
He grinned, and what a difference it made to him. “I’d trust you not to ravish me.”
“You’re not my type, cowboy, besides I’m not ready to have myself another man, it’s too soon….”
“Too soon after what?”
She inwardly cursed her wayward tongue. “Stop questioning me all the time.” A horrible thought suddenly came to her, and fear sapped every bit of warmth from her face. “Are you a lawman?”
“Nope.”
“What are you then?”
“A saddle tramp.”
“You are not. Do you think I’m slow witted? Look at those colts.” She snapped her fingers. “You’re a gunslinger.”
“I’d rather call it a gun for hire.”
She gasped.
“A man has to earn a living, and I’ve never shot a man who hasn’t drawn on me first.”
“If you live by the gun, you’ll die by the gun.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that said before.”
“And if you’re killed, what about Daisy?”
“I told you, I’m taking her to a friend of mine.”
“You think she’ll want to stay with them?” She glanced at the child who was now leaning against his knee, clutching her rag doll.
“They’re good people, she’ll like them, won’t you, little darlin’?” He ruffled her hair with his fingers.
“Here.” She handed him a buttered pancake, and one for Daisy. “Consider yourself lucky, I’ve used the last of my butter on these.” She bit into her pancake, watching as Daisy devoured hers.
“I didn’t expect you to do that.”
“Well, I did. I can get more from Florence, but I have to earn it.”
“Doing what?” He bit into his pancake. “This is good.”
“A few chores for her. She’s getting old and can’t do as much as she used to.”
She had always been good at making pancakes. She had the right touch Freddie used to say. Would she ever see them again? A cloud passed over her heart. She even missed Pa, ornery old mule that he was.
“What’s wrong?” Eli asked, giving her a blue-eyed stare.
He had nice eyes for a man. Because his face was tanned and his hair was black it made them stand out more. What was she thinking? Toby wasn’t even cold in his grave.
His gaze was uncompromising, all seeing. This man was as dangerous as a rattlesnake and she’d better watch herself.
“You’re a good cook, Alfie.” He broke the silence hovering between them.
“I could be if I had more supplies, as it is.” She shrugged. “I have to make do with what I’ve got.”
“I have a couple of tins of beans in my saddlebags and coffee, that’s about it. You’re welcome to them.”
“Thanks, but it doesn’t matter.”
“We’re eating up your supplies, it’s only fair.”
“We’ll see. You’re only staying overnight, and you haven’t eaten much. I’ll cook you eggs for breakfast.”
He grinned. “Yes Ma’am.”
“Then you leave.”
“What if I don’t want to leave?”
“Too bad. You don’t get your guns back until you go.”
“I was only joking.”
“Well, I wasn’t,” she snapped. “More coffee?” She topped his cup up before he had time to answer. Poor little Daisy’s eyes were drooping, her features were pinched and drawn with exhaustion. “You’ve got a tired little one here. I think you should bed her down for the night.”
“I’ll go get my bedroll for her.”
Alfie gnawed her lower lip. “No, you’ll need it. She can share with me. I sewed a few feed sacks together and filled them with straw to make a mattress.”
“You’re not offering to share with me.” He gave a tormenting grin and she was tempted to wipe it off his face with the back of her hand.
“No, I’m fussy who I sleep with.”
He laughed. “So am I.”
****
Eli Darcy was the most infuriating man Alfie had ever met.
“Do you have an outhouse?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s not much of a one, needs fixing, besides my carpentry skills aren’t good.”
“I’ll see if I can repair it in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“My way of paying for your hospitality. Come on, little darlin’, we best go outside now in case Alfie changes her mind about letting us stay.” He took Daisy by the hand.
“There aren’t any spiders,” Alfie said, suppressing a shudder. “One of the first things I did was get rid of the horrible little varmints.”
Once they left, she rinsed the plates in a dish of water. This could be a nice place with a little money and a lot of work put into it. Why would people up and leave all sudden like? Florence had secrets, maybe it was the gypsy in her. Most people had secrets, but few would be as deep or dark as mine.
She had to be careful especially around Eli, the man was smart, and she’d wager twenty years of her life that he carried secrets. Thank goodness he’d be gone by tomorrow. He was dangerous as a rattlesnake and twice as deadly if she was any judge of character.
****
“Now, you be a good little gal and sleep with Alfie, I’ll be in the barn with Dev. We can’t leave the poor horse on his own, now can we?”
A grim faced Eli stepped through the doorway carrying a sobbing Daisy whose arms were wrapped tightly around his neck.
“What did you do to her?”
“Nothing, I just told her she’d be sleeping with you in here while I’ll be in the barn.”
“See, didn’t I tell you, she won’t stay with those people. She doesn’t want to leave you.”
“He scowled. “She’ll have to stay with them, I can’t look after her properly. Look at the state she’s in?”
“Now, Daisy.” Alfie plucked the child out of Eli’s arms. “You have to sleep with me.”
The child sobbed even harder. “Eli can leave his saddle here so you know he won’t be able to ride off without you. Men are sneaky varmints you know, but we ladies are smarter than them, aren’t we?”
The sobbing lessened in severity. “You have to stay with me, I don’t like being on my own. What about poor Dev? He wouldn’t like being on his own tonight, would he? And I’m not having a horse in here.”
Two little arms crept around her neck. Emboldened, Alfie continued. “Tomorrow morning I’ll heat up some water and you can have a bath and I’ll wash your hair.” She waved Eli away. “A lady always has to look her best when leaving home with a man. It makes him feel good, too.”
He stood as if rooted to the ground. “Git.” She mouthed the word at him. He swung around and stepped outside.
****
Alfie was a smart woman he thought as he strode toward the black outline of the barn. Pretty, too. He’d like to get to know her better. Whooee. What was he thinking? After tomorrow their paths were unlikely to ever cross again.
The cabin had no furniture except for a half broken kitchen dresser. No covering on the window, nothing but bare boards on the floor, and they weren’t in the best of order, either. The whole set up was strange.
She hadn’t been here long if he was any judge, but Alfie was obviously a resourceful gal. He wondered how old she was, whether she was spoken for. What would she be doing stuck out here? Probably running from something or someone. An abusive husband? Father? He’d like to rip any man who hurt her to pieces.
Devil whickered as he entered the barn. “I’m back, Dev, she kicked me out so I have to share with you. I don’t even have a saddle for a pillow, either. He stretched out on his bedroll and stared into the darkness. He spotted a few stars indicating holes in the roof.
What was Alfie’s story? He’d bet his last dollar she had one. No crying or screaming came to him, and the night was so still and silent he would have surely heard Daisy if she got too upset.
She ha
d become attached to him, as he had to her, but dammit, a man on his own couldn’t keep her. It wouldn’t be right. Daisy needed a new Ma and Pa, and was young enough to forget her previous trauma and live a happy life. Going to school, having friends, a nice place to live, something he couldn’t give her.
He felt bone weary, having not slept properly since Daisy had come into his life. He closed his eyes and Alfie’s pretty face flashed across his brain.
Chapter Ten
Eli woke up to find the sun streaming in through the holes in the roof. It was broad daylight. He must have slept in. Damnation, he’d planned to be up and about early so he could do a couple of jobs for Alfie to pay her back for taking them in.
He ran his fingers through his hair. I’ll use some of the well water to have a wash and tidy myself up before returning to the cabin he decided as he stepped outside. His jaw dropped.
A battered hip bath sat on the porch with Daisy sitting in it. Alfie was kneeling down washing her hair and singing. He stepped behind a bush so he could watch without being seen.
I’m washing your hair coz it’s full of dirt.
I know you’re frightened, but it won’t hurt.
Tra-La-La-La-La
“You have to clap.” Daisy did so.
The sun is shining, all is well.
You need a bath so you won’t smell.
Tra-La-La-La-La
Daisy clapped and started giggling. He couldn’t believe his ears. Moisture built up in his eyes and he blinked several times to clear it. Daisy was starting to respond.
Aren’t you glad we got up first?
Coz Eli will still be wearing dirt.
Tra-La-La-La-La
Daisy clapped and giggled.
He stepped out. “Eli will have a bath if Alfie washes his back.”
Daisy giggled, but didn’t speak.
“In your dreams, cowboy.”
In the light of day, Alfie looked even prettier than last night. Light brown hair tied back from her face with a strip of leather, showed off the contours of her throat. Her light green, doe like eyes, shone as bright as an evening star. She was more than pretty. In a dress, she would be a desirable woman. Hell, she’d be desirable no matter what she wore, better still if she was naked. Heat surging straight to his groin sent him rocking back on his heels. Too much sleep must have messed up his brain.
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