Desert Fire

by Marcia Lynn McClure

  “How devastating for you, Baker. I’m so sorry,” she said as she took the handkerchief from him and finished wiping her tears.

  “Yes,” he said, looking thoughtful. “Sometimes I wonder...was it harder to lose her after only a few months of knowin’ and lovin’ her...or would it have been harder to love her for twenty-eight years and lose her...like Mama did Daddy?”

  An opportunity that Malaina had been waiting for ever since she had come to this family presented itself at that moment. “What happened to your daddy, Baker?”

  Baker smiled at her. “Our daddy,” he began. “Our daddy was the wisest and handsomest man ever born on this earth.”

  Malaina smiled as Matthew agreed with a hearty, “You bet your sweet bacon, he was.”

  Baker went on. “He met Mama durin’ the war. He was a Johnny Reb, you know...and Mama was a beautiful, young daughter of a Yankee officer. Mama’s family had got caught behind enemy lines in Georgia tryin’ to help some relatives escape the burnin’. Daddy found them while on patrol one fine, southern afternoon and helped them escape. It’s an awful long story. Get Mama to tell you about it. Anyway, after the war...he kidnapped her and they eloped, moved out west and started havin’ us boys. Jackson was the first...and if you wanna know my daddy...know Jackson. He’s the spittin’ image of Daddy in every way there is.”

  “That’s fer dang sure!” Matthew added firmly and Malaina noticed a smile appear on Mary’s face as she looked at him.

  “It was three years ago that he died,” Baker stated.

  “I was still away,” Matthew muttered.

  Baker nodded. “Daddy was breakin’ a horse out in the corral. Mama was out there with me and Jackson watchin’. It was a mean one! Meanest I ever seen to this day. He threw Daddy, which weren’t no easy thing in itself...then, before Daddy could stand up, that ol’ cuss reared up and planted his front hooves in the middle of Daddy’s back. He lived long enough to tell Mama he loved her when she reached him. Then he passed. Jackson slit the thing’s throat with that big ol’ knife he used to carry.” Matthew nodded.

  Everyone was silent. After a while Baker sighed heavily. “He was the best husband and daddy I ever seen,” he said. He chuckled when he saw the skeptical look on Malaina’s face. “Don’t let him fool you, darlin’. Jackson is our daddy over and over. And Mama says that Daddy used to try and play tough ol’ buzzard, too.”

  “Mr. McCall was the handsomest old man I ever saw, Malaina,” Mary added. “And kind to boot. He never passed the candy counter at Johnson’s store without buyin’ me a licorice whip. He used to bounce me on his knee when no one was lookin’. I miss him. Everybody misses him.”

  “We thought Mama was gonna follow him there for a few days. It nearly killed her to lose him,” Matthew said. “She keeps all his photographs in her room...to herself. I reckon someday she’ll share ‘em again.”

  Malaina sat silent. What loss this family had experienced in the past several years. It was unimaginable to her.

  

  The McCall boys helped the girls down from the buggy and into the general store.

  “Hello! Baker! Darlin’! How are you? It’s been too long, boy!” a beautiful blonde woman called from behind the store counter.

  “Hello, Mrs. Johnson,” Baker greeted as the woman rushed out and flung her arms about him.

  Malaina recognized the woman from church and guessed that this Mrs. Johnson must be the mother of Baker’s Elizabeth.

  “And you must be, Annie,” she said, offering a hand in greeting.

  “Actually,” Malaina said, taking the woman’s hand, “I prefer to go by Malaina.”

  “Oh. Forgive me, dear. I could’ve sworn that Maggie said...”

  “The girls are wantin’ to make some new dresses for the dance, Mrs. Johnson,” Baker interrupted.

  Mrs. Johnson smiled and spun around, motioning for the girls to follow. “Oh my, yes! We’ve got some lovely prints! This way.”

  After an hour in the general store, Malaina had chosen some lovely cloth for a dress, and learned every bit of new gossip about everyone. Mary and Malaina stepped out of the store into the cool autumn day and began looking for Baker and Matthew.

  “I’m sure they’re off talkin’ horse manure with someone,” Mary said grinning.

  Malaina smiled. “Well, I guess we’ll just sit here and wait.” She motioned to a nearby bench.

  They had been waiting for a few minutes when a voice penetrated her ears that made Malaina’s flesh crawl.

  “Well, well, well. If it ain’t, Miss Malaina.”

  Malaina and Mary had been looking at each other while they talked and hadn’t noticed the grimy looking man that now stood before them. Malaina looked up and terror struck her. She recognized the man! She didn’t know from where, but she knew that he meant her harm.

  “What do you want?” she asked bravely.

  The man raised his brows sarcastically. “It ain’t what I want, missy...and you know it. I’ve been lookin’ for you for weeks now and I’m plum sick of it. You’ve been the cause of my havin’ to be sleepin’ on the hard ground for that long.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” Malaina mumbled, smoothing her skirt and smiling as Mary stood and walked casually away.

  “Oh! My, my, my. Have we misplaced our memory somewheres?” the man said sarcastically. “Now...Miss Malaina...you’ll come with me quiet like and we’ll take you back to Mr. Collin where you belong.”

  At the mention of the name Collin, panic gripped her. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said firmly and stood to leave.

  The man took her wrist roughly in his hand. “Yes, you are! I’m gettin’ paid for my time! I have my orders. You’re goin’ back...alive...or dead. It don’t matter to me none,” he growled.

  Malaina couldn’t believe the man was serious in his intentions. But he was. She felt it. She was in danger. She looked around frantically.

  “Don’t try screamin’,” he whispered and she felt something sharp press against her waist. “I mean what I say.”

  She knew she would rather die than go anywhere with this vermin. She had to think of some way to escape him.

  “Come along, Malaina,” he growled, and pushed her ahead of himself.

  Mrs. Johnson came out of the store just then. She looked at the man oddly. “It was nice to meet you, Malaina. You come visit real soon.”

  “Yes. I will. Thank you,” Malaina said, hoping the woman would realize that something was amiss and send for help somehow.

  They began to cross the dusty road and walk toward a horse that was tied outside the saloon.

  “Maybe I’ll just keep you to myself,” the man whispered into her ear. She wanted to vomit at the stench of his breath. “But, even I know better than to cross a man like Mr. Collin.” The man returned his knife to its place at his waist. “Now then,” he began. “I can still kill you...easily. So just get on this horse and we’ll ride away. No one knows enough about you to concern theirselves. I checked on that.”

  But as the man moved to untie the reins of his horse Malaina ran. She ignored his order to stop and she didn’t stop until she was stopped by someone.

  “Please, let me by!” she screamed. But when she felt her arms clenched in two powerful hands she looked up and nearly fainted with relief as Jackson’s angry expression met her.

  “Sorry, mister,” the awful man said approaching. “My sister is a little out of her mind. I need to get her home.”

  Jackson moved to stand in front of Malaina. “She is home, sir. I think you need to mount that dog-ugly horse and ride away.”

  The man was undaunted. “Look here, mister...I’m takin’ that girl with me. And lest you wanna die where you stand...you’ll keep your long, ugly nose to yourself.”

  Jackson spoke to Malaina although he continued to glare at the man. “Now, you run along, darlin’. Baker and Matthew are over at the feed store. You run along.”

  Malaina didn�
�t move. She didn’t want to leave him.

  “Malaina,” he growled, and she turned and began running toward the feed store. She didn’t dare look back, though she could hear them talking in low, angry voices.

  A man was coming toward her and he spoke as he neared. “Now, you keep walkin’, miss. I’m Sheriff Braddock, I’ll help ol’ Jackson out. Tell them other two boys what’s goin’ on, in case Mary didn’t find ‘em yet.”

  She felt hope in relief begin to wash over her. The sheriff was there to help Jackson. She slowed her pace to a brisk walk for a moment, but began to run as she spotted the sign marking the feed store. Baker and Matthew were standing outside and came toward her when they noticed her approaching.

  “What’s wrong, honey?” Baker asked, catching her in his arms.

  “A man...he tried to abduct me! To take me back! Jackson...the sheriff...over in front of the saloon,” she panted.

  “Stay here, Malaina. Go inside and stay here,” Baker ordered and they began running.

  Malaina stood outside for several moments watching them disappear around the corner.

  Mary reached her then, and flung her arms around her. “Oh! Thank goodness! I was so worried! I couldn’t find the boys...so I told Sheriff Braddock. I just knew you were done for.”

  Malaina pulled away from Mary and started running toward the corner that the McCall men had just cleared. The man had a gun! She had just realized it. And Jackson, Baker and Matthew weren’t carrying any.

  “Malaina! Wait!” Mary called after her.

  But Malaina was panic-stricken! He was a vile man. She knew he’d do anything to get her back to Collin.

  Just before she turned the corner she heard a gunshot slice the air. Then quickly, another. She stopped for a moment in horror and then rounded the corner.

  The vile man was lying on the ground. But, so was Jackson. “No!” she gasped as she slowed to a walk. Baker and Matthew were kneeling down beside their brother and the sheriff was standing over the degenerate.

  The sheriff motioned to another man and he came over and felt the villain’s neck. Malaina stopped several feet away from the scene. Then she began to shudder with horrific relief as she saw Baker helping Jackson to stand. She stood frozen. Not even registering their conversation.

  “ Over here, Doc. Big, bad, brother Jackson’s been up to no good again,” Baker called to the doctor who had just informed the sheriff that the other man was dead.

  “It ain’t nothin’,” Jackson muttered, opening his shirt to examine the wound to his left shoulder.

  “Mama will have a livin’ fit over this Jackson,” Matthew chuckled.

  Malaina still stood frozen. She watched as Jackson took off his shirt and held it to the wound. The three walked toward her with enormous grins of triumph plastered across their faces.

  Matthew called out to her, “You won’t be bothered by him no more, Malaina. Jackson beat the...heck out of him and then after he shot Jack, Sheriff Braddock shot him back. He’s done.”

  “Dang right!” Jackson said, smiling as Baker slapped him on the back.

  They stood directly in front of her now smiling proudly and patting each other all over.

  “You think this is funny?” she choked, looking at the shirt Jackson held to his shoulder that was now saturated with his own blood.

  “Not at all, sugar,” Jackson said. “It just means you’re out of danger. From that varmint, anyhow.”

  “Dang right,” Matthew said, smiling at Baker.

  Anger began to add itself to the horror that Malaina was feeling. “How can you laugh about this?” she screeched. “He’s been shot! You all stand there with your swollen up egos smiling and slapping each other on the back like a bunch of idiots! What is wrong with you?”

  They looked back and forth at each other with puzzled expressions.

  Then Mary spoke from behind, “Malaina, Jackson probably saved your life...again, I might add. What are you scolding him for?”

  Malaina spun around enraged. “He could’ve been killed, Mary! Killed! That means dead! I should’ve just gone with the man.”

  “Now wait a minute...” Jackson growled, taking her arm and turning her to face him. “That’s about the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard you say. It’s a scratch.” He smiled down at her.

  “It’s a bullet, Mr. McCall,” she said as tears began to stream down her face.

  “So what. I’m sure Doc can dig it out.”

  Malaina shook her head and let out an hysterical laugh. “Forgive me! How silly of me! I was always under the impression that most folks die from being shot!”

  The boys all looked at each other. Then Jackson smiled at her, speaking softly to his brothers. “I know what’s the matter with her, fellas. I’ve got my shirt off again. She always gets so upset when I got my shirt off.”

  They all three stifled snickering and Malaina’s teeth ground each other as rage took over. She moved to slap Jackson, but he caught her hand and twisted it behind her back.

  “Excuse us, will you?” he said, smiling at everyone. Then he directed her forcefully into the alley nearby.

  “I don’t mean to be crude, little miss ruffled up drawers...but that ain’t the kind of man that keeps his distance when he’s waltzin’ with you. Do you get my meanin’?” he said, glaring down into her face.

  “Thank you for the information. It’s such a surprise,” she spat, trying to move past him.

  But he pushed her up against the wall, pinning her still with his bloody hand, which had dropped the shirt. “Malaina...don’t be ignorant. You know what would’ve happened if he would’ve gotten away with you. Now, my brothers and me...we been hurt a lot. And bad. Don’t be acting so ridiculous over this.”

  She felt ill. He had nearly been killed this time, trying to help her.

  “It’s too much, Mr. McCall. I’ve got to leave. I’ve put your family harm’s way too often. Please...just lend me the money to leave here,” she pleaded, pressing firmly against his chest with her hands as she stared into his face. “I promise that I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

  He let out a heavy breath of aggravation. “Malaina, I don’t want to hear that again. If you hate it here...I’ll help you out. But I don’t think you do. And it would destroy my mama.” She looked away. “Do you hate it here, Malaina?” he asked firmly. She didn’t answer. He took her face firmly in hand and forced her to look at him. “Do you? Tell me. If you do...I’ll send you away.”

  She looked up into his beautiful green eyes. She loved life with the McCalls, she loved the land, the warm dry air--the smell of peaches cooking into preserves. And most of all she loved him. She knew it like she knew breathing.

  “I love...it here, Mr. McCall,” she whispered.

  He let go of her face and drew in a deep breath. “My name is, Jackson, darlin’. Now...let me pay the doc a visit.” And he turned and walked away.

  She smoothed her hair back, wiped her cheeks on her sleeve, and walked back into the street as she straightened her skirt. Mary stood there looking at her with a stunned expression.

  “I’m fine, Mary. Really,” she said. Then she turned to Baker and Matthew who both looked gravely at her. “I’m sorry, Baker...Matthew. It was just such a shocking experience. Thank you so much. You’ll never know how much I thank you.”

  They looked at each other. “Mama is gonna tan our hides, Baker,” Matthew said, studying Malaina from head to toe.

  “Dang right,” Baker added.

  Mary began to hug Malaina, but pulled away. “You boys are in big trouble with Mrs. McCall. You’re gonna take Jackson home all shot up and now this,” she said, pointing at Malaina.

  “What?” Malaina asked.

  She looked down at her skirt. It was streaked with blood where she had touched it. She gasped and looked at her hands. They were covered with blood, too. Then she realized that she had smoothed her hair and wiped her cheeks. There was also a large stain on the back of her dress where Jackson had pressed against
her while directing her to the alley.

  “We’re really in the dog house this time,” Matthew said.

  “Okay, folks. It’s all over. Just had us a bad one in town today,” Sheriff Braddock called to all the onlookers that Malaina hadn’t even noticed. “You all right, miss?” he asked her. She nodded, feeling even more self-conscious now that she was covered in Jackson’s blood. “Well, you’re mighty lucky you’ve got good ones like the McCalls for friends,” he said, smiling encouragingly at her. Then he left.

  “After the doc patches Jackson up...we’ll get home and face the music, Malaina. I guess me and Baker should finish up business at the feed store. Give us a holler when he’s done,” Matthew said as he and Baker began walking away, leaving Malaina and Mary.

  “I guess we could visit with Mrs. Johnson some more, Malaina. If you want,” Mary said smiling.

  Malaina was feeling very weak and shaky. “No, Mary. Let’s just sit out of the way for awhile...please. What am I going to do, Mary?” Malaina asked more to herself than the girl.

  “What do you mean?” Mary asked, taking Malaina’s hand comfortingly between her own.

  “I can’t possibly stay here! All I am is trouble to the McCalls. He could’ve been killed, Mary!”

  “He wasn’t Malaina. And you’ve got to realize that this is life out here. People have to be tough, hard, and able to survive.”

  If it meant people you loved died all around you, then she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay. She pressed hard against her temples with her hands. “I’ve got to remember things, Mary. I’ve got to!”

  They sat in silence for several minutes until Matthew approached them. “Sheriff don’t know who that man is, Malaina. Ain’t got nothin’ with a name about him.” He smiled at Mary.

  Malaina seemed preoccupied. “His name is Beau Benson and Collin hired him to pursue me after I ran away. I sold a diamond broach that my mother had left to me and the money took me as far as Cripple Creek. Beau tracked me there and had orders to bring me back to New Orleans. He forced me to go with him by holding a gun at my back, but when the stage stopped to change the stage horses, I hid and never got back on. I thought I’d be safe in that small town, I can’t remember what one it was, but his brother, Dill, found me. I hit Dill over the head with a log when we were near Cortez. It only stunned him and I started running. He must have fallen unconscious at some point...obviously...because Jackson found me first, didn’t he?” She looked over at Mary and Matthew who were staring at her with their mouths wide open.