Trail of Golden Dreams

by Coverstone, Stacey

  “He’s not my man, but he does have a gun. Why do you ask?”

  Her thin lips pulled into a weak smile. “I’m so tired. I want this over with.”

  Josie suddenly realized what Molly was getting at. She wanted Grey to kill her, to end her misery. She looked over at him. The expression on his face was stern. He unfolded his arms and took a couple of steps forward.

  “I’m sorry about your suffering, miss,” he said. “But I’m not going to shoot you. Nature will take its course soon enough.”

  “I’m not asking you to shoot me, cowboy. Give me your gun and I’ll do it myself.” Her arm flopped off the side of the bed and she opened her hand, like she expected Grey to put the revolver in it. Josie couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. The woman wanted to take her own life.

  “No, ma’am,” Grey said. “I won’t let you kill yourself with my gun. I don’t believe in such things.”

  Molly turned her head and grinned at him. “Are you a religious man, cowboy?”

  The question must have taken him aback, because Josie saw his brow wrinkle. He cocked his head and hesitated before answering. “Not particularly. We all have to suffer the consequences of our decisions. That’s all I meant.”

  “Do you think I got what was coming to me, cowboy?” Molly asked him, fixing her sunken eyes on him. “Do I deserve to die a horrible death because I’m a whore?”

  Josie’s neck ached from tension and from moving her head back and forth between their verbal volleys. Molly was getting under Grey’s skin, she could tell. He bit down on his lip.

  “I never said that, ma’am. Only a handful of people deserve to die a terrible death, I suppose. I doubt you’re one of ‘em.”

  Molly asked for another drink of water and then said, “Do you think I’m going to Hell, cowboy?”

  Grey sighed. Josie could see he was tiring of the talk, and of her calling him cowboy. “It’s not for me to judge,” he replied. With that, he left the room, and Josie heard his boots clomp down the stairs.

  “He’s probably gone to get a drink of whiskey,” she explained to Molly, believing she’d think Grey was rude. “It’s been a rough few days.” Josie didn’t even know the woman, and she was a whore to boot, but she didn’t want Molly to think poorly of Grey.

  “If he’s not your man, whose is he?” Molly wanted to know.

  Josie noticed her eyes sparkled a little bit, like she was getting her second wind, but she knew that couldn’t be so. Maybe Molly just liked talking about men, since she’d been a whore. Josie felt embarrassed speaking about Grey. She felt her face grow warm.

  “I don’t think he’s anyone’s man. I don’t know who could put up with him, to be honest with you. He’s got a sour disposition at times. And he likes things done his way.”

  “They all like things done their way, honey,” Molly chuckled. Her eyes went dreamy for a moment, like she was thinking back to better times. “I remember this one client of mine. He was sitting right here on this bed, and I was pulling his boots off. He was a handsome fellow with deep green eyes and a trim body. I asked him, how do you like it, mister? You know what he told me?”

  Josie shook her head. She had no idea how men liked it. She wasn’t completely sure of what Molly was talking about.

  Molly chuckled. “He said, without conversation.”

  Josie didn’t understand what was funny about that, but she didn’t want to hurt Molly’s feelings, so she forced out a tiny laugh. She wet the cloth in the bucket of water again and repositioned it on Molly’s head. When the woman’s eyes shut for the second time, Josie wondered if she was still breathing. Suddenly, Molly snorted awake and stabbed a finger toward the floor.

  “I have some money hidden. It’s below this bed under the floorboard in a box. Get it for me. Hurry. I haven’t much time. The golden chariot’s coming for me.”

  When Josie hesitated, Molly begged, “Please!” so Josie jumped up from the chair and crawled under the bed. She knocked on the floor with her fist. “Which floorboard?” she asked.

  “Fourth one from the wall. Four’s my lucky number. It’s the board with no nails holding it down.”

  Josie crawled deeper under the bed and found the loose floorboard. She pried it up with her fingers and sure enough, there was a metal box. She hoisted it up and shimmied out from under the bed and placed the box beside Molly. “Here it is.”

  “Open it,” she commanded.

  Josie unlatched the lid, and a pile of greenbacks stared up at her.

  “Take the money. It’s yours,” Molly said. She coughed and spittle dripped from the corner of her mouth.

  “I can’t,” Josie said. “It belongs to you. I’m sure you worked hard for it.”

  “I laid on my back. What’s hard about that? Besides, I won’t need it where I’m going.” Her gaze delved into Josie’s before grabbing her hand and squeezing it. “Please. It’s my way of thanking you for being with me here at the end.” A tear squeezed out from her eye. “Please,” she pleaded again.

  “Alright,” Josie relented. She removed the cash from the box and stuffed the greenbacks into the pocket of her pants. Her throat felt as dry as sawdust when she said, “Thank you.”

  “One more thing,” Molly said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Over on my dresser. Go get that mirror.”

  Josie found a gold filigree hand mirror lying face down on the dresser. She picked it up carefully and took it to Molly, who said, “I want you to take it. It’s my most prized possession. The man I loved gave it to me a long time ago.”

  Josie stared. She didn’t know whores ever loved in that way. She knew they let men love on them, but she didn’t realize they ever fell in love. “Are you sure?” she asked.

  Molly nodded. “I insist.”

  “I never had a fancy mirror before.”

  “Look into it.”

  Josie turned it over slowly and gazed into it, shocked at the face that looked back at her. It was a dirty face, but it was the face of a grown up woman.

  “You’re very pretty,” Molly told her.

  “Oh, I’m not.” Josie felt her cheeks flame.

  “Yes, you are. All that black hair and those big blue eyes. You’ve got the prettiest smile. Men like brown-skinned girls, you know. It’s a good thing you’re not staying in this town. You’d take all my business.”

  Josie was still staring into the mirror when she no longer heard Molly breathing. She held the mirror close to the woman’s mouth and saw no steam. Mollie was dead.

  She found Grey downstairs, sitting at the bar cradling a mug of beer. “Molly’s dead,” she informed him, taking a seat beside him. He finished the drink and twisted to face her. He looked worn out and…what else? Scared? Was that fear etched on his rugged face? They’d gone through so much together already. What could he possibly be afraid of now?

  “That’s everyone then. The whole town’s dead,” he said. “What’s that you’re holding?” He nodded at the mirror in her hand.

  “Just something that woman wanted me to have.” He didn’t ask more, and she didn’t mention the money lining her pocket. “Are we going to leave now?” She was more than ready to move on, despite being hungry and tired.

  “Yes. Right after we torch the place.”

  Josie didn’t hide her surprise. “You mean set the town on fire?”

  “Yes. It might be the kind of killing fever that lives on. If it is, cleansing by fire is the only way to get rid of it. I’ve been thinking, too, that maybe it’ll also throw Kendall and King off our trail. If they’re still following us and they see the town go up in smoke, maybe they’ll think we went up with it and they’ll give up and go home for good.”

  “Alright,” she agreed, thinking it made sense. If it was a fever that lived on, both of them might have it already. They’d know in a few days. Five, the man had said, since the sick family came through.

  They set free the horses they’d seen in the corral to fend for themselves then torche
d the buildings using grass hay and Grey’s matches. With the buildings blazing, they ran to their animals, which they’d moved to a clearing outside of town. They jumped into their saddles and sat for a moment watching the flames lick the sky.

  Traveler pawed the ground and brayed nervously. “He doesn’t like fire,” Josie explained. Her voice choked as she remembered her little cabin that Slim Jim Garrett had torched.

  “That town must have been cursed,” Grey surmised, shaking his head. “Your mule’s eyes are rolling around in his head. Let’s push on.” He clucked his tongue, and they galloped away.

  * * * *

  With no sign of the marshal and Reno King on their tail, Josie and Grey stopped to camp near some large rocks for the night. He hunted for supper while she managed the fire and heated a pot of coffee. When he returned with two wild turkeys slung over his shoulder, she wanted to jump into his arms with gratitude, because she was starved.

  Later, when their stomachs were full, they sat in front of the fire, sharing coffee from the one tin cup. Grey’s striped blanket was draped over her shoulders. She felt warm and her eyes were heavy, but her nerves twitched just the same. Every cell in her body seemed to be alive. She sensed the same in him. He removed his hat and slid a hand through his disheveled hair. He looked so handsome under the pale of the moon, she thought. The stubble along his jaw had grown into a beard, and it looked good on him.

  Finally, he broke the silence between them. “Why did that whore give you a mirror?”

  “Don’t call her that, Grey.” Josie frowned at him. “She was a woman, same as me. Probably, Molly was earning a living the only way she knew how. You shouldn’t hold that against her.”

  “You’re right. I apologize.” He repeated the question. “How come Molly gave you her mirror?”

  Though she was relieved at how easily he’d conceded, Josie got an uncomfortable feeling. Why was he bringing this up? What difference did it make to him whether someone gave her a special gift? Didn’t she deserve fine things?

  “I guess it was her way of thanking me for helping her,” she answered. She felt bad for not telling him about the cash money, but not bad enough. That was a secret she intended to keep a while longer. If something happened and they couldn’t locate the nuggets, or Grey backed out on his deal, at least she’d have Molly’s money to get by on until she figured out what to do next.

  She’d counted it out while he’d hunted and had been shocked to discover the total came to one hundred dollars. She wondered what Molly had been saving the money for. Perhaps to leave that awful little town and go someplace where she wouldn’t have to work on her back anymore. Maybe she had wanted to go to San Francisco, too. It brightened Josie to imagine that was the case.

  After another long silence, Grey said, “My ma and pa died of the fever.”

  If she’d been sitting on a chair, Josie would have fallen off. He’d never spoken of family, and she’d wondered if he was alone, the same as her. It had crossed her mind a couple of times to ask, but he wasn’t exactly the type of man who opened up easily. She tossed him a sideways glance. It must have taken a lot for him to share that with her.

  “I’m sorry, Grey. How long ago did they pass?”

  “Almost five years. I was away when they died.”

  “Oh.” She knew how bad her pa had wanted her with him when he’d been hanged. She could imagine how terrible Grey must have felt not being there when his folks got the fever and died. “Where were you?” she dared to ask.

  He picked up a small rock and used it like a shovel to absently dig in the dirt. “Exploring. I’d studied geography in school and went to see the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I also traveled to Wyoming and visited the Tetons and the geysers in Yellowstone. When I made it home for a visit, they were gone. My little brother, too.”

  The mention of a brother twisted Josie’s heart. “That’s so sad. He got the fever, too?”

  “No. My ma’s sister and her husband from back east sent for Rusty after my folks died. He’s been in Boston ever since. He was ten when I left home. I guess he’d be fifteen now.”

  “He’s nearly grown,” she said.

  “Yep. I’d also found out the bank took our farm because Pa hadn’t paid the taxes. That was something I didn’t know before I left. If I’d known, I would have stayed and taken on another job so Pa could have paid the bank.” Grey threw down the rock, and the anguish showed through on his face. “That’s why I need the gold, so I can bring Rusty home and buy us a ranch. It’s the reason I was so angry when your pa stole the nuggets from me. Rusty’s the only family I have now, and I can’t get him back without the money.” He glared at her with those hard, dark as molasses eyes. “You got anything to say about that?”

  She inhaled deeply. He’d trusted her enough to share something personal with her. That was a big step. Her heart melted. She understood how he felt. All she’d ever wanted was a real family, too. “Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” she asked. “I wouldn’t have been so hard on you if I’d known why you needed the gold so bad.”

  “So, you believe me?” he questioned.

  “Of course I believe you.” She stopped. “You’re not lying, are you?”

  “No. Cross my heart.” He made an X across his chest, like she’d seen him do before.

  She smiled. “I’m sure your share of the gold will be enough for you to bring Rusty home and to buy that ranch. My pa told me the trail would be difficult, but we’ve survived so far. And we’re getting closer, Grey. It won’t be long before we find those nuggets and make both our dreams come true.”

  His mouth flipped up at one corner. “You’re a real optimist, Josie.”

  “I don’t know what that means, but it must be a good thing since you’re grinning.”

  He expelled a long breath of air and his shoulders rolled forward, as if the weight of the world had just been lifted off them. “Did you look into it?” he asked, reversing the subject suddenly.

  “Look into what?” She was lost.

  “The mirror.”

  “Oh.” She answered quietly, with her head bowed. “Well, yes. For a minute.”

  “What’d you think?” He seemed anxious to know.

  It seemed a strange question, and she wasn’t sure how to respond. “What do you mean?”

  Staring intently at her, he asked, “Do you think you’re pretty?”

  The question was so unexpected it stung like a slap in the face. Was he teasing her? Or did he really wonder what she’d thought of her own reflection? She’d never thought much about her appearance until Molly gave her the mirror. She’d scrutinized her eye color, the shape of her mouth, and then noticed that underneath the grit and grime covering her skin, she was pretty. But she wouldn’t admit that to him, nor would she admit she thought him handsome. Not now and not ever.

  Sliding a glance at him, she wondered. What did he think of her? They’d been on the trail together for five days. Surely, he must have an opinion. Once, he’d called her pretty, but he was probably being polite. She’d felt like a dirty, sweaty raga-muffin most of their time together.

  What if he had no opinion at all? What if he saw her as nothing more than a necessity? Someone whose help he needed to wind his way out of the detour his plans had taken. Someone he’d forget about as soon as he packed the gold in his saddlebags. Someone he’d gladly leave without a backward glance. A stab of pain pierced her heart at that thought. She’d been alone too long and didn’t want to lose him. She’d grown accustomed to his presence, to his quiet nature and…she sniffed and turned her head so he couldn’t see the tears welling in her eyes. Then she scooted away from him and jumped up, striding to put space between them.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, dumbfounded.

  Josie pivoted on one heel. “Away from you,” she shouted, “You’re the meanest man I’ve ever known, Grey Paladin!”

  His mouth gaped. “What the hell are you talking about, Josie?”

  “You don’t ca
re about me at all. Pretty, ugly, smart, stupid—all you want is the gold. I wish you’d never come along. All you do is make fun of me.” The dam had burst, and no amount of wishing could stop her choking sobs from erupting forth. The tension of the past few days on the run had built and built, and she’d finally hit her breaking point. The tears spilled down her cheeks. Grey moved next to her and threw his arm around her shoulders.

  “Oh, Josie. I wasn’t making fun of you. I guess what I meant to say didn’t come out right.”

  She sniffled and gazed up at him. “Really? What did you mean to say?”

  When he touched her face, shivers ran down her arms. He cupped his hands under her chin and said, “I wanted to know if you saw in that mirror what I’ve been seeing since I met you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A beautiful woman.”

  “You…you think I’m beautiful, Grey?”

  He caressed her neck with his fingers. “Yes, I do. Can I take out your braid?”

  The question caught her off guard. Before thinking too hard about it, however, she nodded and gave him her back. Gently, he untied the piece of leather holding her hair together and carefully began taking apart the braid piece by piece.

  She closed her eyes. His touch was so warm and tender. As his breath blew across her nape, tingles moved from her neck down to her toes, and it took all her willpower to keep still as he worked. When the braid was loose and her hair down, he sifted his fingers through it.

  “I like your hair this way,” he said.

  The heat coursing through her veins was like nothing she’d ever experienced. Was this really happening? Moments ago, she’d thought he’d been joshing with her. Now he was running his hands through her hair and telling her she was beautiful. She felt the blanket slide off her shoulders. Grey placed his hands on her arms and turned her around. He leaned forward, and when they kissed, Josie thought her heart was going to explode. The simple kiss they’d shared after she’d killed Del was one she’d been replaying over and over in her mind, but this kiss was so different. It was so much more.