“Hmmph,” she sniffed, breaking eggs into a pan. “It needs a man—a permanent one—and kids.”
“I agree.”
Mrs. Webster remained silent, and Moss wasn’t sure just how much she knew about Etta, or just exactly what her opinion was. Etta came straggling in just then, wrapped in a pink velvet robe, her hair hanging in tangles about her shoulders.
“You find me a man as good as Moss Tucker, and I’ll settle with him,” she told Mrs. Webster in a tired voice. She yawned and looked at Moss, who gave her a chiding look. Mrs. Webster turned to look at her and smiled, a little embarrassed at Etta having heard her last remark.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Landers. I—”
“It’s all right. Besides, you’re right,” Etta replied, walking to the table and sitting down near Moss. She blushed slightly under his eyes, recalling she had drunk too much the night before, and vaguely remembering him having to carry her up the stairs. “I guess I made kind of a fool of myself last night,” she said, resting her head in her hand. “I seem to do that a lot around you.”
“I’ve made a fool of myself that way lots of times,” he replied. He took a deep drag on his cigarette. “Besides, you needed to let go a little. You’re carryin’ a lot of burdens.”
She looked over at him, her eyes slightly bloodshot. “You’re some man, you know that? Where do you get all that patience, and understanding, and, uh, willpower?”
“My wife has taught me most of it. She’s a patient and understandin’ woman. And she has an inner strength I admire.” He held her eyes. “You do, too. You’re hangin’ on to this place for dear life. And I’m gonna help you by goin’ out to do a little visitin’ this mornin’.” Mrs. Webster set the eggs in front of him and he dove into them, continuing to talk between bites. “I’m gonna go offer your neighbors water rights, Etta. And you’re gonna hold to what I tell them.” He swallowed some coffee.
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“No. Besides, you probably don’t feel much like goin’ out and ridin’ a horse this mornin’. I can handle it.”
“You’ll take someone with you, I hope.”
“I’m takin’ Hank Stemm. We’ll stick to the trees till we get to the first ranch. I figure on ridin’ north to the Simpson place first. At least that way we’d be headin’ even farther away from town. But I don’t expect no trouble. According to Damian Kuntz, Landers hasn’t quite made up his mind yet what to do, so I’m gonna muster up some help in makin’ his decision for him. I sent Kuntz back to town with a letter to Mandy. Nobody knows yet that he’s gonna work for me, so I figure he can safely get a letter off for me. He brung me one yesterday from Mandy. It had been layin’ and waitin’ for me, only nobody brought it out to me—and I couldn’t send nobody in for it. It’s a little old, but it sure was nice to get it.”
“What did it say?” she asked slyly. Moss grinned.
“Personal,” he replied.
“I thought so. Is she all right?”
“Yup. Just lonely, like me.”
“I’d be lonely, too, if I were used to having someone like you around.”
Moss finished his food without a reply, then rose to leave.
“You take it easy today. Most of the boys are out doin’ your chores. I’m headin’ out.”
“Moss, be careful.”
“No need to tell me that. See you later today.”
“Moss, thank you.”
He grabbed his hat from a hook near the door.
“Anytime.”
Moss stepped outside and pulled the letter from his pocket again. After he had put Etta to bed the night before and rejoined the men, Damian Kuntz had given it to him. The man had forgotten all about it when he first arrived, more concerned with talking to Moss about Ralph Landers. Moss appreciated the man’s thoughtfulness in checking to see if there was mail before he came to Etta’s ranch. And the blessedly welcome letter had been there. He unfolded it.
My darling Moss,
Things at the Red “C” are going fine. Except for myself. I miss you so much that sometimes my heart actually hurts. I’m teaching every day, and you should see all the new words Wanda can read and write. And your daughter learns so quickly, Moss. She’s so bright and quick. She misses you, too, darling, and both of us pray for you every morning, at lunchtime, and every night. The nights are the worst. And I can imagine they’re no easier for you. I hope that whatever you have to do, it won’t be too much longer. How is Etta? She must be very happy to be home.
I don’t worry about you and Etta, because since you left, I’ve had so much time to think. And the one and only thing I am sure of—besides God’s love—is your love, Moss. And we mustn’t ever allow anything—or anyone—to interfere. What we have is from God, a precious love that must be guarded and treasured. And I felt folded into your arms when I read your wire to me, for though it is hard for you to come up with written words, I could hear your voice saying those words. And I know you are lonely, as I am lonely. You must remember that I am always with you, through prayer. And I am with you in the night, in my dreams. My body aches for you, Moss.
I love you. What more can I say than that? And although I am protected here, it’s you I need, Moss. So do not take too long. I send you kisses from Becky. The table seems so empty without you. And the bed is the loneliest place of all. I love you. May God be with you and bring you home soon—unharmed. In the meantime, you can be sure that you are loved, and guarded through prayer.
Take care, my darling.
Amanda
He sighed and folded the letter again, feeling empty and painfully lonely. He could hear her voice in the letter, and pictured her whispering words of love beside him in bed, and could hear her grateful sighs, his name whispered as he became one with her and poured his life into her. His chest hurt with love, and his body ached with need. He adjusted his hat and stepped off the porch to go and saddle his horse.
Etta went to her room and locked the door. She sat down in front of the mirror and pouted, irritated that Moses Tucker was so difficult to get into her bed, and angry that she should have to give up her water rights. She picked up a brush and began raking it through her hair briskly, wondering how much longer her beauty could last, wondering if she was already too old to have children. She put the brush down and studied herself a moment, proud that she was still so beautiful at thirty-six. She tried to understand why Moss could keep turning her down. It hurt her, bringing back the ugly memories of wondering why her own husband had not wanted her.
She pulled her robe from her shoulders, then untied it and let it slip down over the chair. She sat there naked in front of the mirror, studying the full breasts and the milky white skin. Perhaps if she were to go to his bed in the middle of the night, crawl in naked beside him…
A figure loomed behind her in the mirror. She gasped and jumped up, grabbing for her robe, but a hand clamped over her mouth.
“It’s just me, Lloyd,” came the hoarse voice.
He jerked her around and clamped his mouth over hers, kissing her so hard it hurt her lips. Then he threw her onto the bed. Etta gasped for breath and wiped at her lips, wiggling up toward the headboard and grasping at the covers.
“Why hide it?” Lloyd sneered. “You flaunt it in front of everybody else! And you flaunted it for me once!”
“Get out of here!” she shrieked. “How did you get in here!”
“I walked in while you was sittin’ down in the kitchen with your lover! You look tired, baby. Did you and him have a heavy go-round last night?”
“Moss Tucker has never touched me!” she spit at him. “And don’t think you’re going to!”
He sneered at her, stepping closer to the bed and unbuttoning his pants.
“I seen him carryin’ you up the stairs to your room last night, you all drunk and hangin’ all over him. Your dress was hangin’ open. And don’t try to tell me you don’t love him, ’cause I know better! And don’t tell me a man like him turned away a tasty item lik
e you! He’s not that loyal to that wife of his!”
“He is that loyal!” she hissed. “And last night he made me realize that I want to be different. I’m not going to sleep around any more, Lloyd. Not with you or anybody else who just wants to use my body.”
He chuckled. “You amuse me. I’d laugh out loud…” He suddenly sobered. “If I didn’t love you myself. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to be pushed out of your bed by a man fifteen years older!” He lurched forward and grasped her arms, pushing her backward and landing on top of her, kissing her painfully again.
She struggled against him, suddenly repulsed, even though she had entertained him in the very same bed more than once. Now it all seemed wrong. He moved his lips to her neck.
“Get out now or I’ll scream, and every one of Moss’s men will be in here!” she gasped. “They’ll kill you! Or they’ll save you for Moss and he’ll kill you!”
He jerked her arms up over her head. “You won’t scream. ’Cause if you do, I’ll say as how I seen Moss Tucker carry you to your room. And I’ll testify that I went to the door and I heard noises, and that because I loved you, I pushed the door open a crack and saw you and Tucker goin’ at it. Now maybe I didn’t see it, but I know it happened!”
“They wouldn’t believe you,” she whimpered, struggling.
“Some wouldn’t. But they’re all men, Etta. And they’d begin to wonderin’ how Moss Tucker could sleep in this house every night without beddin’ you. And they all know that when you and him came to this house to talk last night, you never came back out! Maybe he did later. I don’t know. I was too drunk and I didn’t rejoin the party. All I know is I saw him carryin’ you up to your bed. And there’s bound to be some of his men gonna believe it happened. And then that’s gonna divide them—not just against each other, but against their boss! He told them you was a forbidden fruit but he don’t mind pickin’ it himself, does he!”
He pressed his lips to her mouth again, and she knew what he said was true. If he accused Moss of having an affair with her, it would divide the men. Some wouldn’t want to believe it, but they would, nonetheless. And if they lost faith in Moses Tucker, he’d lose his power to control them and some would leave, and she would lose the E.G. To fight Lloyd Duncan now would be foolish.
The brutal beginning to their love-making turned to a queer and violent passion, as Lloyd Duncan devoured the body he had missed, and Etta Landers pretended that it was Moses Tucker who was touching her. Duncan’s cruel words turned to a gushy display of the love he had for this older woman, who had charmed him to her bed a year earlier and had invited him there often after that. But Etta began to hope he would finish soon. Duncan was overjoyed that she had relaxed and seemed to have given in to him, sure that it was because down deep inside she loved him and wanted him. But when he raised up on his elbows, he caught her frowning as though repulsed.
“Hurry up and get it over with!” she hissed through gritted teeth.
He moved off of her, jerking her up by the hair of her head, then slapping her hard. Etta cried out and fell to the bed.
“It’s him, isn’t it! You were wantin’ him!”
She fought her tears, rising slowly and rubbing the side of her face. She sat up on the bed and faced him. Lloyd now stood at the edge of the bed half naked, and she looked him up and down scathingly.
“Yes!” she sneered. “I love him! And even with one arm he’s more man than you’ll ever be!”
Duncan swung, backhanding her hard across the mouth.
“All right, slut!” he growled. “I’m through with you! I’m goin’ over to Ralph Landers’s side!”
“Then go!” she screamed.
“I will. And after Landers gets through burnin’ and runnin’ you out, you’ll be left with nothin’! He’ll kill Moss Tucker, and you’ll have nothing! Nothing! And then I’ll be back, baby. And you’ll be beggin’ me to take you in. You won’t be so high and mighty then!”
“Ralph and his men will never be able to take Moss!” she hissed, wiping at blood on her lip.
“Maybe not. But there’s other ways. Landers is probably thinkin’ up a way right now, and if one thing don’t work, there’s always another!”
“Like what?” she sneered.
“Like ways to get Moss Tucker to leave this place without firin’ a shot!”
She quieted and wiped at her lip again as their eyes held.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
He tucked himself back into his pants.
“I’m sayin’ maybe there’s an easier way to take down a man like Tucker than with a gun. Sometimes the woman a man loves is a greater weapon than a cannon.”
Etta frowned, still unsure of what he meant.
“Havin’ trouble puttin’ two and two together, baby?” he asked with a grin. “I’ll add it up for you. You were just his fling in bed, to tide him over till he got back to that precious wife of his. Maybe you like his body, but she owns it! And she owns him! And if she was ever in trouble, Moss Tucker would come running.”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Oh, yes I would,” he growled. “If Landers don’t think of a way to get rid of Moses Tucker soon, I have an idea of my own. Could be Ralph Landers just might pay me to carry it out.”
“You stay away from Amanda Tucker! She’s a good person!”
He snickered. “You stickin’ up for the only woman who stands in your way?”
“If she gets hurt over this, Moss would hate me!”
He grinned more, and she realized she’d said the wrong thing.
“All the more reason for me to pay her a visit, wouldn’t you say? Ralph Landers moves in here when Moss leaves, Moss finds his wife dead and never comes back here ’cause he don’t give a damn any more, and Etta Landers is wanderin’ around with no money and no home, just needin’ a man to take real good care of her.”
“And that man would have Moses Tucker after him!” she spit at him. “He’d best remember that! And Moses Tucker bent on revenge would be like a mother grizzly after someone who bothered her cubs! You’d never be able to sleep at night for fear of getting your throat slit, Lloyd Duncan!”
“I’d find places to go.” He winked and reached for his hat. “You’d best clean up now, Mrs. Landers. You want to present a pretty picture for all them men out there. I’m leavin’ now—goin’ into town. You won’t see me again, at least not till you come beggin’ to me.”
“I wouldn’t come to you if you were the last man on earth!” she replied in a raised voice. “Get out! Just get out!”
He put out his hands as though in defense.
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for the good time.”
She threw a pillow at him. “Get out!”
He ducked through a window and walked along the upper veranda to the stairs that led to the ground. Etta sat on the bed, rubbing at her lip and pondering what he had told her. She could hardly believe he would be jealous enough to try to hurt Moses through Amanda. Should she tell Moss?
She got up from the bed and walked to her dresser to study the puffy lip.
“No,” she thought to herself as she poked at the lip. “I’ll not tell Moss. If he suspected for one second that his wife was in danger, he’d leave to go to her. And then I’d lose my chances of getting him into my bed and winning him away from her. I’ll not say a thing. And if something happens to her, and he’s angry with me, I’ll just fling myself at him and cry. Moss hates crying. And there he’d be—a lonely man needing a woman—and there I’d be. Maybe Lloyd would be doing me a favor in the long run.”
She began brushing her hair again, inwardly satisfied at the realization that a man as young as Lloyd Duncan hungered for her as he did. Surely Moss could not resist forever. And the little spark of decency Moss had managed to draw from Etta the night before suddenly died out. The years had buried the once-proper and proud Etta Graceland, leaving a hard and scheming woman in her place.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
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Moss and Hank Stemm cautiously approached the Crooked “S”, walking their horses through a gate entrance with the ranch’s name burned into wood across the top. The ground was dusty and hard, and trees were scarce. This was not the lower, greener land that Etta owned, but higher, rocky, waterless land—land on which only the fittest of cattle could survive. Moss noticed a few scrawny-looking heads of beef to his left, but his eyes were fixed on four riders who approached from a distance.
“Keep your guns in place,” Moss said quietly to Hank. “We’re comin’ here as friends.”
“I don’t like it, Moss. You don’t know how they’re gonna react. And you don’t know what Ralph Landers has told these people. Could be the battle is lost before it’s begun. This has been a dry year, and these men are probably pretty bitter.”
“If I’d come ridin’ in here with a whole troup of men, it would only make them angry before I could say a word,” Moss replied.
The four men came close now, two of them pointing rifles at Moss and Hank.
“State your business, mister. This is Simpson property,” one of them spoke up.
“Are you Simpson?” Moss asked.
“He’s back at the house. I’m his foreman. What is it you want?”
“I’m Moses Tucker.”
The man’s eyes darkened and he looked almost as though someone had hit him.
“If that’s the case, then you ain’t goin’ no further till you unload your weapons!” the man told Moss. “That goes for your friend, too.”
“I’ve come here in peace,” Moss replied.
“I’ve heard about your kind of peace, mister. And on top of that, you’re workin’ for that Landers bitch! Get them guns off or you’ll get a piece of lead in the brisket! I expect there’s a few ranchers around here who wouldn’t mind that one bit!”
Moss looked at Hank. “You heard the man,” he said, taking his gun from its holster. “Do like he says. Maybe then Simpson will believe I’ve come here as a friend.”
“Friends share their water!” another man growled, cocking his rifle.
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