by Kit Morgan
* * *
The next morning, Jess brought Lillie her breakfast again – bacon, eggs and fried potatoes. Maybe her hostess thought she was ready for heartier fare. Yesterday it had been nothing but oatmeal and soup.
Though her pain hadn’t lessened much, she did feel better, stronger. She wished the aches would go away, but at least she wasn’t running a fever. Zadie had explained to her the night before that that was the doctor’s biggest worry. If the wound became infected it could kill her. She didn’t want to think about that, so she concentrated on Jess.
He set the breakfast tray on the bedside table. “Good morning,” he said with a bright smile. “Did you sleep better?”
“Better than the night before,” she said. “It’s hard when I can’t roll over.”
“I reckon you can’t, with that hip of yours. I think the doc was going to come out to the ranch today and take a look at you.”
“That would be good.” She glanced at the quilt on the bed before looking at him again. Thankfully he’d remained silent. “Has anyone asked about me?”
He shook his head, sat in the chair, took the tray and handed it to her, then took it back again. “Sorry. I guess having that in your lap isn’t going to work, is it?”
She smiled lopsidedly. “Not yet. It hurts to have anything on my leg.”
“I understand. I wasn’t thinking.” He set the tray on the table, took the plate from it and handed it to her. “Will this work better?”
“Much. Thank you … Jess?” She wasn’t totally sure it wasn’t Jeff – now was as good a
time to check as any.
“That’s right.” Whew! “You don’t mind if I call you Lillie, do you? Or would you prefer Miss Mayer? I know Zadie and Anson probably would.”
“I don’t mind if you call me Lillie. It’s the least I can do after you saved my life.”
He sat back and blushed like a little boy. “Aw, I wouldn’t go so far as that. All I did was bring you into the house – the doctor did the rest.”
“He also said I probably would’ve bled to death had I not been found.”
He stared at her soberly. “Is that so? Anson or Zadie didn’t say anything about that.”
“Probably because they’ve been busy. I know having me here is taking time away from your work. But I appreciate it.”
He smiled again, and she liked the way his eyes twinkled. These people were kind, and Jess had taken great care to treat her gently. In fact, it made her nervous – she wasn’t used to it. No one had treated her this well since her mother …
“We just want you to get well,” he told her. “And don’t you worry about your father – he can’t hurt you here. I’ll see to that.”
“The sheriff hasn’t come?” she asked.
“No one has, Lillie. No one’s looking for you as far as we know. So just take your time and heal up. Don’t worry about anything else.”
She swallowed hard. His words were a healing balm and she wanted more of them. “When is the doctor coming?” she asked to keep him talking.
“Sometime after lunch, I would think. Anson and I will be outside working, but we’ll be nearby. We’re breaking some colts today.”
She noted his strong features and couldn’t help but smile. “You like it here, don’t you?”
“It’s growing on me,” he said. “It’s not Clear Creek by any stretch, but that’s not entirely a bad thing. I could get used to living here. The people here are nice and I like the land. The only thing missing is …” His eyes darted to the floor. “Never mind.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. You get some rest now. After you eat, I mean.” He smacked his forehead with his hand. “I best get outside and help Anson. Zadie will be up for the tray.”
She giggled as he rose from his chair. He reminded her of an awkward schoolboy with a crush. The thought made her look to the floor as well. Was that the case? And would that be so bad? She tried to hide a smile behind a bite of potatoes, but jumped when he touched her on the shoulder. “What?” she said around the mouthful.
“I’ll try to come visit you later today,” he told her.
“Oh yes.” She swallowed. “I’d like that.”
“You’re probably pretty bored up here all by yourself most of the day.”
“A little. But that’s only because I’m not sleeping as much. I’m not sure which is worse, being awake and bored or being asleep for hours on end from all that laudanum.” She studied his concerned face, and it made her want to melt right into the mattress. No man had ever looked at her like that. “Right now I think I’d rather be awake,” she added softly.
“That’s good. I think I like you better when you’re awake.” His voice was just as soft. He headed for the door, stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her. “You take care of yourself now, you hear?”
She smiled and nodded. “I will.”
Jess winked at her and left the room.
Lillie watched him go into the hallway and disappear from sight. She sighed, looked at the food and began to eat with gusto.
* * *
Jess whistled as he headed out. He stopped at the barn first and grabbed some rope, then continued to the corral. Anson was already at work and looked up when he approached. “How’s our patient?” he asked.
“She gets better every day,” Jess said. “Zadie fed her real food this morning. That should help.”
“I’m sure it will. Does she seem like she’s still in a lot of pain?”
“She says she is. Maybe she should try to get out of bed and walk a little.”
“That’s for Doc to decide, cousin. Remember, you’re a ranch hand, not a doctor.”
Jess snorted. “I may not be a doctor, but I’d sure as heck like to be a lawman right now.”
Anson coiled some rope. “Don’t, Jess. Leave it be.”
“That’s the problem,” he said. “Her father’s leaving her be. I don’t think he’s even looking for her.”
“Good, I say. The last thing I want is for that sidewinder to come around here. One of us might have to shoot him, and then we’d get hauled to jail.”
“Do you think he’s still working at the mine?”
“Who knows? Neither of us has had time to go find out.” Anson turned toward the two-year-old bay colt he was working with.
Jess watched him carefully place a saddle blanket on the horse’s back. The animal sidestepped, its shoulders twitching at the unfamiliar object, but calmed at Anson’s gentle voice. Jess took a few steps back to give him more room. “I want to go into town and find him.”
Anson turned from the horse. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“I’d rather find and confront him instead of sit here and wake up in the middle of the night with a gun pointed at me,” Jess argued.
“I hear you. Let’s finish here, then you can go.”
“Much obliged, cousin.”
“You’re welcome. Just don’t get yourself shot.”
“I don’t plan to,” he assured.
“And don’t plan on shooting Lillie’s father either, if you find him. It’s my guess he’s long gone by now. Only an idiot would stick around after shooting his own kin, unless it really was an accident and he doesn’t know what to do about it. For all we know, he’s been drunk all this time.”
“Do you think he even knows he shot her?”
“I can’t even guess what the man thinks. But no one’s come around here looking for her, or to tell us to keep an eye out for either of them. We don’t even know if anyone saw what happened.”
“All the more reason for me to go to town and find out,” Jess said with a smile.
“Fine, but remember what I said. Be careful – don’t let your sense of justice overrule your sense of responsibility.”
Jess took on an innocent air. “Why, cousin, whatever do you mean by that?”
“You know perfectly well what I mean. I know what Lillie’s father did was wrong and mean. But
he’s still her father, and for all we know it was an accident. And if it wasn’t, it’s the law that should be dealing with him, not you.”
“I understand,” Jess said through gritted teeth, and left it at that. It was best not to talk about it anymore, or by the time he got to Morgan’s Crossing he might be so riled up that his “sense of justice,” as Anson called it, would definitely overrule his sense of responsibility. Maybe he was more like his cousin Harrison Cooke than he’d thought.
Six
By the time Jess got into town it was well after lunch. He hadn’t thought about his stomach until now, and wondered if he should have a bite at the boarding house before seeking out Lillie’s father. He, Anson and Zadie had eaten there a few times since he’d been there, and he liked Bertha’s beef stew and biscuits. She ran the place, was a fine cook, and had been kind enough to jot down a few recipes for Zadie when she and Anson were first married. Zadie’s cooking still didn’t match up to Bertha’s, but she was getting better, much to Anson’s delight.
He tied his horse at the hitching post in front of the boarding house and went inside. The place was empty, the miners having gone back to work already. Maybe that was a good thing – he could ask some questions and find out if Lillie’s father was still in town. If he were, it would be easy enough to find him.
One of the young Chinese workers the boarding house employed came out of the kitchen and set a glass of iced tea on the table. Bertha poked her head out of the kitchen to see who had come in. “My heavens, but you’re a bit late.”
Jess laughed. “If that means I’ve missed the lunch hour, then yes, I am.”
She smiled back. “We’ve not see you in town for days.”
“Weeks,” Jess corrected. “We’ve been busy. But I’m here now. What’s on the menu?”
“I’ve made fried chicken, potatoes, biscuits and greens.”
“That’ll do.” He glanced around. “Mighty quiet in here. Did you have a full house at lunch time?”
“Yes. The boys are still cleaning the dishes.”
“I hear Mr. Morgan got himself some new miners,” Jess asked, trying to keep his voice even.
“Yes, some. One or two.”
“They tried your wonderful cooking yet?”
She blushed. “Oh yes, yes. They appointed me some nice compliments.”
Jess nodded, but before he could ask anything else, she disappeared back into the kitchen, the youth who’d served his iced tea not far behind. “Blast,” he said under his breath.
When the youth came out again it was with his meal. He thanked him then studied the empty dining room and wondered if Lillie and her father had ever eaten there, or stayed in the boardinghouse. No – her father probably lived in one of the small cabins down the street or, Heaven forbid, the miners’ tents. As far as he knew most of the miners working for Mr. Morgan were single, but he could be wrong. He’d never thought about it until now … probably because it never mattered until now.
His young Chinese server returned like magic as he took the last few bites of his meal and brought him a piece of pie.
Jess smiled. “What man turns down pie?” He repositioned himself in his chair. “I bet the new miners love Bertha’s pies.”
The youth smiled, nodded and retreated back into the kitchen. No one spoke to the servers very often, Anson had said so on their last visit to the boarding house. To the miners they were workers, nothing more. He wasn’t likely to get much out of one of them. He wasn’t even sure if they spoke any English.
But Jess didn’t have time to ponder that. He’d eat, then ask around town and see if he could find out which cabin Lillie’s father was renting and pay him a visit after he got off work. In the meantime, he could figure out a plan of action. If the brute was guilty of shooting Lillie, he’d have to haul him off to the sheriff … two days away in Sweetwater Springs. Easier said than done.
Of course, the man wasn’t about to admit to such a deed. Jess would have to watch him carefully when he asked, to see if he was lying. Maybe he was so drunk he’d had no idea what he’d done. Maybe he still didn’t. But it would be pretty hard not to notice his daughter was gone for the last couple of days. Wouldn’t folks in town have started to ask questions by now?
And what about Doc Rawlins? Maybe he should pay him a visit before he confronted Mayer and see if he knew anything. Wait … Doc Rawlins was heading out to the ranch this afternoon to check on Lillie. Jess stopped chewing and groaned. How could he have forgotten? Then again, he hadn’t seen the doctor on the road when he came to town. Maybe hadn’t gone to the ranch today after all.
He pushed the thought aside and started eating again. Besides, he was less likely to hit dear Mr. Mayer in the jaw when he met him if he had a full belly.
Jess looked at the pie on his plate. Maybe he ought to have a second helping for Mr. Mayer’s sake.
* * *
Herman Mayer skulked home with an occasional look over his shoulder. No one was following him or had been since Lillie’s “disappearance.” Probably because no one had noticed yet that she was gone …
… except for maybe the young fellow standing on his front porch.
Herman stopped short and quickly considered his options. He looked familiar. Perhaps he’d seen him in town before in passing. He was also wearing a gun, which didn’t bode well at the moment. And he was half a head taller and half a bicep wider than Herman, and a lot younger.
Herman gulped. If he was smart, he’d have kept on walking, but because he stopped the way he did, the man had noticed and was staring at him with interest. Correction: he was staring and heading straight for him!
“Mr. Mayer, I presume?” the man asked when he reached him.
“Er, ah, um …” Herman sputtered.
The man grinned. “I think perhaps you’ve lost something?”
Herman looked left and right. Even if he bolted, he could never outrun the young buck. What to do?
“One Lillie Mayer. Your daughter?”
“I need a drink,” Herman said without thinking.
“The saloon’s right over there,” the man said and pointed. He was still grinning, but it wasn’t a friendly grin. “Of course, you probably already knew that. I’m sure you’re a regular customer.”
Herman took a few steps back, still thinking he might run. But to his surprise, the man put an arm around him and steered him toward Rigsby’s Saloon. “What are you doing?”
“Buying you a drink,” the man replied, pulling him along.
“Ya … ya are?” Herman asked in shock.
“Of course,” he said. “We’ve got something to discuss. Wouldn’t you rather do it over a drink?”
Herman’s mouth flopped open as he stumbled along beside him. “W-what business?”
“Lillie, of course.”
Herman tried to twist away, but the man held him fast. “What about ‘er?” he barked, and regretted it. Snapping at him like that wasn’t the smartest thing to do at the moment, not when the kid could clearly snap him.
“Have you seen her lately?” the man inquired.
“No,” Herman tripped up the stairs and into the saloon.
The man shoved him hard toward the bar. “Really? Well, I have.”
Now Herman turned and tried to run, but the man grabbed the back of his shirt and held him fast. “I dunno nothin’ about nothin’, ya hear?”
“Well, I’ve heard plenty.” The man wasn’t smiling now. He yanked Herman up onto a barstool. “What’s your usual?”
“Wha?” Herman asked in shock.
“Your usual. What do you drink?”
“Uh, uh … whiskey.”
The man looked at the barkeep. “Give this man a whiskey. The good stuff.”
A saloon girl sashayed toward them. “Hello, gentlemen,” she cooed.
“Not now, Becky!” Herman grumbled nervously, indicating the other man with a twitch of his head.
“But Herman,” she pouted, “ya owe me a drink.”
Herman swallowed hard. “You and everyone else. Go ‘way.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the man added. “But Mr. Mayer and I have business to discuss.”
Becky sighed and walked off in a huff. Herman quickly took stock of who else was in the saloon. No one he could count on to help if the need arose – he owed all of them either money or whiskey. “Whatcha want?”
The stranger leaned into his face. “I want to know what happened to your daughter.”
“How should I know?” he squeaked. “Ain’t seen her for days, the ungrateful wench!”
“Wench?” the man said with raised eyebrows. He laughed. “I’d hardly call her a wench. Interesting choice of word, though.”
“I … read it in a book somewheres!” Herman shot back.
The barkeep set a glass of whiskey in front of him. His captor put some money on the counter and the barkeep scooped it up and walked away. “Now, about Lillie,” the man continued.
“What about ‘er?” Herman asked as he eyed the drink.
“Where is she?”
“I just toldja, I dunno!” He shot out his hand, grabbed the glass and downed the contents in one swallow. A mistake – the man really had bought the good stuff. He regretted not savoring it.
“You aren’t exactly coming across as a concerned father.”
“What for? That idjit girl takes off all the time, sometimes for days!”
The man eyed him cautiously. “Really? I find that hard to believe.”
“Well, believe it! But she better come back soon – I ain’t the best cook in the world. She ain’t either, but she’s better’n me!” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked the man up and down. “Wait a minute – I thought ya said ya knew where she was?”
“Perhaps. I’m just curious as to why you haven’t gone looking for her.”
“Like I toldja, she takes off all the time. How’m I supposed to keep track of her? ‘Sides, I have to work for a livin’ to feed that worthless …” He stopped short when he saw the stranger’s eyes narrow to slits. “… well, ungrateful girl that she is, ya’d think she’d come home by now!”