by Barbara Goss
Sewell shook his head. “I’ve never heard of either of them. Did they mention where they were from?”
“No. I just assumed they were staying here in town.”
Sewell leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face. “Come to think of it, I have seen a few men in town that I didn’t recognize. We’re trying to recuperate from the disasters and now we have to deal with strangers barging in. I hear tell conmen often flock to places after disasters.” He tapped the desk with his pencil. “Describe the men to me, and I’ll keep a sharp eye out for them. I don’t want their kind in our town.”
Max described the men for the marshal who jotted it all down.
“You might try looking in the saloon from time to time, Max. Most strangers always find themselves there sooner or later.”
Max left the marshal’s office and strolled over to the Lucky Lady Saloon. He went up to the bar and gazed around nonchalantly, but he didn’t see either man. Max was poised to leave when a female voice said, “Hey, there, handsome. Need someone to drink with?”
He turned to see a woman with hair as red as he’d ever seen, wearing makeup, and with feathers in her hair. Max was no stranger to saloon women, having flirted with many in Texas. Where he was from, it was almost mandatory to fool a bit with the women to prove your manhood. He tried drinking beer once but got so sick, he started ordering seltzer water instead.
Thoughts ran through Max’s mind faster than lightning. Should he run or could he use this woman’s friendship in some way?
“If I were going to stay and drink, I’d choose you to drink with, however, I need to be somewhere.”
The woman pouted.
“The name’s Maxwell. I’ll come back sometime when I’m not due someplace.”
“Just ask for Sadie.”
“Sadie! Lovely name.” Max pinched her cheek. “I’m sorry now that I have to leave. I will be back.” He gave her a flirtatious smile.
“I love cowboys,” she purred. “I’ll even buy your drink.”
Max tipped his hat to her and walked to the door.
He had nowhere special to go, but he wasn’t ready to use Sadie yet. He’d use her if the men ever showed up in the saloon—she could flirt with them and perhaps get information for him.
Max walked to the livery to talk to Walter Myers about a job.
After receiving a warm welcome, Walter invited Max into the back office. “So, you’re looking for a job. I could use another hand. Business is beginning to pickup with so many new men showing up. Do you have any idea where they’re coming from?”
“I can’t be sure, but my wife said there was a group of women who’d lost husbands in the disaster and they were sending for husbands.”
“Ahh, no wonder.”
“That explains it, Walter. Hopefully, they're prospective husbands and not more conmen.”
“I agree. So, Max, what do you think?”
“I’ll take the job.”
“Just so you know, Max, it’s only temporary. The bank has the place up for sale, and I couldn't afford to buy it, even if I wanted to—which I don’t. I’m too old for this.
“You can start on Monday, because I have some things to do before then. Is that all right?”
Max nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be here Monday.”
He turned to leave, but Walter grabbed his arm. “Wait—if you’re looking for work right away, I hear the Howard sisters, Edith and Ethel, are looking to hire someone to fix their well. It was severely damaged in the quake. Their brother was killed in the disaster.”
“Can you give me directions to their home?”
Chapter 8
Max knocked on the door of the house he’d been directed to. Instead of someone opening the door, a shotgun barrel poked through the window next to the door.
“Identify yourself or I’ll shoot,” a female voice said.
Another female voice yelled out, “I have a broom, and I know how to use it.”
Max was too stunned to speak.
“Edie, put that broom down!” the first woman yelled. “I can handle this.”
“My name is Maxwell Winters.”
“We don’t know anyone by that name. Now, scoot along, or I’ll shoot.”
“I’m Laura Bennett’s new husband. Walter at the livery said you needed someone to fix your well.”
Max watched the shotgun disappear. He heard frantic whispering before he heard the lock on the door being released.
“I’m Ethel,” a woman whose voice he recognized as the holder of the shotgun said.
Max tipped his hat.
“This is my sister, Edith. Please, come in.”
“Come into the sitting room,” Edith said. “Would you like tea or coffee?”
“No, I’d really like to take a look at the well.”
“How is Laura?” Edith asked. “We’ve known her since she was a baby.”
“She’s doing well. I’ll be sure to let her know you asked about her.”
“Come this way,” Ethel said. She led him through the house and out through the rear door. “We run a small orphan home for girls, and this is too dangerous to leave here. We need it fixed.”
The well was off to the side of the rear yard. Max walked over and peered down it. “How deep is this well?”
“I don’t know. My brother, Edward, said he thought it was only about forty feet deep.”
Max whistled. Forty feet was plenty deep. “Why is the hole so wide?”
“The earthquake just split the ground open,” Ethel said.
“How do you keep the children away from it?”
“We supervise their play in the other side yard,” Edith answered, pointing. “We even have several rope swings.”
“Wasn’t there some type of housing around the well?” After seeing their puzzled looks he explained, “Like a stone wall or wooden partition around it where you lower the bucket.”
“Yes,” Ethel answered, “we had a cute, wooden thing, but after the quake, there were only the splinters of it left lying about.”
Max stared at the hole, wondering how he’d ever be able to fix the well. The hole around the well was a good four feet deep, and the well itself was even deeper. Just closing the hole would be a job in itself. What would he fill it with? He needed to do some thinking and exploring. It was Wednesday, and he’d need some time to figure out what to do. His family needed the money; he had to try.
“Miss Howard,” he looked at Ethel who seemed to be in charge, “I can’t fix the well, that much I know. If you just want the mess cleaned up, I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s fine. We don’t use this well anymore because it was full of sulfur. We had a new one dug on the other side of the house.” Ethel said. “When can you start?”
“Friday or Saturday,” Max told her.
“Perfect, and you can call me Ethel and my sister, Edith.”
After he worked out the financial part of the job, Max bid the ladies farewell and returned to the saloon. He had to find those two men.
Max walked up to the bar, ordered a seltzer, and turned to scan the room, but there was still no Otis or Bart. He drained his seltzer and prepared to leave when the smell of stringent perfume stung his nostrils. He turned to see Sadie. He’d never been fond of perfumes and he hoped his distaste didn’t show on his face.
“Hi, Sadie.”
“Hey, handsome.” She snuggled up close to him. “I knew you’d be back.”
“I wish I could say it was your beauty and charm that brought me back, but it’s those two men—I have to find them.”
“I’m hurt.” She pouted. “Why don’t you come back at night when the place is full and lively? You might get lucky. There isn’t much else a stranger can do in town except drink and have a good time here.”
The way she'd said, “Have a good time here,” left no doubt in his mind as to what she was referring.
Max had never been one to use someone, but he had to keep Sadie as a friend.
If those men showed up, she’d be the biggest help to him. Max had to be friendly and even flirt a bit in order to keep things between them affable.
He tipped his hat and gave her a smile and wink. “See you tonight, then.”
Before heading back to the ranch, he stopped in to see Walter.
Walter greeted him as soon as he saw him. “Max! How’d it go with the Howards?”
“It went well.” Max watched Walter brushing a sleek, black stallion. “One of your horses?”
“No, I wish—he’s boarding here for a few days.”
“I need some advice.”
Walter stopped grooming and led the horse to its stall. Then, he motioned for Max to follow him into the office where he set two cups down on the table and poured hot coffee into them. “Sit down. Let’s hear it.”
Max explained how he’d found the well and what he and Ethel had decided.
Walter whistled. “I had no idea. I thought maybe the frame needed repairing.”
“How in the world will I be able to fill in a hole that wide and that deep?”
Walter scratched his slightly graying head. “There must be a way. Let me sleep on it. Stop back tomorrow.”
It had been the longest he’d ever been away from Laura and Caro since they’d married, and he found himself missing them. He was anxious to be alone with Laura and try to consummate the marriage again. Max was sure it was what he truly wanted.
He’d stopped at the telegraph office earlier, but there was still no reply to the wire he’d send his father. If he didn’t get some money soon, they’d be eating vegetables from the garden as their main entrée.
Before Max’s horse had even stopped, Laura ran out to greet him. He slid off his horse, and she hugged him. He held her for several moments.
“I was worried about you,” she said.
“I’m fine,” he assured her. “I had a busy day. I found a job—well, two, actually.”
“That’s good news!” She released her hold on him. “Dexter found five horses. They’re in the barn.”
“Hunter?” Max looked at her hopefully.
“No, sorry.”
“I haven’t had word from my father yet, either.”
“I know you got the job in the livery. What’s the other job, Max?”
“I’m going to somehow fix a well for the Howard sisters.”
“Oh, Edith and Ethel. Such sweet ladies.”
“I just have to figure out how to fix it.”
Max took Laura by the hand. “Can we talk on the porch?”
“Sure.” She let him pull her up onto the porch where he pushed her gently into a chair and took her other hand.
“About the night of the fire,” he began. “We almost consummated our marriage. I want to do that. Am I wrong in thinking that you do as well?”
Laura nodded shyly.
Max took her hand in his. “Tonight, then?”
“Oh, Max! There is nothing I’d want more but nature has made that impossible. I’m having my female time.” Laura grimaced. “It will be over in a few days.”
Disappointment flooded through Max, but he knew better than to show it. “Of course. Just knowing you want to and would if not for… you know—”
“Thank you, Max. I’m as disappointed as you are.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m anxious for our marriage to be legal. I love my little family.”
Laura stood, sat down on Max’s lap, and put her arms around his neck. “I love the way you and Caro have taken to each other.”
He kissed her lips but was careful not to let it get too heated.
“I have to go into town tonight. Do you mind?”
Laura jerked up in surprise. “Tonight? What for?”
“I have to keep going into the saloon until I find Otis and Bart.”
Laura kissed his forehead. “Will you be home in time to kiss me goodnight?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He kissed her swiftly and then stood. “I’ll start out now so I can get back quickly.”
This time, when Max turned from the bar with his seltzer, he saw Otis and Bart playing cards with three other men. Max spun back to the bar quickly before they saw him. Now what? Where was Sadie?
He scanned the opposite side of the room and saw her having a drink with an elderly customer. She saw him and winked. He knew she’d join him after her drink with the man. While he waited, he plotted how he might use her to help apprehend the two men. An idea hit him as she sidled up to him.
“I knew you’d be back.”
“You’re looking mighty fine tonight, Sadie.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a provocative smile.
“The two men I was telling you about—they’re here. I need a favor from you—would you help me?”
“I will, as long as I don’t have to break any saloon rules; I need this job.”
“I just need you to give them some news that they’ll be very interested in.” When Sadie’s eyebrows rose he continued, “Can you tell them the Howard sisters have buried all their money in the backyard? Where they buried it is covered in straw. They just need to dig it up.”
“Won’t they ask why I don’t dig it up myself?” she asked.
“Good point.” Max took a sip of his seltzer and thought. “I've got it," he finally said. "The reason you’re sharing this with them is because it has to be done at night, and you can’t leave the saloon. You’re willing to split the money with them if they do the digging.”
Sadie gave him a thoughtful look. “Just what is in it for me?”
Max had no answer for her. He took another sip of his drink. What could he give her? He knew she wanted to take him upstairs, but he had no desire to do go with her.
“I thought you’d do it out of friendship. You see, those men burnt my stables down.”
Sadie nodded. “Which two men?”
Max peeked to his left. “See the man with the beard and mustache in the red shirt?” She nodded. "And the man beside him in the black shirt.”
“When should I tell them?”
“Tomorrow night would be perfect. I just hope they come back.”
Sadie winked at him. “I’ll make sure they do.”
Max drained his cup and pushed away from the bar, preparing to go home to his family. A bit of guilt hit him, and he took Sadie’s hand and said, “You’re a good friend, Sadie, but I’m a happily married man. I think you should know that.”
Sadie simply stared at him.
“Will you still go along with the plan?”
Sadie smiled. “I knew that. I asked around about you. You married Edwin’s wife." She rolled her eyes. "All the girls here were familiar with Edwin.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No. He was a regular upstairs for the past three years. I don’t know your wife, but I’m glad she has such a loyal husband now.”
Chapter 9
Max had just finished his breakfast when Dawn escorted Dexter in. “Do you still need me here?” Dexter asked.
“More than ever, Dexter.” Max stood and pulled out an empty chair. “Have a seat.”
Laura put a cup and plate in front of Dexter, filled the cup with coffee, and Dawn flipped a few pancakes onto his plate.
“I need you to tend to the horses in the barn, and we need to start cleaning up the mess from the fire so we can plan a new building,” Max said, passing Dexter the syrup.
“If you tell me exactly what you want done with the debris, I’ll start on it today. Oh, and I found a few more horses this morning behind the barn. I’m thinking when they get hungry they’ll all come back.”
“Great!” Max slapped him on the back. “I’m so glad I have someone like you. When the new stables are built, I’m going to make you head foreman.” Max knew that more than anything, Dexter needed to feel wanted and useful. Max could almost see his self-esteem rise.
Dexter smiled. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
“My wife tells me you’re the owner of the inn. Will you sti
ll have time for us?”
“Yes. I inherited it, but I don’t really want it. I like what I’m doing. Working with horses has always been my dream. I don’t need the stress of running a business. My ownership is temporary. My father wouldn’t have been disappointed that I didn’t want to go into the hotel business. He always encouraged me to do whatever made me happy.” Dexter sipped his coffee before continuing. “He once told me, 'You can always spot a man who hates his job.'”
“Your father was a wise man, Dexter,” Max said.
He pushed away from the table. “Great breakfast, Dawn, as usual.” He winked at her. “I’m going into town to see Walter and Misses Edith and Ethel. I’m also going to check for messages.”
Laura walked him out as far as the porch. “Have a good day, husband, and be careful.”
“I think we need to start another tradition,” Max said. “When either of us leaves the house, we have to kiss. It’s the new rule.”
“Hmm, it’s strange that so far all of our new traditions concern kissing.” Laura laughed and put her arms around his neck for their kiss.
Max hugged her to him for a moment. “I may think up more traditions. I rather like them.”
“So do I.” The couple laughed together, and it dawned on Max that they’d been laughing a lot lately.
“How can I help, Max?”
Max rubbed the back of his neck and thought about her offer. “Could you visit that new preacher I heard about? We need help rebuilding the stables and he might be able to put a crew together. It’s what towns do in Texas. I hope they do it here, too.”
“Of course, they do. Neighbors help neighbors. I’ll take care of it today.”
Just as Max stepped away from Laura and headed down the porch steps, Caro came running out of the house. “Max! Max!”
He turned, and she ran into his outstretched arms. “What is it, little one?” He picked her up so he could talk to her better.
Caro put her hands on her hips. “Are you coming back?”