Tracks To Love (Birdsong Series)

by Alice Addy

  “It’ll be tough at first, but we’ll get by. I’ll find an honest job. I can earn money for us, darling. Don’t you worry about a thing. You just stay in here, where you’re safe, and I’ll take care of everything.”

  Eve knew Sam was crazy and it wasn’t safe for her to argue with him. She’d be smart and wait for the right opportunity to come along. She had to get away from him.

  “I’ll let you rest, now, Eve. But don’t worry. I’ll be back soon and I’ll bring you something to eat. I’ll bring you some pretty clothes, too. The others were covered in blood and I had to throw them out.” He paused, remembering undressing Eve for bed. “You’re more beautiful than I ever dreamed.” He turned and left Eve alone, in the sad little room.

  It was then Eve discovered that she was nude under the blanket. Her skin burned with indignation at the thought of him seeing her this way, and God knows what else he did while she was unconscious. She never knew she was capable of such unmitigated hatred for another human being . . . until now.

  *

  Several days elapsed and still Eve was nude. She had successfully wrapped a sheet around her, toga style, but seriously doubted Sam would ever see the need for her to be dressed. If she had to run out of the room in nothing but what she was born with, she’d do it, just to escape him.

  With the exception of her clothing, Sam had kept his word. He hadn’t had a thimbleful of whiskey since he’d hit Eve. He said he felt awful, but it was her fault. She’d forced his hand. He’d never let her sing again, but she didn’t need to know that just yet. He had toyed with the idea of loaning her out, at a very high price, but he wanted her for himself. In the end, he could not bring himself to let other men soil her, at any price.

  “Eve, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve brought you a dress. No underthings, but you really don’t need them, anyway. Get dressed and brush your hair. We’re going someplace special.”

  “Going? I’m leaving this room?” Eve could barely conceal her excitement. This was her chance. She was very careful not to spoil his good mood. “Yes, Sam. I’ll get dressed right now.”

  “Good.”

  Within twenty minutes, Eve was ready to leave her prison. She smiled up at Sam and asked, “Do I look all right, Sam?”

  Sam smiled with admiration. “Oh, honey. You look just like a proper young woman should. You’re absolutely beautiful. I hope you’ll be pleased with our little outing. Come on.” He grasped her hand and led her out into the bright sunshine.

  Eve had to force herself not to pull back from Sam’s hand. She needed to be very careful. As she looked around her, she was surprised to see that she had been staying in a little lean-to behind one of the worst saloons in town. She smirked, thinking that this is just the kind of place she always pictured Sam hiding in.

  The couple continued walking down toward the Paradise. It looked untouched since that horrible night. The beautiful window glass was still shattered and the doors were off their hinges. It was such a depressing sight.

  Finally, Sam pulled Eve into the nicest restaurant in that part of town. They served good food for a moderate price. He was quite pleased with himself.

  “Darling, let’s have a nice meal and then I’ll tell you my plans. They involve you and I hope they’ll make you happy.”

  “I’m sure they will. Thank you, Sam.” She smiled, gritting her teeth.

  The entire time they were eating, Eve kept watching for her chance to escape. She needed the sheriff or Ty or Whiskey to come walking in. She’d never be able to make her getaway entirely by herself.

  As the dessert arrived, accompanied by steaming, fresh cups of coffee, Sam proudly announced his long awaited news. “As soon as we’ve finished here, we’re going to the preacher’s and get married. I’ll be the happiest man in all of Hays City. I’ve got us a room at the Hays Hotel. Are you happy, sweetheart?” His eyes were shining with excitement—or madness—with Sam, it was impossible to know the difference. At last, his dreams were coming true. He knew Eve would be eager to marry him.

  “Are you completely out of your mind, Sam? You threaten me, you blind my horse, you beat me half to death, and you think I’ll marry you? You’re demented.” Her voice grew louder. “I hate you, Sam Garrison. You’re mean and evil, and I think you’re loco. No! I will never marry you. I don’t even want to be seen with you. I’m going to tell the sheriff what you’ve done to me, and I’ll have you put in jail.” She was on her feet now, and ready to flee, when Sam reached out and backhanded her, lifting her clear off her feet and causing her to fall across the next table.

  Two women were sitting there, and they screamed simultaneously. Men jumped to their feet and ran toward the man beating the little beauty. They grabbed him from behind, holding his fists, confining his movements. The sheriff came running in, alarmed at what he saw.

  “Sam, cain’t you stay out o’ trouble?” he asked. “Let him go, men. Thanks for yer help.” Turning to Eve, he asked, “You need a doctor, ma’am?”

  She shook her head.

  “What started all this?” he asked Eve.

  “Sam’s crazy, and he wants to force me into marrying him. I said no and he struck me. He has beaten me before and has kept me against my will. Arrest him, sheriff. I won’t be safe if he’s running around loose.”

  The old sheriff looked at Sam. “Is what she sayin’ true?”

  Sam looked to be in tears. “No, sheriff. Honest. I brought her here to give her a nice meal and ask her to marry me. You can ask anyone in the restaurant if we weren’t havin’ a nice time. They’ll all say we were. She finished dessert just before she went crazy. I love her, sheriff. I would never hurt my Eve.”

  “Oh, please. You’ve done nothing but hurt me. I want you gone.”

  The sheriff looked the young couple over and saw they were both well dressed and looked healthy and sober. He knew Sam had some problems, but what man didn’t? And it was a widely accepted notion that the love of a good woman had turned more than a few rascals around. “Now, now, little lady. It appears to me that this was nothin’ more than a lover’s spat. You women are prone to exaggerate things, from time to time. I suggest you give Sam another chance to make it up to you. Ever’thing will be just fine.”

  Turning to the diners he said, “Now you all go on with your eatin’. This ain’t nothin’ to concern yourselves with.” He tipped his hat to Sam and left the way he’d come in.

  One cowboy moseyed over to speak with Eve, privately. “Ma’am, I saw what happened, and I know what you say is true. Are you in danger from this varmint? If you are, I’ll invite him out into the street.” The look in his eyes and his hand on his sidearm, told her he was serious.

  “Thank you, sir, but I’ll be fine. He’s crazy, but he wouldn’t dare try anything, again. The lady with you is most lucky to have you as her escort, sir. You are a true gentleman.”

  He tipped his hat and returned to his table.

  Sam eyed the stranger as he held out his hand for Eve. “It seems I’m always forgiving you, Eve. Once again, I ask you to marry me, sweetheart. You won’t be sorry.” He sounded and looked completely sincere.

  Eve just stood there, glaring at this man. Was Sam as crazy as she thought he was, or was he incredibly shrewd? It made no difference. He didn’t fool her.

  “I’m closing the Paradise, for good. I’d rather muck out stalls at the livery stable than work with you, Sam Garrison. Now, get the hell out of my way!” She brushed past the stunned gambler, leaving him and everyone else in the dining room with their mouths hanging open.

  No one noticed the spurned man’s jaw locked tightly, or his fists tightly clenched in a death grip. They could not see the murderous look in his eyes. “I’ll get you for this . . . darling,” he muttered to himself.

  As Sam packed up his things from the Paradise, he decided not to leave the haughty bitch anything. He went through what was left of the saloon, taking anything and everything of value. It was really a shame that all his hard work had come to this. Year
s of planning and scheming had gone into the Paradise, and Sam couldn’t figure what went wrong? It had to be Eve’s fault. She always wanted him to fail, but why? He’d been good to her. He loved her. He would have married her—probably still would.

  All the money, which they had acquired since the re-opening, was stuffed in his pockets. A portion had been Frieda’s, but seeing as how Sam loved Eve, it was only right to use it for his own benefit. Looking around one last time, making sure he’d left nothing she could use, Sam felt a modicum of satisfaction.

  “See how you like living from hand to mouth . . . honey,” he snarled.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ty was terrified when he rode into town and saw the Paradise closed and shuttered. It was obvious to him that it had been abandoned after sustaining a lot of damage. He rode around back to see if the private entrance was still being used, but it too, had been bolted and boarded over. Ty rode to the Feed and Grain, hoping to gain some information.

  “I’m afraid I can’t help you none, son. I only came to town about a week ago and I don’t know any Eve. When I arrived in Hays, that old saloon was just as you see it, now. Sorry, I don’t know more.”

  Ty jumped on his horse and raced down the street to the sheriff’s office. Throwing open the door, Ty hollered, “Where is she, sheriff? Where’s Eve Birdsong?”

  “Calm yourself, Ty. She’s just fine . . . for an insane woman.” The crusty old sheriff did not look too kindly on the way this flighty young woman had treated her fiancé. “She’s working at the livery, muckin’ out stalls. Sam offered her ever’thing a woman could ever want, and she’s shovelin’ horse manure, instead. Hell, she even demanded I arrest him. Said he was threatenin’ her. She’s plum foolish, that one.”

  “Thanks!” Ty growled, as he turned to leave.

  “Wait, son. Just what’s yer interest in that filly? She’s engaged to another man and I won’t have you causin’ trouble.”

  Ty looked at the sheriff, not believing what he was hearing. “She’s engaged alright—to me! She’s scared of Sam Garrison and she has every right to be. And get this straight, old man . . . next time she asks you for help, you damn well better give it, or you’ll answer to me and my colt.” Ty stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

  Once again, Ty and his horse were speeding down the main street of town toward the livery stables. He couldn’t believe his delicate little woman was working there. Before his horse had come to a full stop, Ty swung down and ran inside the dark and cool interior of the stable. It looked to be empty.

  “Eve . . . Eve, are you in here?” he shouted. Slowly, he walked toward the rear of the old barn and peered into the last stall, and there, he found her.

  Wearing men’s pants and a flannel shirt, with her shiny hair pulled up under a dirty Stetson, she was almost unrecognizable as a woman . . . almost. Ty had never before seen trousers filled out in such a mouth-watering manner. Her round little bottom and curvy hips gave away her gender. With slim legs, as long as a colt’s, and a waist that was incredibly tiny, she was more alluring than ever. Her lush, ripe breasts strained against the well-worn fabric of the old, plaid shirt, attempting to burst free from their constraints. Ty couldn’t tear his eyes away from the copper-haired enchantress in the tight dungarees.

  “Thank God, you’re safe!” he exclaimed, after he found his voice.

  Startled, Eve stood up and stared directly at the handsome cowboy. Recognizing him, she stiffened her back, refusing to let him see how pleased she was that he’d finally returned.

  “Hello, Mr. Fenton,” she said icily. “You leaving a horse?”

  “What’s wrong Eve? Aren’t you happy to see me?” Ty asked, innocently.

  “I might have been happy to see you—two months ago. You’ve been away two whole months! A lot has happened since then, Mr. Fenton, and I’ve decided I don’t need you anymore. Go away!”

  “Eve, you can’t mean that. I told Lisette to tell you that I had to leave, but that I’d be back as soon as I could. I kept my word. I returned for Frieda’s funeral, though you didn’t notice. I’m here, now, Eve.”

  “Good for you, Ty. Go tell Lisette that you kept your word. Oh yes—that is—if you can find her. She took off. So did Laurie and Meredith. You left me alone with Sam Garrison! You bastard!” Eve tossed the pitchfork, she’d been holding, and deliberately kicked the slop bucket over onto Ty’s clean boots and pants legs.

  He jumped too late, but the wet, smelly mess creeping up his leg, was the least of his worries. Ty couldn’t believe what she was saying. “You mean to tell me you were here, alone—with Sam? Where’s Whiskey? Where’s Bo?”

  She laughed bitterly. “Isn’t that what I said? Whiskey just abandoned me. No one knows where he’s gone off. Might be dead, for all I know. Bo’s probably dead, as well. I think Sam killed Frieda, though I can’t prove it. Just like I can’t prove he blinded Ringo. But I can prove that he beat me senseless and then kept me naked for days, while he waited for my face to heal up, so he could take me out in public. Of course, when I told the sheriff, I was scolded and told to be good and be grateful to my intended.”

  Eve retrieved the pitchfork and stuck it perilously close to Ty’s foot. “I don’t need a man, and I certainly do not need you!” She turned her back on Ty and went back to tossing the clean straw around the floor of the stall.

  “I’ll kill him.” Ty hissed, just before he bolted out of the stables.

  Ty had visited every saloon and whorehouse in Hays City, and Sam was nowhere to be found. No one knew where the gambler stayed or anything about his private life. They saw him, when they saw him. Either they really didn’t know where he hid, or they were all gifted liars. Probably a little of both, Ty thought. It made no difference, as he vowed not to rest until he faced the bastard in the street, once and for all.

  It was just short of midnight, and Ty was on his way back to the livery stable to board his horse, when a low, cold voice beckoned him from the shadows. “Lookin’ for me, cowboy?” Sam stepped out into the light.

  “You son of a bitch! I know what you did to Eve, and I’m gonna kill you for it. Come out into the street, Garrison.” Ty was calm and deadly serious.

  “Sure, son. Let me tie down my pistol.”

  Then, in true Sam Garrison style, he flipped the gun and fired at Ty. The young man got off a shot, but not before the gambler’s bullet found Ty’s shoulder.

  As he stood in the street with his life-giving blood running down his arm, Ty was helpless to stop Sam from riding off. He tried to fight the impending darkness, but with every beat of his heart it drew nearer. It was as if anvils weighted his eyelids, making it impossible for him to keep them open. The brown Kansas dirt beneath his boots began to swirl and mix with the dark red blood pooling at his feet, creating a thick, sticky mud. He’d failed to avenge Eve and now . . . it was over. It was too late. He crumpled to his knees and sobbed one last time.

  “I heard shots. I think they came from over there, sheriff.” An older man pointed to the darkened side of the street. “There’s a body,” he hollered.

  The sheriff ran to the spot the old man had indicated, and sure enough, there was a corpse. He bent over the quiet body and recognizing the face, he cussed “Damn, foolish kid. Went and got his self killed after I told him to give it up.”

  He looked around and saw the older gentleman. “You, there. Hightail it over to the livery stable and see if there’s a young woman workin’ there. Name’s Eve. Tell her to come here as soon as she can. Tell her Ty is dead.”

  As it so happens, Eve wasn’t at the livery. She, too, had heard the gunshots and had headed toward the shadows where a crowd was starting to gather. Just as she arrived, she heard the sheriff say Ty was dead.

  “Oh, no,” she screamed, as her legs turned boneless and she melted into a small heap upon the ground.

  “A little lady’s fainted, over here. She might need help,” a stranger yelled.

  Ty took a deep breath and tried to sit up. “Is
that Eve?”

  The sheriff jumped back, startled. “Well, I’ll be damned. You ain’t dead after all. Guess that bullet missed yer heart, huh? Looks like it went clean through. That’s always best. But you sure lost a lot of blood. Hell, I’m standing in a river of it.”

  “Never mind me. Is that Eve?” Ty gasped.

  “Don’t rightly know. It looks like some little boy, from here. He’s wearin’ trousers and a plaid shirt.” The sheriff looked around for someone to go over and get some information. “Is that a real purty woman over there or just some kid?”

  “Prettiest one I ever did see, sheriff,” answered a voice in the crowd.

  Ty tried to get up. “It’s Eve.”

  No sooner had he sat up, than Ty quickly started to slide back down to the ground. His eyes would not stay focused, no matter how hard he fought. His last words were for her. “Forgive me.”

  * * *

  A week later, the people, of Hays City, had finally stopped talking about the shoot out in the street that had nearly killed the nice young cowboy and had left the pretty lady confused. Ty had been very lucky, as the bullet passed dangerously close to his heart. He was on the mend, and the sheriff had Sam Garrison locked up in his custody for the attempted murder. But Eve was sleeping in the stalls. She wasn’t doing as well as Ty. Her mind would not focus. It had all been just too much for her to process. Too many tragedies had left her mind in disarray, and people were whispering about it. It was terribly sad, but they surmised she had gone mad.

  She would come by and sit with Ty, but she never uttered a word. She never smiled or cried. She never reached out to touch his hand, nor did she allow him to touch her. Eve just continued to sit. Sometimes she could be found sitting in the dirt, staring at the old Six Gun.