The Drifter's Promise

by Rita Hestand

  "You're kidding."

  "So help me God, I'm not."

  "Well hell's bells. Guess she won't be walking down the aisle with that Campbell."

  "Doesn't look like it. And it's a damned shame, he could really take care of her." Wes lowered his voice to melancholy now.

  "Well, that girl doesn't need to drink, that's for sure." Dickens shook his head. "She'll be sorry in the morning."

  "I don't think sorry is the right word." Wes said more seriously now. "At least not about what she said and did."

  "Why not?"

  "He pretty near insulted her. Like her first husband he wants to change her and make her a lady, and that's not going to happen. The one thing I gotta admire in her, is her spirit to be herself. It would seem that when she lost Jim, it opened up a whole new can of worms. Despite everything, Kate's going to be herself, and I can't blame her for that."

  "Well I'll be damned!" Dickens chuckled. "I never thought she'd be a little spitfire."

  "Yes, she's quite a lady unto herself." Wes nodded. "And only a spitfire when she drinks."

  Chapter Twenty

  The next day Kate woke up and started to get up when something hit her hard in the head. "Oh… " she cried.

  She tried again and this time she grabbed her head and moaned loudly. She laid back down. Her stomach roiled. The room spun, and she moaned aloud.

  Wes came into the room and smiled. "How you feeling?"

  "Oh… what happened?" she cried.

  "I told you to watch out for the punch." He chuckled.

  "You mean… oh my God! But it tasted so good."

  "Some punch does taste better with liquor in it. I forgot to tell you that too. It wasn't whiskey, it was either Gin or Vodka. Not as easy to tell with them."

  "It didn't smell… " she defended.

  She shaded her eyes from the bright sunlight drifting through the window.

  "Probably too much fruit in it to smell."

  "Can you pull the shade down?"

  "Sure," he smiled at her. "Here, it's a rag for your head. And I wouldn’t be making any sudden moves right now. Your head is gonna feel like it's coming off your shoulders. Your stomach won't feel much better. I can put a bucket next to your bed in case you get sick."

  "Maybe you should." She said softly.

  Then she asked him when he started to leave. "Did I make a spectacle of myself?" she asked peaking through her fingers at him.

  He chuckled, "Not at the dance, I don't think. But you let me have it, and then, you really gave it to the Smith boys."

  She tried to get up, but that hammer on her head made her slide back down into the covers.

  "What did I do to them?"

  "You cracked the whip and hit poor Hubert on the cheek."

  "Oh dear God. I didn't."

  "You did, honey. Big as brass."

  "What happened, were they mad?"

  "I think I persuaded them to go home."

  "Oh, oh dear. I made a complete fool of myself."

  "Well not to the charming rancher I don't think." He smiled, "If that makes you feel any better."

  "It doesn't. He's the one that caused all of this. The arrogant jackass."

  "That's pretty strong language." He chuckled.

  "He came down on you and Dickens too, and that's what really made me mad. He doesn't even know you and he was saying ugly things. And even Jim, and he's dead."

  "Really?" Wes' face sobered. "Well, I don't know the man very well."

  "Oh, is there anything I can take for this pounding in my head?" she groaned.

  "I'll get you something. But you stay in bed, or you will regret it."

  "I'm not moving an inch." She promised.

  So she'd taken up for him and Dickens. That was surprising in some ways. It endeared her to him too. Every day he found more reasons to like Kate Marley, and just the way she was, too!

  He fixed her a concoction of tomato juice a squirt of lemon and tobacco sauce. He threw in a raw egg and stirred it good. Then he took it to her.

  "You're not going to feel like doing anything today, so just relax and catch up on your sleep if you can. I'll bring you some books, but I doubt you'll feel like reading even." He promised.

  She caught his hand as he was leaving, "Wes," she called his name. He stopped and turned to look at her, "thanks."

  He grinned. "Dickens will be here most of the day to see to anything you might need."

  "I owe you both. Aren't you going to be here too?"

  "I got something to do, but I'll be back directly." He told her.

  She tried to nod, but it hurt too much.

  Wes told Dickens he'd given her an old remedy for a hangover. "Feeling pretty poorly, sounds like."

  "Oh yeah!" Wes smiled. "Look, I'm gonna run over to the Smith's and talk to them."

  "What for?"

  "Well, when I leave, I don't want to worry about them trying to get even with her. I'll make it as plain as I can, so they understand."

  "Are you leaving soon?"

  "Yeah, I've done all I can for now. I'll drop by when I can to make sure things are alright with the two of you, though." He told him.

  "I thought," Dickens paused, looking quite serious. "I really thought you had come to like her."

  Wes didn't want to get into this now, but he knew he'd have to convince Dickens that it would all be alright. He had some ideas now, and he intended to put them in action. If it worked out, things would straighten out. At least he hoped they would.

  If his plans didn't work out, then it's best he left now. Neither of them knew just how much he'd miss them, nor how much he cared for them. But it was time to change some things first.

  He rode over on his horse to the Smiths. The place was a mess. These people didn't take care of their property and it was a shame.

  Edward came out and stared at him. "What do you want?" he asked in an unfriendly tone.

  "I want to talk to you and your brothers." Wes said in a hard tone.

  "About what?"

  "About respecting the widow Marley." He said with a stiff upper lip.

  "Why, her old man ain't even cold in the grave and she's messing with you and that Campbell fella. Why should we miss out on a good thing?"

  "Because I plan to kill you if you touch a hair on her head, you or your brothers. Now do you understand me?" Wes asked.

  "Are you threatening me?"

  Hubert came out. "What's he doing here?"

  "He's threatening us."

  "What fer, she's the one that hit me!" Hubert yelled.

  "You see this gun?" Wes asked.

  "We see it. So—"

  "So, I'll use it on you if you ever hurt her or even think of hurting her. I want to be very clear boys."

  "She your woman?" Edward asked.

  "That's right, she's my woman."

  "Why does she call you her hired hand, then?" Hubert asked.

  "She's a widow woman, but mark my word on it, boys, she's my woman."

  Edward looked at Hubert. "I don't hold with what she did, but you comin' to face us and telling us so, that means something. I'll keep the others in line."

  Wes eyed him, then he stuck out his hand and shook on it. "I'll hold you to that promise. Alright boys, good day to you."

  They nodded.

  But he heard Hubert fuss at him.

  "I gave him my word Hubert, I meant it." Edward yelled. "He staked his claim, and that's the end of that."

  Satisfied he'd put the fear of God into those boys he rode home with a smile.

  He thought about leaving and he had to admit, he didn't want to, but he knew now he had to. There were some changes coming and he was making them. If he succeeded, he'd see them again. If not, they were better off without him.

  The good news was that for the first time in his life, he was going to change his whole attitude toward life. It was all due to Kate.

  He only hoped he could get back before it was too late.

  "Well, did it work?"

/>   Wes smiled at Dickens, "I think so. I told them in no uncertain terms I'd kill them if they touched her."

  "For goodness sakes, "They believed you?"

  "I think so. Besides, it wasn't an idle threat, Dickens. Once I'm gone, you have my permission to shoot them if they come near her. You hear me."

  "I hear you. But I sure wish you'd reconsider leaving. It's gonna upset her something awful."

  "I'll be back, good Lord willing." Wes told him.

  "When you gonna tell her?"

  "After she pays me."

  Dickens nodded. "Well, you know I think a lot of you Wesley and I hope you know what you are doing."

  "For the first time in my life, I do, Dickens. I really do. Don't worry if all goes well, things will work out, as you always say."

  "What if she ups and marries that rancher?" Dickens asked.

  "If she does, then that's how it will be, and you'll just have to accept it."

  "But can you?"

  "If that will make her happy, I can." He told him.

  A tear fell down Dickens cheek as he shook Wes' hand. He hated leaving Dickens too. But he knew what he had to do, and there was nothing left to say in the matter.

  But saying goodbye to Kate would be the hardest thing he'd ever done. And he dreaded it.

  He went into see her and she was sitting up with the rag on her head. "How are you feeling?"

  "A little better, not a lot.

  "Did you…?"

  "Yeah, a couple of times. I'm sorry."

  "No problem I'll empty it." He took the bucket with the cover on top and took it outside.

  Going to the pump he washed it out good and took it back to her.

  "Just in case you need it again."

  "Thanks. I guess I really made a fool of myself last night."

  "We all have our moments." He grinned.

  "I was going to the bank today, but I guess I'll put that off a day or two, do you mind?"

  "Nope, that's fine, whenever." He told her.

  "You're very understanding." Then she looked at him once more. "You're leaving, aren't you?" she asked her face paling as she said it.

  He turned to look at her. "Yeah, there's something I gotta do."

  "It can't wait?"

  "No, it can't wait. But if I'm successful, I'll be back."

  "Successful at what?" she asked.

  "I got some plans, and if it all works out, I'll be back." He told her.

  "You mean that?" she asked reaching for his hand.

  "I mean it."

  "Can you tell me about it?"

  "Not yet." He told her, with a solemn face.

  "I care for you Wes," she said softly almost in a whisper.

  "I know," he swallowed hard.

  "I guess I've been a bit too forward with you. I apologize." She added when he didn't say how he felt.

  "You've been you, Kate, and that's exactly how I like you, being you. Keep your chin up and maybe someday you'll ride down that Mississippi paddle boat."

  "Yeah," she felt tears coming on and needed to get him out of the room. "Maybe."

  "Don't give up your dreams Kate, for anyone or anything."

  She nodded, trying to blink the tears away.

  When he walked out of her bedroom, she was sure he'd be gone in a few days and it broke her heart.

  She turned her face into her pillow and cried. She was in love for the first time in her life, and he was leaving her. Had her scheme to make him jealous made him turn away? Had she gone too far? She was losing him. But what on earth could she do?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The next day she got up and got dressed, fixed breakfast as usual and they talked at the table like any normal day.

  "Your kind of dressed up, what's the occasion?" Wes asked.

  "Going to the bank today."

  "Are you going to be able to pay the mortgage?" Wes asked.

  "Yes, for another year."

  "That's great."

  "I couldn't have done it without you, Wes." She said, not looking at him.

  "I'm going with you into town and see if I can find someone who wants to work here." Wes told her.

  "Oh, well, okay. That would be nice. Come planting time I'll need some help if I don't sell the place."

  Wes stared at her hard, his heart pounding like a drum. He didn't want her selling the place, but then, she had every right to, if that was what she wanted to do.

  "Do you want to sell?" He asked her, coming toward her now.

  "No, of course not. But I'll need a good worker, one that can help me keep this place going." She insisted.

  "Then I'll get busy trying to find you some help."

  "Alright," she agreed.

  On the way into town, Wes rode with her, she was too tense to talk, her throat was still too full of tears. She didn't know how she'd be able to talk to the bank manager and not cry. But she was grown and on her own now and had to take care of things.

  "Want me to go in with you?" He asked.

  "No, I'll be fine." She said softly.

  "Okay, I'm gonna see if I can find someone."

  "Alright."

  She took care of the mortgage payment first then withdrew money enough to pay Wes for his help.

  "You did good this year, Kate." The bank President told her. "I hope you can continue to do so. Is your hired man staying on for the planting season?"

  "No, he's going to try to find me some help, as he's leaving soon."

  "Sorry to hear that. Well, there are a few men in town that could sure use a job. Here's a couple of names to check out."

  "Thank you, Mr. Mueller." She said swallowing the lump in her throat.

  "You take care, now." He smiled at her.

  Wes wasn't back by the time she finished so she went to a dress shop and looked about. She kept an eye out for Wes as she looked at the pretty dresses.

  Maybe she'd buy a dress to wear for the day Wes left. Maybe if she looked at this as a positive step, she'd feel better about him leaving.

  Trouble was, she gave him ample time to tell her how he felt, and he hadn't said much about it. She'd been a fool, as she knew this day would come. How could she have been so dense.

  Wes had done more than his fair share of the work. He'd killed the cat, and he'd got her crops in and found buyers for them. He delivered it all. She couldn't expect more than that.

  Still, all they shared, and after all this time, he was nothing more than a friend. She wished she'd never kissed him now. Because that told her so much about him. If she hadn't gotten so emotionally involved with him, she wouldn’t be feeling this way.

  Now she began to realize what he meant when he had told her about his true love. When she died, he gave up living.

  Still, that had been years ago, and hadn't he found anything worth living for since?

  Perhaps if she'd loved Jim, she'd have felt the same way when he died.

  She wasn't making much sense.

  The lady in the dress shop kept asking her if she could help her find something, but she wasn't interested in pretty dresses. Wes obviously didn't see her as anything, but a friend and she couldn't change that.

  She'd never had a friend like him. Never shared so much of herself with anyone before. Why did she have to pick him to share with? She knew he wouldn't stay.

  She spotted him walking down the boardwalk and went out to meet him.

  "Well, I'm through, are you?"

  "Yeah, I didn't get very far."

  "The bank manager gave me a couple of names. You want to go check them out really quick?"

  "Sure, why not." He encouraged. Something sounded so flat in his voice, as there was no excitement there. She missed the way he got excited about things. But today, he was simply indulging her.

  "We don't have to, if you don't want to." She told him.

  "One of them is right here in town. Come on, we'll see." He told her taking her elbow and directing her in the general direction.

  But the man wasn't home a
nd when he peaked in the bar, he stopped to ask for the man's name. The bartender pointed him to a man sitting alone at a table, with a half empty bottle of whiskey.

  Wes walked away from that one.

  Kate wanted to know why he didn't go talk to him.

  "Kate, he's a drunk. You don't need that kind of trouble."

  "I suppose," she said dejectedly.

  "Look, I'll hang around for a while and see if I can find anyone to help."

  "I don't want to impose on your time."

  "A week and then I'm gone." He told her.

  "A week," she sighed heavily. "Alright."

  They went home, but they were both very quiet.

  When she went inside, she began preparing the evening meal. Dickens was oiling his gun and he watched her fling things around in the kitchen.

  "Something wrong?" he asked.

  "No, nothing. Just trying to decide what to cook." She told him.

  He didn't believe that. "Did you see the banker?"

  "I did, and I've got Wes' money for him. I guess I should go give it to him." She told him.

  "I can do it, if you want me to."

  "No, I need to thank him for all he's done for me." Kate said, chewing on her lower lip.

  Wes was oiling his gun when she went into the barn. She hadn't gone to his little room before since he came. She didn't want to intrude, but she knocked on the door.

  "Come in, it's open." He hollered.

  He was washing up at the washbowl and he had his shirt off. It was the first time she'd ever seen him shirtless and it startled her a bit.

  "Uh…um… I came to pay you. I forgot." She dug the money out of her dress pocket and handed it to him.

  "Sure you can afford to pay me?" he asked with a slight smile as he turned toward her.

  She couldn't speak, she was looking at him and flustered.

  "Yes, of course. I came to thank you for all you've done for me and the place here." She said wishing she could be more sophisticated about this, but she couldn't.

  He stared at the money and reached for his shirt. Then when he still didn’t take it, she came closer. Any time you are nearby and want to make a little extra money, stop off and see us."