by Kit Morgan
He stretched his arms and patted his chest. “What the …” He reached into his shirt pocket. “Well I’ll be, I forgot about this.” He unfolded the piece of paper the odd little man had dropped the day he came to fetch his rooster. He still had no idea who the fellow was – he’d forgotten to ask any of the neighbors. And was the rooster the same one that showed up at the first poetry meeting? He didn’t go into town much and had only seen the creature the two times, plus heard a tale or two at Crowther’s over the last year. Some even thought it was a guardian angel.
Cooper shook his head. “People are fools,” he muttered as he stared at the paper. As usual, what he saw was broken and disjointed. But he was curious, and went into the kitchen where he kept some of the paper and pencils Hattie had given him. He sat at the table and remembered what Hattie had him do – draw what you see.
He drew a few lines, then tried to finish the letter the way she had. It was an H. So far, so good. But was it really an H, or had he finished it that way because Hattie did when she helped him?
He sighed in frustration. She’d never stay with a man like him. How could she? She’d pity him too much in the long run. She wanted – no, needed – his protection right now, and he wasn’t about to leave her defenseless. It was the least he could do after what she’d tried to do for him. He supposed he really should tell her what Tobias had said about “word blindness.”
He picked up the paper again and studied it. From what he could tell, it was just a few words, but he still couldn’t read them. He wanted to crumple the paper in his fist and toss it in the fire. He might as well – the odd little man had never come back. But he was still curious about it. He glanced at his bedroom door. Maybe he should have Hattie read it when she woke, just to make sure it wasn’t anything important. He moved to stuff the note back in his pocket.
But Cooper didn’t get the chance. His front door burst open, and he heard the clicks of multiple guns being cocked. Apparently he’d been dead wrong about rich men not wanting to ride in the rain …
Chapter Twelve
“Get his gun,” a man barked. He was tall, with long dark hair plastered against his slicker and a brooding look. Was this Hattie’s betrothed?
Another man, this one shorter and stouter, removed Cooper’s gun from his holster. He hadn’t had time to draw – he’d let his guard down studying that stupid note, which was still in his hand. He fought the urge to glance at the bedroom as he slowly turned, not wanting them to know she was in there. Hopefully Hattie had heard the intrusion, but the only way out from there was the door – the window didn’t open. “What do you want?” he asked as threateningly as he could.
The tall stranger looked him up and down. “Where is she?”
“What?” Cooper looked him up and down in return. He wasn’t dressed like some rich dandy. Maybe a hired gun? “Where’s who?”
“The woman – we know she’s here.” He studied the room. He had a deep voice, and Cooper wondered what part of the country he was from. He’d met folks from Boston and the Northeast, and this fellow didn’t have that accent.
Another man entered, this one wearing a fine coat and hat and carrying an umbrella. “That will be enough questions, Mr. Judrow,” he squeaked, with a hint of Irish brogue. “You brought us this far – I’ll take it from here.”
Cooper nodded to himself. So this was the betrothed. Good grief, Bart Sullivan even sounded like a dandy with that mousy voice. His looks were more rat than mouse – a long thin nose with a skinny mustache beneath, large ears were pushed away from his head by his bowler, a short skinny body. The only thing missing was a tail. Cooper tried not to smile. No wonder Hattie had made a run for it. He’d have done the same in her shoes.
“Well, you heard the man!” Bart yelped. “Where is she?”
Cooper did his best not to laugh.
“Where is she?!” he screeched. “Helping her won’t do you any good.” Bart tried to look smug, but it came off more like he was sniffing for cheese. “Besides, Hattie wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of you unless she was desperate.”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed. Would she be awake? How could she sleep through such a high-pitched outburst? Please stay in my room, Hattie, honey. Please.
Bart saw the paper in Cooper’s hand, marched up and snatched it away. He perused it and laughed. “What’s this?” He waved it under Cooper’s nose. “Writing down wishes? This proves you’ve seen her!”
Cooper swallowed hard. He still had no idea what the note said. He narrowed his eyes on the shorter man, playing for time. “So what if I did?”
“Stories, lies. You’re dreaming if you think she could ever love a man like you!”
Cooper’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Bart waved the paper in front of him again then held it still. “‘Hattie loves you,’” he said mockingly. “I’ve never read such nonsense. What were you doing, preparing to write it ten times and hoping it came true?”
Cooper froze. “Is that what it says?”
Bart tossed it at Mr. Judrow. It hit him in the chest and fell to the floor. “What’s the matter, can’t you read? Surely if you wrote it, then …” His expression turned to rage. “You can’t read, can you? Then if you didn’t write it …”
Cooper could only stare. Was the man joking? How could the note possibly say “Hattie loves you”?
“Hattie! Where are you?” Bart screamed. “Come out or I’ll have Judrow shoot this worthless hick!”
Much to Cooper’s dismay, the bedroom door opened and Hattie poked her head out. “Hello, Bart.”
Hattie stepped into the room, shaking like a leaf. She had to calm herself. There were two armed men with Bart. She saw another figure pass by the open front door, probably posted by Bart as a sentry. “What do you want?”
Bart’s jaw dropped. “What do I want? What do I WANT?!”
The tall man standing next to him arched an eyebrow, then rolled his eyes – a normal reaction when dealing with Bart. But he looked like trouble, and she feared for Cooper’s life. Bart was mean, very mean when he wanted to be. If he wanted to avoid a murder charge he’d have the tall man maim Cooper instead. The thought didn’t set well with her. “Get out.”
Cooper glanced between her and Bart. “Hattie …”
“Ha!” Bart squinted at them before his eyes popped wide. “You two? Oh, this is just too much!”
Hattie went to stand beside Cooper. She felt safe next to him, maybe even safe enough to tell Bart what she really thought of him. Not that it would do her much good, but it might be all the joy she could expect from this.
“Preacher, if you would do the honors?” Bart sneered.
That got her attention. “Preacher?”
“Allow me to introduce my companions, my dear.” He waved at the shorter man. “I picked up Parson Wilhelm outside of Denver. He was more than happy to accompany me after I made a substantial donation to his, um, church.”
The older man lifted his hat and grinned, showing several teeth missing.
“Granted, his ‘church’ consisted of a barn with a few pigs,” Bart went on. “But he still has a license and agreed to marry us for a fee.”
Hattie stared, dumbstruck. “You brought a preacher.”
Bart reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded paper. He unfolded it and showed it to her.
“A marriage license?” she squeaked almost as high as Bart.
“Once I caught you, I’d make sure you never escaped me again.” He turned to the tall man. “Mr. Judrow, tie him up,” he ordered, tossing his head at Cooper.
Hattie saw Cooper stiffen, his fists clenched. He wasn’t going to let it happen without a fight.
Bart must have caught it too. Quick as lightning, he grabbed Hattie by the arm and yanked her against him, putting a gun to her temple. She took a breath, her heart pounding so loud she was surprised she heard Bart’s next words: “I’ll kill her. I swear I will.”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed to slits as Bart’
s henchman Mr. Judrow shoved him into a chair, reached into his coat and pulled out a few lengths of rope.
“As you can see, I hire only the best,” Bart preened. “Mr. Judrow comes well prepared. He’s from a family of bounty hunters, the best money can buy.”
Mr. Judrow glared at him but finished his work.
Bart stood proudly as he released Hattie and shoved her at the preacher. “Now, if you please, I’d like to get married.”
“I won’t marry you!” Hattie cried. “Now stop this nonsense and go away!”
“Or what?” Bart laughed, waving the gun at their surroundings. “Is this dump your house?” He walked over to the discarded note on the floor and snatched it up. “And what about this?”
Hattie caught the look on Cooper’s face. Bart might as well be waving a poisonous snake. “What’s that?”
“I’ll tell you what it is! This buffoon fancies you’re in love with him!” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Or that’s what I thought, but from the looks of things, it appears he’s too stupid to read it.”
Cooper fought his bonds, eyes set to kill. If he hadn’t been tied up, Hattie was sure he’d attack Bart. But the bounty hunter would probably shoot him, so it was just as well.
“What about it?” Hattie cried. “And don’t call him stupid!”
“He is stupid!” Bart shot back. “Don’t tell me you wrote this!”
Now Hattie rolled her eyes. “Wrote what?”
He shoved the paper at her.
She took it. “Hattie loves you …” She looked at Cooper and smiled. “Did you?” Her smile faded. “But no, you couldn’t have.”
“Is it true?” Bart scoffed. The scruffy ‘preacher’ giggled.
Hattie glanced around the room and squared her shoulders. “Yes, if you must know, it is! I do love him!”
“What?” Cooper said, leaning toward her.
“He looks surprised,” Bart commented, grabbing her hand. “You’re a cold woman, Hattie, letting him think you love him.”
She wrenched her hand away. She’d never dared do that before, despite having a few inches on him. But his spell of fear was broken. “Let go of me! Besides, it’s true!”
Now Mr. Judrow looked at her. “What?”
She ignored him and got in Bart’s face. “I. Love. Him! And I’ll never love you, you little rodent!”
Cooper glanced between them. “Hattie?”
She shoved Bart away and ran to Cooper, falling to her knees when she reached his chair. “I do. You might not believe me, but I do!”
Cooper slowly smiled. “I love you too, honey.”
Bart grabbed her arm and unsuccessfully tried to yank her to her feet. “Enough of this! Mr. Judrow!”
Mr. Judrow, looking quite bored with the whole affair, sighed. “What now?”
“Torch this place. I’ll have my wedding in the barn.”
“What?” Hattie cried, struggling against him. “You can’t do that!”
“Oh can’t I?”
“Nope,” Mr. Judrow drawled. “You sure can’t.”
Bart froze. “Whaaaat?”
“It’s true I hunt people down. But I don’t hold to murder. Ain’t that right, Jeb?”
“That’s right, Atticus,” the sentry outside answered. “I ain’t never known ya to kill a man didn’t shoot at ya first.”
Bart growled. “You’ll do as you’re told!”
“Or what?” Atticus Judrow growled.
“Or, or …” Bart stammered, then put his gun against Hattie’s temple again. “I’ll shoot her.”
Judrow crossed his arms. “I thought you wanted to marry her.”
“Fine!” Bart snapped and aimed his gun at Cooper.
“No!” Hattie screamed just as something sped by her feet. She jerked in response, unsure of what it was.
Unfortunately for Bart, it became all too apparent. He screamed as it jumped on his head in a flurry of feathers and squawks. “Get it off!” Bart cried, waving his arms at the bird but failing to get hold of it. “Take her to the barn!” he managed.
The so-called preacher grabbed Hattie and tried to drag her to the door, but he was even smaller and thinner than Bart. She stood her ground and tried to break free, but the preacher had a grip like a vise …
CLANGGGG! Suddenly the preacher fell to the floor, boneless as an eel. Hattie looked up and smiled. “Oh, Mr. Dunst, thank God you’re here!”
Mr. Dunst stepped over the unconscious preacher, a cast-iron frying pan in his hand. He tucked it under his arm with a happy smile.
“Please,” she said. “You have to help us!”
But at that point, little help was needed. Bart was staggering all over the room, still trying to pry the squawking, flapping rooster off his head. His gun lay near his hired gun’s feet. Mr. Judrow still stood, arms crossed, smiling as he watched his employer’s suffering. He glanced at Hattie and Mr. Dunst with a polite nod. “Much obliged, Mister. This saves me from having to shoot the weasel. That’d be a bother.”
Hattie stood dumbfounded, then rushed to Cooper’s aid.
Mr. Judrow held up a hand. “Allow me, ma’am.” He pulled a huge knife from a sheath on his belt and cut Cooper’s bonds.
“Thanks,” Cooper told him.
Mr. Judrow waved at Bart, who was in a corner now whimpering as the rooster pecked at his face and scalp. “He’s all yours. Sorry about all the inconvenience. Hey, Jeb!”
Jeb poked his head in, then looked around in confusion. “How did that man and the rooster get in here?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Mr. Judrow grunted back as Cooper rubbed a wrist and strode over to Bart. The rooster scurried off just before Cooper punched Bart in the face, knocking him cold.
Mr. Judrow nodded approvingly. “Well, guess I’ll mosey along.” He turned to Hattie. “Mr. Sullivan there hired me in Denver – said you’d been abducted. Guess that ain’t the case, is it?”
“No.” She stepped into Cooper’s arms and gazed at him with concern. “I heard some of the things Bart said to you. You don’t believe him, do you?”
Cooper studied her. “Why is that important to you?”
She closed her eyes. “Because … some of it’s true.” She felt him stiffen against her. But she had to tell him the truth.
“You mean that you’d never have anything to do with the likes of me?”
She nodded. “I needed a job when I got to town, one that would keep me out of sight so I could hide from …” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.
“And that’s why you wanted to become my tutor.”
“Yes, at first.”
Mr. Judrow went to Bart, grabbed his coat and yanked him up one-handed. “Well, seeing as Jeb and I were hired under false pretenses, we get to keep our pay. And maybe we can get some extra for this sorry fool’s carcass.” He headed for the door, nodding again to Mr. Dunst as he passed by. “Get the horses ready, Jeb – we’ll take this fellow to the sheriff and see what obtains,” he called as he went outside.
Hattie watched him go, then looked into Cooper’s eyes. “Please, I do love you.”
Cooper kissed her without warning, and she wrapped her arms around his back, never wanting to let him go. But what if he thought she was still using him as a means to an end? Yes, she had at first and wasn’t proud of it, but that wasn’t the case now. Looking back, she was ashamed to admit she wasn’t much better than Bart and his ilk when she first came to Creede, only thinking of herself.
Cooper broke the kiss and stared at her. “What else haven’t you told me?”
She shook her head. “That’s it, that … I was using you at first.”
“So you said.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “And now?”
She swallowed and blurted, “I love you.”
He half-smiled. “Then what’s the problem?”
“Oh, Cooper, I’m so sorry!”
“You say that a lot. But if I hadn’t met you, I … well, I wouldn’t have the hope I have now.”
; She blinked at him a few times, tears in her eyes. “What?”
He nodded. “You believed in me. Oh, I could tell you didn’t at first, but then something changed. I could see it in your eyes, Hattie. You truly wanted to help me. You still do.”
“Yes, I do,” she said softly. “For a long time.”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He got down on one knee.
Mr. Dunst gasped in delight and clapped.
Hattie laughed as Cooper took her hands and held them tight. “Hattie Dodge, I’m not an educated man …”
“You’re one of the smartest men I know,” she interjected.
He gave her hands a squeeze, smiled and continued. “You know what I’m doing. But I’ve never proposed before. Be glad I don’t have to read it to you.”
She laughed as tears spilled down her face.
“You’d make me the happiest man in the world if you’d become my wife. Will you marry me?”
A groan caught their attention. The so-called preacher was getting up. Mr. Dunst raised the frying pan for another swing.
“Wait!” Cooper yelled. “We might need him in a minute!”
Mr. Dunst stood down and let the scraggy preacher clear his head.
“Uh, as I was saying …” Cooper looked up at Hattie. “So will you?”
She glanced around the cabin as the storm raged outside. A thunderclap sent her to her knees, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, oh yes!”
Mr. Dunst set the frying pan on the table with a clatter, drawing their attention. He picked up the rooster, looked the bird in the eye and said, “Now that, my friend, is how it’s done.” The rooster crowed. Then there was a flash of lightning and they both disappeared.
Cooper and Hattie stared, mouths agape. It was a while before either of them spoke, and then only because Mr. Judrow returned and grabbed the preacher. “Did … did you see anyone leave?” Hattie asked in a small voice.
“Nope. Should I have?”
She swallowed hard and looked at Cooper. “Did you see …?”