She hesitated and bit her lower lip.
There was some sort of fear in her, at least Waco thought so. “Look, it’s a little early, but those train rides can get you pretty hungry. Be proud to have you go down with me. We’ll have an early supper or late lunch. Whichever.”
“Oh, I am hungry, but it would be a bother.”
“No bother at all. Come along.”
The restaurant was only a quarter full. Waco pulled a chair out, and when she sat down, he moved across from her.
A woman came up and said, “Hello, Waco, what can I get you?”
“What’s good today?”
“Got some good beef.”
“Bring us some of that and any vegetables you can find. That suit you, Miss Malone?”
“It sounds wonderful.”
The woman moved away, and Waco managed to make small talk as they were waiting. The meal came, and she ate hungrily. Waco, who was always hungry, downed his meal quickly.
Finally Alice seemed to be troubled about something and said, “I don’t know exactly what to do, Mr. Smith.”
“Waco’s fine, ma’am. What do you mean you don’t know what to do?”
“Well, I was living with my sister and her husband. They have a large family and a small house, so I felt like I needed to give them some freedom. I have another aunt that lives here. I need to find her. She invited me once to come and stay with her, but I haven’t talked to her in some time. I’m just a little bit nervous.”
“Well, be good to have you here. What’s your aunt’s name?”
“Bessell Gilbert.”
“Don’t know the lady, but we’ll find her.”
After they finished their meal, Bessell Gilbert turned out to be easy enough to find. At least her house was.
Sheriff Satterfield had been their source. When the two had found him in his office, he was slapping flies with the swatter, but he rose at once and nodded when Waco introduced Alice.
“My aunt’s name is Bessell Gilbert. Do you know her, Sheriff?”
“Yes, I do, but I’m sorry to tell you she’s not here.”
Dismay swept across Alice’s face. “I haven’t heard from her. I wanted to come and stay with her. I really don’t have any other place to go.”
“Well, we’ll find something. She got married and moved away out to Kansas somewhere. Perhaps we can find her.”
“That won’t do any good, I’m afraid,” Alice said. “If she’s not here, I’m sure she’s sold her house.”
“Yes, she did, and folks are living in it now.”
“Come along. We’ll figure out something,” Waco said. “Let’s go down and sit on the bench and watch the old Arkansas River flow by.”
She did not answer, and he saw that she was upset. He himself had never had such a problem, and he felt an urge somehow to help her. “Here. Sit on one of those benches there, and we’ll watch the steamboats.”
Alice sat down, and he sat beside her. She was quiet for a long time.
Waco did not know how to handle the situation, but he felt that somehow she had to have help. “I’ll tell you what. We’ll find you a place to stay, and then you can decide what to do.”
“I—I don’t have very much money.”
“We can probably find you a place with low rent. Don’t let it worry you. Things like this always look bad when you’re in the middle of them.” The two sat there, and Waco spoke to her as cheerfully as he knew how.
Finally she rose and said, “I’m tired. I think I need to rest.” Waco stood beside her, and she turned to look at the river. A steamboat was making its way up the stream, and she watched until it moved around the bend. “I’m really afraid. I’ve never had to really take care of myself in a situation like this.”
“If you want to work, I’m sure we can find something for you to do.”
She did not answer, but he saw that tears were in her eyes. She began to tremble.
Waco put his arms around her, drew her close, and said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you’re all right.”
Alice did not move. She was looking at him with her face lifted, her lips motionless. The fragrance of her hair touched his senses. He saw the quick rise and fall of her bosom, and then an impulse took him. He drew her closer, bent his head, and kissed her.
He’d had little enough experience with a woman of this nature. Most of his women friends were rougher, but as she lay in his arms in an attitude of trust, he felt a sweetness and a richness that filled the empty places in him and allowed him for this short fragment of time to know what completeness could be. The best of life suddenly took him, but a sadness came, for he knew this would soon pass away.
She lay quietly in his arms, the rhythm of her breathing growing calmer. “I shouldn’t have let you kiss me.”
“Not your fault. Men are pretty selfish.”
“You’re not, Waco.” She smiled suddenly, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped away the tears. “Take me to my room, please.”
He walked with her to the hotel and left her there, but she turned at the foot of the stairs and gave him a sweet smile. “Will I see you again?”
“Why don’t we have breakfast? I’ll come to call for you at the hotel.”
“That would be nice. Good night, and thanks for helping me.”
Waco nodded, put on his hat, and left the hotel. He went back to the hardware store where he and Will had made a temporary bedroom to serve until they could do better.
He found Will sitting at the table eating something from a bowl. “Have some of this stew. Not bad.”
“I’ve already eaten.”
Will looked up. “Why’d you do that?”
A sharp, uncomfortable feeling touched Waco as he told how he had met the young woman. “Will, you know all the businessmen in town. She’s got to find something to do. We’ve got to help her.”
Will held the spoon in his right hand, looked at it for a moment, and then said, “I don’t know the lady, but I know you. Be careful, Waco.”
Waco stared at him. “Be careful about what?”
“Well, you’ve had some experience with another kind of woman. This one is apparently different. You’d be right for the plucking.”
“She’s not that kind.”
Will Barton smiled faintly. There was a doubt in his eyes, and he said, “They are all that kind sooner or later. Just be careful.”
“Sure. But she’s not that kind.”
CHAPTER 2
Will Barton walked to the sheriff’s office.
Micah Satterfield sat in one of the rockers in front of his office reading a week-old paper. The news displeased him, evidenced by the creases along his forehead. With a twisted mouth he muttered, “The Yankees are going to get us. Ain’t no doubt about that.” He continued reading the paper, but a movement caught his eye and he looked up at the man who had approached. “Hello, Will. What brings you to my office today?”
Will Barton nodded to the sheriff. “I wanted to talk to you about something that’s got me pretty worried. Are you gonna put a special guard on the bank, Chief?”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Well, the First State Bank over at Jonesboro was robbed. That’s not too far from here. We might be next. I don’t want a bunch of outlaws to be getting the money I worked so hard for.”
“Don’t worry about it, Will. The thieves didn’t get much over at Jonesboro if what I hear is true. Sheriff Conners has got a posse out running them down.”
“Well, can’t be too careful.” Barton leaned up against the post and glanced at the paper in the sheriff’s hand. “Not good news about the war, is it?”
“There ain’t no war left, son. It’s just a matter of survival, and the Confederacy won’t do that very long.”
“I’ll be glad when it’s all over. I wish we had never got into it.”
“So do a bunch of grievin’ widow women and men, too.”
The two chatted about the war; both of them, like many Souther
ners, had practically given up on the Cause. Finally Satterfield folded his paper and tossed it into the chair next to his. “What’s going on with Waco and that woman that come to town?”
“I never saw a man so dazzled by a woman,” Will said sourly. “I thought Waco was a pretty steady man, but he’s not. She’s been here a month, and Waco just acts like a man bewitched. He’d run into a fence post if she was close.”
“Well, you reckon he’s going to marry her?”
“Might be, but I’d hate to see it.”
“Don’t you like the woman?”
“She’s the wrong woman for him.” Barton shrugged his shoulders. “They’re different. She’s a city woman. Waco doesn’t know anything but horses.”
“Well, he’s learning the hardware business. That’ll make him a city man.”
“I don’t think he’ll ever become a city man. He does what I tell him, but he’s not really got what it takes to make money.”
“Well, you do, so I guess he’ll be the strong back, and you can be the sharp mind.”
“I don’t think it’s exactly like that. I’ll see you later, Chief. You be sure you keep an eye on that bank.”
“I’ll take care of it, Will.”
Stepping up out of the dust of the street onto the wooden plank sidewalk, Waco glanced up at the sign that said THOMAS’S JEWELRY STORE. He hesitated for a moment and shook his head. Then, taking a deep breath, he walked across the sidewalk and entered the store. It only took him ten minutes to make his purchase and exit the store. When he stepped onto the sidewalk again, he was still confused. He walked along until he approached the sheriff, who was, as usual, sitting in the rocker outside his office. “Hello, Micah.”
“Hey, Waco. Say, I been meaning to talk to you. It might be a good time.” Satterfield leaned forward, spat out an amber stream of tobacco juice on the floor, stared at it thoughtfully, then shrugged. “I’ve been needin’ a new mount. You know horses, son. I want you to look at that stallion that Bill Green wants to sell.”
“Already seen him. He’s a fine horse. Can’t go wrong with him.” The two men talked about the virtues of the horse in question. Waco realized he knew more about horses than any other man in Little Rock, or in Arkansas for that matter. It was his strong point. Finally Waco glanced down at the newspaper. “What’s the latest news?”
“Did you hear about Cold Harbor?”
“No. What’s that?”
“Why, it’s a place, son. Been a big battle there.”
“I don’t really keep up with the war. Just hopin’ it’ll be over soon,” Waco remarked.
“Well, this was a bad one for the Yankees. Grant’s followin’ Lee’s army all the way to Richmond, I reckon. He caught up with him at Cold Harbor.”
“Is that pretty close to Richmond?”
“Not far. That’s what Grant’s aimin’ for.” A look of satisfaction swept across the sheriff’s craggy face. “But Grant got more than he was askin’ for this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lee beat him to Cold Harbor and got his men in an entrenched position. They was just lyin’ there waitin’ behind them trees and rocks. Grant always thinks he can lick Lee anytime he can catch up with him. Well, he caught up with him, but he wished they hadn’t! He sent his whole army in, but General Lee was in an impregnable defensive spot. Paper says seven thousand Union soldiers were killed in less than an hour. They’re calling him ‘Butcher’ Grant now.”
“I guess that’s the kind of man the North needed.”
“Guess he is. He can lose four men to our one, but if he loses a thousand men, he just sends word back to Lincoln and asks for a thousand more. Lincoln reaches out and makes a call to one of the states, and they send a thousand men without even thinking about it. Every time we lose a man it leaves a gap. No one to fill his place.”
Sheriff Satterfield studied Waco’s face and finally asked, “How’s that Alice girl you been courtin’?”
Waco shot a quick glance at the sheriff. He had taken considerable ribbing about his courtship of Alice. “She’s doing fine.”
“How’s it working out her working there in the hardware store with you and Will?”
“She’s doing fine. She didn’t know much about hardware, but then I don’t either. She’s smarter than I am though. She’s learned all the prices, and Will’s satisfied with her.”
“I’m surprised that Will would let a woman work in the store.”
“Well, I had to keep after him, but he finally caved in.”
Waco shifted from one foot to another.
“What’s the matter, son?”
“Well, I guess I’ve got a problem, Chief.”
“You want some advice? I’m mighty free with that.”
Waco grinned. “I guess I do.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He lifted the lid and said, “I just bought this ring.”
“Why, that’s a right fancy article,” Micah said. “I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s for Miss Alice.”
“Yes, but I’m not sure I ought to give it to her.”
“Why not?” Micah asked with some surprise.
“Well, I bought it for an engagement but to tell the truth, I’m feeling pretty shaky.”
“It don’t take much advice here. You love that gal, don’t ya?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure she cares for me.”
Micah chuckled. “Take a run at it, son. Marry that girl. Get you a house full of kids and settle down.”
Waco was not quite satisfied with Micah’s advice. He looked at the ring for a long time, closed the lid, and then put it back in his pocket. “Doesn’t seem right to get married with this war still going on.”
“Well, it’ll be over soon. Everybody knows that.”
“Yes, but what’ll happen to the South then?” Waco demanded. A stubborn look crossed his face, and he added, “The Yankees will come down here and tell us how to do everything. They’re going to make life tough on us Rebels.”
“There’s always something to wait on, Waco. There ain’t never a perfect time to get married or do anything else. If you love that gal, then grab her and tell her so and get hitched.”
Waco suddenly smiled. His broad lips turned upward at the edges, and he said, “Well, that’s just what I aim to do, Micah. Thanks for your advice.”
Waco moved away, walking down the sidewalk rapidly, now sure of his decision.
Waco and Alice were walking along in front of the Olympic Theater. They stopped to look at a bill outside. A heavy rain had fallen earlier, and the smell of more rain was in the air, which carried the spongy odors of spring. The violent rain had stopped, but the stubborn clouds rolled overhead like huge waves from a rough sea breaker. It was late in the afternoon. There was little light in the day, and lights were shining up and down Front Street as the two paused and looked at the poster.
MINSTRELSY, BURLESQUE, EXTRAVAGANZAS,
ETHIOPIAN ECCENTRICITIES.
Nothing to offend ladies or children, for all are done in the most sensitive taste.
Tickets fifty cents. Orchestra chairs one dollar.
Boxes three dollars.
Alice stared at the sign and then turned to face Waco asking, “What’s an Ethiopian eccentricity?”
“I don’t have no idea. You want to go in and find out?”
“It might be fun.”
“It’s early yet. Let’s go. Maybe we can get something to eat later.”
“All right.”
Waco paid a little shriveled-up woman with bright black eyes the admission fee, and the two went inside. The room was filled with stale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Their seats were halfway to the stage. The show started almost at once, and they found it mildly amusing.
When it was over they left, and Waco said, “I reckon I could get along without seeing something like that every night.”
“Oh, I think it was fun. I still don’t know what an Ethiopian eccentricity is though.”
<
br /> The two walked down Front Street until they got to the Royal Café. They went inside.
A heavyset waitress with stains on her apron said, “What can I get you folks?”
“How about some roast beef?” Waco asked.
“Nope. Special is pork tonight. We got pork chops and pork ribs and pork roast.”
“I’d like to try the ribs,” Alice said. “I always like pork ribs.”
“I’ll have the same. Bring us some vegetables if you got any.”
The two sat there talking about the show while the heavy waitress moved away.
Waco was nervous, which Alice noticed, and she asked, “Is something bothering you, Waco?”
“Why, no. Not really.” He searched his mind for something to say. He finally said quickly, “I don’t know much about you. Do you have much family?”
“No, I don’t have any parents. My father was a gambler, but my mother didn’t like that. My father left when I was only ten. Mother had to work hard to provide for the two of us.”
“What did she work at?”
“Oh, whatever she could find. She was a good seamstress and did that for a while. We moved around a lot.”
Waco picked up one of the ribs. Chewing thoughtfully, he swallowed and said, “What about sweethearts? You have a lot of them?”
A smile came to Alice’s lips. “I’m not supposed to tell about things like that, am I?”
“Oh, you can tell me.” He studied her carefully.
She seemed to have a spirit glowing in her that showed self-sufficiency. But at the same time she always seemed on guard. She was a beautiful and robust woman with a woman’s soft depth that could scarcely conceal a woman’s fire. Alice’s face in habitual response had an expression that stirred Waco. Finally he found himself trying to find a name for what it is. It was something like the gravity that comes when someone has seen too much, like the shadow of hidden sadness. There was also some sort of strength in her. She seemed to be the kind of woman who could, if necessary, draw a revolver and shoot a man down and not go to pieces afterward. She was past her first youth, but there was a beauty about her that drew him as no woman ever had.
The Western Justice Trilogy Page 26