Glorious (31 page)

Mulkins looked uncomfortable. “There's merit in what both of you say. Why don't we just set up as best we can for the governor's visit and see what transpires? Four days isn't long to prepare. We'll need bunting to drape over the doors and on the fences. I'll want some new pillows and sheets—best take myself to Florence on today's stage to select the finest. C.M., will you take care of the hotel in my absence? Mr. Jesse has my best room—will you ask him if he'll double up with one of his employees so we can have it for the governor? The floors will need to be thoroughly scrubbed. Mr. Jesse does dribble more than his share of tobacco juice. There's just so much to do. . . .”

McLendon, disgusted, stalked back to the jail and told Saint about the governor's pending visit and the unexpected reactions of the mayor and Mulkins to the news. “I guess I can understand Mayor Rogers going all goggle-eyed—at heart he's mostly an opportunist. But Major? I thought he had more sense.”

“Try to understand,” Saint said. “Mulkins and the mayor want so badly to make successes of themselves. For them, the chance to cozy up to the governor might well be their equivalent of a big silver strike. He's about as likely to go partners with them as he is to believe what we have to say about MacPherson. What will we tell him? That
Culloden vaqueros are pretending to be Apaches, and slaughter people so their boss can take over all the businesses in town? Do you really think Governor Safford is going to believe that?”

“I have some ability in the way of persuasion.”

“Yes, so I understand. I agree that we should try. At some point you can share our suspicions with the governor. As for me, Hunky-Dory Holmes is likely to be in the governor's traveling party, and I'll bring up MacPherson to him. They'll likely laugh us off, but the attempt must be made. For now, go see the Major off on the stage to Florence. Wish him a successful journey. It doesn't hurt you any to let him feel hopeful.”

•   •   •

T
HE NEXT MORNING,
when McLendon walked Mulkins to the Florence stage in front of the renamed MacPherson Livery, they saw another passenger. Ella, a cloth carryall in hand, stood by the carriage.

“Treating yourself to a day or two of recreation in Florence, Miss Ella?” Mulkins asked. “You're a young lady who's certainly earned herself some time off, no disrespect intended.”

“I'm leaving for good,” Ella said. “As it happens, I've secured my passage home to England.” Though she was answering the hotel owner, Ella looked past him at McLendon, who thought she seemed distressed for someone who had achieved a long-sought goal.

Mulkins didn't notice. “George and Mary never mentioned this.”

Still looking at McLendon, Ella said, “I only informed them this morning. I have no liking for extended farewells.”

McLendon said, “I wish you well, Ella. It was a pleasure to know you, and I hope that you have a happy life.”

She seemed suddenly on the verge of tears. “Thank you. I wish you the same.”

Mulkins gallantly helped Ella up into the stage carriage. McLendon swung the door shut behind them. The driver cracked his whip over the heads of the mule team and the stage lurched forward. Mulkins leaned out the window to wave; McLendon saw that Ella, sitting opposite him, had her face buried in her hands.
She's sorry to leave,
he thought.
Maybe she cared about me more than I knew.

Later, in the Owaysis, McLendon asked Mary Somebody why Girl was acting so mopey.

“She's distraught over Ella's departure,” Mary said. “I myself find it inconvenient. A little notice so that we could have brought in a replacement would have been appreciated.”

McLendon swallowed some beer. Over the months in Glorious, he'd come to savor the warm, bitter brew. “Weren't you aware that she would leave just as soon as she had enough money saved for passage back to England?”

“That's the thing of it—she hadn't. I held the money for her, and the total was just under three hundred dollars, which would get her to New York but not across the Atlantic, unless she's a prodigious swimmer.”

“Wait,” McLendon said. “I met her as she was about to board the stage, and she said that she had the money she needed to get home.”

Mary shook her head. “She's got her pride, don't she?”

“So why did she leave before she had enough money? Wasn't her purpose in whoring to secure the necessary finances for returning home?”

“Oh, it's something I doubt a man can understand,” Mary said. “For whores with any spark of spirit remaining, there arrives a time when you just can't keep on spreading your legs on demand. It comes sooner to some than to others. I expect that as much as she longed for
England, Ella couldn't make herself do it anymore. God bless and good luck to her, wherever she may go.”

“Amen to that,” McLendon said, and raised his glass in a toast.

•   •   •

W
HEN
M
AJOR
M
ULKINS
returned Monday on the Florence stage, he brought an update on the governor's visit. Safford would arrive in Glorious the next day by buckboard, accompanied by an honor guard led by Deputy U.S. Marshal Hunky-Dory Holmes. The party would come in tandem with the daily stage, which would leave for Glorious several hours earlier than usual. Upon arrival, the governor hoped to meet leading town citizens and also visit the Sears and Sons excavation site. He would stay overnight and return to Tucson the next day.

“It's the talk of Florence,” Mulkins reported. “I believe a good many residents there are considering a move out here to Glorious. There's no limit to what we may achieve. Given a few years, we might very well replace Tucson as the territorial capital.”

Much of Monday was spent preparing the town for the governor's arrival. Mulkins brought back several bolts of red, white, and blue bunting. Gabrielle and Rose Rogers took charge of draping the decorations over doorways and windowsills and even hitching posts. The usual strong winds cooperated by dwindling to gentle though still dusty zephyrs. All feral cats were gathered and set loose in the Elite, lest a stray rat remain to spoil the governor's sleep in Mulkins's best room, which was amiably vacated by Mr. Jesse. Mulkins remade the bed with smooth new sheets; he claimed that they cost him three dollars in a Florence general store. After the governor left town, Mulkins mused, he might cut the sheets into small squares and sell the squares for two bits apiece to those desiring souvenirs of the historic visit.

At the Owaysis, Mary Somebody counseled Sally and Abigail, the remaining whores, on proper conduct in the governor's presence. They were to wear high-necked dresses, fetch promptly any drinks that he and his entourage required, neither swear nor spit, and, above all, not mention available sexual services unless the governor asked first.

“It's unlikely that he will, but you never know,” Mary said. “Despite the title and all, he's still a man. And should he request a tumble, inform him promptly that there'll be no charge, as he's a guest of the saloon.”

•   •   •

M
AYOR
R
OGERS
called a town meeting in the Owaysis on Monday night. Most of the prospectors were more interested in drinking than in talking about how to impress the governor. Rogers had trouble quieting them down. Then Gabrielle, who was attending along with her father, requested silence and the men immediately complied.

“Now, folks, tomorrow is the most important day in the history of Glorious,” Rogers said. “We want Governor Safford to leave here eager to tell all his businessman friends that this is the place to come to and invest. He must feel welcome. To that end, let's have everyone in a big cheering crowd when he and his party arrive tomorrow afternoon, which I expect will be around two o'clock, since they're departing Florence before dawn.”

“At two tomorrow afternoon, most of us will be busting rock,” Bossman Wright interrupted. “Damned if I'm going to be standing around waiting on a governor while everybody else is out finding silver.”

“That's a valid point, Bossman, and so no one gains unfair advantage, I'm asking everyone to refrain from prospecting tomorrow,” the mayor announced. There was a chorus of groans and boos. “It's a
sacrifice, sure, but it's for the good of the community as a whole. We need to convince the governor that we're just the dandiest, most promising town in the entire territory.”

“And while you wait, I'm going to dish out complimentary biscuit-and-bacon sandwiches for all, and George and Mary will serve free beer,” Major Mulkins added. “Just one beer apiece, of course. We don't want the governor's first impression to be that we're a passel of drunks.”

The promise of free food and drink seemed to please everyone. Mayor Rogers took advantage. “Let me announce the schedule of tomorrow's festivities. Everyone will gather outside Bob Pugh's livery—”

“The MacPherson livery,” Ike Clanton corrected. He was sitting with his father and brother at a table near the back of the saloon. “You need to identify it right. But don't worry, Your Honor. No offense taken.”

“Well, I'm glad of that, Ike,” Rogers said. “No offense was intended. All right. We'll gather outside the
MacPherson
livery just before two. When the governor's party comes into sight, we'll raise the first cheer, which ought to be audible at considerable distance if the wind stays down. I think Major Mulkins brought back some small American flags from his Florence trip, correct, Major?” Mulkins nodded. “Well, we'll distribute these flags beforehand, so when the mayor's buckboard enters town, we'll cheer again and all the flags will be waved.”

“The hell you say,” another prospector interjected. “I fought proudly for General Lee in the past war, and I will not flourish Yankee colors.”

“Those who don't wish to be flag-wavers can confine themselves to cheering,” Rogers amended. “So, after the governor alights, I'll greet him in my capacity as town mayor. I understand Mr. Jesse of Sears and
Sons is having some of his men erect a temporary platform outside the livery?”

“We are,” Jesse confirmed.

“The governor and I will mount the platform. I'll offer words of welcome that emphasize the business potential of this town. Please, everyone, cheer loudly when I do. Then I'll invite the governor to make some remarks. Again, receive them with loud enthusiasm. Mr. Jesse will then lead the governor's party and the rest of us off to the site of the excavation. Ike Clanton has donated a carriage for the ladies. Most everyone else will have to walk, but it will be an easy pace. After the governor inspects the excavation site, we'll return to town. Major Mulkins will serve a private dinner for Governor Safford and certain dignitaries—myself, Mr. Jesse, the other town founders—in the Elite Hotel, and then the governor will have the choice of retiring to his room or perhaps enjoying some of our soon-to-be-legendary hospitality here in the Owaysis. Should the latter be his preference, I beg everyone to be on their best behavior. And then in the morning Governor Safford will return to the territorial capital, where we all pray that he will sing our town's praises and bring upon us the prosperity we have worked so hard to gain. Well, I believe that's all. Does anyone have anything to add?”

“Over here,” Ike Clanton called out.

“You've got the floor, Ike,” Rogers said.

Ike stood up and walked out into the middle of the room. He pushed his hat back on his head, hitched his thumbs in his belt, and said, “Even with the commotion about the governor and all, everybody needs to remember the Apaches out there. Me and my father and brother went out today toward the north, looking for float along the far base of the Pinals. I guess we got maybe four miles out of town, the three of us with a pack mule, and off another mile or so in the
distance we spied what looked to be a war party, two dozen of the devils at least. Biggest damn bunch of Apaches I ever saw. I doubt they glimpsed us, or we wouldn't be here to tell the tale. Thing is, if they're bunching up like that, then trouble is brewing. This town needs to be on its guard. That's all.”

Sheriff Saint was seated at a table with Gabrielle and her father. “Wait a minute, Ike,” he said. “You saw a war party this afternoon and you're only getting around to reporting it now?”

“I figured the mayor would call a meeting tonight about the governor and all. It just seemed best to hold off until everyone was gathered to hear me.”

“But two dozen Apaches, Ike? Walking along right out in the open? You saw them, but they didn't see you?”

Ike frowned. “That was the way of it. My daddy and brother saw them also.”

Saint asked, “Mr. Clanton? Phin? Will you swear to the same thing?”

Phin Clanton shrugged. His stocky father, Newman, rose from his chair and said, “Maybe more like fifteen than two dozen. But they were Apaches. Must have thought their medicine was so strong that they could sashay out as they pleased. My boy Ike's right. Renewed caution is required.”

Before Saint could respond, Mayor Rogers said, “Well, then, thanks for the warning, Ike and Mr. Clanton. We'll all be on our guard. Now, everybody get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.”

“Drinks all around on me!” Ike hollered, and there was a surge toward the bar. Saint walked out with the Tirritos, and McLendon and Mulkins followed them out the door.

“I wonder what Ike's up to, Major,” McLendon mused. “Another warning about Apaches—MacPherson's planning something.”

“After tomorrow, he can plan all he wants,” Mulkins said. “Once the governor's our friend, he won't allow MacPherson to trifle with us.”

“Men have already died, Major. That's considerably more than trifling.”

“I realize that,” Mulkins said, sounding hurt. “I just want tomorrow to go perfect, and then we'll be all right.”