Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) (8 page)

As if in a trance, Emily pulled back the sheet and put her
feet on the floor. Not knowing why or what to expect, she did as he requested.
Emily trustingly, put her hand in his and sat down upon his lap. She felt his
other hand rest on her hip. She cared not that she was dressed simply in her
nightgown, sitting on the lap of a partially dressed man. This was Blake.

“We’re going to talk, Emmie. You’re going to tell me what
you’ve been up to since you were gone. Where you went . . . who you saw . . .
everything. Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“Good. Now, first things first. Why did you leave?”

“Those men outside the saloon scared me. I think I knew
them,” she said in a soft and quiet voice.

“Who were they?”

“I’m not certain, but the older man could have been my
stepfather. The younger man was, more than likely, my brother, but it has been
a long time. I . . . I could have been mistaken,” she stammered. “It doesn’t
matter now, as they have probably left town. That’s why I stayed away so
long—to give them time to leave.”

“Are you that frightened of your stepfather and brother?”

Emily thought for a moment, unsure of how much of her past
she was willing to divulge. “Lucas was cruel to my mother. I was little,
about five or six, when I watched him beat my mother with a whip. She was
going to have a baby and he didn’t care. He was usually drunk. My brother,
Dusty, was about ten or eleven, and too young to stop him. It looks as if he’s
turned out to be just like Lucas.

“I watched my mother die in childbirth . . . screaming for
help that never came. He ignored her pleas, and when she bled out, he simply
dug a hole and dropped her in it.” A sob shook her delicate shoulders.
“Leaving me to clean up the room,” she whispered. Emily looked as if she was
witnessing the terrible event, all over again. Another sob escaped her throat.
Her eyes were unbelievably enormous, as she gazed upon the ghosts of her past.
“The baby was dropped in with my mother—but I’ve never been certain the
child was dead.”

“What? Oh, my God, Emmie. You can’t mean he . . . ”

“I mean
precisely
that. I vaguely remember the sound of a small cry, but he never allowed me to
see the baby. He never mentioned the child or my mother again. He had my
papa’s farm. He didn’t need her, or me, for that matter. My brother would be
an asset in working the farm, but I was a little girl and of no use at
all—except for one thing.”

Emily said nothing for several minutes and Blake was wise
enough to give her all the time she needed to find the words.

“One night, Lucas brought a man home from the saloon. He
was fat and greasy and smelled unwashed, soured with whiskey and cigars.” Her
stomach was becoming unsettled just remembering the noxious odor. Emily took
her face and tucked it into the space between Blake’s neck and shoulder,
breathing in his clean masculine scent. She inhaled deeply.

“Lucas said,
‘There
she is. Take her if you want her,’
and the man took me. I was allowed to
stuff what few things I owned into a bag, and the fat man dragged me to a
buggy, and carted me off . . . away from Lucas, away from my brother, and all I
knew.

“He owned a big house in Sedalia, Missouri. It was called a
fancy house
, but it wasn’t fancy at
all. It was dirty and smelly—just like him. There were usually seven or
eight women working there at any one time. All types. He even brought in a
young boy. I was to be a special attraction, after Miss Alta finished grooming
me.” She looked up at Blake’s face with tear-filled eyes.

“I was six years old, Doc. What kind of monster even thinks
of such a thing?”

Emily hadn’t noticed how Blake was slowly rocking her to and
fro, as if she was a small child. His hand was stroking her beautiful, silky
hair, in an attempt to comfort her. He placed his lips next to her ear and
whispered, “I’m so very sorry, darling. So very sorry.” He kissed her face
and snuggled in close to her softness.

“I didn’t know what I was being groomed for, exactly, but I
knew I didn’t like anyone in that house, and I had to get away. At night, they
tied me to my bed to discourage me from running away, but in the daytime, I was
given more freedom. One day, I pretended to have a stomachache and I went to
the outhouse several times. On the last trip to the privy, I crept around to
the backside and took off as fast as my skinny legs could take me. It seemed
like I ran for hours, not daring to slow down. I grew hungry and soon I became
a thief.

“I got caught stealing from an old couple. I must have
looked more animal than human. I know I acted like an animal, but they were
good people and could see I was a child in trouble. Without asking any
questions, they took me in and gave me a home. It was the best home I had ever
had, and I was content to be there. But still, I was frightened of the bad
people. I could never relax. Sam and Alice tried to convince me that I was
safe, but I couldn’t believe it. They shouldn’t have either.” Her bottom lip
began to tremble, once again.

“Hush, darling. You needn’t tell me everything, tonight.
You’re upset.” Blake noticed the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
Gently, he took a finger and wiped them away.

Emily shook her head. “I must tell you. I’ve been hiding
this for years and it is ruling my life. It keeps me from you.” She kissed
his chin, before proceeding.

“I rode into town with these dear people, one bright autumn
day. Alice asked me if I wanted to go into the general store with her. I
declined, preferring to sit high on the wagon seat, breathing in the cool crisp
air and watching the people go by. It was fascinating for me. Mothers pulled
their children behind them, while young boys teased pretty little girls,
causing them to giggle at the attention. Men stood laughing at tall tales and
argued about the weather. It was a normal life—the life I had been
denied, and yet still hoped to find.

“Just as I was enjoying watching a boy play with three small
puppies in a box, I was pulled down from the wagon and thrown to the ground.
He’d found me. Lucas had blood in his eye, as he snarled at me. He yelled at
me and called me a vile name. When Alice came to my defense, he . . . he
kicked her down onto the street. It was horrible, Blake. I remember seeing
her thin little arms flailing at air, trying to stop her fall. When I close my
eyes, I can still hear the terrible sound of her head striking the ground. It
was worse than you can ever imagine.”

“That son of a bitch,” Blake growled. “I’d have shot him.
Didn’t anyone come to your aide?”

“”Yes, but not before Sam jumped Lucas. It was like David
and Goliath, only David didn’t stand a chance. The sound of a gun exploding
ripped through the air, and I watched Sam slowly slide down into the dirt,
landing in a bloody heap. The bullet had gone clean through him, leaving his
lifeless eyes staring up into the heavens. Poor Sam. Thankfully, Alice never
knew her dear husband was gone. She passed that day, too.”

Emily tried to stand, feeling the need to gather her
strength. Blake helped her rise and got her a glass of cool water from the
pitcher.

“Drink this, Emmie.”

“Thank you.” She gratefully accepted the glass and drank it
all down. “Mmm. That’s good,” she sighed. “I think I want to rest now.”

“But Emmie. What happened to you? Did you find someone in
town to care for you?”

“No.” She shook her head as she crawled under the soft
covers and drew them up to her chin. “Everyone was afraid. Lucas took me with
him. Good night, Blake.” She closed her eyes.

Blake knew he should leave the room and seek his own, but he
simply could not leave her alone after what she had told him. He could not
believe the horrendous events that she had been forced to endure. If Lucas was
the bastard she saw outside the saloon, no wonder she reacted the way she did.
He swore to double his efforts at finding the identity of the two men, and if
they proved to be same ones, a slow death would be too good for them.

All night, the doctor sat rocking and watching his love,
peacefully sleeping. At least she was safe here, at the hotel, in his arms.
He’d vow never to leave her unprotected. Tomorrow morning, he’d talk to her
friends and make certain that someone always accompanied her, even when she
gardened. His instincts told him she was still in danger from that devil.

*

It tickled. Blake swatted at the bug, or whatever it was,
flitting around his nose. “Damn it!” he mumbled, as he swatted again. It lit
on his lips. This time, he heard the slightest giggle, and opened one eye.
Leaning down, just in front of his face, was a smiling Emily and she was
holding a feather in her hand. She gave it a little flick, right under his
nose, causing him to sneeze.

“Ha, ha. Gottcha. You fell asleep when you were supposed
to be protecting me. I think I pay you too much,” she teased.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down to him,
where he sought a morning kiss. Pressing his mouth upon hers, he slid his
tongue between her luscious lips and nearly exploded with pleasure. He held
her and kissed her deeply, barely coming up for air.

“Oh, Emmie. Good morning. And for what it’s worth, you
don’t pay me anything.”

“That’s good, because that’s what you’re worth.” She
laughed out loud. “Of course, you know I’m only joking. I really appreciate
you staying in here, in that chair, all night. I was thinking . . . tonight .
. . you might want to sleep somewhere that’s infinitely more comfortable.”

“No, I think this room is fine.”

“You misunderstand me, Doc. My bed is . . .
infinitely more comfortable
.” She
grinned, exuding a sexual confidence he had never seen in her before.

“Are you sure, Emmie? Do you know what you’re saying?”

She nodded. “I’m sure of something else. I’m starving!
Let’s go down to the kitchen.” She turned and ran down the stairs, giggling
like a schoolgirl followed by a smiling doctor close on her heels.

“Good morning, everyone!” Emily called out, cheerfully. She
was finally happy—too happy, and that was worrisome.

As Dr. Donovan passed by the front desk, Patty grabbed his
arm tightly, keeping him from following Emily into the kitchen. In a low voice
she demanded he answer her questions. “What kind of miracle did you perform on
our Em? And do not tell me you did nothing, because I know your bed was not
slept in. As God is my witness, Doc, you better not say you compromised her.”

“Calm down, Patty. I admit to spending the night in her
room . . . but in the rocking chair, and I’ve the stiff back to prove it. As
for her sudden change of mood, it’s not such a good thing for her to be this
happy after what she’s been through. She’s trying too hard. We talked last
night about her childhood. Do you know anything about where she came from?”

She shook her head, sending her mop of red curls bouncing.
“No. She’s been most secretive of her past. I do know that it was quite
traumatic and that those men she saw that night, in front of the saloon,
reminded her of it. Am I on the right track?”

“Yeah. She’s scared stiff that they’ll find her and hurt
her again, and I believe she’s frightened for her friends, as well. I’m going
to hold a meeting right after Emily goes outside to tend to her garden. It’s
going to take all of us to keep her safe.

“Come on out to the kitchen when you can. But for now, I’m
going to get me some grub.” Blake hurried across the lobby to the kitchen,
eager to join the others.

Emily was ravenous and had piled her plate two hands high.
She had at least one of everything on the table, making Dora happier than she’d
been in days.

“There you go, dear. Eat a hearty breakfast and you’ll feel
like your old self, soon enough. It’ll put some roses back on those cheeks.
What do you plan to do today, honey?” Dora inquired. She knew she was
prattling, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her nerves had been so
stretched, lately; it felt good to be speaking of everyday, mundane things.

Between bites, Emily tried to respond. “I’ve been away for
so long, I’m certain that everything needs attention. I’ll start with the
vegetable gardens, and if there is still enough light, I’ll head to the cutting
beds. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the play yard. It’s getting too tall. My roses
will have to wait a few more days.”

Blake spoke up, with his mouth full of biscuits slathered in
blackberry jam. “Whiskey is going to help you with the vegetable gardens
today. Ain’t that right, Whiskey?”

The old man was surprised, but he knew the Doc has his
reasons for assigning him this particular job. “That’s right. I ain’t got
nothin’ else to do, and I’m hankerin’ to get my hands good and dirty. If
that’s all right with you, Emily?”

She smiled brightly, “I’d love to have you work with me,
today, Whiskey. It’ll give me someone to talk to besides the zucchinis.” She
giggled. Wiping her face on her napkin, Emily announced she was stuffed, and
ready to go outside and get started.

Everyone let her go. It was only after the door closed that
they all began to talk at once. Patty joined their number. “So, Doc. What’s
the plan of yours?”

“I believe that Emily may be in real danger from her
stepfather. He’s a bastard and none of you ladies are truly safe around him.
I want you all to be on the lookout for a big, bearded man hanging around the
hotel. He answers to the name of Lucas. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a real
good look at his face, but I could smell him from across the street. Her
brother may have been with him. I don’t yet know what part he has to play in
all this. Emily told me that many years ago, her stepfather murdered the
elderly couple that was caring for her. He’d tried to sell her.”

The women gasped. Whiskey swore under his breath and fisted
his large hands. Cassie’s eyes were as big as saucers and all the blood had
drained from her innocent face.

“She ran away, more than once, I’m guessing. I didn’t learn
the whole story, but obviously she fears the man is alive and is still a danger
to her. I’m going to turn this town upside down looking for him or anyone that
might know him. In the mean time, Emily is going to need all of you to stay
close. Make sure someone is always with her. Don’t let her stay out in the
yard by herself. Don’t let her go to the Post Office or the mercantile alone.
Find some excuse to accompany her. She won’t like it if she thinks we’re
guarding her, but I believe it’s necessary for a while.” He looked at all the
stunned and worried faces.

Dora stood up and cleared her throat. “I’ve fought Injuns,
fever, and floods. I figure I can stand up to a stinkin’ drunk. I’ve got me a
pistol in my drawer and I’m gonna put it in my pocket. And don’t you fear
none—I know how to use it.”

Whiskey growled and cracked his massive knuckles. He nodded
and left the kitchen through the garden door, without saying another word. His
intentions were clear.

Patty was obviously shaken by the disclosure. “I love Emily
so much, but I don’t know what I can do? I keep a shotgun below the counter,
but I honestly don’t know if I could use it. Perhaps I can ask a few gentlemen
to keep their eyes open—discreetly of course. I’ll watch the play yard
from inside the lobby, and I’ll keep my ears open, telling you if anything
sounds helpful.”

“That will be fine, Patty. But remember, the man is
dangerous. Please be careful.” Blake was concerned for all the residents of
the hotel, but he was especially worried about the women. The small and
elegant Patty, and the sweet, vivacious Cassie could very well be in danger of
this madman. He prayed Dora could take care of herself.

Cassie’s eyes lit up with an idea, and she announced, “I’m
bored staying around the hotel. It’s time I got out some.
Naturally
, I’m still unsure of walking
by myself through the streets of town . . . so, therefore, I will
insist
that Emily allow me to walk with
her when she goes out. She’ll be doing me a big favor.” She smiled, thinking
she was very clever. “I think I’ll also mention this to my corporal. He may
know something. Maybe this old man has been to Fort Hays.”

Blake was shocked. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He
grabbed Cassie by her soft pink cheeks and kissed her right on the lips. “I
love you, Cassie! You’re brilliant!”

Then he, literally, ran out the front door and straight to
the livery, where he saddled his horse in record time. He would go to the fort
and inquire about this man. He wasn’t a ghost. Somebody must know who he is.

Cassie lightly touched her trembling fingers to her lips, in
a thoughtful pose. Then, with a slight look of anxiety on her face, she
muttered to Patty, “Gee, I hope Emily doesn’t find out the doc kissed me.
Wouldn’t want to make her jealous.”

Patty giggled, and put her arms around Cassie’s shoulders.
“Que sera, sera,” darling. What will be, will be.”

“Huh?”

* * *

A month had gone by with no news of Emily’s stepfather.
Things were slowly getting back to normal. Everyone still kept vigilant, but
the feeling was less urgent than before. Even Emily seemed to settle back down
to her daily routine. Dr. Donovan never again spent the night in her
bedchamber, much to his disappointment, but he was waiting and hoping for an
invitation.

Farmers were coming in to sell the last of their season’s
harvest. The days were growing shorter and cooler. Soon there would be
harvest dances to attend and holiday planning. Once winter blew in, the people
would hole up in their cozy homes until spring. Winters were brutal on the
Kansas plains.

Emily was clipping the last of her roses when she heard a
wagon pull up and stop in front of the hotel. Guests normally came in on the
train or stage. If they rode in, they stopped at the livery before arriving at
the hotel. Curious as to who would park their old wagon in front of the hotel
entrance, she stood up and got a good look.

“Eve! Ty! Oh, my lord,” she shrieked, dropping her shears
and the yellow roses she had gathered, as she ran toward the newcomers. “Dora!
Patty! Eve and Ty are here!” she yelled as she ran to greet her friends.

Before she reached the steps, a happy and excited Patty was
throwing her arms around Eve. Dora burst through the door, crying from sheer
joy, and went straight to baby Carol.

“Let me at that baby!” she cried. “Oh, she’s just beautiful.
Look at her.” She squeezed the child so tightly the little girl began to
struggle. She wanted her papa.

“Glad to see you too, Dora,” Ty teased. He chuckled at the
woman cuddling his daughter. “Patty, Emily.” He tipped his hat. “Where’s
Cassie?”

Patty smiled at Eve’s handsome, cowboy husband. “She’s got
herself a beau. He’s a corporal at Fort Hays . . . and a very nice young man.
They went to the mercantile to buy some trinkets for her. He spoils her,
terribly.” She grinned.

Dora was still fussing with Carol. “She’s so big now.
What’s it been? Six months, I reckon. Shame on the two of you for stayin’
away so long. When you married, you promised to come to town ever’ month or
so. Six months is five months too long.”

“Well, that’s probably been my fault,” Eve explained. “I’ve
got so much to tell you. Let’s step inside. I don’t want the baby to get
chilled and I do believe the temperature is falling.”

They all traipsed into the hotel lobby. “It looks
beautiful, girls,” Eve said wistfully, as she surveyed the sparkling room. The
Birdsong would always hold a special place in her heart. “Where’s Whiskey?”

Dora blushed. “He’s doin’ some shoppin’ of his own. We
ain’t told no one yet, but now is as good a time as any, I ‘spect. He went to
buy a ring.”

“What?” they all gasped.

A deep, gruff voice spoke from the open doorway. “I got my
bride a weddin’ ring. We’re gettin’ hitched this comin’ Sunday, right after
Sunday meetin’. You and Ty gonna be able to stay that long, honey?”

Tears filled Eve’s extraordinary eyes. Whiskey thought she
was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, and she was his
daughter . . . of sorts. She stood and walked over to the big man. Giving him
a huge hug, she whispered in his ear.

“Frieda would be so pleased to know you’ve found a good
woman, like Dora. Be happy.”

He had to clear his throat a few times before he could
speak. “This is a special day, indeed. It ain’t ever’day that a man tells of
his upcomin’ nuptials and sees his long lost daughter.” He laughed.

“Well, Ty and I have an announcement of our own. The reason
we didn’t visit sooner was that I just didn’t feel up to it. You see, I was
sick most of the time. I’m going to have a baby.” Eve beamed with the good
news.

The noise of the congratulations carried all the way out
onto the sidewalk. The dirty man, leading an emaciated mount, bit down hard on
the cigar stub he held between his yellow teeth.
His Emily was in that house, celebrating. She had no right to be happy
when he was so miserable.
After asking around, he discovered that she was
part owner of this fine hotel. He figured she must have a lot of money and he
was in need of it. She owed him, by God.
A
little thievin’ bitch like her deserved nothing
, he reasoned, and he’d get
his just rewards from her or die trying.

Cassie and Adam hurried up the steps, taking no notice of
the stranger lurking about the exterior of the hotel. Grabbing Adam’s hand,
Cassie pulled him through the doors and into the middle of the room.

“What’s going . . .” Cassie was shocked speechless.

“Cassie, darling. Give me a hug,” Eve pleaded, putting out
her arms.

Cassie did just that. “Oh, Eve. We’ve all missed you so
much. Have you missed us?”

Eve was crying. “You know I have. I think about you all,
everyday, and I include all of you in my evening prayers. But I must say . . .
the hotel never looked better—even when I was running things. Patty,
you’re a genius.”

Patty blushed. “Thank you, but don’t forget, you left this
hotel in the very capable hands of the
four
of us. It wouldn’t work nearly so well, if we all didn’t do our part. We’ve
even needed Whiskey, a time or two.”

Everybody laughed at her joke, including the old man. His
heart would always be rooted here, on this little spot of dirt in the center of
town, and he’d never leave it again, until they carried him out feet first.

“I’ve got some more good news,” Eve continued. “It’s really
remarkable news and I wanted Whiskey to hear it from me. One evening, a poor
cowboy rode up to our farm needing shelter for the night and a hot meal. He’d
been searching for his daughter whom he hadn’t seen since the beginning of the
war. Can you imagine? It seems that she was taken from her dead mama and put
on an orphan train.”

She reached out and took hold of the old man’s hand. “Her
name was
Evie,
Whiskey, and she was
just five years old when she disappeared. He remarked as how she had hair the
color of mine.” She started to tear up, watching the look on the old man’s
face. He knew what she was going to tell him and he smiled.

“Whiskey . . . my papa found me. After all these years, he
found me on Ty’s farm. And did you know that Ty was on that same orphan train
with me? We didn’t recognize each other because we had found such wonderful
people to care for us and help us overcome our physical problems. My papa
wants to meet you and thank you for taking such good care of me. I told him
all about Frieda.”

Scratching his beard, Whiskey muttered, “Well, I’ll be
skunk’s uncle.”

Again, they all laughed.

Dora was holding a sleeping Carol close to her chest, as she
stood and directed everyone to the kitchen for some refreshments. They had a
lot to celebrate. A joyful group followed the woman and spent the next several
hours telling and reliving their amazing times together. Everyone got to know
Cassie’s corporal and they all heartily approved of her choice.