The Heart of a Soiled Dove (5 page)

It being the last official Saturday night of summer meant men of all occupations would come visiting the whorehouses in Pine City. Besides the Lady of the Night Saloon, men had a choice between Kate’s Place and Iris’s Meadow Lark Inn. It was no different for the six dusty and dirt worn riders approaching the middle of town and halting in a small-banded group. Donovan and his men were finished with their cattle drive and were at a decision-making moment. With abhorrence, Donovan knew what his men would choose. Sure enough, with a spew of tobacco leaving his mouth, Christopher announced heartily, “Come on boys! Let’s have us some women!”

Jed and Victor followed him to the Lady of the Night Saloon and Luke hesitated a moment before joining up. Donovan gave Roman a perplexed look. Why wasn’t he going? Roman said to no one, “I’m going home.”

Donovan had no appetite for women, only spirits, as cold as he could get them. So he pushed open the double doors for his cronies and turned to see Roman ride off by himself. Since when did he not participate in their end of the cattle drive celebration? For an annoying moment, the blasted newcomer, Aurora Young, came to his mind. He was no fool. He too appreciated her beauty. She was long, lean and had hair he wanted to pull his roughened hands through. Her face looked like it’d feel like silk and not a blemish on it. But then she had to be indignant and ornery, kind of took away some appeal. He wondered if she had Roman tied around her little finger and that’s why he wasn’t joining them. And that thought, of Roman riding off to be with her, brought a pinched feeling in his gut. Where had that come from? Surely he wasn’t jealous. He was angry with the woman for taking his land. What was it to him? He only wanted that land back and was still wondering how he was supposed to manage that with his men being all cozy with her.

Donovan adjusted his eyes to the dimness once inside the doors. He’d stay long enough to satisfy his parched throat with the coldest drink he could order. He was above being with soiled doves. They were nothing but disease-carrying trouble.

Josie Callahan took him to his table. Her lavender scent wafted beneath his abrupt inhale, and the shot of whiskey she was offering up gave him the briefest temptation of killing two birds with one stone.

Victor came to his rescue by stroking her cheekbone. “Get us a deck of cards would ya?”

Out of thin air he heard a light voice say, “I’m going to entertain Donovan’s boys.” Donovan watched Lauren McClure, sporting a bruised cheek, walk over to them. Her once fancy dress looked like it’d been worn a hundred times too many and she massaged her throat, as if it had been traumatized.

Sheriff Bradbury intercepted her. “I want you tonight.”

“I’ve dibs on her already,” Donovan said.

“Is that so?” The sheriff flashed an angry look.

“Yes.”

Now that he’d defended Lauren he couldn’t very well leave her to the wolves and leave. To make a good show and to protect her fate, Donovan followed her lead to her room, where he planned to sit in a chair – far away from the bed and far away from Lauren. He didn’t know why he’d been spontaneous and spoke up for her, other than he didn’t like the sheriff, plain and simple, and he’d only saved her briefly. Certainly he didn’t deserve her gratefulness pouring out all over him for the duration of his stay.

After a good amount of time passed, Donovan emerged from her room. He received guffaws from a few guys on his way out and he realized Lauren still had the entire night ahead of her. Perhaps he should have remained with her a little longer.…

He put on his hat and decided it wasn’t on him to save her and stepped outside for some fresh air. The instant he did, he nearly turned back inside. He’d rather be in the Lady of the Night Saloon than deal with the man standing in front of him. Reverend Johnny.

“Mr. Ramsey, good to see you.”

Donovan glanced at him. They were standing in front of a whorehouse, and he doubted very much the Reverend was glad to see him there. “Been waiting here long, Reverend?”

“Long enough to catch you at the perfect time.” Reverend John tied his horse’s reins to the post in front of Donovan, standing between him and his own horse. Donovan was weary from the trail ride and wanted to get home to his bed. “If you’ll excuse me….” He mustered up that much of a response, more than the interfering preacher deserved.

“Mr. Ramsey, if you recall we didn’t really get to finish our last conversation.”

“Listen Reverend, it’s late and there was a reason we didn’t finish. I ain’t interested in what you are offering.”

“How can you not be interested in knowing what forgiveness feels like? In what peace feels like?”

The man was trying his patience, but he was a man of the cloth and that didn’t give license for violence. He wasn’t that stupid. And looking upon the Reverend and his cocky stance, he appeared to know that already.

“I know what reality feels like. That other stuff, it’s for weaker men. Now, I’ve asked once and I don’t aim to ask again, please step outta my way.”

The Reverend held his ground a moment longer than was wise, but receded back in surrender. “Alright then. I’m going to be having a service come morning, would be an honor to have you in attendance.”

Donovan grunted a response. “Not for me, Rev.”

With ease, he mounted his horse and headed home. That man always seemed to be after him, popping up whenever. He did not give up easily and Donovan was more annoyed than ever. Aurora, Roman, Reverend Johnny, Lauren and her pitiful gratefulness at him sparing her a poke with someone.... Blast them all! He needed some peace of mind all right. He pulled out a flask from inside his duster and took a satisfying swig. “This is the kind of peace that’ll be all I’m needing.”

Despite wearing work worn gloves, Aurora’s hands were raw. Wood grated against them and the newfound coldness was chapping. She dropped kindling onto the porch, stomped her feet clean and entered the kitchen. It was refreshing to be greeted by the smell of roasted coffee, the smoky scent of frying bacon and Carrie Anne’s cheerful face.

“It’s good of you to take care of us like you do.” Aurora helped herself to a scoop of scrambled eggs. Carrie Anne placed a bouquet of flowers onto the table. “It won’t be much longer before we won’t have any more of these.”

“You’ve done well with the garden, Carrie Anne. We would’ve half starved if it wasn’t for you.”

“Next year, I aim to have us double. ‘Cause I’ll have a full season to do it right.”

Emmy joined them, swaddled up within a woolen blanket. “When did it get so cold?”

“The only thing I miss about San Francisco is her climate.” Aurora shivered.

Someone tapped the doorknocker on the front door. They stilled, always cautious of an unannounced visitor.

With rifle in hand, Aurora and the girls stood behind the door, opening it slowly.

“Now this is a greeting.” Roman eyed the rifle. “Or is it?”

Aurora got hold of her manners. “You’re back! And just in time for breakfast, Roman.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Gee, what poor timing.”

“So, what brings
you
here?” Emmy asked brightly.

Could the girl never stop? Aurora went to kick her under the table, but Emmy knew that and had moved her legs out of the way – all the while smiling at their guest.

Roman ripped off a chunk of bacon and said pointedly, “If it’s alright with you, Aurora, I’d like to see if you could use my help around here.”

It was not the answer Aurora anticipated, but was delighted at the offer. “That would be an answer to prayer!”

“You been praying for me to come and help?”

“I’ve been praying for help in general, but you’ll do.”

Roman turned serious. “I did come for a job, Aurora. There’s that… and… I was hoping to get both you and Emmy’s permission to call on Carrie Anne.”

“I knew it,” Emmy said, crass as ever.

“Carrie Anne? Would you like that?” Aurora asked as a mother would.

“I would.”

“There’s one other thing,” Roman said, giddy now, and barely taking his eyes from Carrie Anne. “I also came to tell you that there’s gonna be a church service today. Would you like me to bring….”

“Yes! Oh, yes. Thank you, Roman,” Aurora burst. He spoke the most beautiful words Aurora had heard in a long while. She hadn’t even known the Reverend was in town.

He shifted his weight in the creaky wooden chair. “Well I’m happy I came calling today.”

“How much time do we have to get ready?”

Roman chugged down his coffee and cleared his throat. “I reckon about fifteen minutes if we’re to make it on time.”

“Why didn’t you tell us the moment you got here? Oh, men!”

Aurora and the girls hurried up the stairs to get ready for church.

Aurora nearly fell to the ground in her attempt to exit the buggy seat.

“Whoa now.” She heard Roman order, and wasn’t sure if that was meant for her or the horses. She didn’t care. She couldn’t wait for fellowship and she couldn’t wait to see Reverend John again.

Being there was no official place to hold service, there appeared to be a makeshift place outside for it. There were more children in this one place than she’d seen in town altogether. There were crude benches all filled with families and nowhere for the late comers to sit. Aurora didn’t care in the least. Her eyes met the Reverend’s just before the first hymn was about to be sung. She stood there with Emmy, Carrie Anne and Roman and sang her heart out in worship. The refreshing she received was nearly beyond her understanding. She felt equipped again to continue doing what she felt called to do, raise this family next to her so that they might come to know Him. After two more heavenly hymns, it was time to hear her friend preach, and she soaked it all in like she was drinking from a well. How she would love this every Sunday. If only. Aurora counted about thirty heads in attendance. What did they do in the winter when it was too cold to be outside?

Decidedly, she considered John Palmer quite the preacher. The message was timely and the deliverance of it was filled with passion. All too soon it was over and Aurora waited with bated breath until he shook hands with the townspeople and made his way to her. She wanted to be last. Then he wouldn’t have to hurry on past her to the next person.

Finally he stood in front of her little clan and greeted them all. “Roman, very good to see you. I saw Donovan last evening, was hoping to see him today.”

Roman sent the Reverend a sly smile. “Keep hoping Reverend Johnny, perhaps someday.”

Roman and Carrie Anne melted away together in the crowd. Emmy had long since disappeared, and they were alone. “I wish I’d known you were coming today. I was hardly prepared,” Aurora said, a bit put out.

“I arrived late last night. If I could only stick to my schedule I would have been to Pine City a bit earlier. I’d had the intention of paying a visit out your way, see how your property is holding up and, of course, to invite you today.”

“How did Roman know about it?” She was curious.

He shrugged. “Donovan must’ve told him.”

“Well, Mr. Ramsey can be decent after all.”

Reverend John’s eyebrows rose at her tone, and she felt the need to explain. “We don’t get along all too well I’m sorry to say.”

“There’s a lot of hard men out there in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re hopeless.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to insinuate that….”

“I know you didn’t.”

“It’s just that I purchased the land he wanted, but what else could I do? There wasn’t any place else for us to live.”

He guided Aurora to a nearby bench. “I was curious as to that. He’d been wanting that land for years, but the owner had a falling out – close to a feud you could say – with his family years ago. And to her last dying day, the widow Farris refused to accept Ramsey money. So after her death it had to go through the court system because she had it in her will that it couldn’t go to Donovan Ramsey unless three years past and an auction was held. I suppose she’d hoped to lure in different buyers which, seems like she got her way.”

“I had no idea.”

“Well it’s done now. He’ll move on.”

She wasn’t so sure of that but didn’t want to be thought of as a gossiper so let her feelings on Donovan Ramsey fall to the wayside. “Would you please come to our home for dinner this evening?”

“I was hoping you’d ask.”

Aurora looked at a couple nearing them. It appeared others were wanting the Reverend’s attention. “Come whenever you can. We’ll be home shortly.”

On her way to round up Roman, Emmy and Carrie Anne, she spotted Josie lingering on the outskirts of the meeting. Making haste, Aurora made to catch her before she ran away, looking skittish as she did. “Good morning.”

Josie peered around, most likely to make sure no one caught her within distance of Aurora, the town’s trouble maker.

“My name’s Aurora,” she rushed to say.

“I know your name. I… I have to go.”

“Did you like the service?”

Josie’s scarf fell from her neck as she tried to move around Aurora. Ugly yellow bruises were exposed, clouded in contrast to her smooth, pale flesh. She ran from Aurora. Undeterred, Aurora followed. This was serious.

She spun Josie around. Josie’s eyes flashed.

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing. Everything! Look, I don’t want to hurt your feelings lady, but if I’m seen talking to you….”

“Who did this?” Aurora followed her hotly. “Why do you stay and work for him? He’s no good. You don’t need him.”

Josie hissed, “What do you know about it? I
do
have to stay. I
do
have to work. I
do
need him.” They were close to the saloon now. “Go away!”

Aurora was deaf to her protests and stayed with her.

“Leave me! You don’t know anything about it.”

“I know more than you think. I also know that there’s something better for you than this. Don’t let him hurt you anymore. One of these days, it will be too late.”

“Josie?” Thatcher Poe stepped onto the boardwalk.

“Don’t go in.”

Josie whispered, “He’s not the one who hurt me. Now go home.”

She fled to Thatcher’s side and urged him in. He looked down upon Aurora with creepy authority. “Don’t mess with my girls – or you’ll be sorry. Sorrier than you can even imagine.”

Stunned, shivering with the fall weather and a boiling anger, Aurora turned away. Josie’s words tossed around in her mind.
He’s not the one who hurt
me
…. Well then, who was it? She was watching the ground and halted at seeing a pair of black, polished boots rudely blocking her path.

Sheriff Corbin Bradbury stood with his arms crossed. “Josie got less than she deserved.”

Aurora’s fists clenched at her sides. “
You
did that to her? You are a spineless ….”

“You’d be better off shutting your mouth before you say something you don’t mean. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. But if you don’t keep to yourself, you’ll be run from town. Is that what you want? You have a right nice place out there, quite cozy as a matter of fact. Maybe I’ll pay a call sometime – when you’re alone.” He toyed with the iron handcuffs at his side, smiling wickedly. She had no chance in standing up to him and would be foolish to further challenge him. Aurora glanced around at the few people in the streets and on the boardwalks, each and every one, a yellow bellied coward – minding their own affairs. After what she hoped was a searing look, she hastily stepped off to the side and went around him.

Aurora focused her mind on Carrie Anne’s pleasant features and Emmy’s defiant outlook on life so she could remember why she was here. She needed them and they needed her.