Poor Boy's Christmas with Bonus Book

by Kathleen Ball

  Edith walked out of the back room, her hands on the back of her hair as though making sure it was still proper. Then she automatically smoothed out her skirt. “That I can do. I have a few straw filled ones in the back.”

  “Straw will have to do. Also we need new bedding.”

  Edith’s brow furrowed. “Now just who is paying for all this?”

  “Oh heck, Edith, you know good and well, Cinders will pay the tab.” Cookie motioned to Poor Boy to follow him. “Come on, kid, let’s get the mattress while Edith finds the bedding.”

  “Humph! I don’t see why a prisoner should get anything new,” Edith said to no one in particular before she went about picking out sheets.

  Poor Boy grew warm inside. Some things never changed, and that was a good thing. He’d had so much upheaval in his life. A little sameness was appreciated by him. There’d been a time Edith hadn’t liked him and thought him a street urchin but she came around eventually and paid for him to go to school back east. She liked to talk hard but she had a kind heart. Though it seemed the kindness was something only he and Cookie could see.

  “I can’t wait until you meet Ann Marie! I’ve told her all about you! You have an education and a booming business now. You can have your pick of any of the finer girls in town. I just know you and Ann Marie will hit it off.” Edith smiled as though it was a done deal.

  Cookie laughed. “She sure is a pretty young gal. Blond hair and blue eyes, and she’s very pleasant. She never gives anyone trouble.”

  Poor Boy gave a noncommittal smile. She sounded a bit boring, but he’d have to meet her to be sure. “What’s her brother like?”

  Edith took a step forward. “Aaron is as nice as they come. You remember Peg, Keegan and Addy’s girl? She’s almost eight now. She has declared that she’s going to marry him when she turns ten. She’s always been bright for her age, but I think she’ll have to wait for more years than she counted on.”

  “I’m supposing Ilene and Tramp have kids too.”

  Edith sighed. “The good Lord didn’t bless them.”

  “Perhaps they’ve been blessed in other ways,” Poor Boy said, hoping to end the conversation before Edith had a chance to say something she shouldn’t. “I’ll take one mattress and the bedding. She had a saddlebag with her. I guess I should have looked to see if she had any clothes or not. I might be back.”

  Edith rang up the purchases. “I’m keeping a tab. If you see Cinders before I do, make sure he pays me. Cookie, help him carry the mattress.”

  “No need. I got it. I’ll see both of you later.”

  “I’m glad you’re back, kid. Shane could really use your help. Cecily is expecting their third child, and she tires easily. Yep, it sure is good to see ya.” Cookie slapped him on the back as he held the door open for him.

  Poor Boy crossed the dirt street to the sheriff’s office. He entered and was surprised to see Corny asleep on the bunk. Corny… He smiled. What a stubborn woman. He couldn’t decide if she was brave or just foolish. How’d she end up robbing a bank? She was so young, and already her life was ruined. It was very possible she’d be hanged. Where was Judge Gleason anyway? He was usually in town. Could be he was playing poker in the saloon. Did Noreen still own it? He hated saloons. Having grown up in one, he understood what a raw deal the women got.

  “Can I go to the funeral?” Her words startled him.

  “He’s already been buried, sorry.”

  “Already?” She stood and clasped the bars. He felt the pain in her voice.

  “They don’t waste time. Coffins are ready made, and the ditch digger gets paid. So for them, the sooner the better. I’m sorry. I could make a wooden marker if I had a name.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

  “You know at this point it doesn’t matter what your name is unless there is a wanted poster on you. I’m telling you for your own good, if there isn’t one you need to tell us. There will be bounty hunters sniffing around soon enough.” He motioned for her to step back while he put the key into the cell door lock. He closed it behind him then removed the old mattress from the cot and replaced it with the new one. He put the sheets and blanket at the foot of the bed. “I really am sorry about your father.” He grabbed up the old bedding and opened the door. He locked it behind him and went out the back door with the stained mattress and sheets.

  When he moseyed back in, a big man, wearing a black duster stood up against the bars looking at Corny. Poor Boy drew his gun. “Hold it right there.” The metallic click as he cocked the gun added weight to his order.

  The newcomer slowly turned. “No need for the gun, son. I was lookin’ for someone else. What’s her name? I bet I can find some type of bounty on her. Husbands and fathers will usually pay to have their little girls back. Not that she’s little by any means if you know what I mean.”

  “Step away from the prisoner,” Poor Boy warned, refusing to back down.

  The man put his hands up. “I don’t want any trouble. I’ll just go off to the telegraph office and see what I can find out.” He backed away. “I’ll be back when I have an answer. What’s your name girl?”

  She folded her arms in front of him and clamped her lips shut.

  “I’ll find out. I always do.” He turned and left.

  She sighed loudly and slid her gaze to Poor Boy. “I guess you were right about the hunters. My name is Molly McDonagh.” She waited as though he’d recognize her name.

  “I’ve been living in New York. Should I know the name?”

  “My family was known as the Mean McDonagh Gang.”

  “So, this probably isn’t the first time you’ve been involved in a robbery.”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes it is. It’s all a big mistake. My brothers never killed anyone, but the next thing I knew we were run out of town with a price on our heads. Not mine exactly but on the men in my family. I had four brothers and my father. They are all dead now. Two were hanged without a trial. One was shot out of his saddle over New Mexico way. My youngest brother caught a fever and died, so then it was just me and Pa.”

  “And your pa took you on a bank robbery with him? I have to say it doesn’t sound innocent to me.” Poor Boy took a seat behind the desk and tipped the chair onto its back legs while he contemplated her story.

  “There’s a man waiting for the money. He tracked us down and threatened us if we didn’t pull the job.” She set about making the bed. Her hands shook as she did it.

  “Why not come into the sheriff’s office instead of the bank?”

  “He had his gun beaded on us the whole time. He had a room at the saloon. One overlooking the town. My pa and I figured we’d do this, get rid of the man and head down to Mexico.”

  “Get rid?”

  She finished the bed and sat down on it. “Escape, yes. Isn’t that what you’d have done?”

  He shrugged. “’Get rid of’ could mean kill him.”

  She paled. “Like I said, we never killed anyone. I have a man I’d like to kill, but revenge never serves. One of the sons of the richest man in town pointed the finger at my brother Todd, and then later he included my brother Grey in his accusation. We had to leave our ranch. We’d worked so dang hard to build it, and in an instant it was all taken away. The man who accused my brothers, David Baff, is a mean vindictive man. His family wanted our land and by now they probably have it.”

  Tears filled her eyes and she quickly dashed them away. “I’m not a big crier. I want you to know that. Fate turned on us, but we kept fighting to stay alive and on the right side of the law until now.”

  “I’ll go over to the saloon and ask around. I’m going to lock the doors to the sheriff’s office while I’m gone. It’ll be safer that way.” He grabbed his hat and placed it on his head. “I appreciate you telling me the truth.”

  He walked out the door without looking back at Molly. It was a darn shame she’d been at the bank with her father. There wasn’t much he could do to save her neck. It was a pret
ty neck too.

  He pushed open the swinging doors to the saloon and ambled inside. Looking around, he made a mental note of who was where. If a fight started, he’d need to know which way to go to get out of the line of fire. Noreen gracefully descended the stairs and gave him a look that made his skin crawl. The last five years had aged her. She’d always had an air of innocence about her, but no more.

  Whoring usually aged women before their time. Late nights, his mother had told him when he asked. He figured it was the alcohol and being man handled that gave them a look of hopelessness. It wasn’t an easy life.

  “Poor Boy, is that you?” Noreen asked as she sidled up next to him.

  He made a distinct action of moving away from her. “Hi ya, Noreen. Long time no see.”

  “It sure has been a while. Why just look at you! You’re no longer the dirty street rascal you once were. I’m happy for you!” She took his hand and led him to the bar. “Sandy, pour us some of the finest whiskey we have.” She nodded to the burly dark-haired bartender.

  Poor Boy almost declined but he wanted her comfortable enough to talk to him. He took a hearty swig of the whiskey and smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anything so smooth, thank you.”

  “I don’t suppose you’re here for one of my girls, so what’s going on?”

  “There was an accomplice in the bank robbery.”

  “Oh, yes, that pretty young thing you have over in the jail. I’d like to help you out but I don’t take criminals on to work here.” She leaned over to give him a good look down her dress.

  He shuddered in disgust but by Noreen’s knowing smile it was obvious she thought he liked the view. “It’s not the prisoner I’m talking about. It’s about a man who took one of the front rooms. He had a gun trained on the bank. Most likely a rifle but I don’t know for sure, yet.”

  “There was a man. He wanted a room, no company. He was tall, blond, handsome as all get out. He had the biggest brown eyes, and a girl could get lost in them.”

  “Did he have a name?”

  “Yes, it was Drew, short for Andrew.”

  “What about a last name?”

  Noreen blinked at him. “I didn’t ask, and he didn’t offer. You know how it is Out West.”

  He nodded. “Yes, I do. If you happen to see him again, could you let me know?”

  She winked at him. “Of course, sugar. Don’t be a stranger, you hear?”

  “Thanks, Noreen. It’s good to see you again.” He drank down the rest of his whiskey and then left. As he stepped out onto the wooden walk, he shivered. A cold wind had kicked up, and the clouds above looked ominous. He’d planned to spend his spare time visiting with his friends; Cinders, Keegan, and Tramp. At least he’d seen Shane, Edith and Cookie. He sighed. His free time would be spent with Molly. It was bad enough when a girl went bad, but to have her own father involve her in a robbery was intolerable. Shucks, maybe it wasn’t her fault. Too bad he couldn’t do anything about it.

  He walked to the jail and found Shane sitting behind his desk, drinking coffee. “Tell me about the bounty hunter,” Shane said.

  Poor Boy filled him in, glancing at Molly the whole time. The fear on her face pulled at his heart.

  “Best thing to do is get her out of here. I already set a plan in motion. We’ll sneak her into the back of a wagon and you can head out to Cinders and Tramp’s place. It’ll be safer there. Jasper, the foreman, just moved back east, and the house is empty.”

  “My job is here.”

  “Your job is to protect the prisoner until Judge Gleason gets back. It shouldn’t be more than a week.”

  Poor Boy nodded. “Don’t worry I’ll keep her safe. We’d better get going, it’s starting to get cold out there, and we’ll probably get freezing rain.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. Cecily is packing some clothes for Molly, and Cookie is getting the wagon ready. Cecily is a bit disappointed. She wanted you to come for dinner, but she understands.”

  Poor Boy nodded. “There will be plenty of dinners. Give her my best.”

  “You can do it in person,” Cecily said as she came through the door. She put the valise she carried down on Shane’s desk and embraced Poor Boy. “What a wonderful man you’ve become.” Tears filled her eyes, and she pulled away and gazed at him. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too. I hear congratulations are in order for you and Shane.” He wasn’t sure why so many people were so happy to see him. It was nice and all but a bit overwhelming.

  “Yes, thank you. We’re very excited. I can’t wait for you to meet the others. Molly, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Shane’s wife. I wish we had time to get to know each other, but I have to get the bag to the mercantile so Cookie can put it in the wagon. You’re in good hands.” She took the valise and gave Shane a sweet smile. “I’ll see you for supper.”

  If he wasn’t mistaken, Poor Boy thought he saw a slight blush creep up Shane’s face. It was good to see evidence that love was a lasting thing.

  “So what’s the cover story? We don’t want bounty hunters at the ranch.”

  Shane stroked his chin. “I was thinking she could be your sister. This way you can share the house and no one will raise an eyebrow. It would be on a need to know basis. Molly Hastings sounds like a good name.”

  “Except everyone knows I’m an orphan who grew up in a whore house before coming to Asherville.”

  “Who’s to say your mother didn’t have another child she put in an orphanage? You somehow discovered you had a sister and you found her. Most people don’t ask for details.”

  “Except for Edith.”

  “Cookie has sworn her to silence.”

  “That’s going to keep her quiet?” Poor Boy was at a loss. Edith was the biggest gossip in town.

  “You’d be surprised at the change in her,” Shane said. “She still likes to talk, but she respects what Cookie wants. It’s been an entertaining transformation, but I trust her now.”

  Poor Boy nodded. If Shane trusted Edith, he would too.

  There was a knock at the back door. Shane got up in a flurry of movement and rushed to the back and opened it, allowing Cookie to slip in.

  “Wagon is ready out back. I got supplies and put canvas over them. We can sneak the gal out of town under the canvas. I got extra blankets too—a storm is brewin’. Let’s get cracking.” Cookie grabbed Poor Boy’s bag and headed out back.

  Shane let Molly out of the cell and handed her a cloak and scarf that Cecily had brought for her.

  “Here, Poor Boy, take this rifle with you.” Shane handed him the rifle and ammunition. “Stay safe. Some of those bounty hunters can be unscrupulous. You take care. You too, Molly. Keep your head low.”

  Poor Boy gave them both an appreciative nod, and then he led Molly out the back door. Cookie held up the tarp, and Molly quickly got in the wagon and lay down. Cookie placed all but two of the blankets over her and then covered her with the tarp. He handed Poor Boy one of the blankets and wrapped the other one around himself. “Don’t you worry, Shane, I’ll get them to Cinders and Tramp’s place in one piece. Don’t forget we’re having a Christmas Feast at the ranch.”

  “You’d best hurry off,” Shane advised.

  Cookie insisted on driving, and soon they were on their way out of town.

  Poor Boy couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

  Molly prayed the whole time she was in the back of the jostling wagon. The rain pelted down on the tarp, and Poor Boy had been right, it was freezing rain. How did they fare out there? They must be so cold. On and on they went as it grew colder and colder. Once again, she was the cause of someone else’s suffering. It was the dang McDonagh curse. It wasn’t only she who caused others’ suffering, it was her entire family. Their hardships were put upon others. Without money for food and supplies, stealing had become a way of life. They had all played it off as doing no harm, but she knew they took food off the tables of those who could least afford it at times. />
  Once she had refused to eat stolen food, but she was so hungry and the deed had already been done. When they’d had their ranch, they’d often fed those down on their luck, but what they’d done wasn’t the same. It hadn’t been given; it had been stolen. Good deeds were something that came back to a person, not something anyone could just take when needed.

  She shivered as she turned onto her other side. Now she was the only McDonagh left. Good and caught, too, with no hope of getting away. They said the judge would be back in a week. She’d have a week to repent and maybe she’d be able to do some small turn of goodness for someone before she was to hang.

  Christmas had always been such fun while her mother was alive. The boys would cut down a tree and they’d pop corn and string it to put around the tree. Yes, her mother had been a happy soul. She’d sung a lot and she’d had the sweetest smile. Molly sighed. Would she live to see this Christmas? Probably not.

  Chapter Three

  Cookie drew the wagon right up to the foreman’s house and both Poor Boy and Cookie jumped down. They lifted the tarp and both sighed in relief when they saw that Molly hadn’t frozen to death.

  Poor Boy drew the girl into his arms and carried her to the house. Cookie had already rushed inside and was laying wood for a fire. Poor Boy gently put Molly on the couch and soon the cabin was filled with firelight.

  “Are you alright?” he asked as he knelt beside her. Her whole body shivered, and it worried him.

  “Get her something warm to drink. I’ll bring in your things and get these horses settled in the barn. I’ll let Cinders and Tramp know what’s going on. Don’t worry about food. We’ll bring some over, and I bet Shannon and Ilene will want to hover over the little gal.” Cookie walked back outside and returned with their belongings. “Stay warm.”

  Poor Boy nodded his thanks. He put the pot filled with water over the fire to boil, and he also put on a pot of coffee. “I’ll get you warmed in no time.”

  “Get yourself warmed up first. You were outside in this weather. I had the blankets and canvas over me.” She sat up and rubbed her hands together. “Be sure you don’t have frostbite.”