Alec braked, swerved and ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow. He instinctively lashed out in return, hitting the miner’s chest before stepping back. The barrel-chested man barely seemed to notice Alec’s blow.
Alec held out his hands in a gesture of peace. ‘Calm down now,’ he began, though as he was speaking he noticed the smell of whiskey about the miner. His heart sank: he’d seen this situation often enough before. The miner was drunk enough to be aggressive, but not so drunk as to be easy to beat in a fight.
‘Butt out, you runt.’ Pushing Lacey away, the miner lunged for Alec.
Alec twisted and dodged, landing a couple of blows but mostly trying to avoid taking damage while he assessed the situation. The miner had the advantage of reach, weight and strength, plus whiskey-fuelled aggression.
‘Stop it, you bully!’ Lacey pummelled her small hands against the miner’s back. He grunted and turned to sweep her aside with his arm, sending her stumbling back along the aisle. Alec took advantage of the distraction to jump forward with a kick. He stamped his foot into the miner’s thigh, rocking the big man. The miner reacted fast, swiping at Alec as he was recovering his balance. Alec was forced to skip sideways to avoid the blow. Still off-balance, a second blow was enough to send him staggering back into the shelves. Pots rattled as Alec collided painfully with the display.
Now he could see past the miner, and saw a second man coming to join the fight, pushing past Lacey as she scrambled to her feet. Alec grabbed the first thing that came to hand on the shelf, and flung a large saucepan at the newcomer. There was a satisfying clonk as it struck the surprised man on the forehead, and sent him to his knees. Alec had no time to congratulate himself. The first miner had got a hammer from the other side of the aisle and was about to swing it. Alec seized the next thing in reach, and blocked the blow with a large skillet.
The noise was earsplitting as they fought, the hammer ringing against the iron skillet as Alec defended himself. Dents appeared in the skillet as Alec parried with it, each blow jarring his arms and hands painfully. He tried to angle himself and the pan so the blows were deflected off as he was barely strong enough to stop a blow coming dead on. Catching one strike at the right angle, he twisted the skillet sharply and succeeded in briefly throwing the miner off-balance. As he caught his breath, Alec heard a clang, and glanced past his opponent to see Lacey with a dented pan in her hands, looking down at the second man, who was half-curled up, clutching his head. He grinned for a moment, before returning to the business of defending himself.
Alec deftly parried two more attacks, but the situation was untenable. As the miner drew his arm back again, Alec darted forward and rammed the edge of the skillet into the big man’s stomach. The miner grunted and swayed back a step, swinging the hammer wildly. Alec just managed to catch it on the skillet, but the heavy blow jarred the pan from his hands. Instantly, he lunged forward, arms straight, throwing his weight against the bigger man. The miner was off-balance, and went staggering back, dropping the hammer. He crashed into a barrel of pick-axe handles, spilling them across the floor.
As he dodged the flying pick-axe handles, Alec noticed that both Lacey and the miner’s friend had vanished. With a roar of anger, the miner seized a handle and Alec immediately did the same. Although he held it two-handedly, Alec instinctively fell into a sabre-fighting stance. The miner swung his stick in a hefty blow that Alec neatly parried. He riposted, jabbing the miner in the chest with the end of the handle. The pick-axe handles clacked together as they fought. Alec landed a couple more blows, but the miner’s strength and aggression forced him to fight defensively. As he caught a hard blow with a classical high parry, Alec felt a momentary sense of the absurdity of the situation: duelling, but with pick-axe handles, not swords.
‘Sheriff!’ Lacey’s voice came from the front of the store. ‘There’s more of them coming!’
The miner heard her urgent shout too. He grinned and went for Alec with a ferocious swing. Alec dodged backwards, forcing the miner to extend himself. Deflecting the blow high, he ducked under it and threw himself in close, holding his handle out straight. He rammed the end brutally into the miner’s stomach, just below his ribcage. The miner gave a gasping shriek, crumpling breathlessly. Alec spun his handle and brought it down in a crashing blow across the miner’s head. The big man slumped bonelessly to the floor, blood oozing from a gash in his scalp.
Dropping the pick-axe handle, Alec turned and sprinted to the counter. The storekeeper half ducked beneath the counter, staring at him with worried eyes. Alec took no notice: he snatched up his saddle-bags and ran to the door where Lacey was waiting impatiently.
‘Mount up!’ Alec ordered as he ran.
Lacey obeyed immediately, unhitching her horse and turning it so she could mount from the sidewalk. She was scrambling into her saddle as Alec burst out from the store. Angry yells told him which direction the miner’s friends were coming from. The one he’d thrown the pan at was leading three others; they began sprinting as they saw him.
‘Go!’ he told Lacey, unhitching his horse’s reins. As Alec threw the saddle-bags across the front of his saddle, Lacey kicked her horse into a gallop. Moray threw his head up and snorted, but his training held and he stayed still as Alec vaulted aboard. Holding onto the saddle-bags and reins with one hand, and without his stirrups, Alec sent his horse leaping forward. Two of the miners jumped off the sidewalk, aiming to grab the reins or the rider. Alec drew his revolver and fired a shot just over their heads. One swore and ducked away but the other man stood his ground. Alec aimed directly at him. There was little expression in his face, just a professional determination. The miner saw the calculating coldness and changed his mind, backing away hastily. Alec swept past and fled down the street after Lacey, their horses sending clods of snow flying.
Half a mile out of town they slowed to a walk.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lacey said breathlessly to Alec. ‘I didn’t encourage him. He started talking to me and then grabbed at me.’
‘It wasn’t your fault.’ Alec reassured her. ‘He and his friends had been drinking and likely they don’t see many women, let alone good ones.’
‘Are you hurt?’ she asked. ‘I was so scared he’d hit you with that hammer.’
‘I was worried about that myself,’ Alec admitted. ‘I’m no’ hurt though. You did a good job with that pan, yourself.’
Lacey chuckled, her breath white in the cold air. ‘It just seemed the right thing to do. Then he crawled away and I heard him shouting on the sidewalk, so I went to see what was happening.’
‘You did well.’ Alec said. ‘You can keep your head in a crisis,’ he added approvingly.
She smiled, going a little pink, then glanced back over her shoulder. ‘We didn’t get any supplies, though. What are we going to do?’
‘We’ve got enough to see us for a couple of days more,’ Alec said. He halted his horse and dismounted to fix the saddle-bags back behind his saddle. ‘We’ll just stop at the next town we reach.’ He spoke confidently, hiding the knowledge that he had little more idea of where the next town lay than Lacey did. Her faith in him was plain from her smile. Alec just hoped it was justified.
The rest of the day’s travel was uneventful. After first continuing east, Alec turned northwards and forged his way across the hills and valleys. Lacey turned in her saddle now and again, but there was no sign of the outlaws behind them.
‘Do you think they’re still following?’ she asked once, soon after they had started off again after lunch.
Alec considered for a few moments before answering. ‘They will be,’ he said simply.
Lacey didn’t reply, just turned her face to the way ahead.
That evening, Alec took his time seeing to the horses, knowing that Lacey was gathering firewood and setting up the camp. He ran his hand through Moray’s winter coat, then stood back to look at the horse. He’d just fed them the last of the grain, and had only made it last so long by giving smaller amounts each time. Both
horses had been noticeably tired at the end of the day’s ride and although Moray was in good health, he had a slight tucked up look that warned Alec that he was losing condition.
‘Next town we see, we’ll call in and get supplies,’ he promised the horse. ‘And there’ll be a grand carrot for you, I promise, as soon as I can find one.’
The bay horse snorted gently and nuzzled him as he patted its neck. Alec smiled, and headed for the fire that Lacey had proudly lit.
There was at least enough food for the humans, if only bacon and beans again. They sat quietly by the small fire as the stew pot bubbled above it. Alec sat on his bedroll, warming his hands on his tin mug of coffee.
‘Sheriff?’ Lacey’s quiet voice brought his attention away from the flames. ‘You look a little sad – or thoughtful, anyway. Is something wrong?’
Alec smiled reassuringly. ‘I was only thinking of my friends, my deputies. I’ve not seen them in weeks.’
‘How long have you known them?’ Lacey asked.
‘Och, I’ve known Sam since we both first enlisted; we were bunkies when we first joined the regiment. Ethan got transferred to us a couple of years later, and Karl joined us when the regiment was being reordered, and I got promoted to lieutenant.’
Lacey stared at him. ‘Enlisted, not commissioned? You joined as a private?’
‘I did that,’ Alec said simply, though he couldn’t help smiling, pleased that she evidently understood his achievement.
‘Two of my cousins went to military academy and they’re both still lieutenants. There aren’t so many promotions available in peacetime. How come you never went to a military academy?’ Lacey asked.
‘I never had the chance,’ Alec said simply. ‘Ma parents immigrated to America when I was six; we never had much money. They died in a fire when I was fifteen. I had to manage the best I could. I worked in a rail yard for a while an’ I hated it. I enlisted to get out of the city – Chicago – as soon as I was old enough. I chose the cavalry because I liked real horses better than iron ones,’ he added, with a slight smile.
Alec tended not to think about the years immediately following his parents’ death too much. He preferred to skip from a contented childhood to the active life and tightly-knit bonds of the military. Being in the Army had suited Alec. He’d discovered both his ability as a leader, and a natural gift for military strategy. Just as important to his mind, he’d made some close friendships.
‘The Army suited me,’ he said. ‘But I wanted to get back to a more normal life. I wanted to go on doing something useful and law work seemed to fit. I’m glad my friends chose to come with me; it wouldn’t ha’ been the same without them. The right company makes all the difference in a difficult job,’ he added, a touch wistfully.
‘I guess it does,’ Lacey said sympathetically.
Abruptly setting aside his coffee cup, Alec leaned forward to stir the stew.
‘I reckon this is about done. Let’s eat and turn in,’ he said.
CHAPTER EIGHT
After a peaceful night, they set off again in a fresh, early morning. Following a creek downstream, it wasn’t long before the smoke of a town came into sight. Alec smiled at Lacey, concealing his relief.
‘Let’s go get some food.’
As they rode along the street, someone left a restaurant as they passed. The open door let out a warm, savoury smell. Lacey inhaled deeply.
‘Oh, Sheriff, couldn’t we stop and get a proper meal, please? Fried chicken, or steak, with gravy, and a slice of pie, after?’ she pleaded.
The smell, and her suggestions, made Alec’s mouth water. He kept riding though.
‘I’m sorry, lass; we can’t spare the time. Alcott may only be an hour behind us, and we have to buy food for ourselves and the horses.’
Lacey sighed heavily, but made no objection.
They watered the horses at a public trough, then Alec moved on to a feed store. Lacey followed him inside, staying close this time.
‘You want those filling?’ the storekeeper asked, indicating the two small sacks that Alec carried. He looked at Lacey, looked harder, and smoothed fine hairs across the top of his balding head.
‘Sure.’ Alec paused beside one of the open sacks of oats and put his hand inside, stirring the grains up to assess them. ‘I’ll want a little extra too,’ he added, satisfied with the quality.
‘That’s no trouble,’ the storekeeper said, watching Lacey as she gazed about, examining the tins of molasses and blocks of rock salt. He switched his attention back to Alec, who was at the counter. ‘I’ve got some small sacks in the back.’
Alec shook his head. ‘I want enough to make two wee feeds for our horses, right now. I’ll need to borrow a couple of buckets or dishes to feed them.’
‘I sell things, I don’t lend them.’
‘The horses are right outside,’ Alec said. ‘We’ll not be very long.’ He put the grain sacks on the counter.
‘I can sell you two nosebags,’ the storekeeper replied.
Alec straightened, bracing to a military formality. Bringing out his law badge again, he slapped it onto the counter. ‘Ma name’s Alec Lawson,’ he said, in the tones of an annoyed officer, with the glare to match. ‘I’m a sworn Deputy US Marshal, and sheriff of Dereham County to boot. I need you to help me in the performance of my duties, in getting this young lady to safety.’ His voice rang with authority. ‘I need to borrow a couple of buckets from you,’ he repeated.
The storekeeper glanced nervously at Alec, then at the badge. He reached for the badge, as though about to pick it up, then changed his mind. He looked at Lacey, who stood watching, coolly waiting for him to make up his mind. The storekeeper looked at Alec once again, but could only meet his gaze for a few moments.
‘I . . . er . . . I guess I can lend you a couple of buckets,’ he whispered.
‘Good.’ Alec’s voice was still firm. ‘We’ll get the horses fed, then fill up these sacks while they eat.’
The storekeeper nodded, and shuffled around the counter to start to pick up a couple of buckets. Lacey barely saw what he was doing; she was transfixed by Alec, who now carried himself with an air of command as strong as any officer she’d ever seen in full dress uniform and medals. If she’d ever doubted his story of rising to become a captain, she had no doubt now.
When the horses were contentedly eating, Lacey asked Alec if she could visit the nearby draper’s store.
‘I won’t buy anything; I’ve no money anyway,’ she said. ‘But I just want to look at some lovely things again, and remind myself of what it’s like to be all dressed up and pretty. I want to see nice, normal things again,’ she pleaded.
Alec didn’t really understand the particular appeal of a draper’s store, but he got what she meant about wanting ordinary life and pleasant things. He nodded, and watched as she eagerly trotted along to the store and went in to enjoy the shelves of cloth and the ribbons. He sighed, without realizing. Ordinary, mundane, safe, comfortable life has ended for him more than half his lifetime ago, when his parents had died. He’d had to grow up fast to manage his life alone as a fifteen-year-old orphan. Then there had been the years in the army and in law work.
Alec had enjoyed his work, had enjoyed being able to help others, and, he had to admit, there had been times when he’d enjoyed the danger and the camaraderie it created with his friends. But it had never left him the time or the freedom to enjoy the ordinary sort of life. He’d been important as part of a system, as a soldier or a lawman; he believed he was important to his friends. But there was no one he was important to as family. The law building he shared with his friends was simply that – a building – not a home.
But he knew someone who was learning to make a house into a home. Lily, the Chinese girl he’d rescued from a group of moonshiners. Reverend Brown and his wife had taken the young woman in and Mrs Brown was delightedly educating her adopted daughter in the ways of being a good housewife. Lily was slender, beautiful and eager to please. She looked at Alec a
s though he could do anything in the world, and when she did, he felt as though he could indeed achieve anything. She’d been hidden away and abused by her former owners, and Alec delighted in showing her new things, and treating her to small luxuries. When she was around, he felt himself to be quite giddily in love, at last, and he relished it.
Lacey was back very shortly after the horses had finished eating and had settled down to doze, heads hanging low. Alec had returned the buckets to the feed store owner, who had taken them with little more than a formal nod.
‘Oh, it was lovely,’ Lacey said with warmth. ‘So many pretty things, and they had the loveliest, green velvet, just the thing for a hat next winter.’ She turned her head from side to side, as though showing off the new hat.
Alec smiled, and slung the saddle-bags over his shoulder. ‘Come on. Let’s go get some more supplies for ourselves.’
She nodded cheerfully, and followed him to the general store. Aware of time passing, Alec briskly ordered the supplies he wanted. Beans, rice, dried beef, raisins, cheese and more crackers were the first choice, followed by a few inches of cooked sausage wrapped in wax paper, by way of a change. He was adding a small tin of ground coffee to the pile of goods when Lacey spoke.
‘Could we get some sugar?’ she asked, pointing at the open barrel nearby. ‘I do prefer it in my coffee.’
Alec shook his head. ‘We’ve no tin to put it in, an’ it wears through paper bags.’ He saw her brave attempt to hide her disappointment. ‘I’ll tell you what though,’ he suggested kindly. ‘I could get some of that candy there, and you can dissolve that in your coffee to make it the sweeter.’
Lacey looked at the box of striped candy sticks on the counter. ‘Oh, please, Sheriff. That would be such a treat.’ Her smile lit up her sweet face.
Alec chuckled, and asked the storekeeper to put half a dozen candy sticks in a bag.
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