The Devil Between Us

by S. C. Wilson

  After tapping their glasses together, they downed their beverages. This shot went down a little easier than Jesse’s first one.

  Abby looked at Jesse and said, “So, Jesse McGinnis. What’s your story?”

  “Just came to town to pick up some supplies.”

  “Will you be staying for a while?”

  “Heading home the day after tomorrow.”

  “Do you live far away?” Abby asked, hoping the attractive man lived close to the area, or near one of the towns where she performed.

  “I’m from a town called Barrel. It’s quite a distance from here.”

  The painted lady who had approached Jesse earlier returned. Jesse could hear the woman’s loud whisper into Abby’s ear. “I need to talk to you,” she said, struggling too hard against the din. “In private!”

  Abby stood up and leaned closer to Jesse. “That’s my friend, Mabel. I have to go. I have never asked a man this before, but would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night before you leave?”

  “Um…I don’t know if I can.”

  “Well, I’ll be at the Tin Plate tomorrow evening at 6 o’clock if you’d like to join me,” Abby said before she turned to walk away.

  Jesse watched as the stunning woman made her way toward the back of the saloon.

  Abby couldn’t help but take another look at Jesse. She glanced over her shoulder and caught Jesse staring at her. They both smiled at each other before Jesse quickly turned her head. Abby’s smile widened. He looked like a kid with his hand caught in the candy jar.

  After settling the tab, Jesse headed back to Edith’s place. Should I go? She had some thinking to do.

  Mabel took Abby to her room. Abby listened silently, heart sinking, as her friend told her story. “I’m going to have a baby. It has to be Earl’s. He’ll be back in town tomorrow night and I’m going to tell him.”

  Abby had met Earl several times and was not impressed with the man. It was obvious he was using Mabel for one thing. Somehow, he had convinced her he loved her, and because of that he was the one man Mabel never charged. Earl claimed he was close to making his fortune. When he did, he said he would take care of her the way she deserved to be taken care of. Mabel believed every word Earl said, but Abby didn’t. She had tried voicing her opinion about him in the past, but it had only created a rift between her and Mabel. Now, hearing the hope in her friend’s voice, she hugged and congratulated her, worrying in silence that Earl probably wouldn’t take the news quite as well.

  Jesse lay on her bed and replayed the evening in her mind. The saloon had been too noisy and crowded for her liking, but she had enjoyed herself. She still couldn’t believe how easy it was to pass as a man. She knew the clothing and hairstyle were a huge part of it, but there was more to it than that. She carried herself differently than the women in the saloon. Jesse was a woman, yet she felt nothing like the women in Ely. Having spent her teens isolated on the mountain, she thought perhaps she simply didn’t know how to be feminine. Then there was Abby, who radiated femininity with her every movement. The thought of Abby’s eyes, or her smile, or the touch of her hand made Jesse smile. She felt a flush of heat rush to her cheeks.

  Jesse wasn’t sure what she was feeling, but it felt both good and scary at the same time.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jesse took her pelts and made her way to the trading post as soon as it opened. She couldn’t help but think about Edith and Felix, and hoped when she saw him her face wouldn’t give any hint she knew about their liaison. She smiled inwardly, knowing she wasn’t the only person in town who had a secret.

  She walked in and placed the rolled-up pelts on the counter.

  “Jesse, right? Looks like you had another good season.”

  “Hi, Felix. Did he buy my pelts?”

  “Everyone of them. And will definitely want these too.”

  Jesse was thrilled. She was making her own money, and knew Frieda would be proud of her. “Those new traps worked out great.”

  “Well, let me figure what I owe ya.”

  “I’m just gonna look around for what I need while you do that.”

  Jesse looked over the shelves, making note of the supplies she needed. She looked at a stack of men’s shirts, wanting more than anything to hold one of the nearby dresses to her frame instead. The temptation of the soft fabric was too much. Jesse reached out to feel one of the nicer dresses.

  “All right, I have the total. Do you know what all you want?” he asked.

  Jesse spun around, hands flat against her sides. She cleared her throat and named off the things she would be back for first thing in the morning. Picking up a shirt she said, “But I’ll take this now.”

  “That’s fine, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Jesse went back to the hotel to rest for the trip back up the mountain in the morning. She couldn’t sleep. Instead she relived her encounter with Abby. What is wrong with me?

  Something wasn’t right about the whole situation. Jesse considered packing up and heading home. Then she thought about how nice it could be to make a new friend. Nothing wrong with that.

  That evening Jesse washed her hair in the washbasin while having second thoughts about meeting Abby for dinner. She’d been wavering back and forth all day. She wasn’t sure whether she was more excited or nervous. After a lengthy internal battle, she finally decided to go. She pondered the reason for her emotions as she dressed. Putting on the new shirt, she wished she was getting into the pretty dress she’d seen at Felix’s instead.

  Already late, Jesse brushed the dust off her wide-brimmed hat, took a deep breath, and hurried to the Tin Plate.

  Abby was waiting when she got there. Jesse took a seat across the table.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you were coming,” Abby said.

  “Sorry for being late. Time got away from me.”

  “It’s fine. I’m just happy you made it. I hope you don’t mind. I went ahead and ordered us coffee.”

  Jesse smiled, grateful Abby didn’t press for details about her tardiness. “Coffee sounds great. Thank you. So, were you raised here in Ely?”

  “I came here in '59, so…going on five years now. My best friend Mabel traveled here with me from Missouri.”

  Jesse asked, “Why did you leave Missouri?”

  “Neither one of us had family or any kind of future there, so we figured, why not.”

  “What happened to your families?”

  “Mabel’s parents and older sister died from influenza when she was eleven. They stuck her in an orphanage. And my mother died giving birth to my sister when I was nine.”

  Jesse’s own lost family flickered through her mind. She felt a sudden kinship. She met Abby’s gaze and asked, “What about your father?”

  Abby’s blue eyes flashed. “I don’t have a father. The day my mother died was the day I lost my father too.”

  “Oh Abby, I’m so sorry. What happened to him?”

  Abby’s lips tightened into a thin line. “When she died, he took comfort from the bottle. That became his only care.” Her voice hardened. “I left home when I was sixteen, and never saw him again. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. I’m sure if he is, he’s drinking as I speak. He’s a mean drunk, and I don’t like to talk about him.”

  Jesse’s eyes widened, upset with herself for bringing up painful memories. “I, uh…sorry,” Jesse said, stammering as she tried to think of how to lighten the conversation. “How did you end up in California?”

  “Mabel and I decided to set out for a new start in life. She always lived kind of a wild lifestyle, if you know what I mean, so the easiest way for her to make money was in pleasuring men. And trust me, there are always plenty of men that need pleasing. She got me my first job performing at a saloon back in Missouri. The money was good. One thing you can count on—no matter how hard times get, men are always willing to spend their money on whiskey and women. I made ten dollars a week plus commission for any liquor I got the men to drink. I’d ask
the men to buy me a drink and the bartender would serve me a shot glass of tea but charge for a whiskey. It’s a big swindle, but I couldn’t refuse. I needed the money.”

  Jesse listened; not raising an eyebrow, knowing the same trick was pulled on her the night before.

  “Anyway, we took the stagecoach from Missouri to California. Cost us two hundred bucks each, and we made the journey. It was long, and god-awful, really. Weeks packed in a stagecoach is something I would never recommend, but at least it got us a new start.”

  “I bet you got to see amazing things, though.”

  “Yes, at first it was beautiful, but day after day. A person can only take so much.”

  “Never met anyone who rode one. What’s it like?”

  “It’s hot, dirty, uncomfortable, and never ending. Nine of us packed inside that thing. It was so cramped that we sat knee against knee. You know how much dust a horse can kick up…well imagine being behind six of ‘em. It’s like sitting in a constant cloud of dust. You learned pretty quick to ride with your mouth shut or you’ll be crunching dirt in your teeth. Most of the time it was hot, so that made it easy for the dirt to cling to your skin. Can you imagine how we looked when we stopped?”

  “How often did you get to stop?” Jesse was enthralled.

  “Not very often. Actually, we stopped mostly for the horses. Every now and then the horses had to be switched out for fresh ones. Those were very quick stops…maybe ten minutes.”

  “When did you eat or sleep?”

  Abby said, “Speaking of eating, we should probably order.”

  “What would you recommend?”

  “They have a wonderful sirloin.” Abby motioned for the waitress.

  Jesse had never had a sirloin. She was going to have to trust Abby knew what was best. “Is that what you’re having?”

  “I think so.”

  “I’ll give it a try,” Jesse said as the waitress approached the table.

  The waitress looked at Jesse. “Have you decided?”

  Jesse nodded toward Abby. “Ladies first.”

  Abby ordered a medium-well steak, along with a baked potato before the waitress turned her attention back to Jesse.

  Jesse looked up at her. “I’ll have the same.”

  The waitress gave an understanding nod and walked away.

  Jesse picked up her cup of coffee. Before taking a drink, she asked, “Please, finish telling me about your trip.”

  “We stopped a couple times a day for food. Got about forty minutes to stretch our legs, get a bite to eat, and use the bathroom. Sleeping…I’m not sure I would even call it that. During the day, if you wanted to rest, you did it sitting up. At night we would stop at a farm along the way. The families would feed us and then we would stay the night.”

  “Like Edith’s hotel?”

  “Heavens no, Jesse.” Abby grimaced. “We slept on dirt floors. Or at least tried to sleep. I’m not a princess by any means…but no one should have to sleep on dirt this day and age. At first light we were on the road again, and it was always in the back of my mind that we would be attacked by Indians or held up by a robber.”

  “I take it you didn’t have any encounters?”

  “Thankfully, we made it unscathed. Thanks to our driver.”

  “So how did you end up in here, in Ely?”

  “Looking back now, Mabel and I were pretty foolish. We had no idea what we were going to do when we got to California or where we would even stay. We were just blessed to have one of the finest stagecoach drivers, Corky.”

  “Corky?” Jesse smiled at the strange name.

  “It’s his nickname. He told me when he was a kid he liked to talk a lot, and his older brothers were always telling him to put a cork in it. Well, one day they just started calling him Corky, and the name stuck with him since.”

  The waitress brought them their meals, and they continued talking as they ate.

  “Anyway, Corky is one of the finest men I have ever met. It was by happenstance we even got him as our driver. He was returning home from St Louis. He told me he had delivered a large sum of money there for the stagecoach company. We just got lucky to catch his coach on the way back to California. He kind of took us under his wing along the way. His hired gun didn’t have to protect the strongbox, so to keep us safe, Corky had him ride inside the coach. He told me robbers knew if a man with a rifle was sitting next to a stagecoach driver, then there must be lots of valuables in the strongbox. Corky asked me to sit up there with him when we traveled through certain areas. We talked, mile after mile, and day after day. It wasn’t hard for him to figure out that Mabel and I hadn’t really thought out what we were going to do when we got here. By the time we reached California, he offered to let us stay at his place until we got things worked out.”

  “That was nice of him.”

  “Yes it was. We stayed with him for several weeks. It worked out for him and us because he was always gone, running the coach, so we never got in his way.” Abby smiled.

  “What?” Jesse asked in reaction to Abby’s grin.

  “I hadn’t thought of it in a long time, but Mabel was so sweet on him.”

  “She was? Well, since she is here it mustn’t have panned out for them.”

  Abby shook her head. “Corky just isn’t that kind of man. I think he was just too busy to take on a wife. He is like a father to me. He got us here safe, took care of us, provided food for us, and he even got us our jobs. He knows a lot of folks all over California, and he introduced me to a guy down in Big Oak who owns The Drake. We both got hired on right away. Well, Mabel got hired no questions asked, but I had to audition for him. I had to go back that evening and sing for the crowd. If he liked their reaction then he would discuss wages. After the show, I got hired.”

  “You have a beautiful voice. He’d have been a fool not to hire you.”

  “Thank you,” Abby said, bashful eyes drifting to the tabletop.

  Jesse was amazed to see a slight blush coloring Abby’s cheeks. Surely, with her amazing talents, she must be accustomed to such compliments.

  Abby looked back up, smiled, and continued her story. “The owner made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He offered me a traveling job performing at the different saloons he owns. I decided, why not, and took his offer. I choose to stay in Ely most of the time because it’s centrally located. Makes it easier to travel to the saloons north and south of here.”

  Jesse placed her fork on the empty plate. “That steak was delicious. So, does Corky drive you?”

  “Glad you liked it. I wish he did. We have other men that take us. Corky does come through the area from time to time. I’ll have to introduce you if you two happen to be here at the same time.”

  Jesse felt somewhat out of touch having lived isolated on the mountain for so long. She told Abby about life as a trapper and how her parents, Nathaniel and Frieda, had come to the Barrel area years ago. Of course, Abby had never heard of the place. Jesse assured her she probably never would, explaining it was so small it wasn’t on any map. Jesse shared stories about hunting and the cabin, always being careful not to reveal anything that would indicate any of it occurred on nearby Mount Perish.

  Abby stared wide-eyed, amazed as she listened to Jesse’s tales of the harsh lifestyle.

  Feeling like Abby’s eyes were boring into her as she spoke, Jesse thought for sure her ruse was up. Can she tell something isn’t quite right with the man seated across from her? Maybe it’s because I’m not big and burly like most of the other men around here. Maybe it’s something about my voice. Jesse’s mind raced.

  Jesse didn’t realize it was because of the attraction Abby felt toward her. Abby had never met a man quite like Jesse. She was captivated.

  Later in the evening one of the more risqué women from The Foxtail came rushing through the door.

  “Lena!” Abby exclaimed, standing as the frantic woman made her way to their table.

  Lena clutched Abby’s forearms. “I have been looking everywhere
for you! It’s Mabel. She’s real bad. You need to come, now.”

  Jesse was laying money on the table before Lena finished speaking. She followed the two women out into the evening air.

  Out of earshot of the other patrons, Lena said, “A guy came in the saloon tonight. Told Mabel he could take care of her problem. Said he had done that kind of thing lots of times. She believed him and after he took her money they went up to her room. He did his thing and then took off. Now, she’s bleeding real bad. I didn’t know what to do.”

  Abby looked at Jesse. “I’m so sorry, I have to go.”

  “It’s fine. Go, Mabel needs you.”

  Abby nodded and began to follow Lena. She stopped and turned back around, her words falling out in a rush. “I wish you weren’t leaving in the morning. You aren’t like the other men around here, and I really like getting to know you. My last stop this year is in Granite Falls—be there for the whole month of August. If you can, come and see me.”

  The blood drained from Jesse’s face at the mention of Granite Falls. A sick feeling washed over her. For a moment she thought she might vomit on the street. She swallowed hard before replying. “I’ll try,” she said, eyes unable to meet Abby’s for the first time.

  Abby and Lena rushed to the saloon and up to Mabel’s room. Two women were at the head of her bed, wiping her down with wet rags. Abby hurried to Mabel’s bedside where she traded places with one of the women. She took the rag off of her forehead. “Oh, Mabes,” Abby said in a consoling tone, “you’re going to be just fine.” She turned the rag over, placing the cool side down on her head.

  With tears streaming down her face and the pain unbearable, Mabel squeezed Abby’s hand. “It hurts. He did something wrong. The bleeding won’t stop.”

  “Lena, go get the doctor!” Abby shouted. “Run!”

  “I had to do it. When I told Earl, he said he wasn’t havin’ no baby with a whore. Asked me how in the hell I would know he was the father when I been with every other man in town. Said he wanted nothin’ to do with me and left. You were right about him all along. I should have listened to you.”