Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "You're right, I don't believe that. You know I was sweet on Cole. I might have had him if you hadn't come along. Still might in the end. I'm younger, prettier, and I'd wager I know how to please a man better than you. In fact, I haven't seen Cole get in the wagon over once or twice. What's the matter, you one of those cold ladies?"

  "Okay, you got it figured out. Do what you gotta do, Beth."

  "Doesn't matter, these men like me, especially Angel."

  Emily shrugged, she wouldn't win an argument with this girl, there was no use wasting her breath.

  "You've been with him, haven't you?"

  "Several times." She smiled. "And I don't regret it. Why the way you act, you'd think you was a virgin or something."

  "Beth, you've got to stop this while you still can," Emily warned her.

  "Stop it? I'm enjoying it. I've got a man that wants me all the time. You've seen him, how he takes me away from the camp. How he watches me. He adores me."

  Emily didn't say anymore. She couldn't.

  Mike walked up to her again. "Don't fret, she'll get what is coming to her."

  "I shouldn't waste my breath. She doesn't listen to me, she doesn't like me."

  "Oh, now why is that?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  "You are a strange kind of woman. I like you, I really do, but…I still might have to kill you." Mike threatened. "Not that I'd want to."

  "I know that…"

  "It would sure be a waste." He looked at her from head to toe.

  Emily tried not to let the man unnerve her. She was well aware of his advantage. She wouldn't be pushing him.

  Each night though, she wondered what Cole was doing? She missed him terribly. Was he following like he said?

  She hoped he didn't follow.

  Despite all her misgivings of this bunch, she knew Mike wouldn't hesitate to kill her or Cole if he showed up.

  No, Cole would be better off seeing his train get through to Oregon.

  ~*~

  "Emily won't be hard to find, but that little tart Beth will. I'll bet she's already snuggling up to them. I don't know how we're going to save them both, señor Cole." Perez said as the built a small fire, shared some hot coffee and ate jerky.

  "The only way we can is wait until she's around Emily. Which isn't too often. Wasn't for her mother, I'd leave her there." Cole frowned.

  "She is playing with fire, señor, She is too dumb to know the difference." Perez shook his head. "I think she would like to stay with them. She was flirting with them before they took her from the train."

  "I know. But I promised her mother I'd try to save her." Cole shook his head.

  "And if it comes to one or the other?"

  "We grab Emily and ride…" Cole said without hesitation.

  "Si, I agree. You have always been a loner until now, and this…marriage…agrees with you." Perez said.

  "Night Perez…" Cole laid down on his blanket and covered up as it was cold in the mountains.

  "Buenas noches."

  Cole lay there with his eyes open, thinking about Emily and all the times they had together. He'd never dreamed he could find a lady to put up with him. Never dreamed the feeling he had for Emily could be so strong.

  He had to find her and make her safe once more.

  Knowing her, he knew she wouldn't be some trembling terrified woman. She'd use her head.

  But since he didn't know this gang, he wasn't sure what they might do. That worried him, especially at night.

  He knew instinctively what Beth would do. But not Emily.

  But her cooking would satisfy them for a while, he knew that too. So she was valuable to them. Beth wasn't.

  He hoped Sam was doing alright on the train because this could take a while to accomplish. Several times on the mountain they thought they'd lost their trail. Evidently they were walking in the streams, at least that is what Perez finally decided.

  They were a clever bunch.

  As long as they didn't try anything, Emily would do fine. But the minute someone got out of line, he feared for her life.

  That's part of what made her so special.

  Right now, he'd give anything to hold her in his arms again. And it was strange, when it came to the train or her, he chose her without even blinking. She'd come to mean that much to him. Only he hadn't told her. And he regretted it now.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  When they reached the cabin where Mike's Ma lived, there were all kinds of people coming in and out of the place. It reminded Emily of a train station.

  She'd thought it would be some camp back in the woods, but it was a huge house, filled with people coming and going all the time.

  Emily didn't know what to think of the place, it was huge. The house was two-story and had plenty of room for company. But it was so hidden in the blanket of trees that surrounded it, she wondered if anyone would ever find her here. There were no roads leading up to it either.

  Ma was a surprise too. She was a big hefty lady, with a voice that boomed like a bear. Her eyes knitted into an instant frown when she saw they had women with them.

  "What the hell are you doing with them here?" She demanded of her son.

  Mike took his hat off and hugged her. "Is that any way to greet your son?"

  She hugged him back, lifting him off the floor. "I've told you many times never take a hostage. You're just asking for trouble."

  "We brought that one to cook for us."

  Mike motioned to Emily.

  His mother's eyes flew to Beth, "And that one?"

  "She didn't raise no Cain when we brought her." Mike insisted. "Besides, she's sort of Angel's girl, now."

  His Ma firmed her lips and frowned at Beth, going around her and inspecting her.

  "I guess she's harmless, no brains. But that one…."

  "Can cook Ma."

  "What's your name, lady?"

  "Emily. Emily Morgan." She said eyeing the woman just as haughtily as she was doing to her.

  "Can you actually cook?" The woman narrowed her gaze on her.

  "She makes better coffee than you do, Ma." Mike laughed.

  His Ma gave him the eye. "Fine, come with me." His Ma directed.

  Emily followed the woman into the kitchen. "Make me a pot of coffee. I ain't got no supper on yet, wasn't expecting anyone tonight. You'll have to fix them something. I need to talk to my boy."

  Emily shrugged and began making herself to home.

  The woman watched her every move.

  Emily put the coffee on, then turned to stare at her. The woman was tall and built like a ton of bricks, strong, and healthy for her age. Her hair was done up, but it was coming down in places and she batted it away from her eyes. Her eyes were dark and piercing.

  "Your son said you'd decide my fate. Will you?"

  "Probably. He usually does as I say. But first, we'll taste your coffee. I like a good cup of coffee."

  "So do I." She tried to smile.

  "Don't get no notion that I’m gonna go soft on you just because you can cook. You are a danger to my son, and I know it. The first chance you get, you'll escape, tell everyone where this place is and they'll be up here, trying to kill us all. I know that. He doesn't."

  "Your right of course. I would."

  Stunned at her honesty, the woman huffed. "Huh, now I see it."

  "See what?" Emily turned her head in question.

  "I see what my son sees in you. You are honest, well spoken. He likes that in a woman. Trouble is, there ain't too many women like that, these days." She sat down at the kitchen table.

  Emily poured her a cup of coffee.

  The woman looked at her, then the coffee. She smelled it and smiled. "Smells good."

  "It is. Try it."

  "You are sure of yourself too. Another thing he'd like."

  "So how's the coffee?" Emily challenged her.

  The woman sipped it. Then she took a bigger swallow. "Say, that is good coffee."

  "I told you."

&nbs
p; "You'd make a right fine wife for my son." She announced.

  Emily turned around to look at her. Was she serious?

  "I'm already married…"

  "To who?"

  "His name is Cole Morgan, he's a wagon master."

  "A wagon master?" His Ma studied her. "What was he doing on some wagon train?"

  "Your son robbed the people on the train and took me and Beth with him." She told her.

  "He didn't kill the wagon master?"

  "No ma'am." Emily frowned, suddenly realizing this woman was probably the brains of the gang itself.

  "He should have. Then he could take you for his wife."

  "I don't want to marry him."

  "Don't matter. You'd be good for him."

  "I'm married."

  "Yeah…but that's something we could remedy."

  Emily's eyes widened. "Why would you go to so much trouble?"

  "'Cause you are a good one. You'd be good for my Mike. Yes ma'am you would. I ain't gonna be on this earth forever. He will need a strong woman by his side. You are strong. I see that, right off. The more I think about it, the better it sounds."

  Emily sat down at the table with a cup of coffee for herself and tried to figure out how to handle this woman.

  "Is your man following Mike?"

  "It's possible, I don’t know for sure. I haven't seen any signs of it."

  "But he might be. And I'd bet he would be. Then it's settled."

  "What's settled?"

  "Mike will have to go back there and make sure your husband is good and dead."

  "No!" Emily nearly shouted.

  "Oh…you care for your man, do ya?" His mother looked surprised.

  "Of course I care…"

  "Won't do you no good. Best to forget him now. You done took on another life here with us. You'll be my son's wife. The other one, we'll have to get rid of. She's too dumb, talks too much, says nothing."

  "No!" Emily shouted again, banging her hand on the table as though she had control of the matter. "You can't do that."

  "Course we can. And you better get used to the idea," The woman informed her.

  She walked out of the room and went to talk to her son.

  "I like the idea Ma. I do, but…I don't think she'll go along with it." Mike insisted.

  "She will. She has no choice in the matter. Now you and Scar backtrack and take care of that husband, then you come on home and we'll have us a wedding."

  Mike thought on it a minute. "Let's eat first."

  "Sure, I'll get her to rustle something up." His Ma agreed.

  Emily prepared them steak and eggs and biscuits. It took a good hour to get the stove fired up and everything ready.

  As they sat around a big table eating, Ma was giving Mike instructions. Emily cringed. She was telling him how to kill Cole.

  "Now that one there, we don’t need her." His Ma looked at Beth.

  Beth squirmed.

  Angel spoke up. "But Ma, I love her. She's my woman, and she likes it."

  "You married her?"

  "No…but I made her…my woman." He defended.

  "Then you'll marry her right now. Don't want no hussy under my roof. If you marry her, I can accept that. We'll get that done tonight."

  Angel nodded. "Fine with me…"

  Beth quieted down some. "What if I don't want to marry him."

  Ma's brows knitted, "You ain't got no choice girl. You marry him, or we'll kill you."

  Beth's eyes widened.

  "Now what's it gonna be, girlie?"

  Beth looked at Emily for an answer. Emily sighed, "She'll marry him."

  Angel danced about the room then jerked Beth into his arms.

  Emily could see the spark go out of Beth's eye now. She didn't want to marry the man, just play with him.

  "Go get the preacher, Henry, we're gonna have a wedding tonight."

  "Can't we wait until morning?" Beth asked.

  "No, we can't. I won't have a little hussy like you bedding the men down without marriage. You'll marry tonight before you go to bed. I don't like tramps. You'll marry Angel, or you'll die."

  Beth nodded reluctantly.

  Emily saw the whole thing playing out here in the big room of the house. She wanted to stop it, but then, Beth had gotten herself into this. Perhaps this would wake her up quickly.

  When the one called Henry went to get the preacher, Beth came up to Emily. "Are you just going to let this happen?"

  "What can I do?"

  "I don't want to marry him!" She nearly screamed.

  Ma walked over and slapped her hard on the cheek. Beth began crying.

  "Now you listen here you little harlot. You want to bed a man, then you'll marry him. That's all there is to that." Ma declared. "We got some religion around here."

  Angel gathered her into his arms and they walked off together talking.

  Beth had come to her senses too late.

  When the preacher walked in the house though, Beth went berserk and grabbed a knife off the table and stabbed Angel. Angel fell to the floor, with a glassy-eyed look. He had fallen on the knife

  Ma grabbed her and knocked her across the room.

  "Kill her!" she shouted.

  Henry took out his pistol and shot her dead.

  It all had happened so fast, Emily didn't know what to do. She felt a panic set in, her insides turned in her stomach. She felt ill. For the first time in her life, she felt weak. Emily grabbed her as she slid to the floor. "Tell Mama…"

  But then Beth was dead. Her eyes held no life at all as they stared at her.

  Emily felt her whole body tremble. This had become a nightmare so quickly. How had it gotten to this point so fast?

  "Guess we won't be needin' you parson." Ma said.

  "We'll bury them on the hill tomorrow…" The parson said. "Goodnight to you."

  The way the parson accepted the incident had Emily worried. Was he in on it too?

  Two of the boys grabbed Angel and one picked Beth up and carried them into another room.

  Ma looked at Emily. "You don't want to end up like her, do you?"

  "No ma'am."

  "Good. I knew you'd come around to our way of thinking." Ma smiled.

  "You killed her in cold blood," Emily said slowly.

  "She was nothing but a tramp, not worth worrying over. Besides, she stabbed Angel. And he loved her, truly."

  Emily tried to reconcile what had happened, but it went beyond her understanding. As much as she didn't like Beth, she would never wish her death.

  Ma was more cold-blooded than her son. She saw that now. She'd have to be very careful of the things she said.

  "We should have a wake for Angel. He was a good boy." Ma encouraged.

  The others agreed.

  The next morning Emily found Angel laid out in his best suit in the big room. Several people came over to view his body. He had a wooden casket too.

  She couldn't look at him. But Ma made her.

  "Look at him. Ain't he pretty, all dressed up in his finest?"

  "I guess…"

  "Sure he is. He was like one of my own. Everyone loved Angel." She said. "Well, don't just stand there, girl, fix us something to eat, we are all starved."

  Emily went into the kitchen. She felt hot tears sting her eyes, but she held them in check. It wouldn't do for anyone to see her cry. What happened last night was a nightmare. She had hoped she'd wake up this morning and everything would be alright. But it wasn't.

  She concentrated on preparing breakfast.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was cold and rainy when they buried Beth. They dug a hole and threw her in it, not even wrapping her body. Emily couldn't stop the tears that slid down her cheeks. To be tossed like a dog in a hole and covered up with the mud like that, was hard for Emily to accept. They couldn't be bothered with burying someone correctly.

  The rain made a lulling sound, almost drowning out the singing.

  Emily felt so sad she couldn't breathe comfortabl
y. For Beth to die, so suddenly, by the hand of these savage people. To be tossed in a grave without benefit of a casket, in the pouring rain, with mud, not dirt hitting her poor body, was more than Emily could tolerate. She felt a bone pinching ache inside her rise up.

  It was too cold to appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery. She didn't want to enjoy anything today. Today was a sad day and nothing would change it. Emily saw a forest so thick she couldn't see the ground. It was as if God himself veiled his view of this façade of a funeral. She saw the highest point of the mountain covered in snow. A reminder that there was no warmth here in this place. She felt a chill, not just because of the weather, but because of the drab circumstances around her.

  And worse still, she was the only one that felt it.

  These people lived in poverty because they'd rather rob than work. They didn't respect the law, nor its people. And rather than feel sorry for them, as she might have at one time, she felt sick.

  Even though her Christian side saw deeper than that, it was hard to forgive Beth's death now. She realized just how fragile her own life was. These people could snuff it out at any time. At their choosing.

  The preacher, was a thin man with a top hat that had pretty words to say over Beth. There were strangers standing around, some actually crying. She wondered at that.

  That made no sense to Emily, they didn't know Beth at all. And quite suddenly, Emily wished she had made friends with her. Things might have turned out different if she had. Had she been more tolerant, Beth might have befriended her.

  So many things she wished were different remained the same. Beth was dead. Angel was dead, and Emily hadn't tried hard enough to reach her.

  "It's good that somebody cried over her," Ma said as they began walking back to the cabin. The boys hadn't come to the funeral, preferring to stay inside where it was warm and eat more of her food and talk about Angel.

  Pigs, Emily's mind rattled on.

  Of course, they claimed they were sitting at Angel's wake, out of respect for him. Emily doubted that. They had no respect for anyone or anything. They had ceased to be people, they were animals.