Silver Belles and Stetsons

by Caroline Clemmons

  Gus’ mother was Sioux Indian, her brother a powerful medicine man, so he said. He dabbled in herbs and powders. Maybe he could think of something to help. Gus was now sprawled out near the fire wrapped in a blanket, his head resting on his saddle.

  “Wake up.” Zac nudged his foot.

  “What the hell?” Gus leapt to his feet, his hand instinctively going for his gun.

  “It’s only me. I think Holly is coming down with fever. Can you mix up one of your concoctions for her?”

  “I thought you didn’t believe in Sioux medicine?”

  “I don’t, but I’m desperate enough to try anything.”

  “How long since she gave birth?”

  “Two weeks.”

  Gus raised his eyebrows.

  “I delivered the baby you know.”

  “You’re full of surprises, Zac.”

  “Yeah, well there was no choice. I’m worried she might have child-bed fever.” He thrust his hands into his pockets so Gus wouldn’t see them trembling.

  “You shouldn’t have brought her out so soon, particularly in weather like this.”

  “What choice did I have? I’ve got work lined up. I couldn’t leave her there alone. I’m taking her to Flo’s.”

  Gus fossicked around in one of his saddlebags. “And, how is the dear woman going?”

  “Same old Flo. She’s got a heart of gold, so I know Holly and Merry will be safe there.”

  “I’m betting Flo will tell you the same as me. Marry that gal and give this life up.” He drew out a small leather pouch, opened the flap and took a pinch of what looked like dried grass and dropped it into a mug. He poured in a small amount of water from his water bottle. Put his hand over the top of the mug and shook it vigorously. “Get her to drink this. It will take away the fever. She’ll get chills and should be kept warm. By morning she’ll feel better. If not, she’ll need to see a doctor.”

  Zac scowled. “You don’t sound very confident about it working.”

  “I’m not, but it’s all I can think of. I can’t carry too many herbs and powders around with me.”

  “I know. Thanks, I didn’t mean to snap, but dang, I’m worried.”

  “You care for her?”

  “I feel responsible for her and the baby.”

  Gus snorted. “It’s more than that. You care for that gal even if you aren’t prepared to admit it. As a friend, I’m telling you this. You’re a fool if you let her go.”

  “I’m no good.”

  “Surely you don’t believe what that old bitch Agnes Winthrop says. Just because her husband owns half of Forked Creek, she thinks she can spread lies about you and get away with it.

  “Everyone is too frightened old man Winthrop will withdraw all his money and the town will be bankrupt,” Zac said.

  “Exactly, from what I’ve seen and heard of the woman, she’s as loco as her niece Kitty.”

  “Yeah. It’s a pity she hadn’t been married to Winthrop when I got mixed up with them.” Zac gave a bitter laugh. “Kitty wouldn’t have been trying to get money she thought I had. She’d have got it out of Agnes instead.

  “Here, quit jawing and give this to the gal.”

  Zac took the potion and made his way to the back of the cave. He squatted down beside Holly. The baby started to fuss, so he patted her back.

  Her mother’s instinct must have alerted Holly that the baby needed her. She raised herself. “I feel so hot.”

  “You’ve got a fever.” He couldn’t see her face, it was too dark now, but he sensed her fear. “Here, drink this before you attend to Merry. “It’s one of Gus’ potions, it will help.”

  She took the mug in a trembling hand and drank it. “Ooh, it’s foul. What’s in it?” She handed the mug back to him.

  “I didn’t ask, and believe me you don’t want to know. Here, feed the baby and I’ll rustle you up a coffee and some beans.”

  “I’m not hungry; water would be nice, though.”

  “You have to keep up your strength. I want to leave here tomorrow.”

  “What’s the rush? It’s not too bad here.”

  “I want to get out of here. Gus told me that Kitty McDonald, the woman who accused me of rape, has escaped from prison vowing revenge. She’s in cahoots with the Vermont gang. They’re known to frequent these parts.”

  “Oh Zac.”

  His manhood surged when she opened her bodice to give the baby her breast. It was so smooth and white he didn’t know how he stopped himself from putting his hand out to caress it. To taste it would be heaven.

  “I don’t care about myself, it’s you and the child I’m worried about. If Kitty finds out about you, she’ll hurt you just to get revenge on me, then she’ll come after me, and I’ll probably end up with a bullet in the back.”

  “She was the one who did wrong, not you.”

  “Yeah, well she’s loco, no reasoning with people like her. I was a fool to have got mixed up with her.”

  “You were young, you weren’t to know.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve paid a heavy price for my foolishness.” He stood. “Give me a yell when you’re finished with the baby, and I’ll bring your supper up.”

  “Thank you, please thank Gus for his medicine, even if it tasted like poison.”

  Zac swung away before he gave in to the temptation to touch her, when she put the baby on the other breast.

  He relayed her message to Gus then busied himself with the mundane task of preparing coffee and beans, hoping it would dampen down his ardor. The quicker he got her to Flo’s the better. She tied his emotions in knots.

  He cooked enough beans for all of them. Gus always kept the coffee pot bubbling whenever he camped out. They had spent a lot of time together on the trail over the years. Gus had always been a reliable, loyal friend. He had always valued the older man’s opinion, but he had got it wrong with Holly. She deserved better than what he could give her. He often wondered why things hadn’t panned out between Flo and Gus, but didn’t like to ask.

  After supper they all settled down to sleep. There was nothing else to do. The rain still bucketed down, the wind had picked up again. Thunder growled, echoing eerily through the canyon. Lightning flashed, lighting up the sky, then plunging it into darkness once more.

  Zac was starting to worry about whether there would be flooding now. The road into town was low in parts and prone to being washed away. That’s all I need.

  He settled down near the fire and closed his eyes, but he couldn’t sleep. Where was Kitty McDonald? What evil did she have planned for him now?

  Holly crying out interrupted his thoughts. Gus let out a loud snore. Zac hurried to her. In the dimness he could see her body shaking.

  “Are you all right?”

  “No. I’m so cold.”

  “I’ll go and see if Gus has a spare blanket in his saddlebag. I wish I’d thought to bring a couple along. No blankets in your trunks I suppose?”

  “No.”

  He put out his hand to touch her forehead and it was cold. From running a temperature to freezing. He only hoped it was a sign the potion was working. “Would you like a warm drink?”

  “No.”

  He hurried back to the front of the cave. Gus still snored loudly so he checked his saddlebags. Nothing. He was tempted to rip Gus’ blanket off him, but couldn’t risk his friend catching chill. He grabbed up his own blanket and took it to her.

  “There are no spare blankets. You can have mine, but two blankets won’t be enough.”

  The fire had burned down to glowing embers as their wood supply was exhausted. It was too wet and dark to be searching outside for more. He was glad Gus had brought them here. Caught in the open they might have perished.

  He lifted Holly’s blanket and crawled in next to her, then threw his blanket over them as well. Merry was snug and warm wrapped in her blanket and a towel, and resting on Gus’s saddle blanket.

  “You’re cold,” he said, picking up her hands and rubbing them between his own.
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  “I’m freezing.”

  “I know, darlin’, but it’s probably Gus’ medicine working on you.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close, hoping the heat from his body would infuse hers with warmth.

  “Is the baby all right?” she asked.

  “Yeah, snug as a bug in a rug. Don’t fret about her, she’ll let us know if she needs anything.”

  “What if my milk goes?”

  “It won’t.” He tried to sound confident, but wasn’t. He had been thinking the same thing.

  It felt good having her softness pressed against his hardness. He swung his leg over hers to hold them even closer together. He tried to dampen down his desire by reminding himself she had only recently given birth, and was fighting a fever. He wouldn’t touch her, but Lord help him, he wanted to. Finally, her shaking subsided and she slept. Sonofabitch, it was going to be a long night.

  ***

  Merry’s crying woke Holly, and for a moment she wondered why she felt so warm and safe. Then she remembered, Zac was holding her close. The crying woke him, she instinctively knew even before he spoke.

  “I’ll get her, you stay under the blankets. Are you feeling better?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He cussed when he rolled away and tried to get up. “I’ve got a cramp in my leg. He stumbled over to pick up the baby. “How long before she stops waking at night for a feed?” He handed her over.

  “Didn’t they mention that in the medical book?”

  “I didn’t bother reading that far. I’ll get us a coffee, if Gus hasn’t drank it all. I swear, that man drinks more coffee than anyone I know. It’s a wonder he ever gets to sleep.

  Holly shivered without the warmth of Zac’s body, but the chills had gone. I’ll have to ask Gus what herbs he used. Doubtful he would tell her, though. It was probably a closely guarded family secret.

  The baby suckled strongly, giving little satisfied snuffles every now and again. It filled her heart with joy because her baby was thriving. After she finished feeding and changing her, she laid her down. There wasn’t much dry linen left now. She hated the idea of leaving her baby wet and uncomfortable, but there wasn’t much choice. Until she could get into Forked Creek and wash what she had, and perhaps buy more, she had to make do. Neither of the men would have anything suitable for her to use.

  Zac returned with the coffee, and stood staring down at her. His face was in shadow, so she couldn’t see his expression. “Here’s your coffee. It’s not real hot, the fire went out. We’ve burnt all the wood we had, and it’s too dark and wet to search for more. He handed her a biscuit. “That’s about it, we’ve exhausted Gus’ food supply.”

  “How can we repay his kindness?” She sipped the warm coffee.

  “We can’t, well not at the moment. I’m thinking, as soon as it’s light enough not to be dangerous, we’ll leave. We don’t want to attract attention to Gus’ hideout.”

  “Whatever you think is best. I’d like to repay Gus somehow.”

  “Give him one of your lovely smiles that will be enough.”

  ***

  By the time Zac decided to leave, the rain had stopped, and the wind had died down. They said farewell to Gus. He bowed slightly, picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. “Goodbye, lovely lady. I hope we meet again.”

  “I do, too. Thank you, for everything.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “From Merry and me.”

  He laughed. “Good luck.” He winked at her, turned his head toward Zac and said. “Remember what I told you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You better let the sheriff know I killed Frank and Al Sullivan.”

  “I will. Thanks. I hope our paths cross again soon, my friend.”

  Zac lifted Holly into his wagon and dumped Merry’s trunk in the back.

  Gus waved his hand, then stood motionless as they drove away.

  Chapter Seven

  They arrived in Forked Creek around midday. Zac’s lips were set into grim brooding lines, his expression stony, as they passed down the main street. A large mercantile shop dominated the street. There was a red brick bank, modern diner and bakery, amongst an assortment of other buildings. At the far end of the street was the livery stable and on the opposite side, but a few buildings down, was the Golden Nugget saloon. Was this where Zac went when he wanted a woman?

  A few people stopped to stare, others ignored them. Holly felt the tenseness in Zac, but he didn’t say a word, just stared straight ahead.

  He pulled the wagon up outside the sheriff’s office. “We better report your husband’s death. Not that there will be anything much he can do about the body, it’s probably irretrievable.”

  Holly gasped, and he turned to face her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound so brutal.” He lifted her down from the wagon. She caught the condemnation in the eyes of a pious looking matron dressed in deep purple.

  Zac savaged the woman with just one look, and she scuttled off. “That’s Agnes Winthrop, old mauk.”

  Holly pulled the blanket over the baby’s head and held her close as Zac opened the door of the sheriff’s office. He stepped back so she could enter first. The sheriff, a middle-aged man with a melancholy expression on his face, sat with his hands splayed out on his desk.

  “Ed, this is Mrs. Holly O’Leary, she wants to report her husband’s death on the 23rd December.”

  Holly told the sheriff what had happened.

  “That was two weeks ago. Why didn’t you report it sooner?”

  “She couldn’t. She gave birth on Christmas Day and wasn’t well enough to come to town.”

  “Well, why didn’t you let me know?”

  “Damn it, Ed, I couldn’t leave her on her own with a newborn baby.”

  “Please, do you think you’ll be able to retrieve my husband’s body? I’d like to give him a Christian burial.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. O’Leary, if he’s where Zac says he is, I doubt it. I can’t risk my deputy’s life.”

  “I understand, Sheriff, but you will do your best?”

  “We’ll try Mrs. O’Leary, but no promises.”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Where can we contact you?” He glanced at Zac.

  “I’m taking her to Flo’s place. She’ll be staying there until she works out what she wants to do” He told the sheriff about meeting up with Gus Moncrief and the shooting of Al and Frank Sullivan. “Those evil varmints were attacking Mrs. O’Leary when Gus rode to the rescue. He’d been tracking them for weeks. So cross them off your wanted list.”

  Zac planted his hands on the desk, and stared straight into the sheriff’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me about Kitty McDonald escaping from prison?”

  “I was going to mention it.”

  “When? After she’d put a bullet in my back?”

  “Don’t take that attitude with me,” the sheriff blustered. “I’m a busy man.”

  “So am I,” Zac snarled. “In fact, if you want me to continue doing your dirty work, you’ll make sure Mrs. O’Leary and her child are safe from scum like the Vermonts and Kitty McDonald.”

  Holly’s head ached, and she was starting to feel weak and nauseous. “Zac, I don’t feel very well. Can we go straight to Flo’s?”

  He put his arm around her shoulder, and it felt good having his support as they walked to the wagon. He lifted her up, and she shivered as a cold wind whistled up the street. The baby started to whimper and fidget.

  Flo lived in a white wooden house set in a side street behind the mercantile store. Zac lifted her down, and took Merry from her trembling hands.

  Before he even knocked on the door, it was flung open. A small women wearing a white pinafore over her blue dress, and a welcoming smile on her face, greeted them.

  “What are you doing here? She gave Zac a smacking kiss on his cheek and peered at the baby. “Yours?” She chuckled.

  “No, she belongs to Holly. Holly O’Leary, meet Flo Baker, the best cook in these here parts.”

>   “Flattery won’t work with me, so don’t even try it. My dear, you do look exhausted, come in and sit down. I suspect you could do with a coffee.”

  She plucked the baby out of Zac’s arms. “And who is this little cherub?”

  “Her name is Merry, as in Christmas. I delivered her on Christmas morning,” he boasted. “I did a good job even if I say so myself.” He smiled, and Holly caught her breath. What a handsome man he was. Why didn’t he smile like that for me?

  Flo showed her to a floral sofa and sat her down. Zac gave the woman a brief outline of what had transpired.

  “Oh, my dear, what a dreadful time you’ve had of it. You were lucky it was Zac who found you, and not some desperado.”

  “He’s been very kind to both of us.”

  “Do you have a room for her?” he asked. “She’s got nowhere to stay.”

  Flo handed the baby, who started whimpering, back to Zac. “Shh little gal.” He gently rocked her. “Your mother will feed you in a minute.”

  “Yes, there’s a room out the back, easier for you than going upstairs with the baby.”

  “Thank you, I’m very grateful to you and Zac.”

  “I’ll make the coffee, you see to the luggage. You be staying the night, too?”

  Holly held her breath waiting for his answer.

  “Yeah, if you have a room for me.”

  “I never let your room out, you should know that.”

  She glanced speculatively at Zac then Holly, before bustling off.

  When Zac left to get their luggage, Holly opened her bodice and put Merry to her breast. Zac, slammed the door on his return, and she heard him striding up the hallway.

  The sitting room had pretty sprigged wallpaper, and polished wooden floors. It smelt of beeswax polish and lavender. It was a nice place to stay, but she desperately wanted to be back at the cabin.

  Zac returned and sat down in an armchair opposite her. It was clear he was at ease here.

  Flo stepped into the room bearing a tray containing three cups of steaming coffee and a plate of sandwiches. “Do you take cream, Holly?”

  “Yes, thank you.” She eased the baby’s rosebud mouth from her nipple, and fastened the bodice on her gown. She only had one other gown in her luggage, but what she wouldn’t give to be able to change into it now. Wrapping the baby up in her blanket, she placed her on the sofa.