An Unlikely Place for Love

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  He woke up early on Saturday morning and rode out to the field where wild flowers grew. He was rusty at courting a woman but he thought that Kate would enjoy the white and purple flowers. He recalled the previous evening when they took a long walk through the field. She mentioned that she liked the color purple. They had also discussed the different books they had read and places they had been to. She seemed well educated, so he was surprised she came from such a humble background. She didn’t discuss her small town life in Kentucky. Instead, she focused on her life in Virginia as Senator Tanner’s secretary. They returned to the house where they ate and danced. He was pleased that Billy thought well enough of him to trust him alone with his sister. Chad had no desire to behave improperly towards her, but it was nice to know that Billy knew that.

  Since Kate was upset about Senator Tanner’s death and Billy had witnessed the event, he decided he would go into town to get a newspaper and ask Mark Risley, who owned the newspaper office, if he knew if the police caught the killer or killers. He wrote a quick note and left it on the kitchen table so when Billy and Kate looked for him, they would know where he had gone. He hadn’t been in town for ten months, so it felt awkward to make an appearance. He was determined to find out the information Billy and Kate desperately wanted, which was why he steeled himself for the matter at hand. They were worth the discomfort.

  When he reached town, he saw that Lacy was walking along the boardwalk past the shops. He almost turned around and went back home but realized he couldn’t hide from his past forever. He reluctantly got off the horse and tied him up to the post in front of the newspaper building. He quickly went into it before she had a chance to reach him.

  He breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind him. He didn’t wish to have anything to do with her since she had only added to his misery in this town. It would be good to get out of here and start a new life somewhere else. I ought to ask Kate to marry me and ask her to take me with her when she goes back home. He hesitated to do so. It seemed to be too soon to propose marriage to her.

  Mark Risley came out from his office. “I almost feel like I’m seeing a ghost.” He smiled at him. “We all miss Georgia, but I’m sure you miss her more. How have you been holding up since Georgia’s death?”

  This is why he didn’t like to go to town. People assumed he and Georgia had a happy marriage and that he was completely destroyed when she died. “I’m doing well. It’s been a year,” he finally replied.

  “Time is a good healer of broken hearts. How can I help you this morning?”

  “I came in to buy today’s paper.”

  Mark nodded and handed him the paper.

  Chad blinked when he saw Billy on the front page. He read the headline: Local Hero Rescues Boy From Burning House.

  The door opened behind him but he didn’t look back.

  “Do you have any papers from earlier this week?” Chad wondered.

  “Actually, I do have a few copies left. What days would you like?”

  “All of them.”

  “Are you taking a sudden interest in what’s going on in the nation?”

  He shrugged. “My new farmhand and his sister are. I thought I’d help them out.”

  “Well, the farmhand is a hero. Everyone’s talking about how brave he was to run into the house to save the little boy. He didn’t even think about it. He just ran right in. As for the woman, I haven’t seen her but heard she’s beautiful.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m surprised you ventured into town,” Lacy said.

  He tensed. Of all the people who would be walking around town when he finally ventured out here after ten months, it would have to be her. “I’m just picking up papers,” he stiffly told her.

  Mark stayed out of the conversation as he collected the papers from the back room.

  “There’s no reason to be rude,” she continued.

  “Are you really surprised after what you did? You still haven’t confessed to what really happened that night.” He shook his head. When was Mark going to be done?

  “We know that you wanted me as much as I wanted you.”

  “I thought you were Georgia.” Why was he wasting his time? Lacy would never reveal the truth to the people in town.

  Mark returned with the papers. He mutely paid Mark and left the building. He gritted his teeth when he realized Lacy followed him to his horse. Lacy never left him alone. As soon as he arrived to town with her sister, she had a habit of following him around. Early on, he had dismissed it as a young girl’s crush since she had been fourteen at the time. But now, he knew better.

  “Get away from me, Lacy,” he angrily ordered as he put the newspapers in the bag and flung the bag over his shoulder. Thankfully, they were in broad daylight with a couple of witnesses so no one would misunderstand the situation. He untied the horse.

  She grabbed his arm. “You can’t keep ignoring me.”

  He shook her hand off his arm. “The last time I talked to you, you accused me of rape.”

  “I know you were attracted to me. Besides, we both know you weren’t getting anything from Georgia. You should thank me since I was willing to satisfy your basic male need.”

  “Sex is a sacred gift that is meant for a husband and his wife. You had no right to pretend to be Georgia.” He got up on the horse. “Get out of my way before I run you over.” He stared at her.

  “Chad? What are you doing in town?” Sam and Tim asked as they walked over to them.

  “I came to pick up some newspapers,” he replied. “Lacy insists on pestering me.” He glared at her.

  “Chad wanted to speak with me. I told him no but he said that it was important.”

  Chad shook his head. He knew that Sam and Tim wouldn’t believe him so he didn’t bother to tell them the truth.

  “We will thank you to stay away from Lacy,” Sam coldly stated.

  “I’ll be more than happy to comply with your wishes,” Chad replied.

  “If we catch you trying to make advances at her again, we’ll be happy to teach you another lesson,” Tim growled.

  “I have no interest in her. You should know by now that my affections are for Kate. I better get back to the farm.”

  Before he could head back home, the sheriff and a woman in her forties came up to them.

  “That’s Billy Ingram’s employer,” the sheriff told her.

  Sensing that this was a serious matter, Chad reluctantly got off the horse and greeted the sheriff.

  “I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Walker,” Sheriff Donald began. “Madame Beatrice Mellows says that your new farmhand helped one of her soiled doves escape from the Franklin Saloon in the next town. Are you familiar with that establishment?”

  Chad looked from the sheriff to the upset woman. Billy didn’t strike him as the kind of man who would voluntarily go to the saloon.

  “He probably enjoyed the virgin so much he took her back here,” Sam said, chuckling.

  “Billy was in a whorehouse?” Chad didn’t mean to snap the question but he was shocked his farmhand would engage in such activity.

  Tim rolled his eyes. “You are incredibly snooty. It’s not a crime for a man to enjoy himself. Just because you can’t perform, it doesn’t mean you need to condemn everyone else to a life of celibacy.”

  “Really. Envy is a sin too,” Sam added.

  Chad gritted his teeth.

  “I don’t approve of this behavior either,” Sheriff Donald inserted on Chad’s behalf. “But our personal opinions don’t count when it comes to robbery. I’m sorry to trouble you, Mr. Walker. I realize you aren’t involved in this but we need to go out to your place and talk with Mr. Ingram.”

  Chad nodded. “I will have him ready to speak with you when you get out there.” He knew the buggy ride would take longer than him riding on his horse.

  “What if he warns the man to hide?” Beatrice asked.

  “He won’t,” the sheriff responded. “Mr. Walker is a man of his word.”

&nb
sp; Tim, Sam and Lacy frowned at the man’s high opinion of Chad.

  “We’ll meet you out there shortly,” the old man told Chad.

  Chad returned the man’s nod and rode out of town. As he rode back, he didn’t know what to think. Had Billy wanted to go with the three men to the saloon last night? Did he really enjoy that type of lifestyle? Billy just didn’t strike him as that kind of person. The only other thing he could conclude was that the three men had backed him into a corner so that he had to go with them. That was a likely situation since they didn’t mind forcing people to do what they wanted. Chad had resisted them, which was why they ostracized him from their group. Still, being on the receiving end of their “lessons” was preferable to compromising with his beliefs. Billy thought he was smart while trying to fit in with their group, but he sorely misjudged how “convincing” Sam, Tim and Jeff could be.

  He returned Reliable to the stable, careful to be quiet since he didn’t wish to wake Kate. He didn’t see Billy anywhere. He could only assume the man was already awake.

  I told Billy the best thing to do was to keep his distance and now he’s in trouble because he didn’t listen to me.

  He took out the newspapers and flowers and took them into the house. He wondered where Billy was. As he returned to the barn, he was surprised to see Kate walking to the barn with a towel and a bar of soap in her hand. Her hair was still wet from her bath in the river but she wore her blue shirt and brown skirt. His anger cooled at the sight of her. The poor woman probably has no idea what happened last night. He decided not to mention it to her. He would talk directly to Billy to find out what was going on.

  “Good morning, Chad,” she greeted.

  He returned her smile. “Good morning, Kate. I bought a week’s worth of newspapers for you. Since you mentioned wanting to see any updates on Senator Tanner, I thought you might like to read them.”

  “Thank you, Chad. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

  He blushed. He liked to please her. As much as he wanted to forget Billy and focus on her, he knew he had to settle matters with the farmhand. “Where’s Billy?”

  She looked startled by the question. “He came home late last night. I didn’t hear him when he returned. Didn’t you see him sleeping?”

  “No. The area beneath the loft is empty.”

  “Oh, that’s right. He wanted to take a bath when I was done.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. Was she lying to him?

  “Do you want to see Billy?” she asked before he had time to think over the situation.

  “Yes. I have something I need to discuss with him.”

  She frowned. “Is it something bad?”

  He didn’t wish to upset her so he said, “What I have to talk to him about doesn’t concern you.”

  She seemed concerned but nodded. “Should I get him now?”

  He sighed. “I do want to talk to him as soon as possible. Where is he at?”

  “I passed him by on my way back here. He should be at the river now. I’ll tell him you wish to speak with him.”

  “No, you shouldn’t get him at the river. I’ll go down and get him.”

  “What?” Now she looked like she was in a panic.

  “I’m the logical choice. I’m a man and he’s a man. It wouldn’t be right to send a woman to get him while he’s bathing, even if that woman is his sister.”

  “I won’t look at him.”

  “Billy’s very sensitive about people seeing him naked. When he got sprayed by a skunk, he nearly had a heart attack when I got tomato juice for him and he was in the metal tub. Trust me on this one.”

  She glanced around uneasily. “But...Well..”

  “The newspapers are in the kitchen. Why don’t you go read them? I also got you a gift to brighten up your day.”

  “You got me a gift?” She smiled.

  “Yes but it’s not a big deal. It’s simple.”

  “But it came from you. Wouldn’t you like to see my face when I see your gift?”

  “I would but I really need to talk to your brother.”

  She didn’t hide her disappointment.

  He was pleased that she wanted to be with him. “After I talk to him, I’ll come into the kitchen and make breakfast.”

  “Well, before you go, I saw a mouse in the outhouse. Would you please take care of it before you talk to Billy?”

  He nodded. “I can do that.”

  “Thank you, Chad.”

  He went to the outhouse and searched for the mouse. He spent a good amount of time looking for it but didn’t see it anywhere. Finally, he gave up and went to the river. Wherever the mouse was, it was long gone. To his surprise, Billy was already dressed and was just putting on his boots. That’s odd. His hair should be wet if he just bathed. Such matters did not concern him, so he pushed the observation aside.

  Billy looked like he was out of breath.

  “What happened last night?” Chad asked him.

  Billy seemed concerned. “Are you upset I went with them?”

  “Did you want to go?”

  “No, I didn’t. I told them I wanted to sleep but they insisted I join them.”

  “I understand how that can happen. You should have let me get my gun.”

  “I didn’t want to be the cause of a fight.”

  “They find lots of reasons to fight. I don’t mind helping you tell them no. I’ve dealt with them before. I know what they’re capable of.” He sighed. He had more important things to talk about at the moment. “I asked you what happened last night.”

  “I rescued a boy from a fire.”

  “I gathered that much from the newspaper. But did anything else occur?”

  “Sam, Tim and Jeff took me to a saloon. It was a very uncomfortable position for me to be in but I managed to get out unharmed.”

  “And you took a young woman with you?”

  “That wasn’t a woman. She was a fourteen year old girl. She was still pure.” Billy didn’t hide his disgust. “I couldn’t see her soiled so I helped her escape and put her on a train. I even gave her all the money I had so that she would find a good, respectable job. I’ve never been in one of those places before so I didn’t know that kind of thing went on there.”

  “Are you familiar with Beatrice Mellows?”

  “Is that the girl’s employer?”

  “Yes.”

  “I briefly saw her.”

  “Well, she’s on her way out here to get payment for the girl.”

  “Payment?”

  “You will owe her the price of her employee.”

  “I have no money. Can I do work to pay it off?”

  “Let’s make a deal. If you let me get the gun next time those men try to drag you off to a saloon, I’ll pay the fee.”

  “I don’t wish for you to get involved in this.”

  “You’re my employee. I’m responsible for you.” Chad groaned. “Alright. We better get back to the house so that you’re there to talk to Madame Mellows.”

  Billy followed him to the house.

  They walked in silence.

  As soon as they reached the house, the sheriff and Beatrice had just arrived to the house in Travis’ buggy.

  “Young man,” Beatrice snapped as she got out of the buggy, “I cannot have you stealing my employees from me. Chloe was a prime addition to my business and you just took her away. I demand for her to return at once, and if you deflowered her, I will insist on her virgin price.”

  “I didn’t sleep with her,” Billy replied. “She was scared. She didn’t want to be there. My goodness, she was only fourteen.”

  “That’s why she is worth a lot of money.”

  Chad knew that the whorehouse business was a cold one but it still made him cringe for the poor girl to be valued for the sole purpose of bringing forth customers to a sinful business. He could appreciate Billy’s desire to rescue her, but he didn’t approve of Billy going into that establishment to begin with. He pushed aside his personal feelings. “
The girl is long gone. We don’t know where she is. Just tell me how much she’s worth and I’ll pay you for her.”

  The woman stated her price.

  Chad nodded. “I have the amount in the house. I’ll return in a moment.” He went into the house and realized that Kate wasn’t in the kitchen as he expected her to be. He glanced at the neatly folded newspapers and untouched flowers. Where did Kate go? He didn’t have time to think about it. He went to the tin can he kept in case of emergencies and took out the necessary amount of money from it. Then he went back outside and paid the woman.

  “Very well,” Beatrice said, calming down. “Now I’ll have to find another virgin. They aren’t easy to find in my line of work.”

  “With all due respect, you would do better to find the Lord,” Chad replied. “You can’t place a price on your immortal soul. I could give you a Bible if you’re interested.”

  “I don’t need you preaching at me,” she hissed. “Stealing from people is alright but meeting a man’s needs isn’t? Hypocrites.” She turned to the sheriff. “I got what I came for.”

  “Not to upset you, ma’am, but I noticed that you did get restitution,” Sheriff Donald reminded her.

  “Just get me out of here,” she snapped at Travis.

  “Good day, Chad. Good day, Billy.” The sheriff tipped his hat before he joined her in the buggy.

  Chad breathed a sigh of relief as they left. “It’s alright, Billy. I would have done the same thing in your situation. Well, except I wouldn’t have gotten myself in that situation to begin with.”

  “I understand. I’ve learned my lesson.”

  “Do you want to have breakfast?”

  “No thanks. I figure I’ll walk around for a bit on this property and enjoy the view. I’m not particularly hungry this morning.”

  Chad nodded. “I’ll see you later then.” He watched Billy head to the barn before he went back into the house for a few minutes. He had no idea where Kate went but decided she would show up soon, so he decided to collect some eggs. He was surprised to see Kate come down from the loft as he was feeding the horses.

  “I had to take care of some personal business before I went to the kitchen,” she quickly explained. “It’s a female issue so I won’t bother you with the details.”