by Petit, C. J.
John grinned and replied, “Well, I’ll be sure and tell Kate that she’s a boy.”
The sheriff went bug-eyed for a second and then broke out laughing as did the other three men. John waved and left the office.
Kate had heard the laughing and looked at John curiously when he emerged.
“The sheriff said to thank my partner and tell him that we boys did them a favor by taking out the bad guys.”
Kate started laughing as John stepped up onto Arrow and turned and then rode west through Cayote, Kate still smiling next to him.
“Kate, did you want to stay here overnight at the hotel or press on?”
“Would it sound strange if I didn’t want to stay here?”
“No, not at all. I think it would be better to get this whole crowd of animals sorted out anyway. Let’s keep going and find a nice campsite. And, by the way, the money wasn’t mentioned.”
Kate didn’t know why she had declined the offer of a night’s stay in a hotel. Three days ago, the chance of staying in a nice, soft bed without worry of being mauled would have seemed like heaven. She thought about it and realized that she didn’t want to be away from Slow John. She felt safe having him near and enjoyed talking to him.
The sun had almost completely set when they found a good spot about a half a mile from the road. It took John and Kate almost an hour to get all the horses and mules stripped, watered and set to feed before they could start making their campsite.
John finally managed to get a fire going and Kate set about making dinner, while John began rearranging the loads and adding the outlaws’ supplies to theirs. He set each pannier or bag next to its pack saddle, so in the morning, he’d just add put the three pack saddles on the mules and one lucky jack would only get a saddle and nothing else. He already had adjusted the big man’s saddle for his height and was more than just a little pleased with the saddle and the horse.
Kate had dinner ready and John sat on the ground facing away from the fire and began to eat.
“Kate, this is really good. I can’t wait to try your cookies.”
Kate laughed and replied, “It may be a while, but a promise is a promise.”
John took a bite and washed it down with some coffee before speaking again.
“Kate, I don’t think it will be that long. When I was talking to the sheriff, another man that was in the office playing poker with him was the postmaster. I asked if he knew any Flynns in the area, and he said no, but when I asked about any Walshes, he said that there was a Mr. and Mrs. Peter Walsh near North Platte.”
Kate had been peacefully sipping her tea, as composed and content as she could have imagined possible when John started to talk, but the tea was completely forgotten when he finished.
She set her cup down, then put her right hand on her forehead and slid it over the top of her head and down the back of her hair before asking quietly, “My family is in North Platte?”
“I’m sure of it, so that means my family probably is as well.”
“Why didn’t you tell me right away?” she asked, just a little hurt over the delay.
“I wanted to get you alone to tell you, so you could react any way you wanted. If I told you in town, and you started to cry, I didn’t want you to be embarrassed.”
“You’re probably right. How far is it to North Platte?”
“I’d guess about two or three more days.”
Kate retrieved her tea and added some more to heat it up. After adding a bit more sugar, she sighed and said, “I don’t understand why I’m so anxious about seeing everyone again. I should be excited and happy.”
“You have a lot of reasons, Kate. You’ve had a lot of terrible things happen to you, and you don’t know what to expect when you see them again. Then there’s the whole Jack situation. There are a lot of unknowns and now, you can see them all right in front of you. Just remember, I’ll be right there. No matter what happens, I’ll be there with you. Okay?”
Kate looked at John and knew he was right about everything, especially about his being there. She had worried that once he found his family, he would just leave. Maybe after she met her parents and sisters again, that fear would disappear. Then, there was that last dread that still hung over her head, the one that would be answered within the week.
“John, I was just wondering. I know that your brother Dennis was married. I met Martha and liked her a lot, and their little boy was so cute.”
“I’m an uncle?” John asked with giant smile.
“You didn’t know? He was two when I saw him, so I thought you’d know at least that Martha was with child. They named him John Michael, after you.”
The revelation made him giddy, and then to find out he was the little boy’s namesake added to the feeling.
“No, Kate. I didn’t know. You see, when I left to go into the army, my mother was so angry with me, she told me that she would never write to me and would burn any letters that I wrote. As stubborn as she was, I knew she would do it, too, so I never bothered to write, always hoping she’d change her mind and send me a letter. A year later, they got the telegram from the army saying I was dead, so even if she had softened in her resolve to punish me for my decision, it was too late. I never knew that they had been told I had been killed.”
Kate found it difficult to fathom that temper and stubbornness could go that far.
“Didn’t you and your mother get along?”
“We were very close, my mamai and me. She’s a wonderful woman, but just has a prodigious Irish temper and a stubborn streak a mile wide. Don’t forget, I had been told that we were going to stay in Nebraska Territory, and even when they sent us to fight under Grant, we thought the war wouldn’t last very long. Before I even realized it, two years were gone, and we were sent back here to patrol the Nebraska and Dakota Territories, and I thought I’d be able to take a furlough to go and visit them at some time, but we were too short of officers to allow that to happen. Suddenly, five years were gone and so was my family.”
“But what about your father? He could write you letters, couldn’t he?”
“My father couldn’t write anything but his name. Besides, I don’t think he’d cross my mamai anyway. It was the same for my brothers. They all knew what she had said, and they weren’t about to make her mad at them.”
“So, when you show up, it’s going to be much more of a shock than when I arrive.”
“It will, because you were just missing, so they could always hold out hope in your return. With me, it was permanent. That telegram said I was dead, and I’ve been dead for five years now, so my sudden reappearance will be a real stunner. Now, Jack will be much more than just stunned. His shock will turn his insides to jelly when he sees me again.”
“Jack is afraid of you?”
“Not in typical big brother-little brother fear where the older brother is a bully. I got along with all my brothers when we were young. But of all my brothers, it was always Jack who created the most problems. Maybe it was because he was the youngest, I don’t know. But I know that he was always scared to death that I’d find out about some of his misdeeds. Kate, if I’d been on that wagon train, I am sure that Jack would never have touched you, and when he sees me with you, he’ll know that I’ve been told about his crime and that’s why I think he’ll try to run.”
“So, even if he sees me, he won’t try to kill me?”
“No. He’ll be terrified. Understand that in our justice system, if you walked into the house and he’s there and you point your finger at him and shout to high heavens what he did to you, he could just shrug his shoulders and act like you were just another hysterical female and that would be the end of it. But he’s not dealing with the justice system, he’s going to have to face instant justice.”
Kate knew he meant every word, and when the time came, John wouldn’t hesitate even if Jack pleaded for his life. She had seen John deliver instant justice.
“Thank you, John. That helps a lot.”
“That’s
good. So, what else can you tell me about my family that I don’t know. What about Patrick? Did he get married?”
Kate smiled. “No, but he and Maggie were making eyes at each other after the first day our wagons traveled together.”
“So, you might be my sister-in-law when we get there?”
Kate smiled and nodded.
Then she lost her smile instantly, recalling the question she had planned to ask first, so she asked, “John, you don’t think Jack married my sister Eliza, do you?”
“I don’t know the makeup of the wagon train. Were there other young men there?”
“A few, but your family and mine were the only Irish families, and when Patrick began seeing Maggie, I remember my father commenting that he wanted only Irish sons-in-law. Jack seemed to be interested in Eliza, too. I know that she noticed his interest and was pleased about it.”
John now had to worry about a new aspect of Kate’s problem. What if Jack married Eliza and had a baby? Could he make her a widow?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, Kate. Don’t worry about it, though. There’s no sense worrying about something that we have no control over. Say for example a bunch of scientists say that the moon is going to fall into the earth in four days and the world will end. Worrying will just make the last days of your existence useless and won’t change the fact.”
Kate smiled again and asked, “And what would you do those last four days, Mister Slow John Michael Flynn?”
John looked up at the half-moon in the sky and said, “I’d curl up in bed with my wife and tell her how much I love her and slide my fingers across her smiling face. Then, whatever happened outside wouldn’t matter.”
Kate hadn’t expected an answer anything like that. She thought it would be something with more dash and excitement.
He returned his eyes from the heavens and saw her puzzled face.
“I know. I’m not even married, so it sounds kind of odd. But it’s the one thing that I’m sure would matter to me more than anything else.”
Kate shook her head slowly. “No. I understand how you feel. I was just surprised that you would think of that before anything else.”
“Don’t be surprised. It’s what I think about before anything else most of the time.”
He took a breath and said, “Kate, let’s get ready for some sleep.”
Kate nodded and gave John an appreciative smile before heading to her bedroll.
John watched Kate leave the fire and splashed the last of the coffee and tea on the fire to keep their campsite dark.
John had been thinking about what he and Kate had talked about regarding the upcoming reunion. It was just two more days before they reached North Platte and the families. Kate had been right about the absolute shock it would be to his family to see him arrive, especially Jack. He debated about talking to Kate about the possibility of having to kill her sister’s husband and possibly the father of her child, but then came back to what he had just said to Kate. Worrying never solved anything. He’d have to play the hand that was dealt when they arrived.
Kate’s eyes were closed, but she wasn’t even close to sleeping. So many things were racing around in her mind. It was like the tornado she had seen when she was eight, with all the debris just swirling around in utter chaos.
Flying around in her mind were her debris of memory fragments; the disgusting smell of Thomas Murphy, the sound of Jack Flynn’s voice, the sight of fat Phil’s jowls, but in the center of the storm it was calm. In the center of her storm stood John Flynn, her calm, steady anchor in the bedlam that threatened to take control of her mind at any moment.
But John brought her more than just tranquility, he made her want to live, to make her life more meaningful. She knew she was putting a terrible burden on him, and that it was completely unfair. She just hoped that the deeper those memories were in the past, that maybe she’d be able to just be with John because she wanted to be close to him, not because she needed to be.
But even with John’s soothing presence, the last intense worry that would only be resolved in the next few days was bubbling deep within her. She knew it was there, but concentrated on the good things that had happened.
Eventually, even the deep thoughts that they each had faded as sleep finally took control.
CHAPTER 5
John had the mules all packed before breakfast. He had let Moe have the first day off, but with the balanced load, none of the mules had to carry that much. After a nice bacon and egg breakfast, complete with coffee and tea that would be the equal of any local eatery, John and Kate led their four mule, six horse cavalcade westward toward North Platte.
_____
In North Platte, Handy Lewis was looking at his hand and wasn’t pleased. He had only drawn one card, and needed a diamond for his flush, or a six for a straight. He had wished for the six of diamonds for a straight flush, but knew the odds were remote. But he hadn’t drawn any of the cards for the good hands, all he had drawn was the eight of clubs, giving him a pair.
He scanned the other players, looking for that giveaway, the tell that would give him the edge, but didn’t see any. He felt better when two of the other players folded, but that left Corn Jackson still in the game.
Corn raised a dollar, and Handy knew that Jackson rarely bluffed, but he already had four dollars in the pot, so he tossed a silver dollar onto the pile and called the bet.
Corn flipped his cards over, showing three sixes, and Handy just tossed his hand away. What really grated on him was seeing his six of diamonds on the top of Corn’s hand.
Corn grinned and scooped up the pot, stacking the coins and bills before him.
Handy took the cards, shuffled and cut them several times before just slapping the deck down in front of him.
“Okay, boys. Let’s hold off for a while, and not just ‘cause I’m losing. We need to talk about them damned Irish.”
Lou Harrison leaned back in his chair and replied, “Hell, Handy, the Irish are almost all gone, the end of track is almost to Ogallala.”
“I know that, Lou. I ain’t stupid. I’m talkin’ about them Irish sodbusters up north. There are two groups of ‘em. I want them outta here.”
Pete Smith said, “I seen some of those Irish women, too. They’re pretty easy on the eyes, and I think we’d have a good time with ‘em.”
Handy nodded and said, “That’s just a bonus. Now, all we gotta worry about is those shotguns they’ve been totin’ around. As long as we don’t get too close, we can pick ‘em off, and with the sheriff no longer with us...”
Handy paused for the expected laughter, and only continued after it had faded out.
“May he rest in peace.”
More snickers followed.
“Now that we won’t have to worry about the law, and the mayor and those wimp councilmen ain’t gonna find a replacement anytime soon, so we can get this done. So, let’s get Swede and Jim Walters to meet us tomorrow. What do we have for firepower that can reach past those shotguns?”
“I got a Henry and Swede has one of those new Winchesters.” replied Corn.
“I’ve got a Spencer.” added Pete, “But only got six more rounds of ammo.”
“That should be enough. I counted five Irish men but only four shotguns. We go in there and once they’re out of the way, we’ll have free range with the women.” Handy said.
“What about the kids?” asked Corn.
Handy had to think about that one. “Just let ‘em go. If they live, they live. If they die later, it’s not our fault.”
Corn grinned. “You’re a regular King Solomon, Handy.”
Handy whipped around at Corn and growled, “You callin’ me a Jew, Corn?”
Corn Jackson turned white and shook his head violently, “No, Boss. I was just sayin’ you’re smart and all.”
Handy glared at Corn, then broke into a big grin and started laughing.
“Got ya, Corn!”
The whole table followed the Boss’s lead and the small roo
m filled with guffaws and belly laughter.
_____
John and Kate had already put twenty miles behind them when they broke for lunch and let their animals to a small pond to drink and feed on the plentiful grass nearby.
Kate and John stepped down and Kate stretched her back, almost causing Slow John to fall when he saw her lean back as he walked and didn’t see the large rock in front of his left boot. Luckily, he was able to keep from making a total fool of himself and Kate never noticed.
John went to the panniers and found the second can of peaches for Kate and took some jerky and soda crackers for himself, then knelt and opened the can of peaches, again flipping the lid away to see how far it would fly. He was disappointed when it only went six feet.
He found a spoon and walked over to Kate and handed her the can with the spoon sticking out.
“Why the last can of peaches?”
“I didn’t want anyone else to find them when we arrive tomorrow. I bought them for you in the first place.”
Kate smiled and took a bite of her peaches, then suddenly lost her smile.
The thought of possibly seeing her family tomorrow suddenly loomed large. So much had happened to her in the past two years. She had a hard time fitting in after Phil, how bad would it be this time? And what would she do after she moved back into the house? She knew that they’d all welcome her openly, but she’d feel out of place. Her sisters would probably be married, and maybe have children. And here she was, an emotional disaster, and the potential for worse.
She had never told John her biggest fear, that she might be pregnant. Her monthly had arrived on time at the end of March, but she was already late with this one. She had been pretending she wasn’t pregnant, but she arbitrarily had given herself one week to be sure, and that week was almost up.
_____
Jack was getting frustrated beyond his normal level, which was already pretty high. Not only had Maggie not been alone, Patrick had let her carry one of the shotguns sometimes when he had to work in the fields.
And then there was Eliza, his whining, fawning wife. Not only was she still gushing about the baby, she had added a new twist to the list of annoying things about it. She suddenly began to wish that Kate could see her new baby, or maybe Kate will come back and they’ll all be happy again. Or she’d whine about how much she missed Kate. Damned women!
