Jeffery’s men, Slim and Tommy, rushed out, eager to carry out this plan. What could be better than having Celeste all day, then Mary very soon, and a large reward to boot? The plan went as scheduled. Slim secretly delivered the fake note to Celeste from Jeffery which summoned her to his house. She had been cautioned to secrecy until he could politely dismiss Alisha.
Filled with a heady sense of power over Jeffery and great happiness at being recalled to his company, Celeste did exactly as he ordered in his note. Not a soul saw her leave her shabby boarding house. Not a soul witnessed her arrival at Jeffery’s. Slim opened the door and motioned her inside. He carefully looked out to make certain no one had seen her.
Over-confident, she giggled merrily and openly bragged on her stealth, unaware of the danger which she was now facing. Slim told her to go upstairs to the first bedroom on the right. He said Jeffery was dressing, but wanted to see her as soon as she arrived. Never having been in his bedroom, her eyes lit up with anticipation and excitement. She haughtily threw back her shoulders and rushed up the steps, arrogantly dismissing Slim with a vain sneer. A flip of a coin had given Tommy the first chance with her. Slim’s hand quickly covered his mouth to conceal his vindictive laughter.
Celeste opened the door without even knocking first and walked into the dimly lit room. Before she could detect any danger, Tommy stunned her with a blow to her head. He leaned out the door and called Slim to join him. They hurriedly undressed her, carefully avoiding any rips in her clothing which could suggest a different story from the one planned.
After relentlessly and cruelly working their wills upon Celeste—first while she was unconscious, and then after she had come to—the men beat the young woman on the head with the same candlestick that had been the instrument of Powchutu’s death. Once, twice, thrice they struck, and Celeste breathed her last.
Careful to make Celeste’s death appear accidental, they cleaned off the evidence of their foul deeds. Then, wrapping Powchutu and Celeste in tarpaulins, they loaded the bodies on a wagon at the servant’s entrance of the Gordon residence. Soon, their evil would be done…
Back at the Horne House, Mary was serving drinks to the men involved in the lengthy card game in one corner of the dining room. She wished it would soon end so she could go to her lover’s room. She was worried about him. He had been gone since early morning. She hoped he had returned to his room while she was in the kitchen. She fretted over the endless game which had been going on since mid-morning. She glanced out the front window. It was nearly dusk. Soon, she would sneak up the back stairs to check on him. Jeffery’s presence did nothing to ease her tensions.
The game did end at dark. The men stood around chatting, joking, and having one last drink which was compliments of the winner Jeffery. They slowly filtered out into the gathering shadows of darkness. Jeffery sent Mary upstairs with a note for Alisha which told her to come downstairs to join him for dinner. After handing Alisha the note, Mary hurried to Powchutu’s room.
Expecting Jeffery’s eventual summons, Alisha was dressed and waiting. Still, she let him simmer for a short time before coming down to join him. She smiled sweetly as he took her cold hand and kissed its palm. She quickly withdrew it, irritated by her unexpected reaction to such a simple action. He chuckled, then led her into the dining room. He graciously seated her. Before he took his own seat, the front door was flung open with a loud bang.
Moses Johnson dashed to the front desk. His shabby appearance did nothing to flatter his giant, husky frame. He asked in a raspy voice if the proprietor knew of a certain young man. Giving a full and colorful description of Powchutu, Jamie recognized his guest Paul Williams. Acknowledging his identity, he asked why Moses was interested in him. It wasn’t necessary for Moses to give Celeste’s description, for he knew her on sight.
His deep voice was difficult to ignore. For some unusual reason, the Horne House was empty tonight— except for Jeffery, Alisha, Mary, Moses, and Jamie. Mary curiously listened to the commotion from downstairs through a small crack in Powchutu’s door.
Jeffery went to the front desk to check out the quality of his plan. He had shut the door to the dining room after his departure, but Alisha had quietly eased it open a crack in order to hear what the ruckus was all about.
Moses continued, “It was a foul sight. Never seen nothing like it in me entire life. You say this Paul has a sister staying here? You sure don’t want her to hear about this crude thing her brother done. You should’a seen ’em, all sprawled out naked on the ground. That tree fell on ’em right whilst they was commencing to fornicate. Should say for the third or fourth time from the smell of ’em. Struck down in the very act! Never seen nothing like it,” he repeated with amazement.
Jamie curiously inquired, “You mean this Paul Williams and Celeste was rutting on the ground when a tree fell on them and kilt ’em both?”
“Damn right, Jamie! I put ’em back in their wagon and brung ’em here. Didn’t rightly know what else to do with em.
Jeffery spoke up, “Paul’s younger sister is in the dining room right now. We don’t want her to learn about this vile matter. Take the bodies over to Slim. Tell him I said to fix coffins for them and to seal them. We’ll say they were killed in a runaway carriage accident. Say they’re too broken up to look at. Miss Alisha doesn’t deserve to have this thing put upon her shoulders. We’ll make it sound like an accident, agreed?” he stated in his bold, authoritative tone.
Jeffery had glimpsed Mary’s face as she had peered out the scout’s door and down the stairs, but he did not let on he had sighted her. He subtly checked the dining room door from the corner of his eye, knowing how curious all women were. Viewing its slight movement and lighted slit, he knew both females were already advised of the scout’s death and its vulgar circumstances. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage of his timely presence, he pretended to try to protect Alisha from embarrassment and emotional pain and to protect her brother from dishonor. Also knowing of Mary’s alert ears and keen senses of perception, he hoped to dismiss any suspicions she might have.
“Alisha is a very sensitive and well-bred young lady. It would hurt her deeply to hear such distressing news. What could the truth serve in this matter? Are you certain they weren’t robbed and murdered?” he asked for both women’s benefits.
“No sign of such. Appears to me it was a vengeful act of God Almighty. I tell you, they was right in the very act! They pulled off the road a piece, stripped naked as the day they was born, then fell to the ground, and joined like animals in mating season. He seed their sinning, and He flung that tree down on ’em. Both they heads was crushed flat! Both dead as iron nails,” he commented dramatically.
Mary eased from Powchutu’s room and raced down the back stairs to her own room. Alisha thought she would surely be sick on that very spot. She went to the table and slowly sipped some cold water. She dampened a cloth napkin and mopped her brow. She slowly sank into the chair. She was numb with grief and shock.
Powchutu’s death was difficult enough to believe, but the lewd manner of it ripped at her naïve heart. Alisha blamed herself for pushing him into the fateful arms of another woman. If she had agreed to marry him, he would still be alive. If only she hadn’t made it appear she was turning away from him and turning toward Jeffery. No doubt he had been too ashamed to take a woman like Celeste into his room in fear of her discovering it.
She could not help but wonder if this relationship with Celeste was where he had been spending his days and nights. She also wondered if this was the explanation for his abrupt change of heart and his distant mood. She could only assume that Celeste and Powchutu had come together following their rejections by her and Jeffery. Now, they were both dead.
She reasoned it was possible that Powchutu had just needed a woman in a sexual way. It was rumored that men had to have sex and to have it frequently. Perhaps Powchutu had incredibly fallen in love with this other female. She would never know the truth now, for he was gone from her life.
Agony and emptiness flooded her body. How could she survive without him? she cried sadly.
Jeffery opened the door and came inside the dining room. He observed her for a few minutes, smiling at his genius. He was now rid of two annoying problems. Soon, he would have his other two resolved to his great satisfaction. He came forward and knelt before her. His face assumed a look of sorrow and pity toward her.
“You heard?” he solicitously asked, a feigned look of sympathy in his blue eyes.
“Part of it,” she reluctantly admitted as fresh tears began to ease down her pale cheeks. “He’s dead,” she painfully stated. “You’re all positive it’s Po… Paul?”
“As much as we disagreed and fought, Alisha; I am truly sorry, for your sake. He was a good friend to you. Sure I disliked him, even hated him. But I do feel sympathy for you over his loss. Much as I hate to admit it, he was quite a man.” He paused dramatically. “If you don’t object, I’ll see to the coffin and burial for you. Unless you’d rather I didn’t…” He left his sentence hanging, its meaning clear.
Alisha’s ravaged heart could stand no more tonight. She didn’t want to think of anything, much less her friend’s funeral. Jeffery was the only one who could help her shoulder this unwanted responsibility. “If you will be so kind as to do this for me, Jeffery, I will be very grateful.” With tears now streaming down her cheeks, she pleaded softly, “Could you also place a marker on his grave? He never really had a name to be proud of. I should like him to be buried as my brother. Can you do that for me?”
“The marker will read, Paul Williams. Don’t fret, love. I’ll see to everything for you. Do you want me to send Dr. Cramer over with a sleeping potion? Or perhaps something to calm your nerves a bit?” he tenderly suggested.
“No thank you, Jeffery. I would prefer to deal with this tragedy as quickly as possible. I’ve known great losses before: my parents and my uncle. The longer you postpone your grief and acceptance, the harder it is for you. I just need to be alone for a while. You don’t mind if I skip dinner, do you?” she implored in a trembling tone, praying he wouldn’t force his attentions and control over her on this particular night.
He politely shook his head. “I’ll see to the burial and everything else, love. You get some rest. If you need anything at all, just send me word through Jamie O’Hara. Understand?”
She absently nodded yes and thanked him for his assistance and understanding. He walked her to her room, suggested she call for Mary if she needed anything later, then left her at her door. She walked inside and closed the door. She leaned back against its hard, cold surface. Her heart felt in a painful vise.
“First my parents… then all my friends and Uncle Thad…My precious, unborn child… Powchutu… My husband… Gray Eagle, why did you do these terrible things to me? If you had loved me and kept me, none of this would have happened. You said you loved me and wanted me. Why did you lie? Why? How long will I pay for loving you? Will the pain and emptiness ever go away? Now, Powchutu is gone, too. I have no one, no one to love. Why couldn’t you have killed me instead of betraying me this way?” She sank to the floor and gave herself over to uncontrollable weeping.
Yet even as she cursed Gray Eagle’s betrayal, Alisha longed to have him here with her and comforting her. How she wished he could magically appear and enfold her within his strong arms, and tell her that everything would be all right. But he was many miles and a lifetime away.
She recalled another day long ago when she had been so afraid, so alone, and so tormented: that day Gray Eagle had attacked Fort Pierre and recaptured her. He had been there for her on that agonizing day. Why couldn’t he be here now? Why hadn’t he spared her this terrible pain and loss?
Alisha shivered. How she longed to return to that sunny autumn day! Gray Eagle had actually challenged an entire fort for her possession. Once back in his life, he had held her with love and gentleness. When Black Cloud had taken her from Gray Eagle claiming she was his daughter Shalee, Gray Eagle had fought a duel to the death to regain her. He had married her. He had vowed love for her. Where were his love and acceptance on this wicked day? She had given him everything; what did she gain in return?
“I need you, Gray Eagle. Where are you?” she sobbed in pain.
Jeffery returned to his house to meet with his men. He congratulated them on their excellent job and suggested a victory celebration: a victory which had been a long time in coming. The three men drank and talked for hours. Slim and Tommy related their amorous adventures with Celeste.
“Just like you said, Mr. Gordon, she took real good care of us. When she thought we was only going to punish her and let her go, she was eager and willing to have a good time with us. She did anything we said. Geez, but we hated to stop and git rid of her. Hope you have another female like her to punish real soon,” he hinted openly.
“As a matter of fact, I do. That is, if Tommy doesn’t mind sharing his reward with his best friend. If so, I’ll have to find you some other wench, Slim,” he suggested, intending to reward both men at the same time.
“Shucks, Mr. Gordon, I don’t mind sharing with Slim at all. We work real good together. When kin we have a go at ’er?” he eagerly questioned, licking his dry lips.
“I told Miss Williams we would kindly take care of the coffins and burial for her. I say we get things ready for the funeral by tomorrow evening. Get some men to help you dig two graves. We can’t have you two hurting your backs right before a big night. I’ll pay a dollar to each man; hire about three or four. Of course we’ll take care of the arrangements for our dear, departed friend Celeste. We’ll say our sad farewells and put them in the ground on Saturday,” Jeffery informed them, without a hint of remorse.
They joined in raucous laughter as he refilled their empty cups for the countless time. “No need to delay getting rid of ’em. The sooner they’re planted, the better. Fix me a nice marker with his name on it. Put it at the head of his grave. That should be worth a real nice reward from his sister.”
“You still planning to marry his sister?” Tommy asked, hoping he had changed his mind, increasing their chance to have her too.
“That’s the reason why I got rid of her troublesome brother,” Jeffery calmly stated. “As for you two, I’m going to send for Miss Mary on Sunday morning while her uncle’s out hunting and everyone else is at the service. I’ll spend the day with my bride-to-be, and you two can use that same room upstairs. I’ll fix her up good before I leave. After four days and nights without her lover, she’ll be eager to please a man.”
When Friday came, Alisha refused any company all day. She could not bring herself to speak with anyone, including Jeffery or Hiram. She did not eat all day. She just sat on her small sofa, recalling their mutual past. The realization finally settled in on her that he was gone forever, that she was on her own once more. No matter what Powchutu had done, or how he had died, he would always be a very special part of her life and her memories.
Later that night, she fell across her bed and slept deeply from sheer exhaustion. Her soul-searching, weeping, and lack of food had finally taken its toll. She did not stir until early Saturday morning.
As for Mary, she concealed her torment in hard, draining work. She mindlessly went about her daily chores. She even assumed extra duties in order to force her body into forgetful fatigue. Unable to speak, she could not share her grief with anyone. Besides, how could she say anything about their love affair and future marriage? No one would understand her great loss or her endless love for him. No one would see the agony which she had endured since learning of how he had died.
Her heart pleaded there was some other explanation for the traitorous situation which Moses had so vividly described. Somehow that sluttish Celeste had tricked Powchutu into betraying Mary and their precious love. Her body hungered for his; her heart ached with loneliness and grief.
Mary could not even bring herself to visit Alisha, to learn if she was all right. Her uncle had told her that Alisha wished to be left alone
with her suffering and sadness. She knew Alisha had stayed in her room since the fateful news had arrived. Yet, Mary felt her loss was greater and her pain deeper. He and Alisha were only close friends; she and Paul were lovers. How could she feel sympathy for Alisha when she needed it all for herself?
On Saturday, the funeral only lasted a few minutes. Hiram generously and kindly gave the brief service at the graveside. Afterwards, the few who politely or curiously attended Powchutu’s service spoke meaningless clichés of comfort to Alisha and then hastily departed. Knowing it was best to leave her alone on this stressful day, Jeffery placed a loving kiss upon her forehead, said a few tender words, then left her with Hiram. Hiram did much the same, then walked away with his tearful wife to await Alisha in their wagon.
Alisha knelt beside the fresh grave. She stared at the ugly dark mound of black dirt which glittered with small crystals of ice. She lifted her bleary eyes skyward. Such pain, bitterness, and emptiness filled her heart and mind at his untimely death. He was so vital and young that even the elements rebelled against his premature departure from life.
The sky was shrouded in a sorrowing gray cloak. The laden clouds wanted to shed tears of chilling ice. The bitter winds wailed a mournful song. The sun declined its brilliant light and comforting warmth. The frozen earth nearly refused to be invaded for this dire purpose. Death had surely claimed this one too soon…
Alisha searched her heart for the words to say her last farewell to her beloved friend and loyal protector. “How does one say goodbye forever? How can I simply walk away and leave you here alone? It’s so hard to know I shall never see your smile again, never hear your laughter, never speak to you from the very depths of my soul. How can I forget all you have done for me, all you are to me? I am to blame for your death. Perhaps you would still be alive if you had not bravely rescued me and brought me here. Was my freedom worth your life? I fear not, my friend. I would gladly exchange my freedom to have you back alive again. God, I feel so empty and alone now. Why, Powchutu? Why did you have to die and leave me?” She wept for a time, then gradually controlled her wracking sobs.
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