by Angel’s End
“It suits her. I guess you’re planning on keeping her?”
“Might as well. Unless someone shows up to claim her.”
The door opened at that exact moment with a swirl of the wind. Ward and Leah both looked up, startled, as if it were an omen or an angel of providence announcing its presence. Instead, a man and two boys came in, the three of them bent and shuffling with weariness. They walked right by Lady without giving her a second glance and took a table in the corner. The sour smell of sickness and unwashed bodies mingled with the familiar scents of bacon and hot coffee. Lady looked at them curiously, let out a slight whine, and then lay down with a sigh. She moved with elegant grace, slowly closing her eyes as she rested her head on her crossed legs.
“Put their meal on my tab.” Ward spoke quietly. “They look like they’ve had a hard road.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Leah assured him. Ward had a good soul, even though he tried to hide it. He’d be mad as the dickens at her if she told anyone he’d paid for someone else’s meal.
The smell was much worse as she got closer to the table. Leah stopped to grab a coffeepot and cup before she took their order. Dusty stared at the new arrivals through the window and raised a questioning eyebrow in Leah’s direction. She shrugged and went to the table.
The boys looked to be around Banks’s age. One older and one younger. Their clothes were threadbare and large on their frames. They both wore coats that would better fit an adult and boots that were too large for their feet. They kept their heads bent as if they were too weak to hold themselves upright. The top knobs of their spine and the tendons of their necks stood out beneath skin stretched tight above their collars. Dirty, stringy hair stuck out beneath their knitted woolen caps and red scabs peppered the skin that showed. Leah was certain she saw lice crawling among the strands of hair beneath their caps and she repressed a shiver. The poor things needed a hot meal, a thorough bathing and to be tucked into a warm bed. The smaller one sniffed and rubbed his nose on his sleeve.
“Welcome to the Devil’s Table,” Leah piped cheerfully. Dusty’s name for the place usually got a laugh or at least a comment from the customers. She sat the cup down before the man and poured it full of steaming hot coffee. “What can I get for you?”
“Whatever you got that’s hot and filling.” The man wrapped his hands around the cup to soak in the warmth and then took a deep gulp. “And be quick about it. We want to be down the mountain before the next storm breaks.” He spoke in short clipped tones, impatient and rude. “We’ll take whatever you got that you can wrap up too.” He pulled a small bag of gold dust from inside his coat and dropped it on the table. “I can pay for it.” He looked up at Leah with darkly shadowed eyes in a hollow and gaunt face.
“Are you from the mining camp?” Miners came and went through Angel’s End. A lot of them had their own claims and would come in every few weeks to cash in with Zeke and spend the night in town, most of them spending everything they’d worked weeks for in a few short hours at Heaven’s Gate. She’d heard rumors from them of a small community of families who had gone in together on a claim and kept to themselves, even to the point where they’d shoot at anyone who came around.
“None of your damn business,” he barked.
The Devil’s Table was mostly empty. Ward, and a couple of cowboys who had ridden out the storm in town, and weren’t too anxious to get back to work, were the only customers. They all looked up at the words. Ward sat back in his chair with one hand on the table, the other on his gun.
Leah shook her head at Ward. The man was tired and worn was all. More than likely he always spoke that way. If he didn’t want conversation then that was fine. She was more worried about the state of the boys than how friendly the father was.
“What was that all about?” Dusty asked when she went back to the window.
“Man just wants to eat is all.” Leah quickly glanced over her shoulder at the boys. “Poor things, they are done in. He’s taking them out of here before the next storm. I’m not sure if they’ll make it.”
“Well it’s his own business, whatever it is. Just as long as he don’t do no more shoutin’ in here.”
“He said he’d take whatever is ready and any leftovers we can send with him.”
“Dang fool.” Dusty’s judgment was quick as usual and right on target as far as Leah was concerned.
“There’s no need for the boys to suffer for it,” Leah said. “I’m going to do what I can for them.”
“Be careful,” Dusty warned. “Give them some of that milk I got warming, and give them some biscuits while I scramble these eggs.”
Leah took the kettle from the stove and poured some water into a bowl. She tempered it with some cold water and grabbed a clean cloth. She added two mugs of milk to her tray, a half dozen biscuits and a jar of Nonnie’s jam.
“That sure was a good breakfast,” one of the cowboys said. “Nothing like a good hearty meal before you start the workday.” Their eyes darted between Leah and the family, questioning and wondering.
The workday was nearly half gone for them and Leah was certain they’d hear about it when they finally made it back to their jobs. She smiled at them, reassuring them with her look that everything would be fine and they could be on their way. “I’m glad you liked it,” she said. “Dusty? Can you settle up their bill?”
Dusty stomped out from the kitchen while the cowboys bundled up in their coats, scarves and gloves. They tipped their hats at Leah and nodded to Wade as they walked out the door.
Leah sat her tray down on the table. “How about if you boys wash up a bit before you eat?” She didn’t look at the father; instead she knelt beside the boys with the cloth which was warm from the water. Leah glanced at Ward who kept a steady eye on the group. There was no doubt in her mind that even if the father protested, he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Not while Ward was watching.
Leah picked up the trembling hand of the smallest boy and wiped away the grime. There was a huge scab on his wrist and it broke away when she swiped the cloth over it. Both boys kept their eyes down and were deathly quiet as she quickly did what she could for their hands and then went to work on their faces. The littlest one’s nose kept running and was covered with crust but Leah kept at it until she was satisfied with the results.
“There now,” she said. “You can drink your milk. It should be cooled off enough so it won’t burn your mouths.”
“Thank you ma’am,” the oldest one said and quickly grabbed his mug.
The littlest one turned his pinched little face to Leah. “Our momma died,” he said in a quiet voice.
The father hissed and the boy jumped. His eyes were wide with fear, the whites showing all around. She wanted nothing more than to gather him up in her arms and comfort him, but she didn’t want to risk bringing down the father’s vengeance after they were gone.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “Now drink your milk and I’ll bring you some more with your meal.” The father nodded and the boy grabbed the mug.
Dusty stomped over with three full plates. Eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy and more biscuits. “Eat up,” he said as he dropped them on the table with a distinct thud. He stood by the table with his arms crossed, and dared the man to say a word about anything.
Leah knew he didn’t want her talking to the man anymore. She’d done all she could for the boys. Some people valued their pride before their children and this man was one of those. She knew, well enough, that when it came to Banks, no sacrifice was too great and she would gladly do whatever it took to keep him safe even if it meant crawling naked through the dirt. She left Dusty to take care of them and went to refill Ward’s coffee.
“The mother died,” she said quietly to Ward’s questioning look.
“Where did they come from?” Ward asked. “How did she die?”
Leah shrugged. “They didn’t say and the father isn’t talking.” She was suddenly very, very tired. She looked out the window by Ward’s usu
al table. The street was deserted except for two horses hitched to the rail, both laden down with baggage. They must belong to the sorry little family. The wind, whistling down from the mountain, carved a narrow path right down the middle of the road. Smoke rose steadily from all the chimneys in sight except her own. She’d have to build the fires back up when she finished her shift.
School was in session. Margy, desperate to get in a full day while the weather was clear, had put out the word to all those who lived in town. The children from the ranches and farms would be excused. Banks should be in school. He was good at getting there on his own, although he usually came over for a bite of breakfast before he went. She missed seeing him this morning. He was supposed to tell her when Pastor Key woke up. The man must have been asleep when he left for school. He sleeps all day and prowls around at night…
“Have you been getting any rest?” Ward studied her.
“About what you’d expect.” Leah wiped a few crumbs from the table. “The pastor was pretty sick from that wound. There were a few times when I didn’t think he was going to make it.” She looked at the table with the boys to keep Ward from looking into her eyes. “Now that his fever has broken, things should get back to normal.”
“Maybe it’s time for me to pay him a visit.” Ward finished his coffee and put his napkin on the table. “Welcome him to town.”
“He’s probably still asleep.” Leah stacked Ward’s dishes.
“From what Jim said, it sounds like he pursues sleeping like it’s his job.” Ward stood and stretched a bit. Lady watched him carefully and followed him to the door. Ward clamped his hat down firmly on his head and buttoned the top button on his overcoat. “Usually preachers like to eat.”
“And you would be an authority on that?”
Ward left her with a cryptic smile and Lady by his side. Leah watched him as he walked across the street to her house and went right in without knocking. Time for you to wake up Pastor Key.
Dusty poked his head through the setup window and motioned her over. “He done paid.” He handed her a burlap bag full of food. “Give him this so he can be on his way.”
“Ward said to put it on his tab.”
“He wouldn’t have it.”
Leah looked at the boys. “It might be all the money he had.”
“Let it go, Leah. You can’t save the world. Sometimes it takes every bit of what you got just to save yourself. That don’t make it right or wrong, it just makes it the way it is.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I know I am.” Dusty picked up a pan and went to work, scraping bits of egg from the sides. “Don’t waste any more of your time on them. You got your own to worry about. Let them be on their way.”
Leah passed the food on to the man. The family left as silently as they came in, without speaking another word. Leah grabbed her shawl, walked out on the stoop and watched as they rode down the street, with the wind pushing them all the way. As they faded from sight, long thin clouds trailed across the sky, like tattered banners left on a battlefield after the dead had been collected.
Leah pulled her shawl tight against the wind. More snow was coming. All she could do now was pray that the little family would find shelter before it hit.
TWELVE
The creak of the door brought Dodger to his feet. He growled and padded the hallway. The footsteps were too heavy to be Leah’s. Cade’s first instinct was to grab a gun and take cover. That wasn’t something a preacher would do. A preacher would have nothing to hide. He on the other hand…Cade swept the letters beneath the blankets and placed the open Bible in his lap. Ashes perked her ears to the noise, poised to run and hide if necessary. Dodger sniffed the air and wagged his tail.
Cade set his face in what he hoped was a ministerial pose. It felt like the same face he made when he took a draught of bad cider. He huffed out his breath and tried again. It was too late to back out now. The cards had been dealt and he’d already bid. He couldn’t just fess up now and say he was confused from being shot. There’d be too many questions, too many what-ifs, and all of them would start with how and why he had Timothy’s things in his possession.
From what he’d read in the letters, no one in Angel’s End had met Timothy face-to-face. Since he had met him, Cade knew he could pass for him on description alone, although he was a bit taller and much slimmer than the preacher.
A man and a dog appeared in the doorway. Ashes hissed indignantly, backed up to the headboard in close proximity to Cade and growled low in her throat. The stranger smiled at the kitten’s antics. Dodger and the dog by the man’s side went through the customary greeting ritual when meeting someone new. They sniffed each other.
“I reckon she already thinks she’s the boss.” The man walked into the room and scratched his finger at the end of the bed to tempt the kitten.
Cade smiled pleasantly at the man. He’d played this game before, many times. Jasper had taught him well the craft of running a scam, in the years he’d spent with him. Even though his visitor’s face was open and friendly, the dark eyes had already sized him up, taking in his physical strength and the severity of his wound. You always watch the mark’s eyes. That was where you’d find the answers. That was how you’d know the con was working. The lips may say plenty, but the eyes don’t lie.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Cade said. He would remember if they had. This man wasn’t one to be easily fooled. Cade would have to watch his step around him.
“I’m Ward Phillips.” He extended his hand and the men shook. The grip was strong and easy. Cade knew his was weaker but it suited him at the moment. There was no need to give anything away. The man’s name wasn’t on the list of the search committee so why was he here? “I own the saloon.” His tone was open and friendly as he crouched by the dogs and gave Dodger a good rub.
“The saloon?” Cade grinned. “Isn’t that contrary to my purpose here?” He’d love to visit a good saloon.
Ward pulled the chair from the corner and sat down. “The Heaven’s Gate.”
Cade laughed. “Beware all ye who enter.” Heaven’s Gate Saloon and the Devil’s Table café. Angel’s End was turning out to be an interesting place.
Ward shook his head. “I believe in everything in moderation,” he said with a lazy smile. “And to each his own.” He nodded his head toward Cade’s wound. “How you feeling?”
“Sore.” Cade touched his hand to his side. He’d put his shirt on, since the house was cold. The fires were low. He should have fed them but he’d been concentrating on the let-
ters instead. “I think I’ve got a couple of busted ribs. The bullet must have cracked them when it passed through.”
“You were lucky it did pass through,” Ward said. Cade waited for the inevitable. The questions about what happened. He’d decided the best course was to say he couldn’t remember. The less lies he told, the less he’d have to keep track of. Keep it simple.
“God’s providence,” Cade said. “For which I am eternally grateful.” He felt somewhat satisfied. He’d actually spoken the truth, or at least the truth according to Timothy. Cade knew God would have a punch line in there somewhere. He’d just have to wait for it, and hope he was long gone when it came. God would have the last laugh. It was just up to Cade to make sure he would survive it.
“Jim Martin said you didn’t recall what happened.”
“You’re the first person I’ve talked to, besides Leah.”
“You’d be dead now, if not for her. She’s the one who found you in the middle of the blizzard. Right in front of the statue.”
“Statue?” Cade tried to recall all the details that had been in the letters compared to what Leah had mentioned in conversation. “The angel statue? The one the town’s named after?”
“That’s it.”
“The Lord does work in mysterious ways.” Cade put his hand on his side again. Sitting around talking to the saloon owner wasn’t helping him form a plan to get out of town. “I’m sorry t
o say it might be awhile before I’m able to take on my duties. I’m as weak as this kitten.”
“There’s no rush,” Ward said. “We really didn’t expect you to show up before springtime anyway. The snow makes it hard for people to come into town for church. We’re lucky if we have one service a month in the winter. Of course those of us that live in town…” Ward leaned back in his chair. “Let’s just say we’re a real friendly bunch. Everyone will want to meet you and get to know you, have you over for supper, you know, the usual things.”
That was exactly what Cade was afraid of. “Hopefully I’ll be on the mend soon.” The more people he talked to, the better the chance that they’d see through his lies. Cade flipped the pages of the Bible as if he’d been looking for a passage to disguise the fact that he was studying Ward. He definitely didn’t want him sniffing around too much.
“So why is it a saloon owner decided to pay me a visit?” He looked at the Bible as if he’d found the passage he was looking for.
God has foreseen something better for us…
He noticed he was in Hebrews before he shut the Bible and put it aside. Ashes decided that the threat at the end of the bed was minimal and butted his hand with her forehead so he’d pet her. Cade picked her up and put her in his lap and rubbed her chin. Her purr rumbled deep in her throat, a big sound for such a tiny creature.
“You got some sins you’re trying to atone for?” He gave Ward a charming smile.
Ward’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he smiled right back at Cade.
“I imagine we’ve all backslid a time or two. And since I own the saloon, which is the center for all the hedonistic pleasures in town, I reckon I’ve done more than my fair share.” He stopped for a few seconds, put his hand to his chin as if he were deep in thought and laughed. “Yep, more than my fair share.”
“Nobody is keeping score.” Cade shrugged. “And as you said, everything in moderation.”
“Even Jesus drank wine?”
“Exactly.” Cade touched his side again and added a wince.
