Cindy Holby

by Angel’s End

  “Come in,” Gretchen called out when she knocked on the door. Leah followed the sound of her friend’s voice to the back porch where she found Gretchen washing clothes. Even though the air was frigid, Gretchen’s red hair was plastered to her head with sweat from the hard work and the hot water that steamed the air.

  “I’m hoping to get this load done before the next storm hits,” Gretchen said by way of greeting. “Of course with this brood that’s an impossible task.”

  “Don’t stop on my account,” Leah said. “I don’t know how you do it,” she confessed. “Just taking care of Banks wears me out.”

  Gretchen looked up from the washtub. “Taking care of Banks wears you out or taking care of Pastor Key?” It didn’t take Gretchen long to get to the heart of the matter. “He wasn’t quite what you expected, was he?” she asked with a teasing grin.

  “I don’t think he’s what anyone expected,” Leah said.

  “What do you mean?” Gretchen wrung out a shirt and tossed it over a line strung between the porch posts.

  Leah chewed on her lip, not sure of how much she should say. “Where’s Nonnie?”

  “She walked out to the stable with Dusty. He came to get a kitten.” Gretchen gave her a look; much like the one she gave her children when they were disobedient. “What happened?”

  Leah glanced around to make sure there wasn’t anyone to hear. “He kissed me?”

  “What?” Gretchen looked up from the washtub. “Really?”

  “Yes, but then he said he shouldn’t have.”

  “Well of course he shouldn’t have. But he did.” Gretchen grinned. “How was it?”

  “Um…it was nice, I guess.”

  “What do you mean ‘I guess’?”

  “I mean it was nice when he kissed me, but then when he apologized it made me feel…I don’t know…cheap? I would rather he hadn’t kissed me at all, if he was going to apologize after.”

  “He’s confused,” Gretchen advised. “Just like you are. He feels like he’s overstepped the boundaries. And he’s probably weak because of his illness.”

  “That does make sense,” Leah agreed. “But…”

  “But what?”

  Leah wasn’t sure if she should tell Gretchen more. That she felt like there were things about Pastor Key that didn’t fit. The pieces were all there but something wasn’t quite right. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow and then he apologized. He gave vague answers. He said he didn’t remember getting shot. How could you not remember something like that? And he didn’t seem to want anyone to pursue his attacker. She needed time to figure it all out. She wasn’t ready to pass judgment on him. It wasn’t her place.

  “Did something else happen?” Gretchen asked.

  “No,” Leah answered honestly. “He just eats a lot.”

  “What minister doesn’t?” Gretchen laughed. “But be honest. Are you uncomfortable having him there? Do you need him to go someplace else?”

  This was her chance. Did she want him gone? If she asked someone else to take him there’d be talk. People would want to know why. It was a small town with a long hard winter that was just now getting started. Everyone would gnaw on the news like a dog with a bone, and more than likely what they came up with would be far worse than what had actually happened.

  “No. There’s no need for him to go. But do you think you could ask Jim to get my doors finished?”

  “Should he put locks on them too?”

  “No,” Leah laughed. “It’s not that drastic. It’ll just keep things from getting uncomfortable if…” Her voice trailed off, as she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say.

  “I will.” Gretchen quickly assured her as she wrung out one of Jim’s shirts and plopped it on the line. She dried her hands on her apron and wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand. “If you answer one question for me.”

  Leah wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the question. But there was no going back now. “I’ll try,” she said.

  “Would it be a bad thing if something did happen between you and the pastor?”

  “Oh no, I don’t want…”

  “Why not?” Gretchen interrupted. “It’s been four years since Nate passed. Do you really want to be alone for the rest of your life?”

  “I’m not ready,” Leah insisted. Or was she?

  “Will you just think about it?” Gretchen put another pile of clothing in the washtub. “There must be something there or it wouldn’t have bothered you so much.”

  Leah had to admit the older woman was right. But she wasn’t exactly sure how she felt, and she didn’t think anything else was going to happen. Not after Timothy regretted kissing her. “Thanks for listening. I’ll think it all over. Now I’d best get back to work.”

  “Good luck!” Gretchen called after her.

  Leah took a deep breath as she headed back to the diner. Talking to Gretchen hadn’t solved her problem but she did feel better. It was almost as if she’d gone to Gretchen seeking permission. For what exactly she couldn’t put her finger on.

  Smoke poured from the chimney of the white steepled building at the northern end of the street. The paint on it was still so new that it matched the fresh coating of snow piled up around it. The people of Angel’s End had all donated to the building of it, all participated in its construction, even Banks and the Martin kids had driven nails and painted the walls. The building had been built to serve a double purpose. It was the church and the schoolhouse. Banks was there now, working away at his lessons. He was her first and only concern. She couldn’t, and she wouldn’t, expose him to anything unseemly. Timothy’s apology led her to believe that nothing else would happen between them. She would take him at his word and let things be for now.

  And he did offer to repair the pump. She hadn’t dared ask anyone else to fix it because then there would be comments about her not making it on her own. They’d all predicted she couldn’t survive on her own when Nate died. Everyone thought she was crazy for not marrying Jake. Sometimes pride was a horrible companion. It sure didn’t do much to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night. That’s what Dodger is for…

  Leah smiled at her foolishness. The answer to her dilemma was quite simple actually. All she needed to do was keep things formal between her and the pastor. It should be easy now that he was healing up. She wouldn’t have to get close to him. Wouldn’t be tempted. And hopefully Jim would have her doors done soon, especially since Gretchen knew why they needed to be finished sooner rather than later. Until then she could hang a drape over the openings to the bedrooms.

  Once he was better and about his job she’d probably not see much of him. Everyone would be eager to have him over for supper, and Dusty was supposed to take care of the rest of his meals. It would be easy to stay busy at the diner so she wouldn’t have to talk to him much. She would just make sure to be out the door before he got up in the mornings.

  Maybe he and Margy would hit it off. They could get married and the town would build them a little house by the church where they could live happily ever after. Just like she’d planned with Nate.

  He pushed me away…Leah had to admit her ego was crushed in no uncertain terms. She was humiliated and embarrassed. She felt like a fool. But he was the one who kissed her. She’d only gone where he led her. The man was confusing with the kissing and the spouting of Bible verses and the way he looked at her. She shouldn’t let her feelings cloud her judgment. The problem was she couldn’t figure out exactly what her feelings were at the moment.

  “You gonna stand out there all day?” Dusty interrupted her musings. “It’s colder than a nun’s teat out here.”

  Leah grinned at Dusty’s colorful language. He could be creative when the need called for it. And sometimes when it didn’t. “It actually feels kind of nice. I’ve been cooped up way too long.”

  “Maybe it’s just because some tasks are more trying than others.” Dusty gave a deliberate look at her house. It was no secret that Dusty didn’t want a preacher in
town. He said his business was between him and God and he didn’t need no preacher running interference for him.

  Leah refrained from rolling her eyes. She heard a faint mew and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Dusty grinned and opened his jacket. An orange kitten popped its head out. “Gretchen told me to take one before the youngins got home from school. What do you think?”

  Leah touched the head of the orange kitten that peeped out of Dusty’s coat. “I think you got a winner. You picked out a name yet?”

  “Peaches.” Dusty grinned from ear to ear. “He looks just like a fuzzy new peach, don’t you think?”

  “I sure do.”

  Dusty rubbed the kitten’s head with his forefinger while he looked up and down the deserted streets. Smoke poured from all the chimneys and the faint sound of Ward playing the piano drifted out of the saloon. “Kind of strange, all these critters suddenly showing up.” He cocked his head to one side, thinking hard on his statement.

  “Yes, it’s been a week for strays. Momma cat, a dog and a preacher, all in the space of five days.”

  “Speaking of strays, here comes Jake.” Leah looked north, beyond the schoolhouse, and sure enough Jake was riding in and looked to be in a hurry. His horse was lathered and blowing hard when he pulled up in front of the diner.

  “What’s got you in such a hurry?” Dusty asked.

  “You know that mining camp up on Rattlesnake Creek?” Jake swung out of the saddle and smacked his horse on the rump. The animal, well trained, took off for Martins’ livery where it knew a warm stall and a rubdown awaited him.

  “I’ve heard of it. They’re the ones that’d just as soon shoot you as look at you.”

  “I had a donkey show up on my front porch this morning, making a horrible racket. When I tried to catch it, it ran off. So I saddled up to trail it, thinking someone must be hurt or dead and it led me straight up the canyon to the camp. The entire camp was dead, wiped out by measles from the looks of it.”

  “The entire camp?” A chill chased down Leah’s spine. Measles was a horrible way to die.

  “Someone must have survived. A few of them were buried before the snow but the rest…” Jake shook his head. “We’re going to have to go back up there and burn the bodies.”

  The chill she felt worsened. “Those boys…” Leah looked at Dusty as words failed her.

  “We had a man with two boys in early this morning,” Dusty explained to Jake. “And he was in a big hurry to get out of town before the weather hit.”

  “Did either of you touch them? Get close?”

  Leah was shivering now. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her body. “I gave the boys a good washing.”

  “Damn it, Leah!” Jake exploded. “Every person that happens to walk by doesn’t need to be taken care of. Most people just want to be left alone. Who else have you been around?”

  Leah shook her head, shocked by Jake’s outburst and the fact that she had been exposed to such a deadly disease. “Pastor Key. Bettina came by…and I talked to Ward some. Dusty here, and I just left Gretchen. But as far as touching anyone…” Leah flushed as the memory of the kiss came rushing back. “Just Pastor Key. I changed his bandage when I went home,” she hastily added.

  Jake took off his hat. Ran his hand through his hair. Looked around the empty streets. “We’re going to have to quarantine you. Until we know for sure. And him too I guess.”

  Locked in the house…with Timothy Key…“Banks, oh my goodness, Banks…”

  “We’ll make sure Banks is taken care of.” For a moment there she thought Jake was going to touch her. Pull her to him. Tell her everything was going to be all right. Instead he turned away and looked down the street toward Heaven’s Gate. “Leah, go on home and tell the pastor what’s happened.”

  “Jake, don’t you think you’re overreacting?” Leah asked. His tone with her had her feeling mutinous. Did he really expect her to jump at his command like that?

  Jake whirled around to face her. “I’m not overreacting.” His jaw was clenched and his voice tight. “You didn’t see them. You don’t ever want to see what I just witnessed up there. Now go home and stay there, please, for all our sakes.”

  “All right.” The look on Jake’s face was frightening. “I’ll go.” Leah stepped into the street. Jake was already walking away. “I fixed Bettina some tea. You might want to watch her also.”

  “Don’t you worry none,” Dusty assured her. “We’ll make sure she stays put until we know what’s going on.”

  Jake stopped and turned around, his face now livid. “Damn it, Leah! You always got to be taking care of people.”

  Leah straightened her spine. She refused to cry. She knew Jake was frustrated. His anger wouldn’t help. It wouldn’t change a thing. “They were boys Jake. Little boys who needed some care.”

  Dusty, for once the peacemaker, put a hand on Jake’s arm. “Go on home, Leah,” he said. “We’ll check in on you in a bit.”

  What if I have the measles? What if I die? Who would dare come to help her if she got sick? At least she knew the town would care for Banks. Leah went into her house. It felt cold. So very cold. Dodger, always faithful, always waiting, greeted her at the door. Leah dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the dog.

  “Please God, let it be all right.”

  FIFTEEN

  Leah was crying. Why was she crying? Cade hadn’t expected her to be back for hours. He quickly slid the gun beneath the mattress. Ashes meowed sleepily at the interruption and went back to her nap. Cade went into the hall. Leah crouched before the door with her arms around Dodger and her face buried in his fur. She looked small and helpless, not at all like the woman who had cared for him the past few days.

  It must be her son…

  Logical thought left him. What was it about her that made him so weak? Cade went to her, knelt beside her and touched her arm. His ribs screamed their protest but he ignored them. “Is it Banks? Did something happen? Is he hurt?” A sudden cold fear gripped him deep in his gut. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her, soothe her, tell her everything would be all right, but how could he? He didn’t know what had happened. He didn’t trust himself around her.

  Go, while you can…

  “Wha—Banks? No it’s not Banks.” Leah covered her mouth and looked up at him. Tears hung to her dark lashes like tiny pieces of stars. She quickly wiped them away. “It’s nothing, I’m just being silly is all.”

  Cade pulled her up. “Tell me, what happened?” He peered out the window, searching the street for answers. All he saw was a donkey, running down the middle of town and hee-hawing as if its life depended on it. Leah turned at the noise and let out a laugh at the sight that sounded alarmingly close to hysteria.

  “What happened?” he asked her again.

  “We’re quarantined.”

  Cade swallowed…hard. Quarantined sounded an awful lot like prison. He looked out the window again. No men with guns stood about keeping guard. There was no one to say you have to stay. Instead he saw a group of men walking from the saloon across to the livery.

  “Why?”

  “A family came into the diner today. We think they were from the mining camp. Jake Reece was up there this morning and said everyone was dead. He thinks it’s measles.”

  “You were that close to them?”

  Leah nodded. “It was two little boys, about Banks’s age. I washed their faces and hands before I served them.”

  “And then I kissed you.” Should he tell her he had measles when he was just a boy? That he caught it from the Cheyenne when his father took them west? That once you were infected the chances that you would catch it again were very slim?

  Leah nodded, her face apologetic. “I’m so sorry.” She rushed on, clearly not wanting to dwell on the kiss. At least she was thinking logically. It was more than he had done where she was concerned. “They said for us to stay inside until we know for sure…”

  It made sense. Not that he planned on doing what they
said. Still, sticking around would be what Timothy would do. He was fairly certain he couldn’t catch the disease again. And however irrational it was, he wanted to stay with Leah. “It could be worse you know.”

  “How could it possibly be worse?”

  “Mrs. Swanson was exposed also. They could lock her in here with us.”

  Leah laughed. She laughed good and long and hard. Cade watched her with his own amusement as she doubled over, her arms wrapped about her stomach as if she were in pain. Dodger whined, concern and confusion obvious in his dark and loving eyes. She was very close to losing control.

  Cade guided Leah into the kitchen and helped her find a seat. Dodger followed along and lay down next to the table with a great huff of disgust. Leah finally was able to stop laughing and picked up a towel to wipe her eyes.

  Cade sat down across from her and took her hand. What are you doing? His conscience screamed at him. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her. She looked at him from beneath her lashes, clearly embarrassed at her loss of control. Not that he could blame her. Measles was a horrible disease. I kissed her…If he did happen to get sick; wouldn’t that give all the fine people of Angel’s End something to think about? How close were Mrs. Findley and the preacher? And once they found out he wasn’t really who they thought he was. She’d be ruined.

  “How about a piece of cake.”

  “What?”

  The cake was sitting on the table, right beside their intertwined hands. “I find that life generally looks better after a piece of cake.”

  Leah shook her head. “You are the strangest minister I’ve ever met.”

  “Have you met that many?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You’re just not what we, or maybe just I, expected.”

  He couldn’t argue with that. At least she still believed he was a minister and if they were going to be stuck together in this house for a while he needed to make sure she kept on believing it. “So tell me, what did you expect?” He released her hand so she could retrieve the plates and forks from the side of the sink where she’d left them to dry earlier.