The Hen House

by Sharon Sala

  The wind was rising. It rattled the panes in the window enough that she flinched.

  “It looks like we might get ourselves a storm tonight, which reminds me… I’ve been wondering about digging a root cellar. Probably should have put one under the house. I’ll think on it some.”

  She looked up at the sky again, then back down at the darkness and reluctantly laid the flat of her hand on the window to bid him goodbye.

  “Goodnight, Eulis. I miss you. Thanks for listening.”

  ***

  As Letty had predicted, a thunderstorm swept through the area, moving at a wild, frantic pace and leaving an inch of rain behind. It muddied up the streets and roads some, but nothing that couldn’t be traversed.

  She woke up with the feeling that something important needed to be done. It took her a few moments to remember about Robert Lee getting shot. Her instincts were to ride out and check on him, make sure he hadn’t come down with a fever, or was in terrible pain and unable to tend to his own needs.

  But, she didn’t. In fact, she was a little uncertain as how to proceed with Robert Lee. In a way, he’d done something that no other man had ever been able to do.

  He intimidated her. A lot.

  ***

  A few days later, a couple of freight wagons arrived, which was a big relief to Milton Feasley’s customers. He’d been out of coffee for more than a month, and while they were accustomed to doing without many things, coffee was something they didn’t want to give up.

  Milton had hired a couple of men to help the driver unload his goods, and they were in the act of carrying them through the store to the storeroom, when another customer entered the store.

  Milton looked up and frowned. It was Delilah, the whore from the hotel. He’d availed himself of her services a couple of times, but there was a fine line between her accommodating him, and him being able to accommodate her. He hurried to the counter, nervously glancing around.

  “Miss Delilah?”

  Delilah Carter knew she was crossing a line, but she needed food just like the rest of Denver City’s fine citizens. She laid a list in front of Milton and dared him to make an issue of it.

  Milton cleared his throat and picked up the list.

  “Coffee… cornmeal… beans?” He scanned the rest of the items she’d written down and then frowned. “I didn’t realize you had access to a cook stove.”

  Delilah smiled coolly, when she really wanted to slap his face. “Like everyone else, I require food to live. I do not live in the hotel. It’s just where I do my business, remember?”

  Milton flushed nervously. He didn’t particularly want it known that he had taken advantage of her services, and decided that the best way to deal with it was to get her list filled and get her out of the store as soon as possible.

  “I’ll be getting these for you right now. If you want to wait out—”

  She glared. “I’ll be right here.”

  Milton flushed.

  “Yes, of course. I won’t be long.”

  “I’ll just bet,” Delilah muttered, as he began scurrying about the store.

  “Sometimes, they just grate on your last nerve, don’t they?”

  Delilah flinched, and then turned around, surprised that a woman was actually speaking to her. Then she recognized the woman and her surprise deepened.

  “Mrs. Potter?”

  “Call me Letty,” she said, and smiled. “My husband and I lived across the hall from you a while back. Maybe you remember?”

  Delilah flushed. “Yes, ma’am, I remember. I’m real sorry about your husband and all. I would have come to the services, but I knew it wouldn’t be proper. Still, you have my sympathies.”

  Letty nodded.

  “Thank you.” Then she pointed toward the new crates being unpacked in the back room. “Did you come for coffee, too?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Letty smiled again. “Your name is Delilah, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Delilah Carter.”

  “Where are you from?”

  Delilah rolled her eyes. “You name it.”

  Letty understood. She eyed her closer, guessing her age at about twenty, maybe twenty two. She was a tall, pretty girl with auburn hair and blue eyes. Her skin was smooth and clear, but there was a hard look in her eyes that Letty recognized. The young woman had no trust left in her.

  Milton came scurrying by, then glared at Delilah as if she was overstepping her bounds by even speaking to Denver City’s richest woman.

  Letty saw the look and glared back at Milton, startling him to the point that he got flustered and dropped the bag of beans he’d been carrying. It hit the floor with a splat and burst open, sending dry, speckled beans in every direction.

  “Oh! I’m so sorry!” Milton gasped, and ran for a broom and pan to scoop them up. They had to be washed anyway, so he didn’t figure they’d come to any harm.

  “We’ll get out of your way for a bit,” Letty said, and pointed toward the corner of the store where the fabrics were kept. “Join me… will you?”

  Delilah was more than surprised. She was shocked.

  “Thank you, ma’am, but I don’t think it would be—”

  Letty took her by the arm and all but dragged her away from the counter.

  “Don’t look so startled,” Letty said. “I have something to ask you.” She put her hands on her hips and eyed the young woman from head to toe. “Do you like what you’re doing?”

  Delilah frowned. “If you’re about to preach at me, ma’am, then I’d just as soon you kept your thoughts to yourself. You’ve obviously never been in my position, or you wouldn’t ask a question like that?”

  Letty led with her chin and kept talking.

  “That’s just it, honey… I have been in your position… for years back in the Kansas territories… in a watering hole in Lizard Flats called The White Dove Saloon.”

  Delilah’s lips went slack. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

  “I don’t get it. If this is true, then why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I thought if you were interested, you might consider changing your occupation.”

  A muscle jerked near Delilah’s left eye, but her voice never wavered.

  “I didn’t choose my occupation. It chose me. Believe me, not a day goes by that I don’t wish the redskins had killed me, too, when they killed my Ma and Pa.”

  “Where were you when this happened?” Letty asked.

  “We’d just crossed the Mississippi.”

  “How did you get away?”

  “I wasn’t in camp when they attacked.” Tears suddenly pooled in Delilah’s eyes and rolled down her face unchecked. “I hid when I heard the war cries. Then I heard Mama screaming and closed my eyes. When I woke up, it was night and they were gone. They scalped my folks and took the wagon and horses. A pair of French trappers found me.”

  Letty hurt for the child Delilah had been. Their lives were too similar to ignore.

  “How old were you?”

  “Ten.”

  “Lord,” Letty muttered, and then a thought occurred. “How old were you when they started messing with you?”

  “Ten.”

  Letty folded her arms across her breasts and stared Delilah straight in the face.

  “I have an offer to make.”

  “What?”

  “If you want… I’m offering you a way out of the life you’re living.”

  Delilah frowned. She’d been wise to the ways of the world for far too long to trust anyone or anything.

  “Oh yeah… and what do you want in return?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” Letty said.

  Delilah’s heart skipped a beat. If the woman was serious, this just might turn out to be the best day of her life.

  “Why would you do this?” Delilah whispered.

  “Because someone did it for me,” Letty said softly, thinking of Eulis.

  “I don’t understand,” Delilah said, and then started to cry.
<
br />   “You don’t have to understand. You just have to make a decision to give up this life for another.”

  “But what will I do?” Delilah said. “I don’t know any other way.”

  “Something will come to you, I’m sure,” Letty said.

  “Are you sure?” Delilah asked.

  “I’m rich as sin,” Letty said. “Might as well do something useful with it.”

  Delilah threw her arms around Letty’s neck and hugged her fiercely. Letty smiled, and patted her on the back.

  “So, how long will it take you to pack?”

  “About five minutes,” Delilah said.

  “My wagon’s out front. I’ll be in it, waiting.”

  “Oh lord, oh lord,” Delilah muttered, and then ran out of the store without looking back.

  Milton was just finishing the last items on Delilah’s list when he saw her run out.

  “Hey! You forgot your things!” he yelled.

  “Put them in with my stuff,” Letty said.

  “But she didn’t pay me yet,” Milton whined.

  “Add it to my bill. I’ll pay for both.”

  Milton’s eyes bugged.

  “Well now, Miz Potter… are you sure you want to—”

  “Milton!”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Mind your own business.”

  He blinked.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  ***

  It was with no small amount of distress that the men of Denver City learned of Delilah’s escape. It took a few days for the news to spread that another hen had been added to the hen house at the top of the hill above the city.

  But by then, Delilah was settling in just fine and with Alice’s help, was learning how to bake bread.

  Robert Lee heard about Letty’s latest stunt, but kept his opinions to himself. Personally, he believed that Letty kept gathering the lost around her, because she felt as lost as the females she’d taken in.

  His shoulder continued to heal without problems. Within a month after the shooting, he pronounced himself fit, discarded the sling, and began practicing his draw, making sure that he didn’t lose the one skill that had kept him alive all these years.

  BEYOND HER WILDEST DREAMS

  It was Sunday when Letty decided she’d ride out to the mine and check on Robert Lee. Weeks had passed since he’d been shot, and during that time, he’d been by the house twice to give her updates on the situation at the mine. Once to tell her that they’d blasted into a whole new vein that seemed even richer than the first, and the second time to tell her that Noah Shaffer quit and went back home to Louisiana. Both times he’d been cordial, but there was a reserve within him that she just didn’t understand. She had fretted over it to the point that she was beginning to lose sleep. She feared that she’d somehow hurt his feelings, and she intended to do whatever it took to get back to the friendly relationship they’d once observed.

  The weather was warm, unlike the last five days when the men she’d hired had dug her a cellar. A carpenter had come yesterday and put a door on it. Now they were ready for anything.

  The day was sunny. The scent of chicken frying in the kitchen drifted up the stairwell as she dressed in a pair of pants and a shirt. She pulled her hair away from her face and tied it at the back of her neck with a length of ribbon. But when she sat down on the side of the bed and leaned over to put on her boots, the room began to spin around her.

  Immediately, she straightened, and then grabbed onto the bedspread to keep from sliding in the floor. It took a few moments for the room to settle. Shaken by the unexpected weakness, Letty sat, waiting to see if it happened again. When it did not, she wiped a shaky hand across her forehead, feeling to see if she was coming down with a fever. Her forehead was cool to the touch.

  “Good grief,” she muttered, and leaned down to put on her other boot.

  As before, the room began to spin like a top. She managed to get her foot into the other boot, then grabbed onto the bedpost to keep from falling on her face.

  What’s happening to me? I was fine at breakfast, although the eggs Alice fried did taste a bit off.

  She’d suffered food poisoning once before when she’d eaten some bad meat, and didn’t relish a repeat of that event. Wondering if anyone else in the house was feeling ill effects, she managed to get herself downstairs and headed for the kitchen.

  Alice was standing at the stove, taking pieces of fried chicken from a large cast iron pot. Delilah was moving from the kitchen to the dining room, setting the table with Letty’s good dishes. Through the window, she could see Katie with Mary Whiteside bringing up a fresh pail of water from their dug well. No one seemed the worse for wear, so she decided not to mention it. The last thing she wanted was for Alice to start fussing.

  “That chicken smells good,” Letty said.

  “It’s mite near done,” Alice said. “You could carry that plate of cornbread to the table.”

  Letty reached for the plate, then staggered.

  Alice saw her stumble, and grabbed her before she fell.

  “Here now,” Alice said, and sat her down on a stool beside the window. “Are you all right?”

  Letty shuddered. Suddenly the scent of cooking chicken didn’t smell so good after all.

  “I don’t think so,” Letty said. “I’m thinking the eggs I had for breakfast might have been a bit off.”

  Alice frowned. “I got them from Milton Feasley yesterday. He said Georgia Bennet brought them in fresh that morning. Besides, we all ate eggs this morning and no one else is ailing. Do you hurt anywhere?”

  “No. Just a little dizzy,” Letty said. “I’ll just sit here a bit until the room stops spinning.”

  Alice frowned, eyeing Letty’s pallor, as well as her clothes—a sign she planned to go riding.

  “You stay by the window. There’s a good breeze blowing.”

  “Yes, I believe I will,” Letty said.

  Alice went back to her cooking, but ever so often looked back at Letty, her frown deepening with every glance.

  “I see you’re planning to go somewhere. Do you think that’s wise, considering how you feel?” Alice asked.

  “I intended to ride out to the mine and check on Robert Lee, but I suppose now I’ll wait and see how I feel after we eat dinner.”

  Alice nodded approvingly.

  “Do you reckon we’ll have enough chicken that you could put back two or three pieces for Robert Lee?” Letty asked.

  “Of course,” Alice said. I fried up two big hens. There should be plenty… and fresh cornbread, too.”

  “Good,” Letty said. “I know he’ll appreciate your fine cooking.”

  Alice beamed as she continued to take up the rest of the chicken.

  Mary Whiteside and little Katie came in the back door with the bucket of fresh water as Delilah came in from the dining room.

  Delilah glanced at Letty, then stopped and stared.

  “You’re sick.”

  Letty shrugged.

  “It’s nothing. Just a little bit dizzy.”

  “You’re white as a sheet,” Delilah said.

  Mary hurried to the sideboard, got a clean glass and filled it full of fresh water.

  “Here now,” she said, handing Letty the water. “Drink up while it’s still cool from the well.”

  A little embarrassed by all of the female attention, Letty took a quick sip. Within seconds of it hitting her stomach, she knew it had been a mistake. She made a dash for the back door and barely made it to the edge of the porch before everything in her stomach came up.

  Someone was holding her around the waist, while another was wiping her face with a wet cloth. She could hear little Katie’s nervous whisper, asking if Miz Letty was going to die. Letty wanted to assure her that she was just fine, but she couldn’t draw breath long enough to talk before another spasm would hit. By the time she was finished, she was of the opinion that little Katie could be right. Except for the time she’d been skunked, she had never felt so m
iserable.

  “I think I’ll just sit out here for a bit,” Letty said, as Alice helped her to a chair near the edge of the porch where the breeze blew strongest. “You all go on ahead and eat your dinner. I couldn’t eat a bite.”

  Alice frowned.

  Delilah stared.

  Mary Whiteside set her jaw.

  Katie began to cry.

  “Here now,” Alice said, gathering Katie up into her arms. “Miz Letty isn’t dying. She’s just a bit under the weather today. Let’s go on in the house and give her some space. Okay?”

  Katie nodded, but didn’t seem all that convinced. She hid her face against Alice’s bosom, afraid she was about to witness another death.

  Letty could hear the women whispering among themselves as they went back into the house. She was thankful for their concern, but too queasy to dwell on it.

  T-Bone came out from under the porch and sat down at her feet, staring up at her with a brown, soulful stare.

  Letty laid a hand on his head with an absent touch, as she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, letting her body go limp.

  The breeze was fairly stiff, and the cool mountain air blowing against her face felt wonderful. It didn’t appear that she was going to ride out to the mine after all, and hated to think about Robert Lee not getting any of Alice’s fine chicken and cornbread. She’d have Alice save it for a while anyway. There was always the chance that he’d ride by.

  She sat for a bit, letting her thoughts wander as her stomach slowly settled. Finally, she opened her eyes and as she did, caught a glimpse of the cross marking Eulis’ grave. Without thinking she got up from her chair, stepped off the porch and headed for the stump. The urge to talk to Eulis was strong.