“You’re sorry, all right!” Lijuan replied venomously.
Lijuan picked up her hammer and spun it hammer around in her hand, laughing, since it didn’t matter which end of the hammer she would use as they were both blunt. As she raised it up in the air, preparing to deal a last blow, Honor rushed into the scene with a frown, stopping her before she let the hammer fall towards Abigail’s head.
“Lannie, STOP!!”
“Are you crazy? She held a gun on us not once, but twice!” Lijuan growled, still holding the hammer in midair.
“I know, but we might need her!” Honor insisted. “We do not know what kind of pull the Wendells might have. We might need her testimony to put him and her, if she lives, away for what they tried to do to the Dodges.”
“Mercy! I’ll testify to whatever you want!” Abigail begged.
Lijuan finally lowered the hammer yanking Abigail to her feet with a grin and began prodding her in the small of her back towards the outside world.
“Not bad for a Japanese bitch, would you agree?” she snorted sarcastically.
*****
Cassandra spurted out of the tunnel and urged her horse to catch up with Wendell’s up the ledge road. He turned his horse away every time she got close, avoiding her. Finally, inching close enough, Cassandra leaped at him, knocking him off with both grunting as the pair tumbled towards the edge of the road. Wendell rolled over too much, slanting down the cliff but escaped death at the last moment with a wild grab. Now he swung like a pendulum merely hanging by a single hand.
“Pull me up! Dammit pull me up!” he screamed.
Cassandra took her time to dust her hands before glaring down at him. “So, you can live to wage war against the Dodge family another day?” she taunted.
“No contract is worth dying for!” he yelled, gradually losing his grip.
“You didn’t feel that way when that brute you call your wife was shooting arrows in our direction!” Cassandra spat.
“Name a price!”
Wendell was near whimpering now and would have gone down the cliff had Cassandra not quickly gripped his wrist and yanked him up.
“Not for sale,” Cassandra hissed at him. “I’m only doing this because my pop is a circuit judge with a lot of friends on the bench. When you get sentenced, assuming they don’t hang you for attempted murder, a few words from him and you will be doing hard labor for a long time over in Claymore prison. I’ll get my satisfaction when I’m sitting in that court room, listening to the verdict.”
“You’re not satisfied with what you did to my wife?”
Was the man mourning already? Cassandra gave him a hard scowl as he crouched on his ass, looking sober like a man who had seen it all. As if in response to his question, the stagecoach roared out of the tunnel and up the hill.
“She might live. I kind of hope she does so she can get the same medicine the law is going to serve up on you!” Cassandra fumed.
“Look at that sun,” she told him. “Still high enough in the sky. Looks like the Dodges will be running stages for years to come, and one more thing: where did you learn to handle a gun?”
Wendell, still looking sober, stared at the gun just before Cassandra snatched it from his belt.
“Never used one in my life,” he almost sounded embarrassed and Cassie pounced on the revelation.
“That figures. You pay others to do your dirty work for you, I see. I saw you bumbling around with this thing before,” she chuckled as she examined the gun. “Seems you really don’t know much about weapons … this is a single action Colt Paterson. You have to re-cock it every time it’s fired. The gun must have already been cocked when you took your shot at me. I may have misjudged your intelligence, after all. First thing we are going to do is march down that road and get my six-guns back and then round up one those horses.”
She wasn’t making a suggestion. Cassandra cocked the single action and pointed the gun at his head. “So, get a-marching, Mr. Wendell!” she barked.
*****
The golden twilight rays from the sky fell over Carlyle Springs as the wagon rolled down the main street. While Honor and Lijuan drove the buckboard, Cassandra rode on horseback next to it, keeping an eye on the three bound prisoners in the back and the prostrate form of Maggie Wendell.
As soon as the buckboard came to a stop outside the jail, Cassandra dismounted her horse, pulled out her two guns, and pointed them at the sullen prisoners.
“Everybody out!” she commanded.
The regretful trio climbed out of the wagon, stepping in line in front of the Dodges’ parked coach, which probably had arrived half an hour before their arrival. Honor also stepped down from the buckboard, passing the reins to Lijuan.
“I think I see the doctor’s shingle way down the street. Not that this wretch deserves it, but I’ll get her there. Heyahh!!” Lijuan slapped the reins and guided the buckboard forward cheerlessly.
Watching her sister kick up dust as the buckboard traveled down the street, Honor held Cassandra by the elbow and pulled her away from the prisoners.
“I worry so about her,” she said in a very low voice.
“What do you mean?” Cassandra asked.
“She hasn’t cried once since we found out about Daddy. I’ve bawled my eyes out, and don’t think I didn’t hear you that night weeping on the train when we were crossing the Midwest.”
“You don’t miss much, do you?” Cassandra smiled, at which Honor who could only shrug self-effacingly.
“Look, you know Lijuan,” Cassandra said. “She will do anything not to look vulnerable in front of strangers and even us. She’s keeping it all inside.”
“She has got to let it out,” Honor advised.
“She will in her own time … and I’m guessing it will be when we see Dutch. You know how close they are.”
“I do, and I hope you are right … but there is more,” Honor’s voice sounded strained.
“What?”
Honor seemed reluctant for a while, but finally shrugged, seeing no reason why she couldn’t bring it up.
“Back in the cavern, if I had not showed up, I honestly believe she was going to beat Abigail to death even after she was no longer a threat. We … we all know there is some kind of … some kind of darkness in her at times.”
“Abigail wanted us all dead,” Cassandra pointed out.
“You are making excuses, as do we all, rather than face it. Cassandra, please! I feel like she carries some pain inside her that fuels her frustrations that turn to such anger. I just cannot fathom what that pain could be.”
Honor’s observations had thrown Cassandra into her own private thoughts. She hated to admit it, but Honor was right. She was aware of the darkness in their sister’s heart and had little doubt as to why it was there. Admitting that the darkness indeed existed meant that she was right about her assumptions as to why it was there, and that wasn’t a path Cassandra wanted to walk onto just yet. It was just better to convince Honor that everything was fine with her.
“Listen, Honor, I love that girl like we all do. I’ll keep watch over her and everything will be fine,” Cassandra tried to encourage, but her voice betrayed a lack of conviction.
“That is easy for you to say now, but soon, you will be back in Philadelphia. How will you watch her from there?” Honor Elizabeth asked, picking up on her uncertain tone.
Luckily for Cassandra, she was unable to reply that she had no idea how she would. The door of the jail swung open as the sheriff, a deputy and the Dodges came out with looks of good cheer unmistakable on their faces. Cassandra stepped forward to speak with the lawman, noticing the setting sun glinting off their silver badges.
“Sheriff, I have some people who could use your hospitality!” Cassandra pointed to the bound prisoners behind her, her voice rang rich with satisfaction which mirrored the look on her face.
“I’ve been waitin’ for them,” The sheriff courteously tipped his hat. “Mr. Dodge gave me a full account what happened back
at the old Van den Burgh mine. Sounds like you Wilde girls are a pack of bobcats when you get your backs up against the wall.”
“Any chance I get to remove scoundrels off the scene, I welcome it,” Cassandra informed them with a flourish.
The sheriff nodded and urged his deputy along with him towards the prisoners. “All right, you sorry mess of louts, you are goin’ inside to get acquainted with the inside of a jail cell, and just wait until you hear the list of charges I’ve got against you! Bill, let’s move them in.”
“Yes, sir. You heard the man! Move!”
Honor left the scene and rushed over to Quillan, eager to hear how the shipment went.
“You made the shipment to the mine in time, yes?” she asked him.
“Sure did, Miss Honor Elizabeth! Came right over to see the sheriff afterward.”
Katie stepped forward too, clutching a piece of paper in her hand. “But not before getting this! Since we made it, our contract automatically has renewed to keep the stage line franchise goin’ on another five years! Hallelujah!”
“That’s wonderful!” Cassandra joined in.
“Indeed so!” Honor enthusiastically added.
Quillan stared at both their faces, unable to hide his appreciation, “There ain’t no point in me sayin’ we couldn’t have done it without you because that’s proven gospel right there, and if there is anything we can ever do for you, just ask.”
“There is one thing,” Honor said, a coy look crossing over her dusky features.
“You just name it, Miss Honor,” Quillan invited.
“After things settle down and I know my daddy is going to be all right,” Honor whispered, glancing at Cassandra, “and Cassie, I choose to believe he will be, please come see me at Cedar Ledge.”
“It will be my pleasure, ma’am,” Quillan his joyful face a testament that he was apparently gladdened by the invitation.
“Oh, I intend to make sure of that, Quillan Dodge,” Honor closed the space between them and gave him a tight hug.
Katie jumped and clasped her hands together delightedly, making it seem like Honor had just made the evening more exhilarating than it already was.
CHAPTER 7
* * *
The Next Day
Alamieda,
Arizona.
Evangeline Summers rested her lush body on the wall of the stagecoach station heaving a long-exhilarated sigh at the scene before her. It involved a certain raven-haired woman; a beguiling one that perhaps was the most beautiful human that she had ever come across. Eva felt like she could watch Catalina Wilde forever. Apart from her brown eyes, there was something about that hourglass shape that got to Eva’s knees, weakening them; and those balloon-sized breasts? It sometimes disappointed Eva that she had only been successful at admiring Catalina secretly, starting from the special dinner where they first met.
It was months ago; the dinner, Eva thought. Now, oblivious of her presence, Catalina sat on a bench, staring at a black coach that was tied up nearby. Evidently bored, she let out a long hiss and jumped to her feet with the resolve of a wild cat.
“She is going to find sport for herself, is she not?” Eva thought amusingly to herself.
It turned out she was right. Catalina untied a bullwhip from her belt and began to dexterously whirl the long rawhide around, creating a different snapping sound with every crack. She reached down afterwards, retrieving four rocks and lining them up on a hitching post. It felt totally exhilarating to watch her step back so professionally and knock each stone off with a crack of her whip.
“Ah do declare that is one of the most amazing tricks ah have evah seen!” Eva finally revealed herself, stepping forward from her spot.
Catalina spun around instantly, quite taken by the sudden appearance. Eva smiled, patiently waiting for the confused frown on her face to melt into one of recognition. Perhaps Catalina might not remember her as they had only met just once a few months ago when the town had set up a special dinner to welcome her as the town’s new schoolteacher from Charleston. Eva had felt at home and extraordinarily welcome, especially since most of the menfolk had given her all the attention of a lifetime. She was also sure Catalina had noticed all these, sensing that her brown eyes followed her everywhere during the entire event.
She was doing it again, though. Catalina slowly coiled her whip in her left hand while her eyes briefly coursed over the curves of her body. Eva kept her smile intact, fully aware of the alluring nature of her shapely body. Apart from her thick and curvy hips, her face was perhaps the most fascinating feature that she had. It was round and was complemented with small red lips, tiny dimple spots and long curly auburn hair that went down to her shoulders.
When Catalina finally drew her face up to stare into her eyes, a warm brightness appeared on her face as she figured out who she was.
“Thank you, Miss Eva.”
Eva smiled once more and stepped towards her. “Ah am truly sorry we have not had an opportunity to speak again since the dinner that night.”
Another brightness appeared on Catalina’s face and Eva didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know that memories of the dinner had just passed through her mind. Her father Judge Wilde had introduced himself and his daughter joking that she only agreed to be his companion to the dinner because he insisted that she get off their ranch more often and away from her cattle. With keen interest, she had listened as the judge regaled her with stories of the town and the ranch, all the while she was unable to refrain from stealing furtive glances at the young beauty laughing at his side.
“Me too, Miss Evangeline,” Catalina’s lips curled slightly upward in response to her last statement.
Eva had stepped close enough to inhale the almond smell of Catalina’s hair. She laid her hand on Catalina’s arm, trying to be as comforting as possible.
“Completely understandable, of course,” her warm voice said. “The whole town is talking about yoah Papa’s dreadful accident. Ah am so terribly sorry. Judge Wilde was extremely welcoming to me that night, and a very charming gentleman. How is the dear man?” Eva asked.
For a moment, Catalina stared into her eyes bleakly before clipping her whip back to her belt and muttering the words, “We’re seein’ improvement. Hopefully, he will wake up any time now.”
“Muh thoughts and prayers are with ya’ll,” Eva sighed.
Being so close to Catalina, Eva found it hard to think of anything else to say. She had a feeling her presence affected Catalina too. Both of them stood close for a while, each unsure of what next to say.
“So, where evah did ya’ll learn to handle a whip like that?” Eva finally breathed, remembering the skills she had showcased earlier. “Judge Wilde or one of those interesting sistahs ah’ve heard so much about since muh arrival?”
“Oh, no,” Catalina half giggled. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve traveled back and forth across the border to Mexico to spend time with my mother’s family. Spent so much time there in the summers I kind of picked up their accent. That’s fine by me. Keeps my mama alive in a way. Anyhow Papa felt it important that I should keep in touch with the Corderros and my Mexican roots. I learned the way of the whip from my uncle, Hector.”
To prove her point, she picked up a rock and placed it in Eva’s hand, slowly uncoiling her bullwhip from her belt once more.
“Throw that straight up and watch!” she instructed.
Excited, Eva did as she was told and watched as Catalina snapped her whip in a flash, striking the rock in midair. The stone went flying eastward while Eva clasped her gloved hands in delight.
“Amazing!”
Catalina shrugged with a laugh, looking rather pleased by Eva’s excitement. For a while, they stared at each other again, once more looking for their next words.
“So … ah have seen ya’ll waitin’ out here for a while now,” Eva finally spoke, her confession put a wide grin on Catalina’s face, though.
“Oh, so the school marm is watchin’ me like one of her unru
ly students.”
“Nothing of the sort!” Eva blushed. “Ah was out for muh Saturday morning constitutional and couldn’t help but to notice ya’ll and that grand looking carriage.”
“That’s my papa’s last baby,” Catalina replied, glancing behind her at the coach that she had been staring at earlier. “He loves that coach. Bein’ a circuit judge, he travels a lot and he likes to do it in style.”
“Very lovely,” Eva commended. “But when ah came back just now, ya’ll were still here.”
“Just waitin’ on my sister’s stage to come in from Carlyle Springs. Won’t be here for another hour or so,” Catalina said, glancing briefly at the open road ahead.
Eva glanced down the empty street, too, thinking for a moment. She felt reluctant a while, before turning to Catalina and spilling out the idea that just came into her head.
“Then … ah … perhaps ya’ll … wouldn’t mind doing me a little favor?” she asked.
“If I can, sure,” Catalina shrugged.
Eva stepped closer again, always feeling pulled towards her alluring eyes. “Well, Miss Catalina,” she said, clearing her throat. “Ya’ll know yoah cattle from what ah hear, and ah got this book ah want to share with muh class on Monday, but ah can’t identify a picture of one of the cattle breeds in it, and ah was hoping ya’ll might be able to for me. The book is back in … muh … room …”
Catalina’s eyebrows slightly furrowed together for a brief moment. She stared at her and then back at the stage office. Unknown to Eva, she was considering that accepting her request might be a huge relief from the hours or days of endless worry she had endured. Eva felt relieved when she grinned mischievously and clipped her whip to her belt once more.
“Sure, I’ll help.”
“That’s wonderful!”
Eva felt nervous and excited instantly. She glanced around uneasily, trying to figure out what their next steps would be.
“Of course, we’ll have to take the back stairs at the rooming house where ah have been staying,” Eva revealed. When Catalina looked at her questioningly, she waved her hands dismissively. “Oh, it’s because of the owner, Mrs. Lutzen! In the short time ah’ve been there, ah’ve gathered that old German woman don’t much cotton to ya’ll Mexican types, though ah can’t see why. Ya’ll are so exotic with them warm, brown, doe-like eyes,” she explained, smiling nervously.
The Wildes of the West 1_The Daughters of Half Breed Haven_Old west fiction of action adventure, romance & western family drama Page 15
