The Encounter (21 page)

              Henry stepped back to the door of the hotel and looked inside. "Jake, come here."

              Jake, the man who had accompanied Henry to the McKenly place, joined him on the porch.

              "You see that wagon?” motioning with his cigar. "McKenly’s in town. I want to know why."

              Jake nodded and walked off down the sidewalk following the wagon.

              Lawrence had left the Dress Shop and started back toward the doctor's office. He paused now and then to take in the history around him. It would probably be the only chance he'd ever have to do this, he hoped.

              Lawrence walked reached the doctor’s office just as Joseph pulled the team around between the buildings to get the wagon off the street. Lawrence followed him.

              The wagon creaked to a stop. Lawrence walked over and looked at the wheel. "Well, looks like you got it fixed."

              "Yeah", Joseph said, as he climbed down. He walked around the front of the team. "I been wonderin' something. What were you and your wife doin' on the mountain with no horses?"

              Lawrence had waited for this to come up. "We stopped few days ago for water. Something spooked 'em. We’ve been on foot ever since. Just our luck we bumped into you and Sarah." He was getting better at thinking on his feet.

              "The stallion probably run off with 'em."

              "What stallion?"

              "The one that hurt my father and killed my best friend."

              They walked toward the front door of the doctor's office.

              "Just to set things straight", Joseph said, "it was
our
luck you came along, but you keep dependin’ on luck and these mountains'll kill ya."

              "I'll keep that in mind."

              They stopped at the door. Lawrence started to open it. Joseph stopped him. "It ain't straight in my head yet who you really are. You don't look much like prospectors, but no matter, you and yours are always welcomed at our fire."

              Lawrence looked at him. That was probably the most he could offer and it was clear he meant it. "We really appreciate that."

              They both entered the office. Jake stepped up to the back of the wagon and rubbed his chin. After a moment to think about it, he started back toward the hotel.

              Erma was dusting the office furniture. Margaret wasn't around. She looked at them and smiled.

              "Where's Maggie", Lawrence asked.

              "She's takin' a bath, last door on the right." She looked toward Joseph. "You best go see to your sister. She's with your father."

              Joseph didn't answer. He walked off toward Martin's room.

              Erma looked at Lawrence. "He knows. John talked to him this morning. Guess he needed some time alone to think it out... Well, to other things. There's a town social at the schoolhouse tonight. It might be nice if you and your wife came along. Meet some of the town's people."

              "We'll think about it. Thanks for askin'"

              Lawrence walked down the hall toward the washroom. It was a shame. All nineteenth century medicine could do for Martin was wait for him to live or die. He paused at the door and started to knock.

              "Come on in", came Margaret's voice from inside the room. "It's open."

              He opened the door, stepped in and closed it. Margaret was in a large, wooden tub. Her knees and shoulders were above the water. There were two buckets of water heating on a wood stove behind her.

              He held out the bundle. "I hope you like it. It's blue and one of a kind."

              "Sounds perfect."

              He walked over and laid his package on the chair. "I got the things that go under it too." He glanced around. "Where are your other clothes?"

              "Erma insisted on washing them. Fortunately she gave me time to get in this tub before she walked in and took 'em," pointing to the package, "open it and let me see."

              Lawrence opened the bundle on the chair. He held up the dress. "What do you think?"

              "It's very nice. What's the stuff that goes under it?"

              He laid the dress across the chair. "You know, underwear, petticoat, corset, that sorta things."

              She rose up exposing her breast. He noticed. "I hope I can figure it all out."

              He'd slept all night with her naked and probably would again, but the thought of what was hidden by the water still excited him. "I'm sure anyone who can fly a spaceship across the universe can figure out what to do with a nineteenth century petticoat."

              He started to leave. She stopped him. "You don't have to go. Grab a bucket and pour it over me."

              He walked behind her to the stove. The water in the buckets was close to boiling. "Are you sure? This looks pretty hot."

              "I like it hot."

              He looked around and came up with a cloth to put under the bucket. He picked up a bucket by the wooden insert in the handle, and walked to the tub. He started to pour it and stopped. "Maggie, this looks awful hot."

              "Just pour it." She leaned forward. He hesitated for a moment, and then figured she knew what she was doing and poured the water over her.

              She sighed. "Ahhh, that feels so good." It barely made her back pink. "Get the other one, please."

              He set down the empty one and picked up the other one. He poured it over her. Steam rose from the tub. She settled back down and hung her knees over the edge.

              She looked up at him and smiled. "Oh, heat some more water. You're next."

                                                       ***

              Henry Morton stood at the bar discussing the inventory with the bartender. Jake appeared at the entrance to the hotel. Henry looked his way, finished his conversation, and then joined him.

              "Well, what did you find out? Where is he?"

              "I followed 'em to the Doc's."

              Henry had to think about that one. "The doctor's... Did you see Martin or the girl?"

              "No, just the boy. He met some gent outside and they both went in."

              "Some gent? You never saw him before?"

              "Never seen him in town before. He was wearing a gun,” touching his lower right thigh, "way down here."

              Henry considered what was said. "Go back and keep an eye on 'em. I wanta know what's goin' on."

              "Yes sir..."

              Jake left the hotel. Henry walked up the stairs toward his office. Could Ben have done something already or had fate suddenly just smiled on him. What really concerned him was the other man.

                                                       ***

              Lawrence and Margaret walked into the dining room. It was early evening. She was wearing her new dress. With her skin color and jet-black hair, she really did look like a porcelain doll. Lawrence had borrowed some of John's clothes while his were drying.

They had discussed the town get-together. Margaret reminded him of the danger of mixing too freely with these people, but Lawrence wanted to go. It was just a social gathering. What could it hurt? The Cassidy’s had invited them.

There was nothing more the doctor could do for Martin and it was felt that giving the kids a chance to be alone with their father was for the best.

              Margaret looked in on Sarah with her father. "We're gonna go with the Cassidy’s for a while. You gonna be okay?"

              When Margaret had mentioned the social, Sarah thought about Josh. "Come in a minute and close the door."

              Margaret stepped in and shut the door. "What is it?"

              "I don't want Joseph to hear. You're a woman. You'll understand. You see there's this boy. His name is Joshua Kramer. I don't know if he's gonna be there. My father and his father hate each other. I know I shouldn't be thinkin' about these things now, but I love him and I haven't seen him in a while... Please."

              "I understand. I'll see what I can do."

              "You have to be real careful. You can't let anyone hear you. If his father found out, he'd fix it so we could never see each other again and Joseph wouldn't understand either."

              They hugged each other and Margaret left the room. She knew exactly how Sarah felt. She was sleeping with the one she wanted and was afraid to do anything about it.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

These social gatherings were the high point of the month for most of the families living in, or around, the town, especially for the women. It was an opportunity to dress up and show off. For most of the high mountain cattle towns, times like these were few, or never. The Crossing had been around for several generations and time had created a social structure of sorts.

              The schoolhouse was set away from the middle of town. Margaret and Lawrence walked with the Cassidys. Erma filled Margaret in on some of the town's history while John wanted to talk politics to Lawrence. Lawrence just took John's point of view. After all, how things really turned out was already a matter of history.

              There were a number of wagons, buggies and carriages parked around outside. I guess you
park
a horse and buggy. Lawrence wasn't really sure. A few saddle horses were tied off here and there.

              People were milling around outside. As they approached the front, everyone they met greeted the Cassidys. Lawrence and Margaret were introduced as friends from Texas. The women took particular note of Margaret's dress. The men were taking note of other things. Lawrence drew his share of looks as well. At six-two, he was about the tallest man there and the blond hair and blue eyes didn't hurt.

              Having run the gauntlet of greetings and introductions they finally made it inside. It was a true one-room schoolhouse, with most of the back wall taken up by a chalkboard. Whatever the students used to sit on had been removed for the occasion. Tables were set up along one wall, with pies, cookies and cakes. The women and children were being served some kind of red punch from a large bowl. A bar was set up in front of the chalkboard for the men.

              Henry Morton and all the Kramers stood in front of the bar. Through the crowd, Henry spotted John Cassidy and his wife introducing Lawrence and Margaret to the people passing by.

              Henry pointed with his glass. "There, that must be the one Jake saw with the McKenly boy."

              Frank was well on his way to drinking himself under any convenient table. "Hey... the black-haired filly looks like someone I wanta meet." Frank started over.

              Henry stopped him. "Not yet. Let me go see what I can find out before you start trouble."

              Frank grinned. "Oh, ain’t no trouble", and pulled away. His mind was set on making Margaret's acquaintance.

              Ben took hold of him. "Stay here", and tightened his grip. "Maybe later you can talk the gent with her into letting you have a little poke."

              Frank stumbled back toward the bar. "Sure, why not." He waved his glass, "A little poke for all of us. We'll have a little
talk
with 'em later." His words trailed off as he turned toward the bar looking for a refill.

              Henry looked at Ben. "Keep him under control till I see what's goin' on."

              "Don't worry about Frank", Ben assured him. "He'll do what he's told, at least till this shindig's over."

              Henry started over. Josh stood by his father sipping a warm beer. He knew Sarah was probably at the doctor’s. If his luck held, his father and brother would get drunk enough not to care where he was. He needed to see her, to warn her about Frank. In his mind, it wasn't going against his own kin. He couldn't care less what happened to Martin or Joseph. He wanted to protect someone he'd fallen in love with and cared very much about.

              The Cassidys and Margaret and Lawrence were standing with the Mayor and his wife when Henry joined them.

              "Good evening Mayor, John..." Henry interrupted, nodding to the ladies.

              "Henry", John said. "I don't believe you've met two friends from Texas, Larry and Maggie Casey", to Lawrence, "this is our most prominent businessman, Henry Morton."