One Night in Nowhere
Terri Sutro
“You gonna make it?” Hannibal Heyes shouted to be heard over the howling wind that whipped around him.
“Is there a choice?” His partner, Kid Curry, grumbled the answer.
Heyes didn’t have to hear the words to know what Kid was saying. He felt the same. It had been a long ride and they were both worn nearly to the bone. “Not much farther.” Heyes tried to shout, but at that moment the black clouds opened and added insult to injury in the form of a frozen, pelting rain.
“Damn and blast it all!!!! I’d sell my soul for a soft bed and a warm fire.” Kid hollered at no one and everyone before he kicked his horse into a gallop and headed down the path.
Heyes laughed and urged his horse to follow. “You forgot a beer and a bath!!!” He hollered at his cousin as he passed him and took the lead.
******
The town sat in the middle of nothing but desert. The people who found themselves there took that as a sign from God and named is Nowhere.
Nowhere,
Nowhere sat in the Eastern part of
The Apache Wars took
their toll on the area, leaving a trail of blood that covered the land. It fueled the already existing legends of the
A lot of history took
place around Nowhere. But nothing ever
happened there. Which should have been
another sign that it was time for something to happen.
But the residents of
Nowhere were happy enough mining and selling copper, playing a penny ante game
of poker on Saturday night and re-telling the story of the General. They didn’t give much to Nowhere and they
expected little in return.
The fact that the
General had built his fine mansion on the outskirts of town had been irritating
enough to the townsfolk. It disrupted
their nice uneventful life. And it
wasn’t like he tried to be neighborly before, during or after the
construction.
Major General George Stoneman. The
General as he was less than fondly referred to.
He’d brought a small group of undernourished Apaches with him when he
arrived in 1850. Apache’s conscripted
into service by the General. For reasons known only to the General, Stoneman needed to prove to Nowhere that he was above the
town, even back in those early years when no one there much cared.
He forced these young
Apache men into what some might call slavery, as he oversaw the construction of
the fine three story gray stone house he designed for his wife. They did so in stony silence, save for the
whispered oaths of vengeance towards the man who betrayed their people
For months they had slaved to build the structure. For months the residents of Nowhere grumbled about everything to do with the building of the house, and particularly about the General. They didn’t much like him. And history would prove they had cause.
The townsfolk didn’t know much about the General. Even though Stoneman
had spent much of his career in
In 1850, however, he was just another soldier with something to prove. He’d skirmished with the Indians at every opportunity. By the time he arrived in Nowhere, he’d developed a very simple approach towards Apaches. If they didn’t cooperate, meaning do exactly what he said, they deserved extermination.
People from town
would stand and watch in wonder as they built the portico that covered the
entry to the house. An A-frame start
with turned up edges. Looks like some
dang Chinee tea house. Proclaimed Homer Kenyon,
who actually had a book that described such things.
The town oooh’d and aaah’d
as the black wrought iron and stone fences went up. No one had a fence in Nowhere. They scratched
their heads at the carved pieces of colored glass that were glued into the
window frames. Shapes of trees and hills
and animals decorated those windows and the sun’s reflection through them shot
colors every which way.
The town thought this
was very odd indeed. But that was just
the beginning. The wagons of furniture
and household goods made a parade for weeks.
The people watched silk covered settees and velvet covered chairs being
carried up the steps into the house.
Then it was done and
the General moved in. People marked that
day in October, 1851. They waited for
the General’s wife to arrive. She did so
with great style and even greater vocal histrionics. Nowhere didn’t know what to expect. They weren’t disappointed. She was a shrewish, argumentative woman who
seemed to need attention every minute of every day, and who never seemed to be
satisfied with anything. It seemed
fitting that she arrived on Halloween.
She brought with her
maid, a young Apache woman named Mariddie. The
contrast was striking. Mariddie was strikingly beautiful, with dark hair and
eyes. Her father had been a soldier and
had taken her from her people when he had been assigned to the Major
General. He had tired of the burden of a
child and had given her to Mrs. Stoneman when she was
just 14, many years before they’d arrived in Nowhere. Mari as she was called turned into an
intelligent and eager to learn companion to the woman, who at least appeared to
tolerate the child.
The General, as he
was known, never came to town, just sent Mari in for supplies. The townspeople liked her. They tried to get her to tell them about the
goings on in the big house. But the
young woman would just smile and say nothing.
Not that anyone
needed to be told what was going on in the General’s house. Why you could be miles away and still
know. There were always arguments coming
from the big house. Mrs. Stoneman didn’t like Nowhere. She didn’t like
The town liked
that. It was the kind of excitement they
could enjoy without getting directly involved.
Then the General’s
wife stopped yelling. Everyone missed
the noise. Until they found out
why.
The General sent one
of the Apache’s to the undertaker to come get the body. The people thought it strange he hadn’t sent
Mari. But they never asked why.
In a garbled
combination of English and Spanish, the man told the undertaker that she’d
hanged herself. Just that day, after
sharing a glass of port with the General.
Seemed to be cut and dry. Then
again, maybe not.
Two days later the
General shot that same Apaches dead in the parlor of the fine house, claiming
he’d killed really tried to take advantage of his wife and she’d hung herself
in shame.
The Sheriff tried to
talk to the General. But, well, no one
said the Sheriff had a lot of initiative.
The General told him to mind his own business. Which is exactly what he did. Anyway, the Sheriff told himself it was just
an Apache, and that certainly wasn’t worth going up against the General
for.
The Sheriff might
have been content with the decision. But
the townsfolk weren’t. This was more
excitement than the town wanted. They
sent a delegation of their most important residents including the saloon owner
to talk to the General.
Strange thing, when
they got there the house was empty. No
General Stoneman.
No body of Mrs. General Stoneman. No Mariddie. No Apaches.
All the furnishings were there.
There was even a chocolate cake lying untouched on the large pine table
in the kitchen.
The delegation looked at each other, shook their heads and decided it was in everyone’s best interest if they just ignored the whole thing. Which they did. Except that Curly Jackson, the owner of the Little Piece of Nowhere Saloon took the chocolate cake.
The General, they
later found out had moved with no warning and no goodbyes. They figured he’d just taken Mari with
him.
A year later, a widow lady named Haskins, moved into the
house saying no story about hangings and Indians was gonna stop her. Said she’d bought it from the General. Actually nobody stopped her. From time to time she rented out rooms in the
great house, but visitors were few and far between. Less than a year after she moved in, she
moved right back out. Her last words
before she boarded the stage were that things weren’t right in that house.
Gradually, The paint
around the windows peeled and the flowers died.
The porch sagged and the front steps buckled. The colored glass in the windows was covered
by years of dust and no longer reflected colors at all.
Nowhere returned to
comfortable oblivion. Well, almost.
*****
“There, Kid. You see it? Just over there.” Heyes pointed at some buildings vaguely outlined in the distance. The rain had gotten progressively worse as had the attitudes of the two men.
“I see it Heyes. I just hope it don’t up and disappear ‘fore
we can get to it.” Kid growled.
“That’s better. I was afraid you were losin’
your sense of humor.” Heyes teased the
other man as he once again urged his horse into the lead.
They slowly made
their way into town, looking at each of the buildings for the one that said
Sheriff. That would ultimately be the
deciding factor in their getting off their horses or pushing them further.
“Nowhere. Well that sure does describe this
place.” Kid pointed to the splintered
sign welcoming visitors to Nowhere, the friendliest little place this side of
somewhere. Someone’s long forgotten
attempt at a joke.
“Huh?” Heyes looked where Kid was pointing and
laughed. “Well maybe no one will come
looking for us if we’re no where.”
Kid gave his cousin a
distinctly unpleasant look and took a deep breath. “Don’t see no Sheriff Heyes.”
“Nope. But there’s the stable.” Heyes grinned. “See things are already lookin’ up.”
“Uh huh. Anything you say Heyes. Can we just get out of this miserable
rain?” Kid sneezed to emphasize his
point.
The pulled up and
started to dismount only to stop when a wizened man of about sixty put his
hands up signaling them to not bother.
“Sorry boys, not
takin’ horses.” Hiram Worthington smiled
happily from his dry spot inside the stable.
“This is a livery
stable right?” Kid grumbled.
“Sure ‘nuff.” Hiram answered genially.
Kid opened his mouth
to answer, but Heyes cut him off.
“But you aren’t
taking horses?”
“Nope. Got no one to tend to ‘em.” Hiram started closing the door.
“Wait…” Heyes smiled a smile known to persuade men
far more intelligent that Hiram to draw to an inside straight. “Look, my friend and I are soaked and there’s
just not much more life to these horses.
Is there any place we can get them and us out of the rain?”
“Well why didn’t ya
ask that in the first place. Keepin’ a
man out in this weather.” Hiram spat a
wad of chewing tobacco off to the side.
Heyes closed his
eyes.
“So where is
it.” Kid was at the end of a month long
battle with an ailment that left him just feverish and tired enough to be out
of sorts with everyone. The last two
days of riding hadn’t improved his disposition.
Hiram squinted at the
Kid and grinned a toothless grin. “Sorry
boys. Why don’t you boys try just out of
town. There’re some folks that might be
able to put you and your horses up. Try
the big gray house, here tell there’s rooms.”
Say what you will about Hiram. He
did enjoy sending strangers on fool’s errands.
“Thanks.” Heyes
pulled his horse up and started forward.
Kid did so as well,
turning back only when he heard Hiram’s cackling laugh float by. “Heyes, maybe we should just keep
going.” Kid shivered, he just couldn’t
put his finger on exactly why.
“Nah, this is gonna
be just fine. Just fine. Anyway, we both could use one good night’s
sleep someplace where it’s warm and dry.
I got a good feelin’ Kid. I think
we’re gonna get lucky.” Heyes was trying
to be optimistic. It was getting harder
as the water kept pouring off his hat brim down his back.
They rode a ways out
of town, not seeing anyplace that looked like it had a welcome sign waiting for
two, very wet, very cold and very dispirited strangers.
“I think maybe we’d
better just find someplace to hole up Heyes.
There ain’t no place out here.
That fella was just being…neighborly.”
The sarcasm dripped from Kid’s voice.
“Yea, maybe…no, look
Kid. Over there.” Heyes stopped and pointed to a shape in the
distance. Distorted by the wind and
rain, it loomed out from around a bend in the road. “Come on.”
He started forward without waiting for a response, riding quickly till
he reached the large house. “This must
be it, Kid.” Heyes dismounted and tied
his horse to the gate.
“Better be.” Kid grumbled, as he also dismounted.
A moment later they
stood on the covered porch shaking water from their hats and stamping it from
their clothes. Their knock was answered
almost immediately.
“Yes? Oh my, is it raining? How foolish of me. Of course it is. Why it must be, the two of you are drenched. Can I help you?” The woman looked startled for a moment as she looked at first Heyes, then Kid, but then she smiled kindly at the two men.
Heyes appraised the
situation quickly. Elderly woman, maybe
in her 50’s, platinum gray hair pulled back in a tidy bun, her dress worm, but
clean and neatly mended. He put on his
very best little boy face. “Yes
ma’am. We were hoping that you might
have a room to rent. And a place for our
horses. My friend hasn’t been
well.” Heyes clutched his hat to his
chest and looked mournfully at Kid.
Kid obligingly looked
sad, worn and just a bit sickly. Which
wasn’t difficult as he was sad, worn and just a bit sickly.
“Oh goodness. You want to stay here? Why how wonderful. I haven’t had visitors in so long. Do come in.
There’s a nice big barn in the back.
You just put your horses in there.”
She smiled maternally at Heyes.
“Yes ma’am. Thank you ma’am. You go on Thaddeus. I’ll take care of the horses.” Heyes smiled at Kid. “G’on.”
Kid nodded thankfully
and followed the woman into the house.
Heyes looked out at
the pounding rain, sighed and ran back to the horses.
“We appreciate your
letting us stay ma’am.” Kid stood in the
foyer of the house and looked around.
He’d noted that the outside looked freshly painted and that the windows
sparkled. There had even been bright
flowers in white washed window boxes.
What he saw inside reminded him of the time he and Heyes had visited
Soapy Saunders mansion in San Francisco.
The hardwood floors
gleamed as did the banister that wound from where Kid was standing up to the second
and third floors. Plush oriental rugs in
vivid reds and blues added color. Lamps
and candles lit the house and gave off a warm glow. Kid sneezed and as hard as he tried not to
shivered.
She looked closely at
him. “You’re not the one.”
“Ma’am?” Kid barely heard her, her voice was so
soft.
She quickly caught
herself. “Why you’re frozen solid. You poor thing. You just give me that wet coat and take those
boots off. There’s a nice big fire in
the parlor. You just go on in there and
I’ll get you some tea.” She took the
heavy coat, made heavier with the water it had absorbed and hung it on the coat
rack, ignoring the water dripping from it onto the floor.
“I’ll just leave it on the porch for now,
ma’am. We’ll bring it in later.” Kid opened the door and carefully laid the
coat on one of the wooden rockers that sat there.
Kid returned to the
foyer, stopping just inside to remove his boots. The woman wasn’t there and for a moment, he
wasn’t sure what to do. He stood there
holding his boots, looking a lot younger and a lot more vulnerable than someone
with the reputation of Kid Curry ought to look.
The trembling got worse.
She appeared though a set of double doors. “I’ve added some logs to the fire. You just come over here now. Just set your boots by the fire to dry. They’ll be just fine by morning.”
Kid nodded. “Thank you ma’am.” The words came out stuttery
through trembling lips. “I don’t want to
get anything wet.” His clothes weren’t
soaked, but definitely wet.
“Never you mind about
that. Here, let me help you.” She took his arm. “Why you’re frozen. Come along.
I have just the thing to take care of that.”
She took the boots
and set them on the wide stone hearth.
Motioning him to sit, she went to a large, distressed wooden chest. “Now you sit right here close to the
fire.” Indicating a large, overstuffed
chair covered in a deep burgundy fabric, she shooed him to it.
“Yes ma’am.” He smiled at the doily’s that covered the
head rest and arms remembering a similar chair he had known as a child. His ma would always yell at his pa for
dislodging those doily’s. And his pa
would always smile knowing that the yelling was never meant. He hesitated, not wanting to get the chair
wet or dirty.
She seemed to
understand. “Sit. Please.
It’s just water.”
He nodded gratefully
and sank into the chair.
She tucked a colorful
red and white quilt around him. “I’ll go
get the tea started.” She took a few
steps. “On second thought, perhaps this
calls for something else.” She smiled
gently at him and changed course towards a tall decanter full of an amber
colored liquid. “Here. Drink it all down.” She handed him a half full glass.
He could smell the
liquor before the glass ever touched his lips.
He downed the liquid in one gulp and felt the fire as the fine, old
brandy made its way through his body.
“Ma’am…”
“Well horses all
bedded down and fed. There was hay and
even some oats in the barn.” Heyes burst
into the house, teeth chattering as he spoke.
He’d left his coat on the porch next to Kid’s and started into the
parlor and tossed their gear on the small throw rug at the foot of the
stairs.
Seeing Kid’s boots on
the hearth, he quickly took his own off and walked to the fire. “Mmmmmm, that is
wonderful.” He turned to face the Kid
and the woman and allowed his backside to defrost. “Must have been good fortune that we found
Nowhere, ma’am.”
Her eyes darkened as
she studied him and the hand that held the glass stopped. Just for a moment. Then something changed. The smile she directed at Heyes was
different. As though she saw him clearly
for the first time. As though she knew
him. “Here my dear, you look as though
you might need this.” She handed Heyes a
glass filled similarly as the one she’d given Kid.
“Yes ma’am. Thank you ma’am.” He also downed the liquid in one gulp and
waited while the fire in his throat settled.
The woman brought
another quilt and tucked it around Kid.
She put a hand to his forehead and frowned. “You’re feverish young man. You need to
rest. You should be ashamed of yourself,
going out on day like this in your condition.
And making your poor friend go with you.”
Heyes’ smile faded
just a bit. “Why ma’am I’m sure he
didn’t intend doing any harm…to either of us.”
Heyes blinked and glanced at Kid, shrugging his confusion at the woman’s
comment.
Kid tried to
focus. Somehow this was his fault, but
he sure didn’t know how. Right now he
wasn’t sure of anything, except that the combination of the brandy, the sudden
warmth of the fire and the comfortable nature of the chair he was sitting in
was making him a little dizzy. He didn’t
realize just how dizzy till he felt Heyes catch him.
“Here now, don’t go
falling on this nice lady’s floor.”
Heyes helped Kid to stand. “Maybe
we should get him to bed. If that would
be all right ma’am.”
The woman watched the
two for a second, watching the genuine concern that was just below the gentle
teasing. Something, like she was faced
with a problem that had to be solved, crossed her face. “Of course.
Can you get…you know I don’t even know your names.”
“Sorry ma’am. I’m Joshua Smith and this here’s my friend
Thaddeus Jones.” Heyes put an arm around
Kid’s waist and placed Kid’s arm around his own shoulder and led him forward.
“Well Joshua... and
Thaddeus, it’s wonderful to have you staying with me. My name is Mariddie. Mari for friends. It gets so lonely out here and so few people
come to the house now. I only have the
one room. I hope that’s all right. It’s the room just at the top of the
stairs. It’s all ready for you.” There was a touch of wistfulness in her
voice. She stared at Heyes again as
though she’d met him before.
Heyes brushed it off
. “Yes ma’am. Thaddeus and me are used to sharin’.” Heyes
slung their saddlebags and bed rolls over his shoulder and carefully guided Kid
up the stairs
The room was bright
and airy. The fire had been laid and was
ready for lighting. The bed linens clean
and dust free. It was as though they had
been expected.
A momentary chill
stiffened Heyes’ spine and he thought about turning around and getting
out. But Kid sagged against him. Heyes knew his cousin didn’t have the energy
right now to move on. Truthfully, he
didn’t have it himself. He hadn’t wanted
to worry Kid, but he hadn’t been feeling entirely right ever since he’d
almost had his head rearranged by that angry poker player who’d been way too
confident in his own skill at poker.
“Can I help?” The woman put a match to the logs in the
fireplace and the initial crackle of wood was a pleasant sound against the
backdrop of the rain outside.
Heyes tossed their
bags on the floor and helped Kid onto the bed.
“No ma’am. I’ll get him settled
and be right down.” Heyes again pushed concern
from his mind. They’d only stay a
night. What could happen in one
night.
She smiled and gently
pulled the door closed behind her.
“Don’t be long. I’ll be waiting
for you.”
Heyes unbuckled Kid’s
gunbelt, realizing at that moment just how tired the
man was. Kid didn’t react then or as
Heyes managed to get the damp clothes off him.
The room was warming up quickly, as Heyes tucked the covers around
Kid.
Kid stirred
momentarily. “Heyes…”
“Right here Kid. You just g’on to sleep. I bet Miss Mari cooks as good as she keeps
house. You need to be ready for a big
dinner.” He teased as he put an extra
blanket over the younger man.
Kid’s only answer was
a mumbled “Thanks…” Before the blue eyes
closed and he drifted off into sleep.
Heyes gave his cousin
another concerned look, just to make sure, before he dug dry clothes out of his
bag and changed into them. He looked
around at the room. Simple but sturdy
furnishings, a wedding ring quilt hanging on a brass quilt stand, a picture of
a man in uniform on the mantle, a porcelain pitcher and basin standing on a
wooden stand, two chairs covered in a soft flowery print. He sighed.
Yea, just like a bedroom.
Maybe he was more tired than he thought. He hung the wet clothes over the chairs to
dry. Checking on Kid one more time, he
tucked the covers a bit closer around him and padded downstairs in his stockinged feet.
Downstairs was quiet
when he returned to the parlor. The
quilts had been folded and lay on the settee.
Miss Mari was nowhere to be seen.
“Ma’am? Miss Mari” he called out looking down the hall towards
where he supposed the kitchen was.
“Miss…” He started down the hall
when she appeared.
“Why there you
are. I thought you might be hungry. Dinner won’t be for a few hours, but I
thought perhaps these might hold you over.”
She carried a plate piled high with sandwiches.
Heyes found his mouth
involuntarily watering at the sight of food.
He had to admit he was tired, but even more, he was starving. He accepted the plate gratefully. “Ma’am, I can’t begin to tell you how good
this looks.”
“Land sakes, it’s
just a few sandwiches. Why don’t you
come into the dining room and we can talk while you eat. I get so few visitors.” She smiled benignly, leading him to another
room on the other side of the kitchen and motioning for him to sit down. She left him momentarily to return to the
kitchen and when she returned she was carrying a pitcher of lemonade and
another plate stacked with chocolate chip cookies. She gently set the two items on the table.
He looked up guiltily
in mid bite of a thick roast beef sandwich.
“I guess I was hungrier that I realized.” It didn’t quite taste like what he’d been
expecting. Actually there was hardly any
taste at all. He chalked that up to his
being so tired.
Laughing softly, she
walked up to where he was sitting. “No,
it’s good to see you enjoy my cooking.
What good is the food if no one likes it?” She poured a large glass of lemonade and set
it in front of him. “It is all right,
isn’t it?”
He took a
considerable swallow and smiled up at her.
He got the feeling that she might burst into tears if he told her the
truth. “Yes ma’am.”
She hadn’t moved, but
was looking at him with intense sadness in her eyes. She brushed the dark hair from his
forehead. An action that made him
instinctively pull back.
She blushed. “I’m sorry.
Please forgive my boldness. You
remind me of someone I knew once a very long time ago. He had the same dark eyes and hair. Never would stay in place…” She seemed lost in a different time.
He took her
hand. “Miss Mari…are you all right? Do you have family here in town?”
She stared at his
hand on hers. “Family?” She looked around momentarily confused. “Me?
Oh dear no. I have no
family. Once a long time ago, but not
now.” She moved quickly to refill his
glass. “Everyone is gone now. Everyone….
Is he family? The man
upstairs? Brothers, perhaps?
Heyes chuckled. “Worse.
Cousins. He was sleeping. I should get back upstairs in case…” Heyes pushed the chair back and rose.
“But we haven’t had a
chance to talk at all. And you’ve barely
touched your sandwiches.” There was a
note of annoyance in her voice, which quickly changed. “Of course.
Why you must be near exhaustion what with worry and all. You just go on upstairs. I’m sorry there’s just the one room. The rest of the house isn’t…well I just can’t
manage as well as I used to.” She
rose. “And I do get so few visitors.”
He once again took her hand and smiled gently
at her. “Nothing to be sorry for Miss
Mari…”
Again, she stared at
the hand on hers, this time covering it with her own. “I just want it to be…right.”
It was his turn to
stare. He gently removed her hand. “To tell the honest truth ma’am, it’s been a
long time since we had such a nice place to stay. And me and Thaddeus are grateful that you’re
letting us stay. Now Thaddeus would much
rather be down here enjoying your good food.
Matter of fact he’s gonna be downright mad when he finds he missed
lunch. But after he’s gotten some rest,
why he’ll be just fine. And as for it
being right, well Miss Mari, it’s perfect.”
She smiled
shyly. “It’s just that I’ve been waiting
for so long.”
“Waiting,
ma’am?” He reached for the plate at the
same time she did.
“Yes. Waiting.
I almost gave up hope that you’d return…” She fluttered her eyelashes, hearing her own
words. “What I mean is that, well it’s
just been so long.”
Heyes frowned a
little at her words, but chalked it up to her lonlieness. He smiled softly at her. “If it’s all the same ma’am, I thought I’d
just take this upstairs. In case he
wakes up. Well, you just don’t know him
ma’am. When he hasn’t eaten, why he’s a
cantankerous as a bear waking up from hibernation.”
She added a handful
of cookies to the plate and covered it with one of the red and white napkins
that were on the table before handing it to him. “You just rest yourself Joshua. I’ll come get you when it’s time for dinner.”
She picked the
pitcher up and walked slowly towards the kitchen.
Heyes watched her for
a moment then headed back to check on Kid, opening the door and entering the
room quietly so as not to wake him. The
contented snores indicated Kid was in a deep sleep. He set the plate on the table and stacked a
couple more large logs on the fire, satisfied when he heard the crackle and saw
the flames lick higher.
Heyes was still
troubled, but he couldn’t put his finger on what the problem was. They were safe and dry. The woman was nice enough, even if her
comments didn’t make much sense. Anyway,
she took them in without question. A
couple of days for Kid to rest up and they’d be on their way. He shifted in one of the chairs, but found he
just couldn’t get comfortable. The bed
sure looked comfy though. He walked
silently to the empty side of the large four-poster bed and as softly as he
could stretched out. In a short time his
own snores joined Kid’s.
Neither man heard the
woman enter, look tenderly at one of the two men, sleeping peacefully and
gently covered Heyes with one of the blankets, her whispered words – “sleep
well my little love” falling on deaf ears.
*****
Heyes woke
first. Starting out of sleep momentarily
confused as to where he was. He looked
around and saw Kid still sleeping.
Relaxing a bit, he looked around and let his eyes adjust to the dim
light cast by the fire.
A tap on the door
drew his attention and he watched it open slowly. “Oh you are awake.” The woman peeked in. “Dinner’s all ready. Will your friend come down or should I make
up a tray.”
“If it’s dinner,
trust me Thaddeus will be down.” Heyes
grinned. “Somethin’ sure smells good
ma’am.”
“It’s so nice to cook
for people again. Hurry down ‘fore it
gets cold.” She closed the door softly.
Kid was stirring into
a groggy wakefulness as the voices reached him.
“Heyes…” he mumbled, his blue
eyes slowly focusing on his partner.
“Well nice to have
you back among the living.” Heyes’ voice
might have been teasing, but his deep brown eyes were concerned as he watched
his cousin pull himself to a sitting position and rub his face. “You ok?”
Kid smiled. “Yea, ya know maybe I was just tired.” His stomach growled and he looked sheepishly
at Heyes. “And hungry. Is that dinner I smell?” He stretched his arms to the ceiling and
swung out of bed, looking at himself, wearing only long johns and shot a
questioning glance at Heyes.
“Thought you might be
more comfortable that way.” There was a
brief silence as the two men thought about what to say that wouldn’t embarrass
the other any further. Finally Heyes
broke the quiet. “Well get dressed,
dinner’s ready.” He grinned then thought
of something. “Uh about dinner…” He wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“What about it?” Kid ran his fingers through his touseled blond curls.
Heyes hesitated. Maybe he was just imagining it. “Nothin’.
Just get a move on. Miss Mari’s
waiting
“Miss Mari huh.” Kid yawned.
“She’s nice Kid. Any way, we didn’t have much choice.” Heyes twisted from side to side relaxing the
kinks in his muscles. “You comin’?”
Kid laughed. “You go on.
I’ll be right down.”
Heyes nodded and
headed downstairs.
Kid stretched
again. He splashed water on his face and
scrubbed it vigorously with a soft towel.
Maybe Heyes was right and they’d gotten lucky. His stomach growled again and at least for
now all thoughts of anything other than the food that matched the aroma
drifting up from below fled from his mind.
He hurriedly pulled on his clothes and followed Heyes downstairs.
*****
The table was laid with more food than the two men had seen for a long while. The aroma of rosemary scented roast, potatoes, vegetables and fresh baked bread filled the room. A wine filled decanter sat at the end of the table. China decorated with tiny flowers and crystal glasses sparkled on the linen covered table.
Miss Mari greeted
Heyes with a radiant smile. She’d changed
into a deep burgundy dress that matched the wine. “I am so happy you’ve come, Joshua. The house gets so very lonely. Will Thaddeus be joining us? Or will I have the chance to get to know you
a little better?” There was a coyness in
her manner that contradicted the lines on her face.
Heyes chuckled, “No
ma’am. Thaddeus will be down in a
minute. Everything sure smells
wonderful. You shouldn’t have gone to so
much trouble for us.” He watched the
woman turn away quickly and for an instant he thought he saw someone else. A hint of long dark hair and a flashing
smile. The hairs on Heyes’ neck
prickled.
“I’m starved. Ma’am, don’t know how me and my partner can
thank you.” Kid entered the room eagerly
surveying the food. “Not too many people
out there who’ll take in strangers, much less go to all the trouble of feeding
them all this.”
She focused on him
for a second, a touch of anger, or maybe disappointment in her dark eyes. When she spoke her voice was stiffly polite.
“It’s my pleasure Thaddeus. I so seldom
get company and to have… you both here, well it’s nice to have company. I’m going to get the coffee, you two just sit
down. Joseph, will you carve the
roast?”
“It’s Joshua
ma’am.” Heyes picked up the heavy
carving knife, testing the feel of it in his hand.
“What? Of course, how foolish of me.” She turned towards the kitchen. “I’ll only be a moment.”
The two men exchanged
glances and stared after her.
“Heyes, I’m feelin’
pretty good. What would you say to us
leaving in the morning. Somethin’ just
isn’t sitting right with me about this place.”
Kid frowned. He wasn’t the kind
of man to overanalyze a situation. Years
of being on the run had sharpened his instincts to the point that if something
felt wrong, even if he couldn’t spot the reason, it usually turned out to be
wrong.
“I know Kid, but I
feel kinda bad, leavin’ Miss Mari. I
mean she didn’t have to take us in.”
Heyes usually followed Kid’s instincts, but something was drawing him to
this place and to the woman.
“Yea, me too Heyes,
but I got a bad feeling about this place.”
Kid shrugged. He knew he couldn’t
prove it, but that didn’t make it less real.
“Let’s see how things
go tonight. It’s still rainin’ pretty hard out there. We can get one good nights sleep here and
then see how we feel in the morning.”
Heyes forced a smile. Truthfully
he was thinking that leaving would be a good idea. But one more nights sleep in a warm,
comfortable bed and a hearty breakfast might just be enough to make sure Kid
was well. He rubbed the lump still
present on the back of his head. He
wouldn’t mind those things for himself either.
“Anyway, we can’t leave before dinner.”
He stabbed the roast and started carving.
“Leave? Why you can’t leave yet.” Miss Mari had re-entered the room so quietly
that neither man heard her. She was
looking directly at Heyes. “Why you just
arrived. Please say you aren’t leaving
so soon.”
“Uh, no ma’am. I mean, well we do need to be movin’ on. But we were gonna talk about it in the morning. No sense in spoiling this fine meal with talk
of leaving.” Heyes smiled first at the
woman then at Kid.
Kid followed
suit. “Yes, ma’am. We sure wouldn’t want to do that.”
She looked at the
tall blond man with a curious stare as though deciding something, then she
turned back to Heyes. “Well you’ve done
a wonderful job with the roast, Joshua.
Why don’t you sit at the head of the table.” She didn’t address Kid.
He frowned, then
cleared his throat.
“Oh, Thaddeus, you just take the seat there.” She casually waved her hand towards one of
the chair. She stood by the chair
staring at Heyes.
Finally he looked at
her and hurriedly went to pull her chair out.
“Ma’am.” She smiled at him and
took her seat. Selecting one of the bowls
on the table, she handed it to Heyes.
“Potatoes?”
Dinner was over
quickly. Despite the perfect appearance,
the food wasn’t quite what they had hoped.
When first one man then the other put a forkful in their mouth their
expressions were mirror images of surprise.
It was exactly as Heyes remembered.
Tasteless.
They tried everything
that the woman handed them. From roast
to bread, it was all the same. They finished out of courtesy, forcing the food
down until it was gone and hastily declining seconds.
She was surprised
when they turned down extras. “Why the
General and my Joseph would take seconds and thirds of my roast. It was all right wasn’t it?” The coyness was back in her voice and again
she directed her question at Heyes.
“Oh yes ma’am. Must have been those sandwiches
earlier.” Kid answered quickly and was
rewarded with a confused look from the woman, as though she’d momentarily
forgotten he was in the room.
“I was worried…well,
why don’t you go and sit in the parlor.
I’ll just be a minute cleaning this up and then we can talk.” She began organizing plates to carry to the
kitchen.
The two men
simultaneously started doing the same.
“Oh no. Please.
The General always told Joseph that it was the woman’s job to….well, I
don’t mind. Really. Please go sit by the fire. There are cigars in the humidor on the
table. This won’t take me but a
moment.” Her hands were trembling as she
gathered the plates.
“All right
ma’am. If that’s what you want.” Heyes nudged Kid out of the room.
“Heyes there’s
something strange goin’ on here. I don’t
know what so don’t ask. But the way that
woman looks at you…well it gives me the willies. Like she’s talking to someone else
entirely.” He accepted the cigar Heyes
held out.
“Aw now Kid, she’s
just an old woman who doesn’t have anyone else.
I wonder if the General was her husband.” He twirled the cigar in lips for a moment
lost in thought. “Course she did call me
Joseph.”
“See, I knew it. Bet if we had a picture you’d even look like
whoever Joseph was.” Kid looked around
the room spotting an album on a small table in one of the corners. “Here, I’ll prove it to you. There’s gotta be a picture of this Joseph
fella in this.”
“What are you
doing?” Her shrill voice caught them
both off guard as they studied the faded pictures in the album. “Why are you looking at that?”
“I..we’re
sorry ma’am. Just saw this here picture
album. I’m sorry if we looked at your
private things.” Heyes was too busy
apologizing to see Kid slip a picture into his pocket.
The woman distracted
by Heyes’ voice didn’t seem to notice either.
“Yes ma’am, I’m sorry
too. We didn’t mean any harm.” Kid closed the album and walked to the
fire. “Have you lived here long Miss
Mari?”
“What? Oh, Thaddeus.
Yes, I’ve lived here for a long time.
I don’t want to talk about myself.
An old woman like me. Now I’ll
just imagine you have stories to tell?
And I’d so love hearing about all your adventures, Joshua.” She sat next to Heyes on the sofa.
They spent the next
few hours talking.
Heyes related some of
their more law abiding adventures, sipping more of the brandy. He found himself wondering why it seemed to
be the only thing that tasted like anything.
The woman laughed at
his stories and was just short of rude if Kid interrupted. It became both apparent and awkward.
“Well, I think I’ll
be turning in.” Kid finally said when
the clock struck 11 PM. “You comin’
Joshua?” He started towards the stairs.
“Yea, I am feelin’
tired.” Heyes was feeling drained. Even with a nap, a comfortable house and a
full, if not entirely satisfied stomach, he was troubled and confused. And worried.
He didn’t know why he was any of those things. He wanted to talk to Kid, and he rose,
thankful for the chance to retreat to their room and talk this out privately
with his cousin.
“Oh no, you can’t go
yet. Why it’s still so early. Why, even Joseph used to stay up later than
this. Just a little longer. Please?” She clung to Heyes’ arm, tears filling her
eyes.
Heyes looked at
Kid.
The man’s blue eyes
darkened and there was a nearly imperceptible squint, the unmistakable and
unspoken no. “You should get some
rest Joshua. We got a long ride in the
morning.” Kid’s voice was firm. Whatever was going on here, he didn’t want
either of them to be part of it.
Heyes nodded,
grateful at the escape Kid had provided.
He turned back to the woman and began disengaging her hand. “I am feeling a little worn, ma’am.” But as he looked in her eyes, he found his
will fading. “Well maybe just a little
longer.”
They sat down as one,
the woman turning to smile at Kid. “You
go on Thaddeus. I’ll take good care of Jo..Joshua.” There
was just a hint of triumph in her smile.
Kid stared at her,
then at Heyes for a long moment. Then he
sat back down.
Heyes chuckled. “It’s all right Thaddeus.”
Kid watched his
partner, then nodded. “Don’t be
long. We should get an early
start.” His words were harsh, drawing
his partner’s attention from the woman and his movements were brisk as he moved
towards the staircase.
Heyes knew what Kid
was doing. But he didn’t feel threatened
or worried. He wasn’t sure how to
describe how he felt. Heyes smiled
briefly at Kid. He’d just make some
pleasant conversation with a lonely old woman for a little while longer, then
go upstairs. And he and Kid would get
the hell out of this place in the morning.
Yea, that’s what he’d do.
*****
Three hours later a
decidedly grumpy Kid Curry was jolted out of the arms of the woman he was
dreaming about as Heyes slid into bed.
“Sorry, didn’t mean
to wake you.” Heyes whispered as he
rolled over, curling up into a tight ball.
“Mmmmm. Sure Heyes.”
Kid lifted himself off his pillow.
“You all right?”
“Me? Sure.
Fine.” Heyes clutched at the
covers. “Kid? I told Miss Mari we’d stay a little longer.”
“What! I knew it.
I knew I shouldn’t have left you down there.” Kid sat up.
“Heyes, we are not stayin’ here.
I don’t know why, but somethin’s just not right. And we’re leavin’ in the mornin’. Early in the mornin’.”
“I knew you were
gonna say that.” Heyes held up his hands
to stop his cousin’s voice. “Kid, she’s
just a lonely old woman. I…we both
need…” He didn’t finish. “Anyway, what harm would there be in stayin’
a couple of days?”
Kid almost blurted
out exactly what harm he thought there’d be.
But he caught something in Heyes’ voice.
Something he hadn’t heard in a long, long time. Not since they’d been kids together in the
Home, after…. He chose a softer tone
when he did speak. “Long time since we
talked about Miss Evie.” He heard the deep sigh of the other man. “That what’s botherin’ you? Heyes?”
Heyes rolled
over. “Maybe. She reminds me of her Kid.” The sadness he felt made his voice
husky.
Miss Evie had been the one person at the Valparaiso School for
Waywards who had gone out of her way to help the two little boys who were
delivered to the Home one scorchingly hot day in
August, 1863, lost, terrified and clinging to each other.
She always managed to
find extra food for the two of them.
When she could, she’d sneak a book out of the library for Hannibal. There always seemed to be a cookie hidden
under Jedediah’s pillow. She’d gotten in trouble with the Home’s
Administrator before for showing some of the boys special treatment. Her only answer was that some of the boys
needed it.
They’d been at the
Home a year when she was fired. The
Administrator told her he was sorry, but her behavior just couldn’t be
tolerated any longer.
The two little boys
watched as she packed her suitcase.
Jedediah had slipped his hand in Hannibal’s, something he hadn’t done in
a while.
She told them that
she would always love them like they were her own sons. She dried the tears running down Jed’s face,
kissed their foreheads and told them to be good boys.
Hannibal had reached
up and hugged her, feeling the tears on her face mix with his own. It surprised them both. He’d kept his emotions buried in the year
since the two of them had come. He
wouldn’t cry though again. Never
again.
Miss Evie had held his face and stared into the deep eyes, so
much older than his almost 12 years.
“Find happiness, my little love.”
And then she was gone.
“Heyes?” Kid’s voice startled Heyes out of his
memory. “I missed her too. When she left. But Miss Mari’s not her. I mean she sort of looks like her and she
sure treats you like Miss Evie did. But the woman downstairs isn’t Miss Evie. And I don’t
know what it is, but…Heyes, somethin’s wrong here. The way she looks at you…I think she’s got
you confused with this Joseph fella.” He
turned over and reached for something on the table. “I wanted to show you this.” He handed Heyes the picture he’d taken from the
album downstairs.
Heyes squinted in the
darkness to make out the faces. “You took this from her album? That was her private book, Kid.” He turned the picture over unable to make
anything out.
Kid angrily snapped a
match and put the flame to the lamp. He
held it so Heyes couldn’t avoid looking at the picture. “Look at it Heyes.”
The man refused to
make eye contact with his cousin. He
slowly drew the picture to the light knowing what he’d see.
The woman was Miss
Mari when her hair had been dark and her face youthful and unlined. The boy was slender and shy, clinging to the
woman’s dress. All dark hair and
eyes. A feminine hand had written
‘Joseph, age 11’ on the back.
Heyes stared fixedly
at the photo.
“She think you’re
this Joseph, Heyes. Maybe he was her
son. I don’t know. But she’s got the two of you mixed up in her
head. And there’s somethin’ else. This house all painted and waitin’ don’t fit
anything about this town. And this room,
just like somebody was expecting us to show up.
Oh, and that food. Why it was
just like it wasn’t there at all.” Kid
touched the other man’s arm and once again, his voice softened. “Heyes…”
The dark eyes looked
up, luminous in the dim light. “Kid, I
can’t explain any of that. And I don’t
care. She’s just lonely. Like Miss Evie
was. And maybe we can help her.” He swallowed.
“I can’t leave her Kid. You go. We’ll meet up in a few weeks. But I gotta stay. I’m staying.”
There was a finality in his voice.
Kid sighed. “And I should just go on. And leave you here.”
“No sense in both of
us…I mean…” He stopped. “Kid I think I’m supposed to be here. I know it don’t make sense, but it feels
like…” He couldn’t say the word.
“Home? Feels like home Heyes? It’s not home. Never was.
And she’s not Miss Evie. And she’s not your Ma. I don’t know who she is, but she’s not…. You got ‘em both mixed up in your head
Heyes. You’re not thinkin’ clear.” His voice rose as anger, mixed with concern
exploded.
“I’m thinking just
fine Kid. I know she’s not Miss Evie or my …., well anyway I know that. But I just gotta stay and that’s that. So you go and we’ll meet in a couple of weeks
at the most. I just gotta play this out
Kid.” He handed the picture back and
rolled away from Kid. The conversation
was at an end.
Kid chewed his lip
wanting to yell some sense at his partner.
He finally just blew out the light and punched his pillow. “Fine Heyes.
We’ll stay. For a while. But I don’t trust her and I’m gonna be
watching her every move.”
*****
The rain continued
through the night. Crashing thunder and
lightening burst against the house.
The woman flipped through
the photo album by the fading light of the fire. She came upon the page where a picture had
been removed. Frowning, she looked
upstairs, whispering to herself, “He’s
mine now. My Joseph’s come home.” She closed the album and walked up the stairs
to the room the two men shared. Floating
gently into the room neither man stirred as she stood at the foot of the bed
and watched them. Her eyes drifted to
Heyes. “You’re home my little love. I waited all this time for you to
return. No one will take you from me
again. Already you know you belong here
with me. We must make your friend leave
Joseph. He doesn’t belong here.”
Heyes moaned and
tossed against the whispers invading his dreams. Images flashed and blended in his mind. A soft voice with an Irish lilt tucking him
in and singing him to sleep, an older woman telling him not to say a word about
the borrowed book, someone screaming, who was screaming….Ma? No, push that away. Miss Evie…don’t go,
please. Everyone goes away. Finally he forced himself to
consciousness. He rubbed his sweat
soaked face and looked around. His heart
was pounding. An image drifted closer to
him. “Ma?”
“Yes Joseph, yes my
little love. I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” The voice surrounded him.
The fog cleared. “Miss Mari?
My names Joshua, Miss Mari.
Joshua.” Heyes reached out, but
couldn’t find her.
“Joseph. You’ll remember soon. Sleep now.”
She was gone.
Heyes swung his arm
out, but there was nothing. Had she been
there? He felt more confused that he’d ever
been. “Joshua.” He said the name as though trying to convince
himself that it was correct.
“Heyes? You all right?” Kid woke at the sound of his cousin’s voice
and twisted around to find out what was wrong.