Sweetwater (28 page)

“Hello, Linus,” Colleen called softly. The boy jumped up, the raccoon left his lap and scurried into the woods. “Stay put while I decide if I’m goin’ to shoot ya or not.”

“Who? Where are … ya?”

“Here.” Colleen came around the corner and faced him. “What’er ya doin’ here?” She held the pistol up where he could see it.

“Nothin’.”

“Ya got it in mind to tear up the school again?”

“No. I’m just … waitin’.”

“Waitin’ for what?”

“Daylight.”

“Do ya stay out here ever’ night?”

“Most nights.”

“Does Whit know yo’re here?”

“Ain’t nothin’ gets by that red peckerwood.”

“Why do you hate him? What’s he done to you?”

“Why ain’t he here tonight?” Linus ignored her questions and asked one of his own.

Colleen shrugged. “Maybe he is. He moves around like a whiff of smoke.”

“He ain’t here. His pony’s in the corral and the other’n is gone.”

“Is that right? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Crazy Swallow’s gone, too.”

“Ya’d better pull foot and get that news to Havelshell.”

“I ain’t tellin’ him everythin’ … no more.”

“Found out he’s a snake, did ya? Well, it took ya long enough.”

“I ain’t tellin’ you nothin’ either.”

“I doubt ya have anythin’ I want to hear.”

“Are ya goin’ to shoot me or what?”

“I reckon not … tonight.” She shoved the gun back into the holster. “Are you hungry?”

“What’d ya want to know that for?”

“Back when we lived in Timbertown I fed all the stray pups.”

“I ain’t no
dog!
”

“Didn’t say ya was. There’s a world of difference ’tween a dog and a pup.”

“I ain’t goin’ over
there
.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll brin’ ya some biscuits and meat.”

“Why’er ya doin’ that for?”

“Let’s say I’m butterin’ ya up to get on yore good side. Might need yore help someday.” She melted back into the darkness and Linus sank down next to the building again.

He was dumbfounded. She wasn’t the crazy, mean bitch Alvin said she was. Why was she prowlin’ ’round at night? What was she up to?

Chapter Eighteen

Morning came and with it Alvin Havelshell.

“Guess who’s comin’?” Colleen stuck her head in the door and by the turned-down corners of her mouth, Jenny knew that as far as Colleen was concerned, the visitor wasn’t welcome even before she announced. “The great Mr. Havelshell has come to call.”

Colleen looked at her friend anxiously. Faint lines of strain had appeared this morning between Jenny’s brows and at the corners of her eyes and mouth, and worry shadowed her eyes.

The agent was accompanied by Frank Wilson, the man who had brought Jenny and the girls out in the wagon the day they arrived in Sweetwater. The buggy stopped within a few yards of where Jenny and Colleen waited beside the door, Granny and the girls behind them.

“Morning,” he said pleasantly to Jenny, ignoring everyone else. He climbed down out of the buggy and tossed the reins to the grinning Frank, who had moved up beside him. “Water the horse,” he said curtly.

Jenny stared at him coolly and did not return his greeting.

“How are you?” He smiled into her eyes. When she remained silent, he said, “Don’t worry about the dam being put back in. I’ve decided to let it go for now.”

Jenny made no reply. She had learned that silence could be far more disconcerting than an angry tirade of:
YOU decided? The Shoshoni decided, you low-caliber, jerkwater crook!

A long silent moment passed before Havelshell’s patience snapped.

“This is an official visit. I came to inspect the school.”

“You have no
official
obligation to inspect the school.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Everything and everybody on the reservation is my official
obligation
.”

“I beg to differ. The school is my responsibility and mine alone.” Jenny met his gaze squarely, contemptuously. His eyes became hard as stones as he looked back at her.

“You come with me to inspect the school, Virginia, or I’ll send men out to board it up or … burn it down.”

“You’re … despicable!”

And you’re the most exciting woman I’ve ever met. I’ll have you, Virginia, and you’ll love every minute of it.

“Despicable or not, I’m the agent in charge. Are you coming?”

Without a word, Jenny moved past him and headed for the school.

“And you stay here,” Alvin snarled at Colleen, then to Frank, “See that she does.”

Head up, shoulders straight, her body as stiff as a board, Jenny led the way. She threw back the door, entered the school and stepped aside for the agent to enter.

Alvin had followed closely behind her, watching her skirt swirl about her ankles and her hips sway with each step she took. He had looked forward with breathless anticipation to being alone with this sensuous creature and had planned exactly what he would say to her.

He hadn’t anticipated such hostility. He had given her time to think about their last meeting and assumed that she would have come to realize that he was the authority here. He had not expected her to bow to his wishes immediately but at least to be civil. But no matter. He would say what he had come to say; and if she refused, he would consider an alternative plan.

“Sit down, Virginia. I see no reason for us to be enemies.”

“We are not on a first-name basis, Mr. Havelshell. I will thank you not to forget that.”

“I think of you as Virginia. I see no reason why I shouldn’t call you that.”

“I do. Only my friends call me by my first name. I do not consider you a friend.”

“More than a friend, Virginia?” He leered at her.

“A mere acquaintance, Mr. Havelshell.” Her lips curled in disdain.

“We’ll not split hairs over that.”

“Have you finished your
inspection?
”

“I want to talk to you about your position here and … how hopeless it is.”

“Hopeless? I see it as far from hopeless.”

“Have you not thought about the conversation we had when I was here before?”

“Not for one minute after you walked out the door.”

“You’ll get no help here, Virginia. Come winter, Crazy Ike will find a squaw and hole up till spring. Don’t count on help from McCall or that female out there in men’s pants. You and your sisters will be here alone. When the snow is on the ground and food is scarce, the Indians will come and take yours.”

“As much as you wish it to be true, we will not be alone. The Murphys will be here, and I’ve made friends with the Shoshoni. They are sending their children to the school. And I’ve no doubt that they want the school to succeed.”

“And you’re counting on their word? Ha! You know little of these savages. They would cut your throat and that of your sisters if the notion struck.”

“I don’t believe that. Your scare tactics won’t work.”

“Mark my word.” He was almost shouting now. “The Murphy girl is a slut. I’m sure that word is offensive to you, but it is true. Do you want your little sisters living in a house with a woman who’ll spread her legs for anyone with a couple of dollars? Or has she set up business in the bunkhouse?”

“Get out!” Jenny stood beside the door and waved her arm. “You’ve got a nasty mind and a nasty mouth!”

“Calm down. I’m merely telling you what folks think is going on out here.”

“I’ve met your
folks
in town, and what they think doesn’t mean a brass farthing to me.”

“Virginia, listen to me carefully. We have an empty school in town. It’s equipped with everything you would need to teach grades one through six. You are needed there and would be a valuable addition to the Sweetwater community. For your own good and the good of your sisters, I urge you to consider coming to Sweetwater. A nice house will be provided … with a cook. You aren’t the type of woman who should live in a log shack, use an outhouse and draw water from a well.”

Jenny stared at him with disbelief in her eyes. He was either the most dense person she had ever met or the most devious. Did he take her for a complete fool?

“The Reverend Longfellow asked me to assure you that as a member of the schoolboard, he would see to it that you had free rein at the school. He also said to tell you that he looks forward to seeing you in church, and that he would provide a horse and buggy for your use,” Alvin added confidently.

“You may be surprised to know that I’m not in the least flattered by your offer. In fact, I’ve never before had my intelligence so insulted. You’re not only despicable, you’re downright stupid if you think I’d even consider such an offer. How did you ever get a law degree, Mr. Havelshell? How on God’s green earth did you ever land the job as agent for the southern part of this reservation?”

Her scorn, loftiness, and the curl of her lip, burst the dam of Alvin’s carefully planned civility. He took two quick strides to reach her. His hand shot out and gripped her upper arm.

“Don’t look down your aristocratic nose at me, you snooty bitch. No woman of your standing would leave her easy life and come out here to teach the
poor Indians
unless she had to get away. With your money, you didn’t need a ranch you’ve no idea how to operate. You’re running from something,
Virginia,
and I intend to find out what it is.”

“Let go of my arm!”

Jenny was livid. If he had not grabbed her right arm, she would have pulled out her little pistol from her pocket and shot him. When he failed to release her, she swung her left arm and gave him a resounding slap across the face.

“Let go my arm!”

“You’ll … regret that!” His angry eyes left hers and flicked to the doorway.

“Jenny …” Granny stood there, a brass-tipped walking stick in her hand. “I broke the thread on the sewin’ machine.”

“Get out of here, old woman,” Alvin snarled.

“Don’t … talk to her like that!” Jenny jerked loose from his grip. Her hand darted into her pocket and came up with the pistol. “Get out … and don’t come back.”

“You’ll regret this, Virginia.” Alvin adjusted his coat, leaving his hands fastened to the lapels and his dark eyes to her face.

“I think not.”

“You’ll be seeing me again. I’m in charge here, and the sooner you come to terms with that fact, the better off you’ll be.” He left the building and strode quickly down the path to his buggy.

Jenny assisted Granny down the path with her hand beneath her elbow. She held her head up and forced her trembling legs to carry her. Her chest hurt, her throat felt as if a hand were squeezing it, and her eyes burned.
What was this place doing to her?
She had never struck another human being in her life. Yet, without a second thought, she had slapped Alvin Havelshell. And she believed that had he made a move toward her or Granny, she would have shot him!

They reached the yard between the house and the outbuildings in time to see Alvin climb into the buggy and send the whip out over the back of the mare. The startled animal jumped and took off in a fast run. The buggy circled the house, bounced over the rough prairie grass and careened down the trail leading to town.

Frank, with a silly grin on his face, untied his horse and swung into the saddle. He paused and leered at Colleen.

“Ya gonna miss me, pretty gal?”

“Yeah, like a dog misses a batch a fleas.”

“Don’t worry, hon. I’ll be back.”

“Ya do and I’ll meet ya with a load of buckshot, ya pig-ugly jackass!”

“I’m claimin’ ya for my girl,” he shouted and wheeled the horse to follow the buggy.

Suddenly the animal stiffened and stopped. With a cry of rage, the horse went up in the air and came down with a jolt. Frank went over the horse’s head and landed on his back on the hard-packed trail. He rolled over on his knees and hung there shaking his head. When he got to his feet, a string of curses spewed from his mouth.

Jenny started laughing first; it was a high-pitched, nervous giggle. Cassandra joined in, and Colleen let loose with a rebel yell.

Frank came toward them menacingly. “What’d ya do?”

The women continued to laugh. He was unaware that the laughter was the result of two days of nervous tension and that tears were streaming from the eyes of both women.

“Ah … hell!” He yanked on the reins and the quivering horse stood still while he mounted. He rode away as Jenny’s laughter turned to sobs.

“What did that horse’s ass do to you, Virginia?” Cassandra’s small freckled face was creased with worry. She had never seen her older sister cry except when their father died.

“Nothing, honey. And … what did you say?”

“I don’t think I should repeat it. Little ears, you know.” She indicated Beatrice, who was paying rapt attention to every word.

“What did ya do, Cass?” Colleen asked. “I saw ya hidin’ that slingshot Ike gave ya.”

“It pays to practice, doesn’t it?”

“I reckon.”

Cassandra preened and lifted her chin in a gesture of superiority. She brought several small, straight sticks from her pocket. Each had a sewing needle stuck in the end.

“I figured that if a stone would hurt, a dart would hurt more. Drat it! I wanted to try it on Havelshell’s horse, but he got away before I could get it in place.”

“Cassandra! Where did you get such an idea?”

“It’s really your fault. You won’t let anyone show me how to use a gun, so I have to use my own inventive skills. Pygmies in Africa use blowguns. I knew I didn’t have enough wind for that, so I combined the dart and the slingshot.”

“Cass hurt the horse.” Beatrice tugged at Jenny’s hand.

“Well, yes, I regret that,” Cassandra said. “But it sure was fun to see old Frank bite the dust. Besides, it didn’t really hurt the horse; it only startled him. I didn’t dip the needle in poison or … anything.”

Damn, damn her!

Unmindful that the horse was tiring, Alvin continued to run the animal. Jenny had practically spit on him—thrown his offer back in his face! There were at least a dozen women he could call to his bed in an hour’s notice. And they were not whores, just women who appreciated the kind of man he was.

She needed to be taught a lesson. He was as good as she was. Hadn’t he managed to get himself educated despite being one of eight kids of a tugboat pilot on the Mississippi River? Eight? Hell, there were probably dozens of bastards up and down the river. The old man wasn’t known for keeping his britches buttoned.