Slater Bros: Apache Summer Part 16

"I'm not dead, Hank, I'm fine." Hank had set her down. Jane was crying softly.

"Jane!" Tess took the young woman in her arms to comfort her.

"It's all right! I'm here. I'm alive, I'm well!"

"Oh, Miss. Tess! Miss. Tess, it's just so wonderful to see you! He said he was coming back tonight~ and at first we thought that you were him coming back a little early. He had the sheriff with him, you see, and he said as how everyone had heard that both you and your uncle had been killed in an Indian raid, and that the land would go up for public auction. Hank and me and the hands were to clear out. Well, the hands could stay on until the actual auction, but" She paused, gasping for breath.

Hank, casting a curious glance toward Jamie and Jori, continued the story indignantly.

"He said that since Jane and I might think ourselves too close to the family, we'd have to get out before we started stealing property from the deceased!"

"He--who the h.e.l.l is he?" Jamie demanded, dismounting.

Hank frowned, not about to answer the question until he had a signal from Tess.

"Well, Miss. Tess, I'll answer him about who the h.e.l.l he is--once this fellow tells me who the h.e.l.l he is himself!"

Jamie's eyes narrowed, and his face started to look like thunder.

"Hank," Tess said quickly.

"This is Lieutenant Jamie Slater, he's with the cavalry. And Mr. Jon Red Feather..

Hank, they've been gracious enough to see me home"--" Then Joe really is dead," Hank said miserably.

She nodded.

He swallowed hard, looking into the distance.

"I'd kinda hoped, seeing you and all ... Then he really did get it from the Indians."

"No. From von Heusen."

"Him again," Hank muttered.

"He--him," Jamie interjected.

"Axe we, or are we not, talking about von Heusen all the way around here?"

"Of course!" Tess stated firmly.

"You mean to tell me," Jamie said, striding toward Hank, "that this yon Heusen has already been here, telling you that the property is going to go up for public auction in lieu of being granted to legitimate heirs?"

"Yep, something like that."

"Just like a vulture," Jon commented. "Well, he'll be back," Hank promised.

"Soon enough.

You'll get to meet him."

Dolly, still on the wagon, cleared her throat.

"Oh, Dolly!" Jamie exclaimed apologetically. He hurried around to help her down. Dolly smiled and took Hank's hand firmly.

"I'm Dolly Simmons, Hank. Nice to make your acquaintance. And you, too, young lady. Jane, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"A fine name, a fine name. And I'm mighty parched. Perhaps we could go inside and have ourselves a sip of something."

"Yes, let's!" Tess said.

She started for the house. Jon dismounted and looped his pinto's reins around the hitching post in front of the house.

Tess was halfway up the stairs before she realized that Jamie hadn't moved.

He was still standing with the roan's reins in his hands.

"Jamie, come in, please," she said politely. A bit distantly perhaps--they were still involved in their fierce, personal battle.

"We'll see to the wagon later. Hank and the boys will help."

He shook his head, looking at Hank, not her.

"That the trail to follow into town?" he asked, pointing toward the road.

"Yep, that's it."

"Where's the action congregate around here?" Hank was smiling but curious.

"Why, the Bennington saloon. The best card games in town go on there, the best whiskey flows there, and the best girls" -- He paused, glancing quickly toward the ladies.

"Well, Lieutenant, the best entertainment in town can be found there, too."

Jamie nodded. Smiling at Tess, he told her, "I think that I'll take a ride in."

"Now?" she demanded. The best entertainment in town! Von Heusen was expected at the house, and he was about to ride off to enjoy himself with a dance-hall gift! "No time like the present."

"But von Heusen is going to come here!"

"I don't want to meet Mr. yon Heusen. Not just yet." He swung up on his horse and glanced at Jon. Tess tried hard to follow his gaze. Something pa.s.sed between them, like cons of words, and yet it all happened in a few seconds.

Jori was staying with her. And still, she was furious. Jamie was demanding half her land and he wouldn't even stay around to meet his adversary.

"Lieutenant, if you head into town, perhaps you should stay there for the night," she snapped. They all stared at her. She had to control her temper.

She had to quit caring.

He grinned, "Why, Miss. Stuart, do you think there'll be enough there to keep me occupied all night?"

"I imagine, Lieutenant, that that is entirely up to you. Do what you feel you must."

She turned her back on him as quickly as she could. He was a free man, she thought furiously. He could do whatever he wanted to do, drink himself silly, consort with wh.o.r.es, gamble his life away. He sure as h.e.l.l wasn't going to do it on her property, though!

He was going to do it, though. He didn't even enter the house, but turned and rode away. Tess tried very hard to look back, not to let anyone see that her eyes had misted with her are and frustration.

d.a.m.ned Yank. d.a.m.ned Yank.

"It's a nice place you've got here," Jon complimented as they entered the house.

"Beautiful!" Dolly exclaimed.

It wasn't exactly beautiful, Tess thought. But it was nice, and it was livable, too. The parlor into which they entered was vast, and it was combined with a big dining room that held a heavy carved Mexican table that could seat fourteen for dinner. To the left of the dining area, against the rear wall, was the broad staircase that led to the second floor.

Nearer the door was Joe's desk, on a dais, perched on a cow skin. His large wing-chair was behind it, and two heavy leather chairs were situated before it. There was a spittoon in the corner for those who felt they absolutely must chew tobacco. In the center of the room, on a beautiful hooked rug, was a. large, soft, brown leather sofa. It sat next to the fire, with matching chairs across from it and occasional tables beside it. There were bright Indian flower vases on the tables.

There were flowers in the vases, and Tess smiled. Hank and Jane had kept up, no matter what.

"Well!" Dolly said.

"Now this is nice! Tess, where would you like us to stay?"

"Oh!" She had forgotten that even though Jamie Slater had ridden away the moment they arrived, she had other guests to attend to.

"I'msorry. Upstairs, Dolly. Hank, we can wait a while on the other things, but let's bring up Dolly's trunks. Come up, please!" She urged Dolly and Jon forward.

When they reached the second-story landing, they looked down a long hallway with doors on either side and a big-paned window with velvet draperies at the end.

"There are eight rooms up here," she murmured.

"We shouldn't be wanting."

Jane, who had followed her up the stairs, cleared her throat softly.

"Tess, your room is aired, and Joe's room is 123 aired, and I just happened to air the back two, but I haven't touched the others yet. I was getting around to them, but then when we heard ... When we heard that both you and Joe ... Nothing seemed to make much sense anymore."

"That's all right," Tess said.

"But we'll nee~l linens and all for Mrs. Simmons and Mr. Red Feather.

Can you see to that? We'll put them in those two rooms you aired."

"What about the lieutenant?"

"I believe he's staying in town. And should he wander back, well, he can wander into the barn."

Jon made a choking sound, then laughed. Dolly gave a little gasp.

Tess didn't care. She walked grandly down the hall.

"Dolly, this room here is more appropriate for a lady, I think.

There's a big dressing table in here, and the light is wonderful in the morning."

"It is just wonderful!" Dolly said delightedly.

"I love it!" She caught Tess's cheeks between her plump hands and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I am so glad I came. And don't you dare wait on me. I'm here to help.

Jane, you run along and get linens, and I'll get this bed made up, and then you show me around the house and tell me what I can do!"

' "Dolly, you don't have to do anything but rest. It's been a long trip " You hush, dear. I'm going to get to know my room!" She stepped inside, closing the door. Jane hurried down the hall to the little'

linen-storage room.

Tess smiled wryly at Jon.

"She's wonderful, isn't she?"

"Dolly? Yes, she's a wonder."

"I didn't really give her the best room, Jon, both these rooms are big and have beautiful views. I think you'll be just as happy over here. The bed is large and firm, and it's very airy."

"I'll be quite comfortable wherever you put me," he sured her.

Smiling, he looked into the room, then backed out again.

"I'll go help Hank with the trunks."

"If you're tired"

"Tess, do I look tired? If yon Heusen is coming back tonight, we want to look settled in, don't we?"

"It's interesting that you should feel that way. Apparently the lieutenant wasn't very worried."

"Don't underestimate him, Tess. He knows what he's doing."

"You would defend him no matter what, wouldn't you?"

"Because I know him," Jon said quietly, and he stepped past her, down the hall and down the stairs. She'd best get moving herself, Tess decided.

She turned and hurried down the hallway in Jon's wake. While the men unloaded the wagon, she could see to the horses and the mules.

Then she'd have to find out how many of the ranch hands had stayed around once they'd heard that von Heusen would be taking over.

And then she'd have to wait. for von Heusen himself.