Part 16 (1/2)
”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?”