PKept11

Chapter 11

It was late afternoon when the stage finally stopped in front of the Rock Creek Hotel. Heavy rains over the last two days had washed out the main road, forcing the driver to take a time consuming detour. The weary passengers were eager to disembark their chamber of misery. One such passenger looked no happier to be at his destination than he had during his journey. Torrential rains, along with the constant bouncing of the coach and irritating traveling companions, had proven to feed his foul mood. He had been force to endure the entire trip next to a morbidly obese priest who felt the need to practice his messages on the captive audience.   In an attempt to improve his appearance after the miserable trip, he tugged at the vest of his fancy business suit and tightened the silk tie around his neck. He then pulled a hankie from inside his suit jacket and wiped the dirt from his leather shoes.

If the man hadn’t felt so bound by duty to his family he would never have considered leaving St. Joe. But it had fallen upon him to pick up the responsibility that his brother could no longer fulfill.   It’d been a foolish dream his younger brother had cherished. To seek his fortune in the virgining West. He remembered him saying The opportunities are endless in the West, a man can make his own future and be proud of it. He’s watched with disdain as his brother left their family home, as well his executive position in their father’s successful business, to move West. The man knew all along that his prodigal brother would return with his tail neatly tucked between his legs. What he hadn’t expected, was for him to do so with a fiancée in tow. He was well aware that his future sister-in-law had no family. So now with the death of his foolish brother, it had fallen on his shoulders to care for the young woman.

Despite the veil of dusk that surrounded him as he waited for his bag to be thrown from the stage, he could tell this was just like all the other crude towns he had stopped in over last few weeks. As he approached the steps of the hotel, he was overcome by the stench of a drunken cowboy. The drunk practically knocked him down as he stumbled in haste toward the saloon. Then before he could enter the hotel, he was approached by a young Indian boy offering to help with his bags for a few coins. This only served to confirm is suspicion that this was just another town of uncivilized drifters, who, due to their inability to fit into decent society, were forced to settle in this god forsaken place the call the West. He planned for this to be the last stop on his journey. He could take no more of the filth of traveling, the crude accommodations and a general lack of culture. All he wanted was an edible meal, a bed that didn’t smell of the previous occupant, and to sleep without being wakened by the sounds of a midnight brawl in the local saloon. Tom was doubtful he would get his wish.

*****************************

Camille took a deep breath of the fresh morning air as she reached the front door of the schoolhouse. It was a beautiful morning and everywhere she looked there was the splendor of spring. The sun shown through the trees with their new coating of bright green leaves. It was as she was opened the front door of the school that she noticed the loveliest delicate blue flowers coming to life in the window boxes. She smiled at the joy that just a tiny little flower could bring her.

In the few weeks she’d been in Rock Creek, Camille had grown to love her new life. Some would consider her life simple and maybe even boring, but this was just what she had dreamed of all her life. A quiet normal existence was the one thing that had always eluded her. But no more. Even the common activities of greeting the morning and preparing for the day gave her reason to pause and appreciate her good fortune.

She’d just placed her bag on the floor by the desk when Danny Claxon and his little sister Molly came tearing in the front door.

“Good morning Miss Camille” Danny said.

Camille smiled at her pupil, “Good Morning to you too, Danny. And how are you Molly.”

Molly approached her teacher, taking Camille’s hand in her little one. “Good,” she answered. Then she asked, “May we go out and play until the other get here?”

Camille had become very fond of the pretty little girl with blond curls. “That would be fine”, she answered.

The two children dropped their things on their desk and ran out the door as quickly as they’d come in. Camille turned to the corner cupboard to get the children’s slates and chalk. She had just located the chalks when she heard a voice behind her, “Camille?”

“Yes,” she said as she turned. Instantly the chalk scattered on the floor as he brought her hands to her face in shock.   Stunned, she could only stare at the ghost before her. It had to be a ghost, because Bill was dead! She thought to herself.

The ghost spoke as it stepped toward her, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Camille was frozen still with disbelief; it was Bill standing before her. No! She told herself, it couldn’t be. She’d seen the rattler bites, she’d driven his lifeless body to Cedar Falls and she’d stood by his grave as they shoveled dirt over the pine box that contained his body. It must be a dream! She convinced herself.   She tried with all her might to move, but couldn’t.   Camille was sure if she could only move her leg or her arm, it would wake her from this cruel dream.

“I’m so sorry, I should’ve knocked first,” the apparition said. “My name is Tom. Tom Barlow, Bill’s brother. You are Camille, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she managed to say as she began to understand his words. Bill’s brother? She knew Bill had a brother but he rarely spoke of him.   And more importantly, he never mentioned their strong resemblance.

“Are you alright?” Tom asked.

Camille shook her head. “Yes, forgive me,” she asked.

“No, forgive me,” he said, “it was thoughtless of me not to realized that my appearance upset you.”

“It’s just that Bill never mentioned he had a twin brother,” she explained.

“Oh, we’re not twins,” he responded, “Bill was 10 months younger than myself. Although we were often told we resembled each other.”

“Yes! Yes, you do,” she said thinking that resembled was an understatement.

As her composure began to return, she noticed the sticks of chalk on the floor and knelt to collect them.

“Please, let me help you,” Tom said as he too knelt down.

With all the chalk in hand, she stood and placed them on her desk. She turned back to address him but was overwhelmed by how much he looked like Bill. He noticed her fixed gaze and repeated, “I’m very sorry I startled you.”

Camille was beginning to feel a little foolish as the shock of meeting Tom was wearing off. “I didn’t mean to scream, but it was like seeing Bill standing there. You understand? She asked.

“Completely,” he said with a smile.

A pain seized Camille’s heart as she saw Tom smile. That’s Bill’s smile she thought sadly. Her time with Bill seemed like it had been years ago, and she hadn’t thought of it in a long while. But seeing Tom had reminded her of how she missed Bill. Not that she would change her life now. She wanted nothing more than to be exactly where she was now. She and Buck were always meant to be together; she knew that was the course their lives were destine to take. She had only wished that it’s course hadn’t had to include Bill’s death.

The shock of seeing Tom Barlow had finally worn off. Now that shock was being replaced with concern.
Why was he here?

Getting right to the point she asked, “Mr. Barlow, what can I do for you?”

Tom grabbed his lapels as if he was getting ready to give a speech and said, “I have come as a representative of my family to bring you back to our home in St. Joe.”

Camille was confused and he saw the confusion on her face. “You see, our father,” he said, then paused to correct himself, “our late father was concerned for your safe passage to our home in St. Joe. So I was sent here to assist you as your traveling companion.”

“But, I received your father’s letter and he never mentioned any of this,” she said.

“Yes,” he nodded, “unfortunately, that letter was sent in such haste that he neglected to include that information.”

Camille felt her head begin to spin again.

Tom continued, “I would have arrived sooner, but sadly I was detained by my father’s sudden illness. His grief over Bill’s death overcame him. You see, our father always had a special fondness for my brother. His inability to deal with Bill’s death eventually led to his own. I was further delayed because I was unaware you were in Rock Creek. It was only after my arrival in Cedar Falls, that I learned that you were here. How did you come to be in this town?”

He gave Camille a look that immediately made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t explain it; she just didn’t like it. Lost in her thoughts, she barely heard him ask, “You were in Cedar Falls, were you not, when my brother died?”

Only giving him half her attention, she mumbled, “I have friends here.”

With one quick move he was directly in front of her. He raised his voice in an accusatory manner that gained her full attention. “I don’t remember Bill mentioning that you knew anyone in this filthy town.”

How dare he speak to me that way, she thought.

“ Why would he!” Camille felt her temper flare. “He also never mentioned to me he had a brother that could pass as his twin!” she snapped at him. She could not account for her feelings, but something within her told her not to let him get the upper hand.

“Please, I didn’t mean to offend, “ he said so politely that it only served to confuse her more. He now was the picture of composure. Maybe she had misunderstood his previous comment. After all, she told herself, this was Bill’s brother; he was only here out of concern for her well being.

“No, no, I’m sorry, “she apologized, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m just so overwhelmed.”

“Well no need to worry yourself anymore,” he said. “I’m here now and I’ll see to it that you are taken care of. You’ll see, before you know it we’ll be back in St. Joe at the Barlow Estates. I’ll see to it that this nightmare that my brother started, will be over soon.”

Wait a minute, she thought to herself.   Why did he speak that way of Bill?   She then realized, He thinks he is rescuing me. This is very wrong! I have to put a stop to this now!

She spoke up, “I’m sorry, Mr. Barlow, but there has...”

“Please call me Tom,” he interrupted, “After all you are my sister-in-law.”

“Tom,” she heeded his request, “Bill and I were never married.”

“Yes, I know. But we Barlows have considered you part of our family from the first day we learned of your engagement to my brother,” he answered her.

It was obvious he had not heard a word she’d said. She knew she must be clear with him, “You don’t understand, there has been a terrible mistake.”

Not allowing her to continue, he began to ramble, “I can understand your reluctance. My father had anticipated it also. That is why I am here. But there’s no mistake that you belong with our family at the Barlow Estates.”    Tom offered his hand while he approached her, then added, “It’s what Bill would have wanted. And you’ll be most happy there.”

She didn’t accepted his extended hand, but involutarily stepped back, feeling ill at ease with his closeness. Camille wasn’t sure he had any idea of what Bill wanted and she knew he had no clue what was best for her. Camille didn’t know a lot about Bill’s family; it was a subject that always brought silence. He spoke little of his family or his childhood and for the most part chose to distance himself from them. But one thing she knew for sure, Bill was returning to his family not because he wanted to, but because he had too.

“Didn’t you get my letter?” she asked. “I wrote your father, thanking him for his kind offer, but informing him I’d be staying here in Rock Creek.”

He was flabbergasted, “That is absurd. Why would you choose to live here in this uncivilized little town in the middle of nowhere without any family? Now Camille, you have a lovely room waiting for you at our Estate and a family eager for your arrival.” Camille felt wary as he stepped forward to close the gap between them.

“Oh, what a mess,” she said running her hand across her pounding forehead. “Tom, I’m so sorry you’ve come all this way and I appreciate the offer of your family, but I’ve chosen to live here in Rock Creek.”

“Alone, a single woman...that is unheard of. Why would...” he spoke sharply but was cut off by Molly as she came running in the room.

“Miss Camille, Miss Camille,” she hollered.

“What is it, Molly,” she responded.

“Tell Danny he’s wrong,”

Her attention taken from Tom for the moment, she asked Molly, “What did he say?”

Molly put her hands on her hips and said, “I want to come when you and Buck get married. Danny says I’m too young. But I told him you said I could come.”

“Is that all?” Camille asked calmly. “Yes, Molly you may come to my wedding.”

Molly abruptly turned and ran from the schoolhouse shouting, “I told you so. I am coming.”

Camille’s head was reeling. What had happened to her lovely spring day? Between the shock of seeing Tom Barlow, his insistence on her returning with him and now the reminder that she had a classroom of children to teach, she was having trouble keeping her composure.

She looked back to Tom to continue where she had left off, then noticed the stunned look on his face.

“Did that child say you were getting married?” he asked bluntly.

“Yes, she did,” Camille replied, regretting that she hadn’t been able to inform him of her marriage earlier.
Suddenly she noticed a change in his demeanor. His eyes were ablaze and his body became rigid. There was no mistaking the angry growing with in him.

“Please let me explain,” she requested.

Without warning, he raised his open hand and just as quickly lowered it. It crossed her mind that he meant to strike her. But quickly she dismissed the thought. She wasn’t thinking straight.

He stood directly in front of her, face to face and shouted, “There is no explanation to account for the disgrace you have brought on my brother and our family. You are no better than her.”

She stepped back in shock. What had changed him so? Surely not just the fact she was to be married. It was well past her time of mourning and there was nothing improper about her engagement. I’ve continued on with my life since Bill’s death, she thought, perhaps that is what has upset him so?

She spoke cautiously, “I have done nothing....”

“Shut up!”, he cut her sentence short.

He took a step back and then looked her up and down in a way that made Camille feel vunerable.

“You disgust me,” he said with a twisted face.

Before she could respond, there were children all around them rushing to their desk. He glared at her for what seemed to be an eternity, then turned and left the building. A chill ran through Camille. She had been wrong earlier; it wasn’t anger she had seen in his eyes...it was fury. Before long she remembered something strange he’d said, what did he mean when he said she was just like “her”?

Chapter 12

Camille spent most of the day giving the children assignments from their textbooks and having them spend time reading. She’d been disturbed by the visit from Tom Barlow. It had not gone well at all. Initially, after he left this morning she was frightened. But as the day wore on, she convinced herself she must have been mistaken about the intensity of his anger. He’d been through quite a lot in the past months, enough to make even the most placid person react strangely. She knew she must speak with him again.

She’d just begun the last lesson of the day, when Tom barged into the schoolhouse. “I must speak with you,” he demanded.

Camille was embarrassed by his intrusion and walked to the back of the room to speak to him privately. But there was little privacy to be had with several dozen little eyes locked on her every move.

“I would like to speak with you, too” she spoke softly, “I’m almost through here. I can meet you...”

“Now!” he said grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm.

She could’ve sworn that she saw him smile when he realized the pain he’d inflicted with his grasp. She wretched her arm free. The sooner she spoke to Tom the better and she preferred that it not be in the presence of a room full of children. Realizing he couldn’t be deterred, she turned to the children who’d seen the whole altercation.

“Children, you are dismissed for the day,” she said as she rubbed her hurting wrist.

The children hurriedly gathered their things as they left, excited about their early dismissal. Camille was so consumed in thought that she hadn’t noticed Danny look back as he left to check on this teacher. Once she was sure all the children were gone, Camille went to the front of the room to stand behind her desk. For some reason unknown to her, she felt the need to put some space between herself and Tom Barlow.

“I’m sorry you were upset by the news of my engagement,” she said to him.

“Surprised,” he said as he walked around her desk and stood before her, “yes I was. But I realize, I shouldn’t have been. I know your kind well. And I find that like my own, Bill’s judgement was poor!”

She wasn’t sure how to take his comments. But her foremost concern was the return of the fear she had felt earlier this morning. She stepped toward the far corner of the room, regaining a measure of comfort from the distance between them.

“Tom,” she said.

“Mr. Barlow,” he shouted, retracting his offer to use his Christian name.

“Tell me...Camille,” he said snidely, “Did you find your future husband the same day my brother died, or did you wait until his body was cold?”

“You have no right to speak to me this way,” she informed him, “your brother was my fiancée and I mourned for him properly.”

“My brother has only been dead a year,” he said. Once more he removed her comfort zone as he pushed forward. “A proper wife wouldn’t have conducted herself in the disgraceful manner you have.”

“I never married your brother,” she exclaimed. She recognized that he heard only what he chose too.

At once he advanced on her and backed her in to the corner. “That...is a detail that I am coming to realize is a blessing,” he said cruelly. His face was inches from hers, “Since you never married him that will make it impossible for a trollop like you to claim any of our family money.”

“I never wanted Bill’s money, I loved him,” she cried in panic.

Instantly her face stung. He’d slapped her so hard and so quickly that she hadn’t seen it coming. “I wouldn’t believe a thing you have to say!” he screamed in her face. “You are no better than a common whore. You move from one man to another with out a concern for anyone but yourself. My guess is Bill did you a favor getting himself killed. He made it easy for you to move on to your next lover.”

She realized he was out of control. His rage was now explosive and she was scared. But she was also mad! He had no right to say those things! He was out of his mind and she knew she had to get away from him.

“Let go of me!” she yelled at him while trying to break free from his grip.

He answered her request with another slap across the other side of her face. Her head was reeling, he said something else to her but she couldn’t make it out. Suddenly a knife flew past the back of his head and lodge in the wall. She focused her eyes on the knife; she knew that knife.... It was Buck’s!

Tom looked at the knife and then to the door to see where it came from.

“Take your hands off her!” Buck ordered him.

Tom scoffed at Buck then turned back to Camille, “Get out of here Indian, This is none of your....”

He didn’t have the chance to finish his sentence. Buck grabbed his shoulders and hurled him against the opposite wall. Tom hit hard against the wall and lay there huddled in a daze.

Buck pulled Camille in to the protection of his arms, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she said as she looked up at him.

But one look at her face and Buck knew she was lying, “Camille, he hit you”

She made a feeble attempt to diffuse Buck’s rage, “It was an accident, I tripped,”

“Don’t lie to me,” he answered her flatly and calmly. But Camille was not deceived…she knew his anger was smoldering, needing only a spark to be ignited.

Tom provided the spark. “That’s right, the harlot fell down,” he sneered.

Tom was completely caught off guard as Buck struck him with the first blow. Buck unleashed another hit his face and stomach, before Tom was able to make a feeble attempt at fighting back.

His ability to defend himself was no match to Buck’s rage. The sight of the red swollen marks on Camille’s delicate face overcame him and he no longer saw the man he was hitting. Buck continued to hit him repeatedly until heard Camille’s plea for him to stop.

“Stop! Please Buck! Stop!” she cried, “You’re gonna hurt him!”

Her appeal brought him back to reality and he stepped back from the crumpled man on the floor. His chest heaving and his heart pounding from his attempt at revenge on Tom.

Despite his defeat, Tom showed no fear of Buck. “You will pay for this, Indian,” he said as he struggled to stand.

“You shut your mouth,” Buck yelled at him, as he rushed Tom and pinned him against the wall, “You had no right to hit her.”

“I have every right!” Tom scoffed, “The Jezebel has disgraced our family and she will pay.”

Buck reached back to hit him again, but Camille grabbed his arm. “Buck, No, you can’t!” she cried, “He’s Bill’s brother.”

Buck looked at her and then at Tom. This man looked just like Bill Barlow. Buck saw it now, but in his rage he’d only seen Tom as Camille’s attacker.

“Let him go, please!” she pleaded. Buck hesitated and she added, “For me, please!”

Buck knew he should take Tom straight to Teaspoon. Have him locked up, at least for a day or so, and then see to it that he was escorted out of town. Buck had a bad feeling about this man. There was something wild and unstable in his eyes. Whether he was Bill’s brother or not, he was a threat to Camille. He couldn’t give him the opportunity to hurt her again.

Camille put her hand on Buck’s arm, “Please, Buck!”

Buck knew he would regret letting Tom go free, but he couldn’t deny Camille’s request. He placed his hand on Tom’s throat. Even as he tightened his grip, Tom showed not fear. Buck felt a chill up his spine as he stared into the empty depths of Tom’s eyes.

“You leave this town now! I see you again and I’ll kill you!” Buck warned him. He loosened his grip on Tom’s neck and stepped back. Tom stood still for a moment casting them a contemptuous look. He then bent to scoop up his hat from the floor and placed it on his head. Just before he walked out the door Tom turned back to Camille and Buck. He tipped his hat with a mocking smile, he said, “Good Day!”

Once he was gone, Camille rushed into Buck’s arms. She buried her face in his chest and began to sob. She’d been so scared. But only now in the protection of his arms, did she admit it to herself. She realized who lucky she was that Buck arrived when he did.

Suddenly she looked up at him and asked, “How did you know to come?”

“Danny Claxon came for me. Said a strange man was at the school.” he answered. Buck gently brushed her hair from her face and winced at the sight of a bruise beginning to form on her check. “I could kill him for hurting you.”

“No, don’t say that,” she stressed, “He was upset, he didn’t mean it.” Camille saw that he didn’t agree with her. “It’s true. He’s grieving. He’s wasn’t in his right mind.”

“Your right!” he agreed, “There’s somethin’ wrong with him, Camille. And it ain’t just greivin’.” Tom was dangerous. Buck was sure of it. That man had no fear of anything or anyone. And Buck knew that a man without fear was capable of anything. A man without fear had nothing to loose.