Scott was still sitting in the hotel dining room when he saw Johnny come into the hotel and follow another man up the stairs. He hoped Johnny knew what he was doing.
He knew his little brother could take care of himself, probably better than anyone he’d ever known. Johnny never talked about his life as Johnny Madrid a whole lot, but the few things he’d been told gave Scott a new respect for his brother. Not that he condoned the life of a gunfighter, but he respected his brother’s expertise at a profession where so many others barely survived the orientation.
Scott had grown to know his brother over the past year and knew him as an honorable and expansive soul, full of humor and caring; not at all the cold killer that usually marked the type. Johnny suffered when he killed a man. It may not show on the outside, but Scott knew. Scott knew his brother very well. He may not know the story, the legend. He may not know Johnny Madrid, but he knew his brother. The rapport they had, the trust, was unconditional.
Scott wanted to hear what was going on in that meeting. He thought fleetingly of the balcony and the window, but dismissed it. It was broad daylight. He would surely be spotted from the street if he went out on the balcony.
He resigned himself to waiting for Johnny. He decided to go over and see Kate early. He didn’t have a firm appointment and hoped she could take him early.
Scott settled his hat on his head as he exited the hotel into the midmorning sunlight. The early morning chill was burning off and it promised to be another warm, early fall day.
Scott crossed from the hotel to the main street and quick-stepped up to the boardwalk to avoid a large freight wagon that barreled down the street. He was watching the wagon, and didn’t see the woman until he barreled into her, almost knocking them both over.
“Oh! Excuse me, Miss…” Scott’s eyes narrowed. She was dressed in black, a nun to be sure, but something else about her was familiar.
She was busy straightening her habit and settling her wimple. She glanced up at the man who had almost sent her sprawling, and recognition caused her to smile.
”Scott! Scott Lancer!” She reached out and took both of his arms in hers her hands. “It’s so wonderful to see you!” She hugged him fiercely.
Scott’s powers of recognition had not kicked in quite so quickly, impeded as they were by the unfamiliar habit. It seemed like an awkward moment, but really, it took him only a split second longer to recognize Angie than it had for Angie to recognize him.
“Angie!” He set her back on her feet and looked her over from top to bottom. Then he grabbed her again and pulled her into another hug, holding her long and tight. “Angie, what a surprise. Where did you come from?”
He set her down again and couldn’t help the open mouthed shock with which he regarded her.
She looked behind her and pointed vaguely in the direction of the livery where she had just left her rig. “Well…”
Scott laughed. “Now, don’t give me any of your smart-a…smart remarks. I know you and I know what you’re going to say so skip the teasing and tell me. What are you doing here?” He spun himself around beside her and threw his arm around her shoulders, walking her slowly down the boardwalk.
She looked up at him affectionately. “Well, if you’ll buy me a beer, I’ll tell you all about it.”
He looked at her attire, then into her mischievous eyes and laughed uproariously. “How about coffee, it’s a little early in the day to start the heavy drinking.”
“Oh, okaaaayyy,” she said with exaggerated surliness.
Scott led her a few doors down to a small café that catered mostly to the locals. It was between breakfast and lunch, so it was devoid of customers. They moved to a table in the back and sat facing each other. The waitress came over to take their order.
“Mornin’, Sister Michael. The usual?”
Angie looked up at her friend. “Yes, Sarah, thank you.”
“And you, sir?”
Scott had the stunned look of someone who’d just been sucker-punched. “Uhhhh, I’ll have black coffee.”
After the waitress left, Scott turned back to Angie. “Sister Michael?”
She nodded and smiled. “That’s who I am now, Scott.” Her face glowed.
Scott had known Angie since they grew up on the same block back in Boston. She had been the tomboy, the only girl in his circle of friends. They had accepted her as one of them because she could do everything they could do, and usually do it better. She had an unhappy family life, and the group of boys felt protective, although had she known it, she would have kicked them in the shins. Scott winced at the memory. Shin kicking had been her favorite form of both punishment and affection when they were twelve.
When they had grown older, and Angie had grown into a beauty, she and Scott had dated for a while, but soon found that they were better as friends.
Scott was at a loss for words. “When?…How?…”
Angie reached over and put her hand on his. “It’s alright, Scott. I’ll tell you all about it.”
“The last time I saw you…”
“…was at Tom’s funeral. I remember,” she finished for him. “I told you then I was moving out west. I had to get out of Boston, Scott. I had to get out of the east. Everywhere I went reminded me of the war.”
Angie had married one of Scott’s best friends just before the two of them had joined the army. After Tom was sent of to join Sherman, Angie had joined the medical corp as a nurse and had been assigned to Sheridan. Scott had been Sheridan’s aide.
It was a big regiment and she had been there at the field hospital for three months before Scott even knew she was there. Scott had been captured and spent a year at Libby, but had found Angie in Boston again after he was released.
The word of Tom’s death had come as a shock to both of them, all the more because it had happened after the surrender. Scott remembered the dull pain in Angie’s eyes the last time he’d seen her. It was as if her life had ended when Tom’s had.
Scott was still recovering from wounds and was preoccupied for several months. He had heard through friends that Angie had indeed left Boston for the west. He had never heard from her again.
Angie was still talking while Scott was lost in his memories. “…and I met Father Boyce. Oh Scott, you wouldn’t believe the change that came over me then; those boys, the home, the church. They became my life. I found myself there.” Scott had missed some and he shook his head to clear it.
“How’d you come to Everafter?” he asked.
“After Father Boyce died, the orphanage was closed and the boys sent to other places. I came with some of them here to Our Lady. I’ve been here ever since.”
Sister Michael noted Scott’s stunned, but almost sad expression. She gripped his arm. “I’m truly happy, Scott. This is what I was meant to do.”
Scott smiled, truly happy for her.
The waitress brought their drinks. Scott was surprised to see that Angie’s “usual” was buttermilk with cornbread crumbled up in it. She took a spoon and dipped into the lumpy goo. Scott had to smile. Johnny loved buttermilk too and would often crumble cornbread in it and have it for “desert”, a habit Scott never picked up. He couldn’t even bring himself to try it.
“Now, tell me about you. What are you doing out here? I never pictured you outside of Boston.”
Scott dipped his head and smiled. “Well, things do change, don’t they?” He paused and she waited patiently. Finally he began again. “Angie, I finally met my father.” The look of surprise on her face was evident, but she said nothing. “He sent for me, and to make a very long story short, I like it here and I stayed.”
Angie’s smile was the one he remembered. So open and accepting. He held her hand as he continued. “The best part of all is that I found out that I have a brother.”
At this Angie’s mouth opened in delighted surprise. “Scott, that’s wonderful! That must have been quite a shock, thinking all your life that you were an only child, and…” She didn’t continue. She knew the whole story, it didn’t need to be repeated.
“It was, to be honest,” he interrupted. “Oh, Angie, you have to meet him. You’ll love him.”
Angie patted his hand. “I can see you do,” she offered. “I want to very much. Is he in town?”
Scott blushed faintly. Was his affection for his brother so obvious? “Yes, he’s doing some business right now. We’ll find him later.”
There was a long silence. There was so much to say, so much to know, they didn’t know where to start. Finally, Angie broke the silence.
“Where do you live? Not here in town, I would’ve seen you before.”
Scott shook his head. “No, no, we have a ranch. It’s over near Morro Coyo.”
“My, that’s quite a ride. What brings you to Everafter?”
Scott’s hand automatically went to his jaw. “The dentist.”
Angie laughed. “Kate! My my, her reputation is growing by leaps and bounds! Pretty soon she’ll be as famous as Doc Holliday!”
“Not for the same reasons, I hope.” They both chuckled.
“You’re in excellent hands with Kate. She’s the best. Learned everything she knows in Boston.”
“Really? I never woulda guessed.”
“Oh, she didn’t grow up there. Just went to school there. Her daddy was rich and spoiled her unmercifully. Whatever Katie wanted, Katie got. He wasn’t well liked.” She paused and took a spoonful of her buttermilk. “Actually, he was pretty well hated. After he died, it took Katie awhile to establish herself out from under his shadow, but she’s done it wonderfully well.”
“Speaking of Doctor Kate, I have to go see her. I was on my way when I ran into you.”
“I have to be going too. I came into town to see Doctor Levy. We have a sick man out at the home. He needs some medicine.”
“I want to talk to you about the orphanage later. When can I see you?”
Sister Michael looked at him curiously, but did not press. “Come out to the orphanage for dinner tonight. It’s not fancy, but it’s good home-cooked food and the sisters always enjoy guests. And be sure to bring your brother along, I’m dying to meet him.”
“I’ll do that.” He rose from the table and reached to help her up as well. “Is it permissible to kiss an old friend, even if she is a nun?”
“I’d have to kick you if you didn’t,” she replied winking.
Scott bent down and gave her a long kiss on the cheek, then grabbed her around the waist and hugged her fiercely picking her up several inches off the ground. “I can’t tell you how great it is to see you again.”
He set her back down and she took a moment to catch her breath. “I can see that. I’m delighted, too.” She headed to the door as Scott stopped to toss some money on the table. “Dinner’s at seven. Come early so I can show you around before it gets dark. The orphanage is due east out of town. You can’t miss it.” She was out the door and marching down the boardwalk before Scott made it to the door. He smiled as he watched her. Her step was light with a hint of the old Angie in it under the black billowing fabric.
Scott turned in the opposite direction and headed to Kate’s establishment.
When Angie had mentioned the orphanage, he thought of Johnny and what he had found out. Elizondo was after the orphanage; if not the buildings, at least the land. It must be quite valuable. He was anxious to find out what was happening with Johnny. He looked up at the sun. It was nearing noon, maybe another hour.
He arrived two minutes later at Kate’s. The tinkling of the bell over the door announced his arrival. Just as yesterday, there were no other patients in the waiting room. He wondered if she had very many customers. He sat on the settee and waited to see if anyone came for him from the back. It was less than ten seconds later that Otis Butts hobbled out to greet him and Scott rose.
“Miz Kate is workin’ on a plate for someone. She’ll be out for you d’rectly, Mister Lancer, suh.”
Scott nodded his head at the courtly gentleman and resumed his seat. To his surprise, Otis sat down as well, taking the chair opposite the settee. He sat ramrod straight, his back not touching the back of the chair, his gnarled hands cupped each knee. He looked straight ahead and didn’t say a word.
Scott watched him, amused. “How long have you worked for Doctor Finney, Mister Butts?”
Otis directed his gaze at Scott. “I been workin’ for her family for long about forty years, suh.” He smiled, showing gleaming white, even teeth. “Her daddy hired me to help him out, then when Miz Katie was born, he hired my wife too. Yessuh, I know’d Miz Kate all her life. My wife was her nanny, God rest her soul.”
Scott returned his smile. Scott was about to continue the interesting conversation, when Kate burst through the door and stood before him, hands on hips. “Well, Mister Lancer, how was that tooth last night? Did you do as I said and take the medicine?”
Scott smiled. “Yes, ma’am, my brother wouldn’t have it any other way.”
”And?”
He reached up to cup his jaw. “And it feels much better today.”
“Good! Come with me.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up and then through the door to the back room. Otis rose slowly and followed, pulling the door quietly behind them.
She looked lovely today, Scott thought. She had obviously been working hard. Her hair was already escaping from the pins that held it up and her bib apron was spotted with white powders and unidentifiable spots and stains.
“Where is that handsome brother of yours, Mister Lancer?”
His face fell momentarily. He admired Johnny’s way with women. He wasn’t un-accustomed to the lady’s admiring glances himself, but he was hoping that this one would show him a preference instead of his charming brother. “He had some business to take care of.”
Her smile back at him was enough to make him forget his momentary lapse into self-pity and resentment.
As she worked efficiently inside his mouth, Scott had the opportunity to examine her closely. Her skin was pale with faint freckles all over the parts that he could see. She wore no make up, but needed none. Her green eyes were large and her pale red eyelashes were thick if not long.
Her apron was tied snugly around her waist. She was not thin, nor was she plump. She was what Scott would have called voluptuous except that he would not have said it out loud. Her sleeves were rolled up and she wore no jewelry. He was pleased to see no rings on her hands.
Since conversation was impossible with her hands inside his mouth, he relaxed and let her do her work. She had pulled the packing from his gum and was now working in the void with some substance that he wasn’t sure of. He didn’t ask, just trusted her to do her job. It hurt a little bit, but nothing compared to what it had done yesterday. She offered him some of the opiate, but also said that what she needed to do would only be uncomfortable for a few minutes. He declined.
His thoughts had been so preoccupied with the woman standing over him, that he had not noticed when she finished and stepped back. She looked at him with satisfaction. “A good job if I do say so myself. That shouldn’t bother you much anymore after the socket heals. If it does, you come back and see me.”
“It’s all done?”
“Yup, you’ll be good as new in a few days. I’d eat soft foods for a couple of days, but it’ll be right as rain by the end of the week.”
”Well, for that I’m truly grateful.”
”As well you should be.” She said, her humor belying the impudence.
“Kate, uh…” Scott stumbled.
“Would you like to ask me out?” She smiled.
“Well, you sure don’t stand on ceremony, do you?”
“Why should I? No one ever got what they want by waiting for it to come to them.”
“Dinner tomorrow?” Scott realized he was planning further ahead than he had a right. Johnny expected him to ride back to Lancer today, but that was Johnny’s plan, not his.
“That will be very nice. Pick me up at six?”
“I’ll do just that.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Scott picked up his hat and started for the door. Reaching it, he turned back to her. “Your bill?”
“Will be ready by tomorrow. I can’t stop to do it now.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” he said with a rueful smile and then disappeared through the door.
Kate watched him go for a bit longer than was her habit. Otis stood beside her and she glanced over to see him looking at her. “Now don’t you start with me, Otis Butts.”
“No’m, I wudn’t gonna say nuthin’.” They stood in silence for a moment. “’Ceptin’ that I approve. Them Lancers is good people. Either one o’ them would be a fine catch.”
She smiled affectionately at her friend. “Well, I would hardly say that I’m in the market for a ‘catch’”.
“No’m, but iffen you was, you could do a sight worse.”
“I have to agree, Mister Butts.”
Chapter 20
Scott waited in their room for Johnny. It was almost one and no sign of him yet. He had decided to give him a little extra time, but was about to shrug on his jacket, when the doorknob rattled and Johnny came in.
He apparently wasn’t expecting to see Scott there because he jumped and drew reflexively.
“You’re just a tad jumpy, aren’t you?”
Johnny sighed. “Sorry.” He put his gun back in its holster and began taking the whole rig off.
“You’re late. What’s happening?”
Johnny sat on his bed, put his hat on the bedpost and ran his hand through his dark hair. “Well, that Elizondo fella is bat-shit crazy, that’s all I can say.”
“You’d better say more. Tell me, Johnny.”
Johnny stretched out on the bed. “He’s got it in his head that the land out around the orphanage is his and Murdoch is some interloper that’s trying to steal it. He’s got his men convinced that Murdoch is a land grabber and the land is part of his Spanish royal heritage or some such crap. They’re just mindless drones. They’ll go where the money is. Bumburger, though…,” he paused and stared at the ceiling.
“Brubaker.”
Johnny nodded, “Yeah, him,” but offered no more.
After a moment, Scott sighed, “What about Brubaker?” Scott asked impatiently.
“He’s smart. He knows Elizondo’s crazy. He knows the whole thing is a scam, but he’s going along with it whole hog. I think he’s got a plan of his own.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “He’s very dangerous, Scott.”
“Did they want to hire Johnny Madrid?”
“Oh yeah, couldn’t get me on the payroll fast enough.” He reached in his pants pocket and pulled out a wad of bills and tossed it on the table. “Even gave me an advance.” He rolled his head and looked at his brother, “That’s loyalty money. By the way, all the hired guns have to meet with Bonebreaker tomorrow at eleven. I hope he’s going to lay out his plan then.”
Scott ignored the fact that Johnny got the name wrong again and regarded the wad of money. “I’m not going back to Lancer today.”
“I know, I didn’t think you would.”
“Johnny, I don’t think that Murdoch knows anything about this. I think that Elizondo is working on the premise that Murdoch is an absent landlord. He never comes here, probably does all that business through his lawyer.”
Johnny turned on his side to face his brother, his head propped on one hand. “Has Murdoch ever mentioned this land or the orphanage to you?”
“He mentioned it once in relation to the taxes. He pays the taxes on it and that amount shows up on the Lancer books. Also the rent that the church pays shows up. It’s only a dollar a year.” Johnny looked surprised but said nothing. Scott continued, “There are several out-parcels that he…uh, we have. Some of them are leased out, like this one, some of them are sitting empty, probably have squatters, some of them he’s never even seen.”
Johnny let out a whoosh. “Whew. I didn’t know we were so…wealthy.”
Scott laughed. “You have no idea, brother. Sometimes we’re cash poor, certain times of the year, but we’re always land-rich.”
“I really should pay attention more,” Johnny said as he lay back down and stretched.
“You really should.” Scott smiled and stretched out on the other bed.
After several minutes of silence, Johnny spoke again. “Scott.”
“Hm?”
“Why would Murdoch want land that he doesn’t use and only gets a dollar a year in rent?”
Scott thought for a minute. “Well, I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it’s Murdoch’s way of giving back. He’s been very fortunate and I think there’s something in him that makes him want to share. I’ve seen it in other ways, too. So have you.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Also, from what I gather, that land has some historical value. He probably wants to preserve it and not let anyone else encroach on it. The Church is historically a good custodian.”
Johnny looked over at his brother. “You’re a very smart man, brother.”
“Why thank you, brother.” Scott smiled, not opening his eyes. “By the way, we have a dinner engagement this evening.”
“Not Pearl! I don’t think I can hold that much food again.”
“No, not Pearl. I ran into a very old friend in town today and surprisingly enough, she lives out at the orphanage.”
Johnny rose up and looked at his brother. “She’s an orphan?”
Scott chuckled. “No, she’s a nun.”
Johnny thought about it for a minute. “Good, I’d like to get a look at the place, but we’ll have to be careful. I can’t have Blubarker or any of his men see me riding out there.”
“Brubaker, and don’t forget, little brother, we have a very valuable ally who will do anything for us.”
The brothers, in unison, said, “Pearl.”
Chapter 21
Jess spent days slowly recovering his strength. He had eventually been able to sit up for longer periods. His breathing was easier, although he still found it something he had to work at more than normal. He would still occasionally have the drowning sensation, but those attacks were less frequent and milder than before.
Either the Reverend Mother, or Sister Michael, or both sat with him through the worst of his fevers. The sleepless nights were long and painful. They soothed his fevered, aching body with cool cloths, with camphor–water, and with alcohol and they soothed his troubled spirit with quiet prayers.
In quasi-sleep filled with delirium, Jess spoke of his home. Not the home of his family, but the home of his heart. Mother Agnes saw a lost soul, one who had left behind what he held most dear. One who needed to find that place again, or he would never again be whole.
In the early morning hours, after Jess was more lucid, yet too uncomfortable and exhausted to sleep, the Reverend Mother shooed Sister Michael from the room, insisting that she get some much-needed rest. Sister Michael glanced at her troubled patient, and respectfully withdrew, leaving him in the Mother’s capable hands.
Encouraged by the woman he had come to know and trust, Jess told Mother Agnes about his decimated family in Texas, about the war, and about his life on the drift. He told her about his former profession, watching her carefully for any sign of rejection. Finding none, he finally told her about the home and the friends he had found in Laramie.
This was what she had waited for. The fever-bright, and pain filled eyes told her all she needed to know about Jess’ life in Laramie. He had been ready to put down roots. He had been ready to turn his life completely around, to dedicate it to something good and to make a life that meant something more than where his next job would take him and whom he might have to kill when he got there.
He was a man of few words, but what lay beneath the words told Mother Agnes everything she needed to know about Jess Harper and what kind of man he was.
She liked him. She needed him if he would be willing to help her, but his destiny did not lay in California. He had left it behind, interrupted, in Wyoming. If she had anything to say about it, when all was said and done, Jess Harper would return where he belonged.
