Sounds of the Prairie

Chapter 13 Essie

With Colorado gone, my body returned to a state of numbness that matched the empty feeling in my chest, one I had not felt for so long. For days my constant feeling was just one of worry. I prayed for his safety everyday but I also prayed God watched over everyone in Kalispell. The band of men were becoming more reckless and daring, the saloonkeeper had been talking last night to a group of locals in the hotel lobby that now when the men came, and they gave no money for the alcohol and the food that they consumed. They would only shove him into a corner or lock him in the storeroom while they went on doing whatever tickled their fancy and it was no different at the mercantile. When they needed items, they simply strode into the place and grabbed whatever they wanted, handing out simple threats to those who would say anything. One night, while Tucker was deep into his normal game of poker with some of the shopkeepers whom he had become friends with, some of the ruffians had apparently marched into the hotels parlor where they were playing and demanded that they also be allowed to play. The mercantile owner, Mr. O'Donnel, was very polite when he informed them that the game was full but maybe they could start their own game at a different unoccupied table. One of the men had told them, "Well now it looks like all of you were going to fold, how convenient for my boys and I since that means all your winnings are up for grabs." Then began to gather the pot from the middle of the table. When Tucker stood up to do something about it the same gentleman knocked him down with a swift punch into the stomach and luckily for once Tucker stayed down. They stole everything that had been on the table while causing a commotion as they left in the same fashion as they always did. Tucker came back to the hotel room we were all residing in and collapsed as soon as he got to the edge of his bed. He explained to us what happened and both of us were appalled, "Please tell me someone called the sheriff?"

Tucker just laughed, "There's no point, ain't nothing he can do. Not to mention they rode off like their asses were on fire to that ranch them are all hiding on." I tossed the wet cloth in my hand at the full wash basin with water that splashed about on the vanity. "This is ridiculous! No one can seem to do anything about those men." I felt as though I wanted to scream from the amount of frustration I was feeling, like a teapot whistling from boiling water about ready to blow.

"Colorado should be back soon." Joe said and I know he wanted to calm my ire but I still felt it soaring through my blood.

"He better be, something needs to be done." That I was adamant about. When I went to help Tucker, he stopped me and backed away the best he could.

"No, no, I am fine! Don't fuss over me please," Tucker was waving his hand as if he was shoeing us away and it was impossible not to laugh as he kept going, "Really it doesn't hurt as all."

"Well then, I guess you would be okay with going downstairs for dinner?" While I waited for his answer as he chewed on his lip I did my best to quit my laughing at his antics until he replied, "Alright maybe it hurts a bit and I would rather not move. But that was a cruel way to ignore my attempt at attention."

"That is because I knew that was exactly what you were doing. I will go tell the desk and let them know we are eating up here."

I pulled my shrug up around my shoulders and tied it in a knot under my bust, letting my loose braid fall down my back and pinching my cheeks to look presentable since I had spent the day in the hotel room and probably looked a fright. Joe asked if I wanted him to come with me but I politely declined tapping his cheek with my palm, "I am sure I will manage." The hall and staircase were completely void of people as I made my way to the lobby only to find it empty. I tapped on the bell that sat at the edge of the desk and Ethel, the owner's daughter, poked her head out of the side door that was by the keys.

"Oh! Mrs. Rasmussen what can I do for you?"

Since there were no people and Ethel seemed to be, hiding behind a door I asked her what was going on. She beckoned me behind the door with her and I followed to see her and her father standing in the middle of a well-furnished sitting room. "Papa and I have been staying back here as much as possible; it seems like the safest place to be," I looked between her and her father when she said, "I am sorry he doesn't speak much English."

"Has someone threatened you Ethel?"

"OH no, not yet anyway. I saw what those men did to Mr. Bleaker...I hope he is okay, those men hit him rather hard."

"He is holding up, that is actually part of why I came downstairs though, we were hoping to have food brought up to us?"

Ethel's face softened as she said she would bring something up soon but then she added, "Do be careful Mrs. Rasmussen, those men are the devil." She had no idea I already knew that.

That night we decided to play cards with our dinner as an added distraction to the chaos of life. Of course, the two of them had to teach me but they acted more than happy too. Both of them laughed when all I had to wager was some old hairpins and buttons that I unfortunately kept losing. While playing the cards began to blue together my eyes becoming too tired to tell them apart, a giant yawn ripping itself from my lips. Tucker laid his cards out on the table and yawned himself, "Think it might be just past my bedtime" I couldn't have agreed more. I went and opened up the window while they both cleaned up our mess and set our empty dinner trays in the hall. Yet as I was sliding the window up and into place, a chill racked my body with a strange feeling like you would get when someone is watching you. I scanned the street below and in front of the saloon beginning to believe it was all in my head until a shadow moved from behind one of the beams holding up the saloons wooden deck cover. I leaned out the window to get a better look and a man stepped out. The man I recognize and he me. Bile rose in my throat as he took off his hat smiling at me. The silver eyes and the black hat were a dead giveaway to the man I was sure who shot me. My heart felt frozen with my body. He gave me a smile and tipped his hat before turning to walk off down the street and I jumped across the bed to the table where my gun was resting on. I made sure it was loaded as I made it back to the window but he was already gone. I woke up tucker who had already fallen asleep and he looked between the gun and my face before asking, "What the hell are you up to?"

My trembling hands dropped the gun to the table and flew up to cover my face just as I began to sink to the floor Tucker sprang up and caught me. "Dear God you look white as a sheet."

I felt like it too. I finally calmed down enough to tell him what had happened and who I had seen. "You are sure?"

"Positive Tucker, it was him, I couldn't be more certain."

His jaw ground together with his face the most serious I had probably ever seen it, "Then they know why we are here. If they only suspected it, we just confirmed it." I understood his meaning because before this we were just strangers traveling through and kept to ourselves for the most part, now we would be people with a target on our back with a reason for being tracked down. We jeopardized their freedoms and like a caged animal there was no way of getting out of it now, the only thing that was clear was they would act and more than likely it would be soon. 

"What do we do now?" I asked while still being able to feel fear coursing through my veins. I could feel my heart beat pulsing behind my eyes and in my ears like an overload to my senses. "Right now, we calm you down. Then I think it's best if we just wait for Colorado to get back, buy our time and hold up in here till the Calvary shows up if you get my meaning. I promise we will keep you safe though." Never had I experienced Tucker so serious which made me wonder if his usual lighthearted personality was more to ease others around him then anything but I was grateful for the momentary comfort he offered me. While Tucker ordered up tea to the room, I took a bath and attempted to quiet my thoughts, think about happier days to come, but yet every time I closed my eyes the silver man was behind my eyelids to remind me that my life was not guaranteed.