Unlikely Angel

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Johnny watched as Susan led Honey over to where he stood next to Starlight. He had offered earlier that they could take the buckboard as it might be a more comfortable trip for the girl but Susan had said no. She so loved to ride. He crossed over to boost her into the saddle but she pulled herself up on her own. He smiled. He knew there was no way she could have gotten that stubborn streak from him but he fancied she had all the same. She looked to him and he knew it was time to leave.

The others had gathered around to see them off. Johnny and Susan had to get there sooner to allow for the prosecuting attorney to prepare his case around Susan. The rest would follow as soon as they could.

Johnny knew that everyone gathered there wanted to be able to make the journey with young Susan but he knew that the time with just the two of them would be better for her. He could really talk to her and try to calm not only her fears but his as well. But also, times when it was just the two of them, made the rest of the cruelness in the world disappear. There was no one to think ill of either of them. He was just a young man with his little girl. There was no freer feeling for him and, he thought, for her as well.

There wasn’t a lot of hurry, this was a six hour trip if they rode without stopping so, having left not long after daybreak, Johnny felt they could just amble along and stop when they pleased. He was certainly in no hurry to get her there, knowing what awaited Susan.

Johnny let Susan ride just a little ahead of him so he could enjoy seeing her acting, if only for a moment, like a normal, happy little girl.

He saw her bring Honey to a stop and turned her head to look at him.

“Why are you smiling?” she asked him.

“I’m out here on this beautiful morning watching the prettiest little girl in the world ride along with me on the trail,” he responded, “And the thought hit me that this pretty little girl is my little girl. I guess I couldn’t help but smile. Why were you smiling?”

“I like to ride and the sun feels nice on my face,” she said flatly. “I am not pretty.”

“Whoever told you a thing like that?”

“No one told me. I just know.”

“I think you should look again. When we get there and get you into the hotel, look in the mirror. You will see a very pretty girl.”

She shook her head and the smile was resolutely gone. Johnny felt desperate to bring that little ray of sunshine back. Females were confusing enough to him for the most part and this one was especially hard. He wasn’t sure if he had taken the smile from her or not but he always felt like the light had left his world when he saw her face like this.

He took in the subtle cues of her sadness. The morning sun didn’t even feel warm anymore and he wanted to rub his arms for the chill. Instead he brought Starlight alongside where Susan had stopped Honey and touched her chin gently with his index finger. He knew she wouldn’t meet his eyes but she would at least look at his face.

“I want to know why you think you’re not pretty.”

“I do not smile. Cora and Alice smile. They are beautiful. They have bright eyes when they smile. I do not. I do not smile right.”

“Princess,” he began earnestly, “You don’t smile when you try. I think you want to so badly that it doesn’t work out for you. But I saw you one day in the bunkhouse laughing at Billy and your smile was as beautiful as any that Alice or Cora has.”

“Is this true?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you. Besides, there are times when people are awful beautiful and they aren’t smiling. Like Alice when she’s just sitting on the porch reading a book. She looks so content right then and that’s beautiful,” he studied her face and wasn’t sure if he was reaching her or not. “And Cora when she wrinkles her forehead all up when she’s real determined to do something, that’s beautiful. Do you know why that is?”