Western Flower | ✅

Chapter 5 - A Problem Halved

Rose sat down on her bed and Bill pulled up a chair and sat down, as they were just about to start talking there was a knock. Bill got up and answered the door. There was an older woman who was holding a tray, on it, there was a bottle of tequila, two glasses and two bowls of food.

Bill took the tray and nodded at the lady who smiled back at him.

"Thank you, Pearl." Shouted Rose.

With that the woman left, Bill closed the door and set the food down on a small table in Rose's room. He handed Rose one of the bowls of food and they ate the food at a leisurely pace in silence. Rose had trouble taking her eyes off Bill. Ever since she had stopped being angry at him after the duel she had suddenly realised how much she had missed him.

Even when he was eating she couldn't help but notice, just how handsome he was. She was even more impressed by how a man so deadly could be so well mannered. As Rose looked at Bill there was a softened expression to him now, a glint of overwhelming kindness in his eyes.

"Why'd you do it?" Rose questioned, with an air of suspicion

"Do what?" Replied Bill, feigning confusion.

"Give Abraham all that money?" Questioned Rose.

Bill didn't answer at first, he set aside his bowl that was now empty. He reached for the bottle of tequila and poured two glasses and handed one to Rose.

"I assumed that much would be obvious? We need to catch up. I want to get to the bottom of why you're here and not somewhere else live a life of leisure? I also thought after what happened earlier, reckon you deserved a break." There was a seriousness to Bill's tone.

Rose looked at Bill, as she did she drained her glass and slammed it down on the table.

"Reckon I'll need at least one more of those before I go about recounting the whole situation." Rose replied having barely swallowed her tequila

With that Bill obliged and re-filled Rose's glass. If there was one thing he liked more than a proper drink, it was a women who could drink properly.

"I know a few details, not much. But I think you should calm down on the tequila if you're going to be telling me the whole situation." Said Bill, almost like a teacher addressing a rowdy student.

With that Rose took a sip rather than down the whole glass in one.

"Where do you want me to start?" Asked Rose.

"I know you tried to work the farm yourself, what happened?" Replied Bill with a keen interest.

"I was running out of money. I came here one night and I got talking to Seamus Murphy who said that he could broker a good deal, all I needed to do was sign over the land." Said Rose sounding embarrassed.

"And did you?" Asked Bill, almost as if he knew the answer but wanted clarification.

"I was stupid and naive, I should never have done it but I was desperate!" Wailed Rose.

Bill could see the pain and regret in Rose's face, he wanted to comfort her but he knew that now wasn't the time.

"What did Seamus get out of the deal? Said Bill puzzled.

"He was due to get 10% of the sale. Abraham Cohen put in a good offer but the proposed buyer outbid him." Replied Rose with a snort.

"What happened to Seamus?" Bill queried.

"He went missin' shortly after the sale had been agreed. Some people say that there was no deal and he was trying to find the money. Some say he got double-crossed and some say..." Rose stopped.