The Last Good Day, стр. 49
“I have a secret, too,” Rance said and put his arm around her. Mitchell pushed it off.
“That night we spent together was more than you knew. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since. One of the reasons I came back to Milberg was to see you. I thought about stayin’ but I decided you didn’t need a cripple and moved on.”
“It doesn’t matter ‘bout your arm,” she said. “Paige was buried 'fore we bedded together. Do you want us or not?”
“I do,” he said.
The screen door opened and the land lady poked her head in. “Everything all right in here?”
“Yes,” Julie said, “I think so.”
Rance looked at Mitchell. “I have a son,” he said and held out his arms for Mitchel. He looked at Rance’s missing hand and started crying.
“Didn’t mean to frighten him.”
“He’ll be all right,” Julie said.
The screen door opened again and it was Fannie. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Rance.
“Well Lordy me, Mr. Allison, I told Julie you would come back.”
“She did,” Julie said. “I was ready to give up.”
“Thanks, Fannie, for believing,” he said.
“Julie tell you the trouble we’re havin?’”
“Yes,” Rance said. “B.W. and Tommy are at Riley’s stable. Think we should join them as soon as possible.”
“I’ll get our things together,” Fannie said. “Mitchell, you come with me. You can help me pack.”
Mitchell looked at Rance suspiciously. “I want to stay with you, mama,” he said.
“It’s okay, baby, go with Fannie, I’ll be there soon.”
He slid off the swing, eyeing Rance and took Fannie’s hand. She opened the screen door and led him away.
Rance placed his hand in hers. She threw both arms around him and pressed her lips to his and they kissed passionately.
“I’m very happy to find out I have a son.”
“You’ve made me very happy.”
“We’ve got a lot of catchin’ up to do but we better get to the stable before some of Travers’ men show up here,” Rance said.
29
B.W. was sitting on a bench with a pile of chicken bones on a plate on the ground beside the bench, Riley gathering up the pots and pans, his two boys and Tommy washing them. Julie drove her buggy in the livery stable with three trunks on the back, Fannie and Mitchell on the buggy seat beside her and Rance on Buck.
Tommy walked over to the buggy. He stared at Mitchell then Rance. “Well, we know who his daddy is.”
Julie blushed and Rance grinned.
“Dead ringer,” B.W. said.
“Is, ain’t he?” Rance said and climbed down off of Buck and held out his hand for Mitchell.
Mitchell scooted up close to his mama. “It’s alright, Mitchell, he’s your papa,” she said.
Mitchell looked at his mama, then Rance, and shook his head no. Everyone laughed.
“Looks like he’s got his concerns,” B.W. said with a big smile.
Rance took Fannie’s hand and helped her down, then Julie, Mitchell sitting on the seat.
“See, it’s okay,” Rance said and held out his hand to him and he slid over on the seat away from him.
“Maybe you better get him down, Julie. Looks like I got a lot to make up for.” Julie held out her arms and Mitchell slid back over on the seat and jumped into her arms and she sat him down.
“Looks like our problems are getting bigger,” B.W. said.
“Yeah, hell of a surprise. Better keep a lookout for Travers and figure out what we’re goin’ to do. Julie‘s changed my thinkin,’ got to take care of her and the baby now. Don’t tell Tommy yet, but Julie said a whore that worked with Tommy’s mama knew who killed her and it’s that guy Tommy saw, and he’s here.”
“He already knows, Riley told him,” B.W. said. “Been havin’ a hard time keepin’ him under control.”
Rance nodded and noticed Tommy had disappeared. “Where’d Tommy go?”
“Was here a minute ago…oh no,” B.W. said, shaking his head. He checked Tommy’s saddle bags. The Colt was gone. “That crazy kid has gone lookin’ for Church.”
“Riley, you know where Church might be this time of day?” Rance asked.
“Most likely killin’ somebody or in Big Sally’s Saloon.”
“How many gun hands Travers got?” B.W. asked Riley.
“The sheriff, maybe two or three bodyguards that stay with him all the time,” Riley said. “A lot more with the railroad men but most of them wouldn’t care whether he got killed or not. Church is the main one, the others more like bullies than gun hands. Kill you, though, if they get the chance. You take down Church first, the rest might give it up. Keep an eye on Church’s left hand. Most people assume a man’s right-handed and watch the right hand. That split-second gives him an advantage and then you’re dead.”
“We’ll remember that,” Rance said.
“Stay with the women and kids, Riley, me and B.W. have to find Church ‘fore Tommy does,” Rance said.
B.W. picked up his double-barrel and loaded it. Rance checked his extra Colt and the double-action and walked over to Julie and Mitchell. “Sorry, you know I have to do this,” he said.
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “I’ve waited a long time, so come back to me.”
“I plan to. If, for some reason I don’t, head for Austin and find the sheriff and tell him ‘bout Church and what went on here.”
Julie nodded, kissed him and whispered in his ear, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said and returned the kiss and squatted down and looked at Mitchell. “Could I have a hug if it’s alright with mommy?” he asked.
Mitchell looked up at Julie. She nodded yes and he took a step toward Rance and hugged his neck and Rance kissed him on the cheek.
“Bye son,” he said and stood up. “Fannie, take care of them for me.”
“I will, I surely will,” she said. “You take care of yourself and that big Indian. I think