I woke up yesterday morning and Joseph was in my room. I’d been having a dream bout living back in Iowa, so when I came to and saw him sitting there, all still and grown, I didn’t know if things were real. He had never come to my room before, not my whole life. We just watched each other a spell, and finally I got worried enough to sit up. Joe, I said. My voice was croaky. It was hardly sunup. What is it?
Joseph rubbed his bad leg. I don’t know how to start, he said.
What? I asked.
His stared off to the wall. I got a matter to bring to you, he said. Weighty one.
Is it Percy? Is Percy hurt?
Percy is fine, he said. He left this morning to see his woman.
Will he be back? Is he leaving us?
Percy will be back, Joseph said. I spoke to him before he left. Some things has happened, and he told me I ought to ease my mind to you.
Ease it, then.
I waited. Joseph kept touching his knee. Then he whispered, I told McCabe bout your letters.
I didn’t know what to say. I expected something dreadful, but those words plumb knocked me over. You? I said finally.
When you went off with Aubrey, he said.
I know when! I said. We sat there a minute, then I got out of bed and walked to the window then back to the wall. I stared at him. You turncoat!
Joseph wouldn’t look me in the eye. He said, I got no quarrel with you, Sophie. My revenge is on that longrider.
And you ain’t said a word? I said. For months? All this time?
I thought it would pass.
No! I shouted, getting worked. It ain’t passed! I nearly got kilt over those damn letters!
He moved his hand to his thin yellow hair, and patted it. I didn’t mean for that.
It don’t matter what you meant for! Only what you did! You know what folks do when they think you snitched? I was in a fury. And Missus Moriarty went on thinking I hated her, and you kept your peace! I said. I waited, and he ain’t spoke, so I demanded, You ain’t even going to tell me sorry? You just here to ease your mind?
I’m sorry you was hurt.
You ain’t sorry you did it.
I’m sorry you was hurt, he said again, finally turning to stare at me.
I scoffed. Why? I said. Why you telling me now?
Because I got a bug, he said.
What does that mean?
I don’t know, Joseph said. I got a sickness in me. I seen a doctor.
The room was dim with morning light and Joseph ain’t moved and even his voice was so low and whistley like it always had been, and he seemed hardly there at all, like I was talking to a memory of him stead of a real fellow. I put my hands on my face and rubbed my eyes. I wondered if I were still asleep. But when I went to look again, he was still there. Strange and sad and pale.
No, I said. You ain’t dying.
Hard to say, Joseph said. Then he patted his hair. Hard to say, he said again, slower. But I expect so.
Well. I breathed out. We got to stop it.
I done all I can with means I got.
I’ll get you more means.
There ain’t much more, he said. You and I both know that. Farm will survive, but it ain’t filling our pockets with coin.
I’ll get it, I said.
I won’t take his money, Joseph said. His eyes, which had looked gived up and watery, got hard all of the sudden. He said, I’d rather die than touch a penny.
The front door opened. We both heard it same time. I reached for my Colt, and Joseph got his rifle on his lap. Hello? I called out.
It’s Sunday, Michael called out from the living room. Girls are out in the buggy. You want a ride to church?
I looked over at Joseph. Joseph said, We’ll find you there.
Missus Moriarty with you? I called out.
There was a cough. Yes, Michael said, loud, and then he went out the door again and it banged shut.
There was a long silence in my room. Then I said, You don’t go dying and I’ll find a doctor can cure you. I’ll bring clean money for it.
Joseph didn’t say a word. He just nodded, once. I’ll leave you to dress, he said. I watched him struggle to stand up. His false leg was bending, and he ain’t complained once bout it, even though I knew it was harder to do everything.
When he got to the door, I asked, That why you won’t marry that woman who’s always coming around?
He didn’t look at me. Too many widows in this family already, he finally said. Then he hobbled off to find hisself a proper suit for service.
-
Only person I could think of with clean money to spare was Theodore, so I went to talk to him. He was going on a trip soon, he said, and he had to finish errands. I followed him round town the next day while he bought all kinds of things I figured he already had. Which color? Theodore wondered. Fawn or chocolate?
It’s only a saddlebag, I said. Gonna get dirty anyhow.
Theodore sighed. Chocolate, then. He took the bag to the register. What sort of sickness does he have? Theodore asked.
I don’t know, I said. Fever and weakness. Says it’s deadly.
Well, Father’s following my business carefully these days, Theodore said. I have to account for my spending.
I ain’t asking for a handout, I said. I need a loan, is all.
What about Grange?
Aubrey took his leg in the first place, so I can’t ask for nothing there.
My, my, Theodore said, but he sounded interested. I knew I got to feed him some crackin gossip if I wanted his attention. Well, Theodore said, handing over some banknotes to the clerk for his bag, how much do you need? A thousand?
I reckon that would do fine. I acted calm but that was a heftier sum than expected. I would of been happy with two hundred.
I can stop by the bank and have them transfer the money.
Just like that? I said.
Easy as a swallow, Theodore answered. But. He turned to me. He had growed another inch, seemed like, and his shoulders had broadened some. He smelled expensive. I certainly couldn’t put a loan to a friend, he said.
I can’t take your money.
And I wouldn’t let you, he said, and his gray eyes sparkled. Perhaps I do you a favor, and you return with a favor of your own.
What do you need done? I said.
It’s a personal request, he said.
I raised my brows. I don’t think so, I said. Plenty of women in town to do that. Fact, new cathouse opened on King Street.
That is precisely what I do not need, Theodore replied, flushing red. We were walking from the luggage store and he put his hand on my waist, steering me to the bakery. I’m visiting my parents, he said, and my brother, and his new baby son. My nephew. My mother is constantly asking about my romantic intentions.
I shrugged. So? I said.
Well, Theodore said. I have none.
What about that yellow-haired girl I seen you with last month?
She’s a working foreigner, Theodore said. That was only a distraction.
He opened the bakery door for me and we walked inside. What I need, Theodore continued, is a well-bred prospect to bring back with me.
I’ll look around, I said.
I already have one in mind, Theodore said. Someone absolutely perfect.
I don’t see what this has to do with me.
Well, you’re close to her, he said. I want to woo her. And I want to bring her with me to see my parents. And you, Theodore said, will help me. To the baker, he said, Chocolate eclairs, please. Two. And a raspberry torte.
We don’t have neither, the barker said. I got apple fritters.
Theodore sighed. Fine. Apple fritters. He turned to me, passing me his dark saddlebag so I could hold it. I swear, he said, I’m growing fond of this town but we’re terribly behind the world in food.
Are you talking bout Margaux? I asked. My sister?
Margaux! Theodore said. Why do you think that?
Well, she got widowed. And she’s beautiful. And you take to each other. I paused a minute. I got sway with her, I said, and she’s a fine candidate.
She is, he said, and I hold her in the dearest esteem, but we’re best as friends. Like you and I. Or so you tell me, at least. Theodore raised his brows, teasing, and I laughed. The baker brought our fritters out, and Theodore put thirty cents on the counter. He picked one up. Open wide, he told me, and when I did, he put the fritter in my mouth. I ate it whole. It was delicious. Theodore took a bite of his, and chewed. So? he asked. Will you speak to my intended?
Ain’t much I won’t do for a thousand dollars, I said. Who is it?
Rose Moriarty, Theodore answered.
I coughed. That fritter almost came back up. Theodore didn’t even notice. He finished his food, licking one finger. Not an eclair, he said, but tasty nonetheless.
Missus Moriarty? I said.
Yes.
You got your sights on Missus Moriarty?
What better woman is there?
I can’t argue that, I admitted. I didn’t even know you was sweet on her, though.
I respect her, he said. I’m sure the other feelings would come, given time. He put his hand out, and I gave him back his saddlebag. I followed him back outdoors. She has a clever mind, Theodore was saying, and lovely features. But most importantly, she is a Moriarty. That lineage is sure to impress anyone we need to. And I adore children. Can you imagine? A father of two? A respected business man with a prestigious family? Theodore sighed. It would be a dream come true.
I don’t know, I said. She’s awful grieved over her husband’s passing.
Well, I know you’ll do what you can, Theodore said. He turned to me and smiled. His hair looked gold in the sunlight. Come on, he said, and let’s see if we can’t find a proper top hat. I lost my last one at the derby.
-
I want to go and ask Aubrey what to do but ever since he burnt down the Emporium, the sheriff has been sitting outside all day long with his gun drawed, watching the butchery. Lawmen is at the doors and don’t let no one in or out that ain’t buying meat, and if you ain’t done with your sale in short order, they drag you back out to the street. The only way I could get to him would be rushing to the door and making him take me in his room, but then I’d be stuck on the wrong side of the lawman’s guns too. And I got too many things to do first before I was bound tight to him. So I wrote him a note instead:
TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED.
I thought a spell, then I wrote: YOUR FEONSAY, SOPHIE. That word didn’t look right but I couldn’t figure how to spell it, and I reckoned he would understand.
I went to the butchery and passed the note to the cashier, and bought prime rib. Then I went back out. One of the lawmen on the porch eyed me strange. What? I said. I wondered if I looked guilty as I felt.
But the fellow just pointed to my waist. Fine weapon is all, he said.
I looked down at my Colt. Appreciate it, I said. Heavy as sin, though.
Trying to get one for myself, the man said, but Walkers are hard to come by.
What you holding now?
Regular army issue, he said. You going to trade up for a Dragoon?
I don’t know, I said. When I get money, I reckon.
No better thing to spend it on.
I laughed, and smiled at him. He smiled back. He was eager for company, seemed like. How long you stuck watching this outlaw? I asked.
Few days, usually, the man said. This fellow’s wanted for killing a sheriff and three deputies, though. So I expect we’ll be here till we get reinforcements.
I frowned. Reinforcements?
More lawmen coming into town sometime next week. We get us thirty or so here, we’ll take him down easy and get him strung up like he deserves.
Well, I said, good luck with that. I tipped my hat, and went off, but when I got across the street, I looked up at Aubrey’s empty window. He been in worse straits than this, I thought, but not much. I got to figure out a plan. Whole world seems like it is on my shoulders.
-
Missus Moriarty came over for supper last night with Michael but I couldn’t think of any way bring up Theodore, so I got quiet instead. Afterward, Joseph told them he was sick, and Michael said he was dreadful sorry and that Joseph could come live with him in the city if he had a mind to. He had just bought a nice house on Second Street. It weren’t as big as Margaux’s, but it was a respectable building and had a pretty turret up the side. You’ll be closer to the doctors, Michael said. Who’s that doctor that treated your friend? he asked me.
Doc Mathias, I said.
I never heard of him, Joseph said.
I said, He’s private like in his practicing. I know he’d visit you if I asked.
Joseph nodded. Missus Moriarty was looking at him, sad, then she got up from her seat and went over to wrap her arms around his neck. I was surprised, since they always liked each other but wasn’t particularly tender. But Joe didn’t push her off, so I guess he appreciated it.
I picked the dishes up and walked to the kitchen to wash them. Michael and Joseph took the kids outside. There were fireflies out, and Eoghan and Michael’s oldest loved catching them. I heard Missus Moriarty come up behind me. Did you want me to dry? she asked.
Sure, I said.
I handed her the wet plates, and she toweled them off. Poor Joe, she said finally.
I’ll get him help.
Medicine is expensive, she said. I don’t know how you could come into enough of it quickly.
I looked at her. Maybe you could give him some coin, I said.
She looked at me, too, her blue eyes wide. I don’t have any money, she said. I’ve been cut off from my parent’s fortune. I would do it if I could.
I said, You could talk to them.
I suppose, she sighed. Maybe.
You could talk to a brother, I said. You must of got some brothers you’re still close to.
Maybe, she said again.
We finished the dishes. What do you think of Theodore Collins? I said.
I don’t know enough of him to have thoughts.
He’s handsome, I said.
What happened to your outlaw? she said, gasping. I thought you were engaged!
Not for me! I said. No, me and Theodore is nothing but friends. But I mean if another woman was to look at him, I reckon they’d find him handsome.
They’d find him well-groomed, she said.
I asked, Ain’t that the same thing?
No, she said. Then she laughed, soft. There are handsome men, she said, who are just naturally that. And then there are others who can tend to themselves enough to pass for handsome.
So who do you find handsome? Natural?
Oh, I don’t know. She leaned up on my counter. It’s hard to think about that. After Arthur.
Well, try.
She laughed again, but even quieter. She stared off. I waited while she thought, then the side door opened and Michael came in, holding a sleeping Daisy. He had her small body up on his shoulder. Missus Moriarty looked at him as he came over, and her eyes gleamed. She tuckered out, Michael whispered when he got nearby. Fell fast asleep near the duck pond.
Did you want me to take her? Missus Moriarty whispered back.
I’ll set her on the couch, Michael said, and go back to the children. Eoghan is following a frog. Joe said he would chase it straight to Utah.
Missus Moriarty watched him take her daughter to the couch and set her down gentle, prying Daisy’s tiny hands off where she had clutched onto him. Then he smiled at her, and went back out the door.
We stood a moment, then I said, You watch Daisy. I had an idea about a plow suddenly.
A plow? Missus Moriarty asked.
Yes, I said. It just came to me.
I went outside and found Michael telling Eoghan to put the frog in the empty wood crate by the pig fence. Good job, he called to Eoghan as the boy skittered off. Ta, Uncle Mike! Eoghan shouted back. His little red head disappeared round the side of the house.
Michael saw me coming up and said, I know, we’ll leave in a few minutes. It’s getting late.
I waited till I was so close no one else could hear, and then I hissed, It’s near too late if you don’t move quick. I got a man trying to steal Missus Moriarty right out from under you.
Michael sputtered. He looked like he been slapped across the face. What? he started, but I interrupted, Theodore Collins has his eye on her. He intends to court her. And he ain’t going to be the last. If you don’t come calling on her soon, sure as the day is long some other man will. And he ain’t going to love her the way you do. And he ain’t going to deserve her. And when you see them together, you’ll know you got a chance and you let it slip past. I took a breath. She ain’t but ten feet away, I said. She’s just past that wall. And it’s getting late, Michael.
My brother’s jaw tightened up. He glanced at the kitchen window where Missus Moriarty was fixing coffee. Some moments went by. Then she looked out and saw us, and waved. Her hand was so small. Michael said, What did you tell her we were speaking on?
A plow, I said.
Missus Moriarty was still looking at Michael. Then she winced, and we saw her mouth go in a little O of pain. She turned to the counter and shook her hand. I think she burnt herself, I said, but Michael was already heading to the house. The door opened, and shut, and then they was both in the window. I couldn’t hear their voices, but Michael was telling her something and she was nodding. He got closer. They both were near the sink. I saw Michael holding a towel. He said something, and she smiled a little and shook her head, embarrassed. She spoke back. He took her hand and tried to wrap it in the towel, but she argued, still flustered. Missus Moriarty went back to the stove. She reached for the coffee grounds, and added them to the pot. Michael put the towel on the counter.
I waited. I knew it was spying, but I didn’t care none. I got to see how this ended.
They weren’t talking. She had her back to him, watching the boiling water. Michael rubbed the top of his head, nervous, moving from one foot to the other slow. Then he leaned over and took the pot off the stove.
Missus Moriarty paused. Neither one of them moved. Then she picked the pot back up, and put it on the stove. Michael took it off again. She turned round, brow all furrowed, and right as she opened her mouth to question him, he slide his hand along her jaw and lifted her head up and kissed her full on the lips.
I wasn’t breathing. I seen Arthur kiss Missus Moriarty a good handful of times before, and I seen Michael kiss Eliza, but this was different. It was real careful and afraid and aching sweet. I could near see how hard Michael’s heart was beating. He pulled back, and stared down at her. His eyes were tender.
Missus Moriarty didn’t move for a full minute. She looked at his eyes, then his mouth, then she tilted her head back up. Her lips parted, just a little. He wrapped his arms round her and kissed her again, and then it wasn’t like they was even kissing so much as he was just holding her like she was precious, putting his mouth against her cheeks and nose and forehead, and touching the hair at the back of her neck. Michael was whispering, and she was crying and nodding, then he wiped her tears, and they kissed more. Her fingers were tracing along his jaw. When they stopped, he looked up and saw me, and pointed to me, then to the barn all the way on the other end of the yard. I started laughing, and ran off.
I caught Eoghan on the way to the barn. I picked him up and spun him in a big circle, and he screamed, happy as a lark.
-
I brung Joseph into town to see Doc Mathias this morning. Mathias is set up in a tiny clinic with two rooms, and he said he’d see my brother if I brought him honey wine. So while Joseph was getting checked, I went next door to sell the necklace Amos had got me all those months ago. I didn’t have nothing else to cover the payment. I cried a little when I did it, to see it go, but the jeweler gave me eight dollars and ten cents for it, which was near twice what I had before. Then I went to the general store and bought the wine for a dollar fifty, and came back to Doc Mathias. Joseph was laying on a little cot in the back.
What’s the news? I asked, passing along the wine. Doc Mathias took it. He popped the top off, and took a drink right from the bottle. Good and bad, he said after. Bad news is your brother is poorly, and he’ll be getting worse.
What’s the good news? I asked. I know it ain’t that you won’t take payment, since you’re drinking it.
He’s been misdiagnosed, the doc said. They told him he had tuberculosis. He doesn’t. It’s typhoid fever.
I said, Both of those sound awful.
Tuberculosis is far worse, Mathias answered. He motioned for me to come to his desk, so I did. I thought he wanted to show me something, but turned out he just wanted to sit. He put his bottle down. He has some shared symptoms, Mathias said. The fever, yes. The weight loss and pallor. The cough. But there’s no blood in his cough, and no chest pain. Loss of appetite would cause the weight loss and weakness. And then I saw his chest, Mathias said, tapping on his collar, has some tiny rosey spots. Typhiod fever. I’d bet this wine on it.
He ain’t going to die? I said.
Oh, he’ll die, Doc Mathias said. But it won’t be this that kills him. It will run its course in a week or so. He’s past complications.
I nodded. The doctor watched me, then smiled. He was lean as a leather strap. The dimples in his cheeks was almost long lines. Go on in and see him, Mathias said.
I walked into the next room to where Joe laid, tired and worried. Sophie? he whispered when I came near.
Hi, I whispered back.
He just stared at me. I stared at him. I opened my eyes real big so they would look watery, and then Joseph’s got real watery too. He sniffed. His lip trembled. How long? he asked softly.
Now, I said, and I punched him in the arm. He yelped. That’s for ratting me out to McCabe, I said. You were owed that. Then I stood up and shook my head. You ain’t dying, crowbait. You’ll be back causing grief in no time.
Joseph glared and rubbed his arm. I ain’t dying?
No. The other docs was wrong. You got a different bug, but you’ll survive it.
Oh, Joseph said. He thought. Then his eyebrows raised up. Oh, he said. Well. Thank you.
You’re welcome, I said, and you owe me two dollars.
I let him rest long enough to get his strength, then put him in our buggy and rode over to the butchery. I went past the friendly lawman, who waved to me, and walked to the cashier. Miss Wilde, he said. I got a prime cut for you. He put it in a bag, and I walked out, whistling.
When I got home, I underwrapped the paper from the meat, and saw Aubrey’s handwriting scrawled across it. It was the longest he’d written me and his letters was tiny and close together and smeared by the blood:
S – NEED 4 RIFLES 2 REVOLVERS 800 BULLETS MATCHES ROPE KNIFE SAW LINEN WHISKEY 6 LOAFS BREAD 2 CANTEENS WATER. 2 FAST STEEDS, BAREFOOT. FIRST CENTRAL. SAFE UNDER T HOLT. WILL BE 38711 DOLLARS AND MAKE SURE YOU GOT IT ALL. EXPECT YOU AT DAYBREAK ON TUESDAY. KEY ENCLOSED.
I read that part six times till I realized what it meant, and sliced the meat down the middle. A small yellow bank key shone out.
