Chapter 7
That evening Della found herself eating her supper alone in Emma's kitchen, having been told she looked tired and that eating in the bunk house might be a little too much with which for her to cope. She had tried to protest but the hard look she had been given let her know this was a battle not worth taking on.
She didn't mind too much as she was actually still feeling a little sore. Besides there would be plenty of time to use her charms and womanly wiles on the riders. It was clear to see they were a loyal and honourable bunch and by becoming their friend she hoped it would work to her advantage. It was wise to take precautions she told herself.
After a good night's sleep Della awoke keen to get on with the day. She dressed in her own clothes, a pair of work pants and plain, green calico shirt, which Emma had now washed and dried. She pulled on her boots and tied back her wavy, blonde hair with a strip of leather.
Descending the stairs, she found Emma busy baking biscuits for the riders' breakfast.
Della greeted Emma with a cheery, 'Mornin'" before helping herself to a cup of coffee.
"Good to see you looking so much better," Emma said, as she placed the last few biscuits on a plate, "and to see your dressed!" she added, with a pointed look.
Della laughed. The more she got to know this woman, the more she warmed to her. "I am feelin' a lot better today. My arm's still a little sore but I can use it a little. I'd be happy to help out about the place. I'm not too good at sittin' about doin' nothin'."
Emma gave her an appreciative smile. "I'm sure we'll be able to find you somethin' to do but nothing too strenuous. That shoulder ain't healed yet and I'm bettin' your ribs are still a little tender."
"They don't feel too bad but I guess you're right. Would you like me to take those flapjacks over to the bunk house, Mrs Shannon, seeing as I've got my clothes on today?" Della asked cheekily.
It was Emma's turn to laugh. "I guess that would be fine, just remember those boys are here to work and run the mail," she warned, as she handed Della the plate of biscuits.
"Yes, ma'am," came the respectful reply.
O-O-O-O-O
When Della arrived at the bunkhouse she found the table neatly laid. On entering she noted there was a hungry look on a couple of the boys faces and she suspected it wasn't all for the breakfast they were soon to eat. It appeared they looked a little more groomed than the previous day too, with hair swept back – Jimmy and Cody in particular, although Lou looked like all he had done was have a cat lick of a wash after doing his morning's chores.
Della placed the flapjacks on the table and greeted everyone politely.
"Good morning. Mrs Shannon will be over directly," she informed them. She noted Cody slipping sideways on the bench to make room for her but she made towards Jimmy and smiling sweetly at him, squeezed herself between him and Lou.
Cody struggled to hide his disappointment but a wide smile and a flirtatious wink from Della raised his spirits once more.
"How are you feelin' today, Miss Dawson?" Cody asked.
"A lot better, thank you," she replied, taking a biscuit and nibbling on it.
"We normally wait for Emma before we start eatin'," Lou said pointedly.
Della turned to look at the boy sitting to her side. She hadn't really paid him much attention as he was way too scrawny for her tastes and now as she inspected him more closely she felt a little perplexed. She tried to determine how old he was, as there wasn't any sign of hair growth on his face. The glasses he wore masked his eyes and, as she looked at him, Della noted the way he pushed them further up his nose, as if trying to hide behind them.
Now she was looking at Lou closely Della realised he was sort of … pretty. She couldn't think how else to describe it and if anything there was something decidedly feminine about Lou, in the curve of his lips, the length of his lashes, not to mention his delicate hands.
Giving Lou a friendly smile, Della replied, "I do apologise. I've been made to feel so welcome here and so at home that I forgot my manners. Do forgive me." Della had learnt when it was easier to appease rather than cause confrontation and in her previous life it had saved her skin on many an occasion.
"Don't take no notice of Lou. He can be a right prissy when he wants to be!' Cody interjected, giving Lou a hard stare. "After your ordeal you'll need to get your strength back and the best way to do that is to eat something."
"Yeah, Cody's the real expert on eating," Jimmy chipped in sarcastically.
Cody was just about to offer a retort when Emma arrived, carrying a large pot and a tray. Ike was the first to get to his feet to help, taking the pot. Kid quickly followed relieving her of the tray. Emma gave them both an appreciative smile.
"Well know, it's good to see you all here ready for once without me havin' to ask for the table to be laid.' The comment was accompanied with a raised eyebrow.
Breakfast was soon under way. Cody played the perfect gentleman, passing Della anything she needed, while Jimmy sat slightly awkwardly next to her. Della's close proximity was making him nervous and the way her thigh brushed against his under the table at regular intervals was very distracting. He was relieved when Teaspoon came through the door providing a distraction.
The stationmaster greeted everyone with a cheery "Good mornin'" and swept his hat from his head and gave Della a gallant bow of the head.
"Good to see you lookin' so much better, Miss Dawson."
When the pleasantries were done, and Teaspoon had filled his plate and taken a few mouthfuls, he gave the riders their instructions for the day.
Cody had a long run to Fort Worth. Ike was on a shorter run, while Kid and Lou were mending more storm damage on the side of the barn. Jimmy was taking a run the next day so he was on a rest day, which meant seeing to his horse and tack, making sure both were fit for the job.
Cody wasn't too happy about being away from the way station, or rather he wasn't happy being away when Jimmy was going to be staying
Emma announced she would be washing and requested any clothes that need doing, so the riders went to retrieve what was needed from their bunks.
Della started to clear up the plates.
"You're a guest here, Miss Dawson. No need for you to be doin' that," Teaspoon told the girl.
"I'd rather be useful, thank you Mr Hunter. I'm used to workin' and I'd much rather you called me Della. Miss Dawson sounds so formal," she said, smiling sweetly at him.
Teaspoon almost blushed as her pale eyes twinkled at him and she gave him a lopsided, cheeky smile.
"Then you must call me Teaspoon," he replied, hooking his thumbs in his suspenders. Emma watched the interchange, shaking her head. This girl seemed to be able to charm almost any man, no matter of their age. Perhaps she ought to keep Sam in her sights when Della was around after all. She didn't think it would take much for Della to get Sam in her grips and Emma wasn't about to lose the one man who had caught her eye, since her husband had left, to some slip of a girl.
Perhaps a day doing laundry would use up some of her energy and divert her attention. Nothing like a pair of Jimmy's socks to bring you back to reality!
O-O-O-O-O
Della hummed a tune happily as she pushed the shirts into the soapy water. In a way she found the rhythmic sloshing relaxing and she would much rather be kept preoccupied so that she didn't dwell on her over all situation too much. Although she knew the sanctuary she had found at the way station couldn't be permanent, it was giving her some respite from the strain and apprehension, which she had been under. It was all of her own doing of course but that didn't make it any easier to handle. What was done was done and she had no regrets as to her mind it was totally justified. After finding out what Victor had done to her father she knew she could no longer stay at the Red Rooster. It was time to make a life for herself but she knew Victor wouldn't just let her leave.
Emma had been surprised and pleased when Della had happily said she'd be pleased to help with the laundry. Not only was she glad of the help but it would mean the girl wouldn't be spending too much time with the boys – in particular, Jimmy. Emma had noted the way they had sat together at breakfast and the looks they had exchanged. She had also seen the disappointment in Cody's face as he sat across the tale from them. It didn't take much to cause rivalry between those two boys and she could do without the disruption. These boys had a job to do and did not need the sort of distraction a girl like Della would bring. She would talk to Sam when he came to call later that day and try to ascertain what he intended to do about Della.
The chance to speak to Sam came sooner than expected. Emma was just about to go into the house to make some sandwiches for lunch when the sound of an approaching rider made her look round. She instantly recognised Sam's familiar, lean figure, sitting tall in the saddle. Lifting the back of her hand to her brow, to shade her eyes from the glare of the midday sun, she watched him pull his horse up at the white picket fence surrounding her house.
"Mornin', Emma," he called.
"It's comin' on afternoon, Sam Cain," she informed him. "You're just in time for some lunch.
"Well, that sounds mighty good to me," he grinned. "How's Dee doin' today?" he asked more sombrely.
"Oh, she's doin' just fine!" came the sardonic response.
Not picking up on the intonation, Sam merely said, "That's good," as he tied his horse to the fence. Emma smiled to herself, shaking her head in amusement. For an astute man he could be somewhat oblivious.
"Where is she? I'll go say hello," Sam said somewhat self-consciously.
"Out back, doin' washin'" Emma replied.
"Washin'?!" Sam was a little taken aback by this news. "Should she be doin' that with her ribs an all?" he asked.
"Sam Cain, you should give the girl some credit. She was happy to help and is takin' it easy. She's quite capable."
"Oh, believe me I know how capable she is," Sam muttered as he headed towards the back of the house.
When Sam rounded the corner all he saw was the steaming washtub but there was no sign of Della. The sound of feminine laughter drew his attention towards the barn.
As he got closer more laughter drifted on the air and the lower tones of a male voice could also be heard. Slipping through the door it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dimness of the interior of the barn.
"Dee!" he exclaimed. Jimmy was backed against the rack, which held the saddle he was repairing while Della stood in front of him pulling at his shirt buttons. "What the hell ya doin'?"
"Sam! I was just …. " She flicked a look at Jimmy and grinned. "Emma asked me to wash the riders' shirts and I thought the one Jimmy's wearin' looked like it could do with a wash," she answered matter of factly.
"I don't think Emma meant for you to take the shirts off the boys!"
"Oh! Really?" Della replied with feigned innocence.
Jimmy was busily doing the buttons on his shirt back up and gave Sam a nervous look. "Wasn't my idea, Sam".
"Didn't put up too much resistance either, I bet," came the marshal's caustic reply.
Jimmy shuffled his feet awkwardly. "I best get on with fixin' this saddle. I got a run later."
"Think that sounds a good idea – both fixin' the saddle and bein' away on a run. I want to have a talk with Dee any way," Sam said, giving Jimmy a meaningful stare.
"Right. I'll just go get some more leather strips," Jimmy replied as he sidled passed a smirking Della and scuttled out the barn.
Sam gave her a look of exasperation. "What the hell ya doin', Dee? Mrs Shannon has been real kind takin' you in and she's a might protective of her boys."
"Then I think she's a bit greedy keepin' all those handsome, young men all to herself!" Della retorted. "And I asked you not to call me that no more," she added.
Sam sighed. "Alright, … Della," he replied. "We need to talk."
"What about?" she replied warily.
"Wanna tell me what happened back in Ogallala? I know Meyer wouldn't have just let you walk out so somethin' must have happened."
It was Della's turn to look peeved now. "What does it matter? I left and I ain't goin' back. Victor Meyer had no right to take me there in the first place, let alone keep me there against my will. I can look after myself now."
"You ain't been too good a job of that recently. What would have happened if you'd pulled that stunt in the saloon in some other town where I wasn't the marshal? There's no tellin' what could have happened." Sam stepped closer to her now, tilting his head to one side and placing his hand on her shoulder.
Della smiled up at him. "Yeah. Got lucky there. Couldn't believe it when I turned round and saw you. I do 'ppreciate your helpin' me out, Sam. As soon as I feel up to it I'll move on and leave you in peace."
"Ain't no need for that. Perhaps we can sort somethin' out 'round here for you to do." Sam gave her what he hoped was a friendly smile of reassurance.
Della put her own hand on Sam's, which rested on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze and pulled away. "I'd best get on with the washin'. If I don't get those shirts done the riders are goin' to be walking around naked!" she said, mischievously before heading out the barn door, leaving a speechless Sam staring after her.
It occurred to him he still hadn't found any more out about how Della had managed to leave the Rooster and Meyer. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. There was also the worry of divulging too much of what he knew and that was something he really wanted to avoid. What was done was done and no matter what he did could change that now. Let sleeping dogs lie was the best course of action as far as he was concerned.
O-O-O-O-O
A short while later, Emma called everyone to the bunkhouse for lunch. She noticed Jimmy was uneasy when Della entered, busying himself at his bunk until everyone was seated before taking his place across the table from Della. Sam seemed to be watching them both closely too. She would have to ask him about it later but for now she had hungry boys to feed.
Kid and Lou soon polished off their share of the sandwiches, washed down with lots of water. They had worked hard on the coral posts that morning but were in good spirits. There seemed a very close bond between these two, Della had noticed. She was also aware that Ike was even quieter than normal and seemed to be missing Buck. They were a strange pairing but one that seemed to work. Without Cody about, in fact it was generally much more peaceful, without his constant chatter and comments. Jimmy, she concluded was definitely the strong, silent type. He would be more of a challenge but she still felt he would be the most useful if she needed some back up.
As soon as everyone had finished eating they went back to their jobs, leaving Della to clear the table. Emma started to pull the sheets from Cody and Buck's bunks.
"Would you mind puttin' these through the tub for me, Della?" she asked, bundling them into a ball. "If they get washed now then they should be dry by the time the boys get back. I'll finish up here if you would be kind enough to take these."
"Sure," Della replied taking the sheets. They were grubby but, compared to some of the sheets she had dealt with at the Red Rooster, they were sanitary.
As Della happily headed out the door with the bundle, Emma smiled appreciatively. She was beginning to warm to the spirited young woman. At least she didn't seem afraid of hard work and was of a cheerful disposition. It was good to have another woman about the place – apart from Lou, one that she could talk woman to woman with more openly.
Sam drained the last of his coffee from his cup. "I guess I ought to be getting' back to town," he said unconvincingly.
"Let me just put these plates to soak and then why don't we go for a walk and have a talk," Emma replied.
"What d'you wanna talk about?" Sam said apprehensively.
"Della," came Emma's succinct response.
