Flame Holiday 2018: Once Upon a Time
Chapter 9
Can I Take Your Order?
Kitty wrinkled up her nose and pulled back as far as the ropes would allow, in an attempt to escape the putrid haze. "Will you PLEASE put that… (cough)…that nasty… (cough) thing OUT!"
Decklee squirmed to the edge of the swivel chair. "I'm sorry. Are ya all right?" He threw the half-chewed cigar down on the floor and crushed it under a size twelve boot.
"What are you doing?! Don't smash that into my floor!" Kitty tugged at the ropes bound to the arms of the chair. "You must make your mother very proud!"
Decklee let his body melt back into the chair. "Pro'bly not. Guess, maybe it's good in a way, that she died and cain't see me." The rejection was not just in his voice, but it masked his face as well.
The physical struggle for freedom deserted the captive, along with her anger. This young man's pain was genuine and she was already regretting that last comment. "I'm sorry for your loss." Kitty said softly. "I'm sure she was proud of you."
Decklee mustered up a sheepish grin and mumbled a thank you. It was obvious that he was not a hardened criminal. Now, Kitty was really curious. "What are you doing here? You're not a robber—not a good one, anyway."
"I'm just doing what I was told to do." He hunched his shoulders and dropped his chin in a sullen gesture. "We were s'posed to be home by Christmas."
"Where is home?" Kitty twisted her wrists, not in attempt to escape, but to stop the burning irritation of the rough material. "…And who told you to rob my restaurant?"
"Not home, exactly. We're headed back to Tennessee. Pa wanted us to be there by Christmas day, but… we ran out of money." Decklee could see the welts forming around the lady's wrists. He pulled a knife from his pocket while he explained.
"So you decided to rob me? To get the money?"
"What's going on?!" Tenny, slammed the door to the office, back against its frame. "Decklee! What are you doing with that knife?!" He stepped closer, his boyish face flushed with anger. "You were going to cut her loose, weren't you?"
"No! …I…" Decklee's eyes bounced nervously from side-to-side. "Just this hand. The rope is rubbing a blister and I…"
"Shut up! You're a worthless tub of lard. I don't know why pa puts up with you."
"I would imagine for the same reason he puts up with your arrogance and smart mouth!" Kitty's outburst stunned the younger boy into silence. "I have children of my own and it would break my heart to hear them speak to each other the way you talk to your brother. I'm sure your mother wanted her sons to watch out for each other."
Tenny cast a look of surprise to his brother. "You told her about Ma?"
"Sorta. She's right. You know how Ma hated it when we fought." Decklee thumped the knife against the palm of his hand. "Can I cut the rope?"
Tenny stretched up for a better look at his hostage. There was a bright red ring circling her wrist. "Just on the hurt one. We didn't mean to hurt ya, lady." His apology, was diminished slightly by his sultry tone. " Pa should be starting the ruckus soon and we can get out of here."
Kitty offered a brief smile and nod of thanks, while she massaged the wounded flesh with the fingers of the hand still tied to the chair. "You boys do know that I'm married to the marshal here in Dodge."
"Yes'm. I heard that." Decklee settled back in the chair. "As a matter of fact, Pa says that will make things easier."
"Easier? I don't think I understand the plan here. You have the money; why don't you just leave?"
Tenny, scowled at his brother and the redheaded lady. "We can't leave, 'cause Pa hasn't given us the signal yet. We wasn't supposed to rob you until he signaled us, but you had to go and try to get away before we was ready. You messed up everything."
For a moment, Kitty actually felt sorry for the boy. His cockiness was dwindling fast, as it was quickly becoming clear that the plan had gone awry. "Why don't you boys just leave – without the money. I'd hate to see you spend Christmas day in jail."
"Tenny, maybe she's right. Pa should have started that ruckus by now." Decklee reached into his pocket for one of his smelly sticks of tobacco.
"Don't light that stinking thing up!" Tenny said the very thing Kitty was thinking. "I already can't think, the way it is."
"I'm hungry." The older boy whined "The cigar helps take my mind off of food."
"The way it smells, I don't doubt that." Tenny pulled a crate from behind the file cabinet and plopped down. "Some Merry Christmas, huh? Remember when Ma used to cook those big, fat turkeys?"
"I sure do!" Decklee's rounded cheeks held up the corners of his mouth in a big grin. "Makes my mouth water just thinking about it! And the dressing… and those sweet potatoes! Mmmm-mmm! I sure could go for some of that peach pie, too."
"My daughter loves pie." It was more of a verbal thought, than a point of conversation, but it did lead to an idea. "You know, I have a couple of pies packed back there. And, I believe, some ham in the cooler. Why don't you untie me and I'll fix you something to eat."
"What are you trying to do? Trick us." Tenny's youthful indignation was returning. "We're not stupid."
"Calm down. I'm just offering to make something to eat. What are you afraid of? You don't need to keep me tied up – you have the gun."
TBC
