Chapter Four
Soaring high above trees in the early morning sun she floated on a swift breeze, letting it carry her wherever it was headed. It was a lazy day and she intended to enjoy it for all she could. There were things she needed to do, sure, there always were, but today was a day to relax, simply too beautiful to let slip away under the stress of living the daily grind. Spotting a nice place to perch she came down from the wind and hopped along the thick rail, peering in through the windowed door at the woman on the other side. She was lying in a large bed, tossing and turning from side to side as though there were something in the bed with her. Suddenly, and with enough force to startle her watcher, the woman sat up, chest heaving. Placing a hand to her chest with a scowl on her face the woman got up from the bed and crossed to the doors, throwing them wide open and drawing in a deep breath of the early morning scent. Her gaze fell on the little one perched on the rail and the woman smiled.
"It's a beautiful morning isn't it?" she asked. The little bird cocked its head to one side, listening to the sound the woman made. "How long do you think I'll have these nightmares? Every time it's the same. Pa chases me, telling me he'll kill me if I ever leave him. I don't like them." The woman laughed as she stared across the street to another wooden building. "Life sure does throw us some curves doesn't it? I bet you've got it easy. Flying above the trees, soaring in the clouds... sounds wonderful. Do you have any chicks? A mate? I'm sure you love them very much. You should go tell them."
With a wave of her hand Aingelina waved away the little bird resting on the rail before she turned to go inside. A few moments later she emerged onto the street, donned in her pants, shirt left out to flow loose and free over the pants, her hair pulled away from her face in a 'horse-tail'. With light steps she approached Grace's café and saw it humming with activity, Grace rushing around to serve the overflow of people from the train station. Watching her for a moment as she hurried at a near frantic pace Aingelina smiled and grabbed a coffee pot, heading over to one man who was waiting for some of the black brew. Pouring him a cup she was called over to another man who also had been waiting. Soon Aingelina was pouring cup after cup of coffee for those waiting while Grace cooked and served their breakfast. Approaching a table in the corner she saw Jake, Loren, Timothy, and Preston waiting impatiently, grumbling about it.
"We out to be served first! We live here after all!" Loren complained, Jake nodding his head and glaring at Grace as she passed by them yet again.
"Morning gentlemen. Coffee?" They nodded their heads and she placed four tin mugs onto the table filling each almost to the brim. Picking up one she placed one in front of Timothy, pulled his hand to the handle, and smiled. "Good morning Timothy. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well, thank you Aingelina, and..."
"Good to hear," she said, cutting him off before he could return the question in kind. "What would you gentlemen like for breakfast this morning?"
"You working for Grace now?" Jake asked after everyone had placed his order.
"No, just helping out a friend. Guess you could say it was my way of showing her how much I love her. I'll go see about your order," she said, smiling at them as she moved away; putting the coffee pot back on the fire and setting it up to make some more.
"Aingelina!?! What are you doing?" Grace asked as she came over with three more orders. "You don't have to help me. I can't pay for your help."
"I don't want your money Grace! You needed help, that's why I'm here. I need two orders of scrambled eggs and toast and two of oatmeal with brown sugar. I've got another pot of coffee going already so if you'll show me a piece of paper and pencil I can take your orders and deliver them that way you can concentrate on cooking."
Grace stared at the woman before her. Laughing she hugged her and handed over the paper and pencil without a moments hesitation. While the coffee was finishing Aingelina headed over to another table just filled to take their orders. Returning she gave the paper to Grace and grabbed the coffee pot to refill the customers tins. Smiling at the people she greeted them with equal kindness whether she knew them or not. Refilling tin mugs, taking orders and delivering them she worked away the morning until the rush had passed and the café calmed down. Standing at one of the tables, refilling a tin cup she looked up when she heard someone call her name.
"Hi Aingelina!"
Her eyes found Brian waving to her as he raced across the yard to school, departing from the family he had traveled in with. Smiling she waved back before returning her attention to the customer. The tin filled she moved away, over to the table where the four men sat. As she approached she saw the Preston had departed from the men but his chair was not empty, Hank had taken his place. "Good morning, Hank," she said as she filled a tin with coffee for him. "What'll you have today?"
"Just coffee."
Nodding she moved over to fill Timothy's tin once more. From the corner of her eye she saw Dr Mike and Sully approach the table. "Morning Dr Mike, morning Sully. Would you like some coffee?" Dr Mike shook her head no but Sully nodded. Grabbing a tin she filled it and handed it to the man before Grace called her away. An order ready for one of the customers Aingelina took the plate to him, a lone man sitting in one of he corner tables. "Here you are," she said, putting the plate before him. "Enjoy."
Before she turned to leave the man reached out and grabbed her wrist. Yanking it away she opened her mouth to scold him when he beat her to the words. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have grabbed you. I... I know you don't I?"
"No," she said with clipped tones. "No you don't." Moving away she didn't go near the table again. Standing with Dr Mike and Sully at the table where the four men sat she listened to the conversation with half an ear, her mind raking over her memories to put a name to a face that she didn't recognize. So focused in her mind she almost hit the person that laid a hand on her shoulder, jumping in her skin at the weight of their hand. Turning she saw that it was the man. Jerking sharply she pulled her shoulder out from under his hand and glared at him as the conversation fell silent. Aingelina sensed that they were watching the man intently to see who he was and what he was doing.
"I do know you," he said, his voice filled with confidence.
"No, you don't."
"Yes I do. You're Aingelina Bowry."
Aingelina stood still, her eyes searching his face for a sign of what he wanted. Was he sent by her father too keep an eye on her until he could get there? Was he looking for the reward that no doubt had been put on her head? What did he want with her?
"Who are you?" she asked.
Her body tensed everyone could see she was either going to hit him or run. Seeing it himself he put up his hands and took a step back to show her he meant no harm. "I'm the little boy who pulled your best friends braid and then got knocked flat by her Guardian Aingel," he grinned, hoping she would remember his schoolyard hijinks.
Staring at him for a moment Aingelina's memories clicked into place and she realized that she did know the man who stood before her. "Tommy Haskins?"
Smiling at her, breathing a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to deck him again, he nodded. "I'm passing through on my way Missouri, got a wife, you remember Millie Johnson? We got us a home, couple of kids, too. I didn't recognize you until that kid called your name. That's one name I don't think I'll ever forget. He your boy?"
"No, no I'm not married."
His face grew grave suddenly as he lowered his voice. "You still living with your kin?"
Aingelina met his eyes with her own serious ones. "No."
Tom's face smiled once more and he released a small laugh. "Good. I'd heard a rumor that you'd run but no one could confirm it. I can't stay but it was damn good to see you again Aingelina. You ever get Missouri way you be sure to look me up. There'll always be a place at my fire for you."
Nodding at his invitation she said, "Thank you Tom."
Putting his hat on his head Tom moved away from the group with a nod to Dr Mike and a final look to his old schoolmate. After he had moved away Aingelina turned her attention back to the coffee pot on the table. Reaching out for the handle she picked it up to put it back on the fire to keep warm. It was then that her fear at being recognized made itself known; the lid of the large black pot rattled in its place as her hands shook, unable to steady them she dropped the pot back onto the table and closed her eyes. With a deep breath to steady her emotions she picked up the pot with two hands and moved away from the table to the fire, the gazes of the men and woman burning into he back as she walked away. Standing at the fire, pot above it to keep warm Aingelina steadied her nerves. Tommy Haskins was a good man, she knew he'd never do anything to her, but if he came through here who else would?
"Aingelina!"
Spinning on her heel so quickly that her hair flew over her shoulder, Aingelina stared wide eyed as yet another person called her name. Seeing that it was Claire she blinked and forced the fear from her eyes, replacing it with a smile as her friend neared. "Hi, Claire." With a deep breath she calmed her quaking hands and racing heart she joined the girl in going over to the table. A small shake of her head and a weak smile silenced them on the subject of Timothy Haskins, though Aingelina was sure they would think on it all day, a juicy tidbit they'd been given; how long until the entire town heard of it?
"Aingelina, I'm headed out to the reservation today. It's a nice ride if you'd like to join me."
"On Charlie?"
Dr Mike smiled and shook her head. "No. In the wagon with me, I'm taking over some supplies for the Indians. Should only be a few hours but it might take all afternoon."
"I'd like that," she said with a nod.
"But not until you've eaten!" Grace declared. "After helping me all morning the least I can do is give you a decent breakfast."
"I'll be at the clinic when you're finished, Aingelina. See you there."
Dr Mike and Sully went off to load the wagon with the supplies while Loren and Timothy needed to get back to the store, Jake walking back with them. Aingelina watched as Jake and Loren whispered to each other as soon as they were some distance away, Timothy shaking his head as he listened to the two men gossiping as much as the older women of the town would. Part of her cringed while the other part laughed, she would certainly be well known in this town by the time she left it. With a slight shrug of her shoulders Aingelina sat down in the seat Timothy had vacated and wrapped her hands around the mug Grace set before her. Sipping from it she looked to Claire still standing a few feet away. "Come on, Claire, come sit with me." The girl glanced at Grace and then to Hank before slipping into the seat next to Aingelina.
"How did last night go?"
Hank glanced at her curious as to why she would be asking how a whore's night went.
"Oh it was good! We were all in my room and I showed them everything you showed me. All the girls want to learn so we were wondering if you could show all of us like you did me. Would you?"
Aingelina gave a small laugh. "Sure. Not today, maybe tomorrow, but you'll have to clear it with Hank. I can't afford to pay for all of you."
Claire turned her attention to Hank, sitting across the table from her. "Will you let us?" she asked him.
"I'll think about it," he said gruffly. "Get back to work." Watching the girl flee the café he glared at Aingelina. "If they try anything on me, I'm holding you responsible," Hank declared to her, his face a mask of annoyance but Aingelina could see the glint of biting humor in his eyes.
"If they try anything on you, you probably deserved it."
Aingelina met his cool eyes with her own defiant ones, daring him to contradict her words. She was in the mood to spar with someone, some way to release the pent up fear and anger she'd been dealing with these last few weeks; the emotions had finally caught up with her and were building behind the dam she kept in her heart, almost ready to explode. Hank could see it in her eyes and knew this was neither the time nor the place to do so. He would enjoy the moment when it came, but it would be better for the both of them if no one else, no one needed to know that he was being a nice guy about something, anything. Shaking his head he got up and left the table when Grace brought her a plate of steaming eggs and ham. With long, lazy strides Hank made his way to the clinic to see a wagon almost fully loaded with supplies. Up on the porch Dr Mike stood with Katie while Sully loaded the last crate
"I'll be comin' along with you Michaela. I got a whiskey shipment to make."
Michaela frowned but said nothing, watching him swagger away towards the saloon. She hated the fact that he sold to the Indians on the reservation. He knew it and it made him laugh. Hank enjoyed the fact that she disliked what he did and that made her dislike it even more. With a disgusted groan she went inside to gather her medical bag and make sure it was filled with everything she needed. Pulling one last bottle from her cabinet she head footsteps enter the clinic and turned to see Aingelina enter from the outside. "Oh good, you're here. We'll be leaving in just a few moments. Hank will be joining us; he wants to make a whiskey shipment to the reservation," she said, her frown deepening.
"You don't want him to come?"
"Not if he's selling whiskey to the Indians. I don't like it at all."
"Why?"
Michaela turned to look at Aingelina, her face a mixture of anger and disbelief that someone would actually ask that question when the answer was so plain to see. "The Indians don't need whiskey, they need food and seeds to plant, blankets and medicine."
"Well the men here need all those things too but you don't hate Hank for selling to them, do you?"
"Well... no. I wish he didn't but it's his business."
"Then why are the Indians so different?"
Michaela sighed; frustrated that someone else was taking his side on the issue. "We almost lost some very sacred arrows because he sold the whiskey to them. If we hadn't been able to get them back it would have fared very badly for the Cheyenne Nation."
"But you got them back?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then what's the problem?"
"If he hadn't been selling to them in the first place we never would have lost them! Why are you defending him!?!"
With a sardonic laugh Aingelina leaned against the doorjamb, her arms folded over her chest. Her temper was wearing thin with her friend who thought the world should agree with her every decision. Until now she'd agreed with her for the most part but Aingelina could see that this was one point they wouldn't agree on and that didn't sit well with Michaela. Neither woman noticed Hank leaning against the wagon, his crates loaded into the back of it, listening to their debate. "If it wasn't Hank selling whiskey to the Indians then it would have been someone else. You should be glad it's Hank. If the arrows had been sold to someone else they'd have ended up in the fire or sold to some rich man back east as a knick knack for his den in some big mansion somewhere. Instead they were sold to Hank who, after a price I'm sure, sold them back to you. You got them back and you should be glad. Hank took advantage of a new group of people who wanted the whiskey he was selling. It was a business decision. You trying to make him stop or change would be like someone coming in here and telling you how to run your clinic, telling to not to help the Indians just because they don't like you doing it." Aingelina thought about Michaela's last question. "I'm not defending him as a person, Dr Mike, I'm defending his decision as a business owner."
Though she didn't like Aingelina's decision Michaela knew she couldn't force her opinion onto the woman and let the subject drop. Gathering her bag she shut the door to the clinic behind herself and Aingelina and turned to see Hank lounging against the wagon, a pleased grin on his face. He'd heard everything they'd said. Glaring at him she climbed up into the wagon and grabbed the reins. Aingelina climbed up next to the woman while Hank stretched out over the crates and blankets, lying back to enjoy the ride. The day was beautiful and the ride seemed to fly for Aingelina who watched the scenery as it passed by, finding another kind of peaceful feeling in it's simple beauty, she could feel her nerves beginning to unwind a little. By the time they had arrived at the reservation she was able to smile once more without forcing her mouth to move up in the corners. Staying with Dr Mike she watched as the wagon was unloaded and the patients from her last visit were checked over for their progress.
Hours had passed before she realized it and Aingelina was ready to go. Dr Mike however still had more patients to attend to on the reservation. Not wanting her patient to get worn down she asked Hank to walk with Aingelina back to town with explicit orders to stop and rest when she got tired. Carrying a small bag with him of things he had gotten in exchange for the whiskey Hank and Aingelina set off on foot, knowing Dr Mike would need the wagon to return when it was dark and not the time to be on foot. Though he at first was a good ten feet ahead of the woman the two eventually found a matched pace to walk in. Not long into their journey, though far enough from the reservation to prevent them from hearing and her from returning, Hank spoke.
"That guy scared you earlier, didn't he?"
Next to him he could sense Aingelina tense up as she walked. "Of course not."
"Sure. I mean you never could pick up a pot of coffee. I was surprised you managed to carry it around this morning at all." Aingelina glared at him but said nothing so he kept poking. "Good thing you'll be having those lessons with the girls, maybe next time you'll be able to knock him flat before he gets close enough to touch you." She picked up her pace, one that he matched easily with his long legs, and he knew she was getting close to the edge. "That is, if you can actually hit the man."
Stopping in her tracks she turned to face him, her eyes glaring cold enough to freeze a man. He'd gotten her right where he wanted her. "What are you trying to do here, Hank? Make me angry?"
"Its working isn't it?"
"Why?"
"Because you look like you could use a fight and I'm in the mood to give you one."
"I don't want to fight you," she said before resuming her stride.
"Yeah, I guess you really aren't one for fighting back when you get attacked." Oh this was going to make her so very mad. "After all you let your father beat the shit out of you every night, why not me..." Hank never got to finish his sentence when her hand caught his mouth with a resounding slap. Feeling the sting of her hand on his skin he knew the fun was just getting started.
"Who the hell do you think you are to tell me anything? You don't know a thing Hank, not one damn thing!"
"You sure? I know you were beaten but did you ever once fight back? You can give it as much as you get it but did you ever hit him back? Did you fight him or did you just lie there and take it like some beat down dog!?!"
Hank didn't see it coming until he was flat on his back, blood streaming from his lip. Looking up he saw her standing up her, fists clenched, nostrils flared in her anger, eyes pinning him to the dirt road. "Shut the hell up!" she yelled. "Yes, he beat me every damn night since I was six years old, and no, I never once fought him back. You have no idea what it was like; you didn't know him before she died! He was a good man who loved his children, play with them, and take care of them! He used to hold me when I cried and tell me how much he loved me! Then she died and he started drinking and hitting and I couldn't hit him back no matter how much he hurt me because I could still remember, I remembered the way he used to care about me and how much I loved him!"
Standing over him, hair falling forward, face red with anger, frustration and pain, tears streamed from her eyes, flowing down her cheeks and falling into the dust below. Turning on her heel she moved away from him suddenly and kept walking while Hank got to his feet. Following her he knew she was still crying, he could hear it and see it as Aingelina couldn't walk straight, stumbling over holes and rocks in her path. Her hands swept away tears but they kept flowing making her even more upset. "Damn you Hank!" she yelled, stomping her foot in the dirt.
Approaching her stationary figure he held out a neckerchief for her to take. He'd caused this and it was exactly what she needed to do, even if she didn't know it yet. Towering over her he was silent as she pulled herself together, eventually the tears stopped and she was calm once more. Sheepishly she turned to face him and to apologize for hitting him when she saw the blood still trickling from his lip. He'd brushed it off with his sleeve but it was still flowing some. "Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw the blood. With careful hands she held his chin with one hand, gentle yet firm, while he other pressed the neckerchief to his lip, dabbing the red life away and applying pressure to stop its flow. The cut clotting sufficiently Aingelina looked up to meet his eyes. She looked at his eyes and understood why he had made her so angry; she knew Hank hadn't been sparking a personal battle, just a catalyst to help her expel some of her pent up anger. "I didn't realize I was so easy to read."
"You're not, I just know it when I see it."
Staring at him for a moment Aingelina stretched up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly. "Thank you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was just beginning to shine in the sky upon a group of tried women in the clearing at the edge of town.
"All right is every one ready?" Standing before a small group of girls Aingelina motioned for Claire to join her up front . "Now Claire showed you a few of the basics, I'm going to show some more things, something a little more detailed. First I want everyone to pair up with another girl. Okay now one girl grab the other girl from behind like this," she instructed, demonstrating on Claire. "When someone grabs you like this you take your elbow and as hard as you can push it into their ribcage using the point to dig in." Having already gone over the maneuvers with Claire the girl knew what she was talking about and demonstrated it for the rest of the group and each duo tried it in imitation, taking turns with each other.
It wasn't long until they had learned a few moves, enough to get away from whoever were attacking them. Aingelina could tell from the way they moved and hit that these girls really didn't have much strength to them. Now it was time for some strength training. After telling them to return to the saloon in one hour she sent two over to Robert E to move sacks of grain and two to Grace to help rearrange the café's tables and chairs. Aingelina sent the last two to the church to help Sully repair the church doors while she and Claire went back to the saloon to do some fixing and move the tables around. Leaving Claire to rearrange the tables Aingelina went off in search of Hank, her good mood making it impossible to keep from tormenting her new friend. The walk back to town a few days ago had been the beginning of a new friendship for her and Aingelina knew she would have a good time teasing him.
Tiptoeing into his room she saw him, asleep in his bed. With an evil grin Aingelina moved closer and picked up one of his golden locks that were strewn over the pillow. Silently she brushed it under his nose with a light touch, just enough to be irritating. Freezing when he shifted she continued after he had settled down, brushing the tip back and forth across his sin in an irritating pattern, doing all she could to keep from laughing aloud. He shifted again, brushing his hand over his face to rid it of the irritant. The instant he was settled again she continued. Her laughter bubbling forth Aingelina began to giggle softly and bit her lip to keep them to herself. When Hank brushed his hand over his face for the third time a small giggle escaped. The small noise was enough to rouse him and the next time his hair brushed his face Hank awoke with a start.
"What the hell!?!" he roared, his eyes opening in time to see a flash of black hair escape into the hallway and the laughter floating back to soothe his ears. Grumbling to himself he pulled on his pants and, not bothering with a shirt just yet, stomped into the main room only to stop in his tracks at the sight before him. Chair piled up along the walls and tables scattered with them he saw Claire and Aingelina lifting one and moving it to another spot on the floor. "What the hell are you doing!?!"
"Rearranging," Aingelina said, her smile still itching to burst forth from the memory of tormenting Hank in the world of the awake.
"What!?!"
"Rearranging. It's not a difficult concept to grasp Hank. We're moving what was here to there and what was there to here."
Hank glared at her, his half awake eyes showing that he was not pleased. "Who said you could do this?"
"I did." Aingelina stood up and met his gaze, still twitching with a held back smile. "You were asleep, so I said we could go ahead and do it."
"Asleep, no thanks to you."
Aingelina tried to look innocent. "Me? What did I do?" Ignoring her Hank moved to his bar to get a glass of whiskey but found it blocked by chairs. Laughing at him Aingelina called out, "If you help us we'll get done even faster." Though a scowl still graced his face Hank flashed her a grin. Walking to the front of the bar he sat down on the bar itself and reached behind for a glass and a bottle before sitting and watching the women work. Sweating and struggling they moved the tables around before placing the chairs under them. Exhausted Claire dropped into a chair and Aingelina sat on a table when they had finished putting the last chair in its place. "Done!" they cried at the same time, glad that the chore was over. With a tired sigh Aingelina flopped back onto the table she was sitting on, her legs hung off the end and her arms stretched out from side to side.
Before any words could be said the first pair of girls dragged themselves into the bar. Hank watched as one dropped into the nearest chair while the other trudged up the stairs and Hank could hear her flop onto a bed on the second floor. Opening his mouth to say something he was cut off by the other four entering the bar as tired as everyone else. "What the hell happened to you?" he asked them, not caring which answered.
"We were at the blacksmith's moving grain," one girl said.
"We had to move all the tables at the café," the second said.
"Sully had us holding the doors so he could fix them and then move the wood planks to the other side of the church so he could get to them easier," the third said.
"You've got them to tired to work!" he complained to Aingelina, he knew full well who had done this to them.
Lifting her head to look at him she grinned. "Just wait till you see what I have planned for tomorrow."
All of the whores groaned in protest and got up to get some sleep before they customers started coming. Watching them leave Hank turned his glare to Aingelina. "I thought I told you..."
"You told me that you'd hold me responsible for whatever happened and I'm fine with that," she interrupted. Getting up from the table she was on she smiled at Hank. "I'm hungry, get a shirt on and lets go get some breakfast while they sleep," Aingelina ordered playfully.
Not bothering wait for him she got off the table and headed out toward the café. She was already seated and taking a sip of coffee when he showed up and joined her, his scowl still on his face but she could see the smile in his eyes. Smoking his cigar Hank watched as Grace approached their table, a strange look on her face. "Morning, Aingelina, Hank."
"Morning Grace. Could I have some eggs and bacon? Toast too."
"Sure thing Aingelina. Hank?"
"Just coffee."
Nodding she poured his coffee, refilled Aingelina's and moved away, questions burning in her mind. Brow furrowed in thought Aingelina turned to Hank. "Why don't you eat breakfast?"
Hank shrugged. "Just don't. That a problem for you?"
"No, I was just wondering. Doesn't bug me if you don't want to eat." From the corner of her eye she saw Brian wave as he ran to school and Aingelina waved back to him. "Its just a little odd that's all. But it does fit with everything else I've heard."
That caught his attention. "Heard what?"
"Oh you know," she said, dragging out her answer to torment his limited patience. "Just things that you hear when other people aren't around. Gossip mainly, some rumors, nothing too bad."
Hank met her gaze with an amused grin. "Like?"
"Do you really eat raw meat?"
"Sometimes."
"Yech... So far everything I've heard has matched up with what I've seen but there are a few differences." Hank motioned for her to continue. "Well it seems that people in town think you can't read."
"What makes you think I can?"
"You read my letter." She could see the surprise on his face. "Didn't think I knew about that one, did you? You put it back into the wrong side of the saddlebag. There only three people who've had access to my bags. Dr Mike, who wouldn't do something like that, Robert E, who couldn't, and you, who did, and you would probably do it again if you ever had the chance. So why do the people here think you can't read?"
"Never saw the need to tell them." Aingelina rolled her eyes and shook her head, not buying his excuse. "Its not something guys like me are supposed to know, why bother to correct the image?"
Shrugging she accepted that reason, she could see the truth in it. A saloon keeper had to maintain a tough man image, the last thing he'd want to do is make it seem like he had book smarts. "And what about family? I heard that you've got a son."
"Yep."
"Well where is he?" Waiting for him to answer it seemed he wasn't going to and she wondered why.
Hank puffed a few times on his cigar before he finally answered her. "Denver." The tone of his voice, the look in his eyes, told her it was a topic to be avoided and she granted him that, for now. Grace came to their table once more with a plate and to fill their coffee once more before moving off to other customers. Silence fell over the table while Aingelina ate and Hank smoked. Finishing her meal they sat at the table for a bit longer, talking about various topics, nothing too serious or in depth about themselves, just observations they had made about each other and about the men and women of Colorado Springs. Only when Dr Mike came calling for Aingelina did they part ways for the day, Hank returning to the saloon and Aingelina going to the clinic for a check up.
"Has there been any pain?"
"Nothing too bad."
Michaela nodded. "Okay. You're healing nicely. Another week or so and I'll be able to remove the stitches."
"When can I get back on Charlie?"
"I'd say by the end of the week, Saturday at the earliest."
"That's three more days!"
"Be glad I didn't say next week!" she countered.
Their parry was interrupted when a woman knocked on the door, a bleeding child in her arms. Escaping from the clinic Aingelina made her way over to Robert E's to see Charlie. Brush in hand she went over his coat until it shined, her hands stroking him lovingly and her voice soft as she spoke to him. Working on some metal by the fire Robert E shook his head as he listened to her. Sometimes it seemed like they could actually understand each other when she got going like she did. Dipping the glowing metal into a bucket of water he saw Hank approaching. Robert E hated doing business with the man but Hank was one of the few cash paying customers he had. Nodding to each other, an uneasy truce between the two men, Hank caught sight of Aingelina in the pen with the enormous horse and watched her while she brushed his mane. Called back to his business with Robert E he made short order of requesting new shoes for his horse and went to stand at the pen, watching the woman work on her horse.
"... so just three more days and then we can go for a ride, okay Charlie? Think you can last that long? God knows I can't. But you will won't you boy? You have the patience of a saint." Charlie shook his head up and down, whinnying in agreement. "Where should we go? The mountains? A meadow where we can just run forever? Follow the road maybe?" Snorting the large horse shook his head in protest. "No road? Yeah you're right. We'll be on that soon enough I guess. How about the meadow then? Sound good?" Once more he shook his head and nuzzled her shoulder in agreement. "Good. So be ready 'cause it's just you and me on Saturday."
"You're crazier than people said," he called out as she fell silent. Aingelina spun on her heel and saw Hank watching her. "Talking to a horse? People are likely to think you should be locked away."
"What do I care what people think? Let them think what they will, I know the truth."
"And what's the truth?"
"I'm crazy as a loon," she smiled at him before turning to finish Charlie's coat. With a few more strokes she finished and left the pen after kissing her giant friend on his long neck. Grabbing a handful of grain from the bag she met him at the gate and fed Charlie a small snack. "All right Charlie, that's it for today, I have to get over to Grace's." Patting his neck she called out a goodbye to Robert E and turned to face Hank. "See you tomorrow."
"No hair next time!" he called after her earning a laugh in return.
"Are you sure there'll be a next time?" The wind carried that faint question back to him and he laughed. Turning he left the blacksmith shop and sauntered into the store for his order of glasses. Jake and Loren were already there and a small group of women were huddled in the corner by the material, whispering and gossiping among themselves. "My glasses here yet?"
"Yeah, over here." Following Loren over to the back corner of the store Hank hefted up the crate of glasses and moved back to the counter to pay for them. "It's five dollars." Money crossed the counter and Hank was readying to leave when Loren continued. "What's been going on with your whores Hank? People been talking all day that they was working all over town, even at the church," he whispered.
"So?"
"So, it ain't right," Jake interjected. "Now I ain't got nothing against your whores but they need to learn to stay at the saloon. They can't be going all over town like they were this morning. It ain't fittin'."
"They got the right to go where they please. You don't want them there, you tell them. I don't give a damn either way."
Picking up the crate he left the store and went back to the saloon to unpack the glasses. Setting the wooden box down on the he opened it and wondered if it was worth the fuss to let the girls keep training with Aingelina. Like he told Jake, he didn't care one way or the other, so long as they did their work they could do whatever they damn well wanted. But was it worth it? Could they really learn how to fight off a man?
"Claire," he bellowed, calling the girl to his side.
Moments passed and the girl appeared by his side. "Yeah Hank?"
"Come here." Moving out in front of the bar he held up his hand, palm out fingers to the sky. "Hit my hand."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I said hit my hand."
Claire shook her head. "I can't Hank. She said not to hit you, that we could practice on each other but that we couldn't hit you."
"Who said that?"
"Aingelina."
"She actually told you not to hit me?" Claire nodded. "Well I'll be damned." Hank shook his head with a slight grin. "I'm telling you to hit my hand, just this once, it's okay. Try it any other time and I'll smack you into the next room, got it?" Nodding her head Claire balled her fist and swung with all her might. Her aim was a little low and still somewhat weak but the impact was good and Hank knew she was learning something from the days she spent with Aingelina. "All right, unload these glasses and sweep the floor." Leaving the saloon he stood on the front porch for a moment, thinking things over in his mind, before stepping off and heading over to Grace's, his mind made up. Grabbing Aingelina's arm her dragged her off to a hidden spot at the edge of the café, away from the people, and said, "I don't care if you train the girls to fight, they seem to like it, but from now on you do it inside the saloon, got it?"
Raising her eyebrows at him she nodded and he left, leaving her with a head full of questions that all came down to one. Would she ever figure that man out?
Soaring high above trees in the early morning sun she floated on a swift breeze, letting it carry her wherever it was headed. It was a lazy day and she intended to enjoy it for all she could. There were things she needed to do, sure, there always were, but today was a day to relax, simply too beautiful to let slip away under the stress of living the daily grind. Spotting a nice place to perch she came down from the wind and hopped along the thick rail, peering in through the windowed door at the woman on the other side. She was lying in a large bed, tossing and turning from side to side as though there were something in the bed with her. Suddenly, and with enough force to startle her watcher, the woman sat up, chest heaving. Placing a hand to her chest with a scowl on her face the woman got up from the bed and crossed to the doors, throwing them wide open and drawing in a deep breath of the early morning scent. Her gaze fell on the little one perched on the rail and the woman smiled.
"It's a beautiful morning isn't it?" she asked. The little bird cocked its head to one side, listening to the sound the woman made. "How long do you think I'll have these nightmares? Every time it's the same. Pa chases me, telling me he'll kill me if I ever leave him. I don't like them." The woman laughed as she stared across the street to another wooden building. "Life sure does throw us some curves doesn't it? I bet you've got it easy. Flying above the trees, soaring in the clouds... sounds wonderful. Do you have any chicks? A mate? I'm sure you love them very much. You should go tell them."
With a wave of her hand Aingelina waved away the little bird resting on the rail before she turned to go inside. A few moments later she emerged onto the street, donned in her pants, shirt left out to flow loose and free over the pants, her hair pulled away from her face in a 'horse-tail'. With light steps she approached Grace's café and saw it humming with activity, Grace rushing around to serve the overflow of people from the train station. Watching her for a moment as she hurried at a near frantic pace Aingelina smiled and grabbed a coffee pot, heading over to one man who was waiting for some of the black brew. Pouring him a cup she was called over to another man who also had been waiting. Soon Aingelina was pouring cup after cup of coffee for those waiting while Grace cooked and served their breakfast. Approaching a table in the corner she saw Jake, Loren, Timothy, and Preston waiting impatiently, grumbling about it.
"We out to be served first! We live here after all!" Loren complained, Jake nodding his head and glaring at Grace as she passed by them yet again.
"Morning gentlemen. Coffee?" They nodded their heads and she placed four tin mugs onto the table filling each almost to the brim. Picking up one she placed one in front of Timothy, pulled his hand to the handle, and smiled. "Good morning Timothy. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well, thank you Aingelina, and..."
"Good to hear," she said, cutting him off before he could return the question in kind. "What would you gentlemen like for breakfast this morning?"
"You working for Grace now?" Jake asked after everyone had placed his order.
"No, just helping out a friend. Guess you could say it was my way of showing her how much I love her. I'll go see about your order," she said, smiling at them as she moved away; putting the coffee pot back on the fire and setting it up to make some more.
"Aingelina!?! What are you doing?" Grace asked as she came over with three more orders. "You don't have to help me. I can't pay for your help."
"I don't want your money Grace! You needed help, that's why I'm here. I need two orders of scrambled eggs and toast and two of oatmeal with brown sugar. I've got another pot of coffee going already so if you'll show me a piece of paper and pencil I can take your orders and deliver them that way you can concentrate on cooking."
Grace stared at the woman before her. Laughing she hugged her and handed over the paper and pencil without a moments hesitation. While the coffee was finishing Aingelina headed over to another table just filled to take their orders. Returning she gave the paper to Grace and grabbed the coffee pot to refill the customers tins. Smiling at the people she greeted them with equal kindness whether she knew them or not. Refilling tin mugs, taking orders and delivering them she worked away the morning until the rush had passed and the café calmed down. Standing at one of the tables, refilling a tin cup she looked up when she heard someone call her name.
"Hi Aingelina!"
Her eyes found Brian waving to her as he raced across the yard to school, departing from the family he had traveled in with. Smiling she waved back before returning her attention to the customer. The tin filled she moved away, over to the table where the four men sat. As she approached she saw the Preston had departed from the men but his chair was not empty, Hank had taken his place. "Good morning, Hank," she said as she filled a tin with coffee for him. "What'll you have today?"
"Just coffee."
Nodding she moved over to fill Timothy's tin once more. From the corner of her eye she saw Dr Mike and Sully approach the table. "Morning Dr Mike, morning Sully. Would you like some coffee?" Dr Mike shook her head no but Sully nodded. Grabbing a tin she filled it and handed it to the man before Grace called her away. An order ready for one of the customers Aingelina took the plate to him, a lone man sitting in one of he corner tables. "Here you are," she said, putting the plate before him. "Enjoy."
Before she turned to leave the man reached out and grabbed her wrist. Yanking it away she opened her mouth to scold him when he beat her to the words. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have grabbed you. I... I know you don't I?"
"No," she said with clipped tones. "No you don't." Moving away she didn't go near the table again. Standing with Dr Mike and Sully at the table where the four men sat she listened to the conversation with half an ear, her mind raking over her memories to put a name to a face that she didn't recognize. So focused in her mind she almost hit the person that laid a hand on her shoulder, jumping in her skin at the weight of their hand. Turning she saw that it was the man. Jerking sharply she pulled her shoulder out from under his hand and glared at him as the conversation fell silent. Aingelina sensed that they were watching the man intently to see who he was and what he was doing.
"I do know you," he said, his voice filled with confidence.
"No, you don't."
"Yes I do. You're Aingelina Bowry."
Aingelina stood still, her eyes searching his face for a sign of what he wanted. Was he sent by her father too keep an eye on her until he could get there? Was he looking for the reward that no doubt had been put on her head? What did he want with her?
"Who are you?" she asked.
Her body tensed everyone could see she was either going to hit him or run. Seeing it himself he put up his hands and took a step back to show her he meant no harm. "I'm the little boy who pulled your best friends braid and then got knocked flat by her Guardian Aingel," he grinned, hoping she would remember his schoolyard hijinks.
Staring at him for a moment Aingelina's memories clicked into place and she realized that she did know the man who stood before her. "Tommy Haskins?"
Smiling at her, breathing a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to deck him again, he nodded. "I'm passing through on my way Missouri, got a wife, you remember Millie Johnson? We got us a home, couple of kids, too. I didn't recognize you until that kid called your name. That's one name I don't think I'll ever forget. He your boy?"
"No, no I'm not married."
His face grew grave suddenly as he lowered his voice. "You still living with your kin?"
Aingelina met his eyes with her own serious ones. "No."
Tom's face smiled once more and he released a small laugh. "Good. I'd heard a rumor that you'd run but no one could confirm it. I can't stay but it was damn good to see you again Aingelina. You ever get Missouri way you be sure to look me up. There'll always be a place at my fire for you."
Nodding at his invitation she said, "Thank you Tom."
Putting his hat on his head Tom moved away from the group with a nod to Dr Mike and a final look to his old schoolmate. After he had moved away Aingelina turned her attention back to the coffee pot on the table. Reaching out for the handle she picked it up to put it back on the fire to keep warm. It was then that her fear at being recognized made itself known; the lid of the large black pot rattled in its place as her hands shook, unable to steady them she dropped the pot back onto the table and closed her eyes. With a deep breath to steady her emotions she picked up the pot with two hands and moved away from the table to the fire, the gazes of the men and woman burning into he back as she walked away. Standing at the fire, pot above it to keep warm Aingelina steadied her nerves. Tommy Haskins was a good man, she knew he'd never do anything to her, but if he came through here who else would?
"Aingelina!"
Spinning on her heel so quickly that her hair flew over her shoulder, Aingelina stared wide eyed as yet another person called her name. Seeing that it was Claire she blinked and forced the fear from her eyes, replacing it with a smile as her friend neared. "Hi, Claire." With a deep breath she calmed her quaking hands and racing heart she joined the girl in going over to the table. A small shake of her head and a weak smile silenced them on the subject of Timothy Haskins, though Aingelina was sure they would think on it all day, a juicy tidbit they'd been given; how long until the entire town heard of it?
"Aingelina, I'm headed out to the reservation today. It's a nice ride if you'd like to join me."
"On Charlie?"
Dr Mike smiled and shook her head. "No. In the wagon with me, I'm taking over some supplies for the Indians. Should only be a few hours but it might take all afternoon."
"I'd like that," she said with a nod.
"But not until you've eaten!" Grace declared. "After helping me all morning the least I can do is give you a decent breakfast."
"I'll be at the clinic when you're finished, Aingelina. See you there."
Dr Mike and Sully went off to load the wagon with the supplies while Loren and Timothy needed to get back to the store, Jake walking back with them. Aingelina watched as Jake and Loren whispered to each other as soon as they were some distance away, Timothy shaking his head as he listened to the two men gossiping as much as the older women of the town would. Part of her cringed while the other part laughed, she would certainly be well known in this town by the time she left it. With a slight shrug of her shoulders Aingelina sat down in the seat Timothy had vacated and wrapped her hands around the mug Grace set before her. Sipping from it she looked to Claire still standing a few feet away. "Come on, Claire, come sit with me." The girl glanced at Grace and then to Hank before slipping into the seat next to Aingelina.
"How did last night go?"
Hank glanced at her curious as to why she would be asking how a whore's night went.
"Oh it was good! We were all in my room and I showed them everything you showed me. All the girls want to learn so we were wondering if you could show all of us like you did me. Would you?"
Aingelina gave a small laugh. "Sure. Not today, maybe tomorrow, but you'll have to clear it with Hank. I can't afford to pay for all of you."
Claire turned her attention to Hank, sitting across the table from her. "Will you let us?" she asked him.
"I'll think about it," he said gruffly. "Get back to work." Watching the girl flee the café he glared at Aingelina. "If they try anything on me, I'm holding you responsible," Hank declared to her, his face a mask of annoyance but Aingelina could see the glint of biting humor in his eyes.
"If they try anything on you, you probably deserved it."
Aingelina met his cool eyes with her own defiant ones, daring him to contradict her words. She was in the mood to spar with someone, some way to release the pent up fear and anger she'd been dealing with these last few weeks; the emotions had finally caught up with her and were building behind the dam she kept in her heart, almost ready to explode. Hank could see it in her eyes and knew this was neither the time nor the place to do so. He would enjoy the moment when it came, but it would be better for the both of them if no one else, no one needed to know that he was being a nice guy about something, anything. Shaking his head he got up and left the table when Grace brought her a plate of steaming eggs and ham. With long, lazy strides Hank made his way to the clinic to see a wagon almost fully loaded with supplies. Up on the porch Dr Mike stood with Katie while Sully loaded the last crate
"I'll be comin' along with you Michaela. I got a whiskey shipment to make."
Michaela frowned but said nothing, watching him swagger away towards the saloon. She hated the fact that he sold to the Indians on the reservation. He knew it and it made him laugh. Hank enjoyed the fact that she disliked what he did and that made her dislike it even more. With a disgusted groan she went inside to gather her medical bag and make sure it was filled with everything she needed. Pulling one last bottle from her cabinet she head footsteps enter the clinic and turned to see Aingelina enter from the outside. "Oh good, you're here. We'll be leaving in just a few moments. Hank will be joining us; he wants to make a whiskey shipment to the reservation," she said, her frown deepening.
"You don't want him to come?"
"Not if he's selling whiskey to the Indians. I don't like it at all."
"Why?"
Michaela turned to look at Aingelina, her face a mixture of anger and disbelief that someone would actually ask that question when the answer was so plain to see. "The Indians don't need whiskey, they need food and seeds to plant, blankets and medicine."
"Well the men here need all those things too but you don't hate Hank for selling to them, do you?"
"Well... no. I wish he didn't but it's his business."
"Then why are the Indians so different?"
Michaela sighed; frustrated that someone else was taking his side on the issue. "We almost lost some very sacred arrows because he sold the whiskey to them. If we hadn't been able to get them back it would have fared very badly for the Cheyenne Nation."
"But you got them back?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then what's the problem?"
"If he hadn't been selling to them in the first place we never would have lost them! Why are you defending him!?!"
With a sardonic laugh Aingelina leaned against the doorjamb, her arms folded over her chest. Her temper was wearing thin with her friend who thought the world should agree with her every decision. Until now she'd agreed with her for the most part but Aingelina could see that this was one point they wouldn't agree on and that didn't sit well with Michaela. Neither woman noticed Hank leaning against the wagon, his crates loaded into the back of it, listening to their debate. "If it wasn't Hank selling whiskey to the Indians then it would have been someone else. You should be glad it's Hank. If the arrows had been sold to someone else they'd have ended up in the fire or sold to some rich man back east as a knick knack for his den in some big mansion somewhere. Instead they were sold to Hank who, after a price I'm sure, sold them back to you. You got them back and you should be glad. Hank took advantage of a new group of people who wanted the whiskey he was selling. It was a business decision. You trying to make him stop or change would be like someone coming in here and telling you how to run your clinic, telling to not to help the Indians just because they don't like you doing it." Aingelina thought about Michaela's last question. "I'm not defending him as a person, Dr Mike, I'm defending his decision as a business owner."
Though she didn't like Aingelina's decision Michaela knew she couldn't force her opinion onto the woman and let the subject drop. Gathering her bag she shut the door to the clinic behind herself and Aingelina and turned to see Hank lounging against the wagon, a pleased grin on his face. He'd heard everything they'd said. Glaring at him she climbed up into the wagon and grabbed the reins. Aingelina climbed up next to the woman while Hank stretched out over the crates and blankets, lying back to enjoy the ride. The day was beautiful and the ride seemed to fly for Aingelina who watched the scenery as it passed by, finding another kind of peaceful feeling in it's simple beauty, she could feel her nerves beginning to unwind a little. By the time they had arrived at the reservation she was able to smile once more without forcing her mouth to move up in the corners. Staying with Dr Mike she watched as the wagon was unloaded and the patients from her last visit were checked over for their progress.
Hours had passed before she realized it and Aingelina was ready to go. Dr Mike however still had more patients to attend to on the reservation. Not wanting her patient to get worn down she asked Hank to walk with Aingelina back to town with explicit orders to stop and rest when she got tired. Carrying a small bag with him of things he had gotten in exchange for the whiskey Hank and Aingelina set off on foot, knowing Dr Mike would need the wagon to return when it was dark and not the time to be on foot. Though he at first was a good ten feet ahead of the woman the two eventually found a matched pace to walk in. Not long into their journey, though far enough from the reservation to prevent them from hearing and her from returning, Hank spoke.
"That guy scared you earlier, didn't he?"
Next to him he could sense Aingelina tense up as she walked. "Of course not."
"Sure. I mean you never could pick up a pot of coffee. I was surprised you managed to carry it around this morning at all." Aingelina glared at him but said nothing so he kept poking. "Good thing you'll be having those lessons with the girls, maybe next time you'll be able to knock him flat before he gets close enough to touch you." She picked up her pace, one that he matched easily with his long legs, and he knew she was getting close to the edge. "That is, if you can actually hit the man."
Stopping in her tracks she turned to face him, her eyes glaring cold enough to freeze a man. He'd gotten her right where he wanted her. "What are you trying to do here, Hank? Make me angry?"
"Its working isn't it?"
"Why?"
"Because you look like you could use a fight and I'm in the mood to give you one."
"I don't want to fight you," she said before resuming her stride.
"Yeah, I guess you really aren't one for fighting back when you get attacked." Oh this was going to make her so very mad. "After all you let your father beat the shit out of you every night, why not me..." Hank never got to finish his sentence when her hand caught his mouth with a resounding slap. Feeling the sting of her hand on his skin he knew the fun was just getting started.
"Who the hell do you think you are to tell me anything? You don't know a thing Hank, not one damn thing!"
"You sure? I know you were beaten but did you ever once fight back? You can give it as much as you get it but did you ever hit him back? Did you fight him or did you just lie there and take it like some beat down dog!?!"
Hank didn't see it coming until he was flat on his back, blood streaming from his lip. Looking up he saw her standing up her, fists clenched, nostrils flared in her anger, eyes pinning him to the dirt road. "Shut the hell up!" she yelled. "Yes, he beat me every damn night since I was six years old, and no, I never once fought him back. You have no idea what it was like; you didn't know him before she died! He was a good man who loved his children, play with them, and take care of them! He used to hold me when I cried and tell me how much he loved me! Then she died and he started drinking and hitting and I couldn't hit him back no matter how much he hurt me because I could still remember, I remembered the way he used to care about me and how much I loved him!"
Standing over him, hair falling forward, face red with anger, frustration and pain, tears streamed from her eyes, flowing down her cheeks and falling into the dust below. Turning on her heel she moved away from him suddenly and kept walking while Hank got to his feet. Following her he knew she was still crying, he could hear it and see it as Aingelina couldn't walk straight, stumbling over holes and rocks in her path. Her hands swept away tears but they kept flowing making her even more upset. "Damn you Hank!" she yelled, stomping her foot in the dirt.
Approaching her stationary figure he held out a neckerchief for her to take. He'd caused this and it was exactly what she needed to do, even if she didn't know it yet. Towering over her he was silent as she pulled herself together, eventually the tears stopped and she was calm once more. Sheepishly she turned to face him and to apologize for hitting him when she saw the blood still trickling from his lip. He'd brushed it off with his sleeve but it was still flowing some. "Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw the blood. With careful hands she held his chin with one hand, gentle yet firm, while he other pressed the neckerchief to his lip, dabbing the red life away and applying pressure to stop its flow. The cut clotting sufficiently Aingelina looked up to meet his eyes. She looked at his eyes and understood why he had made her so angry; she knew Hank hadn't been sparking a personal battle, just a catalyst to help her expel some of her pent up anger. "I didn't realize I was so easy to read."
"You're not, I just know it when I see it."
Staring at him for a moment Aingelina stretched up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly. "Thank you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was just beginning to shine in the sky upon a group of tried women in the clearing at the edge of town.
"All right is every one ready?" Standing before a small group of girls Aingelina motioned for Claire to join her up front . "Now Claire showed you a few of the basics, I'm going to show some more things, something a little more detailed. First I want everyone to pair up with another girl. Okay now one girl grab the other girl from behind like this," she instructed, demonstrating on Claire. "When someone grabs you like this you take your elbow and as hard as you can push it into their ribcage using the point to dig in." Having already gone over the maneuvers with Claire the girl knew what she was talking about and demonstrated it for the rest of the group and each duo tried it in imitation, taking turns with each other.
It wasn't long until they had learned a few moves, enough to get away from whoever were attacking them. Aingelina could tell from the way they moved and hit that these girls really didn't have much strength to them. Now it was time for some strength training. After telling them to return to the saloon in one hour she sent two over to Robert E to move sacks of grain and two to Grace to help rearrange the café's tables and chairs. Aingelina sent the last two to the church to help Sully repair the church doors while she and Claire went back to the saloon to do some fixing and move the tables around. Leaving Claire to rearrange the tables Aingelina went off in search of Hank, her good mood making it impossible to keep from tormenting her new friend. The walk back to town a few days ago had been the beginning of a new friendship for her and Aingelina knew she would have a good time teasing him.
Tiptoeing into his room she saw him, asleep in his bed. With an evil grin Aingelina moved closer and picked up one of his golden locks that were strewn over the pillow. Silently she brushed it under his nose with a light touch, just enough to be irritating. Freezing when he shifted she continued after he had settled down, brushing the tip back and forth across his sin in an irritating pattern, doing all she could to keep from laughing aloud. He shifted again, brushing his hand over his face to rid it of the irritant. The instant he was settled again she continued. Her laughter bubbling forth Aingelina began to giggle softly and bit her lip to keep them to herself. When Hank brushed his hand over his face for the third time a small giggle escaped. The small noise was enough to rouse him and the next time his hair brushed his face Hank awoke with a start.
"What the hell!?!" he roared, his eyes opening in time to see a flash of black hair escape into the hallway and the laughter floating back to soothe his ears. Grumbling to himself he pulled on his pants and, not bothering with a shirt just yet, stomped into the main room only to stop in his tracks at the sight before him. Chair piled up along the walls and tables scattered with them he saw Claire and Aingelina lifting one and moving it to another spot on the floor. "What the hell are you doing!?!"
"Rearranging," Aingelina said, her smile still itching to burst forth from the memory of tormenting Hank in the world of the awake.
"What!?!"
"Rearranging. It's not a difficult concept to grasp Hank. We're moving what was here to there and what was there to here."
Hank glared at her, his half awake eyes showing that he was not pleased. "Who said you could do this?"
"I did." Aingelina stood up and met his gaze, still twitching with a held back smile. "You were asleep, so I said we could go ahead and do it."
"Asleep, no thanks to you."
Aingelina tried to look innocent. "Me? What did I do?" Ignoring her Hank moved to his bar to get a glass of whiskey but found it blocked by chairs. Laughing at him Aingelina called out, "If you help us we'll get done even faster." Though a scowl still graced his face Hank flashed her a grin. Walking to the front of the bar he sat down on the bar itself and reached behind for a glass and a bottle before sitting and watching the women work. Sweating and struggling they moved the tables around before placing the chairs under them. Exhausted Claire dropped into a chair and Aingelina sat on a table when they had finished putting the last chair in its place. "Done!" they cried at the same time, glad that the chore was over. With a tired sigh Aingelina flopped back onto the table she was sitting on, her legs hung off the end and her arms stretched out from side to side.
Before any words could be said the first pair of girls dragged themselves into the bar. Hank watched as one dropped into the nearest chair while the other trudged up the stairs and Hank could hear her flop onto a bed on the second floor. Opening his mouth to say something he was cut off by the other four entering the bar as tired as everyone else. "What the hell happened to you?" he asked them, not caring which answered.
"We were at the blacksmith's moving grain," one girl said.
"We had to move all the tables at the café," the second said.
"Sully had us holding the doors so he could fix them and then move the wood planks to the other side of the church so he could get to them easier," the third said.
"You've got them to tired to work!" he complained to Aingelina, he knew full well who had done this to them.
Lifting her head to look at him she grinned. "Just wait till you see what I have planned for tomorrow."
All of the whores groaned in protest and got up to get some sleep before they customers started coming. Watching them leave Hank turned his glare to Aingelina. "I thought I told you..."
"You told me that you'd hold me responsible for whatever happened and I'm fine with that," she interrupted. Getting up from the table she was on she smiled at Hank. "I'm hungry, get a shirt on and lets go get some breakfast while they sleep," Aingelina ordered playfully.
Not bothering wait for him she got off the table and headed out toward the café. She was already seated and taking a sip of coffee when he showed up and joined her, his scowl still on his face but she could see the smile in his eyes. Smoking his cigar Hank watched as Grace approached their table, a strange look on her face. "Morning, Aingelina, Hank."
"Morning Grace. Could I have some eggs and bacon? Toast too."
"Sure thing Aingelina. Hank?"
"Just coffee."
Nodding she poured his coffee, refilled Aingelina's and moved away, questions burning in her mind. Brow furrowed in thought Aingelina turned to Hank. "Why don't you eat breakfast?"
Hank shrugged. "Just don't. That a problem for you?"
"No, I was just wondering. Doesn't bug me if you don't want to eat." From the corner of her eye she saw Brian wave as he ran to school and Aingelina waved back to him. "Its just a little odd that's all. But it does fit with everything else I've heard."
That caught his attention. "Heard what?"
"Oh you know," she said, dragging out her answer to torment his limited patience. "Just things that you hear when other people aren't around. Gossip mainly, some rumors, nothing too bad."
Hank met her gaze with an amused grin. "Like?"
"Do you really eat raw meat?"
"Sometimes."
"Yech... So far everything I've heard has matched up with what I've seen but there are a few differences." Hank motioned for her to continue. "Well it seems that people in town think you can't read."
"What makes you think I can?"
"You read my letter." She could see the surprise on his face. "Didn't think I knew about that one, did you? You put it back into the wrong side of the saddlebag. There only three people who've had access to my bags. Dr Mike, who wouldn't do something like that, Robert E, who couldn't, and you, who did, and you would probably do it again if you ever had the chance. So why do the people here think you can't read?"
"Never saw the need to tell them." Aingelina rolled her eyes and shook her head, not buying his excuse. "Its not something guys like me are supposed to know, why bother to correct the image?"
Shrugging she accepted that reason, she could see the truth in it. A saloon keeper had to maintain a tough man image, the last thing he'd want to do is make it seem like he had book smarts. "And what about family? I heard that you've got a son."
"Yep."
"Well where is he?" Waiting for him to answer it seemed he wasn't going to and she wondered why.
Hank puffed a few times on his cigar before he finally answered her. "Denver." The tone of his voice, the look in his eyes, told her it was a topic to be avoided and she granted him that, for now. Grace came to their table once more with a plate and to fill their coffee once more before moving off to other customers. Silence fell over the table while Aingelina ate and Hank smoked. Finishing her meal they sat at the table for a bit longer, talking about various topics, nothing too serious or in depth about themselves, just observations they had made about each other and about the men and women of Colorado Springs. Only when Dr Mike came calling for Aingelina did they part ways for the day, Hank returning to the saloon and Aingelina going to the clinic for a check up.
"Has there been any pain?"
"Nothing too bad."
Michaela nodded. "Okay. You're healing nicely. Another week or so and I'll be able to remove the stitches."
"When can I get back on Charlie?"
"I'd say by the end of the week, Saturday at the earliest."
"That's three more days!"
"Be glad I didn't say next week!" she countered.
Their parry was interrupted when a woman knocked on the door, a bleeding child in her arms. Escaping from the clinic Aingelina made her way over to Robert E's to see Charlie. Brush in hand she went over his coat until it shined, her hands stroking him lovingly and her voice soft as she spoke to him. Working on some metal by the fire Robert E shook his head as he listened to her. Sometimes it seemed like they could actually understand each other when she got going like she did. Dipping the glowing metal into a bucket of water he saw Hank approaching. Robert E hated doing business with the man but Hank was one of the few cash paying customers he had. Nodding to each other, an uneasy truce between the two men, Hank caught sight of Aingelina in the pen with the enormous horse and watched her while she brushed his mane. Called back to his business with Robert E he made short order of requesting new shoes for his horse and went to stand at the pen, watching the woman work on her horse.
"... so just three more days and then we can go for a ride, okay Charlie? Think you can last that long? God knows I can't. But you will won't you boy? You have the patience of a saint." Charlie shook his head up and down, whinnying in agreement. "Where should we go? The mountains? A meadow where we can just run forever? Follow the road maybe?" Snorting the large horse shook his head in protest. "No road? Yeah you're right. We'll be on that soon enough I guess. How about the meadow then? Sound good?" Once more he shook his head and nuzzled her shoulder in agreement. "Good. So be ready 'cause it's just you and me on Saturday."
"You're crazier than people said," he called out as she fell silent. Aingelina spun on her heel and saw Hank watching her. "Talking to a horse? People are likely to think you should be locked away."
"What do I care what people think? Let them think what they will, I know the truth."
"And what's the truth?"
"I'm crazy as a loon," she smiled at him before turning to finish Charlie's coat. With a few more strokes she finished and left the pen after kissing her giant friend on his long neck. Grabbing a handful of grain from the bag she met him at the gate and fed Charlie a small snack. "All right Charlie, that's it for today, I have to get over to Grace's." Patting his neck she called out a goodbye to Robert E and turned to face Hank. "See you tomorrow."
"No hair next time!" he called after her earning a laugh in return.
"Are you sure there'll be a next time?" The wind carried that faint question back to him and he laughed. Turning he left the blacksmith shop and sauntered into the store for his order of glasses. Jake and Loren were already there and a small group of women were huddled in the corner by the material, whispering and gossiping among themselves. "My glasses here yet?"
"Yeah, over here." Following Loren over to the back corner of the store Hank hefted up the crate of glasses and moved back to the counter to pay for them. "It's five dollars." Money crossed the counter and Hank was readying to leave when Loren continued. "What's been going on with your whores Hank? People been talking all day that they was working all over town, even at the church," he whispered.
"So?"
"So, it ain't right," Jake interjected. "Now I ain't got nothing against your whores but they need to learn to stay at the saloon. They can't be going all over town like they were this morning. It ain't fittin'."
"They got the right to go where they please. You don't want them there, you tell them. I don't give a damn either way."
Picking up the crate he left the store and went back to the saloon to unpack the glasses. Setting the wooden box down on the he opened it and wondered if it was worth the fuss to let the girls keep training with Aingelina. Like he told Jake, he didn't care one way or the other, so long as they did their work they could do whatever they damn well wanted. But was it worth it? Could they really learn how to fight off a man?
"Claire," he bellowed, calling the girl to his side.
Moments passed and the girl appeared by his side. "Yeah Hank?"
"Come here." Moving out in front of the bar he held up his hand, palm out fingers to the sky. "Hit my hand."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I said hit my hand."
Claire shook her head. "I can't Hank. She said not to hit you, that we could practice on each other but that we couldn't hit you."
"Who said that?"
"Aingelina."
"She actually told you not to hit me?" Claire nodded. "Well I'll be damned." Hank shook his head with a slight grin. "I'm telling you to hit my hand, just this once, it's okay. Try it any other time and I'll smack you into the next room, got it?" Nodding her head Claire balled her fist and swung with all her might. Her aim was a little low and still somewhat weak but the impact was good and Hank knew she was learning something from the days she spent with Aingelina. "All right, unload these glasses and sweep the floor." Leaving the saloon he stood on the front porch for a moment, thinking things over in his mind, before stepping off and heading over to Grace's, his mind made up. Grabbing Aingelina's arm her dragged her off to a hidden spot at the edge of the café, away from the people, and said, "I don't care if you train the girls to fight, they seem to like it, but from now on you do it inside the saloon, got it?"
Raising her eyebrows at him she nodded and he left, leaving her with a head full of questions that all came down to one. Would she ever figure that man out?
