Chapter 7: Good
Farnum just knew it was going to be one of those days. Something good was going to happen.
Maybe someone as famous as Wild Bill Hickok, or someone even more famous would roll into camp looking for a room. Or maybe Al'd finally recognize all the good loyal work he'd done. Farnum couldn't say for sure what it would be, but as he exited his hotel, breathing the early morning Deadwood air, he couldn't help but smile.
First stop, always Swearengen's. Dan usually had a strong pot of coffee going and Al'd come down to start the day. Always a good time for some catching up and checking agendas.
"Good morning Mr. Farnum…or should I say Mayor Farnum."
"G'mornin' Mr. Merrick." He called back across the street, not slowing his pace to waste more idle chat.
It looked as though the heavy rains might hold off for today. Farnum was no weather-tellin'-man, but the clouds overhead just didn't look so gray as the ones that poured god knows how much water on the camp.
All it had done was turn the road into an ever sticker muddy sludge. And what self-respecting mayor would be seen with so much mud on his boots?
Farnum suddenly froze mid-stride, seeing the figure down in the mud in front of the Gem. It was quite obviously a woman…fitted white shirt, gray skirt, long black hair. He knelt beside her, pulling some hair away to better see the face.
"Oh God." His stomach dropped to his feet. So much for his good feeling. The marks across the woman's face were quite extensive, and this was not some common whore.
"What is it Mr. Farnum?" Merrick's voice come up behind him. "What're you lookin'…." The hand that had been clapped on Farnum's shoulder in greeting tightened in concern. "Who is that?"
"Nora Hunt," Farnum said without thinking, still studying her face and moving closer, "I don't know what happened…I just found her here."
"She looks pretty hurt…," Merrick assessed, "we best get her to the Doc."
"Y'alright." Farnum moved around her, rolling her over on to her side. "Oh God…look at all the blood!" Her gray skirt was soaked with thick crimson blood, contrasting sharply to the mud stains.
"Come on Farnum," Merrick urged as he moved over to help, "blood won't kill you."
It took the two men only a matter of minutes to carry her to the Doc's, and pound on the door loud enough to rouse him from his sleep. He stumbled to the door half dressed and half alert, until he saw the woman in the men's arms.
"She a whore?" He asked as Farnum and Merrick laid her out.
"No sir," Farnum quickly answered, "she's an ex-resident o' mine. Staying in camp with her brother."
"Where'd you find her?" He asked, pulling up a stool to sit and examine her face.
"Outside the Gem Saloon," Merrick proudly answered, as though glad of finally knowing something, "she ah looked to have been there some time…judging from all the blood on her skirt."
"Blood?" Doc's eyes turned to the two men concernedly before moving down to pick at her skirt. It took him no time to find the stain covering the back half of her skirt. "Thank you gentlemen," he said rising to usher them out, "one of you might let the brother know she's here. Maybe he'll know something of what happened." The two men left soon after, agreeing to finding the brother and expressing hopes of rapid recovery. Cochran returned to her side, a dark uncertainty clouding his face as he took to the buttons on her bloody skirt.
"Well ma'am, let's see if we can't figure what's going on…."
xxxxxx
Merrick had opted out of going to speak to the brother. And Farnum couldn't hate him more for it.
"Ah, Mr. Hunt," he called out a little uncertainly, "good morning t'you." He watched the scarecrow of a man turn from looking out over the black hills.
"Good morning." Andy said a little wearily, offering Farnum a small smile. Farnum walked up closer, suddenly finding all his words gone. His eyes fell to the ground uncertainly. He'd never had to tell someone about this kind of thing before. Damn Merrick. "Something I can do for you Mr. Farnum?"
"I…well," Farnum, took off his hat nervously, "maybe not do for me, but maybe do for yourself. Ya see, yer sister last night…she…"
"What about my sister?"
"Found her this morning, in front of the Gem," Andy looked at him in complete disbelief, "she's with the Doc now, getting her injuries looked at. She was bleedin' something terrible."
"But how…she was with Bullock last night…," Andy said softly almost to himself, unable to believe it true, "why would he have done that though?" Maybe this was the good news Farnum was looking for.
"Y-You say she was with Mr. Bullock yester eve?" Farnum asked curiously.
"Yes, she mentioned she would pay him a visit."
"Seems likely then we found our culprit." Farnum watched the disbelief on Andy's face fade into a raw anger that chilled him to the bone.
"Seems that way," Andy ground out before returning his eyes to Farnum, "thank you Mr. Farnum. I think I'll go pay the honorable Mr. Bullock a visit." Farnum couldn't have that—he needed Bullock alive and unharmed, or this news to Al would do him no good.
"Oh no sir—if he did that to your sister, what's to prevent him from doing worse to you?" Farnum pleaded, watching as Andy put on his hat and coat. "Maybe it'd be better to wait until you've seen Nora…see just how bad the damage is." Andy just stared back at him. If he was considering Farnum's words, he gave no sign.
"Very well Mr. Farnum. I'll pay a visit to Nora, and then see to Bullock."
"Good man," the smile returned to Farnum's face as he and Andy started down the street, "if you'll pardon me, I've not had ma'mornin' coffee yet, so I'm not gonna go with ya back to the doc's. Hope yer sister gets better." He tipped his hat before ducking into the Gem. Andy waited a good full minute before continuing down the street, but instead of turning towards Doc Cochran's, he went straight towards the hardware store.
"Good morning Mr. Hunt," Sol greeted warmly, as Bullock locked the shop doors, "we were just on our way to breakfast. Care to join us?"
"No. Bullock?" Seth turned around. "What happened to Nora?"
"I don't know," he answered, finding his anger and concern suddenly rising, "what did happen to Nora?"
"You don't know," Andy stated in disbelief, "she was only with you last night, and then turns up this morning in front of the Gem. I don't know much else, haven't been to see her yet—but I know she was last with you."
"She never came to me." Bullock said coolly, fed up with all the accusing. His eyes scoured the street, landing on the Gem, suddenly remembering coming upon Nora that one day, red marks stretched across her neck. "Swearengen."
"Al Swearengen? He wouldn't." Andy dismissed, keeping his eyes on Bullock's.
"Why not?" Sol asked.
"He's our first cousin that's why." Seth just stared back.
"That wouldn't stop a man like Swearengen unfortunately." Sol shook his head sadly, stepping off the porch.
"Sol, I won't be joining you for breakfast," Bullock said, his eyes never leaving Andy's, "give my apologies and regards to Mrs. Garrett, and let her know I'll meet her at a later time today."
"Sure thing." Sol nodded and started off for Farnum's hotel as Seth stepped off the porch, heading down the street.
"Where do you think you're going?" Andy caught up to Seth, his voice deadly low.
"See to Nora. You?" He coldly asked back, not chancing a glance over.
"Same." A tense silence settled between them for the rest of the short walk—Seth boiling because he knew it was the work of none other than Swearengen; Andy fuming that he didn't know the full story, when she was supposed to have been with Bullock…and after he'd told her to be careful.
Andy rapped anxiously against the rickety door, anger mounting at the lack of sudden response.
"Who's there?"
"Andrew Hunt. Nora's brother." They heard the scraping of a chair and the Doc emerged in the window, opening the door to them both.
"Yes sir, do come in," Andy nodded his thanks, stepping through the door, "him too?" The doc looked from Bullock to Andy uncertainly.
"Him too," Andy agreed reluctantly, "I get the feeling she'd want him here." Somewhere he knew Bullock wasn't the one who hurt Nora. He just looked too concerned. But Andy didn't know what he'd do about it yet. He just needed time to think.
"Well gentlemen," Doc said softly, "the wounds on her face are mostly superficial—bruises, a scrape or two—they'll heal in time. What concerns me is the hit her stomach."
"Hit to her stomach?" Bullock asked, his voice ice cold. Doc nodded solemnly.
"As though someone used a hammer. She's probably got a cracked rib or two, don't think any of 'em are broken though. Might have some internal bleeding, but no way to know for sure." Doc suddenly stopped, his face grave. Neither knew what to say.
"May I see her?" Andy asked, finding his voice about to fail him. He'd never in his wildest dreams imagined something like this happening to Nora. Doc nodded to the back half of his small cabin, and Andy moved forward, gripping his hat tighter. The Doc glanced nervously back, hoping Andy would be far enough out of earshot, before turning back to Bullock.
"You and Ms. Hunt...are close?" He asked curiously, his voice low. Bullock nodded silently, his eyes focused on the back of the room. "Then it seems you're the one to tell. She was pregnant." Seth turned to face the Doc, not believing his ears.
"Pregnant?" Doc nodded.
"She was indeed. The hit to her stomach caused her to lose the child." Bullock felt more rage boil within him—whatever bastard did this to Nora was going to pay. He'd see to that personally.
"Does she know?" He heard himself ask, the note of sadness on his voice evident.
"I doubt she even knew she was pregnant." Doc watched a look of sadness and anger cross Bullock's face as he took everything in. It was only too obvious how much he cared for her. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you," his eyes moved over to Andy as he rejoined them, "for everything you've done for her."
"She looks pretty bad." Andy said, his voice raw.
"I'm optimistic. It'll just take some bed rest. Maybe some walking with a cane 'till those ribs of hers heal. But she'll come out just fine." Bullock moved around the two men towards the back of the cabin to see Nora.
God she looked pale. Must have lost a lot of blood when she lost…. Seth shook his head, unwilling to continue that thought. The right side of her face was covered by loose bandages, a few scrapes marring the other side of her face. He reached a hand down, gently brushing her exposed cheek, vowing to set it all right. Everything from her being injured to the loss of their child.
xxxxxx
"Al!" E.B. rushed over to the bar. "Have I got news for you." Al had to almost keep from rolling his eyes.
"I can only imagine…coming from you E.B."
"Guess who I found in the thoroughfare all bruised and roughed up?" Al already knew and said nothing, giving Farnum a deadpan look. "That Nora Hunt," he continued almost proudly, "and here's the interestin' part—she was last seen with Bullock."
"Who the fuck says that?" Al's brow crinkled in curiosity.
"The brother. He's seeing to her now, but wants to pay a visit to Bullock. But if you pay one first, there'd not be much left for the brother."
"Slow your thinkin' E.B.," Al said calmly, clapping a steadying hand on Farnum's shoulder, "best not get too involved at the outset. Let the brother meet with the cocksucker. If I know the man he is, he won't kill Bullock outright." Farnum's face fell, the smile disappearing.
"Cheer up E.B.," Al said at length, moving to get his tea from Dan, "things'll solve themselves."
If the brother went after Bullock, that might save him a shit load of trouble.
xxxxxx
Al hated admitting he'd been on edge throughout the whole day though. He already knew the truth of the whole matter, and almost regretted he'd been so bold. But it was the same now as it was then…business, just business.
But he couldn't help but wonder if pinning the blame of Bullock would really be that beneficial or believable. Sure everyone knew him to be something of a pain in the ass, but an honorable pain in the ass. But then again…no one really seemed to know the man that well. A stiff knock on the door jarred him from his thoughts.
"Yeah?" He called out disinterestedly.
"Cousin, we need to talk."
"By all means," Al leaned back in his chair, sighing an annoyed sigh as Andy closed the door. It wasn't even nine in the fucking morning. "How's the sister?" Al forced himself to ask.
"She'll live. But she's hurt worse than Cochran said…you don't so look close to death as her just being smacked."
"Get to the fucking point."
"I want a name. Your place, your job to get me a name." So much for Farnum's news.
"Any suspects?" Maybe Bullock's name would come up here.
"No…so I come to you." Al mulled things through, wondering how wise it was to test him. He remembered his childhood a little too well.
"Suppose I get you a name," Al speculated, "what do I get in return?" Business, that's all it was.
"Not only will you never have to worry about my poisons affecting your business again, but I'll remove a thorn from both our sides."