THE BEGUILEMENT OF KID CURRY - Chalet Ten
Heyes was surprised that after setting the tray down, Miss Martha reached behind him and readjusted his pillows so he could sit upright. She laid another pillow across his lap, laying a towel across it before setting the plate down.
Heyes tried to hide his disgust as he spotted bits of mushrooms in the hash. He hated mushrooms; that earthy taste and especially the texture. It was like swallowing snot or those snails Big Mac had talked him and Kid into eating, roaring with laughter at their expressions as they slid down their throats.
Heyes gave Miss Martha a strained smile as he looked at the hash with the bits of mushrooms. "Looks delicious." He lied.
She took a seat next to his bed and waited anxiously for him to take a bite.
"Go ahead Joshua...Want to make sure I seasoned it properly for your taste."
"I'm sure it's fine. Thought I'd wait...food looks a bit hot."
Miss Martha remained in the chair, refusing to leave until he had taken a bite.
Heyes swallowed hard and with a forced smile he spooned a bite into his mouth. He hoped his face didn't convey his disgust.
"Seasoned perfectly," he said through his mouthful of food.
She waited until he swallowed and stood, heading for the door.
"You sure you are okay Miss Martha?"
She stopped with her hand on the door, turned and smiled, "Never better." She said as she left the room.
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Heyes had purposefully selected a bite with the least amount of mushrooms. He had even managed to push some aside with his spoon before putting the hash in his mouth. With his tongue he pushed some more to the side of his mouth and held them there until Martha left. He quickly spit them on the plate. They had a weird bitter taste.
He looked towards the door, straining to hear any moment. Satisfied, he sat the plate aside, got out of bed and limped to the open window where he dumped the food into the vegetation below.
Heyes had almost made it back to the bed, when suddenly his legs felt heavy. The pain in his belly had come on so strong and intense that it doubled him over in pain. He threw up the mouthful of food he had eaten as the room started to spin and his head exploded in pain. He made a lunge towards the bed but missed and collapsed unconscious to the floor.
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"Have you seen Joshua?" Amy asked Miss Martha.
"Yes. Why dear?" Miss Martha said innocently.
"Well...usually he doesn't stay in his room. He has been taking his meals-."
"I think he is getting rest before Thaddeus gets back. I'm sure they have a long trip home. I took him his breakfast and he was fine.
Amy's look of confusion remained on her face. Miss Martha almost sounded happy they were leaving, where before, she had encouraged Amy to become friendly with Joshua in hopes that if one stayed, they both would.
"Maybe I should check-."
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Martha hissed as her eyes darkened with rage.
"HE...IS...FINE! Go back to the girls and finish what I asked. NOW!"
Amy stumbled away from Martha, her eyes brimming with tears.
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Amy helped the girls for a while before she set her shovel down and told them she needed to tend to the animals. Some of the girls started to protest but Amy had already walked away, quickly slipping into the barn. She grabbed a bucket and quickly gathered the eggs and headed towards the house. She set the bucket on the table and listened. Hearing nothing, she quietly snuck down the hallway towards Joshua's room. Standing before the door, she quickly checked both ways down the hall, as her heart pounded in her chest. She slowly turned the door knob only to find the room locked. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her spare key. She was sure Martha didn't know there was a second key, but before she had a chance to use it, she heard Martha's upstairs bedroom door close with its familiar creak and footsteps heading towards the staircase. Amy quickly and quietly fled out through the kitchen and out the back door.
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Martha saw the eggs on the table and hurried to Joshua's bedroom door. She turned the handle and was relieved to find it still locked. Instead of opening the door, she pressed an ear to it. Satisfied, when she heard no sound coming from beyond the door she headed outside to check on the girl's progress digging the hole.
The girls were covered in sweat and dirt. Their hair hung in wet strands that clung to their faces; irritated they pushed them from their faces with an angry sweep of their hands. When Miss Martha approached, they looked up anxiously in anticipation of her telling them they could quit and resume their regular chores. But instead she peered into the hole; the expression on her face indicating her displeasure.
"Today Ladies. You will finish today."
One of the younger girls wiped her blistered hands on her dress and looked at Miss Martha with tears in her eyes. She held her hands out to show Miss Martha, but was stopped with one unsympathetic look from Martha.
"Amy, go get these girls some gloves and be quick about it. I'll have no more whining. You'll have no sympathy from me." She held her hand out for Amy's shovel.
"Quickly," she hissed.
Amy nodded obediently and hurried towards the back porch where the gloves were stored. She looked back and saw Martha starting to dig with the girls. She bypassed the back porch and hurried to Joshua's and Thaddeus' room window. Standing on her tiptoes she could see the unmade bed with no Joshua. As she started to take a step closer she felt her shoe slip on something in the grass. It was food covered with flies.
"Joshua?" She whispered. No answer. "Joshua?" She said louder, looking furtively around. Still no answer. She jumped and pulled herself up to the sill. She kicked out one time, which pushed her over the sill and dropped her into the room.
Heyes was lying on the floor, unmoving. He looked dead.
She quickly took a seat beside him and laid a trembling hand on his back. She lightly shook it and leaned close to his face. There was dried vomit by his mouth.
"Joshua?" She shook him harder, relieved when she heard him groan.
Amy rolled him carefully on his back. She stood and wet a cloth to wipe his face. His eyes fluttered open. She wiped his mouth but stopped and stared at the cloth. There were bits of undigested mushrooms on the rag.
Mushrooms.
"Joshua, you have to get up. You have to get out of here." Amy voice was growing frantic.
Heyes blinked his eyes slowly, not comprehending what she was telling him. Amy started tugging on his arm trying to pull him upright.
"We have to hurry." she pleaded. "Please..before it's too late."
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Kid switched his saddle to his new horse, transferred his saddlebag and refilled his canteen. He grabbed the saddle horn and pulled himself into the saddle with one smooth motion before spurring his horse into a gallop and heading out of another quickly forgotten town.
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