Chapter Eight
Heath walked slowly to Hanky's store. Feed, seed, a dairy cow, chickens in a pen—reeked in the warm evening air. The sign said Closed.
He knocked anyway and a large, older woman with a child on her hip came to the door.
"Closed but I will open— if you are paying cash."
"Just need some information."
"Then we are closed."
He put his foot into the door, "I will pay" and he handed her a coin.
"Ok. What information?"
"Looking for a friend. Sally Worth?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, "That's her given name. Not her married name—She ain't that kinda girl. Just 'cause she works at a bar don't mean she's loose."
"I know that. I am an old friend."
"She ain't here."
"Tell her Heath is here."
The storeroom door opened and an orange skirt popped out.
He recognized that color anywhere.
"Heath?"
She came out with her hair in a ponytail with a few tendrils askew.
"You shoulda written?" she whispered.
They didn't take their eyes off each other.
"Well, I guess you two do know each other. Sally, finish up those ledgers and lock up."
"Yes ma'am."
The worn orange dress had been remade into a skirt and vest. A long sleeve brown work shirt was altered to fit her underneath.
"Would you like sumthing to drink?" she said awkwardly.
"Just wanna talk."
"Come on, back here," and she pointed to the stockroom, "I am almost done for the night."
"I will wait," as he closed the door behind them.
He looked around the small room as she sat back down at the table with the large green ledger books. Musty shelves with extra stock, rolls of parcel paper, and string—He watched her nervously tabulate numbers and redo them in exasperation.
"Sally, you gonna break down that pencil. Let's talk first."
She nodded with tears in her eyes.
"I am glad to see you. On my way to Tucson for a horse sale. Left my brother and his wife and daughter up in St John. Has a hurt shoulder."
"St John? Where we met?"
"Yep, best thing about that town in my opinion." He used his gentling voice as Nick called it—-for scared fillies or difficult calving and birthing.
He reached out for her hand. It was clammy and trembling.
"Sally?"
"Heath, I am not who you think I am."
"I will be the judge of that."
She sighed, "I have to finish these last totals so we can talk outside this dingy room."
He looked over at the ledger, "You write and I will cipher."
"Thank you."
She would write out the names and goods. He would total up her columns and add them to the debt sheet. Their closeness was overwhelming to each other.
It took about twenty minutes for them working together.
"All done?"
"Thank you, Heath. You rescued me again."
He winked and trimmed the light. He fought off an overwhelming urge to kiss her in the dim light. He took her arm and she grabbed a worn shawl.
She locked up the store and put the key on a chain around her neck. She tucked it into her shirt.
They walked silently across the street.
"Whoa! Sally? You sparking? Ain't never seen you with man aside your Pa."
"Night Taylor," she waved off the drunken miner.
Several other men tipped their hats to her respectfully while eyeing Heath with suspicion.
"Any cafe or anything else open to talk?" He asked her, holding her arm possessively.
She shook her head, "No but I know a quiet spot."
"Where do you sleep if you aren't at the farm?"
"Back at the post office. It doubles as an assay office.
"Oh."
She grabbed a lantern at the livery door, "Joe, gotta a lantern. Will return it."
"Shore Miss Sally." boomed a voice from inside.
"Where are you staying?"
"Got a room upstairs at the saloon."
He lit the lantern and they walked a few minutes out of town to an abandoned mine shaft. He followed her up a small trail under some evergreens by a small creek. She spread out her shawl and they sat down. It was a long deserted grist mill.
She told him that times were hard and she worked part-time jobs in town. The other days on the farm. Her stepmother was often sick and couldn't help her Father. She brought three children to the marriage.
"She was raised Mormon and married a gentile. He died and she wasn't welcomed back, except as a second wife. Pa took a liking to her and they married. He needs help and a wife. She needed him. They do like each other pretty well. But the rains have been sparse since I returned. Crops failed and little water for the cattle. Down to one horse and a few head."
He filled her in on his family since Nellie and Nick's wedding. It was the last letter he posted before leaving California. She had received it a few days before. and had it in her apron pocket.
The night sky was bright and the moon was starting to come out. Heath gathered some brush and sticks to make a fire.
"Need to keep animals away. You shoulda seen the rattler bite my sister-in-law got one night. Pure ugly."
"I think it was so sweet Nick kept the rattle."
Heath smiled; he had forgotten that he included that in his letters.
"How is Contessa? Zella? Lookalikes marrying twins. That is better than a dime novel. I feel like I know them by your letters."
"The stage ride was hard on Tessa but she made it. Might near a hundred degrees in that stage. Wasn't a dry piece of clothing on any of us. Much more bearable in St. John. The White Mountains make for a good cross breeze."
"Rosemary?"
"Ornery and smart and sweet as can be. She takes after Jarrod more and more each day. Like one of those birds in the circus. A mynah? Repeats all his big words and phrases. They read all the time. She will be adopted as soon as Jarrod gets to the judge. He is in a bad mood with this injury, wanting her to wear his name."
"And Nick adopted Nellie's twins at the wedding? How wonderful."
"It was. They look just like their mama—-and honestly Audra and me too."
"That's good for them growing up. People won't have to wonder or gossip so much—-" as she trailed off her words. She looked deep into the fire as if she were looking for words.
Heath reached over and took her hand, "Sally? I heard something when I came to town."
Large tears flooded her eyes and fell freely. He took his bandana off and wiped them.
She turned to him and he held her in an embrace. His shirt became wet with her sobs.
She cried and cried and cried. Heath just held her.
Pulling back, she dried her face in her apron, "You know what's funny? I haven't cried in years. Literally, years since I decided to come back home and leave poor Lou."
"Lou is helping his mother on their farm. Checked in on him before I left. He told me to tell you hello."
"Oh Heath—That's wonderful news."
"Guess you deserved to get them tears all out. Life hasn't treated you, real fair Sally. Me neither. I haven't been fair. I should have come back before now. I wish I had."
"How long are you staying?"
"I have to be in Tucson next week. Horse sale. Just like last time. Dealers from Mexico."
She nodded, "I am glad you came to visit. I am."
Heath finally just asked her, "Sally, do you have a child?"
She nodded and barely whispered, "Posy. She's fifteen months old."
"Posy. I like the name. My mama used to sing a diddy about posies."
"Her full name is Mariposa Lou."
He grinned, "Spanish for butterflies. That fits ya just right. Lou for the boy in St John?"
She gave him a thankful smile.
"Lou was the second man in my life that ever stuck up for me. You were the first Heath."
"Does Posy's father know?"
She shook her head, "No. he's dead"
"I have to ask. You don't have to answer."
"Tom Wills. That night he—-when I—-" She shuddered.
"The night you tried to save my life as I remember it."
She looked up at him with her large brown eyes, "Heath,"
"Sally," and he finally relented and kissed her deeply. The passion was unleashed between them and he finally pulled away with regret.
"We better get back to town."
"Heath? One more thing before we go. Before you go to Tucson? I lied."
He jerked back and frowned.
"I told people, my Pa. I was married. That my husband worked off in California. He wouldn't have wanted me home with a bastard. I know my Pa. I think he suspected but as long as he had a last name to put in the family Bible, he didn't question it."
"Wills?"
"No," and she bit her lip, "It says Mariposa Lou Heath."
—-&—