The day went by slowly, too slowly, and Ella found she kept looking out of the window, silently tracing the path of the sun across the sky, waiting and watching for any sign that he was returning. It wasn't until well into the late afternoon that she finally saw his black horse making its way up the path through the village towards them. Ella felt her heart leap in her chest at the sight, she leaned forward, shielding her eyes from the sun and studied him, he seemed to be sitting up in his saddle proudly as always, no hint of injury hung around him and Ella let out a low sigh.
"What is it Ella?" Teresa said, startling her.
"Christ Tessie, don't sneak up on people!" Ella scolded, instantly feeling guilty for her harsh words. "You startled me is all" Ella said, chancing another glance at Joey, her lips curling into a hint of a smile.
"What do you see outside?" Teresa asked, not letting Ella go so easily.
"Oh nothing," Ella said, flustered, "just someone looking a bit drunk near the saloon, made me smile" she lied.
Before another word could be spoken Maria bustled into the house and placed down a basket that contained a dead chicken.
"Joey is back" she said, taking the chicken out and laying it upon the table.
"Oh" said Ella, trying once again to sound disinterested but she saw the strange look upon Teresa's face and knew the girl suspected something more than a town drunk…
Ella turned from the window and patted at her hair, it was tied loosely in a low ponytail, keeping any strands out of her face. It was not long before the familiar sound of heavy boots accompanied by the clink of spurs could be heard coming up the path.
Joey pushed the door open with his foot and quickly closed it behind him with a loud thud, he glanced at her, his eyes glinting slightly.
"Where have you been?" Maria asked, turning to look at him.
Ella watched as the familiar scene began to play out, knowing that it would only end in another argument between mother and son. Joey made no reply as always and wandered further into the house laying his belongings on a far table.
"You are being reckless" Maria said slowly. "You should leave the village and find somewhere to hide."
"I will not hide, I am not a coward." He said the words casually and with a slight mocking, his tone stating clearly what he thought of her. "I will leave when I want to."
"Then you are a fool!" Maria said, her temper flaring. "I cannot keep them from you forever!"
"I am not asking you to Mama." He said the last word with bitter resentment.
"Your temper is getting worse; I cannot have you here if you keep acting this way Joey!"
"Cierra la boca!" Joey said, his anger breaking through.
"Do not to speak to me in such a way!" Maria said darkly. "You treat your brother and sister badly and Ella too has suffered because of you, I will not have you speak to anyone in my home in such a way again!"
Joey's eyes flew to Ella, their eyes met for a few moments. Maria watched him, mistaking his expression for hatred and the wish to do her young friend harm.
"Do not even think of hurting Ella! I will not have you go near her; she is my friend and is worth more than two of you." Maria's anger was in full force.
Ella briefly closed her eyes, knowing that Maria did not mean her cruel words but Maria and her son shared a very similar temperament and when they clashed, words were thrown like knives.
Joey let loose a cruel, dark laugh and looked directly back at his mother, his eyes shining with dangerous amusement.
"Mama" he said slowly, as if he were speaking to someone that was stupid and hard of hearing. "You do not know your friends well…" He glanced slyly at Ella and she felt her heart give a sickening lunge, knowing what he was about to do and feeling the icy dread snake its way up her spine. "Like everything else that has happened in your patetica vida." He said through gritted teeth. "You do not see what is right in front of you."
Maria stared at him, her eyes narrowing as she tried to understand his words. Ella slid her hand over her skirts realizing that she was beginning to sweat slightly with the pressure of the situation.
"What are you talking about?" Maria asked bluntly.
Joey gave a smug smile as if he had just won a great battle and again glanced at Ella. Ella swallowed hard and shook her head trying to warn him to not go any further but the movement was not quick enough to avoid Maria's eyes.
"What is going on?" Maria said, looking from one to the other.
"Your friend, the one you trust so much has been sharing a bed with me for many weeks, usted estúpido mujer." He smirked again.
Maria's mouth opened and then closed as no words were forthcoming. Slowly she turned to Ella, her look puzzled. Ella stared at her wide-eyed, knowing that she couldn't hide it now.
"Your gringo friend is just as much a whore as you Mama" Joey said, his lips curling into a fully vicious smile.
Maria turned, her hand once again connecting with her son's face in a fit of rage. Joey stopped a moment, recoiling from the blow before he again looked up, a shallow laugh emitting from him.
Maria's glaze flew once more to Ella, their normally warm depths blazing with anger and betrayal.
"Is this true?" she asked stiffly. "Have you been lying with my son?!" She paused, glancing at Joey as he continued to laugh. "Have you lied to me all this time?" Her eyes narrowed in disgust at the thought.
Ella's mouth flapped open and closed several times, strangled sounds just making themselves known on her lips.
"Maria," she finally managed, "I…" Her words died and she bowed her head, not knowing what else could be said.
Maria took in a deep breath through her nose and stood up tall, her demeanor proud. "Your silence is all I need to know" she said darkly. "Get out of my house!" she hissed, throwing her arm up in the direction of the door. "You are not welcome here."
Ella stared at her friend, tears already beginning to prick at her eyes. Maria then turned upon Joey.
"Get out of my sight" she said, her voice regaining its calmness. "I will not speak of this again Joey."
"Maria…" Ella tried as Maria began to make her way to the back of the house; the older woman held up a hand, her gesture telling Ella silently that she would listen to no more.
Without glancing at Teresa, not wanting to see the young girl's hurt expression, Ella quickly gathered what belongings she could manage and rushed out of the door, unable to contain the tears that now fell in torrents down her cheeks.
---
Ella returned to the old shack, knowing that she had to now accept that this was her home. She let her bundle fall onto the table and wandered dazedly into the back where she allowed her body to flop onto the bed. She stared up at the cracked ceiling, berating herself for everything and anything and knowing that she had hurt Maria deeply, not by becoming involved with her son but by keeping it a secret from her. She wiped at her now sore eyes and rolled onto her side, bringing her legs up to her chest and hugging a pillow against herself.
She was not in this position for long before she heard the door open and the familiar sound of spurred footfalls filled the room. Joey pushed the curtain aside and looked at her; he carried a large sack over his shoulder. He let the bag fall to the floor and watched her for a moment.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice annoyed.
Ella looked at him through her tears and gave a loud sniff but did not reply, this did not seem to concern him.
"I want to leave a few things here, I feel they will be better kept here than at my mothers'" he said picking, up his bundle and stuffing it into a cupboard. Before closing the doors he searched for a moment before pulling out a small box.
"Here" He threw it towards her and Ella stared down at where it landed near her on the bed. She did not move for several moments. Joey closed his eyes slowly as if fighting back anger and said something in Spanish under his breath. "Open it!" he instructed.
Ella looked down at the box once again and after a moment she sat up and picked it up. Letting her fingers smooth over the fine black leather, she opened it and looked inside, a beautiful delicate ruby and gold necklace sparkled out at her from its white silk pillow.
"I would have left it," Joey said casually, "but I thought you might want it."
Ella glanced up at him and then back down at the necklace, her tears renewing. In a quick blur of movement she had got to her feet and hurled the box just to the side of his head, it hit the wall and fell to the ground with a soft thud.
"I don't want your damn necklace!!! I don't want anything to do with what you steal!!" she screeched, her tears making it hard to control the level of her voice.
Joey flinched as the box flew past him and then looked down at it, his jaw setting in rage as his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Why'd you have t' tell her!" Ella said, her voice losing some of its conviction. "You've ruined everything!" She again slipped down to a sitting position on the bed, her hands covering her face.
"Fine!" Joey said heatedly, he kicked the box violently towards her. "Stay here and cry like the stupid woman you are!" He took a few steps forward, lunging a little at her with his words.
He cursed in his own tongue before turning and throwing back the curtain. Ella heard him knocking over chairs with sounds of outrage and then the door slammed and she was left fully alone.
---
It had been over five days since Ella had last seen Joey, she tried not to venture out of the house if she could avoid it - after all the whole village probably knew why Maria had kicked her out by now and she had no desire to see their stares and hear their cruel whispers as she passed by. Gordo and Billy as always were still kind to her and Billy visited her on a regular basis, helping her with food and other chores. Ella knew he felt more than grateful to her for near enough paying off the money he owed to the saloon and she felt the same feeling in return for his kindness now.
"How is Maria?" Ella asked as casually as she could manage, eating the small amount of stew Billy had brought with him.
"She's calmin' some; her temper makes her say things she don't mean, you know that." Billy paused, his old eyes studying her. "She'll come around soon and want to talk to you," he smiled, "you'll see."
Ella nodded."I hope so."
"Has Joey been around lately?" Billy asked, raising his eyebrows.
Ella glanced away quickly, embarrassment hiding behind her eyes. "No, not since… not since a few days ago."
Billy nodded. "You shouldn't have gone gettin' yourself involved with him" Billy said, and Ella put her spoon down in exasperation knowing he was going to again reprimand her for her behavior.
"So you've already said Billy."
"I'm fond of Mary, would be fond of Joey if he let me… but I can't say he's got any good in him Ella, he ain't no good."
"You've already said that too" Ella said, giving him a look verging upon being a warning.
"I know, alright, don't start getting mad now." He paused and stroked absently at his beard. "I just don't understand you girl, you don't seem the type to lose your wits over a handsome face."
"It wasn't just his face" Ella said, a little more sulkily than she had intended. "I kinda liked him; he grew on me I guess."
"Grew on you?" Billy hooted a laugh. "Well ain't that a first, Joey growin' on someone." He chuckled to himself while Ella tried to control the annoyance that was stirring inside her.
"I was thinking of maybe going to visit Maria… not soon but…"
"Na, I think you should wait" Billy said, reaching for his hat. "Let her come to you."
Ella nodded, "Thanks again for the food Billy."
Billy gave her a comforting smile. "You're welcome, if I hear of any work I'll be sure to let you know, you might have to travel though."
"That's okay" Ella said. "Just appreciate you lookin' for me."
Billy opened the door as Ella stood from her seat to see him out but the old man's departure was halted quickly as he came face to face with Joey. The two men stared at each other as if sizing up an opponent.
"Evenin' Joey" Billy said with a nod.
Joey cast a repulsed eye over the old man before barging past him and into the house.
"Well, night Ella" Billy said, tugging the brim of his hat, his eyes bearing a look akin to warning advice.
"Night" Ella said closing the door after him.
"What is that old man doing here?" Joey asked before she had had chance to turn and face him.
"That 'old man' has been bringing me food so I didn't starve these last few days."
"You could have found me" Joey said, not looking at her and making his way to the back room. Ella shifted the bolt of the door into position and followed him.
"Well, I didn't much feel like seein' you" she said, watching him begin to remove his gun belt.
"I am tired" he declared, stating clearly within his tone that he no longer wished to discuss the matter.
He started to remove his clothing as Ella continued to watch him from near the curtain.
"Is your Ma still mad?"
Joey gave her a sideways glance and closed his eyes slowly before opening them again and letting his gaze fall upon her, his expression telling her silently that she was annoying him.
"I am tired" he repeated a little more forcefully.
"Fine" Ella said simply.
Joey finished removing his clothing until he was down to his drawers before he slipped under the covers.
Ella left him to sleep and returned back to her meal.