The rest of the week went on just the same. I played cards with a few rough men, but Lou kept them out of my hair. She had a strong will and they all respected her. Anytime I caught someone cheating, I would tell Lou, and she would take it from there. At first, Lou would question me, and question the accused, not sure to believe it. But after seven correct calls of cheating in a row, she began to just call them off for cheating right then and there. The rest of the games went smoothly thought. I was good, and soon had a name in the town of a woman gambler. I won a lot of money, not to mention all my pay and tips. I saved all the money up in my room, not quite sure what to use it for. I guessed I would find something for it right?
I finally got my hat and boots. Even a few more pairs of clothes. My cowboy hat reminded me of my dads. A worn leather bendable hat. It wasn't cheap, and finely made. It fit nicely on my head, and gave me a good look. It also shaded my eyes on my frequent walks around town, and kept my head cool. I got to meet lots of people around town, and even talked to Jeff a few times. Turns out my cookies somehow reminded him of his grandmother. I told him the recipe was my own grandmothers, and that I took no credit. He admired me for my honesty and the next day came in to order two trays full. Where he got the money? I had no clue. I asked Lou about him, and she said, he had owned the whole town once, but he sold out half of it to Murphy, and now only owned half. But the Sheriff parted both sides. He was a nice, decent man.
He had talked to me about his friend, another sheriff in Lincoln, who was a good friend of his. When he heard the news, that he was shot and killed, he became silent, and didn't talk much. I cheered him up by bringing a few Eli's to his door at no cost. Aunt May came back early to the Hotel, and was surprised to see business so good. Auny May was another kind elderly lady, with kind eyes and a warm smile. Most of the time she would clean up after my mess in the kitchen. I would feel bad and try harder to keep the kitchen clean.
When I told her about how I felt, she just smiled and said 'you make the business and cookies, I'll make sure nothin's in the way." At first, I wasn't so sure she really meant it. But she did. She even chewed out a few men for me. No one would mess with an angry old lady. I made the cookies every other day, and got two day's off in the week. The days I made the cookies we got more business then when I didn't. But the other days kept us busy with the cakes and brownies.
I was soon well known around town for my gambling hand, my hawk eyes, and my cookies. Aunt may would help out when she could, but she refused to touch the cookies. She said it was my own secret, and she would leave it mine. I would sigh and go back to work. On slow days… which weren't a lot of days… me and Aunt May would sing songs together in the kitchen baking. She would teach me the songs to sing when on the trail, and I would teach her songs of my home. We would laugh and learn from each other all day, just behind the kitchen.
I soon became to know Aunt May as a mom away from home. Even Lou acted as my older sister. We would joke around, play around, sometimes even throw a few punches at each other. Lou, for being such a dressy girl, knew how to punch.
One time a few boys my age came around and challenged me to a shooting contest. With nothing better to do, and wondering how good I was myself, I accepted. I beat them all, except on the last round. I saw the boys were getting curious and puzzled at how I had gotten so good. Not wanting to answer the questions, I purposely missed the wax candle. But I hit my target… a twig about four meters back. The boys never suspected a thing.
As the week's wore on, I became friends with a lot of the local boys. The girls weren't exactly thrilled about takeing all the boys attention, so they kept away from me. But as I hung out with them, I learned to ride better, even to use a knife. Like I said, I was a fast learner, and the boys were always anxious to teach me new things. I learned a few trick riding moves in two days. The boys would laugh when I would do it wrong. I would fall off, and roll to a stop as the horse would slow. The boys would stop laughing wondering if I would start crying or not. And honestly, there were a few times I wish I would've cried it hurt so much. But I never did. I would walk away with a limp, or a sore arm and bruises.
But so would the other boys. I could never beat them in arm wrestling though. The boys were two strong from working in the fields and farms against working in the kitchen. But I could still come close. The boys were amazed at how I was able to pick out sounds from the land, and figure out which ones didn't belong. I tried to teach a few, but most of them would give up. There were a few though, who came back to me the next day, a wide smile on there face. They would gladly pronounce they had done it correctly. After that, other boys began to try. I was surprised to find out it took most days to even DO what I had mastered in hours. The only answer that came to mind was the time warp.
A few men came in from Lincoln, and recognized me as the one who escaped the jail house. This came to a surprise to the town, as there wonderful Elisha was in jail. But it was soon settled out that I was exhausted from the heat, over reacted and contained. Ther girls took the advantage and spread rumors and teased me when they could. But the boys would come to my side and the girls would hush. I knew which boy every girl liked… and I knew I was friends with all of them. At the end of each day, I would go back to the hotel and help finish off the night. I would then go upstairs, a handful of pay, and re count my money savings.
I had quite a good amount saved up by the end of the second week. It would put a smile on my face, but that smile would disappear, when I realized I still had no idea how to get back home. I had steady ground to walk on now… better then when I had planned. But now I had no plan. Nothing to figure out. By the third week, I was beginning to feel depressed. I went out with the boys less often. I made the cookies in silence, and I walked around with a smile less often. A few days into the third week, Lou met me at the kitchen doorway. She handed me a basket.
"We need eggs and flour, from the market." Lou said. I nodded and took the basket. I walked out of the hotel without a word and headed down the street. I walked slowly, taking my time down the road. I wasn't watching where I was going, and knocked into someone, almost dropping my basket. I looked up, about to say sorry, with I saw who it was and clamped my mouth shut.
"Little errand girl off to get all her little goodies?" Mary, the older and leader of the group of girls I despised the most. She was a year older then me, but didn't act like it. I said nothing. I just looked at her with cold eyes. "Aw, poor little trying to keep her self out of trouble?"
"You don't see much of anything." Another girl said. I glared at her.
"you've been looking in the mirror to much." I snapped. I tried to walk around them, but Mary grabbed my arm, and shoved me down an ally. What were they going to do? Beat me up? Yeah right. Five girls in hot, thick dressed beating a girl who knew how to fight and in pants. What I didn't except was the load full of water coming from behind me. It splashed across my back, and soaked me to the bone. I spun around to find three other girls holding a half empty bucket of water.
I glared at them. I couldn't beat them up… my rep was to high in this town. I threw the basket aside, and I grabbed the bucket of water from there hands. I spun around. The water flew through the air and splashed across all the girls, including Mary. I jump of screams filled the empty ally as the water seeped through their heavy skirts and made they even more heavy, and itchy. I glared at Mary, my blonde hair soaking and draping in front of my face.
"Don't you EVER try a stunt like that again, you wallabees." I hissed. I wasn't in a mood take take blows from these guys. And to shut them up, I would swing if I had to.
"You! You little!" Mary started.
"Aw shut up." I snapped, "Just cause you're older then the rest of the girls and got a few looks from the cutest boy in town don't mean your something." I said. She glared at me, and I glared back. I figured hey, the worst she would do was slap me. "Keith probably doesn't even know you exist! You just DREAMED he glanced at you!" Her eyes flared.
"I wouldn't be talking!" She hissed back, "At least I have parents!" My heart went cold. "At least I have a family and not some people thrown together and called relatives!"
"Shut up!" I yelled, my fists clenching.
"They probably don't even like you!" Mary yelled back, "They only want you there cause you're bringing them good business! Lou didn't have ANYTHING before you came. But one look at you and she thinks 'I'll give it a try' and that's the only reason she kept you. You're nothing special! You intruded Aunt May's own JOB! She's getting paid less, and more labor cleaning up after you're little mess!" My heart pumped hard, and I felt tears choke up behind my eyes.
"I said shut up!" I yelled.
"You don't have a family." Mary finally said, "You're an orphan." And do you know what? I began to think it was true. I had no family. My dad wasn't even BORN yet. They didn't exist yet. "You really are nothing." I was quiet. And Mary knew she had won.
"Hey. Everything ok down here?" came a voice. My eyes were watering, as I saw Keith, and a few other boys come down the ally. My eyes never left Mary's. Keith looked at Mary.
"What happened to you?" he asked, noticing all the girls were wet. Mary looked at him and smiled.
"I'm all wet." She said, in a kind sweet voice, "I was fine but now that you mention it…. I am a bit cold." I grinded my teeth. She was hitting on him. My friend, right in front of me. Keith looked at her.
"I see that…" He caught a glance at me, "Holy! Elisha you ok?" He ran over to my side. My knees were shaking, and my face was red and eyes teary. He tore off his coat and draped it around my shoulders. The other boys came in wondering what all the commotion was about. They saw my eyes filling with tears. They told me to keep my chin up, don't let the other girls get to me, and wondering if I was ok. I looked past them all, and say Mary's eyes blazing, face red from anger.
"Oh my gosh!" She hissed, "That girl." She pointed at me. "Went MAD from the heat! She was locked up behind bars she went so crazy! And yet you worry about her over ME?"
"She probably lasted longer out in the heat without food or water, longer then you could last without your parents babying you." Snapped the boy on my left… Jacob. Mary frowned.
"Keith. At least you are smart enough to stay away from a mad girl." Mary said. Keith looked up, and starred her straight in the eyes.
"I am." He said, "Staying away from you." Mary's mouth dropped open.
"Oh come on! It was a joke!" called another girl.
"Elisha didn't take it that way." Said other boy.
"Well she needs to tough it out!" cried another girl. The boys all rolled there eyes. Even a few girls. ME, tough it out? Ha. Been there done that.
"Keith…" Mary said quietly, "Come on. I thought we were together? Can't we just forget about this? You can walk away with me, forgetting this EVER happened." Keith looked at her again, his bright hazel eyes blazing.
"Beat it." he said quietly.
'What?" Mary looked at him. Even a few boys looked surprised.
"I said beat it!" Keith yelled, "Or I'll deal with ya myself! And I'll 'forget' you're girls and take a beating to ya!" Mary's starred at him horrified and surprised. Even I was a little surprised. That was no where NEAR proper. The other girls tired to push her along, and finally just shoved her out. Keith turned to me.
"What happened?" Jacob asked. "You look like you've went through a tornado, and seized a wild horse by yourself." I didn't say anything. I pulled the coat up around my shoulders, and looked down, shivering. For once… I wanted to be a girl and break down and cry. I wanted to be a weak little cry-baby. But the tears wouldn't come no matter how hard I thought I wanted them to.
"Elisha?" Keith raised my chin softly. I looked at him, wondering what I should tell him.
"It's nothing." I said, "She just got on my nerves."
"Your nerves huh?" said a boy to my left… James. "Then why are your eyes hot enough to boil water? Your shaking, and I'll bet you a buck it ain't from the water."
"I'm fine." I said. "Thanks for the help guys." I picked up my basket, and started out of the ally. I turned back around, and the group of guys were starring at me, worried. I had to smile. These guys were either old coots, or dead in the real time… MY time. I couldn't imagine Keith a old coot, wobbling to a chair to sit down. He had so much energy. I gave them a warm smile. "Thanks guys." I said, a bit happier then I felt. I turned around and headed back to the store. Without looking back, I could hear two boys following me. By the sound of the strides, and a few whiffs of them downwind, I figured it was Keith and Matt. I went into the store, and shut the door softly behind me. Inside was quiet and calm… just the place I liked to be right now. I picked out a few eggs, expecting the boys to come in after me… but the didn't. Maybe they left. I scanned my eyes over the fruit goods in the store… and picked the best ones from the shelf. I set the basket on the counter, and rang the bell. The elderly man whom I had seen in the hotel, gaping at Jeff, came to the counter.
"good morning Elisha." He said, "Why are you all wet?"
"Long story." I huffed, "Can I please have two pounds of flour, Mr. Hofman?" the man nodded, and pulled out a scoop from underneath the counter. He filled a glass jar, and set it on the weight. Two and a half pounds.
"How bout a half for free?" he said, "And I get three free Eli's cookies?" I chuckled and nodded. He set the jar in front of me, tightening a lid over it, and added it all up. "That'll be three fifty." He said. I reached in my pocket, and gave him the money, and waited for the change. As he searched out the change, my eyes wondered behind him to the candy wall.
"Can I have three of those chocolate bars?" I asked. Mr. Hofman looked at me, then the bars, then back at me.
"Those are expensive, Elisha." He said. I shrugged.
"I'm sure I'll make up for it in cards." I said. Mr. Hofman smiled, and pulled two candy bars down.
"It's said that these bars are the best in the west. Came all the way from Cuba, specially made." Mr. Hofman said.
"What do you think?" I asked him. He shrugged.
"never had one." Mr. Hoffman said, handing over the bars. I paid him the money, and opened one. I split it in half, and held one piece out for the man. "Oh, no miss. I couldn't."
'Yes you can. If ya don't you'd be insulting me." I said, with a warm smile. I had found that threatening them with the 'you'd be insulting me' was a good way to manipulate people around here. Mr. Hofman looked at me, his eyes twinkeling with gratitude.
"Bless ya." He said, eating the other half.
"There will be two boys coming in here after me. Keith and Matt, I'm guessing. These two bars are for them. Tell them thanks for helping me out." I said, and picked up the basket.