Chapter Six
Strawberry, California
June 1866
The patrons of the hotel migrated back to their rooms later that evening. After all, they had been on a cattle drive for three weeks. The softness of a bed was better than a cold hard ground. Even if two dead bodies were removed from the premises only hours before. Besides most had worked with the quiet blonde boy, they figured he wasn't a threat to them.
Most also were ready to leave the desolate town of Strawberry. They knew one of the old timers was going after the law due to the boy killing in what most perceived as cold blood. The older man hadn't seemed to be in a hurry to head out. It was obvious no one cared for the owners of the hotel or the boy who killed them. Most thought they'd have done the same if they were Heath. Many were surprised to hear the two dead were relatives of the boy. All wanted to move on before any sheriff questioned them. Live and let live was the motto of the cowboys.
Heath had convinced Rachel to bring Cotton to the hotel once the bodies of Martha and Matt Simmons were taken away by Hank Garland and Ward Whitcomb. He was going to try to make her a better life than being in the loud bar. Although it was kind of the owner of the bar to put them up for little work done, Heath still knew that Cotton didn't like loud sounds or a lot of activity. The boy, who Heath had grown up with, was a quiet child before Heath went to war. He figured Cotton was even more withdrawn after witnessing the brutal rapes and murders.
"Are you sure, Heath?" Rachel fidgeted nervously behind the counter of the hotel. She glanced over at Cotton, who was fiddling with some spurs Heath had given him. The boy liked the sound of the jangling. "They might not like us being here."
Libby sat with Ward and Hank at one of the tables enjoying some of the leftover bread Johnna had made earlier. A jar of Leah's homemade blackberry jam was also sat on the table beside of the bread. They listened in on the conversation but didn't interrupt. All three had a fear of the blonde cowboy now. Even if he was still Heath Thomson. Even if he was still the youngest of the three. Even if he was smaller than both Hank and Ward. The boy had hardened while he was gone off to war. There was something dangerous about him now if the boy was crossed. None of the three planned on crossing the blonde. That included the much larger Hank Garland.
"Aunt Rachel, Uncle Matt and Aunt Martha are dead. They won't care one way or another. They're too busy begging for mercy as the flames lick at their sorry souls." Heath leaned his elbows on the counter. "Now, this place is mine. So I want you to run it. Take care of the books and get this place in top shape. You and Cotton can live here. I can't stay. I have to find those men and make them pay. The law may not have cared what happened nor anybody in this town. But I care and they aren't getting away with what they did."
It was obvious Rachel didn't want that subject brought up so she hummed a few minutes before looking at Heath.
"You'll have to fix this counter. It won't due as it is. I have some things from the cabin to get." Rachel ran her hand along the dusty top of the counter. No matter how many times Martha Simmons dusted the ran down hotel, it still collected an abundance of dust. A look of fear passed over her face before she added."But I can't go there."
"I can get anything you want, Miss Rachel." Johnna, who was on her hands and knees scrubbing the blood from the hotel floors, spoke up. The girl would do anything not to go back to that saloon. Mama Red was probably already on the warpath looking for the girl.
"Johnna and I will get you what you want from the cabin in the morning. Besides, Johnna is going to be our partner here. She's going to help you out." Heath took Rachel's hand to calm the shaking in it. He could tell his Aunt Rachel was trying to keep calm and not fade away into her own world.
"I am?" Johnna's eyes grew wide. "Me?"
Heath smiled down at her. "If you want to. You sure cooked up a mighty fine lunch for us. Figured you could cook here and wait tables. If you don't care to give up your work at the saloon? I'd appreciate you looking after Aunt Rachel and Cotton."
"Oh, Heath!" The girl jumped up excitedly. Johnna threw her arms around Heath's neck. "I'll be the best cook and waitress ya ever did see."
"I know you will." Heath kissed Johnna's lips quickly. "Besides, I don't reckon you have to let any man touch you anymore unless you want him to."
Johnna knew that Heath meant himself as well. The two had become lovers since Heath's arrival two days prior. It was strange wanting Heath to touch her when she had always been appalled by a man's touch.
"The place could use some charm. Don't you think, Heath?" Rachel was beginning to like the idea. Besides, the money that bought this hotel years ago was half Leah's. It was only right her son was the owner now. Even if the boy did kill the devils who owned it.
"You and Johnna do whatever you like to it. I trust you both to make it the grandest place around." Heath rolled the cylinder to the revolver he had taken from Matt's cold fingers. It was fully loaded but he needed a box of bullets and a gunbelt. Then he stuck the Colt in the back of his pants."I think that old Jeb Lycans headed out for the sheriff. I only have a day or so to head out before I have to explain myself to a lawman."
Rachel was back to humming and rocking on her heels. She would come and go sometimes. Heah figured running this place may bring her back. Besides, the woman couldn't do much damage to a run down hotel in a dying town if she couldn't manage it. It gave her and Cotton a good place to live along with getting Johnna away from her abusive mother and the saloon. He figured Johnna could move into one of the rooms too. Maybe the room off the kitchen could get cleaned up for her. It was storage now but that could be fixed. It was only storage because his uncle Matt was too lazy to walk to the basement for supplies. Cotton and Rachel could take his uncle Matt's and Martha's room.
"The closest lawman is in Pinecrest but he has no deputy. He probably wouldn't get here too soon and leave Pinecrest unprotected. Stockton sheriff is next but that is a three day ride compared to two days. I reckon you have time to help me with the stuff at the cabin to bring here." Johnna was wiping her hands on on old apron she had found of Martha's. "Rachel can make a list so we can get the stuff she wants."
Heath nodded as Rachel set out to find pencil and paper for her list. She knew neither Johnna or Heath could read but she didn't want to forget something. Making a list would help. Sometimes she would forget why she feared the place once her home. Then she remembered the graves of her friends and the haunted memory came back.
Heath wrapped his arms around Johnna from behind and leaned to nibble on her neck. "You taste sweet, Johnna."
Johnna trembled with desire at Heath's touch. She wanted to cry with pure joy that his touch could elicit feelings of joy rather than feelings of fear and shame.
Libby frowned as she watched Heath flirt with Johnna. She supposed the girl was beautiful. However, the girl was used goods as far as Libby was concerned. Why would he want the likes of Johnna when she was willing to be his wife? It didn't make sense to the redhead. Still, Libby did love being able to look at Heath. She was glad her papa was working in the mines today or she wouldn't be allowed to hang out where Heath had killed two folks even if they did deserve their deaths.
Johnna knew Libby and the boys were nosing in on their conversation. Therefore, she pushed Heath farther away so she could talk to him in private. Johnna leaned back against Heath's chest. "I'd like to think myself as yours, Heath. Now don't get me wrong. I know you'll not commit to me. But I don't' want no man ever touching me again unless it is you."
"I may never come back, Johnna." Heath warned her as he turned her to face him. Heath knew without a doubt he never intended to step foot in Strawberry again. "You know you can refuse me too. You aren't beholdin' to me. I can't promise to be faithful because I barely know you and you the same with me. You make me feel special is all. But like I said, you're not beholdin' to me."
"I know." Johnna felt so safe in the young man's arms. She loved him beyond words for who he was. Perhaps,she was being foolish loving an almost stranger. Foolish or not, she liked the butterflies that flitted in the pit of her stomach when Heath was around.
Johnna didn't want another man to lay his hands on her. If being with Heath was the last man to ever touch her, she'd be blessed. She knew Miss Leah was never with another man after Heath's father. Johnna figured God was finally answering her prayers. She was going to be like Miss Leah and not Ma Red now.
They had reached an understanding that day. They were young lovers who wanted one another. They would make love that night and any night Heath remained in Strawberry. However, Heath was on a mission of revenge and Johnna was on a mission of redemption. Both agreed no commitments were made between the two. However, Johnna would forever be grateful to Heath for giving her a new lease on life.
The next day, Heath and Johnna headed towards the cabin to retrieve Rachel's list, the other three teens decided to hang out at Barker's General Store. They didn't want to go into the cabin and face the scene of death.
Despite the fact that Heath and Johnna were in the cabin filled with the sights and smells of death, Heath was still smiling as he listened to Johnna ramble on about what colors she was going to pick out for new curtains in the hotel and what type of table linens. Rachel had told the girl that she was in charge of the dining area. Rachel would take care of the hotel rooms decor and lobby.
"I want some more fancy dresses like this one." Johnna went on and on.
Heath looked up in surprise as Johnna spoke. He had never heard his mama's dresses called fancy. If anything, they were the cheapest dresses made. He had to admit that Johnna looked really beautiful in the plain cotton dress. His mama was good with a needle and thread.
"Mama has two or three more dresses in the trunk. You can have them. She had a real pretty one she wore to church." Heath always hated how his mama was made to sit at the back of the church when they went. Despite the treatment of her, his mama never missed a Sunday.
"She was buried in that dress. Rachel done a fine job with her and Hannah both. Jeb Lycans and Hank McCoy dug the graves for some jars of apple butter. Mr. Harlan made their boxes. He said you were the best livery boy he ever had. He would do that for you. He left town about a month before you got back. Rachel told me that all when she read me out the list." Johnna sat back on her haunches. "I reckon after what happened not many people feel safe here now."
"Do you feel safe, Johnna?" Heath tossed a couple of old quilts into a pile. "Here in Strawberry, I mean."
"I suppose except fearing Ma Red and Fred Garland. I don't reckon I have to fear him any more as he won't be touching me. But Ma Red, she won't like me not prostituting anymore." Johnna slid an old hat onto the top of her head.
"You don't have to work the hotel if you don't want." Heath told her as he watched her face sadden.
"I'd rather die than let another man touch me now that I have a way out." Johnna stated vehemently.
"Don't say that." Heath scolded. "Don't want another person dying I care about."
Johnna's heart flitted at Heath's words of caring. She wasn't sure that anyone ever cared if she lived or died before.
"Don't you ever think of wanting to die, Heath? I've thought of it a lot at times." Johnna admitted as she took the hat off to toss into the pile of things to discard.
"I've worked too hard to live to want to die." Heath stated matter of factly. "I like living. Folk might think my life sounds bad if you put it out there for people to know about. But I reckon I've had happy times that outweigh the bad. Mama made sure of that. I'd not blemish her memory by wanting to die."
"She sure was special. Your mama." Johnna smiled broadly. "I ain't never saw a prettier person or met someone sweeter. I've always wanted to be like her. You know that?"
Heath slipped his fingers to entwine with Johnna's. "You're more like her than you know. I bet you once your feeding people your food and smiling your smile, the people will fall in love with you."
Johnna only wanted one person to fall in love with her. But he was only fifteen and would soon be on a mission to revenge his mother's death. That was okay. She had his smile and his kindness to hold on to. That would be enough.
There was a comfortable silence for a while until Johnna spoke again. "Heath, what song was Miss Rachel talking about your mama singing to make them laugh?"
Heath smiled as he said the words. Johnna laughed as she listened. Then they both began to sing the silly song. The song seemed to drown out all sorrow as their teen voices carried a broken tune.
"Oh there is nothing like gin, when you feel all done in...and when I'm thirsty for beer, you better serve it to me, dear."