Chapter Nine
Strawberry, California
1866

Rachel touched Heath's shoulder as he walked into Johnna's new room. They had spent all evening getting it fixed up for her. Cotton loved being helpful so he happily had carried down box after box to the basement. It was during one of those many trips that Cotton saw Red dragging Johnna out of the hotel. The poor girl was begging as her own mother threatened her.

Cotton had curled himself up in the corner of Johnna's room. Rachel had heard Johnna screaming for help. At first, the moment had frightened her. Due to the memories that tortured her, Rachel froze. Then she thought of Cotton. She had found her son frightened in a corner. When she had calmed him enough, Rachel had went to get help for Johnna. She didn't notice Cotton running out of the hotel with Heath's rifle. The boy had spotted the rifle behind the counter of the hotel.

Heath looked at Rachel as he laid his precious treasure on the bed. "She's badly battered, Aunt Rachel."

Rachel sighed as she noticed the poor girl's torn dress and bloodied body. Her own fears doubled as memories bombarded her. Rachel wanted to drift off into the land of honeysuckles and gospel hymns. However, this child before her needed someone with a clear head. She had already taken care of her son. Now it was time to take care of this girl. A girl, who loved Heath as much as anyone could, needed Rachel sane for the moment. Rachel knew the girl loved Heath. She had seen the way the girl stared at the boy.

The girl, Liberty Keene, she stared at Heath too. That stare was with a sinful lust of youth. Johnna looked at Heath differently. Sure, there was a lustful desire in the girl's eyes but that paled in comparison to the look of adoration and love held by the former saloon girl.

Rachel knew Heath would make an unnaturally good looking man someday. He had the perfect mixture of his mama and Tom Barkley. There was enough of Tom Barkley in the boy that Tom Barkley could never deny Heath being his son. Rachel remembered the pride that Tom Barkley possessed. If Leah had allowed him to see Heath years ago, Tom Barkley would have taken his son. The boy looked too much like Tom for the man to ever give him up. Tom Barkley had made it plain that he wanted the baby to be raised by his wife as their own. He had threatened Leah to leave him be or give him the child when it was born. However, Leah knew if Tom Barkley ever laid eyes on Heath, he'd take him from her. Thus, Leah told Tom that the child had died at birth.

There was also part of Leah's features in the boy that caused the boy's looks to go beyond the handsome features that Tom Barkley possessed. Heath could use that charm if need be in life. Rachel was sure he would have to at times. Especially with the life he was about to take on as the wrath settled over him.

"I know you've seen her in her entirety, Heath. I'm not a fool or blind of you two. It ain't none of my concern what you both do in private. But the girl needs some dignity now. Go get yourself bathed and in clean clothes. Bandage your head too if you can. If you need my help, let me know. I'll take care of this sweet girl for you." Rachel patted Heath's arm.

Heath nodded in agreement as he left Rachel to clean up Johnna. He thought it best Johnna not see her mother's blood all over him anyway. He stopped to check on Cotton, who was sleeping soundly in his bed. He noticed an empty packet of headache powders on the small end table by the bed. Rachel made Cotton drink down a glass infused with the stuff.

Heath quickly bathed and changed clothes. He would've liked to soak but wanted to help Rachel if he was needed. The gash on his head was cleaned and bandaged by him as well. He'd have Rachel fix him up better in the morning. Johnna was priority for now. He made his way up the stairs. He knocked on Johnna's bedroom door before poking his head into her room.

"Come on in, Heath." Rachel looked up from beside of a metal tub. Johnna was inside the tub immersed in sudsy water. "I used some of the honeysuckle soap I found in the hotel supplies. I know you like that smell."

Heath walked over to the side of the tub. He dropped to his knees beside of it. Johnna glanced at Heath as tears formed in her eyes.

"I killed my own ma, Heath."

"She was gonna kill you if you didn't, Johnna. If not today, someday. I think maybe today though." Heath raked his hand down her cheek. "Want me to leave Rachel to finish?"

"Please stay. I'm afraid, Heath. Make me not afraid." Johnna gripped Heath's hand.

Rachel nodded her understanding when Heath looked up at her. "I put one of Martha's clean cotton gowns out for her. Figure those nice garments can be used by Johnna and me now. They're too big on us both but I mended a few gowns to fit Johnna and me. There is a large towel on her bed too. Help her wash the mess from her hair."

Rachel left leaving Johnna in Heath's care. At least the girl had kept her dignity by letting Rachel strip her of the bloody clothing. Heath could take over now. She was sure the boy would be a gentleman when the little lady needed him to be. Maybe she could see if there was enough money to buy some cotton or linen material from Barker's General Store. Leah had taught her enough to know how to sew those dresses Johnna loved so well.

Heath washed Johnna's hair gently. He cupped his hands rinsing out the suds. Johnna relaxed to his touch as she tried to abate her tears.

"Your mama used to get the tangles from my hair. Did you know that?" Johnna opened one eye to peer at Heath.

"I remember she did." Heath stated as he continued his cleansing of Johnna's curly locks.

Johnna smiled coyly at Heath's words. She remembered when she was twelve being over at his house while his mama untangled her hair. Johnna had went there after a beating brought on by her mother's drunken spell. She was sent to purchase some baked goods for the girls at the saloon. Johnna hadn't been sold to too many men at that point. Maybe two or three in a year's time. Most wanted women and not little girls. But there were a few strange and wicked men that wanted the child. Her shame was still evident when she walked into the small cabin that day.

Heath was coming in from working at the livery when he spotted Johnna sitting at his mother's feet while his mother combed out Johnna's hair. The boy blushed red from head to toe causing Leah to roll her eyes at her ten year old son. For the first time in Johnna's life, she thought a male was cute and she actually wanted to spend time with him as friends. It had taken some time for Heath not to be shy around the beautiful girl. Johnna knew she wasn't considered a good girl. She had been used by men already. However, that was never even mentioned. It was like she was in another world around Leah and Heath. Their friendship meant the world to her. More than Leah or Heath could imagine.

"More than I like to think about Ma Red would get mad at me for no reason. She was real bad if she got liquor in her. She would pull me by the hair of my head until it was a mess of knots. Your mama would sit me down in front of her and take her silver brush through my hair. She never pulled it but took her time with it. I remember it started when I was no more than six or seven. But you were around four or five then. After awhile you started working and you still didn't see me until we both got older. By that time I was…." Johnna inhaled as tears hitched in her throat. "I was used goods. Ruined by other men. I was a nobody."

Heath slid his fingers through Johnna's hair being careful to take out any tangles along the way. "My mama wouldn't trouble herself with a nobody, Johnna. Don't discount my mama that way. She saw your worth. Unless you think my mama made up me being worth something too. Remember she said I was a blessing."

"Oh no, Heath! You're mama was always honest." Johnna took his hand in hers. "Guessin' we are both worth something or your mama wouldn't have thought so. Huh?"

Heath nodded then went to retrieve the large towel from the bed. He turned his head as Johnna stepped out of the tub and into the towel. Then Heath turned back and picked her up in his arms. He placed her gently on the bed. Heath dried Johnna then placed the cotton gown over her head. The whole time, Heath kept his eyes trained on Johnna's eyes and not her body.

"Heath, you seen me before." Johnna slid her hand over her shoulder. "Are you not wantin' to look at me because of me being bruised or am I no longer pretty to you?"

Heath chuckled as he shook his head at the girl. "Not at all, Johnna. You're the prettiest thing I ever laid eyes on. Rachel said you needed your dignity tonight. I was trying to give it to you."

"I ain't never felt undignified with you, Heath. I guess any other I feel shame. But with you, I like the way you make me feel beautiful and cared for. Will you stay with me? " Johnna blushed.

Johnna's skin reddened into an innocent blush. Heath blushed as well adding to the moment of awkward innocence. Johnna curled up on her bed with Heath curled behind her. Johnna pulled the doll from her pillow and wrapped her arms tightly around it. Tonight they would not touch in adult ways but would allow a moment of innocence to comfort them both.

Tomorrow, Heath would leave the moment of innocence to exercise his wrath.