Alfie by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Sonofabitch, two weeks wasted. Eli couldn’t believe Pastor Heinrich and Gerda were no longer living in Kaiser’s Ford, instead they had moved closer to Austin to start up a new community, and it was less than a hundred miles away from where Daisy’s parents had been massacred.

Thankfully, he was only three days ride away from them if he headed across country. It was going to be hard leaving Daisy behind, he had grown real fond of her. He racked his brains trying to find a solution, but couldn’t come up with anything else other than leaving her with the Heinrichs.

He was riding across country into the treed areas, which spread for miles across the foot of the mountains. It was greener and cooler here, good for hunting he thought.

He smelled smoke wafting in on the breeze then he saw it. “Well, this place isn’t as empty as it looks, Daisy.”

She still hadn’t spoken and he was beginning to fear she never would. They broke out of the trees and Eli spied a dilapidated cabin. It had a chimney with smoke pouring out of it, so there was obviously someone living there. The fencing was in poor condition, mostly tumbled down.

All three of them needed rest. He didn’t like forcing Devil to keep going when he was tired; the last few miles had been rough. “Maybe it hadn’t been such a smart idea to take a short cut across country, Dev.” He patted the gelding’s sweaty neck. “It would have been easier for you if we’d kept to the tracks.”

A figure wearing buckskins came out of the building and stood in the doorway. “What do you want, Mister?” said a gal holding a Winchester.

“I need somewhere to rest my horse for a while.”

“Don’t move. I know how to use this and I will. Throw down your guns.”

“I will not.”

She raised the rifle to her shoulder. “Your rifle and your holster. Do it.”

Sonofabitch, how could he have let a gal get the drop on him? He carefully took his rifle out of the scabbard and dropped it on the ground. Cursing under his breath he unbuttoned his gun belt and dropped it also.

“Now dismount, slow and easy. Who’s the little gal?”

“Daisy.”

“All right, Daisy, step away from your Pa.”

“Do what she says, little darlin’, or the gun might go off.”

“You bet your britches it will go off, but only if I want it to.”

“Listen, I need water for my horse and something to eat and drink for Daisy. Also somewhere to rest for a while.” He took off his hat and wiped a hand across his forehead. “I don’t aim to cause you any trouble.”

****

Alfie stared at the tall, dark haired man. He looked weary as did the child. Poor little mite was exhausted. He had only asked for help for his horse and the child, which made him come up in her estimation.

“What’s your name, cowboy?”

“Eli.”

“I’m Alfie. Come inside. I can give you coffee and pancakes. I don’t have much myself at the moment.

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