Alice by Margaret Tanner

Alice by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-01T06:00:00+00:00


Chapter Eleven

They left the ranch after an early breakfast. It was hard leaving the only home she had ever known. Hugging everyone goodbye brought tears to her eyes. Pa pressed a few dollars in her hand. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

“No, I have to go.” She disentangled herself from her parents’ arms and walked purposefully to the buckboard where Sam sat in the driver’s seat.

“Look after yourself, and be careful,” Ma called out. “You too, Sam.”

They drove off and Alice waved until the three figures disappeared behind the tree line.

“It was good of you to offer to drive me, Sam. They would never have let me go otherwise. Well, I would have gone anyway. I have no choice.”

“I think you’re wise to go away, at least for a while.” He stared straight ahead.

As they drove under the wooden archway with the word ‘Inverness’ burned into it, she wondered how long it would be before she saw this place again.

“You rarely agree with anything I do these days, so I’m surprised you think my leaving is a good idea.”

“Well, I didn’t tell Pa, or he would have rushed into town and torn their heads off.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The other day when I was in Trails End, I overheard Donnie Evans and a cowboy from the Triple J discussing you.”

“Discussing me? I don’t know any cowboys from the Triple J. I hardly even know Donnie.”

“I was in the livery talking with Will and I heard one of them mention your name.”

“What?” Alice got a sickly feeling in the pit of her stomach. “What were they saying?”

“They were discussing whether you would give them what you gave Devlin.”

“I didn’t give Devlin anything.”

“I know, but with Minnie Evans spreading all those lies about you…”

“She’s evil, and to think some people believe her. That’s what hurts the most.” She hunched her shoulders. “A silly little indiscretion at a church dance has been blown out of all proportion by a lying witch like Minnie. That horrible creature has likely ruined my life.”

“I know and it’s so unjust, that’s what burns me up. I was going to confront Donnie at the livery only Will stopped me. Said it would only make things worse.”

“Probably, although I’ve kept a dignified silence and it hasn’t done much good. Maybe I should have screamed and hollered a denial.”

They lapsed into silence.

After a time, Sam said. “We could stay the night at the hotel in Golden Square or make camp at a river a few miles out. Pa and I have done that on a couple of occasions. Good water for the horses.

“Let’s do it. Pa gave me a few dollars, which I’d rather keep than waste on a hotel room.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You could change into your dress there, too. It wouldn’t make a good first impression with your boss if you turned up wearing men’s clothing.”

“True. I had planned on changing before I got to Lead. I’m starting to feel nervous about it now.”

“You’ll be all right.



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