Natural Attraction by Catherine Haustein

Author:Catherine Haustein [Haustein, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-940811-19-2
Publisher: Penner Publishing

We were far between places, traveling along the river and camping in the humanless safety of the wild as the Prospectors’ Show moved on to the next venue. As we assembled for rehearsal in the next town, Madame summoned us, and told us to line up in front of the painted wagon.

“Bless my soul. News travels fast with telegraphs and I was just questioned by a sheriff about an incident in the cattle drive town, that filthy hole. We never get good crowds in those stinking places when the cowboys are around. They are so bad for business. Something happened back there that the sheriff was wondering about. It seems that some cowboys were found dead. They’d been lushing, were half-rats, and they got a hold of some substances that didn’t mix well with the alcohol. In general, a few rotten apples would not concern me. Unfortunately, being strangers and having passed through the town on the night of the deaths, we are suspect.”

A wave of sickness passed over me. The brand, evidence of a tangle with cowboys, was still raw but beginning to scab.

She continued, “Their bodies washed up on the other side of the big river. Their lifeless eyes were large and dark and open.” She gave each of us a dramatic belladonna-dark stare and hung her mouth open as if she was a corpse. I looked away but she leaned into me.

“You were in town. Did you see any cowboys?”

“Of course I did. We went to get the newspaper for you as you directed, and there were cowboys.”

“We must take heed. The law might want to question all of us. God forbid! Were any of you out after the performance in that cow town?”

None of us said a thing.

“Clementine. Your eye. You’ve copped a mouse. Have you had an altercation?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Is that a cut on your hand? We are going to need extra makeup. And your shirt is ripped. What’s happened to you? Creature, where are your boots? You have a raw spot on your neck. Why?”

I mumbled, “Me and Wesley been fighting.”

Madame Blu feigned surprise. “Ah, dear me. I am shocked to hear that. You have never used bad grammar before.”

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