The Adventures of Dixie Dandelion by R. H. Burkett

Author:R. H. Burkett [Burkett, R. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western, Historical, Scarred Hero/Heroine
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2016-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

I don’t know what galloped the fastest. Joe, or my heart. I bust through the back door of the Dove. Caught Peg at the kitchen table.

“Why didn’t you tell me you sold the White Dove?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you bought a ranch?”

“Well, I was headed here to tell all of ya. Then a huge Buffalo Soldier carried Cinnamon through the door, and everything went to hell in a hand basket.”

“Same here. Now settle down, and I’ll explain.”

I didn’t wait for her explanation. “You told me you’d never sell The White Dove.” Even I could tell my words came out too snappish. I deserved Peg’s irritated sigh.

“To Calhoun. I told you I’d never sell to Calhoun. Besides, I didn’t sell The Dove. You gonna listen now instead of acting like I strangled the neighbor’s cat?”

She pulled up a chair and sank heavy onto it. “There are two reasons why I closed the Dove. First. The railroad is almost finished. Folks will be moving west. Good folks who will not tolerate establishments like The White Dove. Better to quit on my terms instead of being run out of town on a rail. Second. I’m tired. Old and tired. Dixie, the type of business we doves are in takes its toll.”

Jackson had said the same thing. He had an aggravating habit of being right about a lot of things. The catch in Peg’s voice jarred my thoughts back to her.

“I’ve come to think of all my girls as family. Wayward daughters I admit. But daughters nonetheless. I don’t want to see any of them abused or sick. And I especially don’t want to be responsible for burying any of them or them burying me.”

I understood. I thought of Peg and her girls as my family too. What was to become of them? “Does this mean you’re leaving Six Shooter?”

“No. I’m not leaving. I bought a new place. The One-Eyed Jack, as a matter of fact.”

“What! Calhoun’s old stomping grounds?”

“The very same. Funny, ain’t it? Got plans to turn it into an Opera House. Bring in singers and actors. Make it a top-notch, respectable place.”

“But. What’s going to happen with Sassy? And Fancy? And—”

“I asked them to come with me, but they refused. Sassy has plans to marry Big Mike Donavon, settle down, and raise young’uns. Can you imagine?”

I gasped. “I had no idea she wanted a family. Can’t you just see her? Dressed head to toe in peacock feathers, pushing a baby pram down the sidewalk? Wonder if Big Mike has any idea what’s in store for him?”

“Oh, I hope not. It’d ruin all the fun.”

We both laughed.

“I have some news about marriage as well. Inky Hayes told me he’s going to ask Cinnamon to be his wife.”

Peg leaned back in her chair and slapped her knee. “Well if that don’t beat all. Always figured I’d lose Debbie Ann and Fancy to matrimony but never Sassy and Cinnamon. Just goes to show you how much I know.”

“Inky is going to be my foreman.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.