The Willow Rise Six by Alan Leuthe

Author:Alan Leuthe [Leuthe, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

22

Alice

The days had come and gone. Aiden still hadn’t had time off enough to rest and get better. Alice opened his shirt down to his navel and laid her hand on his chest.

“You’re on fire. Here, drink. You need it,” she said as she raised a small glass of water to his lips.

He took a sip and coughed as she moved it away.

“You know, Alice, I am supposed to be the one caring for you.” How he could even smile while drenched in his own sickly sweat was something Alice could never understand. But it’s what she loved about him. He was calm even when the world around him was burning down. When Alice’s temper flared and things caught fire ‘round them he had a way of pulling her back and evening out her flare.

“Oh really,” she replied playfully. “And just what makes you think I need takin’ care of? Don’t think I can make it on my own?”

“I think your fire would burn down the world if I let it.”

“A world with just you and I? Think I could go for that.” Her smile was interrupted by the deep raspy cough that had plagued him since the start of winter. They had to get somewhere warmer and she knew it. They were supposed to leave earlier that week, but the days passed and their money never came, only vague promises of “soon” or “when the work’s finished”.

“I’m fine, Alice. Don’t give me that look.” But his words were masked by his sweaty brow and pale skin.

“You’re not fine. And neither is this waitin’ ‘round for the money we earned. They owe us our pay, and we need to be movin’ to New Mexico now.”

“I don’t think we owe you a thing ‘til your work is complete, ya ask me.” The obnoxious voice boomed from the railroad soldier who entered their tent uninvited.

“Get the hell outta our tent unless you’re here to give us our pay.”

“We’ll pay ya. Don’t you worry about that.” The large man moved closer to the couple.

Alice stood up sternly. She was angry enough to kill the man, but her husband’s weak grip on her arm told her not to. “And when will that be?”

“Don’t worry about the money,” he said, flashing her a smile and pushing past her. “But for now we’re gonna need him.”

“You’re gonna be needin’ a coffin if you think he’s goin’ with you. He’s sick. He needs rest.”

The man’s smug demeanor vanished as quickly as Alice could blink. “He’ll get rest when he’s finished! Does it look like we’re done?! There’s still half a damn mountain to blast through. So unless your pretty hands are workin’ the explosives I suggest you move.”

“You’re gonna find out just how explosive I can be.” Alice smoothly spun and grabbed the knife that sat on the table behind her. The handle felt right. It felt like it was meant for her angry hand. But as she turned back to the large man she again felt the faint tug of her husband’s fingers warning her not to.

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