First Campaign by Luke Short

Author:Luke Short [Short, Luke]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Cole rode back to River Street, crossed the bridge, went up Grant and turned right at the cross street that ended at Burley Hammond's gate. There were two men with rifles guarding it, one of them Abel, and it was only then that Cole remembered he hadn't picked up Abel's pistol at the Miners Rest.

He reined in and said, "I owe you a gun, Abel. You making out without it?"

"We could fight a war with what we've got inside."

"Any trouble?"

"Oh, when they get drunk enough some of 'em come. But not close, though. We let 'em shout a bit then run 'em back."

Cole nodded. "Tish home?"

"Been inside since that ride with you."

Cole moved up the drive but took the left fork which led to the back of the house and the stables. He tied his horse to a corral post and headed for the back porch and the kitchen door. There he had his hand raised to knock when the door swung open and Tish was facing him. She was wearing an apron; her sleeves were rolled up and her hands and forearms were dusted with flour. There was a smudge of it across her cheek. Cole noted, but what surprised Cole was the look of smoldering resentment in her face, an expression akin to the look he had seen on Varney's face countless times.

"I saw you pass the window," Tish said tonelessly. "Come in."

"Maybe I'd better come some other time."

"Well, I can think of times you've been more welcome, but come in. I want to hear how Varney's in the clear."

She stepped back and lifted the apron straps over her head as Cole moved in and closed the door. He nodded to Lizzie and saw that he had interrupted their joint bread making.

"Lizzie, I'm quitting on you," Tish said. "If I stayed any longer, I'd ruin the whole batch anyway."

She turned so quickly she missed Lizzie's smile and went through the dining room and living room and into the library, Cole trailing her. Once there, she headed straight for the chair behind the desk, saying, "Funny, the only two rooms in this house I can stand is this one and my bedroom." She sat down. "I'm in a foul mood, Cole, I warn you."

"I'd never have guessed it," Cole said dryly.

"Why did you put that greeting to Burley in your telegram?"

"Common politeness. Is he here?"

"No. Our men at the mill told him to stay away."

"A pity. If he was here you could ask him if he got my greeting. He wouldn't lie to you."

Tish glared at him as he stripped out of his sheepskin and threw it and his hat on. the sofa, then sank into the easy chair facing the desk. "About Varney, now," she said.

"It's a little rough, but I think you've paid for your ticket."

"Damn right I have," Tish said angrily.

Cole told her then of his search of the sporting houses and of turning up Marty. He explained in detail how Marty was sure Varney couldn't have even left the room during the time they were both fitfully sleeping.

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