Where The River Flows by Irene B. Brand

Author:Irene B. Brand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Seven

The special moment Rose felt between Edward and her was shattered when Martin ran down the hallway. “Mama,” he shouted excitedly, “Sallie says there’s going to be a fight. Really?”

“I don’t know. Mr. Moody brought the word. Let’s see what he can tell us.”

Martin looked down and saw Edward. “Oh, him!” he said disgustedly and slumped down on the stairs.

Rose saw pain spread across Edward’s face, and a sharp reprimand hovered on her tongue. But she stifled it and left the boy to Sallie. She went downstairs and stopped beside Edward and gave him her hand. “Thank you. Will you tell me what you know?”

He explained what he had overheard and that he had gone to Harry for advice. “He’s bringing some men to help scare Boardman and his men away. He sent your grandmother and me to warn you. Hopefully, he’ll get here before Boardman arrives, but Isaiah is on guard outdoors. I think the two of us can keep them out of the house until Harry gets here.”

Sallie now stood on the bottom step. “I ain’t too bad in a fight, either, Mr. Moody.”

“I’ll go upstairs and dress,” Rose said, “and I’ll be right down.” She patted the dejected Martin on the head as she passed him, but that was all the time she had for him now. They had to get ready for what was coming.

❧

Edward watched as, working by candlelight, Sallie prepared some coffee. It was ready when Harry arrived with three wiry-looking men, who appeared as if they would be able to take care of themselves in a fight.

“All was quiet on the street when we passed through town,” Harry reported.

“I hope I haven’t gotten you out on a wild goose chase,” Edward said. “But I’m sure Boardman said he would strike tonight.”

Rose had changed her robe and nightgown for a plain dress when she came downstairs. She had thrust a couple of combs in her hair to hold it away from her face, but it still fell from the crown of her head like a waterfall.

Martin had sneaked down the stairs, and he sat sullenly on the bottom step.

Ignoring him, Edward asked, “Harry, what plans do you have? Give us some orders.”

Harry shook his head. “You’re more a man of the world than I am, Mr. Moody. Since you’ve been in Colorado for years, you’ve probably seen your share of fighting. You take charge.”

Without argument, Edward said, “Don’t do any shooting unless we have to. We can’t take the chance of killing someone and get into trouble with the law. However, it will be all right for Isaiah to shoot his shotgun in the air to scare them.” He parted the curtains in the parlor and peered toward the silent street.

“There are six of us men. Four of us will go outside to intercept the would-be intruders and hopefully drive them away before they get inside the house. Two of you will stay inside, in case they break through our lines.”

“You say not to shoot, mister,” one of Harry’s friends said, “but this ain’t goin’ be no picnic.

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