Part 7:

Joseph headed for Miss Beckie’s place. All day, he kept hearing about this Angel woman. She was supposed to be an amazing beauty who knew every way there was to pleasure a man, but she never even cracked a smile. No emotion at all in fact. He was intrigued, and it had been a long time since . . . well, it was better not thinking about that. He opened the door, making the bell above it ring. "Evenin’ sir," said the large man he had been told was Luke. "How can we help you tonight?"

"I was interested in finding some company for the evening."

"Well, sir, is there anyone in particular you’d like to see."

"I’ve heard wonderful things about this Angel . . ."

"Oh, I’m sorry sir. Miss Angel is not to be disturbed tonight. Miss Beckie’s orders. Poor girl ain’t feelin’ well." At that moment, someone came down the stairs, a tall young man with dark blue eyes. He looked so familiar.

"Justin!" Joseph said, shocked to see the younger man here.

"Out of my way Fatone. I have nothing to say to you ever again. You’re damn lucky I didn’t shoot you dead as soon as I saw you standing there." Justin shoved his way past Joseph and beckoned to Luke, who joined him in the corner. Joseph heard only snatches of their whispered conversation. What he did catch was Justin speaking. "Angel . . . sleeping . . . no more visitors . . . worn out . . ."

Joseph wondered idly just what Justin had done to ‘wear her out’ and he looked at Luke expectantly as Justin went through a door which apparently led to the kitchen. A man came down the stairs, hat pulled low, and handed Luke a few bills before going out the back way, through the kitchen. Joseph thought he bore a strong resemblance to the mayor, but the mayor was a happily married man by all accounts. Joseph decided it was someone else who didn’t wish to be seen and turned back to Luke, looking expectantly at the large man. "I’m sorry sir, but I’m afraid we’re all booked up at the moment," Luke said coldly. "You can come back later, but I doubt you’ll have any more luck."

"What?"

"You heard me sir. You and your kind ain’t welcome in this establishment. The ladies here, they’s nice ladies. They won’t appreciate you. Now please leave." It was obvious that Justin had said something to make Luke angry with Joseph, and it was also painfully clear that Luke would be more than willing to remove him bodily from the premises. Joseph left, not sure just why he’d gone there in the first place. He got back to his room in the hotel and pulled a small tin type from his suitcase. He looked at the picture and sighed, missing her as much now as he did the day he found out she was gone.

 

Elisabeth was in the kitchen, sewing. Justin sat watching her for a while. He was her best customer. "So, is it my favorite girl’s night off?"

"Yes it is Justin," she said with a grin.

He sighed and tried to look miserable. "I suppose I have to wait until tomorrow then?"

Elisabeth seemed to be considering it, then she put her sewing down and leaned across the table. "I suppose, just for you, I could put in a little overtime." Justin grinned and stood up, reaching for her hand. She put her hand in his and stood, leading him out of the kitchen and to the stairs,

 

Heather sighed and cuddled into her husband’s chest. The baby was asleep. Allie was asleep in her room. The only sounds in the late night were the crickets outside the window, the gentle night breeze, and their even breathing. "Bill? Are you asleep yet?"

"No."

"I think something’s wrong with Sarah. She looked like she’d been crying when she came to take Amanda home. And she wouldn’t say much about Josh."

"We took Mr. Bass to the school house today. Katie has been getting in trouble recently. She and Miss Blake don’t seem to like one another very much. And I got a strange feeling about Josh and Miss Blake. I think you’re right. Something is wrong there, but there’s nothing we can do about it." Heather nodded absently against his chest. Bill lay there quietly, rubbing her back.

"Sweetheart," he whispered. "How tired are you right now?"

"Not very . . ." she trailed off, knowing what he wanted. He shifted, pulling his wife on top of him. Their lips met as he slowly tugged the hem of her nightgown up, very pleased to find that was all she was wearing. He stripped it off of her and peeled himself out of his long johns before flipping her over and burying himself in her heat. The massive bed shook as he thrust into her. If it had been a smaller bed, it would have smashed into the wall or fallen to the floor in pieces, but Bill had built it himself. It was the sturdiest and heaviest bed in the country. "I love you," he said softly as she drifted to sleep in his arms. Heather fell asleep with a smile on her face.

 

Katie heard her father come in. She couldn’t sleep. She finally gave up when she heard her parents’ bedroom door close and kicked her way out from under the covers. She crept quietly to the chair where she had lain the dress she was wearing earlier. She got dressed and tied her hair back with a ribbon before creeping downstairs and sneaking out the kitchen door.

She went back to Miss Beckie’s. Something kept telling her she needed to be there. There was something about that place, something very important.

 

"Good night, Sarah," Lance said to his sister. They had talked for two hours about Josh and Sarah, and Miss Blake, but they had no answers. His sister finally went to bed, but he wasn’t tired. Deciding a walk might do him good, he put his jacket on and stepped into the darkness. He just started walking and was surprised when he ended up in front of Miss Beckie’s. He was even more surprised at who was going inside, thinking no one was there to see. He thought about it a moment. He could just pretend he hadn’t seen anything and go home. But something made him walk to the door and go in, not knowing what he would be walking into.

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