Silver Creek - G.L. Snodgrass Page 0,26
a special kind of bravery for an Indian to walk into town like that. To silently scoff at the prejudice and hate of most of the people in town. He wondered briefly what was in the package his wife carried. What was so important that it was worth the risk?
One more mystery, he thought. Another thing to burrow into his soul and gnaw at him. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the street to Helen’s restaurant. His heart jumped at the thought of seeing Becky again. There was something about her innocent kindness that just made the world feel better being around her.
When he stepped inside, he found Helen removing the empty coffee pot from the brazier and replacing it with a new one. She smiled at him then said, “She’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He grinned, “Maybe it was you I wanted to see? A pretty woman who can cook.”
She laughed as she used a towel to swipe at him. “Go on with you.” Her cheeks grew red as her eyes danced with joy.
He sat down in his regular chair in the far corner and watched as Helen poured him coffee.
“Becky was lucky you found her,” he said. “Thank you.”
Helen winced and shook her head. “What that girl’s gone through. It ain’t right.” She turned on him as her brow narrowed. “Don’t you be hurting her. She’s been hurt enough.”
His stomach dropped. “I would never hurt Becky.”
The woman lifted one eyebrow and stared at him with doubt. “Men got a habit of hurting women and not even knowing it. I figure you lot lose brains the taller you get.” Seeing that he got her message she turned back for her kitchen.
Luke took a sip of his coffee as he thought over what the woman had said. He would never hurt Becky. Had Helen seen the coldness in his heart? Seen what the war had done to him and realized he wasn’t good enough for Becky. Well, she needn’t worry. He agreed with her.
As he sat there, he silently went over every fact he knew about Tom’s death and the loss of the ranch. He’d learned that the sale looked to be on the up and up. The question was, were the killers tied to the buyer? And where did he go from here?
Finishing his coffee, he got up to get a refill when Becky stepped in from the kitchen and smiled at him. The kind of smile that made a man feel special. As if there was a God and He’d put her on this world just to show how wonderful things could be.
“Your lunch will be ready in a moment.”
He nodded as he sat down again, “What do you know about Sarah Felton?” he asked. “I imagine you two must of run in the same circles.”
Becky laughed and shook her head. “You know what ranch life is like. Especially out here. You go to town every other month if you’re lucky. I don’t think I’ve talked to Sarah more than a half dozen times in the last eleven years.”
“You two were about the same age. A couple of hours apart. Not a lot of other women in the area. I’m surprised.”
She shrugged. “Sarah is different … let us say that she was always looking to climb up. A poor farmer’s niece wasn’t something she concerned herself with.” Becky suddenly frowned. “Why are you asking about Sarah Felton? She is very pretty, but I don’t think her brothers will let you within a dozen feet of her.”
Luke laughed to himself, was that a hint of jealousy in Becky’s tone. The thought made him feel good inside. “No, just trying to get a handle on the characters in these parts. What about Scarlet? over at the Red House. Do you know her?”
Becky smiled as she shook her head. “We don’t talk about … ladies … like Scarlet Perkins. At least not openly. But yes, I know of her. Every woman in town knows. She is hard to miss.” Her brow narrowed. “How do you know Miss Perkins?”
He shrugged. “She was there the night your uncle sold his ranch. Told me he said he was doing it for you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Again, I don’t know. But if we could figure out the why the Feltons ended up buying your uncle’s farm, maybe we could figure out the who.”
She looked off into the distance and he studied her for a moment. The woman was truly beautiful. That classic, pure innocence that said woman.