Silver Creek - G.L. Snodgrass Page 0,9
made her smile inside. That was the Luke she remembered. Of course, they’d made him an officer, even the army couldn’t be that dumb that they didn’t know special when they saw it.
Once again, her world shifted. Suddenly, her problems seemed so silly. The man had spent years fighting for his life. Of course, now the hard look in his eyes made sense.
The two of them stood there as an awkwardness fell around them. What could she say to him? Except for a few months on the Oregon trail, they knew nothing about each other’s life. Was he married? Was there someone special in his life? How could she have been such a fool to ask for his help? And why had he come? He didn’t owe her anything.
Without thinking, her hand reached up to touch his arm just to make sure he was really there. “Helen,” she called over her shoulder, afraid to take her eyes off him in case he disappeared.
“Yes,” her friend said as she put the large meat cleaver on the kitchen counter and stepped towards them. Rebecca knew instinctively that Helen had been there with her huge knife. Ready to come help with Mark Felton.
“Helen,” Rebecca said as she continued to touch Luke’s arm. “This is Luke Parker. My dearest and oldest friend.”
Her friend’s eyebrows rose as she slowly turned to examine Luke.
“Ma’am,” he said as he dipped his head to her.
Helen gave her a strange look then turned back to Luke and said, “Welcome to Silver Creek, Mr. Parker. You do make an entrance.”
He laughed. “Met a man on the stage. Riding shotgun, name of Polk, told me about your cobbler.”
Helen’s cheeks grew red as she looked down.
“He’s the one who told me where to find you,” he said to Rebecca. “But most of the time he talked about cobbler. Never knew a man so interested in peaches.”
She looked up into his eyes as she tried to take it all in, Luke Parker, here in Helen’s restaurant. She had dreamt about this day for years. Wondered about this kind boy who had meant so much to her. Who had been there when she needed him.
It looked like once again, Luke had stepped forward to help her.
“How do you like your steak, Mr. Parker?” Helen asked over her shoulder as she started for the kitchen.
“Luke, Ma’am. Please. And I like it just this side of raw.”
“Very well, Luke, but only if you call me Helen. A friend of Rebecca’s is always welcome.”
He smiled, then once again looked down into her eyes. The two of them stared at each other for a long moment as her stomach churned with nervous energy until she remembered where she was.
Do something, she thought to herself. Anything. Don’t just stand there staring like a lost fawn. “Sit. I’ll have your dinner in just a moment. Coffee?”
He sat and sighed as he nodded. “I could use some, it’s been a bit of a chore getting here.”
She quickly poured him a cup, then got the broom and pan to sweep up the busted sugar bowl. Once that was done, she looked around for something else to keep her busy. But there was nothing left, no one needed coffee. There were no dishes to clear nor orders to be filled.
The other men in the room slowly left as they finished. The blacksmith, Jack Strumph, studied Luke for a moment then tipped his hat to her. He turned to leave then turned back.
“I’d be careful,” the man said to Luke. “That Felton don’t like being told no. And that Troy Cooper is faster than a sidewinder. Didn’t think there was anyone faster. Not until today.”
Luke shrugged. “I ain’t even the fastest in the family. My brother Jacob could beat me nine out of ten times. And Zion. He’d of just banged their head together and left them to rot.”
The huge blacksmith shrugged his shoulders. “It don’t matter. Knowing that lot. They won’t give you a chance. I’d watch my back trail if’n I was you.”
Luke pursed his lips as he nodded his understanding, his eyes silently thanking the man for his warning.
Rebecca’s insides clenched tight. This was all her fault. Luke shouldn’t have to deal with this. It was unfair and undeserved. What had she done? She should have just gone away. Left this town and all of its problems. Luke wouldn’t be here risking his life for her and her silly dreams.
But then, Luke wouldn’t be here. Sitting across from her and her