The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,264

toward the sound and wrapped her arms around herself, stifling a shudder as a fresh wave of rain began to fall.

“Lord in heaven, I wish this rain would stop.”

Eulis nodded. “They might have to move the gold out of the bank.”

Letty gasped, and turned abruptly.

“Where to?”

“Don’t know, but if that water gets any closer to the bank, they won’t have much choice.”

“Well, that’s not good,” Letty muttered. “There has to be something we can do.”

Eulis shrugged. “Last time I checked, God was still in charge of the weather. There ain’t nothin’ we can do.”

“We’ll see,” Letty said. “Meanwhile, come help me lay down these quilts.”

Eulis picked them up and followed Letty into an empty room down the hall.

“What are we doin’ here?” he asked, as he spread them to her satisfaction.

“We’re making a bed for Alice.”

“Oh. Right.”

They laid one down, then another to the side for covers.

“I wish the things that we ordered would hurry up and come,” Letty said, as she continued to fuss with the quilts. “Can’t even make a proper bed up here.”

“Honey, I don’t reckon as how your Alice will be too worried about the lack of a pillow… not after you as good as saved her from a fate worse than death.”

Letty walked back to the window. The view from the second floor of their home was grand—even though they were looking at it through a downpour.

“Eulis?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember how flat the land was back in the Kansas territories?”

“I reckon I do.”

“I was always afraid of it.”

Eulis turned to her. Surprise was evident on his face.

“I didn’t know that. In fact, I don’t reckon I ever saw you afraid of anything… except that day the preacher from back East died in your bed and you passed me off as the man they’d all been waitin’ to see.”

She shuddered.

“Lord. Don’t remind me. I thought I was a goner, for sure.”

“So, why did the flat land scare you, girl?”

“I don’t know… maybe because it appeared that there was nothing to hold on to. You know how it got when the wind blew. It just went on forever. And in the winter when it snowed, it blew and blew without anything to stop it. I guess I was afraid I’d blow away, too.”

“You got too much grit to be flighty,” Eulis said.

Letty shrugged. “Still… I like the way these mountains make me feel. Sort of like I’m being cradled in big, strong arms. You know?”

Eulis hugged her.

“I reckon I’d just as soon keep you in my arms, if it’s all the same to you.”

Letty smiled.

“You don’t have to politic me anymore. You’re already getting your second helpings.”

Eulis shook his head.

“Honey, with you it ain’t ever politickin’… just the plain, honest to God, truth.”

“So, let’s go eat,” Letty said.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Eulis said, and followed her down the stairs.

Alice didn’t know what to make of Letty Potter, but she was grateful for the job and the shelter. It was shame enough that everyone knew her husband’s weaknesses. To have him jailed was even worse. But it was her little baby that was breaking her heart. Their time together had been far too brief, and not being able to lay her to rest was weighing heavy on her mind. If only this terrible rain would stop—at least long enough for them to be able to put her baby in the ground—she’d feel better.

A burning ember popped as Alice bent over to stir the stew. A drop of the savory liquid sloshed over the side of the iron pot and into the fire, hissing briefly before it dried.

The cast iron pot in which she’d baked the apple cobbler was sitting at the edge of the fire to keep it warm, and her biscuits were just about done, but Alice felt faint. She hadn’t done this much physical work in a long time and was still weak from her injuries. But she wasn’t complaining. Far from it. She had a safe, dry place to sleep and food to eat. For now, it was all she could ask for.

“Somethin’ sure smells good.”

The man’s compliment was unexpected. Alice ducked her head as the Potters came down the stairs.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Alice said. “But I can’t take credit for the stew. Your wife already had that finished before I got here.”

“Well, we’re proud to have you,” Eulis said.

Alice ducked her head again. “It’s I who owe you. I was desperate. Your wife’s offer was an answer to a prayer.”

Eulis glanced at Letty and