to sleep in every night was a big inducement to adapt. There was also the fact that Mary Whiteside could read—and read quite well. With Alice’s approval, Mary took it upon herself to begin giving Katie daily lessons. The trio of newcomers bonded quickly. It was Letty who still held herself back, even though it was her home and money providing their care. There was a part of her that didn’t trust life enough to take another chance at being happy. She was satisfied with just being okay.
But, like every good thing, it must eventually come to an end. For Letty, it ended on a Thursday, just before noon, and in a way that put, what she thought was important, into sharp perspective.
Noah Shaffer was one of the first men Eulis had hired when they’d opened the mine, so when Letty saw him riding up to the house at a fast clip, she thought little of it. Robert Lee often sent one of them to ask her instructions as to how she might want them to proceed. But when Noah rode up to the front porch in an all out gallop, she realized it wasn’t a normal visit.
“Miz Potter! You need to come quick. Robert Lee went and got himself shot.”
Letty felt the blood draining out of her face. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t find the air to talk.
“He’s at Doc Warren’s right now. Doc sent me to tell you.”
By this time, Alice had come out on the porch. Her face was sweaty and flushed from baking bread, and the front of her apron was white with flour. She took one look at the shock on Letty’s face, then grabbed her by the arm and gave her a shake.
“Breathe, woman!” Alice cried.
Letty leaned against the porch rail to keep from falling.
“What happened?” Letty asked.
Noah pulled off his hat as he began to recite the news.
“Robert Lee was going into the bank when robbers came running out, making off with the money. Amos Trueblood came out all bloody and yelling that he’d just been robbed. Robert Lee went and shot both men dead in the street, but not before one of them put a shot in him.”
“Oh lord,” Letty muttered.
“Is it bad?” Alice asked.
“I couldn’t rightly say, ma’am,” Noah said. “I was to meet up with him at the smelter, but when I heard what happened, I went straight to the Doc’s. He was laid out on Doc’s table when I got there and I didn’t see him talking.”
Letty bolted off the porch.
“You can’t ride in those clothes,” Alice yelled. “Go change.”
Since Letty rarely left the house these days, she had taken to wearing dresses again, but she ignored Alice’s orders as she made a run for the shed.
“Where are you going?” Alice cried.
“To saddle my horse,” Letty called.
“I’ll do it for you, ma’am,” Noah said, and rode past her to the shed. By the time she got there, he had a bridle and a saddle blanket on the horse, and was reaching for the saddle.
Moments later, Letty hitched up her skirts and mounted without care that her skirt and petticoats were bunched up around her waist, and her legs were bare clear to her knees.
She kicked the horse in the flanks and away they went.
“Oh law!” Alice cried, when she saw Letty’s bare flesh, and covered her face with her apron.
Letty rode down the mountain without thought for decorum, begging God all the way there to spare Robert Lee. The streets were awash with people who’d heard about the robbery. Some had gathered on corners to rehash the gossip, while others had moved to the blacksmith shop to get a look at the two dead men.
There were plenty who saw Letty Potter come riding into town with her hair flying and her skirts up around her waist. They all saw her bare legs and bouncing bosom, but no one had the guts to voice an opinion as to the wisdom of such a stunt.
Letty got to the doctor’s office, but when she dismounted, she found herself shaking so hard she didn’t think she could walk.
Mildred had seen her coming, and ran out to meet her.
“Lawsy sakes, Miz Potter, your limbs were showing,” she cried, as Letty tied her horse to the rail.
Letty grabbed Mildred’s arm.
“Tell me he’s not dead.”
“How ’bout if I tell you, myself,” Robert Lee said, as he walked out of the house.
Letty took one look at his face, saw the sling over his shoulder and the