Ian stood on the edge of the boardwalk nursing a cup of coffee. Molly
remembered her brother as one who couldn¡¯t sit still. Even while
seated his hands had to be busy. He stood still now, the only
movement the occasional lift of the coffee cup to his mouth.
¡°Ian, I have breakfast,¡± Molly said
from the doorway.
¡°I think you should go back to New
York,¡± Ian responded.
¡°Eat your breakfast or don¡¯t it
makes no difference to me but I am not having this discussion,¡±
Molly retorted turning to go back inside. She noticed Cheyenne making
her way toward the hotel. Molly hadn¡¯t seen her since they¡¯d made
it back to town a few days before. Molly stepped back outside and Ian
reached a hand out to her.
¡°Kathleen, at least consider¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll not repeat myself Ian
Crowley,¡± she shouldered past him and stepped down to the street.
¡°Bonjour,¡± Molly said, reaching
Cheyenne. ¡°I am so happy to see you. Did you want to come inside
and have something to eat? I just took scones out of the oven. Ian¡¯s
favorite though at this moment I¡¯m not inclined to let him have so
much as a crumb¡¡± Molly realized that most of what she was saying
was probably not being understood. She¡¯d heard enough French during
her time in service and worked her mind to come up with. Before she
could speak Cheyenne nodded toward Ian.
¡°Were you looking for my brother?¡±
Molly asked. Cheyenne nodded.
¡°Annie,¡± Mr. Sanchez¡¯s voice came
from down the street as he hurried toward them. ¡°I¡¯d been lookin¡¯
for you everywhere,¡± he said, relief clear in his voice. ¡°Ms.
Crowley,¡± he touched the brim of his hat to her.
¡°Mr. Sanchez,¡± Molly nodded back.
¡°Everything alright?¡± Ian asked,
coming up to them.
¡°It seems Cheyenne was looking for
you,¡± Molly responded.
¡°And Josiah,¡± Cheyenne said softly.
She turned and began walking back up the street toward the Livery.
The trio followed them, Josiah striding inline with her as Ian and
Molly trailed behind.
¡°What does she want with me? I hardly
know her?¡± Ian wondered out loud.
They reached the door to the small
living quarters attached to the livery. Cheyenne spoke in rapid
French to Mr. Sanchez.
¡°What is she saying?¡± Ian asked.
Molly shook her head.
¡°I¡±m not sure but ¡®colere¡¯ is
angry,¡± Molly responded. She¡¯d used the word more than once
glancing back toward Molly and Ian each time.
¡°Why do you think we¡¯d be angry,
darlin¡¯?¡± Ian asked. Cheyenne¡¯s response was to open the door.
It took a moment for Molly¡¯s eyes to
adjust to the dimness inside the small room. She saw a bed with a
figure laying on it. It took another few seconds for her to
understand the person laying in the bed was Jonah and he was very
much alive.
¡°God almighty,¡± Ian breathed out
next to her. Eva appeared carrying a tray and the disappearance of
food over the last couple of days made sense.
¡°How could you?¡± Molly snapped at
her. ¡°And how could you?¡± Molly spun on Cheyenne. ¡°After what
he did, what he put us through?¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to
look at Jonah or Abe or whatever name he was calling himself now
afraid if she did she would either collapse or try to claw his eyes
out. Instead she spun around and hurried from the room.
¡°Kathleen¡¡± Ian made to go after
his sister.
¡°Ian, wait,¡± the voice from the bed
of the man who had been Ian¡¯s best friend for years filled Ian with
an anger he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. As if sensing the violence
filling him, Sanchez stepped in front of him.
¡°We should hear him out,¡± the
preacher¡¯s voice was calm and controlled.
¡°He nearly got my sister killed,¡±
Ian spat out. ¡°You could have come to me, Jonah!¡± Ian tried
stepping around Sanchez.
¡°He¡¯s comin¡¯ here, Wheeler¡¯s
comin¡¯ here¡¡± the statement seemed to take all the strength
Jonah had and for a second Ian thought he¡¯d passed out. That was
when he noticed how injured the man was. He turned to Eva.
¡°I¡¯ve done what I could, but he
should see a doctor. I tried to encourage informing Mr. Jackson.¡±
¡°Ian you should go see to your
sister. I¡¯ll get Nathan and then we need to tell the others. This
ain¡¯t over,¡± Sanchez said, leveling a look at Cheyenne before
leaving the room.
