Sabrina's Man (2 page)

“Some. I try not to think about it much.”

Oscar suddenly turned and said, “Well, there comes the 2:15. I hope there's no baggage for me to move.”

The arrival of the train always drew visitors to the station. Men with nothing else to do, many of them veterans crippled up, gathered, and Waco idly watched as three men got off.

Then a woman stepped down, and the conductor reached up to take her hand.

“That's a right nice-looking woman,” Oscar said.

“Sure is,” Waco replied.

The two watched the woman as the conductor helped her locate her luggage, which she set down on the platform. She looked around as if confused.

Waco would have left, but he had gone only a few steps when Oscar said, “Uh-oh, that's trouble.”

Waco turned and saw that two men had bracketed the young woman and were giving her a hard time.

“Those two ought to be run out of town.”

Waco recognized Jasper Landon and Orville York. Both of them had served short terms in prison, and Waco had beaten Orville in an oozing fistfight in the Golden Nugget Saloon. The sight of the two giving the young woman a hard time brought the quick flare of temper that lurked somewhere below Waco's smooth surface. “Those fellows need a lesson in manners,” he remarked.

“Better watch yourself, Waco,” Oscar called out as his friend left. “They been spreading it around they're gonna wipe you out.”

Moving to where the three stood, Waco paused.

Instantly the two men turned their attention on him. Both of them had anger in their expressions.

“You two be on your way. Leave the lady alone.”

“What makes you think you can give me orders?” Jasper Landon said. He was a tall, lanky man with a lantern jaw.

Orville York was shorter but muscular. He spat out the words, “You might as well move on! We're doing right well without your help here.”

Waco ignored them as he turned to the woman. “Young lady, you're probably going to the hotel. I'll be glad to escort you.”

“Thank you very much.” The woman was very attractive, with blond hair and blue eyes and dressed better than most.

“I'm going to wipe you out one of these days,” Jasper said. “I hear you think you're a tough man.”

Waco kept his eyes fixed on both and was not surprised when, without warning, Orville threw a swift punch. Waco had been expecting it. He blocked it with his left arm and struck the man a tremendous blow on the nose. Orville wheeled, cried out, and fell backward in the dust. Instantly Waco wheeled to see that Landon was reaching for a gun. With one quick move he pulled out his own gun before Landon could free his own weapon.

“I ain't drawin'!” Landon said quickly.

“Second thoughts are usually best. You two move on. I'm tired of the sight of you.”

Orville scrambled to his feet. Blood was staining his shirt. “You won't always have that gun.”

“I'll always have the gun, Orville. I'm not telling you again. Move on.”

The two cursed but left.

Waco watched them to be sure they were out of the way.

The woman said, “I can't thank you enough.”

Waco said, “Sorry you'd get such an introduction to our city. I'm Waco Smith. Could I help you with your luggage?”

“I—I don't know exactly where to go. I need a room for the night.”

“Well, there's the Majestic Hotel. The name's more stuck up than the hotel, but it's clean.”

“If you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate it.”

Waco picked up the two suitcases and then nodded. “Down this way, miss. I don't know your name.”

“I'm Alice Malone. I'm very grateful to you for you help, but won't it make trouble for you?”

“Oh, those two will make trouble wherever they go, but they won't bother you.”

They reached the Majestic Hotel, and Waco waited while the woman signed her name to the guest register.

The desk clerk instructed, “Room 206 up on the second floor. Got nobody to carry your bags.”

“I'll take care of that,” Waco said pleasantly. “Got a key, George?”

“Right here.” George leaned over and pulled a key from a board and handed it over. “There you are, Miss Malone. Glad to have you in our city.”

“Thank you.”

Waco moved up the stairs with the young woman. When she got to the room, she unlocked the door, and he walked inside and put the suitcases down. He took off his hat and said, “Well, like the man said, welcome to Little Rock.”

She hesitated and bit her lower lip.

There was some sort of fear in her, at least Waco thought so. “Look, it's a little early, but those train rides can get you pretty hungry. Be proud to have you go down with me. We'll have an early supper or late lunch. Whichever.”

“Oh, I am hungry, but it would be a bother.”

“No bother at all. Come along.”

The restaurant was only a quarter full. Waco pulled a chair out, and when she sat down, he moved across from her.

A woman came up and said, “Hello, Waco, what can I get you?”

“What's good today?”

“Got some good beef.”

“Bring us some of that and any vegetables you can find. That suit you, Miss Malone?”

“It sounds wonderful.”

The woman moved away, and Waco managed to make small talk as they were waiting. The meal came, and she ate hungrily. Waco, who was always hungry, downed his meal quickly.

Finally Alice seemed to be troubled about something and said, “I don't know exactly what to do, Mr. Smith.”

“Waco's fine, ma'am. What do you mean you don't know what to do?”

“Well, I was living with my sister and her husband. They have a large family and a small house, so I felt like I needed to give them some freedom. I have another aunt that lives here. I need to find her. She invited me once to come and stay with her, but I haven't talked to her in some time. I'm just a little bit nervous.”

“Well, be good to have you here. What's your aunt's name?”

“Bessell Gilbert.”

“Don't know the lady, but we'll find her.”

After they finished their meal, Bessell Gilbert turned out to be easy enough to find. At least her house was.

Sheriff Satterfield had been their source. When the two had found him in his office, he was slapping flies with the swatter, but he rose at once and nodded when Waco introduced Alice.

“My aunt's name is Bessell Gilbert. Do you know her, Sheriff?”

“Yes, I do, but I'm sorry to tell you she's not here.”

Dismay swept across Alice's face. “I haven't heard from her. I wanted to come and stay with her. I really don't have any other place to go.”

“Well, we'll find something. She got married and moved away out to Kansas somewhere. Perhaps we can find her.”

“That won't do any good, I'm afraid,” Alice said. “If she's not here, I'm sure she's sold her house.”

“Yes, she did, and folks are living in it now.”

“Come along. We'll figure out something,” Waco said. “Let's go down and sit on the bench and watch the old Arkansas River flow by.”

She did not answer, and he saw that she was upset. He himself had never had such a problem, and he felt an urge somehow to help her. “Here. Sit on one of those benches there, and we'll watch the steamboats.”

Alice sat down, and he sat beside her. She was quiet for a long time.

Waco did not know how to handle the situation, but he felt that somehow she had to have help. “I'll tell you what. We'll find you a place to stay, and then you can decide what to do.”

“I—I don't have very much money.”

“We can probably find you a place with low rent. Don't let it worry you. Things like this always look bad when you're in the middle of them.” The two sat there, and Waco spoke to her as cheerfully as he knew how.

Finally she rose and said, “I'm tired. I think I need to rest.” Waco stood beside her, and she turned to look at the river. A steamboat was making its way up the stream, and she watched until it moved around the bend. “I'm really afraid. I've never had to really take care of myself in a situation like this.”

“If you want to work, I'm sure we can find something for you to do.”

She did not answer, but he saw that tears were in her eyes. She began to tremble.

Waco put his arms around her, drew her close, and said, “Don't worry about it. I'll see you're all right.”

Alice did not move. She was looking at him with her face lifted, her lips motionless. The fragrance of her hair touched his senses. He saw the quick rise and fall of her bosom, and then an impulse took him. He drew her closer, bent his head, and kissed her.

He'd had little enough experience with a woman of this nature. Most of his women friends were rougher, but as she lay in his arms in an attitude of trust, he felt a sweetness and a richness that filled the empty places in him and allowed him for this short fragment of time to know what completeness could be. The best of life suddenly took him, but a sadness came, for he knew this would soon pass away.

She lay quietly in his arms, the rhythm of her breathing growing calmer. “I shouldn't have let you kiss me.”

“Not your fault. Men are pretty selfish.”

“You're not, Waco.” She smiled suddenly, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped away the tears. “Take me to my room, please.”

He walked with her to the hotel and left her there, but she turned at the foot of the stairs and gave him a sweet smile. “Will I see you again?”

“Why don't we have breakfast? I'll come to call for you at the hotel.”

“That would be nice. Good night, and thanks for helping me.”

Waco nodded, put on his hat, and left the hotel. He went back to the hardware store where he and Will had made a temporary bedroom to serve until they could do better.

He found Will sitting at the table eating something from a bowl. “Have some of this stew. Not bad.”

“I've already eaten.”

Will looked up. “Why'd you do that?”

A sharp, uncomfortable feeling touched Waco as he told how he had met the young woman. “Will, you know all the businessmen in town. She's got to find something to do. We've got to help her.”

Will held the spoon in his right hand, looked at it for a moment, and then said, “I don't know the lady, but I know you. Be careful, Waco.”

Waco stared at him. “Be careful about what?”

“Well, you've had some experience with another kind of woman. This one is apparently different. You'd be right for the plucking.”

“She's not that kind.”

Will Barton smiled faintly. There was a doubt in his eyes, and he said, “They are all that kind sooner or later. Just be careful.”

“Sure. But she's not that kind.”

W
ill Barton walked to the sheriff 's office.

Micah Satterfield sat in one of the rockers in front of his office reading a week-old paper. The news displeased him, evidenced by the creases along his forehead. With a twisted mouth he muttered, “The Yankees are going to get us. Ain't no doubt about that.” He continued reading the paper, but a movement caught his eye and he looked up at the man who had approached. “Hello, Will. What brings you to my office today?”

Will Barton nodded to the sheriff. “I wanted to talk to you about something that's got me pretty worried. Are you gonna put a special guard on the bank, Chief?”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“Well, the First State Bank over at Jonesboro was robbed. That's not too far from here. We might be next. I don't want a bunch of outlaws to be getting the money I worked so hard for.”

“Don't worry about it, Will. The thieves didn't get much over at Jonesboro if what I hear is true. Sheriff Conners has got a posse out running them down.”

“Well, can't be too careful.” Barton leaned up against the post and glanced at the paper in the sheriff 's hand. “Not good news about the war, is it?”

“There ain't no war left, son. It's just a matter of survival, and the Confederacy won't do that very long.”

“I'll be glad when it's all over. I wish we had never got into it.”

“So do a bunch of grievin' widow women and men, too.”

The two chatted about the war; both of them, like many Southerners, had practically given up on the Cause. Finally Satterfield folded his paper and tossed it into the chair next to his. “What's going on with Waco and that woman that come to town?”

“I never saw a man so dazzled by a woman,” Will said sourly. “I thought Waco was a pretty steady man, but he's not. She's been here a month, and Waco just acts like a man bewitched. He'd run into a fence post if she was close.”

“Well, you reckon he's going to marry her?”

“Might be, but I'd hate to see it.”

“Don't you like the woman?”

“She's the wrong woman for him.” Barton shrugged his shoulders. “They're different. She's a city woman. Waco doesn't know anything but horses.”

“Well, he's learning the hardware business. That'll make him a city man.”

“I don't think he'll ever become a city man. He does what I tell him, but he's not really got what it takes to make money.”

“Well, you do, so I guess he'll be the strong back, and you can be the sharp mind.”

“I don't think it's exactly like that. I'll see you later, Chief. You be sure you keep an eye on that bank.”

“I'll take care of it, Will.”