There was no fort at Fort Mann. Just three adobes, one with a bar, one a bordello, and the other a trading post stocked with most of the basics.
They reported the trouble with the Indians. Luke described the Ute’s behavior and the man who ran all three businesses answered.
“They’re running with some Jicarillo Apaches. Utes do the asking. Apaches do the rest. Most everybody who comes through pays them one way or another. If you didn’t lose any of your party, did better than some.”
After a drink, Luke asked the next question. “Do you have a doctor in this town?”
The man laughed, and Luke asked the last question. “A preacher or priest?”
<><><>
Alma was shaky but on her feet when he got back to the wagon. He was surprised to find her and Cara walking beside the wagon, the wounded dog hobbling and whining after them.
He stepped up to take Cara’s place and walked the slim woman back and forth. She looked up at him and said. “You’ll have to go slower. I’m about as wobbly as a new colt.” He slipped the arm he was bracing her with to wrap behind her waist, used his right hand to clutch her elbow and let her hand fall in the bend of his so their arms were aligned in an Indian handshake. Leaning down toward her ear, he whispered. “I’m sorry for asking like this. I know you should have family and friends around, not be in miserable pain, and standing there pretending to be a boy. I know it all may seem wrong to you, but hear me out.” Luke suddenly swallowed, his throat as dry as the desert.” Alma felt her heart pounding in her ears, her eyes wet as she stared at his shadowed face. If her arm didn’t feel like a devil were poking it, she would have raised her left hand to knock his hat off. She wanted to read his eyes. Trembling, she waited. “I want you. I want you and your little baby. I want to take care of you for the rest of our days, be kind to you and protect you. But we just got an hour to get hitched by some crazy padre that don’t speak any English. It’s him or that idiot wagon master. He’s the one said he’s leaving us here if we aren’t wedded.” “Is he why you’re asking, cause if he is, I don’t need his train and I don’t…?” “I love you Alma. Hell, I even loved you when I first saw you, so little, sad, and alone, and then I thought you were a boy. I knew I never wanted to let go of you.” She swayed against his arm and he lifted her and carried her to rest on the lowered tailgate of the nearest wagon. “I know I ain’t doing a very good job of proposing. But will you marry me?” Alma moved her hand up his strong arm and knocked his hat back so she could see …show more content…
“You reckon I’ve got time to change into a dress and pretty up.”
“Don’t see any way on earth you could be any prettier. But I think so. You probably need to change your bandage anyway. Just get Cara to help, so you don’t do too much lifting or moving on your own.”
Again he lifted her and carried her to their wagon, used the wheel to step on so he could lift her up and over the seat before releasing her.
Cara was just coming out of the store and came running. Alma was wincing as she tried to pull the cut shirt over her head. The girl quickly climbed in to help her. They took the time to clean the wound, bathing it with alcohol and smearing it with some of her Ma’s special salve.
As Cara got ready to wrap it again in clean rags. Alma turned her head and twisted around to look at the back of her arm. “You sewed a pretty neat stitch. No wonder I thought the devil was after me with his pitchfork.”
“Luke did it, here hold this.”
Alma took the tail of the strip of sheeting and said, “Well, his Ma did name him
They reported the trouble with the Indians. Luke described the Ute’s behavior and the man who ran all three businesses answered.
“They’re running with some Jicarillo Apaches. Utes do the asking. Apaches do the rest. Most everybody who comes through pays them one way or another. If you didn’t lose any of your party, did better than some.”
After a drink, Luke asked the next question. “Do you have a doctor in this town?”
The man laughed, and Luke asked the last question. “A preacher or priest?”
<><><>
Alma was shaky but on her feet when he got back to the wagon. He was surprised to find her and Cara walking beside the wagon, the wounded dog hobbling and whining after them.
He stepped up to take Cara’s place and walked the slim woman back and forth. She looked up at him and said. “You’ll have to go slower. I’m about as wobbly as a new colt.” He slipped the arm he was bracing her with to wrap behind her waist, used his right hand to clutch her elbow and let her hand fall in the bend of his so their arms were aligned in an Indian handshake. Leaning down toward her ear, he whispered. “I’m sorry for asking like this. I know you should have family and friends around, not be in miserable pain, and standing there pretending to be a boy. I know it all may seem wrong to you, but hear me out.” Luke suddenly swallowed, his throat as dry as the desert.” Alma felt her heart pounding in her ears, her eyes wet as she stared at his shadowed face. If her arm didn’t feel like a devil were poking it, she would have raised her left hand to knock his hat off. She wanted to read his eyes. Trembling, she waited. “I want you. I want you and your little baby. I want to take care of you for the rest of our days, be kind to you and protect you. But we just got an hour to get hitched by some crazy padre that don’t speak any English. It’s him or that idiot wagon master. He’s the one said he’s leaving us here if we aren’t wedded.” “Is he why you’re asking, cause if he is, I don’t need his train and I don’t…?” “I love you Alma. Hell, I even loved you when I first saw you, so little, sad, and alone, and then I thought you were a boy. I knew I never wanted to let go of you.” She swayed against his arm and he lifted her and carried her to rest on the lowered tailgate of the nearest wagon. “I know I ain’t doing a very good job of proposing. But will you marry me?” Alma moved her hand up his strong arm and knocked his hat back so she could see …show more content…
“You reckon I’ve got time to change into a dress and pretty up.”
“Don’t see any way on earth you could be any prettier. But I think so. You probably need to change your bandage anyway. Just get Cara to help, so you don’t do too much lifting or moving on your own.”
Again he lifted her and carried her to their wagon, used the wheel to step on so he could lift her up and over the seat before releasing her.
Cara was just coming out of the store and came running. Alma was wincing as she tried to pull the cut shirt over her head. The girl quickly climbed in to help her. They took the time to clean the wound, bathing it with alcohol and smearing it with some of her Ma’s special salve.
As Cara got ready to wrap it again in clean rags. Alma turned her head and twisted around to look at the back of her arm. “You sewed a pretty neat stitch. No wonder I thought the devil was after me with his pitchfork.”
“Luke did it, here hold this.”
Alma took the tail of the strip of sheeting and said, “Well, his Ma did name him