A Texas Moon
By Laura Conner Kestner
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A Texas Moon
By Laura Conner Kestner
Moccasin Rock, Texas
April 1892
Nathaniel Calhoun dropped down on the side of his bed, yawned and closed his eyes.
He’d spent most of the night sewing up a man who’d picked a fight with a bull, and lost, but thankfully, would live to tell about it. Now all Nathaniel wanted was sleep. He leaned toward the bedside candle just as a sharp knock sounded at the back door.
“Come on, open up,” his brother called out. “I got a prisoner at the jail that needs doctoring.”
Nathaniel was up, into the kitchen, and throwing the door open while still pulling his clothes on. Buttoning his shirt, he tried to read the expression on Eli’s face.
“Saloon fight?”
“Headache.”
That was different.
Within minutes Nathaniel was fully dressed and following his brother out onto the street and into the jail, then nearly running him over when Eli stopped just inside the door.
Craning his neck to look past him, Nathaniel caught sight of a woman pushing open a cell door and slipping through. She froze when she saw Eli.
Raising her hands, she gave him a shaky smile. “Sheriff, I didn’t expect you back so soon.”
“And I didn’t expect you to make such a miraculous recovery while I was gone,” Eli said. He turned to Nathaniel. “Sorry, looks like I got you out of bed for nothing. The way this woman was carrying on I thought…”
Eli continued talking but Nathaniel was no longer listening. He was looking. And not believing his eyes. The woman wore a resigned expression when addressing his brother, now she was gazing at Nathaniel, wide-eyed and fearful.
And she should be afraid.
Eli glanced back and forth between them. “Everything okay?”
Was it? Nathaniel couldn’t answer that question.
“Do you know her?” Eli said.
And he didn’t want to answer that one.
Eli turned to the woman. “Do you know my brother?”
She nodded, but didn’t enlighten Eli further, while Nathaniel continued to study her. Blond hair, green eyes and full lips, he knew that face all right.
She was dressed differently than she had been when he’d last seen her though, a plain brown dress instead of a nightgown, and sturdy boots instead of slippers. Her hair was also different. Although it was pinned up, a few strands were hanging down well past her shoulders. It was longer than before.
“Do you know her?” Eli repeated.
Struggling for control, Nathaniel swallowed several times before he could respond, surprised by how angry he was. How hurt. Especially considering he’d never expected to see her again. “We’re acquainted. What did you arrest her for?”
“She picked some pockets at the depot last night, including mine. But the reason I locked her up instead of sending her out of town with a warning is because she took a swing at me when I tried to stop her.”
Rubbing his jaw, Eli glared at her. “I can’t keep a female prisoner here. I brought her in until I could decide what to do. A little while ago she started moaning and carrying on, holding her head. I went to get you. She must’ve picked the lock while I was gone…” His words trailed off. “What’s going on? Who is she?”
Nathaniel reached down and picked up a hair pin from the floor—probably explained the loose strands of hair, and the escape.
“I knew her as Lenore,” he told Eli. “I can’t tell you if that’s her real name, however I can tell you a few other things. In addition to being a thief, she’s also a liar and a swindler.”
The woman flinched and dropped her gaze, staring at the floor without a word.
Eli gave him a puzzled look. “Okay, let me ask you something else. How do you know her?”
“She drugged me and robbed me a few years ago.”
Eli’s expression didn’t clear. In fact, he looked even more bewildered. “How did she manage to drug you?”
Nathaniel bit back a sigh. He should’ve known that’s what Eli would home in on first. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Lenore still hadn’t said a word. Then again, what was there to say?
Why was she even here? Moccasin Rock was way too small for her preferred method of operation. Especially considering the crowd she ran with.
Speaking of which. Nathaniel turned to Eli. “Was she alone when you caught her?”
“Yep.” Eli nodded toward the other cell. “I arrested that fellow, too. But they weren’t together. He’d wandered up to the depot from the other direction. Had a little too much to drink. I’ll let him go when he sobers up.”
Nathaniel hadn’t noticed the young man curled up on a cot in the adjoining cell. Stepping closer to the bars, he studied the short, slender frame, the mop of unruly black hair, and yet another familiar face. “Hello, Gordon.”
The man sat up and smiled at him. “Hey, Kid.”
Now it was Nathaniel’s turn to flinch.
Hoping Eli hadn’t picked up on what the man called him, Nathaniel turned his back toward his brother and Lenore, and tossed a whispered question at the prisoner. “How’s the extortion business these days?”
Gordon awkwardly pushed to his feet, shaking his head as he limped toward Nathaniel. “Not as lucrative as in the past.”
“Other folks not as easy to deceive as I was?”
The man gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that. Hated to take your money, but we couldn’t go back empty handed.”
“Wasn’t referring to the money.”
“Oh, you’re talking about the other little trick?”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Nathaniel said. “That was more of a full-blown production than a trick. Although the judge’s performance didn’t seem as rehearsed as the rest of them. First time performer, huh? Well, I’m sure he got better in time. Is he here with you and Lenore?”
Gordon’s brow furrowed. “Why would he be here?”
“I thought y’all traveled together everywhere. He quit the show?”
“That man wasn’t part of the show, Kid.”
A prickle of unease shot through Nathaniel, and this time it had nothing to do with what Gordon called him. “If he wasn’t one of your little band of thieves, then who was he?”
“Far as I know, he was a judge,” Gordon said with a shrug. “If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Lenore. She took care of all the details herself. Never did know why. Sure caused her a lot of grief. The boss was furious.”
Stunned, Nathaniel blinked at him. “Are you saying…”
Gordon pushed away from the cell doors and returned to the cot. “Like I said, better ask Lenore.”
“You bet I will.” But when Nathaniel turned, neither Lenore nor Eli was there. Hurrying outside, he found his brother striding back up the boardwalk, grim-faced…and alone.
Nathaniel’s gaze swept the area. In the pre-dawn hours, Moccasin Rock’s main street was empty. “Where’s Lenore?”
“Gone. While you were talking to the other prisoner, she said she had to use the privy. I was taking her out back when some dog ran up, barking and snarling, grabbing on to my pant leg. Then as quickly as he’d shown up, he was gone. And so was my prisoner.”
Nathaniel groaned. “Let me guess. Was the dog a small black terrier type, maybe more mutt than terrier?”
“How did you know?”
“The dog’s name is Nickel. She’s a professional, like the rest of them. Including the drunk you arrested.”
Eli’s expression darkened. He wasn’t known for his patience, or his talkativeness, and both had been taxed tonight. “I think it’s time you tell me what’s going on,” he growled.
Nathaniel sighed. Might as well get it over with. “When I met Lenore, she was traveling with a medicine show. They sold various snake oils, patent formulas, and a few concoctions they created right there in their wagons. And they performed—songs, dances, magic acts, card tricks, things like that. But there were a few of the performers who would go into a more populated area and pick pockets, or sit in on card games, while cheating of course. They also ran several other side swindles.”
Thankfully, Eli didn’t ask about those.
“So, the young man I arrested is one of the medicine show folks?”
“Yes.”
Eli pushed his hat back. “Come to think of it, he’s made a remarkable recovery, too.”
Nathaniel shook his head. “You’ve been had, Eli. That man, who I know only as Gordon, wasn’t drunk. He was trying to distract you—like the dog did—so Lenore could get away.”
Glowering in the direction of the jail, Eli asked, “Are there more of them?”
“Yep. Unless they’ve split up. Used to be four or five painted wagons traveling together. Usually, after they leave a town, they’ll get far enough away to where they figure no one’s after them, and camp somewhere. Then several of the people will go into a new town and scout it out. If it doesn’t look promising, they’ll steal what they can, report back to the others, and then they’ll all go somewhere with more opportunities.”
Unfortunately, he hadn’t learned all this until it was a little too late. “My guess is the rest of them are camped close by, waiting for these two to return,” Nathaniel said. “Since Moccasin Rock is so small, they’ll probably head on into Fair Haven.”
His brother nodded. “I’ll alert the Claiborne County sheriff. If they’re headed that way, he needs to know.”
“Good idea. In the meantime, I’m going after Lenore myself.”
Eli’s eyes narrowed. “Why? She’s Claiborne County’s problem now.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Nathaniel said. “She’s my problem.”
“What makes you say that?”
Nathaniel drew in a deep breath. “She’s my wife.”
Eli’s mouth dropped open. “You mean you married that woman after…”
Even though he didn’t finish his question, it was enough to jab a hole in Nathaniel’s heart, bringing fresh pain to what had slowly turned to a dull ache.
“Yes, I met Lenore after Tessa, and our child, died,” he said flatly.
Eli’s disgruntled expression turned to one of compassion. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d remarried.”
There were a lot of things his older brother didn’t know. Even though he and Eli had been left on their own as young boys and had been constant companions until Nathaniel married Tessa, much had happened in the years between then and now.
“You met this woman while you were training to be a doctor?”
“Yes.” Nathaniel also trained for some other stuff during that time. He didn’t want to talk about those things either. If he’d been back at medical school, doing what he was supposed to be doing, he wouldn’t be in this mess right now.
“It was all a mistake,” Nathaniel admitted to Eli. And like most mistakes, he would pay for it.
***
Heart pounding, Lenore raced through the woods toward the Brazos River. She couldn’t let the sheriff catch her. How could she have been so careless? Picking the pocket of a lawman was bad enough—she hadn’t seen the badge—but for him to be a relative of the one man she’d counted on never seeing again? Bad didn’t even begin to describe it.
Spending a few days in jail would have been terrible, and Ophelia would’ve punished her for it, but if Nathan caught her, it was all over. Everything she’d fought for—all her hard work—for nothing.
If only he’d smiled. Or seemed happy to see her at all. He still looked the same. Those brown eyes, brown hair, that handsome face, had taken her back to a happier time. But he’d been so cold this time. Angry. Not that she could blame him.
Fighting back tears, Lenore raced on toward camp. If only she could run in the opposite direction, turn her back on all of it, all of them, and disappear. But she couldn’t. Not yet.
After several more minutes of running, she slowed to catch her breath, then stopped. Was anyone following?
Except for the chattering of a squirrel, the woods were quiet. She’d better keep moving, just in case. Giving her heartbeat a moment more to slow, Lenore fingered the money in her pocket. How much did she have? Probably less than five dollars. How much more did she need? Only Ophelia knew the answer to that.
At the sound of rustling in the underbrush, Lenore gasped and darted forward again, then staggered to a stop when Nickel dashed out, dancing circles around her feet.
“Good girl,” Lenore whispered, stooping down to pet the dog. “As always, you showed up when I needed you most.”
And so had Gordon. Pressing on toward camp, Lenore marveled at the fact Gordon had deliberately gotten himself arrested because of her. Hopefully the sheriff wouldn’t be too tough on him.
Considering Gordon’s infirmity, most people were apt to cut him a break. If he didn’t return to camp soon, Lenore would figure out a way to get him out of jail. She couldn’t go back there herself, but maybe one of the others would go.
Lenore’s steps slowed as she neared the campsite, dread dragging her down. Nickel didn’t seem any too eager either. The dog plopped down at her feet, whining.
“Shh, it’ll be okay,” Lenore murmured, trying to reassure herself as much as the dog.
The sky was beginning to lighten as she slipped toward the wagons. They were old and faded now, not the brightly painted conveyances Nathan would be looking for. But, still, they would certainly be easy enough to spot if anyone came searching. Two of them were faded red with yellow wheels; one blue with maroon trim, and two, including the supply wagon, in slightly more subdued colors.
Lenore stopped when she realized her fellow travelers were already up and milling about, some tending the horses, and others beginning the morning meal preparations. Thankfully, Ophelia was a late sleeper.
Shipley Bidwell, black trousers pulled on over his red long johns, his long white hair flowing down around his shoulders, tended the fire. He offered up a wave and a quizzical smile, confused about where she’d been.
Pressing a finger to her lips, Lenore shook her head, signaling him to remain quiet. The man was a classically trained actor with a voice that could wake the dead. Lenore wanted a moment to gather her thoughts before she told Ophelia what happened. Shipley nodded and went back to his work.
Quietly making her way toward the wagons, Lenore placed her right foot on the back of the one she called home and hoisted herself up. A hand came down on her shoulder, fingernails digging into her flesh. Ophelia.
Dropping down to face the woman, Lenore was startled to realize the boss was not only awake, but fully dressed. She’d probably watched Lenore sneaking in.
Ophelia’s hair was pulled back tightly, her gray eyes boring into Lenore from beneath heavy, dark brows. “Where have you been?”
The words were spoken calmly enough but the tone was deceptive.
“I ran into some trouble at Moccasin Rock.”
Ophelia’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of trouble?”
“I got arrested—” The painful sting of a hand across her face snapped Lenore’s head back.
“How stupid can you be?” the older woman hissed.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I got away as soon as I could.”
“Get busy,” Ophelia snapped. “We’ve got work to do. I’m not waiting around to see if the law shows up.”
Lenore drew in a breath. “We can’t leave yet. They got Gordon, too.”
Fury flashed across the woman’s face. “He’s an even bigger idiot than you are. I should have sent him packing years ago.”
Ophelia didn’t say whether she’d help Gordon or not. Lenore rubbed a hand across her face to ease the sting as the woman marched over to tell Shipley what happened.
As usual, he seemed befuddled as Ophelia spoke. The two of them were married now, but Ophelia was still the boss. Thankfully, Ship was a gentle soul, and sometimes had a calming effect on his wife. Hopefully, this would be one of those times.
After talking to him, Ophelia began shouting orders to break camp.
Within minutes everyone was running hither and yon, packing the cooking supplies, dousing the fire, harnessing the horses. Everyone grumbling. There’d be no hot breakfast today.
Lenore helped pack up, then gathering her courage, she approached Ophelia. “What about Gordon?”
“As far as I’m concerned—”
The rumble of a wagon and sound of horse hooves rang out through the morning air, cutting off Ophelia’s response.
They both turned in time to see Gordon awkwardly descending from a buckboard driven by an older man.
Lenore bit back a groan when she noticed the badge on the driver’s vest. Another lawman. Then she spotted three riders approaching on horseback—Nathan and the sheriff, as well as a man dressed all in black.
The black-clad stranger bore a striking resemblance to Nathan and the sheriff. He had to be a Calhoun. The man shifted in the saddle and the sight of yet another badge had Lenore’s breath catching in her throat.
A five-pointed star inside a circle. She’d been in Texas long enough to recognize it. The man was a Texas Ranger.
Panic gripped Lenore. What had she done?
Ophelia was as crooked as they came, and had routine brushes with the law, yet she’d always managed to avoid any serious trouble. Oh, she would be furious about this. Although you’d never know it to look at her.
Shoulders straight, head high, Ophelia faced the men with a smile.
Lenore was relieved Gordon seemed no worse for his experiences. Now safely on the ground, he lifted his hat to the wagon’s driver, then hobbled away, glancing only briefly in Lenore’s direction.
Ophelia shot him an angry glare before addressing the lawmen. “Good morning, gentlemen. What brings you out so early?”
The sheriff answered. “I arrested two members of your traveling party last night at…”
Ophelia raised her hand. “Say no more, Sheriff. We’ll be pulling out of here shortly.”
The sheriff gave a brisk nod. “That was my next suggestion.”
“Land-a-Goshen,” Shipley Bidwell declared in his booming, theatrical voice. “If it isn’t the Texas Kid.” He’d finally noticed Nathan Calhoun.
Lenore was surprised to see Nathan wince at the greeting, and then close his eyes. For some reason he didn’t like Ship’s reference to his past.
Which made sense, she supposed. Nathan had moved on now. He was the doctor in Moccasin Rock, so he must have gone on to finish medical school after she’d known him. Yet Lenore was intrigued by the reactions of those accompanying him. They seemed…stunned. Odd.
Ophelia spoke up, “We’ll be gone within the hour, Sheriff.”
“Good. And I don’t ever want to see any of you in Moccasin Rock again.”
Even though Ophelia’s expression tightened at the sheriff’s warning, it was music to Lenore’s ears. If she could get out of here, now, she’d still have to deal with Ophelia’s wrath, but not Nathan’s.
She turned to follow Ophelia back to the wagons when a soft command brought her up short. “Stay put, Lenore, you’re not going anywhere.”
Lenore froze, as did Ophelia.
The older woman reacted first. Turning back, smile once again in place, she drew Lenore around with her. “Gentlemen, surely you wouldn’t want to separate family.”
Lenore choked back a mixture of frustration and fury. Ophelia was no kin of hers. But these men had no way of knowing that.
Even though Lenore hadn’t said a word, Ophelia must have sensed her outrage. Moving her hand down Lenore’s arm, the older woman gathered her close. To their visitors, it must have seemed like a loving embrace. They couldn’t see Ophelia pulling Lenore’s hand behind her back and twisting her fingers.
A painful warning, and completely unnecessary. Lenore wouldn’t say a word.
“Are you her mother?” the sheriff asked.
Ophelia’s smile wavered a bit. “No, although she’s been in my charge for a good number of years. The poor dear would be lost without me.”
Again, rage built inside Lenore, and this time Ophelia pushed her fingers back further. Pain jolted through Lenore’s hand and shot up her arm.
As the pressure increased, a buzzing sound filled Lenore’s ears and sweat popped up on her brow. The voices of those around her grew fainter, as if everyone had stepped away. Biting her lip until she tasted blood, Lenore still couldn’t stop the small moan that escaped her.
Thankfully, the men didn’t hear it.
But Nickel did.
Growling, she lunged at Ophelia, tugging on her skirt.
Lenore glanced up to see Nathan staring down at the dog, and then at her, intently.
Ophelia kicked at Nickel, and hot tears sprang to Lenore’s eyes.
Everyone looked at the dog now.
Please, please leave. What could she say to get them to go before she or Nickel was seriously hurt?
Suddenly Nathan was off his horse and pulling Lenore free before she could form another thought, let alone a sentence. He’d figured out what was happening.
Lenore looked around to see the others—even the old man in the wagon—aiming guns at Ophelia. They all knew.
Eyes wide, Ophelia raised her hands as she stepped away.
“She okay?” Sheriff Calhoun asked.
Head still spinning, it took a moment for Lenore to understand he was talking about her. Nathan held her fingers, his own gentle as he examined each one.
“They’re not broken,” he said, his voice soft but detached.
For a moment at least, he was looking at her through the eyes of a doctor, not a man who’d been wronged. “Probably be sore for a few days.”
“Thank you,” Lenore murmured, then turned to follow Ophelia.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Nathan demanded.
Heart in her throat, Lenore faced him. “To pack so we can move on.”
Nathan’s brown eyes widened. “After what that woman did? Why would you want anything to do with her?”
Aware of Ophelia’s gaze burning a hole in her, Lenore pressed her lips together. There was no way she could explain.
“You seem unwilling to provide answers,” Nathan said after a moment, “so I’m going to assume she’s got some sort of hold over you. That doesn’t change the fact you’re not leaving here with her.”
Lenore’s stomach sank. “Why?”
“I’m surprised you even have to ask. If the man who officiated our wedding was a real judge, then we’re legally married. Until I figure out whether we are, or aren’t, you’re coming home with me. Now go get your things.”
Lenore’s stomach lurched when Ophelia shot a look of pure venom at her, then stomped away.
The situation was bad before, but at least she’d had a plan. And hope. If the show pulled out and retreated far enough to suit the Moccasin Rock sheriff, it might take a lot of time for Lenore to find them. Time she didn’t have.
Following Nathan’s command, Lenore packed a canvas bag with what clothing and few personal items she owned.
Leaving the wagon, her gaze was drawn to Ophelia and Gordon, engaged now in a whispered discussion. Both looked in her direction more than once. Then Ophelia strode away and began snapping orders to the others in the group.
Gordon continued to stare at Lenore. He wanted to talk to her.
She turned to Nathan. “May I please say goodbye.”
His eyes narrowed.
Lenore raised her hands. “No tricks, I promise. As you’re aware, Gordon is lame. He’s not going to whisk me up and go running away.”
Nathan gave a brisk nod. “Make it quick.”
She hurried toward her friend. Reaching out to hug him, she leaned in and heard the words she needed to know.
“We’re going to Cartersville,” Gordon whispered. “If that doesn’t work out, we’ll head toward the next town south of there. You have one week.”
Lenore’s gaze shifted to the blue wagon, and again tears burned her eyes. “Gordon, please…”
“Don’t worry,” he told her. “Ship and I know what to do.”
Lenore hugged him again and then stepped back. “Thank you. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”
Shifting, so that his weight rested on his good leg, Gordon admitted to his own concern. “What if you can’t get away?”
She patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll be there.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, yet. I’ll do whatever it takes.” And she would.