AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do I have permission to come to your room tonight?”
Percy thought he might die on the spot. He nodded quickly, though all memory of how to breathe was long gone, and he leaned in, desperate for Albie’s kiss...
Until the sound of Robert running along the veranda with a loud knock on the door made them jump apart. “Albie,” he yelled. “We got company.”
Company?
They rushed to the door and sure enough, there was a wagon coming down toward the house. A single horse wagon, two people sitting up front.
Not just any people. Two women.
Was that...
Elsie?
Des was walking out to meet them as Percy followed Albie out onto the veranda.
It was indeed Elsie and Clara with a shawl pulled up over her hair, her head down.
Was she unwell?
Albie raced down the steps, Percy with him. And Robert too. Des met Elsie at the side of the wagon and helped her down, and Albie rushed to meet her.
“Elsie?” Albie asked. “What brings you here? Did something happen?”
“You said we’d be welcome should we need it,” she said. She glanced up to Clara who looked up then, and...
Oh no.
She had a fresh black eye and a swollen lip.
“Of course, yes, always,” Albie said, helping Elsie get Clara down from the wagon.
Elsie pulled Clara into her side, her arm protectively around her shoulder.
Albie fussed over Clara, not sure where or if he should touch her, helping her toward the house. “Des, Robert, please take care of the horse and wagon, and bring their things in. Percy, set two more seats at the table.”
Percy nodded and dashed up to hold the door for them. “I’ll make some fresh tea.”
Albie sat Clara by the fire, his eyes meeting Elsie. “Who’s responsible for this?”
“Williams,” she replied.
“That no-good bastard,” Albie seethed. Then he seemed to remember his temper.
“He tried to...” Elsie winced. Then she sat beside Clara and brushed her hair from her forehead, ever so gently. Tenderly, full of love. “He tore her dress and he almost had his way with her, but she fought him hard. That’s my girl,” she said quietly. Then she looked up at Albie. “We left first thing this morning.”
“Good,” Albie said.
Percy came back with a cup of hot tea for Clara, and she took it with a sad smile. Percy quickly produced another cup for Elsie, but when he brought over a basin of clean water, Elsie put her tea down and took the basin and washcloth. “Thank you, Percy.”
He stood back, next to Albie, unsure of what to do next. The way Elsie tended to Clara seemed personal, as if he was invading a private moment. He felt the need to look away.
It didn’t help that Clara looked so desperately sad and bruised and sore. She’d always been shy and quiet, from the time Percy had spent in town at the hotel and saloon, but she was always kind to him.
It was then Percy noticed her torn dress and Albie seemed to notice at the same time because he growled. “Someone needs to teach that Williams a lesson,” he hissed.
Percy grabbed Albie’s arm at the same time Elsie said, “Not today, he doesn’t. And not from you. He’ll get what’s coming, but not today.”
