Lucas took a moment thinking of the blue dressed woman. She'd traveled all those miles, arrived here safely and much to his delight, were more than a bit attractive. Knowing Jim had an eye on her limited his choices of what he would do, but after Jim's return to Stillwater...
After Lucas quiet locked the door, he refilled his glass of Lernid's before settling behind his desk to examine the leather pouch. It showed no evidence of being tampered with. Lucas hadn't expected it to. Anna Ruth Taylor was one of Miss Molly's. No questions about that, though the possibilities of her being a whore were slim... Very slim. Molly would never trust a 'shaded' lady like she did this one... Still, he wondered how she'd been chosen.
The long, slender wooden box gave him pause. It was only the fourth time he'd even seen one like it. Like all the others, it were made of cherry wood and shone soft like a dying red sunset. The red wax seal on the envelope were intact. Opening the heavy envelope, he read the letter twice before striking a sulfur match n destroying the news and instructions it held. Although they'd hoped it wouldn't happen, the country was going to war...
------ 0 ------
Debra Ann sipped at her tea, half listening to the chatter between her two daughters n Luna Garcia. For whatever reason, the women had let go of the problems that had been lingering in the slow warming air when she first arrived. The younger of the Blake n Garcia clan were playing a close by game of tag, some of the girls sitting quiet on the steps of the long porch playing with their dolls. The older boys were watching Luis and Smoke playing horseshoes hoping for either man to invite them to maybe toss a few. The two men shared thoughts as they moved from one end to the other, neither caring two hoots or a damn about the score...
"I em not sure my friend. She were a she-bear all day... Then wanten n needin' after the sun went down..."
The powerfully built man shrugged his shoulders.
"...twice Luis. Neveer twice in manee, manee years."
Luis Tee bent to collect the special made for throwin' horseshoes, handing Smoke his.
"I been with Debra Ann for so long that I figured there weren't any surprises left."
He smiled n winked.
"Then this mornin'..."
The thicker man's toss sent the ringin' sound of iron hittin' steel n then rattlin' around the pounded in metal post some forty feet away. Luis Tee's throw made near the same sound...
*
"More tea Ma'am?"
Connie had been listening some from inside, between the open window n screened door. She'd learnt more about life listening quiet like she was to the older women then all the years of farm living n church n socials n such. Linda Jean looked to her mother. A quick nod answered the unasked question.
"Add a pinch of the lemon grasses from the yellow topped jar."
Connie slow smiled as she headed back inside. She'd already added a pinch at Mrs. Blake's request when she were first charged to make the tea earlier in the day. Linda Jean were working hard to quiet her sister then. Their chatter soon became edged with a soft laugh here n there as the women continued their talk.
"They make no sense Sister. You slow do as they ask n then there's something else."
"Not with Smoke."
"Always with Lucas."
Tiffany Ann bit her tongue before adding,
"Stephen never changes!"
That brought more laughter.
"Girls, the younger ones have been down long enough. You tend to your sister n little brothers now."
The girls knew there was going to be some talk that they weren't to hear. Not one questioned their grandmother. Luna looked to Linda Jean, excusing herself after meeting Linda Jeans eyes.
"I'll keep an eye on 'em Miss Debra."
"Thank you, Luna."
There was an expecting silence until Connie retuned with the tea pot refilled. The very youngest of the Ladies knew her place and left without a word. Debra Ann slow sighed.
"I need your thoughts on something girls."
It weren't what she said, but how it was said.
"I'm having a bit of a quandary with Luis."
Her blue eyes settled on her oldest daughter.
"The only reason I'll be speaking to the both of you is Linda mite have learned some things from Lucas with all those books he reads."
Tiffany Ann, for the first time in many years, had flashes of her first husband Jack Seasons as he slipped through her mind. She bit her lip thinking about him n Jist Bob and Mathew Billings. Both daughters, almost as one, each took one of their mother's hands.
"I-I wish there were a book or another way... I just don't see it. What I Do Not want is judgement. Maybe we can all learn a little something."
Linda Jean took note of her older sister's wettin' eyes and paling face. This was sounding like one of those things the two of them had long ago agreed not to speak of. Taking a deep breath.
"Mama, Lucas n I never Talk about those things. He has his own way n you know that is pretty much that."
Linda Jean slow stood up.
"I keep nothing from Lucas. Never have. I expect what your about to say might be asking me to do that. I think it best I tend to the things that need doing and let you two talk."
She kissed her mother's cheek n met her eyes hoping she understood. The young grandmother smoothed the front of her dress.
"We all do what we have to do Linda Jean..."
She looked up at her daughter.
"... I only asked so you wouldn't feel left out."