Kid sat on the top step as the sun took its place in the morning sky. His eyes darting around with each distant sound, he doubted his father would return to the house, but he was ready if he did.

The ancient shotgun was loaded and lay across his lap. Kid had only used it for hunting a few times before, but he knew he would use it for protection, without hesitation, if necessary.

After tending to their mother in silence, Kid and Jed had stayed up through the night. They rarely spoke unless it was to make a decision about the funeral and the longer they sat waiting, the edgier they got.

They had agreed that there needed to be a funeral. Sarah Jane deserved a decent resting place and Kid was adamant that there be a marker, but they both agreed that no one in town could know how she died. The didn’t even feel they could trust the undertaker so Jed agreed to go into town at first light and contact the preacher and procure a coffin. He planned to play the bereaved older son who was reluctant to have anyone else handle the details. It wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.

They explained Sarah Jane’s death as a weak heart. By bringing her to town ready for burial, it would be easy enough to lie. The townspeople hadn’t seen her in so long they wouldn’t be surprised. Explaining the absence of their father would be harder. Kid knew too many people had seen him in town, at the saloon, the night before that they had agreed that if anyone asked, they would say he left out of grief and didn’t know where he was.

When Jed returned with the coffin, Kid found he couldn’t even look at it and by the time they got to town he felt as if he was moving about under water. Throughout the graveside ceremony his movements were slow and he could barely hear what the preacher said. Making things more unbearable was the constant pulling of his only good suit. It choked him so tightly he felt like every breath might be his last. Yet, he knew he had to represent his mother well and if that meant wearing the suit, then he would wear it.

Kid was surprised to see so many people turn out. He knew his mother knew all of the people in town, but he also knew that she never dared to socialize for long for fear that they see some lingering bruises and ask too many questions. He figured most came out of curiosity, but imagined some came out of genuine sympathy. He searched the crowd for familiar faces, but other than the Johannsens, and Miss Wentworth from the school, he didn’t see anyone he knew well.

Doritha watched the service from the edge of the crowd. She stood behind Kid, just out of his eyesight so as not to distract him. She heard the rumors running through the gathered crowd about Sarah Jane’s heart giving out and her grieving husband disappearing, but Doritha didn’t believe them for one minute. She fully believed that Kid’s father had done something to his mother and now she worried that he would come back for the Kid.

After standing for what seemed like hours in the bright summer sun, the crowd began to disperse and return to their regular activities. Kid and Jed thanked the preacher and after kneeling by her marker and paying their final respects, Kid and Jed left Sarah Jane to rest.

Walking towards the hotel to eat a hot meal before heading back to their empty house, the brothers were stopped by Garth’s father, Garrett Maxwell, the owner of the bank.

“Jed, Kid I’m real sorry about your mother. She was a nice lady.”

Kid only nodded his head in agreement while Jed went as far as to extend his hand in greeting. They would have to maintain their stoic appearance around the townspeople so they would refrain from asking too many questions. “Thank you, sir. The illness was long, she’s in a better place now.”

Kid watched the older man nod his head sympathetically. It seemed strange to him that Garth’s father was even bothering to pay his respects. Although never rude to them like many of the other wealthy people in town, Mr. Maxwell had always been distant from Kid and his family. Even when he was younger and Kid was in his home to play with Garth, Mr. Maxwell barely acknowledged him.

”I don’t mean to bring this to you on a day like today,” Mr. Maxwell began. “But seeing as you’re here in town and seeing as how your father is unavailable, I need to discuss some matters with you.”

A feeling of dread churned in Kid’s stomach and he decided to let Jed handle this.

”Matters?” questioned Jed suspiciously.

“Well, yes. Matters.” Garrett Maxwell had never enjoyed dealing with the customers; he left that to his employees. He much preferred to make business deals and count his money. However, in light of their situation, he felt he had to see to Jed and Kid personally. “It’s about your mother’s debts.”

Kid’s head sprang up. Suddenly, Mr. Maxwell had his attention. “How could my mother have debts when she didn’t own anything?”

Tugging on his shirt collar and wiping his brow, the hefty banker eyed the shade of his building, only steps away. “Wouldn’t you boys be more comfortable talking about this inside the bank? We could sit down, maybe cool off.”

“Let’s just finish here, Mr. Maxwell. I can tell where you’re headin’, so go ahead.” Crossing his arms defensively, Jed slowly shook his head as if he already knew what their father had done.

“Well,” fumbled Mr. Maxwell. “If you insist. Your house was in your mother’s name. Her father bequeathed it to her. However, your father mortgaged it to pay some other debts and my bank has not been reimbursed for the loan he received.”

“You want to say that in English,” barked Jed.

Mr. Maxwell repeated himself in simpler terms.

“So what your sayin’ is that Pa gambled away the house and we’re out on our hides unless we pay the money he owes you?”

“Well, Jed. It’s not that simple. He owes more than just me. There’s the mercantile, and the feed store, as well as the saloon. And now you boys owe the gravedigger too.”

“How could you let him take Ma’s house? It was hers, not his!” Kid was outraged that his father had managed to lose the house that had been in his mother’s family for generations.

“Kid, what you don’t understand is that it may have been hers, but it was also his. He’s her husband.” The banker caught his use of language. “Was her husband.”

“What my brother doesn’t understand is none of your concern, sir.” Jed pushed his hat back with one finger and re-crossed his arms. “How long have we got?”

“You need to pay the debts within the week. You can stay in the house for another week after that.” He was feeling more guilty than generous. He’d never had to foreclose on grieving children before.

“Gee, thanks.” Kid rolled his eyes and turned to look at the everyday people of Cobbs Creek, Virginia continuing with their regular business. No one seemed to notice that his life was unraveling before them.

“Look, fellas. I’m real sorry, but you need to understand this is business.” Mr. Maxwell stuck his hand back out to shake Jed’s before he returned to the comfort of his bank.

Jed refused to shake the man’s hand and instead put his hand on Kid’s shoulder to steer him away from the banker and towards the hotel. Once they were far enough away, Jed started swearing under his breath. Kid could only stand by dumbfounded as Jed’s mutterings turned into a vocal tirade.

“Jed, you gotta calm down,” hissed Kid. “People are gonna talk.”

“Kid, can’t you see it? They’re already talking. All of ‘em! Look at ‘em, they all know he’s a two-bit drunk and they all know he’s a worthless gambler too. Christ, what the hell are we gonna do now?”

Kid just stared for a minute before responding, his brother’s sudden concern angering him. “What do you care, Jed? You ain’t been around but three or four times in the last seven years and each time you do show up, it usually means trouble is close behind.” He stepped in front of Jed and pulled himself up to his full height. “I’ll take care of this. Her debt will be mine, not yours. You can ride out now.”

“Oh, so suddenly you’ve gone and grown up now, have you? You’re what, all of fifteen and you think you’re a man?” Jed poked at Kid’s shoulder. “Little Kid thinks he’s all grown up and can take on the big, bad banker man.”

Kid held his ground and refused to yield to Jed’s poking and barbs.

“Considerin’ you’re the one with all the schoolin’, Kid. You’re not that smart sometimes. How are you gonna pay the debts? You gonna ask your sweetheart for some of her daddy’s money? Is that how you’re gonna do it?” Jed kept egging him on. “Why don’t you let me talk to her for you, Kid? I’ll bet I can convince her.”

For the second time in two days, Kid took a swing at his brother. He was hoping to punch the lecherous sneer off his face, but this time Jed was expecting the fist and grabbing Kid’s arm, he twisted until he was on his knees. “Not so fast, little brother. I ain’t gonna let you hit me twice.”

Kid twisted away from Jed and whipped around to face off again, when without warning he felt himself shoved away from the confrontation.

“Now hold it, Kid! You’re in town; this is no place for fightin’. And on the day you buried your Mama. I’m surprised at you!”

Kid reached down to separate himself from the mediator. “Doritha, it’d be best if you stepped aside. This is between me and Jed.”

“Right now, it’s between you and the whole town. Look at them, they’re all watching. Do you want to prove them all right? Do you want them thinkin’ you’re no better than a poor ruffian?”

Both Kid and Jed looked around them to see they had become the center of attention.

Embarrassed that he had been put into such a position of public humiliation, Kid lashed out, but in the wrong direction. “You sure it ain’t yourself you’re thinkin’ of, Doritha? You sure it’s not that you don’t want them to know you spend your time with the likes of me? You can’t even begin to know what the two of us were fightin’ about. It ain’t anything you’ve ever head to worry your little blonde curls about.” Disentangling himself from her grasp he gave her a light push in the direction of her house. “Why don’t you get along and let us ruffians be? We’ll manage just fine without your interference.”

He regretted the words the minute they were out of his mouth, but before he could voice an apology, she was gone at a run. Heading straight out of town, he knew without seeing, that her face was streaked with tears of shame and hurt that he might never be able to dry.

“Ah, Jesus! See what you made me do, Jed.”

“Don’t blame that on me, Kid. You’re the one who got all righteous on her. I was just messing around,” he added not too sincerely.

“I got serious because I told you not to talk about her like that!” Kid reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’d better go after her.”

Pointing to Doritha’s shrinking figure on the horizon, Jed shook his head in sympathy. “I have a feeling it’ll take more than beggin’ with that one, Kid. Go ahead. Go talk to her. I’ll take the wagon home and we’ll talk about this later. We’ll figure it out. We’ll manage somehow.”

Looking at his brother gratefully, Kid started out after Doritha. “I won’t be late,” he called back over his shoulder. He dreaded the apology he would have to make to Doritha, but suddenly, knowing Jed was going to stick around and help out, the future didn’t look so bleak.

“You can come out from behind that tree, Doritha. I can see you hidin’ there.” Kid had spent the last two hours searching for her when he finally decided to try their favorite spot by the creek behind her house. “Really, I want to apologize. Won’t you come out and at least listen to me?”

He didn’t dare move from his spot. When he’d tried to make his way closer to the large oak, she’d narrowly missed his head with a rock. He had seen her angry before, but this was worse than anything he could have imagined.

“I will not give you the satisfaction of insulting me again to my face, Kid.”

“Doritha, I told you I didn’t mean it. I was mad at Jed and I said those things to you instead.”

“Well, if you said them, you must have meant them. It certainly didn’t take you long to make them up.”

“You’re being stupid!” Kid was beginning to lose his patience. His day had been trying enough. “I didn’t mean them. It’s just that I know you so well, I knew what would hurt you.”

“Well you did hurt me, Kid.”

Kid could see by the flash of material from behind the tree that she was stamping her foot on the soft ground. Knowing she was digging in for a long battle of making him sweat it out, he threw his hands up in exasperation.

“Forget it, Doritha. I’m not gonna fight with you anymore. You win, I meant it, okay? I’m goin’ home.”

Peering from her spot behind the gnarled old tree, Doritha could see that Kid really was going home. Fearing that he was walking away for good, she jumped out and ran after him. “Wait, Kid. Wait! Don’t leave!”

Kid stopped walking up the incline and had to mask a knowing grin before turning around to face her.

”I don’t like it when we fight, Kid.” Doritha was breathing hard from the quick run.

“Are you ready to believe me that I’m sorry?”

She nodded her head sending her curls bobbing.

Kid reached down to finger one of the curls. Her hair was still as soft as when she was little and wore it down and flying about her face. “You know I like them don’t you?” he asked, his voice going soft.

“I do,” she nodded. Forgiveness granted. Reaching up to take his hand she looked up into his blue eyes. She could see they were troubled. “Kid, let’s go sit by the water. We can talk for a spell.”

Kid tried to turn away again, but Doritha held steadfast to his hand. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Well, I say you’re lyin’, but we can just go sit then. Please, I don’t want you to go yet.”

Kid acquiesced and together they settled onto the grass to watch the creek water rush by. Summer rains had the banks full and the water moving swiftly, the sound soothing to the tortured soul.

They sat for what seemed like hours before Kid finally spoke. “I know you know it wasn’t her heart,” he whispered.

“You don’t have to say anymore, Kid.” Doritha reached up and turned his face to hers. Pushing at the curl that always acted on it’s own, she smiled softly and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Bending his head to meet hers, he nodded, but knew he had to talk about it, to tell someone about the pain and anger that was starting to eat at him, because if he didn’t, he was afraid he would do something he would regret. Or worse, that he would turn out just like him.

The words rushed out in a torrent. He told her the story of going night hunting with Jed then returning to find Sarah Jane beaten and broken, and without even realizing it, tears were running down his face, tears that he had refused the night before. By the time he was finished, the tears had turned to sobs and he allowed Doritha to rock him gently as she held him close.

“Kid, don’t cry. It’s not your fault,” she soothed. When the words did not ease his pain, she offered him the only other thing she had.

She placed her lips to his cheeks and kissed away the salty tears. Noticing the sobs subsided as she got closer, she traced her lips over to his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled herself into his lap and gasped when he tightened his hold on her and intensified his response.

All of his need for love and all of his need for sympathy and comfort flowed through in his kiss and when they finally broke apart breathless, he looked into her eyes and asked only one question, “Are you sure?”

The sun was dropping and the cooling night air sent a chill through her body. Suddenly aware of their surroundings, Kid pulled her closer, wrapping the shirt that was lying on the ground around her naked form like a blanket.

They were silent, and almost shy suddenly. It seemed a little too late for that. Their moment of curiosity and grief-driven abandon had forever changed their lives.

“I’m sorry, Doritha.” He didn’t know why he said it, but it seemed like the right thing to say.

Doritha didn’t answer; instead she sat up and pulled the shirt around her as she searched for her own clothes. Following her lead, Kid pulled on his long johns and pants, never daring to glance at her as she searched for her undergarments and skirt. Dropping his shirt to the ground as she pulled on her own, she turned her back so he wouldn’t see her fumble with the buttons.

He could see her trembling, but didn’t know if he should go to her. They had carried on before, but never that far and although she had said yes, he still wasn’t sure she didn’t regret it. It was something she could never take back.

Reaching down to pick up his shirt she had discarded, he didn’t expect her to turn as he stood up. The knock of his head hitting her chin sent them both stumbling backwards and made them laugh. It was awkward laughter, but it broke the tension and still rubbing his head, Kid pulled Doritha into an embrace. He kissed her bruised chin lightly, and then her lips.

“Are you alright?” he asked tentatively. He didn’t know much about these things, but he figured it had been different for her than for him. “I mean, I didn’t hurt you did I?”

Doritha shook her head against his chest and clutched his waist. “No. Not really. I mean it did, but then it didn’t anymore. It was just strange.”

“I know what you mean.” And he did. He still wasn’t sure what had possessed him to turn to her like that, to have such a need for her, but for a brief moment as they looked at each other he felt everything he was missing from his life - love, understanding, even kindness.

“Do you need to go home now?” Doritha wasn’t pleading, but he knew she wanted him to stay.

“I can stay for a while longer. Jed knows where I am.”

“He does?” Doritha pulled away from Kid and hurried to tuck in her blouse,

“Don’t worry. I didn’t mean he knows what we’re doing here. I didn’t even know that was gonna happen.”

“And if you did, you would have told him? How could you, Kid? Now everyone in Cobbs Creek will know. My parents! What will they say?”

Reaching out for her again, Kid knew he had to calm her down. She had twisted his words as usual and was starting to get hysterical. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant he knew I was coming after you. He knows you’re mad at me. That’s all. Really. No one will know about this, I swear. I’d never do anything to ruin your reputation.”

She took a deep breath to settle her racing heart. Reaching up she tried to pat her hair into place. “I know you wouldn’t do that. I’m just a little unsteady right now. Maybe you should go. I need to get back to the house, I’ve been gone since lunch.”

“Okay, I’ll go, but will I see you tomorrow?”

Doritha gave him one of her flirtatious smiles. Things may have changed between them, but he was still hers. “Of course, Kid. Why wouldn’t you?” Placing a quick kiss on his lips she ran off towards the house without another look back.

Shaking his head as he started for home he tried to comprehend what had happened in the course of the last twenty-four hours. The range of emotions was enough for ten men and all he felt was exhausted.

Outrage replaced exhaustion upon reaching his dark house. He could tell Jed had been there, the wagon had been unceremoniously dumped in the yard, but their only horse was gone and it appeared so was Jed. Turning up the single oil lamp, he was able to see that the few possessions Jed had brought with him were also missing. He shouldn’t have been surprised. It wasn’t the first time Jed had disappeared when he was needed most, but Kid had truly believed this time might be different, that maybe they would work together as brothers, as family, to make a new life for themselves. He hadn’t even seen a twitch to indicate Jed was lying.

“God damn it, Jed!” he shouted into the empty house. Shoving wood into the fireplace, he hurriedly started a fire. “I should have known,” he muttered. “I never should have left him alone.”

Realizing that his anger would get him nowhere, Kid searched the kitchen for any leftover food from the previous night’s feast. It seemed longer than only one night since that happy meal, but that was all it was.

Sitting in the chair before the fire, Kid gnawed on the day old bread trying to savor the taste, seeing as it could possibly be his last meal for a while. He had no idea where he would get the money for his mother’s debts, let alone more food.

Kid drifted into a dreamless sleep as he worried about the money. He would have stayed snoring lightly by the fire until morning, had it not been for the imposing figure that stood over him staring, daring him to stay asleep.



Chapter Seventeen