Return to Holliday Creek (10)

The Startling Truth

             - By Robert Faulkender ©

Mexican boarder town  1905

They sat at the small kitchen table having supper of warmed over pot roast.  Leitha told of her father’s stroke, how they had moved him to Ma Blanchard’s boarding house for care. Doc Madden did his best and they said he showed improvement when he heard his daughter was coming. That’s when he wanted to see Sheriff Skillman

.

     Ted watched her talking: the high cheek bones, the black eyes, all surrounded by that ivory complexion. Her hair hung loose behind the shoulders; her breast, full and womanly.

     “You must not look at me like that, sergeant.” Blushing lightly she stood, “More coffee?”

     He cleared his mind.  “When did your father take the turn for the worst?”

     Leitha brought the coffee pot from the stove approaching Ted from behind. She casually placed her hand on his shoulders. “When I told him I sent for you, he seemed relieved and stopped fighting. He died a day later.” She leaned over his shoulder to pour; swallowing the lump in her throat summoned by the memory.

     Ted looked up into her moist eyes. “I love you, you know.” He surprised himself, and covered his embarrassment by standing, then gently placed his hands on her hips. She put down the coffee pot and brought both arms around his neck. 

     “I know,” she said. “I hoped you would come for me. I waited.” 

     Ted squeezed her to his body.

      How much time have I wasted? 

     Leitha folded into him for a long moment, cheek to cheek, then pulled back her head and kissed him deeply before returning to her seat.

    He dragged his chair around where he could sit and hold her hand. “After I introduced Sarah and her brothers to my family, I returned to Holliday. I wasn’t sure your father still wanted me for sheriff since I had failed to uphold the town ordinances by not arresting the children. But Jim said I had the better part of ninety days to prove myself.”

     Ted let go of her fingers and reached back for his coffee cup. He cradled it with both hands as he sipped; not looking at her.  “By the end of the ninety days, a couple of things were clear." He lowered his cup to the table and stared at it. "You were not coming back, and my life as a lawman held little promise for wealth or longevity. Your father understood when I headed east with $ 45 in wages.” 

     Ted went silent. He looked back into her black eyes...