Free Larkspur by Dorothy Garlock Page A

not heard him. Rather than run after her and repeat, he had driven away.
    Kristin liked Widow Gaffney immediately. Her home, on the edge of town, with a large meadow behind, was immaculate and her attitude about her disability amazing. At times she treated it as if it were an advantage. Kristin soon discovered that if she spoke with her lips close to the woman’s ear, they could converse in normal tones.
    Mrs. Gaffney had two roomers. Both men worked on the railroad and used the rooms only three days a week. At the present time they were away.
    After supper Mrs. Gaffney put on her hat and shawl and announced to Kristin that she was going to Bible study at the church and that Kristin could sit on the porch or in the parlor while she was away.
    “You’ll be all right here,” Mrs. Gaffney said in a heavy Irish brogue when she saw unease on Kristin’s face. “I best go alone.”
    “You’ve helped others before?”
    “One time.” Her eyes hardened and her lips snapped shut. “I get even for what they done to Isaac.”
    “Your husband?”
    “My friend. They took his land. ’Twas only a little place, but ’twas his. He loved it.” She shook her head sorrowfully. “It broke his heart to pieces.”
    Kristin sat on the porch. She wondered what Gustaf would think of all that had occurred. If there was a way to send him a message without putting her new friends in further danger, she would. He had said he would come to Big Timber when Lars was better. Still she was afraid for Gustaf if he should come here and find out what Mark Lee and his cohorts were doing. They might hesitate to harm her; but if they were as dangerous as Bernie said, they’d not hesitate to kill him.
    When it grew dark and Mrs. Gaffney hadn’t returned, Kristin began to worry. Finally she went into the parlor and lit the lamp. A half hour passed slowly before she heard steps on the porch and the door opening. Kristin waited patiently while Mrs. Gaffney removed her hat and shawl. When she picked up the Bible and sat down on the settee, Kristin sat down beside her.
    “I think a man is watching through the window,” she said, as if she were reading a passage aloud. “Bonnie come to church to say that Bernie be here at two-thirty in the morning to take you to the freight camp.” Her lips scarcely moved as she spoke. Kristin was surprised that a woman so hard of hearing could speak so softly.
    Words on the page suddenly jumped out at Kristin. She moved her finger from line to line to point out words:
    YE . . . be . . . in . . . trouble.
    Mrs. Gaffney shook her head. “I hear nothing. I’m deaf, you know.” She closed the Bible and bowed her head as if in prayer. “I think he be gone now. Stupid man.”
     
    *  *  *
     
    They were sitting just inside the kitchen door when Kristin heard a faint sound outside. As she went out onto the porch, a topless buggy came silently around the side of the house and stopped. Bernie hopped down, spun around on his peg and hurried to the porch.
    “Bernie, I’m afraid for you and Bonnie,” Kristin whispered. “I wish you were coming with me.”
    “We ain’t goin’ to he able to stay here much longer. That hired gun of Forsythe’s is got his eye on my sister. I’m no match for him face-to-face. But if he don’t back off, I’ll shoot him in the back and they’ll hang me.” He hoisted Kristin’s trunk to his shoulder.
    After her belongings were stashed on the boot of the buggy, Kristin put her arms around Mrs. Gaffney and kissed her cheek.
    “Thank you, thank you,” she said with her lips against her ear.
    “Good-bye, darlin’. Tell Buck that Rose Gaffney’s goin’ to whip his hind end fer not slippin’ in to see her.”
    Kristin looked at her in astonishment. “You didn’t tell me you knew . . . him.”
    “Ya didn’t ask, lovey. I’d not be lettin’ ya go out there if I didn’t think Buck could take care of ya. Get along with ya now. Bernie, I’ll turn on the windmill and let my stock