Free Squire's Quest by Judith B. Glad Page B

he'd welcome her with open arms. Be glad to see her.
    "Can't do nothing about it, can I? First thing we'll do is get you some proper clothes. It's
not fitting, you wearing britches." He turned to Merlin. "You lay a hand on her, boy?"
    His fists clenched and she could see him holding back the words he wanted to speak.
"She's a little girl. I've got sisters."
    Pa's suspicious expression didn't change. "How'd you hook up with her?"
    "She was alone and hungry. I had food, so I shared. When I found out we were headed
the same direction, I told her she could ride along with me." His body stayed stiff and straight
and his fists didn't open.
    She was real glad he hadn't told Pa the whole story. "He even bought me a molly to ride.
I'd been afoot since I got off the train. He treated me real nice, Pa. Just like I was his sister. When
we joined up with the freight train, he kept us apart so nobody suspected I was a girl."
    One dirty hand scratched in the thick beard. "But he knew."
    Merlin spoke up before she could. "I guessed. Like I say, I've got sisters. She doesn't
move like a lad."
    "Then I'm obliged to you. I'll take care of her now." He stepped to the door and opened
it.
    Merlin looked over at her. "Cal? You want me to leave Ruth at the yard?"
    "Ruth? Who's that?"
    "She's my molly, Pa." She felt like crying. She couldn't believe Pa was just running him
off, but there was no give in his expression. "If you've no use for her, I'd like that." She
swallowed hard. "Merlin, I--"
    Pa made an impatient noise and jerked his head toward the outside.
    "Remember what I told you at the gate? Well, that still holds. Take care, Cal. Maybe
we'll meet up again someday." He stepped through the door and Pa shut it behind him.
    "Now then, girl, let's talk about what I'm to expect of you. This ain't no place for a
decent woman, but since you're here, we'll be making sure nobody thinks badly of you." His eyes
seemed to flicker with green fire, but it was probably just the lamplight. "First thing, we'll get
you dressed proper. Then we'll find work for you, so the Devil won't find else for you to
do."
    * * * *
    Merlin caught up with the freight train two days out from Virginia City. He'd thought
about striking east and south, for Denver, or maybe St. Louis. On consideration, he decided he
needed to earn some cash money to replace what he'd spent on Cal--Callie. Consarn it, her name
was Callie. Murphy had offered him guard's wages.
    Gold camps weren't all they were cracked up to be. Not the ones he'd seen, anyhow. He
sure wished he'd been older, more Buff's age. His brother's adventures in the gold camps had
only fed his own yearning. Even Luke, his brother-in-law, had done exciting things, driving
cattle from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.
    Wonder if they still have those drives. There was a railroad in Ogden, and he'd
never seen one. If I was to get on the train, I could go to Kansas, see what's happening
there.
    * * * *
November 29, 1869
Dear Ma and Pa,
    I know I promised to write once a month, and I did, but never got the letter
mailed. I'm fine. A fellow who's coming that way is going to take Cap and Bul
along with him, so watch for them. I've decided to take a train East, see what I can
find there.
    Virginia City is just like the towns in the Basin. Folks are still finding gold,
but there's not much else going on. Lots of empty buildings. The most exciting
thing that happened was when some rowdies tried to make the freight train I was
traveling with pay toll. We convinced them otherwise.
    I met a young fellow, Cal Smith. He's with his father in Virginia City now,
but I'm not sure he's going to stay there. I told him how to get hold of you, so if he
does, can you help him out? I'm pretty sure his father's a bad man. He's about
Reggie's age.
    I'll be here in Ogden for a while. Got me a job with a blacksmith. He's
teaching me to mount tires on wagon wheels. I got the job because Abel taught
me how to shoe a horse. Tell him I'm obliged. I figure I'll