Free Xenia’s Renegade by Agnes Alexander Page A

I’ve ever seen in here.’
    When he saw who the men were talking about Ty practically shoved Sassy Sue off his lap. “What the hell?” He muttered as he headed for the door.
    Wilt whirled around, cursed, and sat Little Lil aside. He threw some money on the table and followed Ty toward the door.
    Men were still whistling, mumbling and almost salivating by the time Ty reached Xenia and took hold of her arm. He rushed her back toward the door.
    Outside on the boardwalk, he demanded, “What the hell are you doing in a place like this?”
    “We need your help.”
    The door swung open and men began to pour out. Wilt drew his gun and pointed it at them. “Get back inside. This doesn’t concern you.”
    “But we want a chance at—”
    “This woman isn’t here to entertain you. She needs help.”
    “I’ll help her,” one man yelled.
    “Get back inside, or you’re not going to be able to help anybody.”
    A bearded man slapped his buddy on the back. “Might as well come on back in. You know them Eldridge boys ain’t gonna share with us.”
    Once the men calmed down and went back inside, Ty turned to Xenia. “Now, explain yourself.”
    Mea Ann came out of the shadows. She was crying. “We don’t have anywhere to go.”
    Wilt moved beside her. “What do you mean?”
    “She means we were thrown out of the hotel and then denied bedrooms at the boarding house.”
    “You were what?” Ty grew furious.
    “You heard me. Nobody would rent us a room because of Johnny. They even said if we’d get rid of him they’d let us stay. Can you imagine that?”
    “I’m going to the hotel and—”
    Xenia put her hand on Ty’s arm. “No. Don’t do that. Just tell us where to go to get a room. We’re exhausted and need to find beds and some food for the baby.”
    Ty looked at Wilt. “Let’s head to the livery and rent a buggy.”
    “Where are we going?” Mea Ann asked. “Johnny is going to need something to eat and frankly, I’m hungry, too.”
    Ty picked up the luggage and Wilt said, “Let me carry Johnny for you.”
    “But—”
    “Don’t worry. I won’t drop him.”
    They started walking away from the saloon.
    “You never said where we were going,” Xenia said.
    “We’re taking you to the ranch. There are plenty of bedrooms and food and anything else you might want tonight.” Ty smiled at her. “That didn’t come out right. I meant like a bath, or a place to relax. Things like that.”’
    “I see,” Xenia mumbled.
    He could tell she was exhausted or sleepy. Maybe both. “Wilt, these ladies are tired. When we get to the bench in front of Mason’s General Store why don’t one of us wait there with them and the other one go on to the livery and get the buggy?”
    They reached the store. It was closed, but Ty indicated for the sisters to sit on the bench. “Since you’re holding the baby, I’ll go get the buggy, Wilt.” Ty glanced at Xenia. “I’ll be back shortly.”
    She nodded and gave him a weak smile. 
    ****
    Ty was able to get a buggy with a front bench and a back seat. They insisted the women take the seat. They didn’t argue. There was little talk because everyone was tired. They were nearing the ranch when Wilt glanced back. He smiled. The sisters were asleep, and so was Johnny, cuddled across Mea Ann’s chest. He was glad Ty had asked the livery stable man’s wife for some milk. She only had a little left from distributing what she had milked, but it was enough to settle Johnny down.
    In a low voice he said, “The women have given up and gone to sleep.”
    “Good. They’ve been through a lot today. Much more than any city female should have to endure.”
    “Did they tell you what they’re doing in Deer Meadow?”
    Ty shook his head. “I gathered they had some sort of business with a relative here.”
    “Mea Ann told me they came to help a relative who was in jail for something he didn’t do.”
    “I don’t know of anybody being in jail. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was