Read Online McCrory's Lady by Shirl Henke Henke - Free Book Online
Authors: Shirl Henke Henke
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and looked down at the pooling blood around the grotesquely crumpled, decapitated body of Clint Morton. A wailing cry of horror welled up inside her and she screamed, then threw herself into Maggie's arms, sobbing in big loud gulps as the older woman led her away from the scene of carnage.
Colin headed back toward her, but Maggie waved him away. He stood for a moment, his hands helplessly at his sides, then turned to continue searching the dead for Lazlo.
Eden could feel the other woman's hands guiding her, rubbing her back as she struggled for breath between the wracking sobs that choked her. A handkerchief, large and snowy white, was thrust into her hands.
“Here, dry your eyes and blow your nose. It'll help you to breathe,” Maggie said as they walked down to the stream. “Let it all out, honey. I know what the bastards did to you, believe me.”
Eden did as she was ordered, then clutched the soggy handkerchief and looked at the handsome, dark-haired woman. “How could you possibly know what it was like?” she asked, her voice still hoarse and thickened with tears.
Maggie laughed, a soft, sad sound, as she urged Eden to sit beside her by the edge of the stream. The last rays of the sun cast dim, flickering shadows all around them, like old nightmares, rising up from the darkness. “I know what it's like for men to do most anything to a woman.”
“What if...what if she deserved it?”
“No woman ever deserves being forced—that Lazlo fellow—he did some pretty rough things to you, I bet. Did he let the others join in, or only watch?”
Eden shuddered. “They...they watched, but he told them after he was through with me...” She began to sob again.
Maggie held her. “I won't pretend to tell you it's over now. Because it isn't. You and I both know that. You'll remember them and all the ugliness; but gradually the memories will fade and you...well, you have a choice. You can fade, too, or you can get stronger. Don't let them win, Eden. They're dead and you're alive. That's all that really counts in the end. Surviving in spite of them.”
Eden studied Maggie's face. She had no doubt this woman spoke from experience. She understood. “Who are you? How do you know all these things?”
“My name is Maggie. I met your father in San Luís a few days ago. He'd come looking for you—my cantina seemed like a good place to get information about a gang of cutthroats like Lazlo's.”
“You own a saloon?” Eden could not imagine the elegant-looking, educated lady sitting beside her in a saloon.
“I'm half owner of the biggest saloon and fancy house between Tucson and Hermosillo.”
Eden's eyes grew wide with surprise. “F-fancy house?”
“Bordello. I'm a madam, Eden. A long time ago, I worked in places like the one I run now...only some of them weren't as nice. I know all about men and what they can do, but just because you've found out, too—that doesn't make you a whore. Remember that,” Maggie said sternly.
On the other side of the campsite, Colin kicked over the last of the men they'd killed and cursed. “Lazlo got away, dammit!”
“We saw every man who was here. If he's gone, he was long gone before we arrived,” Wolf said with certainty.
“We can't find him in the dark. Anyway, Maggie's right. We have to get Eden away from here and let her rest safe for tonight. Gather up the horses they stole from the ranch and their scrub stock.”
As he put hackamores on his fine breeding stock, Colin listened to the soft, murmuring conversation between Maggie and Eden. At least she's talking, thank God! He could not make out their words, but he could see the obvious attachment his daughter was forming to the whore. He cursed silently. That was bound to
Colin headed back toward her, but Maggie waved him away. He stood for a moment, his hands helplessly at his sides, then turned to continue searching the dead for Lazlo.
Eden could feel the other woman's hands guiding her, rubbing her back as she struggled for breath between the wracking sobs that choked her. A handkerchief, large and snowy white, was thrust into her hands.
“Here, dry your eyes and blow your nose. It'll help you to breathe,” Maggie said as they walked down to the stream. “Let it all out, honey. I know what the bastards did to you, believe me.”
Eden did as she was ordered, then clutched the soggy handkerchief and looked at the handsome, dark-haired woman. “How could you possibly know what it was like?” she asked, her voice still hoarse and thickened with tears.
Maggie laughed, a soft, sad sound, as she urged Eden to sit beside her by the edge of the stream. The last rays of the sun cast dim, flickering shadows all around them, like old nightmares, rising up from the darkness. “I know what it's like for men to do most anything to a woman.”
“What if...what if she deserved it?”
“No woman ever deserves being forced—that Lazlo fellow—he did some pretty rough things to you, I bet. Did he let the others join in, or only watch?”
Eden shuddered. “They...they watched, but he told them after he was through with me...” She began to sob again.
Maggie held her. “I won't pretend to tell you it's over now. Because it isn't. You and I both know that. You'll remember them and all the ugliness; but gradually the memories will fade and you...well, you have a choice. You can fade, too, or you can get stronger. Don't let them win, Eden. They're dead and you're alive. That's all that really counts in the end. Surviving in spite of them.”
Eden studied Maggie's face. She had no doubt this woman spoke from experience. She understood. “Who are you? How do you know all these things?”
“My name is Maggie. I met your father in San Luís a few days ago. He'd come looking for you—my cantina seemed like a good place to get information about a gang of cutthroats like Lazlo's.”
“You own a saloon?” Eden could not imagine the elegant-looking, educated lady sitting beside her in a saloon.
“I'm half owner of the biggest saloon and fancy house between Tucson and Hermosillo.”
Eden's eyes grew wide with surprise. “F-fancy house?”
“Bordello. I'm a madam, Eden. A long time ago, I worked in places like the one I run now...only some of them weren't as nice. I know all about men and what they can do, but just because you've found out, too—that doesn't make you a whore. Remember that,” Maggie said sternly.
On the other side of the campsite, Colin kicked over the last of the men they'd killed and cursed. “Lazlo got away, dammit!”
“We saw every man who was here. If he's gone, he was long gone before we arrived,” Wolf said with certainty.
“We can't find him in the dark. Anyway, Maggie's right. We have to get Eden away from here and let her rest safe for tonight. Gather up the horses they stole from the ranch and their scrub stock.”
As he put hackamores on his fine breeding stock, Colin listened to the soft, murmuring conversation between Maggie and Eden. At least she's talking, thank God! He could not make out their words, but he could see the obvious attachment his daughter was forming to the whore. He cursed silently. That was bound to
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