MacCallister Kingdom Come Read Free

food, which he shared, and he disconnected the surrey from poor Harry, connected his own horse to it, and drove us into town.”
    Dr. Dunaway took up the story. “Some of our seamier citizens took over then. They became incensed at seeing a white woman with a Chinaman. They pulled her down from the surrey and threatened to kill her if Mr. Wang didn’t go with them. When Mrs. Harrison tried to protest, they took a bullwhip to her.”
    â€œWhy didn’t someone in the town try to intercede?” Duff questioned.
    â€œMost were too frightened to do anything and some, I am sorry to say, agreed with what was happening.”
    â€œHow long before Mrs. Harrison and the child will be able to travel?”
    â€œOh, they can travel now,” Dr. Dunaway said. “I have put a lotion and bandages on her back to keep down the infection. And, as I said, the baby is strong as a horse.”
    Duff smiled at Mrs. Harrison. “Then I suggest we go down to the stagecoach depot and put you on the next coach to Cheyenne.”
    â€œOh, I can’t take the coach. If I do, I won’t have enough money to buy the train ticket.”
    â€œWhere is your surrey?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Mrs. Harrison shrugged. “I don’t know what happened to it or to my luggage. My baby and I have no clothes except for what I’m wearing.”
    Duff offered a suggestion. “You no longer have need of your surrey. Suppose I give you three hundred dollars for it? That will give you enough money for a coach ticket and for new clothes.”
    â€œThree hundred dollars? Why, even if I could find it, I don’t know if it is worth that much.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. I’ll find it.”
    Tears formed Mrs. Harrison’s eyes. She reached out to take first Duff’s hand, then Wang’s hand. “I thank you both, so much. I can’t help but feel that Michael is in heaven, looking down on us, and that, somehow, he sent the two of you to me. God bless both of you.”
    Sky Meadow Ranch, Wyoming
    Duff and Wang Chow reached the ranch and dismounted.
    Elmer Gleason, Duff’s foreman and friend, came out to greet them. “What’s this Chinaman doin’ here?”
    â€œHe has come to work for us.”
    â€œReally? Just what kind of work do you have in mind for ’im?”
    â€œHe’s going to cook.” Duff handed his reins to a cowboy and nodded to Wang to do the same.
    â€œWell, Chinamen have been known to make pretty good cooks.” Elmer glared at the young Chinese man.
    Wang returned Elmer’s gaze with an expression of trepidation.
    Then Elmer smiled and stuck his hand out. “Wei biao shi win hou. Huanying.”
    Wang Chow’s smile was broad as Elmer’s, and he took the foreman’s hand and shook it enthusiastically. “Wei biao shi win hou .”
    â€œElmer, would you be for telling me what you and the young Celestial lad just said?”
    â€œI just said hello, and I welcomed him. He said hello back to me.”
    â€œI had no idea you could speak Chinese.”
    â€œI made enough ports of call in China when I was a sailor to pick up some of the lingo.” To Wang he said, “ Wo cunzai Elmer.” He pointed to himself.
    â€œElmer,” Wang repeated, pointing to Elmer. He pointed to himself. “ Wo cunazi Wang Chow.”
    Duff chuckled. “I see there’s no need to introduce you, you’ve already done that.” He motioned for them to walk toward the house.
    â€œSo he’s going to be a cook, huh? That’s a good idea of your’n, gettin’ a cook instead of passin’ it off among all the cowboys. Some of ’em is so bad it’s a wonder we ain’t none of us been pizened afore now.”
    â€œWang can’t cook.”
    â€œWhat? Whoever heard of a Chinaman who can’t cook? Is he tellin’ the truth, Wang? You can’t cook?”
    â€œHe tells