Sharon Poppen Read Free Page B

walking and little eating.”
    Noah ran his finger around his cup and waited. When Hannah offered no more, he finally cleared his throat. “I see. Are you a Christian?”
    “My folks weren’t church goers.”
    “That’s a real shame, child.”
    Hannah nodded.
    “Well, if you’re agreeable to stay here for awhile, Bertha and I will show you how to accept God into your heart.”
    “I have no money. I can give you $1.40 for a couple nights and some food, but then I’d have to find a way to make some money.”
    “I think we can help you,” said Noah. Bertha had finished cleaning up the broken cup and had the kitchen in order. She sat down at the table just as Noah offered Hannah room and board for her services as a housekeeper for both his home and for the small rented room where he conducted his ministry. He never asked for Bertha’s opinion.
    Hannah wanted to say no, but she was tired, the food was good and staying in town would give her the opportunity to look for Drake and his men. Against her better judgment, she ignored a warning chill of unease and agreed to the arrangement.
    Chapter 4
    A Rosy Opportunity
    The floor creaked in protest. Hannah cringed. Hearing no reaction from the sleeping Reverend Noah and his wife Bertha, she moved to the small bureau holding her meager belongings. Once she was clad in Caleb’s shirt and overalls, she picked up the oversized socks and work boots. Clutching them to her chest, she took a deep breath and crept into the hallway. Once outside, she allowed herself to exhale and breathe in the cool night air.
    Sitting on the bottom porch step Hannah slipped into the footwear, and then hurried down the street and away from what two months ago had seemed her salvation. Avoiding the main streets of the dusty Texas trail town of Nacogdoches, she made her way along the clapboard residences. Eventually, she came to the rowdy saloons and eateries that serviced dusty cowpokes, gamblers and other prairie wanderers.
    With no moon to guide her, she carefully made her get-away through an alley behind the businesses. Thoughts of her late husband and his bullet-ridden body began to eat into her concentration. Hannah shook her head as if to dispel memories of her short life with Caleb as they’d sought to establish their cattle ranch.
    “No!” She focused on what had become her obsession. Soundlessly moving her lips, she began her chant, “Drake. Benny. Beware. I will find you. Beware.”
    “No what?” A soft voice cut into the night.
    So deep was Hannah into her thoughts she almost missed it. It took a tiny, orange circle of fire and the earthy rich aroma of tobacco to catch her attention. “Who’s there?”
    “You’re the one skulking about. You should be answering questions.”
    Hannah heard the rustle of silk. That and an off-key piano echoing out into the night, lead her to believe it had to be one of ‘those’ women. Before she could answer, the night became illuminated. A chubby, blond woman had lit a lantern.
    The woman puffed on a long, slender cigar, smiled warmly and exhaled. “Honey, look at you! Good thing you’re such a pretty thing or that plumb awful outfit would make a body think you were a boy.”
    After a quick look down at her outfit, Hannah looked back at the woman, and without a word she turned to hurry away.
    “Wait, honey. I don’t mean no harm.”
    Hannah kept walking.
    “Where you going, dressed like that?”
    The question brought Hannah to a halt. Where, indeed, was she going? She turned around. “Don’t know. Just know I’ve got to go.”
    “Wait,” the woman stepped to the end of a porch. “Aren’t you the girl the Reverend took in?”
    Hannah turned away again.
    “Honey, listen. I understand. He’s a pig.”
    Hannah turned back and met the woman’s eyes.
    The woman nodded with a smirk. “Oh, yeah. I’ve seen that birthmark on his...”
    “He...” Hannah began.
    The woman raised her hand, “Never you mind. I can guess.”
    Hannah