Drifter – Part 24

By D

Chapter XLVII

Mordecai Washburn stepped out of the hotel into the street, carefully observing his surroundings. Reb Stone stood across from him, just off the sidewalk in front of the brothel. Her whore was just behind her, sandwiched between the old nigger woman and the madam whore. He sneered - he’d have a good shot at her once Stone walked to the middle of the street.

He looked around, noting the Injuns and soldiers who returned his regard from the rooftops of every building in the town. He growled, realizing Spencer had, in the end, betrayed him. Further investigation revealed the men in town had returned and were standing in the doorways of their businesses.

Washburn didn’t see Riggins or any of his other cowboys and he smirked. Had they managed to get into position behind the Injuns and soldiers already in place? Were they getting into position, recognizing that trouble had arrived before they were fully prepared to meet it? He had no way of knowing, but Mordecai Washburn knew he’d run out of time.

“Stackin’ the deck a little, Stone?” motioning around them. “‘Fraid you couldn’t handle an old man by yourself?”

“Hedgin’ my bets, Washburn. I’m happy to take care of you by myself - the rest are here to make sure you don’t try to cheat.” There was a scuffle on the roof above them and Reb grinned. “See, my warrior advisor looks out for me; she’s never steered me wrong. She didn’t trust your honor.”

Washburn snorted. “You let your little whore advise ya? Damn, Stone... that’s rich.” Whatever else he might have said was lost in a choking sound as Reb grabbed Mordecai Washburn by the balls and twisted, smiling as he grimaced in reaction.

“You watch your mouth, Washburn. You don’t have to like or respect me, but you disrespect her again and I’ll take you apart with my hands. I don’t need a gun to beat you. You got me?”

She didn’t even see him move, but she felt the burn of the knife as he swiped it against her midsection. She clenched her hand once more before she released her grip on his manhood and stepped back, watching him slide to the ground. Reb turned to Donoma and rubbed her hand across her belly, wincing when she scraped against cut skin.

She felt him move behind her before she saw it and she caught his arm, twisting until she heard a satisfying snap. Washburn screamed.

“Oh, that sounded painful, Mordecai. Does it hurt?” taunting him, throwing him from her.

“Bitch!” he growled through gritted teeth, holding his arm close to his body as he remained kneeling on the ground. Reb smirked and stepped away from him again, not turning her back. She glanced at Donoma and the expression on her face caused her to straighten and look at Washburn with serious intent.

“Why, Washburn? If you and your boys had just left me alone, it woulda never come to this. I wanna know why.”

He struggled to his feet. “Why should I tell you, Stone? What’s it gonna get me?”

“A quick, fairly painless death.”

Washburn choked on his laughter, wincing at the pain that lanced through his body and shaking his head. “It’d be worth it to me to leave you wondering for the rest of your life.” He gave another strangled chuckle. “Besides, who’s to say you’d win?” letting his eyes slide to one side.

Reb heard the single cock of a revolver’s hammer followed by multiple cocks of shotguns and pistols as every man in town - and some women - raised their own weapons. She arched her eyebrow at him. “Who’s to say I wouldn’t?”

“The beauty of this,” Washburn croaked out as he struggled to stand upright, “is that I win either way,” motioning to where Donoma stood. “She dies either way, and with all these guns shooting, you’ll die with me... but not before you watch your whore die first.”

Riggins stood behind Donoma, his six-shooter cocked and aimed steadily at her head. Koko met Donoma’s eyes for a long moment. “You’re makin’ a number of mistaken assumptions, Washburn,” Reb informed the man without letting her eyes leave Donoma’s. “The first bein’ that she needs my help to get out of this situation. You forget Donoma Chepi’s a seer who was trained in the ways of the People. She doesn’t need me.”

“How fortunate,” Washburn growled as he reached for his gun. Then a number of things happened simultaneously.

Donoma lifted her arm, throwing the knife she’d been palming even as Riggins shifted his aim to her left and pulled the trigger. Honaw and Keezheekoni let arrows fly from their bows. And Stephen Murphy didn’t hesitate to shoot Mordecai Washburn in the back.

Time seemed to stand still as Washburn’s body absorbed the various missiles that had been directed towards it and he realized that he was in fact dying. As that idea sank into his consciousness, his body slid to the ground and his last thought was malicious glee that Stone would never know why. Then he gurgled his last breath and died.

The silence that fell as Washburn dropped dead was complete - for a very long moment, not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Then Donoma ran to Koko and the tableau was broken by the movement, only to find a new one being created as everyone watched them come together in a timeless embrace.

The town and everyone in it faded away as their bodies met in a hug that melded them into a single being. Donoma clung to Koko, taking comfort in the heartbeat that thudded against her own and feeling her shaking slowly subside as the reality of Koko’s solid warmth soaked into her bones.

Donoma pulled back just slightly, enough to allow her bring her hand up to Koko’s face, gently tracing the planes and hollows she had grown to love so long ago. “You are all right, warrior?” she asked, remembering the cut Washburn had inflicted on Koko’s belly.

“I am fine, ka’eskone. It is only a scratch.” She cupped Donoma’s cheek with one hand. “How are you, Nutta? What you did....”

“What I did I would do again without hesitation, Koko Kanti. He threatened what was mine.”

Despite everything, Koko smiled. “Do you know how that makes me feel, Donoma? To know that you love me so much....” Donoma smiled.

“Of course I do, warrior. You do the same for me every day. Why would I do less?”

Koko pulled her in for another hug and Donoma surrendered herself willingly. Then their lips met and the silence broke into whoops and hollers from the cowboys, the whores and the businessmen. The women simply stared, not sure whether to be jealous of the love and passion so obviously on display or disgusted by the fact it was two women who shared it. Then it didn’t matter as they separated sporting twin blushes at the cacophony of noise that surrounded them.

Stephen Murphy was the first to approach them, stepping over Washburn’s body and ushering them towards the saloon doors. A nod of his head garnered him several attentive businessmen, including Matthew Carver and the Reverend Daniel Hawkins.

“Take Washburn’s body to the undertaker and then....” A shrill scream from the hotel cut him off mid-sentence. “Carver, you come with me. The rest of you look after Washburn, except you Reverend. I need you to find Sergeant Clemmons and Donoma’s brother Honaw and bring them to the saloon.”

The men nodded and scattered to do his bidding. Koko and Donoma were already inside the brothel when Murphy and Carver entered the hotel. Matthew immediately crossed to his wife, taking her in his arms and turning her away from John Spencer’s dead body sprawled on the floor. Murphy knelt down and pulled the colonel’s eyelids down over his eyes, wishing there was something he could do about the gaping mouth.

“Matt, take your wife into the kitchen, then I need your help to move him over to the undertaker as well. I’ll get some of the townsfolk in here to help clean up the mess,” motioning to the blood currently sluggishly spreading across the floor.

“I’m all right, Marshal,” the woman replied shakily. “I wouldn’t turn down some help though.”

“Yes ma’am,” he answered respectfully. “Let us get him moved and we’ll see about getting you some help.” She nodded and walked into the kitchen. Murphy and Carver lifted up Spencer’s body between them and carried him out into the street, causing another hush to fall as the townsfolk recognized their burden as a human being. Without a word, several of the men came to their aid, while a few of the women moved into the hotel to help with the clean-up.

When Spencer’s body had been carefully placed beside Washburn’s, Murphy headed back out the door.

“Marshal?”

“I need to go check on Reb and her mate. And I’ve gotta talk to Washburn’s man Riggins. Have the cowboys all been rounded up?”

“Yes, Marshal,” the undertaker replied. “All but one came peacefully and he’s the one who got into the scuffle on the roof with that Injun and the sergeant. Woody’s at your office keeping an eye on ‘em. Joe and Marty went with him to help.”

“Good enough then,” Murphy commented. “Ya got this?”

“We got it handled, Marshal. G’wan.”

Murphy nodded and walked out the door and headed back down to the saloon.

Keez and Honaw stood uneasily inside the door, backs to the wall where they could see the comings and goings of practically the entire town from their vantage point. Daniel Hawkins sat at a table near them with Jake Clemmons, Riggins, Kitty and Big Mama. Reb Stone and Donoma Chepi were nowhere in sight. Murphy raised a questioning eyebrow to Kitty.

“They’re upstairs,” shaking her head when he stepped that direction. “I wouldn’t, Stephen.”

“But....” Then he blushed beet red as he realized the implications of her words and tone. “Oh.”

“Donoma needed to take care of the cut on Reb’s belly. And she seemed a little shaken up by everything.”

“First kill,” Honaw said bluntly. “Donoma healer. Never take life - always fight with death to keep it.”

“Well, in fairness, her blow might not have been the killin’ shot. Several of us in this room coulda been the one to kill Washburn.”

“Was Donoma... knife first to reach him, then bullets, then arrow. I saw,” Keez stated with confidence.

“Kezzheekoni our best spotter,” Honaw boasted proudly.

“I’m thinkin’,” the Marshal agreed softly.

“They be down when they’s ready an’ not b’fore,” Big Mama said.

“Well in the meantime, I’d like a few answers,” directing his gaze at Riggins and watching the rest of them follow suit. Riggins sat up straighter and folded his hands on the table.

“I’ll do the best I can, Marshal. Whaddya wanna know?”

“I wanna know what Washburn’s problem was... and don’t sit there and tell me it was Reb’s havin’ a wife or ‘cause she was the reason his boys died. We both know that’s a lie. And I wanna know what made you turn on him - ‘cause Donoma was never a target for you, was she?”

“What makes you say that, Marshal? My gun was pointed at her head.”

Murphy smirked. “If you’d been an actual threat, Big Mama and Kitty would have reacted. They wouldn’t’ve just stood there. And given Donoma’s ability to do what she did to Washburn, I’m thinkin’ she coulda taken you out if she’d‘ve needed to.”

Riggins nodded. “I agree. And you’re right. I told her I wasn’t there for her.” He shivered involuntarily. “She’s a very intense young woman - looked right through me with those eyes of hers.”

The entire table nodded in agreement. They’d all felt it when they met those green eyes for the first time.

“So what’s the deal with Washburn, Riggins? I’m lookin’ for a reason to let you and your cowboys go home, but you’re gonna have to give me somethin’. Especially since you all came in here lookin’ to start trouble with Stone.”

“That’s not true, Marshal,” holding up his hands before Murphy could dispute his words. “Washburn came lookin’ for trouble and I came expectin’ it. But the boys were just following his orders.”

Stephen Murphy scratched his chin as he contemplated Riggins’ words. “All right,” he concurred after a few minutes of silence. “I guess I can understand that. But the question still remains - why? What was his obsession with her based on? She never did anything intentional to draw his attention that I could ever figure out.”

“It wasn’t her as much as what she was.”

“‘Scuse me?”

“Yeah,” came a voice from the top of the stairs. “I’d kinda like to hear this as well.” Koko took Donoma’s hand in hers and led them downstairs and to the table. Hawkins stood and grabbed two more chairs, placing them at the table and waiting for the women to be seated before he resumed his place.

“Reb Stone - you,” Riggins fumbled, motioning to Koko now casually seated across from him still holding Donoma’s hand, “are a woman - a successful woman in a man’s world, bringing men to justice. On top of that, you are a woman who likes women.”

“I am a warrior and the woman who loves Donoma Chepi.”

Riggins blinked at her correction, but nodded his head in agreement. “Now you have to understand that I got this from him when he was drunk one night, so it never made a whole hell of a lot of sense to me... pardon me, Missus,” he said to Donoma. Kitty and Big Mama looked their outrage at one another, but Riggins missed the byplay. “From what I could gather, the boss’s wife left him when Malcolm was a baby. She left him for a woman a lot like you - strong-minded, confident, making her own way in a man’s world without apology.”

Riggins looked around and noticed he had a captive audience. “Mordecai Washburn was a hard man. But when the boys were little, he needed all the help he could get and he hired a female cowboy. I dunno what happened - boss never shared the details. All’s I know is that when that cowgirl left, his missus left with her.”

“So he was projecting?”

“Partly,” Riggins nodded. “Part of it was you kept thwartin’ them at ever’ turn. It started with that horse - when Leroy whined to his daddy, it brought you to the boss’s attention. Then you became a thorn in his side... refusing to join him and pickin’ up some of his best allies as outlaws.”

“They *were* outlaws.”

“I know, Miz Stone, but I’m tellin’ you why Mordecai Washburn became so obsessed with you. You were a reminder of ever’thin’ he hated. He decided destroyin’ you would give him back ever’thin’ he’d lost.”

“Washburn stupid man,” Donoma commented curtly.

“He certainly became that, ma’am,” Riggins agreed. “Thank you for trustin’ me earlier.”

“Good eyes - honest soul,” Domona returned shortly and Riggins’ eyes widened comically. He turned to Koko who grinned at him.

“It means she trusts you, Riggins. Be thankful.”

He looked back at Donoma. “Thank you, ma’am.” He looked at the Marshal. “Can I take my cowboys and head out?”

“I have one more question. How did Spencer fit into all this?”

“He was the boss’s illegitimate son,” seeing eyebrows pop up and eyes widen. Riggins held up his hands. “I dunno... I never asked and he never told.”

Koko shook her head. “That explains so much... makes a lot of things fall into place. Why soldiers got used for the horse operation, why they were never caught, why no one ever suspected. What a mess.”

“At least it’s over now,” Murphy said. He looked at Riggins. “You take your boys and go, but the next time I see you, it best be to do business and enjoy the things the town has to offer. Otherwise....”

Riggins held up his hands again. “No problem, Marshal. We don’t need no more trouble. We’ve had enough of that today I think to last for a real long time.”

Murphy nodded. “All right then. Make sure Malcolm understands that. C’mon and let’s go get your cowboys. It’s still early enough ya can get a good start out for home. Ya got a wagon?”

“We came prepared. We were intendin’ to take his boys home regardless.”

“We’ll stop by the undertakers and make sure he has Washburn’s body prepared for you quickly. Then we’ll ride over to the fort and deliver the news about Spence and recover the Washburn boys for you to take home.”

“Marshal, I’d like to go with you to the fort. I need to explain to my commanding officers why I was AWOL.”

“Don’t you worry none about that,” Murphy assured Clemmons. “I’ll make sure they know you boys were here at my request.”

Clemmons swallowed hard and nodded his acceptance. Despite the hardships he sometimes faced because of his choice to join the Army, Jake Clemmons was proud of his career choice and what he’d done with his life since joining. He didn’t want to lose it for doing what he still believed was the right thing. “‘Preciate it, Marshal. Much obliged.”

“The rest of you wait here, please. We’ve got unfinished business.” Then without another word, Murphy, Riggins and Clemmons walked out the doors, leaving the rest to sit in startled silence… until Donoma rose and held out her hand to Koko who accepted it with alacrity.

“Guess we’ll be in our room,” Reb said to the others, and followed Donoma upstairs.

Chapter XLVIII

“Donoma?” Koko asked as she closed the door behind them. “Are you all right, ka’eskone?” She reached out a hand to catch Donoma’s only to find herself with a body full of warm seer pressing against her length. “Donoma?” she repeated, then caught the look of wanton desire darkening the green eyes that met hers. Koko drew in a sharp breath but stood stock still, waiting to see what Donoma would do.

Donoma lifted trembling hands to Koko’s face, tenderly tracing the lines and planes there. Her eyes followed the path her hands made until she reached Koko’s collarbone and the open neck of her shirt. When she heard another sharp intake of air, Donoma let her eyes track back to Koko’s to find them darkened to almost black in passion. She smiled impishly and moved her hands back up Koko’s chest to tangle in the long hair resting at the base of her neck.

Donoma tugged gently and Koko wasted no time bending her head and taking possession of the full lips beneath hers. Without warning, Koko slid her hands down over Donoma’s ass and trailed her fingers over the back of Donoma’s thigh, causing Donoma to pull away slightly.

Koko glared at her in consternation.

“I cannot lift my legs properly in this dress,” indicting the floor-length gingham skirt she’d worn that morning in deference to their being in town. “I do not understand how the white man expects to get any manner of enjoyment out of this clothing.”

Koko snorted. “The white *man* does not have to wear it, therefore he receives plenty of enjoyment from it. It is fetching to look upon, but even more lovely once it has been removed. May I?” indicating the buttons ran up one side of Donoma’s hip, holding the skirt in place.

“If you do not, I will warrior. I need to feel your skin on mine.” She gave a tremulous sigh. “You could have been killed today, Koko Kanti. You could have died and left me alone to live without you.”

Koko stilled her hands that were playing at Donoma’s waist in an effort to remove her clothing and shifted them until she was cupping Donoma’s face and staring into her eyes intently. “I could have died today,” she acknowledged softly, “but so could you. Had Riggins not been an honorable man, he could have taken you from me in a heartbeat. It’s a possibility we live with regardless of whether we are here or with the People or out on the prairie alone. Death is simply a part of life.”

She held on when Donoma would have turned away, waiting until the green eyes came back to hers and biting her lips at the tears that sat in them. “I want you to know something, Donoma. I need for you to understand this. Even in death, I will never leave you. I will be right beside you, watching over you and loving you, waiting for you to join me so we can share eternity together. But I do not plan for that to happen for a very long time, ka’eskone. I plan to be a very old warrior before the Great Spirit calls for me to make my way to the Land of our Fathers. I have a lifetime to live with you.”

“Love me, Koko Kanti. Take me to bed and show me.”

Reverently, Koko removed Donoma’s clothing, letting her fingers trace the muscle and bone of her strong body as it was revealed to Koko’s intense gaze. When Donoma stood naked before her, Koko let her eyes wander from her toes to the top of Donoma’s fair head, her frank appreciation causing Donoma to blush. Koko grinned in response before she stepped right into Donoma’s personal space. “So beautiful,” she murmured, brushing the backs of her fingers along Donoma’s cheek before raising her chin and allowing their lips to meet.

Donoma clutched at Koko’s shirt as they kissed, then pulled away with a furrowed brow.

“What is it, ka’eskone?”

“You appear to be overdressed, warrior mine. That is unacceptable to me as I wish to look upon you.”

Koko smirked. “Then I suggest you take steps to rectify the situation. I am quite satisfied with the view I have.” Then her jaw dropped in amazement as buttons went flying across the room before they bounced to the floor. “Donoma!” she yelped in surprise before finding her lips covered by soft fingers.

“Shh,” Donoma commanded. “You suggested I rectify the situation. You do not get to complain on how I choose to do so,” pushing the now useless shirt to the floor, and reaching for the belt buckle at Koko’s waist. She spared a moment’s thought to be thankful that Koko had removed the gunbelt earlier, then her attention was taken with pushing the heavy material of Koko’s trousers down her long lean legs.

“Much better,” she commented when Koko stood naked before her. She let her eyes and hands make a slow perusal up Koko’s body as she stood, smiling at the trail of goosebumps left in the wake of her delicate touch. She teased Koko’s nipples with her fingertips before her hands continued their journey up and around to lock behind Koko’s neck.

Koko’s hands on her ass again sent shivers through her body and Donoma was thrilled to be able to follow the unspoken directive. She wrapped her legs around Koko’s slim waist, reveling in the intimate touch before being kissed senseless once more.

It occurred to Donoma to wonder if she was hurting Koko given the placement of her body in relation to the cut Washburn had inflicted - then Koko was gently depositing her on the bed and thinking went right out the window.

************

“Are you all right, Warrior? I did not hurt you, did I?”

Koko cupped Donoma’s chin and raised her lips, kissing her for a long moment. “No, ka’eskone,” she said with a smile when they parted. “You did not hurt me. I feel thoroughly and very well loved.”

“As do I, Nutta. I wish we could stay here.”

Koko sat partway up so she could see directly into Donoma’s face. “Here in town?”

“No, warrior. Here in bed.” She pulled Koko back down on top of her and relished the feeling of being completely wrapped in a living embrace as Koko naturally curled around her. “Being in your arms is the safest place in the world for me.”

“Me too,” Koko confessed. “I feel like nothing can take you away from me when you are here.”

“Even in death, warrior,” swearing her own vow to Koko. Koko leaned down and they sealed it with another kiss. “I could get used to this,” Donoma said with a smile as they separated again.

“As could I. But you are correct - we cannot remain here. Stephen will be back soon, and I would like to finish our business here today so we can leave for home tomorrow. It is time to begin our life together.”

“We did that already, warrior - I was five and you were twelve. That was our start. But I am not averse to finally being able to begin our lives together as a true couple without the past hanging over us.”

“You are a troublemaker, Donoma Chepi.”

“If you are just realizing this, Koko Kanti, we have far bigger problems than I thought.” She moved to scramble out of the bed, but found herself being pinned to the bed by long legs and arms with the threat of tickling making her squeal.

“I have not done anything yet, ka’eskone.” Koko grinned evilly and wiggled her fingers above Donoma’s face.

“I am anticipating. I am not the only troublemaker in this family.”

Koko snorted. “Time to take your medicine.”

************

The sound of squealing from upstairs made Kitty and Big Mama smile and brought the rest of the girls from their rooms where they had been stationed during the street fight.

“Guess it’s safe to come on out now,” Ginger drawled as she and the girls meandered down the stairs.

“Yeah, I shoulda come and gotten you once Stephen left. Mama’n me’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what else there is to take care of.”

“Probably wants to make sure Reb and Donoma are all right, though from the sound of things....”

“I just hope he gets back here soon. We’re burning daylight here, and we’ve lost enough revenue the past couple days ‘cause of Washburn.”

“Sorry ‘bout that, Kitty,” Murphy said as he walked through the door and removed his hat. “I didn’t ‘spect that to take so long.”

“Everything all right?”

“Yep. Riggins and his boys are on their way back to the ranch with specific instructions on their expected behavior if they ever return here again. And I think I got the Army as sorted as I could for the time being. It’s like a crazy house over at the fort right now.”

“What’s going on?” Reb asked from the stairs. All heads turned her way and not one face cracked a smile at her appearance, though a number of eyes twinkled. She had on a completely different shirt than she’d worn before and even her clean face and neatly braided hair could not hide the satisfaction that lingered around her entire person.

“Where’s Donoma?” Murphy asked, earning him glares from every woman at the table and snickers from Honaw and Keez. “What?” he whined plaintively. “I thought she might like to hear the story as well.” At that moment, Donoma emerged from their room and leisurely took the steps down to stand beside Koko.

Her outfit was completely different, having opted for a light pair of trousers and a shirt very similar to Koko’s. She slid her hand into Koko’s. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing. Stephen was about to tell us what is going on in the fort. Apparently, things are in quite an uproar.” She turned to the Marshal. “Tell us.”

************

“I went over with Clemmons to make sure him’n his boys didn’t get into no trouble for coming over here. See, he never told Spencer or anyone else about me needin’ the Army to keep an eye on things. He’d overheard Spencer arguin’ with Washburn and figured out somethin’ weren’t quite right with the two of ‘em. So he decided to take it on himself to look out for the town, and got a few of his buddies that he trusted to help.”

“Risky.”

“Yeah, but it worked out,” Murphy said with a shrug. “However, that wasn’t the cause of the craziness. The Major wasn’t too upset about me taking the men - figured Spence had cleared it for me without letting the rest of them know. I didn’t see fit to correct him. The craziness is because of Spencer’s death and the letter Spencer left on his desk for Clemmons to find and give to Johnson. It explained everything.”

“Everything?”

“Everything,” the Marshal confirmed. “It even got me an apology from Johnson since it was clear that Spencer was working outside Army protocol on a number of things, not the least of which was that illicit horse business Washburn had running through here.”

“Did he say why, Murph?”

“Sorta. He took responsibility for a number of bad decisions on himself, but said he originally got into it as a way to please the father he’d never known.” Stephen sighed. “Washburn wasn’t a hard man - he was a jackass. Pardon me, ladies,” glancing around the table. “Seems when he was a young buck, him and Spence’s mama were sweethearts. Only Washburn took advantage of her, then skipped town when he found out she was with child. Claimed the Army shipped him out - I have people looking into that, though I don’t expect them to find much. Mordecai Washburn was a slippery sonova.... Ahem, ‘scuse me, ladies. The man was a snake.”

“So what happened, Murph? Surely Spencer knew better than to trust the man who’d run out on him and his mama.”

“One would think. But apparently Washburn gave him some sob story about the Army moving him ‘fore he could do the right thing, but that he’d tried to support them, even going so far as to get Spencer’s commission in the Army. Spencer wanted so badly to believe him that he overlooked all the glaring holes in his story.”