conquering heroes?”
“It’s a little early for supper,” Bo said. “But how about some coffee and a piece of pie?”
“Apple or peach?”
Bo chose apple, while Scratch and Chloride both decided to have peach pie. As Sue Beth cut pieces of pie and put them on saucers, she said, “You’re going to ruin your appetites, you know, eating pie this soon before supper.”
Scratch said, “Considerin’ the food you dish up, ma’am, there ain’t no chance of that!” He sat down on one of the stools at the counter, and as Bo and Chloride did likewise, Scratch went on. “You know, Miz Pendleton, Thanksgivin’ is comin’ up.”
“Is it?” Sue Beth asked with a twinkle in her eye as she placed the saucers in front of the three men. “Out here on the frontier like this, it’s hard to keep up with holidays.”
“Yes’m, it is,” Scratch said solemnly. “Where Bo and me come from, back in Texas, we always have a big feast on Thanksgivin’ with turkey and all the trimmin’s.”
“I believe that tradition started with the Pilgrims, not in Texas . . . but go on, Mr. Morton.”
“Well, ma’am, I was just wonderin’ . . . if we can come up with a turkey, how would you feel about fixin’ it for us?”
“A Thanksgiving feast, you mean?”
Scratch nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Sue Beth took her time in answering, but Bo had a hunch she was just teasing Scratch. Finally, she smiled and said, “I think that can be arranged, Mr. Morton.”
A relieved grin broke across Scratch’s face. “I’ll be much obliged, ma’am. You don’t know how much. I can’t remember how long it’s been since Bo and me had ourselves a real Thanksgivin’ feast.”
“Well, this year you really have something to be thankful for, don’t you? You brought that gold shipment in successfully . . . and you didn’t get killed by the Deadwood Devils!”
CHAPTER 12
After they finished their pie and coffee, Chloride drove the wagon down to Hanson’s Livery Stable. The Texans walked along behind, leading their mounts. When they got there, the wizened liveryman said, “Miss Sutton came by and told me you’d be leavin’ the wagon and those mules here for the night. Ain’t no charge. She’s taken care of it already.”
“I hope you gave her a fair price,” Bo said.
Hanson bristled at those words. “Of course I did! I treat everybody fair.”
Bo had his doubts about that, but he didn’t figure it was worth arguing over. He gave Hanson instructions to have the mule team hitched to the wagon early the next morning for the return trip to the Golden Queen mine.
“Whatever you want,” Hanson said.
They went to Martha’s office next and found the young woman entering figures in a ledger. She looked up at them with a smile as she said, “Come in. I was just adding the shipment you brought in today to the balance sheets. I have to admit, it makes things look a lot better.”
“And Mr. Keefer said there’s that much again ready to ship,” Bo told her. “We’ll be heading back up to the mine first thing in the morning to get it. Be back in town day after tomorrow, if there aren’t any problems. If that’s what you want, that is. You’re still the boss.”
Martha set her pen back in its holder. “The sooner we get the gold here, the better as far as I’m concerned. When I get through here, I’ll go over to Bullock and Star’s store and give Mr. Star the order for the supplies I want you to take with you. He’ll have it ready for you early tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds good.” Bo nodded and started to turn away.
“Wait a minute,” Martha said. As the three men paused, she went on, “Tell me . . . how are things at the mine? Are the men still in good spirits? They . . . they haven’t given up on me, have they?”
“No, ma’am,” Scratch replied without hesitation. “As far as I could tell, everybody’s workin’ hard and pullin’ for you to make a go of it.”
Bo nodded. “I agree. They’re a mite worried, of course, considering everything that’s been going on—”
“How could they not be?” Martha said quietly.
“That’s right. But like Scratch says, they’re still on your side.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m going to do everything in my power to see to it that their loyalty is rewarded. Now, what are the three of you doing tonight?”
The question surprised Bo a little. “We figured we’d get some supper after a while, then head back out to Chloride’s cabin, I reckon.”
Martha shook her head and said, “Why don’t you stay here in town? You can get rooms at the hotel for the night. I’ll pay for them.”
She was feeling mighty flush right now, Bo realized, and he didn’t blame her. Having any sort of success again was probably a big relief to her. But as much as she still owed, she didn’t need to be spending her money on hotel rooms for the three of them.
“We’ll be fine at Chloride’s,” he said firmly before either of his companions could speak up. “You can find a better use for your money than that.”
Martha looked a little disappointed. “Are you certain?”
