'I'll watch them,' Hank promised.
'Me and the hands, we'll stay in and down in the cellar with the
children.'
'Is everybody ready?' Jamie asked. He swallowed his coffee and set the
cup on the table, then everyone was hurrying out.
The children were taken to the cellar, and Dolly waved a cheerful hand
to Tess.
'You take care, missy, you hear?'
'Yes, Dolly, I promise! Thank you!'
Dolly disappeared into the storm cellar, and Hank followed, closing the
door over them. Cole and Kristin stamped the dirt around so the opening
was invisible. By then Jon was coming around with the wagon, and Kristin
and Shannon and Tess climbed up with him. The Slater brothers mounted
their horses. Tess was aware that each was wearing a gun belt with two
Colts.
Each also had another gun attached to a saddle. They were well-armed,
but managed to remain nonchalant.
Tess froze, praying that she wouldn't bring about one of these men's
deaths.
It was her fight. Her own. She had no right to get these men killed.
Maybe nothing would happen today. Maybe yon Heusen would lie low.
Maybe he would take his time to attack her again. She had written the
truth once. After today, maybe more people would believe her. He
couldn't kill everyone.
'Why don't you explain the press while we ride?' Jon suggested to her.
Tess gave him a grateful smile. If she talked, she would relax.
'It's a small press, really, compared with many of the innovations
they're coming up with today. But it's a small town, and we're a small
paper. We set the type in a box called a chase. We tap our letters and
words in with wooden mallets, ink the set type, then roll the papers
through. It's very simple.' She was just warming to the subject when
Jon's voice interrupted her softly.
'The town is quiet today.'
It was quiet. The streets were deserted. Not that it was usually busy at
this time of the morning, but there was no one around. No one at all.
'Well,' Tess murmured.
'There's, uh, there's the paper over there.
See, Wiltshire Sun. The place with all the windows broken out,' she
added drily.
'Well, you can set to typing your story while Kristin and I sweep up,'
Shannon said.
Tess nodded. There was a giant lump in her throat, though. Why was the
town so damned deserted?
Jon stopped directly in front of the paper. Jamie had already
dismounted, and he was watching the silent buildings for any sign of
movement. Malachi came to the wagon and helped the women down.
'Get into the office,' Jamie ordered curtly. Tess didn't argue but did
as he told her. Shannon and Kristin followed her.
'Will you look at this mess!' Kristin said, clicking her tongue.
