Callie's Heart Read online

  CALLIE’S HEART

  By Cia Leah

  COPYRIGHT 2011 BY CIA LEAH

  This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication area fictitious and any

  resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Texas, 1800’s

  Chapter I

  Callie McCade squeezed tighter against the side of the stagecoach as the heavy-set man beside her slumped against her and began to snore loudly. She also tried to keep her eyes lowered as the two women seated across from her kept staring at her with undisguised snobbery.

  Callie knew that being dressed in buckskins and a cowboy hat with a set of six guns strapped around her hips wasn't the way a lady should present herself, but it was the only clothes she had and the way her uncle had raised her. Of course, she really didn't want to be dressed like them, she thought. They had to be roasting to death in this Texas heat, and their corsets had to be sucking at least two inches of their waistlines in. She didn't know how on earth they were breathing dressed the way they were. When the man seated on the other side of them looked at her and winked, Callie didn't know if he was flirting with her or if he was trying to make her feel better. He was dressed in a fine suit with vest and jacket. He looked to be in his thirties and was sort of portly, but not fat. He had slicked back brown hair and friendly brown eyes.

  "Where you from, Miss?" He asked, smiling congenially.

  Callie looked at him again, making sure he was talking to her as the two women stuck their noses up in the air as if offended he had even attempted a conversation with her instead of them. "Kansas."

  "You're a good ways from home. What's your name?"

  "Callie McCade."

  "Nice to meet you, Callie McCade. My name's Darrell Ansten. I'm a writer and I came out west to write stories. I'm from Boston Massachusetts. The west holds lots of excitement for the reader's back east and my family owns a large newspaper there. I'm going to get those stories to take back with me."

  Callie smiled. "What kind of stories will you write?"

  "People back east want stories of outlaws, Indians, and just about anything that goes on out here. It's wild and untamed. You wouldn't happen to have a few stories in that pretty little head of yours, would you?"

  Callie blushed, as the two women gasped at what they assumed was an inappropriate remark. "I've always lived in the west. I don't know anything about back east. Maybe sometime we can swap stories."

  "I'm going to hold you to that, Callie. Where are you headed?"

  She was about to reply when gunshots sounded from outside and the driver yelled at the team of horses to git up. The man leaning against her awoke with a start and started cussing, then apologized to the women. "Looks like you're going to get that story right now Mr. Ansten," she said. She pulled her gun out of her holster and checked the ammunition as another series of gunshots sounded. "I suggest you ladies get down."

  Callie stood up and grabbed hold of the sides of the window and eased her head out as another bullet whizzed by. She ducked back in, holstered her gun, then slipped through the window, and climbed up atop the stage. She about fell off when the driver hit a hole in the road and the fast careening stagecoach bounced and swayed.

  Holding onto the luggage, she made her way to the front where the driver whipped the horses faster. "There's only one man shooting at us! Don't you have someone riding shotgun?" She yelled as a bullet slammed into the luggage right behind her.

  "Yep I did but he toppled over the side a ways back," he said, taking a quick look at her. "You any good with those guns?"

  "Pretty good," she said. You want me to shoot back?"

  "Darn Tootin'! We're coming to a bend in the road ahead and I'm going to have to slow the stage down or we aren't going' to make it!"

  Callie nodded, pulled her gun out of the holster, and climbed back atop the stage. The man was closer than before. He had about twenty feet to go before he would be side by side with the stage. She knelt down beside a trunk, raised her gun to aim at him when he raised his and fired. Her hat flew off her head, and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders and back. "That was my favorite hat!" She aimed and fired back. She watched as his black hat flew off behind him to land in the dust.

  "That'll teach you!" She knew he couldn't hear her, but it sure made her feel better to know that he lost his hat too. When she saw him replace his gun in his holster and lean low over the saddle horn and kick his mount, she knew he was determined to reach the stage and she had never killed anyone. She knew she could, but she couldn't.

  Callie fired a couple warning shots in front of the horse but it never broke stride, and as the stage slowed, the man on horseback rode closer. Again she fired in front of the horse but to no avail. Evidently, the horse was as used to being shot at as the man on its back.

  ***

  Clint West spurred his mount faster, riding low over the saddle horn. He couldn't believe that a woman was shooting at him. When he had seen her climb out of the stage and pull herself up on top, he had thought she was a boy. It wasn't until he shot her hat off and saw all that blond hair fall about her shoulders and shine like spun gold in the sun, that he realized she was a woman.

  He knew that Devil's bend was up ahead and waited for the stage to slow before urging his horse faster. He didn't think a woman would shoot him, at least he hoped not. After all, he knew this stage wasn't carrying anything valuable. He just wanted to collect his future wife and be done with it and get back home.

  Clint rode up beside the driver and pointed his gun. "Halt those horses now!" He yelled, as the driver glanced at him, and then whipped the team again. "Stop!" He aimed and fired at the driver's hat and watched it fly off his head. When that didn’t work, he cussed, and spurred his mount in front of the stage a ways ahead on the road right before the bend in the road. The driver had no choice but to haul up on the reins and stop the stagecoach. He rode up and looked up into the barrel of a six-gun. “Put that damn thing away before you hurt someone!”

  “That someone will be you if you don’t let us pass!”

  “I’ve come to collect my bride that’s supposed to be on this stage. I didn’t want to go all the way into town for her.”

  “You’re bride?”

  “My intended. Her name’s Callie McCade.” He watched as her deadly expression turned to one of surprise. “That’s me and you must be Clint West!”

  “You’re Callie?”

  “Yes.”

  Clint watched her climb down from atop the stage and stare up at him. “Boy when you go after your woman, you don’t mess around!”

  He groaned. Leave it up to old Ned to raise a hellion. He looked at the coach driver. Sorry about the trouble and there comes your shotgun man up the road. Doesn’t look any worse for wear after falling off the stage. He reached down and helped Callie mount behind him and kicked his horse in the sides. He didn’t like people and he wasn’t about to be caught by the law to go get a woman he didn’t want, but had to. Damn Ned for sending her, but he knew the man must have good reason.

  He rode for an hour before they reached his place. He owned it all legal too even though he had to lie about his name. He had the signed deed and that’s all he needed to prove his worth. He reined up before the house, helped Callie dismount, then rode to the small coral by the barn and unsaddled his horse. He opened the coral gate so it could get some feed and water before turning back to see Callie standing there waiting for him. “Well, aren’t you going to go inside?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t want to be rude and walk in without an invite first.”

  Clint reached around her and pushed the door open. “Go on in.” He said, walking in behind her. He saw her look around and knew she must think it a pretty meager place to live, but he’d don
e a find job building it. He had a living room with a huge fireplace and a kitchen table and chairs and a pump with running water, two bedrooms, a storage cellar, and a small room in back for the chamber pot and a metal tub to take a bath in. “What do you think?”

  “It’s really nice. Why even Uncle Ned and I don’t have a place this big and we don’t have boards on the floor to walk on. You must be mighty rich!”

  He puffed out his chest. “Not rich, but I have funds available. Your room is back here,” he said, walking across the living room and down a hallway. Mine’s on the left and yours is on the right. Which reminds me, where’s your stuff? You didn’t get a bag off the stage.”

  “There’s just me. I just got the clothes on my back, my guns, and hat. Oh, and Uncle Ned said I was supposed to give you this and you’d take care of the rest. He told me not to open it and I didn’t although it was mighty tempting on the way here.”

  Clint watched her reach inside her shirt and take out a piece of cloth tied with a string. He reached out and took it, untied the string from around it and saw the stack of notes inside. There was a note. Don’t let Callie read this, but this is her dowry. I’ve been saving for a long time. By the time she gets to you and you read this, I won’t be here anymore. You’re the only person I could think of that would take good care of her. She’s a good girl. Ned.

  “What does it say?”

  He crumbled up the piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket. “Just that you’re a good girl and to take care of you.”

  “I can take care of myself. I miss Uncle Ned so much, though. He’s been my ma and pa for a long time.”

  Clint watched her turn around and look at the room. Old Ned had seen his days and was now gone. He loved the old coot too and it made him sad, but he’d take care of Callie as best he could. “You like it?”

  “Yes. What a big bed with iron posts, a mattress, and springs. It’s purty too with the Indian blanket on it.”

  “Well, it’s your room now, so you do what you want with it. Move the bed and dresser whichever way you want. I want you to feel at home.”

  “Won’t we be getting married?”

  “Not right now. I want to get to know you first.”

  “That’s good, but what happens if you don’t like me?”

  “I can’t see that happening,” Clint grinned. “You’re as pretty as a filly and all that gold hair is downright tempting to touch.”

  “Won’t be no touching before we get married. Uncle Ned brought me up to be a good girl and I ain’t going to become no loose woman!”

  He laughed. “No need to worry, Callie. Are you hungry?”

  “Sure am. I lived on beans and jerky all the way here. What do you got for me to cook?”

  “You cook too?”

  “Uncle Ned said I was the best cook in the entire west.”

  “Well, then I’ll show you where things are and while you’re cooking, I’ll go out and tend to a few things in the barn.”

  ***

  Clint forked fresh straw in the stalls for his horses, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Ned. He’d been like a father to him when they rode with the gang and always watched his back. When he took his last share of the last robbery, Clint has missed him something terrible. When he got away from the gang, he stopped by and saw him. At that time, Callie had been just a young girl. Ned had taken her in when her Pa had died. Ned was as good as they came and he’d do right by him.

  He wasn’t looking forward to getting’ married, and didn’t plan to, unless he took a liking to Callie, but he’d make sure she was taken care of just like Ned had taken care of him. He forked the last of the straw in, gave the horses some grain and went back to the house.

  He stepped inside to see his table full of food. “Lordy, Callie, did you cook everything?”

  Just some corn pone, ham, and potatoes. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had something to fix this grand?”

  He couldn’t help but smile when her little pink tongue licked her lips as she stared at the food on the table. She was a little slip of a thing, but filled out in all the right places. “Let me wash up. Smells so good and I’m hungry!”

  “Me too!”

  He shook his head as she sat down at the table and waited patiently for him to join her. Her hand was grasping the fork like she couldn’t wait to stab a slice of ham and put it on her plate. He went over and sat down. “Well dig in!”

  “Not before we thank the Lord for our food and blessings,” she said, and proceeded to say a prayer. “Ok, now we can eat!”

  He laughed as she took a thick slice of ham, and some fried potatoes. When she put a bite of ham in her mouth, she closed her eyes, and flicked her tongue over her lips. Clint about dropped the piece of cornbread he’d picked up and felt his manhood stand to attention. Damn, but she was savoring that piece of meat a little too long. “Chew and swallow,” he told her, shaking his head when her eyes popped open to stare at him.

  “This is the most delicious ham I’ve ever tasted!”

  “You make good corn bread too.” He took a bite and it melted in his mouth.

  “I made a skillet full, so there will plenty for a couple days. Tomorrow I can make some bread too.”

  “Sounds mighty fine. I haven’t eaten like this in a long time either.”

  “Uncle Ned didn’t eat only rabbit stew. He said if he ate anything else, his stomach hurt somethin’ fierce. I’m worried about him and didn’t want to leave, but he said I had to go. He said he had me a fine man who would take care of me and I could take care of him. I argued, but he wouldn’t have any of it and here I am. He promised to write me.”

  Clint finished his cornbread and ate his ham and potatoes. He couldn’t tell Callie Ned wouldn’t be writing her. He knew she loved him so much that she would be devastated and he didn’t need a bawling female on his hands. Besides that, he wanted to give her time to get used to being away from Ned and her home. Homesickness could eat a person alive. He picked up his coffee cup and took a big drink, then spewed in out at the side of the table. “What the hell!” He jumped up, pumped some water in the tin cup sitting on the sink and rinsed his mouth out.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell ya, I don’t make very good coffee. Uncle Ned always made it.”

  Clint shook his head and swallowed. No wonder Ned died from a stomachache! “That is the worse cup of coffee I’ve ever had! From now on, I’ll make the coffee, you do the cooking.” He took the pot of coffee off the stove and dumped it out and put on a fresh pot.

  “That’s okay with me. I don’t like drinkin’ my own coffee either.”

  Clint shook his head. “As soon as you’re done cleaning up the kitchen, come out to the barn. I got a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise? I’ll hurry up then!”

  Clint laughed when she jumped up and started clearing the table. She was still so young. Too young in his estimation to be getting wed.” He grabbed his hat and went back out to the barn. He couldn’t wait to see her face when she saw what he was going to give her.

  Chapter Two

  Callie quickly did up the dishes and put things away. As she wiped the table clean, she couldn’t believe her good fortune. Clint was nice and she liked him. He was easy to get along with and provided well if her first supper was any indication. He had a fine house and she couldn’t wait to see what her surprise was, so she grabbed her hat and ran out to the barn.

  When she went inside, she gasped. There was stalls full of horses. Beautiful Palominos. She walked over to where he led one by the reins over to her.

  “Callie, this here is Goldie. She’s a find horse and she yours.”

  Callie’s eyes grew wide. “Mine?”

  “That’s what I said. Come here and get to know her a little.”

  Callie walked over and reached out to pet the horse. Goldie shook her head and nudged her away. “I don’t think she likes me.”

  “She just doesn’t know you yet, but she’ll take a liking to you. Why don’t you
hop up on her back and take her for a little ride around the house and barn. I bet she’ll like that.”

  Callie’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew how to ride, but she’d never had a horse this beautiful. Goldie’s coat was sleek and shiny. Almost the color of Callie’s hair. So very beautiful. She slipped her foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. “Oh my, she’s big!”

  “That she is and one of my best horses. Go ahead and ride her.”

  Callie nudged Goldie in the sides and she rode outside the barn. She learned the horse was well trained and quickly got used to the commands she responded to. When they rode past the water trough at the corral, Goldie ignored her commands and turned to the trough and proceeded to drink. She heard Clint laugh behind her and turned in the saddle to see him walking up to them.

  “I forgot to tell you that Goldie has a mind of her own sometimes. She can spot a rattler a mile away and she can run as fast as the wind when need be. She’ll be a good horse for you.”

  “Thank you so much, Clint, but I don’t have anything to give you. I take it this is my wedding present?”

  “Nope. Just a present. You got to have a horse, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, but not one this fine. She’s so beautiful!”

  “She’s about the color of your hair. You two match.”

  Callie smiled when Goldie finished drinking, then turned of her own accord and walked towards Clint. Goldie nudged Clint in the shoulder with her head and pushed him backwards. Callie laughed when Clint glared at the horse. “I think Goldie likes you more than anyone. I think she’s jealous I’m the one on her back and not you.”

  “Well, she’ll just have to get over it,” he laughed, reaching out and petting the horse.

  “Come on, Goldie; let’s go for a little ride around the barn and back.” She reined the horse around Clint and kicked Goldie in the sides. The horse leapt forward and Callie lost her hat as Goldie ran hell bent for leather past the barn to the other side of the corral. “Hold on, girl! I don’t want to enter a race,” she laughed, but Goldie ran past the coral and around the house to stop in front of Clint again. She slid from the saddle and handed Clint the reins, but he held up his hands.