Andrew’s handsome face was marred by a deep scowl. He rubbed his moustache as his blue-eyed gaze darted from table to table. Something was not quite right about this set up, but he could not put his finger on it. His hired guards were standing a short distance away. The two men looked formidable and no one wanted to get entangled with them for any reason and so people steered clear of them.
Andrew was seated at a small round table, in the middle of a game that did not seem to be going his way at all. He was usually good at reading his opponents at the table but these two men who had come in from out of town were proving quite elusive. From the moment the game had started about an hour ago, they seemed to be gaining the upper hand on him and he thought he would have to use his brawny men to intimidate them. He tapped the top of the table with his left hand because his right held his cards. He had slender and long fingers which were his trademark as he used them skillfully to hide or retrieve cards from his sleeves.
“Your call,” the one who had introduced himself simply as Pinky told Andrew. He was chewing on a match stick, his stance very relaxed as though he did not have a care in the world, and yet he had just placed five thousand dollars on the table for a game.
“I am thinking,” Andrew said with emphasis, and in a cold voice which would have terrified the men he usually played with, but it seemed to have no effect on the two men before him.
Pinky shrugged, taking it all in stride. “Your dance,” he said.
The second man who had introduced himself as Shorty Stakes twisted his lips and Andrew saw a mocking look in his eyes. The two men had him, but he was sure he could take them out. But he was feeling very uneasy. These two men had something up their sleeves, no one took on Andrew Willard without fearing the repercussions.
What Andrew did not know was that Shorty and Pinky had their own men who were inconspicuously spread throughout the tavern. The usual revelry and drinking was going on and since Madam Fortune’s tavern catered for all kinds of people who were either residents of Last Chance or those just passing through on their way somewhere, no one paid any attention to any new faces that appeared from time to time. Madam Fortune was happy that she had a full house and her girls were kept busy serving drinks or serving customers and once in a while a girl would leave with a gentleman for the lodgings at the back of the tavern which had their own special uses. Business was good and the saloon madam rubbed her hands in gleeful delight.
Andrew observed the two men from under his long eyelashes. Pinky looked like the weaker one. He stood at only five feet seven inches, almost a head shorter than Andrew. He was also slightly built, leaning towards being thin. His black hair was long and he held it in a plait at the back of his head. His eyes were black and he had a clean shaven face. Shorty Stakes was almost as tall as Andrew and quite heavily built, his body covered in a thick overcoat that he had not taken off at any time. He sat hunched over the table, and from time to time he would take a sip of the drink at his side which Andrew had no idea what it was because one particular man seemed to be bringing the drinks to the two men. Because Andrew had never seen that particular waiter before, he thought Madam Fortune had probably hired him to help the girls, because he was quite heavily built.
“Looks like we are going to be here all night,” Shorty said, winking at Pinky. “Is it probable that the gentleman has a poor hand and is afraid of losing?”
Pinky smiled, a thin smile that did not reach his eyes. “He seems to have more cards than normal,” he observed and Andrew gave a start. Normally people did not notice when he added cards from under his sleeves to the pile in his hands but somehow Pinky had guessed. He decided to adopt an aggressive stance to cower the two men.
He threw his cards down on the table and pushed back his chair. “Are you accusing me of cheating at cards?” He growled at Pinky who did not seem at all ruffled. “That is dishonoring a man’s name and men have been hanged for less.”
“So go hang yourself,” Shorty said, turning Andrew’s cards over to reveal a very poor hand. He shook his head. “And here we thought we were playing with an expert,” he guffawed. “My ten-year-old daughter can play a better hand.”
As Shorty was mocking Andrew, Pinky was gathering all the money on the table. He casually counted it then stood up and that was when Andrew realized that he had been well and truly beaten at cards. His cheating had not helped him in this instance and he had just lost five thousand dollars which did not belong to him. His father would be enraged.
Somehow he had to get the money back. His father had sent him to the small bank in Last Chance to withdraw that amount of money to pay off some laborers who were adding an extension to the mayor’s house, and as usual he had decided to gamble with the money since he always won. He had expected to fetch another five thousand or ten thousand and his father would have been none the wiser. But now everything had come crashing down. He quickly turned to his henchmen and signaled them to take action, but before they could even move a muscle they found themselves tousled up and bundled out of the tavern and taken to the back which was not lit, given the beating of their lives and left tied up.
Meanwhile in the tavern, Andrew knew his luck had finally run out when he found himself surrounded.
“Sit,” Pinky ordered and when he would have hesitated he felt a big hand on his shoulders pushing him back to his seat. Pinky leaned forward. “If you have to cheat at cards then learn how to do it the proper way,” he said. “You are just a weak man who uses other men’s muscle power and your own volatile temper to intimidate people.”
Shorty gave a short bark of laughter. “Today the cheater became the cheated.” He turned to Pinky. “We have made our point, no use disrupting this good evening for other patrons so let us just take our leave.” He stood up. But Pinky had other ideas and a slight raising of his hands saw Andrew manhandled out of the tavern but towards the front. Pinky and Shorty’s men simply surrounded him and led him out so it seemed as though he was leaving amicably with friends. Once outside, they gave him a thorough beating and made ready to put him on his horse which one of the men had brought from the back.
“My father will get you for this,” he coughed painfully, trying to get himself off the ground. “He is the mayor of Last Chance and he will get you.”
“The reason you are still breathing is because we have deep respect for Mayor Willard,” Shorty spat on the ground next to Andrew. “Poor man had the misfortune of siring a useless drunk and whoremonger. I wonder what papa will say if he sees his precious boy in this drunken state,” and as he was saying this he was pouring whiskey on Andrew’s clothes.
“Boys, get him out of here and make sure he gets home so his papa can welcome him with a fatted cow for the good work that he is doing.” Pinky smiled and got onto his horse. “Till we meet again, Andrew Willard,” he tipped his hat and rode off.
Andrew tried to escape from the thugs but they kept close until they had delivered him to his father’s house and then made such a ruckus outside that a few servants came to see what was going on and found Andrew on the ground.
Victor entered the drawing room where his wife was sobbing over their son. The whole room reeked of whiskey and he held his hands behind his back and looked at Andrew without saying a word and then turned around and went back to bed.
“See what you have done,” his mother wept. “Why did you have to go and get into a fight, Andrew?”
“Mother, those men jumped me when I was coming back home and they robbed me of the money Father sent me to get for him.”
Claudia Willard was gently sponging her son’s face, trying to wipe away the blood that had dried on his cheek where Shorty had struck him with his ring. “If you carry on like this your father is going to be very angry at you, Andrew,” she wrinkled her nose at the smell of alcohol on her son’s breath and clothes. “It is time you began to show your father that you are a son he can be proud of. All these saloon brawls are not going to win you any points with your father.” She sighed. “I thought you told me you had changed, Andrew, and you also told me that you had met a nice Godly woman in church and was getting ready to ask her parents for her hand in marriage. Do you think any decent family will allow you to wed their daughter with you drinking like this? Besides that, your father was thinking of grooming you to take over as mayor of Last Chance but see how you shame yourself before him.”
“Mother, I was not drinking, I just stopped to check on someone in town after running Father’s errand and it seems the men were following me from the bank and they cornered me and took the money.”
The story sounded lame even to Claudia who pampered her son, but this was not the time to reprimand him. He was slightly drunk and she decided to talk to him in the morning when he was sober.
Sunday morning dawned bright and Claudia was surprised to find Andrew already at the dining table taking breakfast.
“Going somewhere?” She served herself some eggs and fruit and her usual cup of black coffee and then took her place at the table. Of Victor there was no sign and she knew he had already left for church.
“To church with you, Mother,” Andrew smiled at his mother and she gave a happy cry.
“Oh Andrew, I knew you are a good boy, a bit distracted at times but a good boy all the same. Your father will be as proud of you as I am.”
“I want you to meet the woman that I have been courting, Mother,” he lied. In actual fact, he had been trying to speak with Cora Richards but she ignored him on all accounts. She was the best candidate for him to present as his future wife because her family were good stock and dedicated to the church. His father and Walter Richards had met a number of times in the weeks since the family moved to Last Chance and his father thought highly of the newcomers. He nodded slightly to himself. Cora Richards was just the right girl. Being new in the town she did not know much about him and he believed neither did the other members of her family, and he would make a whirlwind courtship and a quick marriage and by the time she found out about him it would be too late and she would be in the family way.
“I am very much looking forward to that, Andrew,” his mother gushed on, unaware of his disturbing thoughts. “Do I know her family?”
“Her name is Cora Richards, her family just moved to Last Chance about six or seven weeks ago.”
“And does she love you?”
“How can she not love your handsome son?” Andrew teased. “Of course we are in love. She is the perfect woman for me. Be prepared to hold your grandchildren in the very near future.”
Claudia felt as though heaven had opened its windows and given her a glimpse of the glory therein. Throughout the service, she kept glancing at her son, a huge smile on her face. She could not wait to meet the lovely woman who had won her son’s heart.
Cora observed Andrew out of the corner of her eyes as he made his way to where she was. There was no avoiding this man who kept nagging her, but she schooled her features into politeness as she waited for him to catch up with her.
“Cora, as enchanting and beautiful as always,” Andrew just came short of kissing her hand, instead squeezing it. Cora almost rolled her eyes at his dramatics. She did not like Andrew Willard, and for a few Sundays now he had been insisting on chatting with her.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Willard,” she pulled her hand away, raising it to wave Ada Adams and Elizabeth Thomas over. The two girls joined them and they exchanged greetings with a not-too-happy Andrew who had wanted Cora all to himself.
“My name is Andrew, Mr. Willard is my father,” he smiled sweetly at her and she almost groaned aloud.
“It is good to see you again, Mr. Willard, but we have to go and help the other women serve lunch,” Cora said politely, turning her back, and so did not see the hard look that came into Andrew’s eyes, but Ada did and she shuddered inwardly. This was a dangerous man and her friend would do well to steer clear of him. She would warn Cora about Andrew and ask her to be careful around him.
Andrew fumed. Who did the small girl think she was? He was Andrew Willard, the best dressed man in the whole of Last Chance. Why, women always went out their way to charm him, and that included married women. This slip of a girl was nothing compared to some of the beauties that entertained him from time to time, some in their own homes when their husbands were away. Then he smiled. No, Cora was merely shy and proper. She would come around.
“That’s it,” he grinned and looked around for his parents. They were speaking with Walter and Mary Richards and he knew this was the perfect time to begin laying his strategy to win Cora over. He would endear himself to her parents and get them on his side.
“Oh Andrew, there you are,” Claudia Willard said. “Please come and meet these wonderful people.”
“We have met before, Mother, these are Cora’s parents,” he smiled charmingly at Mary and she was blown away. “And may I say again, ma’am, that you have a very beautiful daughter.”
Walter smiled at Victor. He liked the man and was charmed by his son who seemed to be just the sort of man that would be good for his Cora. Yes, this young handsome man definitely had the means to provide well for Cora. He would speak to her and even she would see that Andrew Willard was a prize catch.
***
Cora frowned when she heard a horse neighing outside their house. It was not one of theirs and she wondered who the early morning visitor was. She was in the small kitchen preparing breakfast for her parents and brothers who were already at the site of their new house, a short distance away.
“Anybody home?” She heard Andrew’s voice and her heart sank. He had been coming around the house frequently and her parents and brothers seemed to like him. Cora, however, did not trust him. There was something about Andrew that made her uncomfortable, and she always listened to her instincts. She put her hands into the flour bowl and stepped out of the kitchen, glad that she was wearing an old frock.
“Sweet Cora, good morning,” Andrew said in a sing song voice, trying to sound romantic but to Cora he sounded quite foolish. She also didn’t appreciate his presumption to call her by her given name, though she would be inhospitable to protest.
“Good morning, Mr. Willard, what brings you around here this early morning?”
“Andrew, please.” He jumped off his horse and untied the wooden trunk that had been behind him. “My father sent me to bring your folks some stuff that we know you need to settle down.”
“I see,” Cora raised her voice and hailed her father who came over, a big smile on his face.
“Andrew, it is good to see you,” Walter laughed happily. “We are sorry that we were not at hand to welcome you but I am sure Cora has made you feel quite at home.”
“Thank you, sir,” Andrew said, trying to look as humble as possible. He had a lot at stake and he had to present himself as the most ideal suitor for Cora Richards.
“Forgive me but I am not dressed to receive visitors. We are trying to get our house finished before winter sets in,” Walter waved his hand at the brick house that was coming up quite nicely.
“That is why I have come sir, my father thought you might need some things and so he sent me over with them,” Andrew pointed at the wooden trunk at his feet.
“Your father is most kind, and please convey our deepest gratitude to him.”
Two days later, Andrew showed up carrying an iron rack on which they could grill meat and two covered iron pots with legs in which Mary could store food and various farming implements.
His visits became quite frequent after that, much to her parents’ delight and to Cora’s chagrin. She went out of her way to avoid him as much as possible but her mother seemed quite taken with him.
“Cora, Andrew is such a lovely young man don’t you think?” Mary was grilling a leg of mutton on the iron grill that Andrew had brought her and she was in her element. “This grill has made work so much easier for me and we can now enjoy properly roasted meats.”
“To each his own,” Cora mumbled under her breathe.
“What was that you said, dear?” Mary looked up briefly and then back at the meat.
“I was agreeing with you that Andrew’s folks are quite nice.”
“And the young man himself,” Mary smiled. “He will make a wonderful husband, Cora, very gently and quite considerate. Obviously he can well provide for you as his wife and you will never lack anything.”
Cora chose not to say anything because she did not want to start an argument with her mother. Ada had cautioned her against seeming to be resistant to their acceptance of Andrew and so she pretended mild interest.
“Cora?”
“Yes, Ma?”
“I asked you what you think about us beginning to shop for material for your wedding dress. I know you have been embroidering pillow cases and cushion covers for your house so I am sure you must be quite excited at the prospect of being Andrew’s wife.” Cora turned her back and pretended to stir the beans that were bubbling merrily in the large iron pot over the fire. True, she was embroidering for her new home but never with Andrew. She had started making things for the home that she would share with Louis, no matter how long it took.
Preparing for her own home kept her at peace and gave her hope that things would eventually work out and Louis would then get her parents’ permission to marry her.
“Cora?”
“Yes, Ma?”
“Daydreaming eh?” Mary left her work to come and hug her daughter briefly. “When I was getting ready for my own wedding with your father I would daydream so much so I understand what you are going through, and I am so grateful that you have forgotten about that other boy who was not up to our standards for you.”
“Yes, Ma.”
But that night Cora was deeply troubled and she conveyed her feeling in the letter that she wrote to Louis. Ever since Ada had become their go-between the two love birds had been writing to each other every single day. Cora would write to Louis and deliver the letter to Ada early in the morning. Ada in turn met with Louis to give him the letter and in the evening she would have a reply for Cora.
“My Dearest Louis,
Today has been another painful day for me as I continue to miss you. I wish I could see you even for a brief moment, just to reassure myself that I am still in your heart. The day was made even more trying by my mother who seems to think that I am dreaming about being married to Andrew Willard.
She went on and on about getting material for a wedding dress, preparing this and that and it really made me angry but I could not show my emotions because I do not want my family to know what I am feeling and thinking. I want them to think that everything is alright because that enables me to continue writing to you and loving you in my heart.
I wish we could run away together and get married and begin a new home far away from here. It seems as though that might be the best course of action for us because I am getting more and more disturbed by the way my whole family are convinced that Andrew is the best man for me. You hold my heart and my soul forever, no one will ever take your place, Louis, least of all a man like Andrew Willard. Much as other people think he is a good man I know that there are a lot of vices in him, I don’t know how I know that he is a really mean and evil man but I just do. That is why I want to ask you to begin thinking about us running away together. I have a tidy sum that I have saved up from my baking and I also know that you have been saving for our future. Louis, let us run away together and be happy.
My heart is longing and aching for you always.
Your own Cora.”