The rest of the week passed uneventfully. Raven, delighted that Gabriel was accompanying them to Las Cruces, was on her best behavior and did all she could to be helpful. She fetched water for her mother, hung clothes out to dry, swept the cabin and even finished the reading and arithmetic lessons that Ingrid composed for her – all without complaint.
She also tried to be around Gabriel as much as possible, fetching things for him, sewing buttons on his shirts, and offering to groom the stallion so that he didn’t have to risk re-injuring his healed wound.
Ingrid, though accustomed to mercurial mood swings in Raven’s personality, was nonetheless astounded by the change in her daughter.
‘If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,’ she remarked to Gabriel, ‘I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Thanks to you, she’s turned into a little angel.’
He was skeptical. Though he enjoyed Raven’s company, he felt uneasy about the way she fawned over him when they were alone. Occasionally he caught her staring at him with such intensity it made him uncomfortable. He sensed there was more behind her adoration than she let on, and was worried that her ‘crush’ might develop into something more than he could handle. But when he mentioned it to Ingrid she only laughed and assured him that it was a perfectly normal reaction: all young girls had crushes, she said. It was part of growing up. Why, she herself had mooned over her neighbor’s son while growing up, and when he and his family moved away she was convinced her heart was permanently broken.
Having no prior experience with teenage girls, Gabriel accepted her explanation and said no more. He wasn’t sold, but he just decided not to worry about it. In two more days they were leaving for Las Cruces and once he put them on the train, he’d never see either of them again.
Raven, however, had no intention of losing Gabriel. For days now, while busy with her chores, she had been trying to think of a way to keep everyone together. Finally, on the night before they departed, she made a point of helping her mother pack the few personal belongings they were taking with them just so she could be alone with her.
‘Momma, know what I wish?’
‘No, lamb. What?’
‘I wish Gabe was coming with us to Old Calico.’
‘Mr Moonlight to you, young lady.’
‘But he told me to call him Gabe.’
‘I don’t care what he told you. You know better than to address your elders by their first names. As for your wish, dear, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I very much doubt if he will change his mind.’
‘But you wouldn’t mind if he did, would you?’
‘N-no … I suppose not. Ridiculous as it sounds after such a short a time, I’ve grown used to having Mr Moonlight around. I’d enjoy his company – not to mention his protection – on such a long journey.’
‘Why don’t you ask him then?’
‘Ask him what – to come with us? Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly do that.’
‘Why not?’
‘It would be much too forward of me. It not only would embarrass him but it’d be very awkward for both of us.’
‘Why?’
‘Well, for one thing he has a lady friend in Las Cruces.’
‘No, that’s not true!’
‘But it is. He told me so himself.’
‘When?’
‘The other day, when he offered to accompany us to the train station.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Believe what you like. It’s still true. She’s at the mission … waiting for him, I presume.’
‘Liar!’
‘How dare you!’ Ingrid went to slap Raven but at the last moment controlled herself and lowered her hand. ‘Now apologize, this instant.’
‘Why should I? I ain’t the one making up stories.’
‘Neither am I. And don’t say ain’t. Why would I make up a story like that?’ she added, as Raven sulked.
‘So you don’t have to ask him to come with us.’
‘That’s ridiculous. I’ve already said I’d like him to come.’
‘Then I’ll ask him.’
‘You’ll do no such thing. It’s not your place. Now stop being foolish and help me carry these valises into the other room.’
Sullenly, Raven obeyed. But as she set her mother’s old worn suitcase down by the door, tears welled in her eyes and she said suddenly: ‘I hate him.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. ’Course you don’t hate him—’
‘Do, too. Wish now I’d never helped him when he was dying.’
‘Shame on you! That’s a dreadful thing to say.’
‘I don’t care. It’s how I feel. An’ I’m never gonna change my mind, so there!’ She stormed from the cabin.
Gabriel was perched on the corral fence watching the stallion prance around when Raven ran past. Noticing that she was crying he called out to her. She ignored him and kept running. He called out again, louder this time, and again she ignored him. Puzzled, he watched her get swallowed up by the darkness. Wondering why she was so upset, he climbed down and went to the cabin.
Ingrid answered his knock and invited him.
‘What’s wrong with Raven?’
Before answering, she poured them both a cup of coffee and sat across the table from him.
‘Why? Was she rude to you?’
‘No. But she was bawlin’ like a sick calf an’ took off into the desert.’
‘It’s nothing. She’s just upset about something I said and as usual has gone off to sulk.’
‘Was it about me?’
Ingrid hesitated, loath to reveal Raven’s problem. Then deciding no harm could come from it, she explained what happened.
Gabriel didn’t answer. Rolling himself a smoke from Sven’s makings that he now kept in a pouch in his pocket, he licked the paper, flared a match and exhaled a lungful of smoke toward the ceiling.
‘I don’t blame you for being angry with me,’ Ingrid said, misunderstanding his silence. ‘I’d no right to reveal something personal that was told me in confidence, but—’
‘I’m not angry,’ he said. ‘An’ what I told you wasn’t in confidence. Fact is I was hopin’ that when we got to Las Cruces you’n Raven would come to the mission with me. I’d like you to meet Ellie. An’ I’m sure she’d enjoy meetin’ you.’
Ingrid felt the same twinge of jealousy she’d felt previously. Controlling it, she said: ‘That’s her name – Ellie?’
‘Ellen – Ellen Kincaide, yeah.’
‘If there’s time before our train leaves, I’d love to meet her.’ Ingrid smiled without humor. ‘It might be better all around if Raven waits in the wagon, though – considering her crush on you and how unpredictable she is.’
‘No,’ Gabriel said firmly, ‘it’s important Raven meet her too.’
‘Why’s that, if I may ask?’
‘It’ll ease her mind.’ Stubbing out his cigarette, he went to the door. Pausing, he looked at her with a trace of regret. ‘See, Ellie’s got her heart set on bein’ a nun. An’ though she’s got feelings for me, God’s corralled all her love.’ He left, the door banging shut behind him.
Rising, Ingrid went to the window and stared out after him. Her heart was pounding. She knew it was ridiculous to care for a man she hardly knew – worse, a gunfighter wanted by the law – but she couldn’t control her emotions. Nor did she want to. For the first time since losing Sven, she realized she cared about a man and felt whole again.