West of the Pecos
1874
Chapter One
Cord rode through the town of Doubtful on that warm April morning, his eyes focusing on the small town he used to call home. They named the town Doubtful because one of the first settlers had kept saying it was "Doubtful they'd get any rain." A noisy mockingbird was singing his heart out in one of the few cottonwood trees that sat off toward the creek. Cord craned his neck to spot him. Mockingbirds had always fascinated Cord for some reason. He guessed he liked them for their music. Perhaps their loneliness leaked to Cord in some way, because loneliness had followed him for a long time now. The music the little bird made could lighten any heavy heart, if only people listened.
A dog ran toward him and barked, but ran back quickly when the horse picked up his pace.
Dust stirred in the west Texas town in small whirlwinds. The wind had a lonely call.
The town hadn't changed. There was the bank, the only building made of brick, a dry goods store with a couple of outside displays to interest a passerby, an old mill down the road that had been closed at the start of the war, a hotel that had seen it's better days and the livery stable that except for the lack of bricks rivaled the bank. That made up most of the town. Homes were scattered toward each end of town. The blacksmith pounded out a music to the air. The saloon had a piano going, and a whiff of whiskey assailed his nostrils.
It was a small town, only one main street. The town didn't seem to prosper; it hadn't changed just gotten older.
Not one person lifted their eyes to him, and yet everyone on the street knew he was there. No one nodded, or smiled at him. An unwelcome intruder, he hadn't expected any salutations. He knew better than to expect anything from this town. He wasn't a welcomed guest. Still, that didn't matter as his mother just died and he was here to see to her burying.
No one greeted him at least until he passed the No Holes Barred Saloon. There standing in the doorway, was a beautiful redhead, Lilly, and she was smiling at him. She jogged his memory, and made his heart thump a little faster. She'd been pretty when he left, but the woman staring at him now, was gorgeous and made his loins tighten just gazing at her. That hadn't happened in a while. He tipped his hat and smiled.
At fifteen Lilly had been sweet and fiery all in the same breath. Kicked out of her folk's home for flirting with her sister's boyfriend, she had become the youngest saloon girl in Doubtful. Cord remembered how disappointed he was that she had come to such an end. They'd become good friends though through their younger years, basking in the unfair treatment of the town.
Now she stood staring at him, a smile on her face, her eyes fixed on him, her breath making her bosom swell against the edge of her dress. She'd only gotten prettier, if that were possible. Gone was the skinny young girl, replaced by a voluptuous woman.
There was no way he could pass her up and not speak, he ambled his horse toward the horse railing and stared at her. She walked toward him on the boardwalk. A tension between them stirred the air. What he felt like doing, and what he did do were two different things. He didn't want to cause the tongues to wag in Doubtful, so he stared, his eyes traveling her, up and down, several times, he winked.
"Good to see you Lilly." He said his voice raspy. His expression was saying more than his words.
"Cord, why don't you light a spell and have a beer?" She offered. Her offer was tempting, but he had things he had to tend to.
"I got to get out to my place Lilly, I haven't seen Ma yet. But I'll take you up on that beer, later."
"Promise?" She asked, tossing him a flirty smile.
"You bet, we got a lot of catching up to do." He returned her smile with a sexy grin.
"I'm glad you made it in time for the funeral."
"Me too honey. Me too, see ya soon."
She nodded.
Usually not effected by people snubbing him, it warmed his heart to have at least one person acknowledging his arrival.
Turning his head, and tipping his hat to her, he rode on.
He knew why no one else bothered with him. It certainly hadn't been a secret. But that had been ten long years ago, and they still hadn't forgotten, nor forgiven.
He rode on. Although he would have liked to have stopped at the saloon, and talk with Lilly a while, he rode on. There was something about Lilly that made his heart thump like the clacking of a train on a track. She stirred him years ago, and even more so now. No other woman had that effect on Cord.
Talking to Lilly could only bring her problems, though. Sam the bartender kept a tight reign on her comings and going, Cord doubted that had changed.
No, it was best to just ride on, not cause any trouble. Not that he couldn't handle Sam in a duel, but he didn't want to cause her problems either. Still, he'd made a date with her and he'd keep it.
Some came out of buildings to watch him ride through. Most everyone that looked at him had that hesitant expression as if they didn't know whether to acknowledge him or not. It didn't matter.
He had only one reason for coming home and right now that reason was eating him up. He'd gotten word, from an anonymous friend that his mother had died. He folded his cards in the card game he'd been in, and left without changing clothes or readying himself in any way. He'd been in Fort Worth at the time, and the ride was long and hot.
He wouldn
't be here long enough to worry about clothes.
The old homestead was north of town about twenty miles, he'd be there before sundown.
First he had one stop to make and then he'd be on his way.
The shingle for Doc Crosby was barely visible, but he knew the place so well, he didn't have to read the shingle.
He got off his horse and glancing around the town, he went up to the door.
He knocked several times before the old doc answered. A bachelor, the doc led a sedentary life except for his medicine.
"Doc…it's me, Cord McCall." He exclaimed.
"Cord McCall." The old doc eyed him for a moment through the glass in the door before he opened it. "I don't think I would have recognized you, boy. You've gotten taller, and filled out some from that skinny young cowboy I once knew. It's been a while. Come on in son." the old doctor directed him, stepping aside so he could walk through the door.
The little house was nicely furnished and always neat, Cord remembered that much. He'd only been seventeen when he left for the war. But he'd stopped off to ask the good doctor to look in on his mom every now and then. Leaving her, he worried about her. The doc was one of the really decent men in Doubtful.
"Guess you know why I'm here. Have you had the burial yet?" Cord asked, his face waded into a frown.
"No, not yet. Tomorrow. I wasn't sure you'd be here. We were holding out, hoping you would come."