Chapter Fourteen
Belle sat in the dim saloon stirring a hot cup of tea, adding a tad of bourbon. A sliver of dawning sunlight sneaked in under the door. She took a sip.
Johnny took a seat next to her. “Are you sure you’ll be all right, Mother?”
“Of course,” she replied. “You don’t need to mill about on my account.”
“Really, it’s no trouble. I haven’t seen Uncle Peter in a long while.”
“He’s likely to be hotter than a hornet when he finds out.” Belle tipped a bit of honey into the cup. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“If you say so. I won’t be too far. Just holler if you need anything.” He pulled to his full height as if to claim this space and walked to the back room.
Belle called out, “Charlie, you may as well come on and sit down. You make me nervous pacing in the shadows.”
Charlie hurr
