Read The Promise for Free Online Page A

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see you anyway. He's old enough to be your father." She wrinkled
her nose in disgust.
    Loralee shuddered. "Believe me, he's nothing like my
father." Finished with the wash, she stood and bent to pick up the
laundry basket. "He's harmless enough. And he always pays me. Which
is more than I can say for some of the men you see. Besides, we get
on."
    Corabeth followed Loralee back to her door. "Well, I
didn't mean nothing by it. Heavens, sugar, it ain't up to me who
you see and don't see." Her usually perky mouth settled into a
pointed pout.
    Loralee smiled. It was just too hard to keep secrets
from Corabeth. Surely, she could share a little of what Duncan
said. There couldn't be any harm in that, could there? Stepping
back, she motioned the other girl inside. Corabeth sat down on the
bed, bouncing experimentally. Loralee dropped the basket in the
corner. She'd hang them out to dry later.
    "I still don't see why you do your own wash. The
Chinese laundry behind the livery stable does a fine job and it
ain't even expensive."
    Loralee dropped onto the stool with a sigh. "You know
I have to save everything I make. I can't afford to let any of it
go for luxuries like laundry."
    Her friend reached out to grasp her hand. "I know,
honey, and I think it's right nice of you to send all that money to
your Mary. But I don't think using a few cents a week for laundry
is gonna hurt that child one bit."
    Loralee brushed a tired hand through her hair.
"You're probably right, but the money's all I got to give her. I
know it isn't the same as havin' a mama, but it's the best I can
do." She felt her head tighten as the tears threatened. With a
groan, she pulled her hand away, automatically reaching up to touch
her locket.
    Corabeth's eyes settled on the necklace. "I see you
got it back."
    Loralee nodded. "Got it back last night. Duncan fixed
it, good as new. Can't even see where the chain was broke." She
held it out in demonstration.
    "Mary knows you love her, Loralee." Corabeth's words
were gentle.
    Loralee bit back her tears, determined to change the
subject. "So, do you want to know about the silver, or don't
you?"
    Corabeth bounced excitedly on the bed, her brown eyes
dancing with delight. "Do tell."
    "Well, there really isn't that much. Duncan was
pretty far gone last night, but he kept rambling on about finding
the silver and how it was going to change everything. Honestly,
Corabeth, I've never seen him so excited."
    "Not even when…"
    Loralee blushed, surprised that she could still do
so. "We don't do that. He just comes to talk."
    "Corabeth? You in here, darlin'?" Arless Hurley poked
his head in the doorway. "If I have to wait a second more, I swear
I'll bust a gut."
    "Or something." Corabeth whispered as she rose from
the bed. "Why, Arless, you big stud, how'd you ever get away from
that monster you call a wife."
    Loralee watched as the two of them sashayed out the
door. Walking to the window, she pulled back the drape. Jack was
still there. His baleful look made her want to laugh. The horse had
definitely seen better days.
    "Listen sweetie," she crooned through the open
window, "if Duncan doesn't come get you soon, we'll find you
something to eat around here. All right?"
    The horse bobbed his head, nodding almost as if he'd
understood her. She turned at the sound of a knock, the door
shaking beneath an impatient hand. With a sigh, she went to open
it, mentally preparing herself for another day.
     
    *****
     
    Patrick approached the road. Well, road was
actually a pretty fancy title for the two muddy ruts that passed as
the only wagon trail connecting the ranches scattered along the Rio
Grande. Fellow named Mears up around Silverton was supposed to have
built a fine road. Word was he actually charged travelers a toll to
use it. Maybe one of these days someone would do the same around
here.
    There was no sign of Pete or Amos, but he was a
little early and it was a ways yet to the cut off to Clune. He was
tired down to his bones and