Honey was so exhausted by the time they had sneaked into Caleb's "home"
that she didn't pay much attention to her surroundings. As soon as he pointed
out a spot to put her bedroll, she collapsed into a sound slumber. Quick to
make up for her lack of interest the night before, Honey cracked an eye open
at the break of dawn. A few feet away, Caleb snored softly, as dead to the world
as she was last night.
Caleb's abode was an abandoned warehouse and though most of the large building
was dusty and unused, her new friend had turned one corner into a cozy and tidy
dwelling. She noticed a small table, with a functional lantern in the middle.
The table was actually an overturned crate and smaller crates sat around like
chairs.
Another crate was turned on its side, becoming a makeshift bookshelf. Honey
squinted in the morning sunlight in an attempt to make out the titles. None
of the volumes appeared new as she scanned the bindings, but all stood upright
on the shelves -- worn yet proud. Honey noted "A Tale of Two Cities"
by Dickens, Goethe's "Tragedy of Faust," Homer's "The Iliad,"
and "Finney's Systematic Theology." A large black tome of The Holy
Bible completed Caleb's library.
A single tin dish and cup adorned the top of his bookshelf, as well as a cracked
vase. Despite the coarseness of his possessions, everything was clean and well-cared
for.
Honey's attention then turned to the young man who lay sleeping so near her.
She'd never spent a night sleeping with a boy, and certainly not one she'd just
met. She found her instant comfort in his presence a bit disconcerting and the
warm feeling lingering in her tired limbs was very unfamiliar after weeks on
the trail.
The first thing she noted about Caleb's appearance were his sooty eyelashes,
that lay upon his strong face as he slumbered. Though not one to truly consider
the appearance of boys back home, Honey didn't think she'd ever seen a boy with
such long eyelashes. His hair was coal black and straight, a bit long, but not
unruly. Though not tan like her Uncle Buck, Caleb possessed a healthy color
to his skin, and he looked as if he spent quite a bit of time out of doors.
He had a strong jaw, and his lips appeared chiseled into a shape that could
only be described as manly. Honey blushed despite herself. Caleb might not be
what was known as "handsome," but he was certainly masculine and very
attractive.
Caleb stirred and Honey promptly shut her eyes before she was caught staring.
She held her breath for several minutes, listening as his breathing remained
even. She finally opened her eyes again, just missing Caleb's gaze and smirk
as he too, shut his eyes again. Honey sighed softly, relieved that he had not
awakened. Surprising herself, she wasn't finished looking at this person who
had saved her life last night.
She couldn't see under the blankets, but the length of his body was obvious.
Caleb was a tall man and judging by the arms that had propelled her onto her
horse the night before, he had plenty of muscle. She was contemplating his age
when she heard him clear his throat. Her eyes jerked back to his face and she
met laughing green eyes.
"Trying to figure out what's under my blanket?" he drawled sleepily.
Color suffused Honey's face, but she refused to be baited. "I was actually
wondering how old you are," she retorted.
"Old enough to know my age isn't down there," Caleb answered, though
his tone was playful.
"You have the wrong idea," Honey huffed.
"Maybe, maybe not," Caleb rejoined, but decided to stop teasing the
young woman. "I'm 17, how about you?"
Honey swallowed, still embarrassed at being caught studying him so openly. She
hadn't really even been looking at "that" area, but she had been boldly
studying the rest of him.
"I'm 15, almost 16," she answered honestly, relieved to change the
tide of conversation.
"As old as that," Caleb murmured. "Why are you all alone in a
city like San Francisco?"
"I told you I came here looking for someone," she replied.
"You told me that last night," Caleb smiled, as he rolled to his side,
propping his head on an arm. He smiled at the woman beside him. "Why are
you alone?"
" 'Cause this is something I needed to do on my own."
"Looks like you need some help to me," Caleb pointed out.
"Well, I could use some directions," Honey answered truthfully.
'You need more than directions,' Caleb pondered, but kept his thoughts private.
"So who you looking for?"
Taking a deep breath, Honey decided he deserved to know more since he had supplied
aid last night and was more than likely going to continue helping her today.
"I'm looking for my Pa," she announced, "my real Pa. The man
who raised me ain't the man who sired me."
Caleb nodded solemnly. "Seems to me the man who raised you is more your
Pa than the man you seek." Having been an orphan for 5 years, Caleb couldn't
imagine her leaving a secure home without a valid reason. "Has the man
raising you been mean?"
"Oh no!" cried Honey, unable to think of Jimmy as anything but fair.
Caleb frowned. Honey was irritated at his lack of understanding. "You don't
have to help me," she blurted.
"Now simmer down," Caleb sighed. "You get all blustery quicker
than any woman I know. I didn't say I wouldn't help you."
Honey was further irritated at the immediate relief she felt when he said he'd
continue helping her. Despite how this city unnerved her, Honey didn't want
to lose her independence. And while she was unused to relying on others, she
was comfortable with this young man. She was easily becoming accustomed to his
presence, but that very comfort was more than a bit unsettling.
"So why do you live alone?" she blurted.
Caleb chuckled. "I'm a bit old for an orphanage."
"Did your parents die recently then?" Honey questioned. She felt guilty
for her callous question. "I'm sorry, that they passed away I mean."
"Your sympathy is kind, but it's okay. My Mama died when I was five, so
then it was just me and my Dad. He was a preacher, but he turned to drink after
Mama passed away. Never really knew why, but he packed up from St. Louis and
we headed here a year later. Dad taught me to read and write, when he was sober.
He was a good man when he wasn't drinking. He died when I was 12, and I've been
on my own ever since."
"That's a long time," Honey noted, a worried crease across her forehead.
"You ain't had anyone to take care of you in all that time?"
"I learned street smarts mighty quick," Caleb said. His cockiness
earned an amused grin from Honey.
"Want to teach me? Street smarts that is."
"I plan on getting you into your father's safe hands as soon as possible,"
Caleb shook his head. 'I just hope he's a good man,' he added, 'or I might have
to keep taking care of you.'
By this time, both had sat up, sitting crosslegged on their bedrolls as they
spoke. Honey began to rise, but Caleb jumped to his feet and offered her a hand
up.
"First order of business is breakfast," he announced. "There's
a restaurant down the street a ways."
"But can you afford that?" Honey balked, uneasy about an orphan having
to pay.
"Make no nevermind, I'll be buying your meal too," Caleb assured her
with a wink. Odd jobs gave him a sort of income, though small, and this fiesty
girl was well worth the expenditure.
The two began efficiently folding their bedrolls, putting them away in an empty
crate.
"You don't have a mirror," Honey sighed as she placed her spectacles
on her nose. She donned her hat and tucked her head. "Do I look like a
boy?"
Caleb burst into laughter. "Do you mean to say that disguise actually fools
folks?"
"Of course it does," Honey said in a huff. "I told you that last
night."
Mumbling under his breath, Caleb motioned her ahead of him. Honey couldn't make
out his words, but she heard the word "foolishness."
"So where am I taking you today?" Caleb asked as they finished their
meal.
Honey began fishing in a pocket inside her vest. She carefully placed the paper
with the scrawled address in front of him.
Caleb let out a long whistle. "This isn't a good side of town," he
remarked.
Just then, the waitress walked up. "Can I get you boys anything else?"
For the dozenth time that morning, Caleb looked shocked as folks referred to
Honey as male. Honey bit back a smile and cleared her throat. "That's all
I think," she answered in a low voice.
"Ya'll have a nice day then," the waitress said as she walked away.
Caleb inhaled deeply, shaking his head. He cocked his head to the side as he
studied the young woman across from him. She didn't look a bit like a boy, but
somehow, everyone else seemed blind to the obvious.
He shrugged and leaned forward. "This is not a good part of town,"
he repeated.
Honey leaned forward as well. "That's the last known address of my Pa."
Caleb's eyebrows knitted in concern. He was becoming increasingly doubtful that
he should leave her in this man's care, but he would nevertheless check him
out.
The two left the restaurant in companionable silence and headed for the address
on the paper. Caleb wasn't too surprised when Honey looked up at the saloon
hesitantly.
"Are you sure this is it?" she balked.
"I'm sure," Caleb sighed. "Come on."
The bartender looked up as the two boys walked in. "Isn't it a might early?"
he joked.
"And we're a might young," Caleb nodded. "We're here looking
for someone."
The bartender indicated the empty room. Most of the saloon's clientele were
still sleeping off last night's activities.
Caleb continued talking for both he and Honey, still wary of giving her gender
away. "We're looking for a man named Kid; this was his last known address."
"Well now, I ain't thought about him in years," the bartender chuckled.
He then looked over the younger boy. "You his whelp boy?"
Honey nodded slowly, trying to take in the stale stench of whiskey and the ribald
pictures of saloon girls on the wall. She was too stunned by her surroundings
to speak.
Caleb frowned. As tough an act as Honey put on, she didn't need to see the seamier
side of life, but she was certainly getting an education.
"Can you tell us how to find him or not?" Caleb asked, demanding,
but cordial.
"I can't help you, but you might want to ask Silver," the man suggested.
"Silver?" Honey's low voice questioned.
"One of my best girls. She'll be up in a couple of hours. Try back later,"
the old bartender offered. "But not too much later," he added, a warning
in his voice. Wouldn't do to have a couple of young boys in his establishment
when the action became more lively, and certainly not taking up Silver's valued
customer time.
Caleb nodded and hastily ushered Honey out onto the street. He immediately wondered
how to prepare an innocent girl for a meeting with a hooker.