Chapter 9

Just hours later, Honey and Caleb re-entered the saloon. The bartender indicated they take the stairs with a flick of his head in that direction. "Second door on the left," he spoke nonchalantly. "She's expecting you."
Caleb itched to place a hand in the middle of Honey's back in a display of support, but that would have certainly given away her gender. Instead, he merely walked close beside her, listening to her uneven breathing. He knew she was nervous, but he was helpless to reassure her.
Reaching Silver's door, Honey raised her knuckles to knock, but paused, as if unsure of what to expect from the other side. Caleb watched her bite her bottom lip. "She's the only link to your real Pa right now," Caleb whispered, his voice soft and encouraging.
Honey stiffened her shoulders with a terse nod; she knocked on the door with purpose.
"Come in," came a husky voice.
Swallowing, Honey turned the handle. The smell of cheap perfume assailed their nostrils, as well as the smell of sweaty sheets and a plethora of other odors that Honey couldn't name.
"You the boys looking for Kid?" the husky voice spoke again, this time from behind a screen in one corner of the small room.
"Yes ma'am," Honey answered in a low voice. She looked about the room, noting the bed that seemed to take up most of the space; its sheets were a tangled mess. On one wall, a small table held a chipped porcelain basin; an unmatched pitcher sat in the middle and the water it contained appeared a bit dirty.
Just as Honey's glance turned to the stained curtains blowing in the window, Silver emerged from behind the screen.
She wore her hair piled high above her head, but instead of being silver, it was coppery red. In the midday light, her face appeared pinched and tired. A beauty mark barely hung on to one cheek and her lips appeared stained a dull red, sorely in need of a new coat of color. A soiled robe was wrapped casually around her thin body.
"You'll just have to excuse me, but I ain't been awake long," she said a bit defensively.
"Not a problem," Caleb replied. "Thanks for seeing us."
Silver nodded at him, but her somewhat bleary gaze focused on Honey. "So you belong to Kid?"
Honey could only nod, but Silver smiled warmly. "You're a mite small, but a good lookin' boy." Her smile became approving.
"Do you have any idea where we can find him?" Caleb asked calmly. He looked around for a place to let Honey sit, but the bed was the only option. He hoped the young woman didn't collapse under the strain of this interview.
"Well now," drawled the aging prostitute, "I have a good idea." For a moment, her eyes seemed to glaze over as she remembered Kid. Apparently, she was fond of the man who had sired Honey. Caleb wasn't sure if that bode well for the man or not.
"He's been gone about 4 years now," she sighed, her voice wistful. "He started comin' in here nightly, drinking hisself to sleep ever night. Then he started gamblin'. Ain't ever seen a man gamble like he did -- like he didn't care and didn't have anything to lose." Silver clucked her tongue and then laughed. "He shore did win a lot though. 'Course, you wager big, you can win big."
Caleb solemnly nodded in understanding. He had watched his dad spiral downward into drinking, becoming a man who just didn't care anymore. A quick glance at Honey showed she had paled. Again, Caleb itched to place an arm around her; his jaw clinched in an effort to refrain.
Silver's monologue continued; the prostitute was so caught up in the past, she was completely unaware of Honey's obvious distress. "All us girls thought he was wonderful. Even drunk, he was a gentleman, and we shore don't see that often. And he was so handsome." Again, her voice ended on a wistful sigh.
"So what became of him?" Caleb asserted.
Silver shook her head and a few stray locks of hair fell over her face. With an impatient flick of her wrist, she patted the wisps back into place. "He left the city," she said flatly. "Cleaned up a bit, went to a bank, took his money." She turned a hard stare on the boys in front of her.
They both stared back and Honey's eyes widened slightly, but Silver's stern look softened as she looked at Honey. "You shore do look like him, 'specially those blue eyes."
Honey's head bobbed, as she searched for words. "Ma'am, do you have any idea where he went?"
"That I do honey chile," Silver grinned. "Says he was taking off for San Antone. Was gonna git hisself a ranch of his own. And you know what?"
"What?" Honey prompted.
"I shore hope he found what he was looking for," Silver grinned. "He was a good man."
"Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us," Caleb spoke sincerely, but he was more than ready to get Honey out of this seedy room.
For the first time, Silver really looked at Caleb. "Didn't mind a bit," she responded, and her smile at the older boy was inviting. Looking him up and down, and obviously approving, she winked at him.
"Why don't you come back and see me during working hours?" she suggested.
"Thanks, but no," Caleb shrugged casually. "I'm too young for a saloon," he added, to take the sting from his blatant rejection.
"Oh, I think yore plenty old enough," Silver smiled appreciatively, her invitation just as blatant. "Just remember me if you get a hankering."
Honey, shock apparent in her face, shifted on her feet restlessly. A feeling akin to jealousy crawled up her backbone. Having never felt that particular emotion, Honey didn't know what to make of the sudden surge of possessiveness that overtook her, but she definitely felt a combination of uneasiness and anger at the older woman.
Caleb wrapped an arm around her, as if she were his younger brother. "Come on," he urged, "time to let Silver get ready for work."
"One more question for you?" Honey spoke, her voice edgy as Caleb tried to nudge her toward the door.
"What is it sonny?" Silver replied, ignorant of the undercurrents of tension from Honey.
"Why do they call you Silver?" Honey's low tone was icy.
Silver cackled. "'Cause when a man gives me enough silver, I can really shine. You get a little older and I'll show ya."
Before Honey could answer, Caleb propelled her out the door and down the stairs. Honey took a big gulp of fresh air as soon as they were on the street.
Honey didn't know what to say, so she just stood, hands on hips, looking around. She continued inhaling the clean smell of outdoors, happy to be free of the cloying scent from the saloon and Silver's bedroom.
Caleb cleared his throat, and Honey looked up at him. A feeling of protectiveness overwhelmed Caleb as he saw the unshed tears in her blue eyes.
"I can't believe my Pa would have associated with a woman like her," she finally spoke.
"Ah honey," Caleb sighed. "Don't judge him too harshly." The endearment rolled off his tongue without a thought, and Caleb suddenly realized why her family called her Honey. She was sweet, but a bit thick headed. And before he knew it, he'd gone and let her stick all over him.
Resolutely, Honey lifted her chin and blinked the tears from her eyes. "Guess I'm off to Texas first thing in the morning," she announced.
Unsurprised, Caleb scratched his chin. "Guess I better buy a horse," he readily agreed.
"Wha--what?" Honey stuttered.
"If we're going to Texas, I'd better buy a horse. Don't think we can ride double if we plan to make good time," he casually explained.
"You plan to go with me?" Honey gasped.
"You think I'm gonna let you go alone?" he asked, as if the very idea were preposterous.
"I could do it alone," Honey asserted, a surge of independence swelling at his lack of faith in her abilities.
A slow, lazy grin curved the corners of Caleb's mouth. "Did I say I didn't think you could do it alone? But I'd much rather you do it with me." With that, Caleb turned and began walking down the street, toward the warehouse that had been his home for the last several years.
Honey shook her head, wondering what he meant by that last comment. He had a distinct glint in his eye that indicated a hidden meaning, but she was at a loss.
Meanwhile, his long legged stride ate up the street and Honey had to run to catch up. She fell in step beside him, secretly pleased that he meant to accompany her.
"City boy, you sure you know how to ride a horse?" she goaded.
"Watch it Kid," his teasing voice replied. "Or I'll make you do all my packing."
With a very feminine giggle, Honey grabbed his hat, running ahead of him all the way to the warehouse.