Click to join
JenniferMuellergroup
Enter Card Pick-up ID below:
Mine Death Excerpt
On Cole's arm Sasha strolled past the post office, hotel, courthouse, opera house, and library, they all fronted Sun Dance Park in the center of town. They were massive buildings all from the time when architecture was meant to impress. Back in 1905, the largest vein of gold ever was pulled out of the hole and the town celebrated. It had gone back to regular levels by 1910 and so the buildings had stood untouched for lack of money to replace them with newer. In the 50's it was a curse, but now they were recognized for what they were irreplaceable historical landmarks. Sun Dance Park was set up for fireworks while a band played too loud country music. A stand sold beer nearby and, by the line, was doing a brisk business.
"I'll go get us a couple." Cole excused himself as Sasha laid out a blanket.
The mountain air was cooling quickly even though the day had been in the eighties. Resting back on her elbows, Sasha blocked out the noise as her eyes closed. The quiet of the ranch was all encompassing. Even after years away, she'd never gotten used to the noise. The cabin, her home, away from the working center might have been another century. Computers, phones that could invade the office, but the cabin, no it remained stuck in the past and silent.
The jolt of a body snapped her eyes open, but it wasn't Cole with the beer. It was Galen Harris, Cole's chief engineer. He sure didn't look a miner as most of the town did, small and thin but leaning toward a paunch. "You're drunk, Galen."
"I'm celebrating." The slur to his speech was obvious.
"Go sleep off the 4th then."
His head shook slowly as if the movement would send him to the ground. "Screw the 4th. I'm celebrating you."
"I'm getting married in two weeks Galen. You're a little late."
Galen's drunken laughter could hardly be heard over the band. "That's why I'm celebrating." He took another long drink from a bottle of tequila he never could have bought as part of the festivities. "The mines' out of gold and if you weren't marrying Cole with all of that four hundred thousand acres of land, well, we'd have to close. Everyone knows you're sitting on the best gold field in the state while you lose money at raising horses. It's a match made at the accountants." Galen started laughing hysterically at his joke.
Sasha looked over at Cole still in line. She started cussing in her head. If anyone else had come up to her with that story, she would have put it down to drunken fantasies, but Galen no. "How long have you known, Galen?"
Yet another drink from his bottle. "Hell, Sasha, we've been winging it for over a year. Cole has the plans all drawn up. He's just waiting until after the ceremony to start digging the new pit."
Sasha pushed him away and he started laughing again as she stood. Before she ever came back, before Cole had ever come calling, before Jack had ever died. Cole's accidental meeting five months before didn't seem so accidental anymore. It all meant one thing. He wanted the ranch to strip it bare and dig another damn big hole. She was nothing.
Cole smiled as she walked up to him. "You might as well go sit while you wait. No need for you to be in line too."
In between songs, the park was oddly quiet as people adjusted to the lack of noise. "Did I ever tell you that my father made sure I could protect myself?"
Cole's eyes narrowed trying to get her meaning. "Yeah, he was worried about you running all over the ranch alone. You know I've watched you practice a time or two."
"Means I can deal with men trying to steal what's mine. You should have thought of that." Sasha spun, her foot slicing the air stopped abruptly with a crack when it collided with Cole's jaw. Never one for cowboy boots despite her profession, she instead wore loggers boots, there was a good-sized heel to connect with his face. The sound brought everyone's attention. They were all facing the wrong direction as the fireworks shot in the air. Cole Dennison lay on the ground moaning, his jaw broken. "I see you of one of your men come near the ranch again, I'll start shooting. Something else I learned from a young age."
The sheriff helping sell beer only feet away rushed from behind the table. "Christ, Sasha." The short compact man grabbed her arms and pulled them behind as he recited the Miranda.
Ben ran from his seat with family. "You don't need the cuffs, Harland."
The sheriff didn't have much crime to deal with, he looked uncomfortable enough even with her in handcuffs. Slightly balding, he was a small town sheriff not a big city detective. Bar brawls he could deal with, a woman destroying a man's jaw without a weapon was another. "As much as I would like I don't know that she's not in the mood to do it again. She has that look in her eyes more than usual."
"Tsáánistápi, Sasha?" Ben asked Sasha quietly. What? They shared a relative or two after all.
"Go ask Galen why he's celebrating. You might as well call and cancel everything for the wedding. Oddly enough I think I'm single now." Ben couldn't help smiling at her nonchalance as Harland lead her away.
