River Queen Rose. Shirley KennedyЧитать онлайн книгу.
vest. “That’s all I can tell you. I wasn’t present at the duel itself, and for good reason. For one thing, duels are a highly illegal activity. Even attending a duel is against the law. For another, I had no interest in seeing two men using weapons to settle their differences. The height of foolishness, if you ask me. At one point, Emmet asked me to be his second, but I refused.”
Rose spoke up. “What do you mean by a ‘second’?”
Mr. Field wrinkled his nose with distaste. “A duel is a lot more than two men trying to kill each other. There’s protocol to be observed. From what I understand, a second is generally a friend who’s chosen by the aggrieved party to conduct the rules and protocol of the duel. He attempts to resolve the dispute upon terms acceptable to both parties. Should this fail, he arranges and oversees the process of the encounter. Be that as it may, it was a bad business all the way around, and I wanted no part of it.”
“So who was Emmet’s second?” Ben asked.
“Last I heard, he’d asked an Australian by the name of Decatur Fleming. I believe he worked for Emmet. Why he’d hire an Australian, I don’t know. Most of them are convicts, a scurrilous lot, the bunch of them, and not to be trusted. If he’s still working here, Mr. Peterson, I’d get rid of him.”
So Deke was a convict? And Emmet’s second in his fatal duel? Rose hoped she managed to keep her shock from showing on her face as Ben nodded, looking as if he agreed, and continued on. “So what else can you tell me?”
“That’s about all. As I said, I did not attend the duel, so I can’t give you any details, other than Mason Talbot shot and killed Emmet Peterson.”
Ben took a moment to consider the solicitor’s words. With what appeared to be a decided effort, he took a deep breath and continued on. “You said you had certain matters to discuss, sir?”
Archer Field looked relieved, as if he welcomed the change of subject. “I’m a sensitive man, Mr. Peterson. I have no wish to intrude on this family’s grief. However, a client of mine has made an offer, and I’m duty bound to present it.”
“And what offer is that?”
“Being your deceased son’s closest male relative, you have inherited the River Queen. My client would like to buy it and will pay you twenty-one thousand dollars. That’s a price which frankly I advised him was outlandishly high, but he insists. I give you my word, you’ll never find a better offer than this one.”
“And who is making this offer?”
“Mr. Mason Talbot.”
Amid shocked gasps, Ben asked, “The man who killed my son?”
“The very one.” If he’d been asked the time of day, the solicitor couldn’t have appeared less concerned. “I’m aware how you must feel, but I must be blunt. Talbot wasn’t the aggressor in this…uh, most unfortunate situation. Emmet was the aggressor. It was he who made the challenge. You can talk to the sheriff if you like, but it’s highly unlikely Talbot will even be investigated, let alone arrested. The fact is, duels may be illegal, but if a man of integrity is challenged to one, he must accept. It’s a matter of honor. To tell the truth, no one blames Mr. Talbot.” He rose from his seat. “I shall intrude no further. Think about it, Mr. Peterson. You can easily find my office on J Street. Come in any time. We’ll discuss the offer and see if we can come to terms.”
After the solicitor left, everyone was full of questions, but Ben remained grim and silent. Rose had no idea whether or not her father-in-law was considering Talbot’s offer until he announced he would go to town this very afternoon. Not only were provisions needed, he wanted to see the hotel.
“Don’t you dare leave us home,” Coralee told him. “We’ll all go. Does this mean you might sell?”
“I leave all options open.”
* * * *
Although Emmet had left a two-passenger buggy and a large, four-wheeled coach sitting in the stable, that afternoon, Ben and Raymond hitched the oxen to one of their wagons. They’d be hauling back a large amount of groceries and supplies and needed the room. Sitting in the wagon, Rose looked for Deke as they left the yard but saw no sign of him. Had he really been Emmet’s second for the duel? If so, why hadn’t he mentioned it? Ever since Archer Field’s hostile remarks about Australians, she’d been wondering what Ben would do. Somehow she couldn’t believe a congenial, easygoing man like Deke could be a criminal, but if Ben thought so, the hired man would be gone in an instant. She hoped not but must wait and see.
Once in town, Ben told the family their first stop would be the River Queen. After asking directions of a passerby, he found it was located near the Sacramento River on J Street. Driving along Front Street, they were met by a growing crowd consisting mostly of gamblers and revelers, some of them obviously none too sober. Hotels and saloons crowded every block, doors invitingly open, loud music blasting from within. Some saloons were nothing more than large tents. Others seemed of a flimsy construction, only one story high. Only a few were more solidly built of brick and more than one story. When Ben turned up J Street and pulled the wagon to a halt in front of the River Queen, Rose saw it was one of the better built hotels: three stories high, made of brick, with a large statue of a gold miner guarding the entrance. Just then, the double doors swung open and two men engaged in fisticuffs came tumbling through. A small crowd followed, egging them on with raucous voices laced with curses. “You all stay here,” Ben told the family.
“Can’t we go in?” asked Rose. “I’m dying to see Emmet’s hotel.”
Ben’s jaw tightened. “Certainly not. From what I see so far, it’s not a fit place for ladies.” He glanced at Raymond. “Nor you either, son. You’re to stay here and guard your family.”
As they sat waiting in the wagon, Coralee turned to Drucilla and gestured toward the crowd of miners milling about the street. “Look at all those men. I’d wager many of them are single. Seems to me you might meet one who tickles your fancy.”
Drucilla heaved the same when-will-she-stop-trying sigh Rose had heard a thousand times before. “Please, Ma, I don’t want my fancy tickled. Leave it alone.” She exchanged an eyebrows-raised expression with her sister-in-law, her chief confidante who always understood. Rose did understand, more than anyone in the family, but privately wished Drucilla might be a bit more flexible.
A few minutes later, a grim-faced Ben returned. Without a word, he climbed in the wagon and took the reins. “Well?” Coralee asked. “Where are we going now?”
Ben snapped the reins. “To Archer Field’s office. I’ve decided to sell. I want no part of this den of iniquity Emmet called his hotel.”
In the well-furnished office of Archer Field, only a block from Front Street, the entire Peterson family sat across from the solicitor’s desk. Rose, Drucilla, and Coralee hadn’t wanted to come. They’d caught tantalizing glimpses of the many shops lining Front Street and were anxious to take a look. Who cared if Ben sold the hotel? Legal affairs didn’t concern them. Ben had insisted, though, so they sat listening with halfhearted interest while Mr. Field explained the details of the transaction. “Mr. Talbot has offered twenty-one thousand dollars for the property. An extremely generous offer. That includes the building itself, the stable in back, and all amenities.”
“I accept the offer.” Ben’s stern voice reflected his resolve. “I don’t hold with gambling and want no part of it. As to what else goes on there, I’m appalled that Emmet—” He bit his lip in chagrin. “When can I sign the papers?”
The solicitor allowed himself a fleeting smile of satisfaction. “I’ll have them drawn up immediately. They should be ready tomorrow.”
They all got up to leave. Rose could hardly wait to get out of there. Maybe a bit of shopping would cheer her up. She especially wanted to find a dressmaker and order some new dresses. They were about out the door when the solicitor called, “By the way, Mr. Peterson, one more thing.”
Ben turned back. “Yes?”
“You