Chapter 44: A Letter to Catherine
In Strawberry Town, Micah Bell had landed himself in jail because of an old enemy.
Now that he was out, all he could think about was revenge.
But Davey wasn’t about to give him that chance.
Mac’s kick had made Micah understand—standing before the Callander brothers, he wasn’t about to accomplish anything.
After a brief hesitation, he climbed onto Arthur’s horse, sitting behind him while Arthur wore an expression of clear disgust.
“Alright, Arthur, take this rat back to camp. Mac and I have other things to handle.”
Davey had no plans to return to camp anytime soon.
By his calculations, Benedict’s moonshine recipe should be ready around now.
But after spending another $500 in Strawberry, Davey was left with just over $1,000.
Two-thirds of the $3,000 he’d exchanged from gold bars was already gone.
The most urgent thing now was to get the moonshine business running. Without cash flow, everything he’d built so far would just be an illusion.
And if Benedict still hadn’t made any progress by the time Davey returned to Valentine, he might have to consider finding someone else.
...
After Arthur left, Davey and Mac decided to spend the night at Strawberry’s reception center.
Interestingly, the clerk there had another identity—he was the secret lover of Nicholas Timmins, the mayor of Strawberry Town.
That was Mayor Timmins’ little secret.
For the moment, the mayor wasn’t of much use to Davey. Maybe later on, he’d come in handy—but that could wait.
Sheriff Hanley, on the other hand, was proving far more useful.
“Davey, following you around like this makes me feel like an idiot,” Mac grumbled.
In his mind, coming to Strawberry should’ve meant wreaking havoc—maybe even wiping out the entire police department.
That was how Mac thought things should go.
After all, during the Blackwater heist, nearly half the town had been wiped out.
But now? He’d done nothing—no fighting, no shooting. Just tagging along and watching Davey get things done without breaking a sweat.
“Oh, Mac, my brother,” Davey said with a grin, “do you really want to live like a drifter forever?”
“Fine wine, steak, and your favorite hot coffee—doesn’t that sound a bit better?”
“Rescuing that rat was just a side task. What matters is that I’ve made contact with Sheriff Hanley. This is a dry town—the folks here work hard all day but can’t even get a sip of whiskey to unwind.”
“Mac, do you know what that means? It means our moonshine business is going to boom here.”
Davey had to at least humor his twin brother’s feelings.
Mac sighed. “Fine, Davey. But our moonshine business hasn’t even started yet. Who knows how long it’ll take? It’s been nearly a week already.”
“And I’m broke.”
Davey gave him a look—he knew exactly what that meant. Mac just wanted money to blow.
“I’ve got the business handled. Here—$200. That should keep you busy for a while.”
Davey pulled out a few folded bills and tossed them to him.
Mac snatched them up eagerly, kissing the cash.
“Oh, what a beautiful scent! Davey, don’t wait up tonight—I’m going to find myself some fun!”
Grinning, Mac stuffed the money into his pocket and left the room in high spirits.
Once he was gone, Davey headed downstairs. He couldn’t stand the constant smell of sweat and dirt and decided to visit the town’s bathhouse—and maybe see if any decent girls were around.
Unfortunately, the selection was disappointing. None of the women were remotely attractive.
He couldn’t help but think back to his previous life, where makeup and glamour were everywhere, and beautiful women were a common sight.
Out here in the untamed West, where everything was raw and natural, finding a truly beautiful woman in a small town like this was nearly impossible.
Catherine, the woman he’d met at the train station, was still the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
Thinking of her, Davey realized he’d never written her that letter.
After his bath, he sat down with paper and pen, finally deciding to do it.
...
To the Enchanting Miss Catherine,
It has been seventeen days since we last met at the train station, though to me, these seventeen days have felt like seventeen years.
Please forgive me for not writing sooner. Blame my cowardice—for every time I recall your lovely face, I’m struck by a sense of unworthiness. Only today have I found the courage to face my own heart and write to you.
I have never missed anyone the way I miss you—whether I’m riding, eating, or even sleeping.
I often sit beneath the night sky, gazing at the countless stars, and they seem to form the shape of your charming smile.
How I wish I could see you again, my dear and captivating Miss Catherine.
Yet there are matters I find difficult to speak of—things that have kept me from your side.
I eagerly await the day we meet again.
Your friend,
Davey
Author's Note
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.