Chapter 4 

Texiss walked to the front door to answer the knocking. She knew who was there. 

"Sheriff, come right on in." Texiss didn't bother with a friendly voice. 

"Miss Calloway. Pleasant to see you, as always." Sheriff Granger removed his hat. 

"Mm-hmm. Now cut the chit-chat, hang up your hat, and have a seat. I've got stuff to do." Texiss walked him to the table and took a seat as he took one across from her. 

"Well, Miss Calloway, I'm just gonna give it to you straight." Sheriff Granger said. 

"I respect that." Texiss leaned back in her chair. 

"I've noticed that you've been in some... financial stress lately and, frankly, you're not getting out of it anytime soon." 

"That's my business, last time I checked."  

"Yes, but I'm willing to help."  

Texiss stared at him. 

"I'm willing to buy this place from you." Sheriff Granger placed a document in front of her.  

"How much?" Texiss wasn't even entertaining the thought of selling, but she wanted to hear what he had in mind. 

"A thousand dollars." 

"A thousand?" Texiss laughed at him. "I wouldn't even consider selling for anything less than five thousand."  

"Five?! Really, Miss Calloway. This place is practically falling down around your ears." 

"That may be so, but it's still standing. This place is home to fourteen children and it's the only stability they have. In the event that I did sell, where do you suggest we go? There's no other building in town big enough for these children." Texiss explained. 

"You can build another building." 

Texiss laughed again. "That's very comical, Sheriff. I can't nail two pieces of wood together, much less build a whole new building." 

They fell silent a moment. Texiss narrowed her eyes at him, "What do you want to buy this place for, anyway? As you pointed out, it isn't in the best of shape and I still owe money on it. There's only an acre of land with the property, so I don't see the appeal for it." 

"I plan on putting another building here." 

"What kind of other building?" 

Sheriff Granger was silent a moment. "A saloon." 

Texiss stood straight up. "A saloon? You would tear down an orphanage to build a saloon?"

"Miss Calloway, if you'll just calm down--" 

"I will not calm down! This is pathetic!" Texiss fumed. 

"Look, Texiss. You haven't had an adoption in seven years. A saloon will make this town thrive like you've never seen. The more people in town, the more prospective parents." Sheriff Granger told her. 

Texiss leaned down closer to him, bracing her hand on the table. "First of all, Sheriff, you will address me as Miss Calloway. Secondly, the people who come to this town after the saloon is built will most likely use the saloon-- A saloon will only bring to town more drunks and gamblers. I will not allow these children to be adopted by just any barrel-fevered, gambling, hallow-headed idiot that comes wanting a workhorse." 

Sheriff Granger stood. "I'll give you a few days to think on it, then?" 

"No!" Texiss walked to the front door and opened it. "Now, please, get out of this place before you pollute the air." The audacity of the sheriff made Texiss so mad she had a good mind to slap his face.

********

The days of riding a train were taking their toll on Cameron. He was nearly stir-crazy from being confined in the same boxcar for hours a day, and with the none-too-friendly of company. He'd been accompanied by nearly every person imaginable that you wouldn't want to go on a train ride with. On one occasion, he had even encountered two drovers who looked like they were planning on robbing the place. That would have made for an interesting article to hand over to Mr. Winkler. 

Thankfully, now the train seat across from him was empty on the final stretch of his journey. His knee bounced in anticipation at the thought of returning home. He started second-guessing his decision to not send a telegram ahead to the newspaper owner, Mr. Williams. Surprising everyone might not be a good idea. There was no going back now, so he would have to face his decision. Facing Texiss was his main worry. She would probably avoid him like the plague. He might as well try to avoid her at first, just to try to test the waters.

The next day, the train whistle blew as Cameron found himself near Casden, Louisiana. His heartbeat raced as he straightened in his seat. The familiar trees as he entered town brought him back years ago when he first left. He was so young then. So immature to leave Texiss in such a vulnerable state. If only he could turn back the years. 

Casden hadn't changed much through the years, though there were a few more stores than last time he was there. Only, at that moment did he realize how much he had missed the small town. He couldn't even think of leaving at that moment. 

********

Texiss walked around town, trying to sort her thoughts, while Paige was handling things back at the orphanage. The streets were muddy from the storm from the night before, and she did her best to step around them. The train was stopped at the depot across the street and its passengers exited its cars. Texiss watched as the people scurried around for their luggage and various things. She kept on walking, until her eyes caught a familiar face. A passing buggy hindered her view, but when it passed, he was gone. She could have sworn it was Cameron. She chuckled.  

"I'm just tired." She told herself. After not having enough sleep last night, she was probably just imagining things.  

Cameron was probably never coming back.

Back at the orphanage, the children were running here and there, laughing and playing. Texiss could hardly focus on keeping them from killing each other as her thoughts lingered on that familiar face she had seen. It seemed like he even had the same pencil-thin mustache as Cameron once had. Two of the boys were wrestling in the boy's bedroom, knocking over various toys and sending books flying. 

"Hey, now. Break it up!" Texiss grabbed them both by the collar. 

They were still swinging punches at each other, so she put herself in between them. 

"I said to break it up, you two." She repeated. 

Texiss wasn't surprised to see Price was one of them. The other boy was nearly two years his junior, but just as strong.  

"He said my ma was a -----" 

As he relayed the derogatory word to her, Texiss couldn't believe that word had come out of the young boy's mouth. She jerked her head toward Price. "You said that?" 

"It's the truth, ain't it?" Price said, cocking his head. 

"I asked you a question, Price. Did you say that?" 

"Yeah, I did." Price admitted without an inch of remorse. 

"Price, go sit at the kitchen table." Texiss commanded. 

Price just stood there. 

"Now." 

He still kept his position, so Texiss faced him head-on. "Are you testing me? Because I'm not in the mood." 

Price reluctantly shuffled out of the room. Texiss sat down on one of the beds and sat the younger boy, Cory, down next to her. 

"Was my ma really bad?" Cory asked. 

"Cory, listen to me. Your ma dropped you off here because she couldn't take care of you. She wanted you to be cared for. She must have loved you an awful lot to make sure you wouldn't starve, don't you think?" Texiss asked. 

"I guess so." Cory hung his head. 

Texiss looked up and saw Billy in the corner. He had witnessed the whole scene. Slowly, he walked up to them with a sweet smile in place. 

"Come on, Cory. Wanna see my train?" he asked.  

As Cory nodded, Texiss smiled in pride at Billy. He was such a special boy. 

Price was slouched in the kitchen chair with a defiant look on his face. Texiss started to give him a hard wallop on the back of the head, but instead took a seat across from him. 

"Price, what in the world possessed you?" 

"Don't go laying into me" Price snapped. 

"I'll do as I well please, young man. You had no right to say something like that to him." 

"The truth is the truth." 

"The truth can hurt sometimes, and it ain't your place to tell it" Texiss said. 

He was quiet for a moment.  

Texiss searched her mind, trying to figure out what had turned Price so sour. He had used to be so fun-loving and even civil to her. In the past few years he had turned on her and everyone else. She tried to think back to how many years it had been since he had even smiled. What she finally came up with was surprising. 

"What's that look on your face for?" Price asked. 

"It's Cameron, isn't it?" Texiss asked. "Ever since Cameron left you've gotten all grumpy and contemptible. I remember you and Cameron used to be good friends." 

Price stared blankly at her. 

A knock sounded at the door, drawing Texiss' attention away from the boy across the table from her. As she rose to answer it, she wondered who would be there. 

Opening the door, she found Dr Jacobs there.  

"Hi, Doc. Nice to see you" she smiled. 

"I just stopped by to check on the patient." Dr Jacobs said. 

Texiss invited him in and called for Paige, who was back with Brandon. 

"He's a little better than yesterday." She told him.  

Glancing at the table, Texiss noticed that Price was gone. Her defenses immediately rose. 

"If you'll excuse me, I have to go find someone. Paige will bring the baby." Texiss slipped out of the back door. It wasn't good for someone like Price to run off when he was mad. She saw the sleeve of his fading red shirt disappear around a turn in the old, beaten path leading to Miller's pond. She ran down the path after him. Keeping her distance so he wouldn't see her, she rounded a few more corners and stopped when she heard voices. 

"Price, I'm so glad you came. I was starting to be worried." A girl's voice said. 

"I'm here, ain't I, Carleigh?" Price replied. 

"I don't know how much more of this I can take, Price. I'm tired of hiding."  

"I know, and I'm sorry. Miss Texiss can't handle another kid, so that's why I'm faking running away and sending you to the orphanage. Our plan didn't work." Price said. 

"But--" 

"No, Carleigh. I was put in charge of you. You're my responsibility. I'll see you tonight." Price started to leave. 

"I saw this man earlier," Carleigh stopped him. "He smiled at me and asked where my mother was and if I was lost. I... I didn't know what to say."  

"What did you tell him?" Price's voice was urgent. 

"I didn't say anything." 

"What did he look like?" Price pressed. 

"He was big. He had brown hair, I think. It was his eyes though. He had the kindest green eyes." Carleigh said. 

"Where did you see him?"  

"Out here by the pond. He was just standing there, looking out on the water. He'd walk a few steps, then stop. Then he saw me." 

"I've really gotta go now. Miss Texiss will probably come looking for me soon. I'll see you tonight, okay?" 

"I get scared when you're not here." Carleigh said. 

Price sighed. "I know. I'll be back tonight and we'll talk some more, okay?"  

Once Price was gone and out of earshot, Texiss walked out from behind the tree. A girl, about the same age as Price, had her back turned to Texiss. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Texiss gently placed a hand on her shoulder and Carleigh jumped and spun around. Once she saw Texiss, she started taking backward steps. 

"Don't be afraid," Texiss quickly assured her. "I'm Texiss." 

"Texiss? Texiss Calloway?" Carleigh asked. 

Texiss nodded. "I own the orphanage Price lives at. Who're you?" 

"Carleigh Wright. I'm Price's half sister. How did you find me?" Carleigh asked. 

Texiss took in her appearance. Carleigh had long, matted red hair and a dirty face. Her tattered blue dress fell just below her knees. Her pleading, nearly black eyes matched Price's. 

"I followed Price out here. Why didn't you come to the orphanage with Price?" Texiss asked. 

"Price said that you couldn't take any more children. Price was gonna try to work something out where I wouldn't be a bother, but he never did. I guess you heard the rest." 

"Why don't you come with me?" Texiss nodded toward the orphanage's direction. 

"But Price said..." 

"I'm gonna talk to Price. Of that you can be sure." Texiss smiled. 

Carleigh followed her back to the orphanage, where Price was just exiting the back door. He spotted them, and froze. 

"Price," Texiss said. "We have to talk".

********

Cameron sat his bags down in the middle of the floor in the newspaper office. The place was a wreck. It was in severe need of a cleaning and dusting. There were books lying everywhere and cobwebs in every corner. There was a door leading to the back room where, Cameron decided, the press was. He walked through the door and came to an older man inside. This room needed just as much work as the front room needed. 

"You Josiah Williams?" Cameron asked of the older man. 

"Yes, sir. Can I help you?" Josiah was apparently working on an article for the upcoming weekly. 

"I'm Cameron Peirce. Harold Winkler sent me here from Virginia." Cameron answered. 

"Oh, I see." Josiah stood and took Cameron's hand, pumping it up and down. "It's nice to meet you, young man." 

"Same here," Cameron jumped right into business. "Tell me what the problem here is."  

"Everything, really. No one reads the paper anymore. They hear all the news from the town busybodies, so what's the use? I do this all myself, so I only get out about twenty copies a week." Josiah explained. 

"How many pages?" 

"About six, I reckon. It fluctuates." 

Cameron mentally shook his head. Six pages for this little town was ridiculous.  

"Can I see a recent edition?" He asked. 

Josiah handed him a copy of last week's paper. The font was huge, and one article took up half of a page.  

"Here's your first problem. Your font is too big. Smaller letters take up less space, use less paper, and save money." Cameron looked over the articles. Bad grammar, spelling, and word arrangement made it a hard task for anyone to read. 

"Tell you what, you let me think on it tonight, and I'll be back in the morning. We'll start on fixing this place up then." Cameron said.  

"Sounds good. You're a lifesaver, Mr. Peirce." Josiah smiled. 

"It's just Cameron." Cameron smiled. 

He had his work cut out for him, but there was nothing he loved better than a good challenge.

********