The Promise

By Bakerj

Chapter One

The carpet bag in his hand told me it was true.  Billy was leaving.  Anger rose in my throat like bile.  “How can you do this to Esther?”

“Little Joe—”

“You were going to be married.”

Billy grabbed my arm to drag me around the corner of the stage office, away from the other passengers.  I stood firm.

He leaned in close, dropping his voice to a hiss.  “I can’t marry her.  Not after—”

This time, I reached out and hauled him into the alley.  My voice dropped, fury making it rasp.  “What d’you mean you can’t marry her?”

“Every time I look at her, all I see…  I just can’t.”

“You can’t?  What about Esther?  If she can bear it, so can you.”

“Why should I bear it?  Why should I marry used goods?”

That’s when I threw the first punch.

His bleeding nose and the black eye forming fast didn’t stop Billy from catching the stage.  After Sheriff Biggs let him pay the fine, he lit out of town.  I ended up behind bars.

“Sheriff, I promise I’ll pay the fine next time I’m in town.  You know I’m good for it.”

“Son, I don’t take promissory notes from nobody.  Not even a Cartwright.  Now quit bothering me.  I got things to do.”

My fist connected with the metal bars.  Wincing, I marched to the window and looked out at the new schoolhouse.  Its new coat of paint and shiny bell mocked me.  It didn’t care how wretched I felt, how it had wrecked two lives. 

The flicker of scarlet in a window caught my eye.  A piece of ribbon left behind from that day.  The one when everything changed…

Miss Jones was waiting on the steps when we arrived.  I’d brought the buggy and picked up Molly and Esther on my way.  We’d agreed to meet Billy there.  I threatened him with all kinds of hideous retribution if he ducked out, and I grinned to see him standing by the hitch post.

Molly chattered about the upcoming opening ceremony throughout the drive.  Why women got excited at the prospect of wasting a morning decorating had me beat.  So what if the new mayor was cutting the ribbon?  But when she’d fixed those big eyes on me, fluttered those lashes, and breathed, “You will help, won’t you, Little Joe?”  What else could I say except yes!  Darn girls and their pretty eyes.  I could’ve been fishing with Hoss!  But a gentleman didn’t back out on a promise. 

Later, I’d wish that wasn’t true.

Miss Jones gazed down her long, thin nose at us.  “I didn’t expect to see you, Little Joe, or you, Billy.  Nice to see you have some community spirit.  Molly, dear, I’ll leave you to it.”

Now we could have some fun.  Or so I thought.  But each time I tried to steal a cuddle or a kiss, Molly stopped me cold.  Finally, with one hand on her hip, she wagged a finger in my face.  “I’m responsible for the decorations, and I want everything to be perfect.  So stop messing about and get to it!”

She might have the trimmest figure around, but at that moment, Molly reminded me a little too much of our old schoolteacher.  But I did as I was told and hopped to it.

“Oh, my.  We’re going to need more ribbon.”

I gazed at the room already dripping with the stuff and questioned, “We are?”

“I’m going to have to get some.”

“I’ll come help you carry it.”

Molly’s look told me what she thought of that idea.  “Esther.  We need the banner put up.  Make sure these two get that done?  I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Hitching my butt onto the edge of a desk, I sighed.  “She sure is bossy.”

Esther giggled.  “You’d better get to the banner, or she’ll want to know why.”

I grinned.  “Yes, Ma’am.”

Painted specially for the occasion, the banner proclaimed the ‘Grand Opening’ of the first Virginia City school.  The town was growing up fast.  From a handful of tents, it now boasted a main street with saloons, a mercantile, a hotel, a jail, and the Wells Fargo office next door.  It was from there that the men came. 

My head turned hearing the shots.  Up a ladder holding a hammer, tacks, and one end of the banner, I couldn’t do a thing when they burst inside. 

Two of them barricaded the door while the other disarmed Billy and me.  Herding us into a corner, they cussed each other out.  Their escape plan had gone south, and they’d ducked in here as the first bit of cover they found.  Then their attention turned to us.

“At least we got ourselves some hostages.”

The hand of one reached out to touch Esther’s hair.  “An’ a pretty one at that.”

My step forward moved Esther behind us.  Sneering, the man spat on the floor. 

Sheriff Biggs’ voice turned all our heads.  “All right, you men.  You’re trapped.  Give yourselves up.”

“I don’t think so.  We got ourselves three hostages.  You take one step toward the door, and one of them will be dead.”

“What do you want?”

“Three horses and safe passage outta town.  We’ll leave once it’s dark.”

“No harm comes to those hostages.  You agree to that, and I’ll give you my word you can ride out, and nobody’ll stop you.”

“Sheriff, you gotta deal.”

We had about four hours ‘til sunset.  Tucking ourselves into our corner, we hunkered down to wait. 

One kept a gun on us while the other two went through the Fargo sacks.  They were soon bragging about what they’d do with the money, which revolved around drink and women.

Esther slipped a hand into Billy’s.  “I’m scared.  He keeps looking at me.”

I glanced around at the man guarding us.  She wasn’t wrong.  My skin crawled at how his gaze lingered on her.  Shifting forward, I tried to block his view.  Billy whispered, “Don’t worry.  I’ll protect you.” 

I nodded.  “We’ll look after you.”

The minutes stretched, and the three grew bored and restless.  It wasn’t just one looking Esther’s way now.  That favorite line of Pa’s popped into my head.  ‘The devil finds work for idle hands.’  He was right there in the smile they traded.  Then in one smooth move, they came.

Esther shrank back.  I stood, and Billy followed. 

“Stand aside, boys.  We’re gonna have some fun.”

“That’s my fiancé.  You keep your hands off her!”

Billy dropped when the fist struck his face, cutting his cheek.  Head down, I charged straight for the man’s belly.  Grabbed from behind, I was tossed aside.  Desks moved when I crashed into them, but I pushed up and hooked another around the neck. 

I needed help.  Where the heck was Billy?  Huddled in a ball, he didn’t move.  “Billy!”  He didn’t look around.  Instead, my friend turned his head away.  

Esther slapped and kicked as two of the men dragged her out of the corner.  Still holding my man, I took a kick at another.  Grunting, he let go of Esther to come at me.

The blow to my jaw almost lifted me off my feet.  My back slammed the corner of a desk. Slipping to the floor, I lay, gasping, struggling to breathe. 

“Tie that bastard up.”

Flipped onto my stomach, the son-of-a-bitch I’d been holding wrenched my hands behind me and then tied my feet. 

Two men pinned Esther down.  The other began to unbutton his breeches.  When she kicked and bucked, he slapped her face.  I winced at the crack when her head hit the floor. 

“Leave her alone!”  Pulling at the ropes, I struggled and squirmed.  The rough cord tore into my wrists but wouldn’t budge.  When Esther screamed, I closed my eyes. 

Pressing my forehead into the solid planks of wood beneath me, I breathed in the scent of pine and tried to shut out the sounds.  Earls’ grunts and the howls of encouragement filled the room.  But Esther was silent.

I opened my eyes and looked straight into hers.  They begged me not to leave her.  I wanted to look away.  Not to see.  I couldn’t.  I didn’t deserve to.  I stayed right there with her, watching the tears fall as each took their turn.  She never made a sound.

As soon as the three left the building, I hissed at Billy.  “Untie me.  C’mon, we hav’ta check on Esther!”

Aside from dragging her skirts down, she still hadn’t moved or said a word.

When Billy didn’t budge, I raised my voice a notch.  “Billy!  Get over here.”

Wiping a hand over his lips, he crawled over and began to untie my knots.  Freed of the rope, I scooted over to where Esther lay.

“Esther.”  I laid my fingertips on one arm, careful not to startle her.  “It’s all right.  They’ve gone.”

“They’ve gone?” she asked.  When I nodded, Esther sat up straight.  “Then we haven’t much time.”

With determination, she wiped her face with her petticoat before scrubbing her legs.  My breath caught.  “You’re bleeding.  We need the doc.”

When I turned to get up, her hand grasped my wrist.  Our eyes locked.  “No!  No one can know.  You’ve got to promise, both of you.  We don’t tell anyone.  No one.”

“But you’re bleeding.”

I winced when her fingers bit into my bone.  “That doesn’t matter.  If this gets out…”  Fear flickered in her eyes.  You gotta promise not to tell.  Billy, tell him.”

“She’s right.  We can’t tell.”

My jaw clenched.  Was he protecting Esther or himself?  “We can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

“Yes, we can.  You gotta promise me, Little Joe.  All of us need to promise, like we did when we were kids.”

I glanced from Esther to Billy.  This wasn’t like promising never to tell we all skinny-dipped naked when we were eight.  This was different.  This was serious.  This felt wrong.  But I knew how people could be.  

“Little Joe, please.  They’ll be coming.  Please.” 

I couldn’t refuse.  I owed her that much.  My nod wasn’t enough.  She put out her hand, palm down.  Billy lay his on top, and I did the same.

Together we made the vow.

It was the sheriff who came through the door.  “You all right?”

I couldn’t answer.  Esther did.  “Yes.  Although Billy’s hurt.”

The man frowned at Billy’s bleeding cheek and then flicked a glance at my swollen jaw.  “Looks like you two got into it.”

“We weren’t gonna let them push us around.”  I stared at Billy.  Where did he get the nerve?  Avoiding my eyes, he went on, “What about those men, Sheriff.  You letting them get away?”

“I told them they’d get safe passage out of town.  Nothing more.  I got men all around watching to see which road they take an’ a posse ready to go.”

Billy flung out his chest.  “I wanna ride with them!”

Sheriff Biggs shook his head.  “The only place you’re going is outside to your family.”

When he turned to follow the sheriff out, I caught Billy’s arm.  “Found your courage?”

He shook me off and strode out. 

Three anxious families stood waiting for us.  When I’d crossed the street toward them, I’d looked back at the schoolhouse—just as I did now through the bars of my cell window.  The open door gaped like a sneer, laughing at me.  I’d liked to have burned the damn place to ashes.

“So now we’re brawling in public?”  

I turned to face my father.  He huffed seeing my bruised cheek.  I looked better than Billy, but Pa wouldn’t know that since Billy had left. 

Left everything behind—his fiancé, his friend, his promise.

***

Chapter Two

The ride home was quiet.  Pa didn’t have much to say, and neither did I.  Guilt ground its knuckles into my back.  Roundup meant I hadn’t seen Billy and Esther in over two weeks.  If it weren’t for overhearing earlier that Billy was leaving, I wouldn’t have even known.  When we reached the road leading to Esther’s place, I pulled up.

“I’m sorry, Pa, but I need to go see Esther.”

“Couldn’t it wait ‘til tomorrow?”

I shook my head.  If she didn’t know about Billy, I wanted to be the one to tell her, and if she did…  I needed to be there.

Pa shifted in his saddle and gave me a long look.  “I don’t know what the fight was about, but I do know something’s been bothering you since that day.  Why not talk to me?”

“I can’t.  I made a promise.  Don’t ask me to break my word.”

Ducking my head, I waited.  My hands tightened over my saddle horn, turning the knuckles white. 

“I’ll see you for supper.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Mr. Byrd was mending fences when I rode onto the property.  He gave me a cheery greeting and waved me to the vegetable garden.

I dismounted, screwed up my courage, and walked toward Esther.  She was picking beans with about as much enthusiasm as I have for bookwork. 

“Hi, Esther.”  She knew.  “I saw Billy.”

“Oh.” 

I led her to the little wooden bench under the crooked apple tree.  Circles shadowed her eyes, dark against pale skin.

“What happened?”

“It wasn’t his fault.  After … that day, he couldn’t touch me.  Could hardly look at me.  He told me that every time he did, all he saw was those men and how they’d…  He couldn’t bear that they’d been there first. ”

“That son-of-a-bitch!”  Jumping up, I strode a few steps away.  I should’ve punched Billy harder.  “Don’t you believe a word.  Looking at you just reminded him what a coward—”  I snapped my mouth shut.  This wasn’t what I’d come to say.

“It’s all right, Little Joe.  I knew Billy wasn’t brave like other men.  But, you see, I didn’t care.  I loved him.”

I dropped back on the bench and encircled her with my arm.  “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t blame him.  He knew the truth.  What man would want me knowing that?”

My arm tightened around her.  “A man who truly loved you, that’s who.  You’ll find that man.  A man who wouldn’t let what happened stop him from loving you.”

“Except, I could never risk telling him.”  Her soft words twisted my insides.  She shrugged.  “It’s like Ma says—no sense disturbing old bones.”

“Your ma knows?”

Esther bit her lip.  “She caught me washing out my petticoats.”

“That’s good.  I mean, you can talk to her?”

Her sad gaze turned away toward the garden.  “I’d better get on and pick those beans for supper.”  We got up, and she walked me to my horse.  “It’ll be all right, Little Joe.  Time heals all wounds.”  Only the look in her eyes didn’t tell me she believed that. 

“See you soon, Esther.”

“Bye, Little Joe”

I rode back to the house.  The kitchen door stood open.  Humming wafted in the air.  I glanced back at the garden where Esther was busy.  Taking my moment, I dismounted.

I stepped into the kitchen where I’d enjoyed apple pie and snuck cookies from the jar. 

“Little Joe!  What a surprise.”

“Hi, Mrs. Byrd.  Could I talk to you?”

“Sure.  Come on in.”

I turned the hat in my hands.  “I’m worried about Esther.  That day in the schoolhouse—”

“You want some coffee, Little Joe.  I’ve some fresh in the pot.”

“Ma’am, I need to tell you—”

“No, you don’t!  We don’t need to speak about that.”

“I know Esther told you what happened.”

The coffee pot slammed down.  “She told me you promised to keep quiet.  Now you ain’t planning on breaking that promise, are you?  It’ll be hard enough on her with Billy up and leaving.  Do you want my girl shunned by folk?  End up dying a spinster?” 

“Mrs. Byrd, Esther needs help.  She needs to talk to some—”

The slap knocked me back a pace.  “Don’t you dare say one word to anyone!  You keep quiet, Y’hear?”  Turning to the table, she began pouring the coffee.  “It’s like I always say, no sense disturbing old bones.  You just leave things be and keep your promise.  Everything will be fine.  Now, sit yourself down, drink your coffee, and tell me how your Pa is.  I haven’t seen him for a month of Sundays.”

I left the Byrd’s with a bigger rock in my stomach than when I arrived.  I didn’t know what to do.  How to help.  I hoped Esther was right.  That time would heal.  Maybe a month spent pushing cattle was just what I needed.

***

Chapter Three

A man on a cattle drive kept his mind on one thing—the two hundred head of steers.  I didn’t have time to think about Esther.  Sitting alone on Cooch in the dark on night watch, I wasn’t thinking about Esther.  Eating dirt riding drag, I wasn’t thinking about Esther.  Walking into the Silver Dollar with my family for that traditional beer on our return, I wasn’t thinking about Esther. 

Keep telling yourself that, Joe.

I didn’t drink in the smell of stale beer and whiskey or hurry to the bar.  Instead, I stopped in my tracks when I saw him.  Mr. Byrd, sitting alone.  In all my seventeen years, I’ve never seen that man take a drink.  He’d taken more than one today.

Telling my family, I’ll be back, I wove my way to his table.  “Mr. Byrd?” 

“What d’you want?”

“Could we talk?”

“I’m busy.  I don’t have time to talk.”

Pushing up, he grabbed the bottle from the table and shoved me aside.  I watched him go through the swing doors, then followed.  He’d climbed into his buckboard outside the mercantile.  I caught up and reached up to catch his arm.

“Mr. Byrd.  What’s wrong?  Has something happened to Esther?”

“You know that better than anyone.  What?  You think she could’ve kept that from me?”  He shook my arm free.  “I’ve lost my innocent girl.  You stay away!  We don’t need you coming ‘round reminding anyone.”

I stepped back, away from his anger and the turning wheels.  The buckboard rattled out of town.  Slow steps took me back to the saloon.

“What was that about?” Adam asked.

“I was just asking after Esther.”

“You’re not getting interested in that direction, are you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?  What’s wrong with Esther?”

“Nothing’s wrong with her.  I just thought you two were friends.  That’s all.”

Adam exchanged a look with Hoss and Pa.  I didn’t care what they thought.  Snatching up my beer, I took a long gulp.  The rest went down slow.  I stared into my empty glass, refusing a second.

Pa cut the celebration short.  From the looks Hoss and Adam gave me, I figured I was to blame.  I hung back, and when we hit the boardwalk, I ran right into Jayne.  Apologizing and picking up the package she’d dropped, I remembered that she and Esther were friends.

“Hey, Jayne, seen Esther lately?”

“No.  I haven’t seen her for weeks.”

I frowned.  “What about the Saturday dances?”

“She’s not been to one of those since that Billy Burgess broke off their engagement.  Will you be coming to the dance this Saturday?”

I mumbled something in return and joined my family, who were mounted and waiting.

When I reached the road to the Byrd place, I pulled up.  Before I said a word, Pa tilted his head.  “Go on.”

***

Chapter Four

I took my time wrapping the reins around the hitch rail.  Why had I come?  I didn’t have an answer, but I wasn’t about to turn tail.

My boot hit the first step to the porch when Esther burst through the door, sobbing like her heart would burst.  She would’ve run past, but I caught her arms and swung her around.

“Esther, what’s the matter?”

“He did it!  He finally told me the truth.”

“Who?  What truth?”

My heart flinched at the sadness in the tear-soaked eyes she raised to mine.  “I need to go.”

“No.  Let’s talk.”  I tried to hold onto her, but she wriggled free and tore away from me.  “Esther, wait!”

Turning, I marched through the open door into the house.  Mr. Byrd sat at the table with that bottle of whisky by his elbow.  He looked at me through dulled eyes.  Recognition cleared them.  “What’re you doing here?  I told you to stay away.”

“What did you say to Esther?”

“Get out!”

It was his house.  He had the right to kick me out, but I wasn’t going anywhere.  “She said you told her the truth.  The truth about what?”  With a snort, he reached for his glass.  My hand swept the table, sending it and the bottle flying.  “What truth?”

His eye locked on mine.  “That she should be dead!  She let herself—“

“Let?”

“Yes.  Let!  Any decent woman would’ve fought and died before she let a man… “

“Say it!  Rape her!  That’s what it was.  Rape!  And she fought.  There were three of them, Mr. Byrd.  Three!  Billy and I couldn’t stop them.  How could she?”  My fingers gripped the sides of the table.  “She’s your little girl.  And they raped her.”

His face twisted, and he spat the words at me.  “There’s a name for women like her.  She brought that shame into my house.  How can any man live with that?”

“Any man, or just you?”

I turned my back.  Outside, my legs turned to jelly.  I clutched the hitch rail for support.  How could any father do what he did?  I sucked in air.  I had to find Esther.

On foot, she wouldn’t get too far.  Did she head for Virginia City or somewhere else?  I decided to check the property first.  If she went to Virginia City, I’d find her later.

Over two hours of searching turned up nothing.  Maybe I’d catch up to her on the road. 

I searched the road into Virginia City.  Then knocked on any door I could think of.  Riding out of town, I cut across country to the spots we liked to go as kids.  No luck.  Then, I rode back to the Byrd place.  It sat silent and empty.  Maybe Mr. Byrd had come to his senses, and they were looking for her, too.  I hoped they’d find her.  Dusk settled around me.  It was too dark to keep going.  Shivering, I slumped in my saddle and turned for home. 

The warm light through the windows offered no comfort.  Dismounting, I headed for the barn when the door opened.

“Little Joe, is that you?”

“Yes, Sir.  Sorry, I’m late.”

“Come inside.  I need to talk to you.”

“I’ve gotta take care of Cochise.”

Adam crossed the yard.  “I’ll do that.”

Handing over the reins, I walked toward the house.  Pa waited by the fireplace.  At least he wasn’t mad.  But then the look on his face made me wish he was.

“What’s wrong?”

“Come sit down.”

Hoss sat on the sofa.  His big hands clasped between his knees.  I perched next to him.  “What’s happened?”

“Hank came in earlier.  I’d sent him to Virginia City to collect that timber we needed.  He was leaving when the Byrds came into town with Esther.”  Pa paused.  “She’s dead, Little Joe.”

Everything around me slowed.  I heard myself asking, “How?”

“Mrs. Byrd found her in the barn.  She’d fallen.”

Fallen?  But I’d seen the look in Esther’s eyes.  “I should’ve gone after her.”

Pa sat down on the low table in front of me.  “You saw her?”

“She was upset.  I let her run off.  I should’ve stopped her.”

Strong hands clasped mine.  “You couldn’t have known she’d have an accident.” 

I looked at Pa and kept my mouth shut.  Why burden my family with the truth?  No sense disturbing old bones.

***

Chapter Five

Clouds hung grey and heavy over the grave, as if God marked the shame of it.

I would’ve missed the funeral, but I couldn’t abandon Esther the way Billy had.  And the Byrds were our neighbors. 

Pa was asked to read the lesson.  Mrs. Byrd wept while her husband stood quiet and stoic.  He was doing a fine job of looking bereaved, but I saw the truth in his eyes—relief.

My gaze drifted to that little bench and apple tree where Esther and I had last sat and talked.  She watered that tree almost every day to keep it alive.  She’d sure loved that crooked little tree.

“Little Joe, you ready?”

I started.  The service was over.  “Yeah, Pa.”

After supper, I excused myself and headed for my room.  The knock on my door came, just as I knew it would.

I swung my feet to the floor and sat up.  Pa crossed the room to sit next to me. 

“I’m guessing that promise you made no longer applies.  Can you tell me?”

Pa waited.  Whatever I decided, he’d accept.  But I was ready.  He heard me out without interruption or questions.

“I shouldn’t have promised.  I should’ve told someone.”

“Do you think that would’ve helped?”

“She had nobody, Pa.”

“She had you.”

I wish I’d been enough.  “It’s not fair.  She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m glad you see it that way.  Now we just need the rest of the world to catch up with you.”  Pa fixed his steady gaze on me.  “You don’t believe it was an accident.”

I shook my head.  “I let her down.”

Pa’s hand dropped on my shoulder.  “Son, of all the people who let Esther down, you weren’t one of them.”

“But … I couldn’t stop them.  I couldn’t… ”  My voice broke.  I tried to blink back the tears, but they refused to stop.  Pa’s hand moved around to pull me against him. 

“No one man could’ve, son.  What happened shouldn’t have.  But you did all you could.”

Limp.  Hands dangling.  I sagged against my father, held by that steady arm.  Unlike Esther, I had a family who wouldn’t let me fall. 

Straightening my shoulders, I drew a breath.  “I could sure use a brandy.”

“I think we all could.”

My brothers were waiting.  Together, we raised a glass to Esther.

**The End**

Feb 2026