Death in the Desert Read Online Free Page A

bed?”
    â€œNo,” she said, “it’s too sad and scary. The house is so empty.”
    â€œThen where have you been sleeping?”
    She shrugged. “A different place every night—but not where there’s any dead people.”
    â€œWell,” he said, “I can’t blame you for that. I wouldn’t want to sleep where there’s dead people. So where do you think we should sleep tonight?”
    â€œThere’s lots of bed I ain’t slept in yet,” she said. “Let’s go and look!”
    â€œOkay,” he said, “let’s go.”
    They walked around town—with Clint actually walking and Emily astride Eclipse—stopping in a building whenever she pointed it out. He was happy to let her do the choosing, thus keeping her mind busy.
•   •   •
    They stopped in front of a small building and she said, “This was Aunt Kathy’s boardinghouse.”
    â€œShe was your aunt?” he asked.
    â€œNo, silly,” she said. “That was the name of her boardinghouse.”
    â€œI see. Well, let’s have a look.”
    He lifted her down from the horse and they went up the front steps to the porch. He tried the door and found it locked. Many of the buildings they’d check had been unlocked. Apparently, “Aunt Kathy” had thought to lock her door behind her. Maybe she was planning on coming back.
    â€œI guess I’ll have to force the door,” he said. “Stand back.”
    Emily moved away. As Clint prepared to put his shoulder to the door, there was a shot. A bullet shattered the glass of the door and just missed his head. He leaped to the side, his hand on his gun.
    He looked at Emily and said, “I guess there’s somebody else alive in town.”
    â€œAre you all right?” she asked.
    â€œI’m fine. Let’s see if we can find out who this is. You stay there—and crouch down low.”
    â€œAll right.”
    Clint took his gun out, reached over, and tapped on the door with the barrel.
    â€œHello inside the house? We don’t mean you any harm. I’ve got little Emily Patterson out here. Apparently she was immune to the disease that killed so many people.”
    He listened, but there was no reply.
    â€œMy name is Clint Adams. I only rode into town yesterday. Are you all right?”
    There was no answer, then a woman’s voice said, “Go away! I have a rifle.”
    â€œI know that,” he called back. “Your bullet just missed me. But why are you shooting?”
    â€œYou’re not stealing anything from me,” she shouted back.
    â€œWhat makes you think I want to steal?”
    No answer.
    â€œLook, are you . . . Aunt Kathy? I have a little girl out here with me.”
    â€œProve it!”
    â€œEmily, call out to the lady.”
    â€œWhat do I say?” she whispered.
    â€œJust say hello, and tell her your name.”
    â€œHello,” the child called out. “This is Emily.”
    There was a long moment of silence and then the woman said, “Emily? Is that you?”
    â€œIt’s me,” Emily said.
    There was the sound of a lock turning, and then the door opened slowly. A woman stuck her head out and her eyes went right to Emily.
    â€œIt is you.”
    â€œHello, Aunt Kathy.”
    â€œCome here, child,” the woman said. She put her rifle down as Emily rushed into her arms. The woman hugged her tightly, crying. Emily turned her head and directed a puzzled look Clint’s way. He holstered his gun.
    â€œI’m so glad you’re alive,” the woman said.
    â€œI’m glad you’re alive, too,” the child said.
    The woman held her at arm’s length and asked, “What happened to your parents?”
    â€œThey left me.”
    â€œWhat? They left you behind?”
    â€œI was sick,” Emily said. “I think they thought I was going to die.”
    â€œBut