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"Yes." She said as though wondering how long it would take him to grasp it.
He sighed now, as though he finally understood. "Then it is right you came with me. I did not know this!"
She stared at him. "How could you?" she looked at him strangely now.
"I didn't mean to blurt it out like that. I didn't mean so sound so unfeeling for him. But My father was not always an evil man, except when he drinks. When he drinks, I am afraid of him. After this happened it was like the last straw, I knew I had to escape it all. He'd see my dress, and then he'd see Earl lying there on the barn floor. It wouldn’t be good, not with him hungover too."
"Bu
t if you'd explained, wouldn't he listen? Wouldn't he care about his own flesh and blood?"
She shook her head and sighed heavily. "Again, you do not understand the facts. And again, there is no reason you should. Well, to tell the truth," she got up and walked around now. She couldn't look at him and say what had to be said. "He's not my real father. He's what they call a step-father. My Ma had me before they married. She'd been married earlier to my real father, who was killed in battle. As long as my mother lived, life was good. My Pa acted like he cared for me while she was alive, but he didn't. I was too young to realize it was a front for my mother. He never cared for me. And the first time he got drunk, after she died, he told me to my face. He never wanted me, he only want a wife. When she died, things were alright for a while. He mourned her a long time and paid little attention to me. And I understood his pain as I shared it. But the longer he mourned, the more he drank. And the more he drank the worse things became between us. I became his slave once she died and he took up the bottle. So, what happened in the barn this morning only escalated the danger of staying there. And that's why I came with you. Don't you see, if he thought me a whore, and he drank, well… I could not stay awake forever."
"He is not your real father?" Shining Moon studied on this a moment.
"No. My real father, died in battle, he was in the army. I don't even remember what he looked like, I was still very young at the time. A few years later my Ma met my step-father and they married."
"Did he love her? You're step-dad?"
"Very much."
"But not you?"
"It was his first marriage and he didn't want children. Especially one that was not his. It matter a lot to him that I was not his child. It made no difference to me as he was the only father I remembered, and a good until my mother passed. But after I grew up a little and could work as hard as he did." She said so blankly. "I worked hard because I knew he'd throw me out if I didn't. I had nowhere to go. My mother's folks were back east somewhere, and I didn't know any of them. They didn't come to the funeral, as I didn't know where to let them know about it. My dad, I don't know anything about his folks. So, I was alone. But at first, I felt sorry for my step-dad, as he mourned my mother's death so. So, did I. I knew he loved her, and I respected that. I wanted to help him, but I didn't know how, and he turned to the bottle for help. As the days passed, I began to cook, clean the house and take care of things as he had not been inclined to do anything."
"I am sorry, it is not right." Moon told her.
"It is life, I accepted it, but when you came along and I knew I'd have to face him about Earl, I just didn't want to be there anymore. I was so tired, not getting enough sleep, worrying what he might do next. So, I ran with you. He wouldn't think such a thing of Earl. They were closer than we ever were."
"And this Earl, do you not miss him?"
"No," she sighed with a bit of exasperation. "My step-dad encouraged Earl to come around. I wasn't interested, he was going nowhere with his life. I didn't want a man that would be in a saloon every time he had time off from work. Earl drank too much too. It's why my father liked him so much. He had a nasty temper like my Pa. I wanted something better for myself. I've worked hard and I deserve better from a man. Probably why I'm not married to this day. I'd rather be an old maid school teacher than let a man like Earl have me."
"Then it is good I came along," Shining Moon nodded.
"I think maybe it is. I regret that I will not teach school now. And I can take care of myself, but I did want out of there. I'll admit that. And I'll admit, I was afraid to attempt to leave on my own. I had nowhere to go. I know most of this mountain, as young girl I explored it a lot. And the children I taught all live on this mountain. This mountain is my home, and everywhere else is strange to me."
"How can you, a woman take care of yourself?" He chuckled.
"I have this," she pulled the gun from her pocket. "I was thinking of using it this morning. I'll admit."
"That is a gun?" He made a silly face.
"A lady's gun," she told him.
"You would think something that little could not hurt a fly." he said taking it and looking it over.
"If I'm close enough, which I was."
"Then why did you not kill him yourself?" he asked matter-of-factly.
She sighed again. "Because, I think too much!"
"I do not understand."
"Well, killing is a crime and I'd go to jail if I killed him. I wasn't sure I could get a shot off well enough to just wound him. I figured I'd have to kill him, and then I'd have to go to jail. And now I may anyway."
"He deserved what he got."
