Page 6 of Return to Telegraph Creek

“Tomorrow, most likely,” I said.“As soon as we can.”

Irene’s face relaxed and she smiled, not with as much unfiltered joy as before, but with a renewed commitment to making the best of things.

“Then you’ve got time to come inside for something to eat.”

We did owe Irene and Clarence some kind of an explanation.So, despite my sense of urgency that we needed to get ready for our unexpected trip, we went inside, and over a cup of tea and some leftover fruit cake, we told Irene and Clarence more about our stay at The Angel and how we’d become friends with the people there.

“Well,” Clarence said, “you have led an interesting life.”

Oscar snorted, glancing at me.“Well, I ain’t no outlaw.”

“Stop it.’Twasn’t interesting at all.’Twas monotonous when ’twasn’t terrifyin’.I’d not wish that life on anyone.”

“I know it,” Oscar said.

“And, as to that,” I said to Clarence, “we’ve been enjoying our plain life here in Port Essington with our friends and our domestic cares.It’s been a blessing, and if it weren’t for caring so much for Cal and Miss June and the others and feeling obliged because they were there for us when we needed them, we wouldn’t go.”

Oscar had suffered an awful fall from his horse on our journey from Whitehorse, and if not for the care of Miss June and her girls at The Angel—a reputable and well-run cathouse in Telegraph Creek—he might not be here with me now.

“I understand,” Irene said.“We’re blessed to have the two of you as friends, and that’s a hard fact.Aren’t we, Clarence?”

“We are.”He scratched at his chin.“That fella, Cal—I’m sorry, I mean, that girl you met there…Cal—she seems like a fascinatin’ person.”

Irene had a kindly smile on her face as she looked at Clarence, and I realized what it must mean to him to know there were others who felt pulled to be different to their born sex in the way that he did.

“She surely is.Sweet as punch and smart—and always up to something.”

“Like helpin’ me dress as a lady for you,” Oscar said in a quiet voice.

I laughed, remembering how surprised I’d been.I hadn’t even recognized Oscar in the clothes and the paint.

“Oh my,” Irene said, glancing between us.“Now that’s a scintillating piece of information.”

Clarence rolled his eyes, but he smiled.

“I’m sure you looked lovely, Oscar,” Irene said.

Oscar preened.“You bet I did.Jimmy didn’t even recognize me.”

“Not till you bent o’er.”

They burst into raucous laughter as Oscar blushed.

“Anyway,” he said, “we’re awful worried about Cal.And if Miss June sent for us, she needs us pretty bad.”

“Well, then,” Irene said, “you must go help her.As hard as it will be for Clarence and me, since we’ve got used to your companionship, we’ll look after your place for you while you’re gone.”

“Thank you,” I said.I looked at my hands.“Oscar and me, we didn’t have anybody before we found those folks, and we left them to come here.”I looked at Irene then at Clarence.“We’re mighty—”

My voice choked up on my emotion and I coughed.

“What Jimmy is trying to say”—Oscar took over, putting a hand on my back and gazing earnestly at them—“is that we’re mighty glad to have met you, and we’re truly lucky to count you as friends.We’re sorry to leave you, to be sure.”

I nodded.“That’s right.That’s all.”

“Will you pop over now and then to feed Sprite, Irene?”Oscar said.“She’ll have water at the creek, and she can get into the barn in the bad weather, and she’ll probably catch and eat some mice, but—"

“Of course, I will.I’d tell you to bring her over here, but I reckon she’d only end up back at your place.Cats like to stay where they’re used to.”