Keep My Heart

Chapter 1

Chapter one

“What were you thinking?” Chad Mason winced as his boss threw his hat down onto the table at their hideout. “Shooting an old man? You’re gonna swing now, Mason”.

“He was going for his gun, Boss,” Chad said.

Boss guffawed. “You jump at your own shadow. The old man didn’t even have a gun, you dim-wit!”

Chad huffed. Just then, his two partners, Shane and Perry entered the room.

“The horses are put up, Boss,” Shane said, walking to the table and leaning over the pile of money there.

“Fine” Boss growled. He rubbed his forehead with his hand.

“I’m sorry, Boss,” Chad said.

Boss took a long swig from the bottle of whiskey on the table. “Tell yourself that when you’re hanging by the neck ‘til dead”.

*****

Millie Williams sighed as the last person disappeared from the scene of her father’s burial. She stared at the grave.

“What am I going to do now, God?” she asked into the thin air. “I have no money and no way to live. I thank You for taking him quickly, but I didn’t have time to prepare”.

She sighed again and touched the wooden cross that boasted her father’s name. “Bye, Papa”.

Though her heart was sore and aching, she knew that her father was having a happy reunion with her mother and that he was in a better place. In a way, she was jealous. Her father had probably felt the comfort of God’s nail-scarred hands around him, welcoming him into the place of no more sorrows. She began her descent down to the Lucky Hearts Orphanage where there were refreshments for those who had attended the funeral. Millie like that the owner, Texiss Peirce, had changed the name when she got married. Used to, it was called “Lonely Hearts” and that didn’t sound very hopeful to Millie. She mounted to stairs where Texiss, a good friend of hers, was awaiting her. Texiss put her right arm around her, the left arm having been amputated three years ago when an alligator attacked her.

“Are you okay?” Texiss asked.

Millie nodded.

Texiss smiled. “He’s in a better place now”.

“I know” Millie smiled. “I guess I’m just feeling sorry for myself”

“Well, that’s expected. Just don’t let yourself get depressed. I did that when Brandon died and it was terrible. Whenever you get to feeling bad, come see me. It’s better for you”.

“Thank you Texiss,” Mille said.

“Let’s go inside” Texiss led her inside.

Millie looked around the room at all the familiar faces, her eyes landing on Texiss’ husband, Cameron, by the window holding their little girl as the baby’s little eyes drooped closed.

Caroline Peirce was born six months ago, and Millie had never seen a more devoted father than Cameron. He hardly ever let his little girl out of his sight, and Texiss was grateful for the respite sometimes.

“They look so sweet,” Millie said to Texiss, motioning over to the father and daughter.

Texiss smiled. “I could watch them forever. Sometimes I’ll just sit and watch him with her. I can tell he’s trying to not be the father he had when he was young”.

Millie knew about Cameron’s abusive stepfather, and she didn’t blame him for trying to right that wrong.

“You’re both doing wonderful by her from what I can see” Millie said.