EXCERPT from

HATE: An Anthology of Murder and Mystery

"Showdown at Charbonet's"
by Rosalie More

           Annabel sat on the front steps of the verandah straining her eyes and ears in the gathering darkness. The moon hovered barely above the horizon, shedding little light on the ribbon of road. After hours of waiting for Samuel’s return from the warehouse, her impatience had grown in uneasy stages from alarm to all-consuming dread. Where could he be?
         Aunt Ruby tottered out of the house and held a flaming taper to the oil-soaked wick of a lantern. “If you think something has happened to Sam, why don’t you take Jasper and go look for him?”
        A glow of light spreading outward from the lantern pushed back the dark. Annabel forced a smile. “I’m probably worrying for nothing.”
       “I’m surprised he didn’t come home for supper. He never passes up sausage, gravy, and biscuits.”
       Annabel rose to her feet. Something was wrong. Samuel couldn’t work at the warehouse after dark. No matter how many candles and oil lamps he had, there wouldn’t be enough light. Could he be making the rounds of the saloons looking for that wagon driver he needed? Or had Gustave Charbonet caught up with him?
      “I’ll go look for him.” Annabel headed for the door.
       “Get Jasper to hitch up the horses to the phaeton,” Aunt Ruby suggested.
      Annabel went inside for her shawl. On impulse, she grabbed Ezra’s old pocket pistol out of the desk drawer.
       Aunt Ruby shuffled in behind her. “Now, you be careful with that! I keep it loaded and ready to fire.”
       “Don’t worry, I’m always careful.”

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