Jimmy awoke to the morning sun. He'd slept late, something he hadn't been able to do in some time. It felt good to finally get a good nights sleep. The house was silent, and he assumed he was alone. Quietly, he dressed and descended the stairs to the kitchen.

"Oh," he said, startled to find Cynthia in the kitchen. "Sorry to bother ya."

She turned around. "You're no bother," she replied.

Jimmy couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was dressed in black pants, shirt and boots. She'd pulled her ebony hair back, securing it with a single strand of leather.

"Mister Hickock," she said, grinning. "You look as if you've never seen a woman in pants before."

"No," he replied. "I have..."

"Then why are you starin' at me?"

He felt his cheeks getting hotter and cursed himself. "I'm sorry," he said, wishing he could think of something to say. "I didn't mean to offend..."

"Offend, Mister Hickock?" Cynthia asked. "You flatter me."

"Jimmy," he corrected her. His brown eyes nervously glancing around. "Call me Jimmy."

"Okay, Jimmy," she said his name with a smile. "Can I get you some breakfast?" "That'd be nice."

In no time, she'd fixed him eggs, bacon and muffins.

"So, you don't always dress like a girl?" As soon as he asked the question, he wished he hadn't. It made him feel like Cody!

"No," she replied. If she was offended, it didn't show. "The dresses are too much. My father makes me wear them."

He almost laughed. "He makes you dress up? I know women that would give their right arm to dress up like you."

She shook her head. "They can have it! I'm not the frilly type."

Jimmy went to reply, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hello, Cynthia," Jake said. "It's been a long time."

Cynthia wished she hadn't opened the door. "What do you want?" She asked, trying not to sound frightened. "You know what I want..."

Jimmy came up behind Cynthia. "Is there a problem here?"

Jake looked him over, the same time Jimmy sized him up. Jake was taller than Jimmy, and better built. Jimmy was sure he could take him. Jake didn't look like the fast draw type.

"Who's he?" Jake asked, his eyes never leaving Jimmy.

"I'm a guest, and I can answer my own questions," he answered. "You wanna know 'bout me, ask me, not the lady."

Cynthia shifted uneasily. "What do you want?" She repeated.

Jake smiled, trying to be charming. It didn't work. "Your hand, my dear."

"We've been through this before, Jake. I told you no," she said. "Now, I'm asking you politely, please leave."

He persisted. "You will marry me, Cynthia."

Her brown eyes narrowed. "Over my dead body..."

"That can be arranged," Jake threatened, taking hold of her arm.

Jimmy pulled his gun and cocked it in one fluid motion. "Let her go."

Jake laughed.

"This is nothin' to laugh about," Jimmy said, his brown eyes locked on to Jake's. "Now, let her go."

After a moment, he released Cynthia. "This isn't over!" He shouted. "And I don't know who you are, but I'd watch your back if I was you."

"Better watch your own," Jimmy returned the threat.

Cynthia shut the door as Jake walked away.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," she lied. "Thanks for your help."

"Why don'tcha sit down," Jimmy suggested. "It'll help."

Cynthia was the last person to take orders from a man, but she listened to Jimmy.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked, joining her at the table.

She ran a slender hand though the hair she'd now freed. "He's a friend of my father's who doesn't understand the word no."

"Sounds like he's done this before."

She nodded. "He just doesn't get it."

"Can't your father do somethin'?"

Her eyes clouded. "He wants me to marry him."

Jimmy didn't know what to say. "No woman should be forced to marry someone, especially not someone like him."

Cynthia looked at the man in front of her. She had to leave, before she spilled her heart out to the man with the soft brown eyes. She wanted to tell him everything. About how she was trapped here. How there was nothing in this backwards little town for her, and how she felt herself falling in love with him the instant she saw him in town. "I've got work to do," she said instead.

Jimmy stood, taken off guard. "Of course," he replied, hoping he hadn't said something to insult her.

He watched her as she went up the stairs. The feelings he had for her before were still there, but he found himself wanting to know everything there was to know about Cynthia Scott. Her favorite color, the flowers she liked, what kind of perfume she wore. He shook his head. He had it bad, and he wasn't sure if he wanted it to go away. He'd watch her while he was here, no one would hurt her while he was around.

Jake sauntered up to the bar, his blond hair half hidden by his Stetson, along side him, his black haired friend.

"So, whad'dya gonna do 'bout Cindy's new friend?"

Jake looked at the half-breed, wondering how long it'd take for him to die. "Whad'dya think I'm gonna do?" He asked, swallowing the whiskey that was placed in front of him. The man shrugged. "Don't know."

"It's like this, Ben," Jake began. "He stops me from getting what's mine, I'll kill him."

Ben shook his head. "We already left one body behind," he whispered. "Why would you wanna leave another?"

Jake downed another shot. "You don't like it, leave," he threatened. "Just watch your back."

Ben looked into Jake's eyes, recognizing the shadow that had found it's way from his soul. This wasn't the first time he'd been this way. Every time he thought about Cynthia, he got worked up. It was like she was a prize for him to win.

"Don't worry 'bout me," Ben assured. "I ain't your problem."

Jake slapped the man in the back. "Yer right," he agreed, adding. "Ya never better become my problem..."

Ben left him to the comfort of the whiskey bottle. A little voice inside him said to be wary of the stranger with the gunfighter's eyes. His little voice was never wrong. He'd leave Jake a note tonight, telling him he'd meet him in Saint Joseph. There was something about the stranger he wanted no part of.

Cynthia pulled up her hair, trying to get some relief from the sweltering heat. Her eyes fell upon a photo of a young man, not more than twenty.

Lovingly she picked up the photo. "Chris, I really miss you," she sighed. "Jake has come back, price again to claim me," she whispered, he voice a mix of fear and annoyance. "Daddy won't do anything to stop him. Hell, if it were up to him, I'd have married him all ready."

She stared at the picture. Her father was up to something. He and Jake would talk in whispers and when she walked into the room, they'd stop. At one point, she'd overheard something about guns and Indians, but that was impossible. Her father was a respectable man. He ran the bank, and at one time, ran for mayor. He was a very prominent person in Devil's Bluff. He couldn't be mixed up in something like that.

Jimmy stood in the doorway, two glasses of lemonade in his hands. "Um," he said, taking Cynthia away from her photo. "I hope I'm not botherin' ya."

Cynthia put down the photo. "No, come in."

Jimmy joined her, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You were kinda quiet at supper."

She sipped the lemonade, grateful for the cool drink. "Did ya ever...never mind."

Jimmy gave he a smile. "What?"

She played with the glass, staring at the ice. "Nothin' it's stupid."

"Nothin' you could possibly say could ever be stupid."

Cynthia looked up, surprised by his words. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." "Well, that's a shame," he replied.

She blushed. "You'll laugh."

Jimmy took her hand in his. "I won't. I promise."

She sighed. "Did ya ever wanna just run away? Just get out of the life your in?"

"More than you can imagine," he answered, feeling a little sorry for himself.

"My mom teaches, my dad has the bank and all his civic things, and here I sit." She stood up and looked out the window. "Trapped."

Her voice was so sad. He wanted to take her away from this, if that's what would make her happy.

"My life ain't very exciting either." He tried to console her. "Except for when I go on my runs." She didn't say anything. "Can I ask you something?"

She looked back at him. "Sure."

Jimmy picked up the picture. "Who's this?"

"My brother," she answered, taking the photo from him. "He died a few years back."

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said the words he'd heard so many people say. "You must miss him."

"I do. He was my savior." Cynthia replied, her brown eyes clouded with sadness. "Forgive me, Jimmy, but I'm tired."

He'd done it. Now he knew what Cody felt like. Somehow he'd insulted her, instead of winning her over. "Sure," he replied standing up. Before he walked out the door, he turned back to her. "Would you like to do somethin' tomorrow? I'm not due back in Sweetwater till the day after."

Cynthia faked surprise. "Why, Mister Hickock, we've only just met..."

Flustered, Jimmy replied. "I'm sorry. I seem to be really good at offending you..."

"I'll fix us a picnic lunch," she said with a smile.

"If you don't wanna, I understand..."Jimmy said, not hearing her acceptance.

"Jimmy," she said with a giggle. "I said yes." "Really?"

She couldn't help herself. Here was a grown man, with eyes that could make many a woman's heart flutter, and a smile that would melt butter, stammering over an acceptance. He was very sweet, and she hadn't had any sweetness in her life in some time.

"Yes," she repeated. "I'll fix a picnic lunch." "Great!"

Turning to leave, he almost knocked over a pitcher that was on her nightstand. Cynthia watched him, knowing he was cursing himself for being so clumsy.

"Well, Chris," she said to the face smiling up at her from the photo. "Looks like your lil sister's gonna have herself a good time tomorrow."

On to Chapter 7!