The dinner was enjoyable. As it progressed Rayne became more and more relaxed; accepting the barrage of questions that was thrown at her. They had looked surprise when she told them that she didn’t have a family that would be joining her. Rachel was a kind woman and Rayne felt at ease around her. When Cody had begun to, as how Rayne could afford the house she lived in, it was Rachel how silenced him with a look. Buck had asked her how Yona had got her name and she told them that story, leaving out the part about Mr. Elliot’s hand in it. The only time that Rayne had even tensed was when Rachel, who Rayne had learned spent some time in Louisiana, asked about where she lived before she moved here. She was afraid that Rachel would link her to Jeremy Elliot and want to talk about the man that Rayne was trying to ignore. Rayne didn’t want to remember anything about Jeremy Elliot. After pausing for a moment Rayne said that she worked on the Belle Fille, the name of Jeremy Elliot’s ranch, of curse leaving out whom the ranch belonged to.

“Where exactly was the Bella Fille?” Rachel asked, for some reason this girl felt familiar to her even though Rachel was sure she had never seen her before.

“’Bout fifteen mile south of Alexandria.” She answered quickly.

“Is that were your parents are?” Buck questioned.

Without so much as a second thought Rayne answered, “My parent’s are dead.” Ignoring the sympathetic looks and apologies Rayne thought about what she had said. It wasn’t a totally lie, her father was dead and her mother might as well have been. Rayne turned her attention back to the stories the riders were telling and found that she was laughing along with them.

Teaspoon watched the girl as they rose from the dinner table. Throughout the dinner she had been friendly, smiling and had even laughed a few times but she never seemed totally at ease. She held her back ridged when Rachel had questioned about her past and as much as she told them he still felt like he knew little about her. Teaspoon wondered what kind of trouble she was in. They group walked outside and put their guns back on. He wasn’t sure but Teaspoon thought that he saw a look of relief was across the woman’s face.

“That was a good meal, Rachel.” Rayne began. “It’s been along time since I’ve had home cooked food.” Yona stood quietly at her mistress’ side watching the crowd around her. Ike ran to retrieve Rayne’s horse from the barn. She watched him and prayed silently that Loki would behave himself. “Thank you for having me over.”

“You are welcomed anytime.” Teaspoon said warmly.

Cody walked toward Rayne tried to stand by her but Yona kept getting in his way. He saw Jimmy who was leaning on the railing of the post snicker at him. Cody noticed that Jimmy wasn’t any farther away from Rayne then Cody was but the dog didn’t pay him any mind.

Jimmy gave a low whistle and caught the dog’s attention, he held out an old soup bone for the dog. Yona walked toward the bone and eyed it warily. Then she turned her head to Rayne as if to wait for permission. Rayne nodded and then smiled at Jimmy. Slowly the dog sniffed at the bone but wouldn’t take it. Jimmy sighed and dropped the bone on the ground and pretended to look away. Yona stealthily picked the bone up off the ground and began to chew on it. Jimmy gave the dog a smile and turned away.

Ike waked up with Loki and Rayne breathed a sigh of relief. The giant horse walked behind him like it was the most natural thing in the world. Rayne shook her head and muttered “Crazy horse.” So no one could hear her. She took the reins from Ike and stood next to the horse as she was thanking Rachel again she noticed Lou glaring at Kid. Lou had been quiet for most of dinner and Rayne was surprised to see that much anger in the young man’s eyes.

Kid gazed at the horse. Rayne who was standing beside it looked dwarfed by its size. Only once had Kid seen a horse that looked as powerful as Rayne’s horse did. With a dreamy expression on his face he remembered the summer he was 8 and a circus had come to his town. The circus held a parade through the streets and the lead horse was a regal black horse. Kid hadn’t paid attention to the rest of the parade, instead all he could think about was that black horse. The next day Kid had gone to the circus grounds to look for the black horse. When he finally found it was so awestruck that he didn’t even noticed the woman that had come up behind him. At first when the woman tapped him on the shoulder he had thought that he was in trouble. Instead she asked him if he wanted to pet the animal. Kid nodded furiously.

Flower was the horse’s name and he was as gentle as a kitten. The woman had picked up the eight-year-old boy and set him on the animal’s back. It was heaven for Kid. The woman told him that the horse was an Arabian and it had come from the other side of the world. Everyday, until the circus left, Kid would come and see Flower. When the circus left taking Flower with them Kid had cried for an hour.

Lou saw the Kid’s dreamy look thought that it was for the horse’s master rather than the horse. A huge ball of anger coursed through her. She glared at Kid and then turned to meet the eye’s of the woman that held Kid’s attention.

Rayne turned her attention from Lou to the Kid. She saw the Kid gazing at the horse admiringly. Absentmindedly she reached up and stroked the horse’s neck, as she turned her attention back to Lou. When she caught Lou’s eye it was as if a cloud lifted off Rayne’s eyes. It was with anger that Lou was staring at her, the kind of anger that only could be caused by jealousy. Lou was a girl. It all made sense now, but a whole new batch of questions entered her head. “Why did this woman dress like a boy?” “Why was she so angry at Rayne?” “Did she mistake the look Kid had given Loki as for her?” Impulsively, as she did almost everything Rayne asked Lou a question. “Lou, I have to go into town tomorrow. Would you mind coming with me? I’m afraid I don’t know my way around very well.”

Everyone turned to see Lou’s surprise face. Here she was glaring at the woman and Rayne had just asked her to accompany her to town. No way. She wasn’t going to go. But for some reason her mouth didn’t work.

Rachel seemed to sense Rayne’s understanding and supplied and answer for her. “Lou would love to go. Tomorrow before lunch.”

“Sounds good.” Rayne smiled at Rachel. Woman’s intuition told her that Rachel knew that Rayne knew. “Okay well. See you tomorrow.” She mounted her horse. “Good-bye.” Rayne gave a whistle and Yona followed her as they rode away leaving a chorus of good-byes behind them.

It was still a few moments before Lou could speak again. “I ain’t going.” She said as she stomped away. Rachel smiled at the retreating woman. Lou was going to go if Rachel had to drag her herself. Lou needed another woman her own age to talk to and hopefully Rayne would be it.

The boys retreated to the bunkhouse talking amongst themselves. Teaspoon turned to Rachel. “What do you think of the girl?”

“I like her.”

“But-”

“I don’t know. There’s just something about her that I can’t put my finger on.”

Teaspoon nodded. “I know. She ain’t very trusting is she?” He thought about he way the girl’s eyes kept looking back toward her gun and how she never seemed to reveal anything about herself. Something in her eyes reminded him of a wild animal. No matter how nice you were to it, no matter how much food you gave it, no matter how much you cared about it, it was still a wild animal.

“No, she’s not. But what woman who is alone can afford to be.” Rachel said. The feeling that she knew Rayne hadn’t gone away. There was something familiar about her. It was as if Rayne’s gray eyes were haunting her saying “Remember me.”

“I’m gonna hit the hay.” Teaspoon said.

“Me too.” Rachel agreed.

“I can’t believe Lou’s stealing my girl.” Cody said exasperated. “Of all people Lou.”

Across the room from her bunk, Lou gave Cody a deadly look. “Go to hell, Cody”

“Leave her alone, Cody.” Kid said quietly.

“Ya,” Buck chimed in. “Rayne didn’t pay any more attention to you than she did to the rest of us.”

“In fact I think she paid less attention to you.” Noah teased his friend.

“She’s just playing hard to get. And besides, it don’t matter I saw her first.”

Ike signed to the group and Buck laughed. “Ike says, no you didn’t. He says that Jimmy saw her first.”

Jimmy smiled. “I guess she’s mine then.”

“Hickok, you wouldn’t dare.” Cody said menacingly. The group of rowdy boys began a playful fight, no one noticed that Lou had turned over toward the wall and lay there quietly.

A large tear rolled down Lou’s face; she brushed it way angrily. “Doesn’t anyone realize that I’m here too?” She wondered another tear fell.

Kid stood up and rubbed Lou’s back. He knew that she was upset and embarrassed but he didn’t know what to do. He was angry at Cody for upsetting her and angry at Rayne for embarrassing her.

“Leave me alone, Kid.” Lou said. She felt betrayed by him.

He gave a defeated sigh and laid down on his bunk. After a few moments he yelled at the others to shut up and then went to sleep.

“Why did I have to come?” Lou asked the sky as she rode to Rayne’s house. “Why didn’t Cody do this he’s the one that likes her?”

“Because Rayne asked you to join her.” Rachel reminded her earlier that day.

Lou dismounted and went to knock on the front door. No one answered. “Where is she? I ain’t got all day.”

“I’m right here.” A voice said from above Lou. Lou turned her head to see Rayne sitting on top of Loki smiling at her, Yona standing next to the horse. “You ready.”

“Ya.” Lou said harshly and got on her horse. She didn’t return Rayne’s friendly smile. Both women rode toward the city silently with Yona following.

“You don’t like me too much, do you Lou?” Lou remained silent. Rayne raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Why?” Still, Lou reminded silent. “Is it because you think that I’m gonna move in on you boy, Kid?” Rayne laughed at Lou’s shocked face.

“Wha-? What are you talking about?” Lou sputtered.

“Lou. Why do you dress like a boy?”

“How? What? How did you know?” Lou finally got out.

Rayne laughed. “Well, for one you were way too mature to be a boy our age.” Lou laughed. “Two, you looked at Kid like he was the only man in the room.” Lou blushed. “And three, you hated me for no good reason and only a woman does that.”

Lou looked at Rayne and for the fist time gave the woman a genuine smile. Then she remembered the way Kid and the others talked about her and Lou’s smile left. “What do you want with the boys?” And by “the boys” she meant Kid.

“What?” Rayne asked surprised. “I don’t want nothing with anyone. Why?”

“No reason.” She said hurriedly.

“You worried about the Kid?”

“No, what are you talking about?” Lou asked.

Rayne laughed heartily. “What’s so funny?” Lou demanded.

“Well, all the while you were looking at Kid like he was the only man in the room, he was looking at you like you were the only woman in it. I think the only time he stopped looking at you was when Ike brought Loki out. But trust me Kid really ain’t Loki’s type.” She said as she rubbed the horse’s neck. The horse looked back as if he knew Rayne was talking about him.

Lou tried to glare at Rayne but she couldn’t help but laugh. By the time that the girls reached town they were on the way to becoming friends. Lou noticed the woman beside her stiffen as they walked through the town. People were staring at the stranger in front of them. “Hey Rayne, people in this town are good but nosy.” Rayne nodded to the shorter woman but her lips remained in a firm line.

William Cody had never finished his chores in such as short time. He rushed through them and then ran to Teaspoon. “Teaspoon I’m done with everything can I go with Jimmy and Noah.”

“What? Oh-I guess if they don’t mind?” Teaspoon said slowly with a raised eyebrow.

“Great.” He gave Teaspoon the patented Cody smile and then ran to Jimmy who was saddling his palomino. “Jimmy I’m going with you.”

“Why?” The cowboy gave his friend an odd look then he remembered. “You’re going ‘cause Lou and Rayne went into town aren’t you? Geeze- Cody give it a rest.”

“Jimmy you can not stop true love.”

“It’s not true love. She doesn’t know you’re alive.” Noah said from behind him.

“What do you know?” Cody finished saddling his horse and got on, Jimmy and Noah followed his led. “Why are we going again?”

Noah shook his head. “I ordered new gloves and Tompkins said that they would be in this week. We’re going to pick them up.” The three rode into town.

Lou showed Rayne the town and introduced her to a few people. Then Rayne told Lou that she had to go to the bank. Yona was told to stay outside and the dog walked next to her mistress’ horse and sat down. Rayne walked up to the teller and immediately the bank manager came out of his office and ushered the woman back with him. Lou waited for a few minutes before Rayne came back with a dazed look on her face. Then she asked Lou if Lou wanted lunch.

Rayne was in shock. That was all that there was to it. Complete and total shock. Jeremy Elliot had left her enough money to take care of her for five lifetimes. Lou and Rayne walked into the saloon to grab a bite to eat. “Rayne, you okay?” Lou asked after they ordered a couple of sandwiches.

“Ya. Uh- sorry. Just some interesting news.”

They sat and ate talking about little things. Rayne told Lou a little about working on the Belle Fille. She told about Sam Littlefeather and Charlie. Lou told Rayne about how difficult it was be the only girl in a group full of boys. “Belle Fille? What does that mean?” Lou asked.

“It means beautiful girl in French.” Rayne said absently.

“What kind of guy names his ranch “Beautiful Girl”?”

Rayne stared into the distance. “I really didn’t know Mr. Elliot that well.” She shook her head. “Can I ask you something?” Lou nodded. “Is there something wrong with Cody, he seems a little off to me?”

Lou looked stunned and then laughed. “No. That’s just Cody.”

They finished their meal and walked over to Tompkins’ store. Rayne said that she needed to get a few things. When they walked up to the store in Lou was surprised to see Jimmy, Noah, and Cody’s horses outside. Again Yona waited outside with the horses as the girl’s went in.

Noah saw the girls first and nodded at them. Lou smiled and walked toward him as Rayne went to look around the store. She pushed her hat down and let it hang from her neck. Looking around the store she realized that she needed more things that she had ability to take home. “I’m gonna have to bring Beau and the wagon back here.” She thought to herself. Her head was down in concentration as she tried to make a mental list of all she needed. Rayne wasn’t watching where she was going as she was thinking and before she knew it she ran into what she thought was a wall. When she looked up and saw that the wall was wearing a jacket she began to apologize. “I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Don’t worry about it.” A familiar voice came from above her. “Hey Rayne.”

Rayne looked up to see Jimmy’s smiling face. “Hi Jimmy. What are you doing here?”

“Noah came to get a pair of gloves that he ordered and Cody and I came with him.” He explained.

“Cody’s here too?” She questioned looking for the blonde rider. When Cody was around he always seemed to be staring at her with and expression that Rayne didn’t understand, it made her feel a little uncomfortable.

Jimmy wasn’t quite sure why but Rayne’s interest in Cody seemed to annoy him. “He’s over there if you want to go talk to him.” He said pointing to a group of girls that seem to have gathered around the talkative blonde rider.

“No, I would rather stay over here.” She said a little too quickly and Jimmy smiled at her. “Well I’m gonna look around some more.”

Lou walked up to Jimmy. “Hey.” She said. “Whatcha looking at?”

He held up a bottle of leather oil. “So how you and Rayne getting along. I heard you arguing with Rachel about coming today.”

“Turns out. Rayne knew about me. She wanted to know why I did it, that’s why she wanted me to come.” Lou said. “I ain’t sure how she knew though. But it’s kinda nice to have another woman to talk to. She ain’t so bad once you get to know her.”

Rayne walked up to the counter to talk to the man that ran the store. Noah introduced her. She and Mr. Tompkins made arrangements for Rayne to stop by tomorrow and get everything that she needed.

“You gonna be able to get it all back by yourself.” Tompkins asked the new girl.

She gave Mr. Tompkins an odd look. No one had ever asked her whether or not she could or couldn’t do something. And she found that she didn’t like the innuendo that she couldn’t handle a simple task. “Of course I can take care of it.”

“If you need help Rayne, I’m free tomorrow.” Cody said from behind her.

Another one that thought she was incompetent. “Thank you Cody but as I told Mr. Tompkins I can take care of it.” She said with some edge to her voice.

Cody wasn’t sure why Rayne was speaking to him with such hostility but Lou understood. Ever since the boys found out that she was a girl they always seconded guess her ability to handle things. It was aggravating.

They all left the store together and walked to where the horses were tied up. Yona studied the approaching people with a steady eye. She was beginning to learn that these people were okay. Rayne rubbed the top of the dog’s head and gave it a piece of jerky she had bought in the store. “I guess we head home now.” She said.

The five young people mounted their horses and began to ride through the town. When they passed the saloon one of the working girls that lived above it called down. “Rayne?” “Rayne Kincade?”

“Who is it?” Rayne said looking around trying to find out where the voice had come from.

“Up here.”

Rayne looked up and her face broke into a huge smile. “Tilly is that you?” But the woman was gone. Rayne leapt from her horse and walked toward the saloon. It only took a few seconds for a older, blonde woman to come out of the saloon. She approached Rayne slowly.

“Baby Rayney. I would recognize you anywhere with those eyes. Look at you.” The woman said as she walked toward the younger woman. “I ain’t seen you since you were a little girl and now look at you all grown up.”

“Tilly.” Rayne exclaimed. “How you been?”

The riders didn’t know exactly what to do so they just watched the scene in front of them. The woman that apparently knew Rayne was a working girl. Jimmy could tell that at one time she had been a beauty but had passed her prime a while ago. He wondered how Rayne knew this woman.

Tilly reached out to embrace Rayne but stopped. She stared at Rayne with questioning blue eyes. “Still haven’t gotten over it have, ya?” She said more as a statement than a question.

“What are you talking ‘bout Till?”

“You know girl. Oh well, stand back let me look at you. Jesus girl, you got you mamma’ s figure didn’t ya. But you still got you’re daddy’s gray eyes. I thought they would change when you got older. I see you finally grew into those legs of yours. I remember you running around looking like a spindly little colt. You mamma would be proud to see how pretty you turned out.” She clasped her hands to her heart. “It’s just so good to see you.”

“Tilly you haven’t changed a bit. Still the biggest lier I ever seen.”

“Hush your mouth child.”

“What are you doing here?”

“You remember Gus?” Rayne nodded. “Well I married the fool. He got a job, playing piano here so here I am. Gave up the life and now I just sing. You better go girl, it was good to see you.”

Rayne raised an eyebrow. “What? Why?” She looked around and saw all the crowd they were drawing.

“You can’t be seen with me. You know how it is.”

“Tilly, when have I ever cared?”

“Bless you child. You did have a heart of gold.” She reached out and stroked the girl’s dark hair.

“I have to come into town tomorrow. Have lunch with me? My treat.”

Tilly smiled. “Okay. But you get now.”

“See you tomorrow.” Rayne said as she jumped back on her horse and started down the road. Her head held high as she heard the mutterings from town’s people. Lou and the others followed her, silently.

“How do you know Tilly?” Cody asked after they left town. He didn’t know the woman first hand but he knew that she sang in the saloon and used to be one of the working girls.

“She’s an old friend.” Rayne said vaguely and rode on.

Beau neighed as Rayne approached him. She had just finished her lunch with Tilly and was on her way to Tompkins’ store to pick up her groceries. It had been a wonderful lunch; Tilly hadn’t mentioned anything about Rayne’s parents to Rayne’s delight. Instead Tilly told her all the stories that she had heard about the Pony Express riders. It didn’t surprise Rayne to learn that Tilly knew quite a lot about them. She told Rayne all sorts of things most of it just romantic gossip. Rayne heard which of the girls in the town liked which of the riders and so forth. She was glad to hear that Tilly didn’t know about Lou’s secret because for all Tilly’s goodness she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

Gus played the piano throughout lunch. It was good to see the older man again. Gus was always a thin, short man but he seemed even smaller now than Rayne remembered. He had aged greatly in the past few years but he had the same kind blue eyes. When he had seen Rayne he hadn’t said “hi” or any other salutation, instead he sat down and began to play an old familiar song. Soon Rayne sat down and began playing too. Slowly Tilly began to pick up on the tune and sang softly. Her voice was husky and it fit the song wonderfully. Tilly looked at Gus adoringly as she held the last few notes.

“Some-one to watch--” She stopped and smiled at her husband. “Over me.”

The couple gazed happily at each other as people applauded behind them. Rayne felt a little out of place but Gus finally turned around and looked at her. “Still got it, Rayney.” He said. “Good to see ya haven’t forgot Old Gus.”

“Never.” She said honestly. And she and Tilly had returned to lunch.

Tilly and Gus watched as Rayne crossed the street to Tompkins store. “Can’t get over her Tilly?” Gus told his wife. “Who would have though we would have run into Rayne Kincade again? I thought that night that Jeremy Elliot took her away was the last night that we’d ever see her. She turned out to be such a beauty. Favors her daddy a lot though.”

“She don’t know though.” Tilly stated.

“What that she looks like Jeremy?”

“No, that she’s a looker. She ain’t changed from that little girl we used to know.” Tilly thought back to the time that she had spent at Nelly’s when Rayne was a little girl. Rayne would spend hours with the older girls trying to do anything to make them happy and it worked. Everyone adored the child, except Abigail Kincade, Rayne’s mother.

Abigail Kincade was a shallow woman. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, dark brown hair and big blue eyes. Every man who came into Nelly’s wanted her and all the younger girls wanted to be her. Abby seemed to know just what each man wanted from her. For some she was their mother, some their daughter, and some just their woman. Each and every man paid her well to stay with him for as long as she would. She was the only woman that Tilly thought deserved to be a whore.

When she had heard that Abby was pregnant again Tilly was sure that Abby was going to get rid of it like the others. Tilly remembered the how shocked she was when she heard that Abby was keeping this baby. She had cried for the unborn baby because she knew what life that it was being born too. Why would Abby force that on a child? Then Tilly heard Abby’s plan.

Jeremy Elliot had walked into Nelly’s one bright summer day and like everyone else was struck by Abigail. To him she was an angel; he saw no fault in her. Abby looked at Jeremy and was also struck. Not by his strong jaw, dimpled smile, or caring gray eyes; no, Abby, was struck by his pocketbook. To Abby, Jeremy Elliot was a walking gold mind. He gave her anything that she wanted all she had to do was mention it.

Seeing as how Jeremy was a smart man he saw through Abby a little faster than most but it was too late, the damage was done. When Jeremy left Abby she pulled out all the stops. Tears, angry words, blackmail. But nothing stopped Jeremy and Abby’s income from walking away. Nothing made him come back until Abby told him she was pregnant with his child.

Tilly remembered the rage Jeremy had been in when he heard that Abby would get rid of the baby if he didn’t pay her. Jeremy Elliot had had no other kids then and wasn’t about to let Abby harm his first-born. So that was how Abby survived and lived well during her pregnancy. Extortion, pure and simple. Tilly felt so sorry for the man. Every time he delivered the checks he looked worse and worse.

A few weeks before the baby was due Jeremy Elliot had stopped coming by. His new wife found out about Abby and the baby and made Jeremy chose her or them. He chose her. Abby’s rage couldn’t be controlled. She damned him, damned all men, and most of all damned the baby inside of her. “I’m gonna drowned this thing the moment it’s born.” She would yell to Nelly. Finally the saloon owner had enough. “Abby when that baby’s born if you touch one hair on its head you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I’ll make sure of that.” Abby stayed quiet after that. No one messed with Nelly.

Rayne came one spring afternoon. It was an easy birth. Jeremy Elliot came to see his daughter the day after she was born. He held her for almost two hours before the baby had to be feed and a wet nurse took her away. As the little girl held on to one of his fingers he knew that she was special and he would do anything for her. Jeremy ushered Nelly, Tilly, and Abby into Nelly’s office. He told the women that he would be sending money every month for the child and Abby was to have none of it. Tilly nodded in approval. Abby screamed in disbelief. He would send the money secretly and he didn’t want Rayne to know who he was.

Then he turned and glared at Abby. Tilly had only seen Jeremy Elliot as a kind and gentle man but his wasn’t the Jeremy she was used to seeing. A deep hatred shown in his eyes and his mouth was set in a firm line. He walked over to Abby, put his hands on her arms and lifted her up to meet him eye to eye. In a low menacing growl he told Abby, “If you ever hurt that child. I’ll kill you.” And Tilly didn’t doubt him one second. He turned toward Nelly and Tilly. “One day I will come for her and take her with me. Until then keep her safe.” Then he walked and kissed the sleeping baby and left.

As the child grew she was treasure to everyone. Gus taught her to play a few songs on the piano, Tilly taught her to sing, and Nelly taught her to reading, writing, and mathematics. The child caught on to everything and would smile and laugh with everyone. Even most of the gamblers and cowboys liked the child. Some of the regulars taught her how to ride. Rayne had taken to horses like a fish to water.

She was a gregarious child until her mother was around. Much to the chagrin of everyone Rayne adored Abby. The moment that Abby walked into the room Rayne became a statue, because Abby didn’t like for the child to make noise around her. She wouldn’t talk or smile, just watch whatever Abby was doing. If Abby happened to be alone, Rayne would follow the woman wherever she went. It was heart breaking to see the toddler try to keep up with the mother that ignored her. When she got older people told her that she was smart or pretty she would just smile and say “Thank you” in a way that showed it was for politeness only. But when Abby said she like Rayne better when she was clean. Rayne had refused to go outside for three weeks.

The last time Tilly had seen Rayne, until yesterday, was the night that Jeremy came to take her away. Everyone was sad to see her go but so happy to have her away from Abby. They were tired of watching the child died in front of them.

Tilly smiled at Rayne’s retreating form. She had hoped that the time at Jeremy Elliot’s ranch had helped the child grow into what she used to be but it didn’t look so. Rayne was friendly and talkative. But when Tilly looked into those eyes all she saw was emptiness. Like a part of the girl was shut down. Holding back the tears in her eyes she looked at her husband and he grabbed her hand in support. “She’s gonna be fine, Till.”

Rayne started loading the wagon with the stuff that she had bought from Tompkins’ when Yona growled. She turned around and saw exactly whom she suspected to see. “Hi Cody.” She said with a dimpled smile and rolled eyes.

“Well Rayne Kincade. Fancy meeting you here.”

Somehow she knew that Cody was going to show up. As much as he baffled her with his odd ways, there was something abut him. “You knew I was going to be here, Eagle eye.”

“Eagle eye? How did you know about that? I see my reputation precedes me.” He said smiling.

“I had lunch with Tilly. She knows everything about everyone. I know more about you boys than I ever wanted to.” Rayne smiled and her dimple deepened. “Like all the girls that are sweet you?”

Cody was happy because he thought that the young woman was asking about him was a good sign. But when she mentioned all the girls that liked him she got his full attention. “Like who?”

“Well, if I’m not mistaken here comes one of them.” Rayne nodded down the street at the young woman who was giving her a dirty look and smiling at Cody like she was a saint. “Ain’t that Grace Foster coming this way.” Rayne gave the green-eye, brunette a polite smile.

“Hello Mr. Cody.” Grace said and then gasped as the dog that stood next to the woman with Cody growled. The woman reached down to pat the beast on the head.

“Grace.” He was shocked. Grace Foster was the prettiest girl in town but she didn’t seem to want to give him the time of day.

“I don’t believe I know your friend, Mr. Cody.” Grace said sweetly but her eyes didn’t match her voice. She knew who this woman was and already didn’t like her. The whole town was talking about Rayne Kincade and how pretty she was. Grace studied her competition and didn’t see what the fuss was about. Besides the woman wore dingy men’s clothing, her hair disheveled, and she traveled with a mangy, ugly dog.

“Rayne Kincade.” Rayne saw the way that Grace looked her up and down and wrinkled her nose at Rayne’s appearance. But politely she held out her hand, which Grace just stared at as if she was insulted. She gave Grace an angry look.

“Grace Foster.” The other young woman said with a superior air. “Well, Mr. Cody. I haven’t seen you in town in a while. Where have you been hiding yourself?”

“Cody, I got to finish loading this wagon, why don’t you carry that home for Miss Foster.” Rayne said looking at the package that Grace was holding. “It looks really heavy.” She said sarcastically as she lifted the huge sack of flour in the wagon. Cody didn’t know which way was up trying to decide between the two girls.

Grace locked her arm through Cody’s as he took the package from her and shot Rayne a triumphant look. “Nice to meet you Ms. Katon, was it?”

“Kincade. But don’t worry I’m sure it was an honest mistake. It is a very hard name to remember.” Rayne said sympathetically. Grace shot her a vicious look and Rayne smiled sweetly.

“We’ll see you later. Come along Mr. Cody.”

“I’m counting the minutes.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “Bye Cody,” her voice cheerful now.

“Bye Rayne.” He said in a confused voice and allowed himself to be pulled down the street.

It took Rayne only a few more minutes to load the wagon after Cody left. She didn’t like Grace Foster one bit. But if Cody wanted to spend his time with her that was his own choice. “Grace Foster isn’t the nicest girl in town.” A voice said from behind Rayne. “But she is one of the prettiest.”

“It’s been my experience that whenever a lot of people say that someone has a pretty face it’s because that the only thing that’s up there to complement.” She said as she turned around to face Teaspoon. She was surprised that Yona didn’t bark when he approached.

Teaspoon smiled at the girl. “How ya doin’ Rayne?”

“Good. You?”

“Can’t complain. Tompkins treat you okay with all this?”

“Ya, except he kept asking if I could handle all this. What does he think I do all day knit?” She said exasperated. “He kept buzzing around me wondering if I was going to drop something.”

“That’s Tompkins. Are you heading home now?”

“I was fixin’ to.”

“What are you doing for dinner?”

“Eatin’ it I guess.”

Teaspoon chuckled. “You been hangin’ ‘round Cody to long.”

“Naw. Besides he’s with Grace. Poor, poor, Cody.” She laughed at the though of Cody having to listen to that whiny voice all day.

“You upset ‘bout that?” Teaspoon questioned and watched the woman carefully.

Rayne looked at Teaspoon with a confused expression. “No. Why would I be?”

“No reason.” The young woman didn’t’ seem to be taken with Cody as he was with her. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?”

“Teaspoon I was just over there the other night. I can’t be intruding on ya’lls home all the time. No thank you though.”

“Nonsense. You ain’t intruding.”

“No it’s okay Teaspoon. I just spent a fortune on food I might as well start using it.” She said shrugging off his invitation and climbing up in the wagon.

“Kincade you ain’t arguing with me. If you ain’t over at the house at dusk I’ll send a few of the boys after ya.” Teaspoon said smiling up at her.

“Fine.” She said unhappily. “I guess that if I have to eat more of Rachel’s home cooking, I will.”

“See ya tonight.” Teaspoon smiled at her sarcasm.

“Bye Teaspoon.” Rayne said as she drove off. She was kind of happy she didn’t have to cook tonight. Maybe she should bring something but she didn’t have anything. As she was wondering what she could take she rode though the town, not paying attention to anything or anyone. Because if she were she would have seen a pair of eyes that followed her all the way through town.

Oliver Hudson watched as she rode out of town. When he tipped his hat to the woman that was loading her wagon outside of Tompkins’ store he hadn’t expected to see something like her staring up at him. Dark brown hair, honey colored skin and gray eyes that he seemed to get lost in. He would have stayed right there on that street looking into her eyes for the rest of his life is one of the men behind him hadn’t urged him on. Since then he had been watching her out of his window. She talked to a young man that walked away with another pretty young fawn and then the marshal had come up to talk to her. He watched everything that she did. “Who is she?”

“Lieutenant.” A voice came from behind the door. “They need you outside.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.” He watched as the girl left his site and gave a regretful sigh. “Who is she?”

Jimmy watched as Cody sailed through the doorway with a dreamy look on his face. “What’s with you?” He asked his friend.

“I’m in love.” He said as he sunk on to his bunk. “She’s the most beautiful, wonderful, sophisticated woman alive.”

“You sound like you know from experience.” Noah stated.

“Oh I do. I just spent the day with the woman of my dreams.” He smiled. “Don’t you think that she’s the most beautiful woman alive. Her skin is so soft. You know she let me kiss her when I walked her to her door. She so perfect.” He sighed.

Everyone was silent for a moment and just stood staring at Cody with surprised looks on their face. “You kissed Rayne!” Buck exclaimed.

“No way.” Lou seconded. Jimmy just glared at Cody from his bunk.

“Rayne? What? No, not her, Grace Foster.” He said happily.

“Grace Foster? I thought you thought that Rayne was perfect?” Kid said.

“Rayne is nice in her own way. But Grace is amazing.”

Jimmy gave his friend an annoyed looked and went outside. He was surprised to see Rayne dismounting in the front yard. Yona barked happily and wagged her tail as Jimmy approached. Rayne looked down in surprise at the dog’s greeting. “Hey girl.” Jimmy said as he knelt down to the dog’s level and held out his hand.

Yona approached the outstretched hand with caution. It took a few seconds but the dog tentatively smelt Jimmy’s hand and then turned her head back to Rayne. When Yona looked at Rayne so did Jimmy. Rayne watched Yona to she what she would do. When the dog turned her attention back to Jimmy so did Rayne. She watched as he stared the dog.

He watched Rayne’s eyes as she looked at the dog and then the dog’s stare at its mistress. Then when Yona turned her attention back to Jimmy he realize that he was face to face with an animal that could rip out his throat. Yona bared her teeth as if to intimidate him but Jimmy didn’t back down. It was at that moment that Jimmy noticed how big the dog really was. When it stood next to Rayne, Yona’s head came about the middle of Rayne’s thigh. Looking at the snarling dog Jimmy wondered if the dog had some wolf in it because Jimmy could swear that at that moment Yona wasn’t just a dog.

She gave one loud bark and then licked Jimmy’s hand as if to say that he had passed the test. Flushed with relief he ran his hand over the dog’s head and neck. “Hey girl. Good girl.” Yona barked happily and ran around him.

“I think you passed.” Rayne said.

“I’m glad. For a minute there I thought she was going attack me.”

“She won’t attack unless she thinks you are going to hurt me or unless I tell her too.” Rayne smiled at him.

“Remind me not to make you mad.” He returned her smile. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh,” She looked upset. “Teaspoon invited me to dinner. But I can go.”

“No, why would you go?”

“’Cause he didn’t tell anyone I was coming.”

“So, we always have room for one more.”

“Hey Rayne.” A voiced called from behind them. Lou, Kid, and Buck walked up to he pair. Rayne nodded hello at them.

“Rayne’s havin’ dinner with us.” Jimmy said as he smiled down at the woman.

Dinner was normal. It was as of everyone one accepted the fact that Rayne was just there, not as someone special. They all talked and teased just like every other day. Rayne had only looked over at her Yona and her gun a few times. She smiled and laughed along with everyone. They asked about different part of her life but she always kept her answers rather vague. She just didn’t want them to know too much about her past. For some reason she just needed to keep it a secret.

Rachel watched her boys and Lou around the table; she was amazed at how they had grown over the time that she had known them. Buck had something that made everyone laugh and Rachel saw Rayne laugh. Rayne finished laughing and stared of in the distance. A huge wave of familiarity washed over her. It was that far way that looked that Rachel seemed to know. It was right on the tip her tongue but it wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She tried for the rest of the night to place her, but as Rayne rode away she still had no idea.

Rayne rode Loki into town. She had already made her weekly trip into town but she was so bored she had to get away from her house. In had been four weeks since she had moved to Sweetwater, so far she had white washed the walls in her house, planted a garden in the back and built a fence. It had been declared that Rayne’s house was the unofficial escape zone for any of the riders. There wasn’t a day that went by when one of the riders didn’t stop by. Lou, Jimmy, and Ike were the over there the most, but Rayne had spent a lot of time with each of the riders on a one on one basis. They would come over just to relax and talk. It was nice not being alone all the time.

For the past couple of days she had woken up with almost nothing to do. She swept out he house at least three times, mucked out Beau and Loki’s stalls at least twice and weeded her new garden half a dozen. Rayne ordered new curtains and dishes for the house they were supposed to be in next week but she decided just to go head and go into town to see if they were there yet.

Once a week she would go to town and have lunch with Tilly and Gus. Then she would stop at Tompkins’ store, it never failed, he would ask her if she needed help getting all of it home. And after that she would stop by and talk to Teaspoon for a few minutes. That was were she was headed now. She tied Loki in front of the marshal’s office and walked in. She noticed that Jimmy and Buck’s horses were outside also.

“Rayne, what are you doing here?” Teaspoon asked when he saw the young woman walk into his office.

“Is everything okay?” Jimmy asked worriedly.

She raised an eyebrow at him. They were acting really strange. “Ya. I just ordered some things from Tompkins and I was going to check if they were in. I stopped by to say hi. What’s going on?”

Jimmy looked at Teaspoon surreptitiously and then answered quickly, “Nothing much.” Teaspoon and Buck nodded in agreement. “But we are kind of in the middle of something.”

Rayne looked at them. She hadn’t missed the look that Jimmy gave Teaspoon. “Okay. Well I’m gonna go over to Tompkins store see ya’ll in a while.” She shook her head as she walked toward the door.

“Good idea.” Teaspoon called after her. “Come to dinner tonight.” Rayne nodded and left.

“Do you think she thinks anything’s going on?” Buck asked.

“Nah. What are we gonna do?” Jimmy asked Teaspoon. The MacMurphy Brothers rode into town last night. Steven, Aaron, Robert and Isaac MacMurphy better know as the Notorious MacMurphy Brothers were known stagecoach robbers. They were wanted in four territories for the murder of 23 people and had taken 5 stages. They killed everyone on the stage and took everything from them. Teaspoon had noticed them as the rode in.

“Well, Jimmy, we’re gonna have to arrest them. You, me, Buck and Barnett.” Teaspoon explained as he loaded his rifle and started walking toward the saloon.

“Shouldn’t we ask the army for some assistance.” Barnett asked as they passed the Army offices.

“That Lt. Hudson said that they had too much on his plate to deal with this. Be careful boys.” He said as he entered; the men behind him nodded solemnly.

Robert and Aaron were sitting playing poker in the corner of the saloon. Both were large, fair-headed men that were somewhere in their late twenties. Stephen, the oldest and group’s leader sat at the bar. He was also fair-headed, but slightly smaller than his brothers were and more intelligent. Shrewdly he watched the four men enter the building with dark eyes. Isaac the most handsome and youngest really didn’t look like his brothers. As dark as they were fair and as wiry as they were thick. There was talk that he was only a half-brother to the rest of the boys. Isaac was a definite ladies man. At this moment he was turning his charm on a young girl that worked at the saloon. Stephen whistled and his brother’s turned their head toward the men coming in. “Howdy Marshal.” Stephen said with a low southern drawl.

“MacMurphy, you and you brothers are under arrest. Come quietly.” Teaspoon said his voice evenly as he raised his rifle to Stephen’s chest. When Teaspoon raised his gun the rest of the men did the same and the civilians ran out of the saloon. Isaac grabbed the girl he had been flirting with and turned his gun on her.

“Don’t think so. See if you don’t let us go. Isaac over there will put a bullet in that whore’s head. You wouldn’t want that would you.” Isaac giggled maniacally behind them.

Teaspoon looked over and saw the wicked smile on the young man’s face and the bloodlust craze in his eyes. “Let her go.”

“Can’t do it Marshal. Now back up.” He raised his gun at Teaspoon’s head. “My brothers and I are leaving. You fellas get over here. Buck, Jimmy and Barnett joined Teaspoon by the bar but didn’t lower their guns. The MacMurphy brothers began backing out of the saloon with their guns on the four men. Isaac left first his gun still at the girl’s neck. Buck moved his gun a little to get a better position on Stephen. “Uh-Uh-Ua. Isaac hears one shot and that girl’s history.”

“Teaspoon, he gets outa here he’s gonna kill her anyway.” Jimmy said quietly.

“I know, Jimmy. I know.”

Isaac left the saloon and looked toward the horses. They weren’t there. “Bobby,” He called softly to his brother who was still inside. “Where are the horses?”

“What are you talking about? They’re tied up outside.” His brother answered.

“No-” He started before he felt the gun at the back of his head.

“Let her go.” A voice said close to his ear. “Now.”

“Isaac?” Robert yelled.

If Isaac wasn’t mistaken he heard a woman behind him. “Lower you’re gun or I’ll kill her.” He called back.

“Isaac?” His brother yelled again.

“Isaac, is that your name. Well Isaac if you don’t let her go I’ll put a hole the size of New Orleans in the back of you head”

“You do that and the bullet will either go through me into her or my gun will go off. Either way she’s dead.”

“Okay well drop you gun.”

“Isaac, what’s going on?” Robert called. Something was wrong with his little brother; he just knew it.

Isaac’s eyes widened. Did this girl really think he was gonna drop his gun cause she told him to? “No.” He said shortly.

“Fine. I’ll help.” Rayne wasn’t sure exactly what was going on. All she knew was Teaspoon, Buck, and Jimmy were inside and these men had guns on them. Isaac held the girl with his right hand because it was stronger, that meant that his left hand was holding is gun. Rayne held her gun with her right hand and pulled a knife with her left hand and quickly jabbed into his left shoulder.

What happened next lasted only a few seconds but Rayne saw it in slow motion and it seemed to take hours. Isaac screamed in pain and lowered his gun, and then he shoved the girl he held away so he could use his right hand to pull the knife out. Every one turned at the sound of Isaac’s scream. Robert ran outside and saw his brother’s arm bleeding and a woman standing behind him with a gun. He raised his gun at the woman and started to fire, Isaac was in the way. Isaac dropped to the ground so his brother would have a clear shot but the woman behind him was too quick.

Rayne had turned her gun to the man that ran outside the moment he was out the door. The man waited for Isaac to fall out of the way before he shot and those few seconds were all she needed. She shot him once. As he fell his gun went off a few more times but the bullets flew in different directions.

When the men inside heard the gunfire they immediately started firing. Stephen jumped behind a table. Barnett hurdled over the bar. Teaspoon, Buck and Jimmy scattered in different directions as they fired. Aaron took two bullets in the chest before he had time to move.

Isaac looked into the eyes of his brother that lay in front of him. They were void of life. “Bobby.” He whispered sadly, then turned to fire up at the girl. Before he knew what was happening, a monster had attached itself to his arm and was trying to rip it out of the socket.

“Yona.” Rayne whispered loudly. The dog released her hold on the man but stared over him growling. Rayne knelt down, one leg on either side of the man’s body. The man glared up at her but before he could say anything Rayne hit him as hard as she could across the jaw and he blacked out. Rayne shook her hand trying to get rid of the pain. “Yona, you dumb dog, I told you to stay with Loki.” She said as she rubbed the dog’s head in appreciation and Yona gave her a doggie smile.

On to Chapter 11!