Rayne rode into town a few days later. Her first stop was of course to go and see Tilly. As she walked into the saloon she notice a two strangers in the bar. She gave them a hard glance trying to see if they possessed any danger. They seemed to be just regular drunkards and she didn’t pay them any mind and sat down with Tilly. “Who are they?” She said nodding over her shoulder.

“They came in last night ruffed up a few girls. Tried to get them to leave but the Marshal’s not here. He had to go see about some stolen cattle. Sure wished they’d leave though.” She shook her head. “Heard you’re a bit of a hero.”

“What?” She wasn’t sure what Tilly was referring too then she remembered the fight with the MacMurphys. “It wasn’t as big a deal as everyone was making it out to be. I’m just glad you weren’t here.”

“If it were any other day we would have been. Gus decided he wanted to go into Rock Creek for a few days. Glad we missed it. But you shouldn’t have put yourself in danger like that.”

“Till don’t start. I already been yelled at couple of times before.” Rayne rolled her eyes at the memory.

“I knew that Teaspoon was good man. He should have yelled at you. No girl needs to be out there with a gun.”

“Damn it, Tilly, if you don’t sound like everyone else here. Just ‘cause I’m a girl don’t mean that I can’t handle myself. Besides Teaspoon thanked me.”

“Where’s the girls?” A loud yell came from one of the men on the other side of the saloon. Rayne gave them a dirty look.

“Girl, if you aint got your daddy’s stupid courage. Who yelled at you?” Tilly asked ignoring the men.

“Jimmy.” She said shortly ignoring Tilly’s raised eyebrows. “Tilly I have to ask you an important question.” Tilly nodded solemnly. “Did you know Jeremy Elliot?”

Buck walked across the street to the Teaspoon’s office. He noticed that Loki was standing tied outside the saloon and Yona lay on the ground. He knew that Rayne was probably visiting the woman that she knew there. When he entered the saloon he was surprised to see Noah but not Teaspoon.

Tilly sighed deeply. “I knew that soon you would ask me about him. Sit down girl, I knew that you would be asking this soon. Jeremy Elliot adored you the moment he laid eyes on you.” Rayne stared at the table, she wasn’t sure why but it was really hard to hear about the man that had sired her. “I think that if his wife would have let him he would have taken you away with him the day after you were born. He always had someone around to keep an eye on you. Do you remember the night that he took you? It was a few months after, well, that incident.”

She shut her eyes on the memory of the event that Tilly was referring to. To this day she still had nightmares. It was that incident that caused her to lose all want for human touch. “No I don’t remember anything. One day I was at Nelly’s and the then next at the Belle Fille.” She said trying to remember what had happened.

“That mother of yours was so jealous of the attention that Jeremy paid you. He was the only man that ever walked away from her. Abby, that bitch-”

“Tilly leave you comments of my mother out of this.”

“Child,” Tilly couldn’t understand why Rayne still held the loyalty to Abby. She would have thought that time would have shown her the light. How did she tell Rayne the whole story and not ruin the impression Rayne had of her mother? She couldn’t bring that kind of hurt to the woman in front of her. “Fine. The short version is that one night Jeremy came and demanded that you leave with him. And he took you.”

“Barkeep, bring me whisky!” Another call from the two men.

“Did my mother try to stop him?” Rayne said so softly that Tilly wasn’t sure she heard it.

“How do I tell her this?” She thought. If she told Rayne the truth it would destroy her. If she lied, Rayne would believe in a woman that didn’t exist. In the end Tilly decided for a half-truth. “No, honey. She didn’t”

Rayne held her face like stone. Tilly couldn’t see any expression in her eyes but deep down she knew the child had to be hurting. “Tilly I got to go. I have a couple of things to order from Tompkins. See you next week.” She stood and started to leave the building.

“Well, well, well. Lookie John what do we have here.” A dirty man said as he stood in Rayne’s path. “A whore.” His alcohol-laden breath stung her nose.

“She’s a sweet looking thing, ain’t she Sal.” John said. “Look at them long legs, what I wouldn’t give to have them around me.

Glaring evenly at the man she spoke in a soft tone but with much authority. “Move now.”

“A little spitfire.” Sal, the man in front of her said as he reached out to touch her cheek but Rayne moved her head. “Spitfire indeed. We’ll have fun with this one.”

“Fellas why don’t you leave the lady alone.” Gus said as he moved closer to the group.

One of the men from the town ran over to the marshal’s office and stuck his head in the door. “Trouble at the saloon. Couple of guys trying to get at that lady friend of yours.”

Noah just looked at the man wondering whom he was talking about. But Buck was on his feet in an instant. “Rayne’s over there.” And they walked toward the saloon quickly.

Lt. Hudson had seen Rayne enter the building and walked over to the bar. He had decided that the reason that she had been so cold to him was because of Hickok. Oliver had heard all about Hickok’s reputation and figure that the poor woman was probably scared of him. When he talked to her alone today he was sure that he would win her over.

“Did anyone ask you to interfere old man?” John glared at Gus.

Quickly Rayne stepped in front of Gus. For all of Gus’ bravery Rayne knew that he wouldn’t be any help with these two. Besides they posed no threat, merely harmless drunks. She saw Yona standing in the doorway waiting for word from her mistress. “I’m not a whore. Move out of my way now or I’ll have you arrested.”

The men gave a harty laugh. “All women are whores. They all want the same thing.” Sal said as he put his hands on Rayne’s shoulders and tried to pull her to him.

She brought one powerful knee up and slammed it into the man. He doubled over in pain. Then she lowered her elbow on the back of the man neck. When he hit the floor she looked over to see the state of the other man but Yona had already knocked the man to the ground and was tearing up his arm. In the doorway she saw the army lieutenant who had visited her house was staring at her in shock. “Yona.” The dog released the man and Gus held a gun on him.

Oliver had watched the whole thing. These heathen men had attacked his dove and she had defended herself. Where had she learned the horrible things that she had done to that man? Certainty now lady shouldn’t know those kind of things. His concern over ran his curiosity, “Ms. Kincade are you okay?” He ran to her and put arms around her.

“Get away from me!” She said as she shrugged out of his grasp. After having just fought off two men she was not in the mood to deal with this snake. A smile of relief almost crossed her face when she saw Buck and Noah.

“What happened?” Noah questioned.

Tilly ran up to the boys who she recognized as being deputies of the marshal sometimes. “These two men tried to assault Rayne.”

“They are merely drunk. They didn’t know what they were doing.” Rayne explained.

“Miss Kincade how can you say that? They meant to ravage you.” Oliver said from behind her. He was furious about the way that she had responded to him but he thought that it was just a reaction to being attacked. It would only be a moment before she collapsed in his arms.

“They are only drunk.” She told the boys. “Why else would they pick me? Just lock them up and let them sleep it off. I won’t press any charges.”

Noah didn’t understand her all of her comment but most of what she said was logical. She wasn’t going to press charges then they couldn’t really do anything but better to get them off the street before something worse happened. “Buck cuff that one.” He said pointing to the man Gus had a gun on and went to pick up the man on the floor.

“Get you hands off me Half-breed.” The man spit as Buck cuffed him.

Rayne had had enough. First they attacked her now they were insulting her friends and after she had spared them a lot of jail time. It was too much. She walked over and punched the man right in the gut. “Shut-up pig.”

Buck didn’t even have a chance to react to what the man said before Rayne punched the man. “You bitch.” He heard the man say and notice the blood trickling from his lip. Buck’s gun was out before the man had a chance to finish. “One more word and I’ll change my mind about just locking you up.” In that brief moment Rayne had gained Buck’s unyielding loyalty.

“Miss Kincade allow me to accompany you home.” Oliver said trying to show his chivalry. He was not one to be out done by some Indian. Then he grabbed Rayne’s hand and placed it on his arm and holding it there.

“No thank you, Lt. Hudson.” Rayne jerked her hand away and wiped it on her pants as if to rid herself of the feel of him. “I am not yet done with my errands in town and as you can see I am more than capable of taking care of myself.” She said shortly, desperately wanting to get away from this man.

“Then I will see to it that you have a safe trip through town.”

“No.” Could this man not take a hint? “I will be fine.” She walked passed Noah and Buck and left.

An amazing amount of anger coursed through Oliver. Who did that woman think she was? He was Oliver Hudson, Lieutenant in the United States Army and she was just another wench. Pushing past the men he left the saloon to try again with the girl.

Noah and Buck laughed as Hudson left. They took the men and locked them in the cell and waited for Teaspoon. “That Rayne’s got one hell of a right hook.” Noah said.

“She sure does.” Buck laughed but his tone was full of admiration.

“Miss Kincade.” She heard a voice behind her and groaned. The man had followed her into Tompkins’ store.

“My name is Rayne. Just Rayne.” She said hotly.

He smiled at last he was making progress. To call a woman by her first name was a great step in the courting process. “I hope that you were not injured by the men.”

Rayne walked around the store. She only needed a few items. Yona growled at Hudson and Rayne didn’t reprimand the dog. Why was this man bothering her? “Do I look injured Lt. Hudson?”

“Oliver.”

“Fine, do I look injured Oliver?”

“No in fact Rayne you look wonderful.” He took a step closer to her but the dog moved between them and he had to back up. “I was wondering would you care to have dinner with me tonight.”

“I can’t I have plans.” She lied and placed the groceries on the shelf and waited for Tompkins to tell her the price.

“Well how about tomorrow?”

“Busy.”

“That’ll be five dollars, Rayne.” Tompkins said has he looked from the army man to the woman. “You know the rules Rayne get the dog out.”

“We’ll be leaving in a minute.” She reached to get the money.

“I’ll get that for you.” Hudson said. “What about the day after that?”

“Busy.” She laid the money on the counter before Hudson could put money down and picked up everything she bought. When she got outside she began to load Loki’s saddlebags.

“What is you problem?” He growled as he grabbed the girl’s arm and turned her to face him. Rayne pulled her arm away and glared at him. Yona stepped between the man and her mistress. “Get away you damned dog.” Oliver kicked the dog. Yona moved but not fast enough and Oliver’s boot hit her in the shoulder. The dog yelped and then snapped at the man.

Rayne didn’t think twice, the moment the man struck the dog she snapped. Her hand went flying toward his face. Oliver saw fist coming, before it smashed into his jaw.

He was stunned. No woman had ever raised a hand to him before. It wasn’t even a second before he backhanded the woman. There was a gasp that went through the crowd that had gathered. All of a sudden one hundred and twenty pounds of fur flew at his throat. Oliver threw his hands up to protect his face. And the dog bit at his arm but didn’t get a hold of it. With all his strength he pushed the dog off of him and stood up.

“Who the hell do you think that you are?” Rayne yelled at the man, one side of her face was red from the force of his slap. “Stay away from me.” Yona growled and snarled at the woman’s feet. She began to walk to the horse.

“Get back here.” He yelled. Oliver Hudson was beyond angry and embarrassed. His perfect dove had turned into the devil. “Don’t walk away from me.” But she didn’t turn around, he took a giant step toward the girl but a man with a gun stopped him.

“Don’t touch her.” Jimmy growled at the man. Anger seemed to be radiating from his body. All he had seen was Yona jump on the man and then Rayne yelled.

Teaspoon and Jimmy had ridden up just in time. “Mr. Hudson, I suggest that you return to your men. And don’t let me catch you near Miss Kincade again.” He said evenly with a gun also raised on the man.

“I don’t need your help.” Rayne said from behind them. “I just want all of you to leave me alone.” Jimmy, Teaspoon, and Hudson looked up at the woman on horseback. “Mr. Hudson don’t ever come near me again. Jimmy, Teaspoon thank you for your help but I can fight my own battles.”

Jimmy looked up and noticed that one side of her face was beginning to turn blue and he thought about shooting Hudson on the spot. He didn’t understand why she was mad at him but he didn’t have time to think about it. He cocked the hammer of the gun at the other man.

Hudson picked his hat up off the ground. “Keep that bitch away from me.” He said as he dusted off his pants. That was it for Jimmy, he leapt for the man but Noah and Buck who appeared as if from no where stopped him. “She attacked me marshal. Her and that damn dog. I demand that she be arrested and the dog put down.”

“You lying sack of—If you touch my dog I’ll kill you.” She screamed at the man her eyes had become black fire.

“Do you hear that marshal she threatened me? I want to have her arrested.” Hudson yelled. If he could get her arrested she would be put in a cell with those two men. Maybe that would teach her a lesson in politeness.

“Marshal Hunter.” A voice came from the crowd. “That girl didn’t attack him. He started it.” A murmur of agreement ran through the crowd.

“No that harlot threw herself at him.” Another voice from the crowed said.

“Grace Foster, you keep you lying mouth shut.” Rayne yelled.

“See marshal she’s just another heathen harlot.” Grace called out; she would do anything to see this woman leave town.

“Gracie how would you know you and Bobby Sawyer just came around the corner. She was defending herself marshal.” Tilly yelled. Rayne smiled as Grace blushed and stomped away. Then she gave Tilly a nod of thanks.

“That’s right Teaspoon. He followed her all the way through the store.” Tompkins said. He was going out on a limb because the army gave him a lot of business. Teaspoon nodded at the man

Oliver stomped off. How dare this town turn on him after all he had done for it. He would live to see Rayne Kincade pay if it was the last thing that he did.

Rayne and Yona ran out of town before anyone could stop them. Teaspoon shook his head as Buck and Noah let got of Jimmy. “That girl’s got trouble on the way.”

“If he goes near her I’ll kill him.” Jimmy swore. He didn’t think he could hate someone as much as he hated Oliver Hudson at that moment.

“Ya but she might shoot you for trying to save her.” Buck pointed out. “There’s something that she’s fighting inside of herself.”

“Something that’s making her keep everyone else away.” Noah agreed.

Jimmy remained silent. There was a mystery attached to Rayne Kincade and he was going to figure out what it was. As for Hudson he was lucky to still be alive because every time Jimmy closed his eyes he saw the bruise on Rayne’s cheek and wanted the man dead.

Early the next morning Jimmy rode over to Rayne’s house while the other’s sat down for breakfast. He wanted to talk to her and to see how she was doing. When he rode up he expected Yona to greet him like she always did, but Yona was no where to be seen. Jimmy walked to the barn; no one ever knocked on the front door anymore because Rayne was rarely in her house. Loki was gone.

Beau neighed from his stall as Jimmy approached. There was fresh water and oats for the big animal. Posted on the stall door was a sealed envelope with Lou’s name on it. He grabbed the letter and walked to the house. No one answered when he knocked on the door. “Maybe she went out on a ride.” Jimmy thought out loud, but he had a sinking feeling in his gut.

When Jimmy rode back to the way station everyone was already up and beginning their chores. “Jimmy you missed breakfast.” Rachel said when he got off the horse.

“Lou, found this at Rayne’s.” He handed Lou the letter. Quickly she opened and scanned it. It was a few seconds before she said anything. “What does it say?”

“It says that she’s gone for a few days. Wants me to look after Beau.”

“Does it say where she went?” Buck asked.

Lou shook her head. “No it just says Lou, I had to get out of town. I’ll be gone for a few days. Look in on Beau for me if you don’t mind. Rayne.”

“What’ll we do Teaspoon?” Cody asked.

“What do you me what do we do? We don’t do anything. Rayne will be back maybe she just needs a little time.” Teaspoon nodded. “I’m going into town anyone coming?”

“I am.” Jimmy said. “I got business.” Teaspoon raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“Why she just take off without telling me?” Lou muttered to herself as she went back to her chores. She was hurt that her friend hadn’t told Lou of her plans. Was it because of what happened yesterday? But Rayne wasn’t the type to turn tail and run.

“It’s like Teaspoon said, she just probably needed some time. Ain’t nothing to worry about.” Kid tried to reassure her.

“I ain’t worried, Rayne can take care of herself. I just wonder why she didn’t tell me.” Lou said but smiled appreciatively at Kid when he put his hand on her shoulder. “After what happened yesterday, I just hope she’s okay.”

“Don’t worry. She’s fine.”

Teaspoon and Jimmy pulled their horses up in front of the Marshal’s office. “Jimmy you stay away from Hudson. You hear me?”

“I ain’t planning on running to him, I got some other business to look into.” He said. “But if he tries something, I can’t make any promises.”

“Jimmy stay away. You’re going to see Tilly ain’t you.” He said it more as statement than a question. Jimmy just looked at him. “Are you so sure that’s smart? You wouldn’t want her prying into her life.” ‘Her’ being Rayne.

“Teaspoon, there’s something going on with her and it’s eating her up inside. It’s gonna kill her if she don’t deal with it. Now she’s gone.” Jimmy told the older man. “She ain’t going to tell us what it is, so I’m going to find out.”

“You sure that’s wise?” Teaspoon asked but Jimmy didn’t turn around to answer. Instead he walked strait over to the saloon.

Tilly was wiping down Gus’ piano when Jimmy walked in. She walked the young man walk toward her his hat in his hands. “Hello, ‘mam.” She held out and met his out stretched hand. “My name’s James Hickok.”

“I know who you are son.” She said warily. “Call me Tilly. What I really want to know is why are you here?

“Well ‘mam, I was wondering if I could ask you something?” He said slowly.

“Sit down.” She offered him a chair. “Let me guess you’re asking ’bout Rayne.” Tilly eyed the man. James Hickok didn’t look near as threatening as everyone said that he was. The young man that sat before her had an almost shy nature to him. His eyes were soft but observant. When he nodded she took a deep breath. “Why?”

Jimmy sensed that the way he answered would determine how much the woman told him. “You heard about what went on with the MacMurphy brothers, I’m guessing.” Tilly nodded. “And I saw you there yesterday when that mess happened.”

Again Tilly nodded. She had seen the young man there when that horrible lieutenant attacked Rayne. He had looked like Tilly felt. She was sure that if the Lieutenant had stepped out of line again that Jimmy would have put a hole through him.

“Well I just know that something is eating at her but she won’t let anyone know what. And now she’s taken off.”

Tilly raised her eyebrows. “She still running off is she? Don’t worry when she gets the notion she’ll be back. Been running off like that since she was little. First time she did it had the entire saloon, well most of it anyway, in an uproar. We searched the town, the forest, everywhere. Then just like it nothing was the matter she walked in the back door. Then every now and again when she wanted she’d disappear for a few days. I swear to you each time would scare the living daylights out of me, but then she just walk back in like nothing was wrong.” A faint smile was on her lips at the memory. “I always wondered if she ever stopped.”

“Why?” He asked, wondering why she ran.

“Never asked. Just told her not too. She didn’t listen. Jimmy why don’t you get yourself a drink. I got a feeling that you’re going to be here a while if you want all your questions answered. I’ll answer as much as I feel I can.”

“Rayne was the most wonderful little girl you ever saw.” Tilly said. “Smart as a whip, friendly. You know she never met a stranger. When she was born it was like someone let loose a bundle of sunshine into Nelly’s. I hadn’t wanted Abby to have her but I can’t imagine how different life would have been without her.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow at that comment. “A whore house ain't no place for a baby to grow up.” She said answering his unspoken question. “It was amazing how much you can give somebody and if it ain’t what they need then it’s nothing.”

“I don’t understand.” Jimmy said. The woman that Tilly was describing didn’t sound anything like the Rayne he knew. What had changed the trusting little girl into the untrusting wary woman?

“Rayne, the only thing that she wanted was Abby’s attention. Abby was the center of Rayne’s world but Abby was also the center of Abby’s word. She had no time for her daughter. Rayne would follow her around all day and Abby would yell at her. I swear that woman must have been the devil on earth.” Tilly said angrily. “No matter how much attention me and the other girls gave her, Rayne craved a smile from Abby. Then when she was about seven years old Rayne started going downhill. Her mood changed, her eyes changed. Every time Abby left a room it was like she took the light from Rayne with her.”

Jimmy’s jaw clenched and unclenched. It was hard for him to hear such things happening to a child. “Why did she care so much about Abby if Abby was never a mother to her?”

“I wish I knew. I think that somewhere somehow Rayne got it into her head that no one could love her if her mother didn’t love her. So Rayne did everything to get Abby to love her. She would sit perfectly still for hours if Abby told her to be quiet. She refused to go outside if Abby told her to stay clean. The more Abby pulled away from her, the more Rayne pulled away from everyone else. It was like she began looking at everyone like they were lying to her when they told her she was good or pretty. Damn Abby for doing that to that child. It was like she was killing Rayne right in front of us. When Jeremy Elliot took her away I wept with joy as well as sorrow.”

“What was Jeremy Elliot like?” He already had a picture of the man in his mind. A man who made his daughter work like a dog didn’t rate to highly in his book. “Was he hard? Did he hurt her?”

“Jeremy Elliot was the best thing in Rayne’s life. I’ve never seen a man who love his little girl more. Problem was that he never told her that he was her father and she never knew that he loved her.”

“Why did he make her work on his ranch then? Why wasn’t she with the other children?”

“Mr. Elliot’s wife wouldn’t allow it. That was the reason that he didn’t take Rayne the day she as born. He had two other legitimate daughters that were spoiled and useless. Mr. Elliot had the craziest notions that girls could do the same jobs as boys and freely employed women on his ranch.” Tilly shook her head. “He wanted Rayne to be able to earn her way in the world. I knew a woman who worked as a cook on the Belle Fille for a few years and she kept me posted on the happenings. I knew almost everything until Rayne was fifteen and Gus and I moved.”

Jimmy smiled. “So that’s why she gets so mad when we try to help her. Her head has been filled with the strange notions.”

“Oh no. Mr. Elliot merely helped. Rayne has been stubborn since the day that she was born. Never wanted help from anyone. Besides I hear that you were in that saloon when she took out those men. I wager you should be glad at Jeremy’s teaching.”

“I never said he didn’t do a good thing. She can ride and shoot just as well if not better than any man. But she said that Jack Slade taught her to shoot?”

“Who do you think hired Jack Slade? Jeremy wouldn’t ever go anywhere near Rayne, he merely watched from a distance. He surrounded Rayne with people who could teach her everything he wanted her to know.” She gave him a smug smile as if it was her that hired the men.

“Did you spend a lot of time with her at the Belle Fille?” He asked.

“No.” She said quietly and looked out the window. “After that night that Jeremy took her, no one ever saw her in person again. As girls came and left only a few of us remembered or cared where she was. When I left only Nelly and myself knew who Rayne was. Nelly pass on a two years ago and her son runs the old place now.”

“What happened the night Jeremy took her? You said it was a catch in your voice.”

“I will not talk about it. Rayne doesn’t even remember and I don’t think you should know if she doesn’t.” Tilly said shortly.

“I’m sorry. I just want to understand all of this. Why she doesn’t trust people? Why she won’t open herself to anyone? There are people who care about her but she changes her moods with the wind.” He said softly.

Tilly stared at the man at the table. Was this kind soul the man they called “Wild Bill”? He look like he genuinely cared for Rayne. She wondered how much he cared for her. “It will take a lot of patience to deal with Rayne. She fights off everyone like a wild cat but I wonder what will happen if she ever stops fighting.” She said absently.

“I hope to find out.” Jimmy though to himself. His eyes moved to the window. Why was he pushing this so hard? What was it about Rayne that made him want to help her? When he turned back to Tilly he didn’t understand the twinkle in her eyes. “Tilly why doesn’t she want anyone to touch her?”

“Why that question?” She thought as her face paled dramatically.

“Are you okay, Tilly?” He asked concerned.

“You do know how to pick the difficult questions, don’t you?” Jimmy didn’t understand but something in her voice made her brace himself for what was to come. Tilly took a deep sigh. “A few months before Rayne left with Jeremy Elliot something happened. As you know, well, Abby, me, and the others were working girls. Because we had to work at night Abby used to lock Rayne down in the cellar. It wasn’t the most wonderful place for a child but all the rooms were in use and we couldn’t very well leave her out, it was too dangerous. There were a couple of times when so of the men tried things so it was safer for her here. Or at least that’s how we made ourselves feel better. Rayne was ten at the time.”

Jimmy thought he began to see where this was going and began to pale. He was angry. What kind of man would rape child? Poor Rayne. He had heard that such things made women never want to be with a man again.

She saw the ideas come into his head and knew what he was thinking was wrong. How she wished she could stop and not tell the story. “Anyway one of Abby’s regulars that been dumped from Abby’s schedule. He had who knew who Rayne was and where she was and thought that if he couldn’t have Abby then…” She let her voice trail off, tears began to form in her eyes. “Well he burst into the cellar and try to have his was with Rayne.” She put her arms around herself and then wiped away tears that fell. Her husband came up and put his arms around her. “But Rayne she wasn’t about to let him. She fought him like a tiger.” Tilly almost smiled through his tears. “Somehow Rayne managed to find a knife and stab the man before he could do anything.” Tears fell like raindrops. “The man collapsed on her, dead. Right on top of that little girl.”

“Oh god!” Was all Jimmy could think. His stomach was beginning to churn.

“And he was to heavy. She couldn’t get out from under him.” She was crying freely. “When we went to unlock the door the body was stiff and Rayne was frozen under it. I thought that she was dead.” She cried. “She never let anyone ever touch her again. I tried to hold her and she would kick and scratch to get away. Finally I just gave up. Everyone just gave up. Rayney I’m so sorry.” Gus pulled her into his arms and motioned to Jimmy to leave.

Jimmy walked out of the saloon almost in a state of shock. So that was why she didn’t want anyone to touch her, he didn’t blame her. But he still had more questions. Why didn’t Rayne believe that anyone else cared about her? Who took care of her when she went to Jeremy’s? The only people that Rayne mentioned were ranch hands. Was there someone that she turned too? Who held her when she had a nightmare? Who wiped her tears away when she cried? He pictured a little girl curled up on a bed her knees tucked under her chin, tears running down her dirty face. Who told her that she wasn’t alone? He walked into Teaspoon’s office. Who had kept his Rayne safe?

“Did you find out what you wanted to know?” Teaspoon asked but Jimmy didn’t respond.

“Did he just refer to Rayne as ‘his’?” Jimmy was stunned. No, it was merely a slip in his thinking process. Vaguely he was aware that someone was calling his name.

“Jimmy, Jimmy?” Teaspoon called.

“What? Did you say something?”

“Ya I asked if you found out what you wanted to know?” Jimmy looked like someone had just walked over his grave.

“Yes, no, I don’t know.” He said.

“Answering the questions that you had only lead to more questions, huh?”

“Something like that.” Jimmy’s mind was still somewhere else.

“What do you think that Rayne’s going to do when she finds out you been snooping in her life?” Teaspoon asked. “And she will find out.”

“I’m sure that it won’t be anything short of a bullet in the head.” Jimmy smiled. “Anything else and I’ll be disappointed.”

“Eight days.” Lou thought as she sat down to breakfast. “Eight whole days.” Lou hadn’t realized that she would miss Rayne so much. Since Rayne moved to Sweetwater she became Lou’s friend and confidant. It was Rayne who knew all about Lou and Kid’s problems and it was Rayne who talked her through them logically. She sat down next to Jimmy who looked as miserable as Lou felt. All week long he snapped and bit people’s head off. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He nodded hello at her. Jimmy dug into his breakfast when he heard a familiar sound.

“Where is everyone?” Rayne yelled as she rode up to the house. Yona barked happily.

Lou and Jimmy looked at each other and broke out into smiles. Everyone rushed outside to see Rayne sitting atop Loki smiling at them. Her clothes were dirty with trail dust and her hair was in disarray but she looked happy. Next to Loki was a smaller dapple-gray mare. It flipped it’s black tail nervously and stared at the approaching people. The horse was loaded down with supplies.

There was a rousing chorus of hellos and a bombardment of questions. Rayne laughed. “Everyone shut up!” She called and smiled when the looked at her. “Man, it was so quiet for the past few days. If you don’t shut up how else am I going to give you you’re presents.”

“Presents?” Cody asked.

Rayne had spent days riding around the countryside. She was embarrassed at the way she just ran off and decided to make it up to the people she had grown close too but she didn’t know how. So she rode into Cheyenne and began to shop. The best way that she knew to express her feelings was to spend some of the money Mr. Elliot left her. “Yep, everyone got presents. Teaspoon your should be here on the stage today. It’s a new chair for you office. Was I supposed to keep that a surprise?”

“Rayne you didn’t have to do anything like this, you know?” Teaspoon said.

“I know I didn’t have to but I did. So there, I don’t want to hear any complaints.” She said finally. Then she reached across to the other horse and pulled out two thin white boxes and peeked inside the first one. “Okay this one’s for Rachel and this one’s Lou’s.” She handed them the boxes.

Rachel opened the box and gasped. Inside was a blue dress the color of the sky. It was the latest style and easily the best dress Rachel had seen. “Oh Rayne, you shouldn’t have.”

“The next person who says something like that, I shoot.” She said.

Lou was stunned. The dress that was in her box was a pale lilac color it wasn’t as flashy as Rachel’s was but it was made mostly of satin. It was entirely impractical because the dress was very sturdy but Lou had never seen anything more beautiful. “Rayne this is too expensive.” Then looked into the box and saw a small bottle of perfume. She opened it and smelled the sweet smell of flowers.

“No it wasn’t. Beside I owe both of you dresses after I got the you other one’s ruined.” Lou opened her mouth to say something else but Rayne didn’t let her. “Cody, you ready.” She handed him a small package and a rifle.

Cody held the rifle; it was the .45 Marlin-Ballard like the one that he had admired in Tompkins store. One of the best rifles of the area. For once Cody was speechless. He tore into the package and pulled out a book and read the title aloud. “The Compete works of William Shakespeare. Rayne I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. Buck.” She handed Buck a small box.

He opened it carefully. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” Inside was a large knife that was very similar to the one that he already had, only more ornate, in a leather case that could be strapped to someone’s leg. On the leather case was the picture of a large stag. Buck pulled the knife out of the case and turned it in his hand. In grave on was side were words in a language that he didn’t recognize. “Che cosa non uccide li rendete più forti?” The words were a little butchered.

“It’s an Italian proverb. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” She looked at Buck and he nodded faintly.

“Who’s next? Noah check the horse.” She ordered him.

Noah walked to the horse but didn’t see anything. He stared back up at her. “Kid you might as well look at it with him.” Kid joined Noah but they both looked confused. The only thing left on the horse was a dark leather saddle and a halter with silver plating on it. Noah began staring at the halter; there was something almost familiar about it. “Do you see it Noah?” She asked as the man ran his hands along the halter.

“Are you serious?” He asked. This halter and bit matched his silver saddle almost perfectly. It was like they were part of the same set.

Rayne smiled. “Yep. Is it going to match? I don’t know if it’s similar enough.”

“It’s perfect. I can’t accept it.” Noah said solemnly.

Her eyes narrowed. “Noah, I don’t do a lot of nice thing and you better take this one or I’ll shoot you. Now I don’t want to hear anymore. Kid have you figured you’re out yet?”

“I get the saddle.” He said running his hands over it. It was made of dark, soft, leather. It was ten times nicer than the one he had for Katy now but he felt the same as Noah. “I can’t-”

All of a sudden a Colt Dragon was leveled with his head. “Damn it Kid what part of ‘I don’t want to hear it’ don’t you understand. I’ll shoot you I swear it. Now take the damn saddle off this horse and go put it on Katy like I know you want to.” He grinned up at her and began taking the saddle off.

Jimmy stared up at Rayne. He was so happy it frightened him. She reached into Loki’s saddlebag and pulled out a small black velvet bag. “Jimmy this is yours.” He heard her say. When he opened the bag a gold pocket watch fell out in his hands. He was so surprised to see that she got him something like that. When he pushed the button that popped the watch open he saw that his name had been engraved on the inside. ‘James Butler Hickok’ was written in delicately carved twirling letters.

His eyes met hers and she smiled at his look of disbelief. It had taken her the longest to pick out his present because she didn’t know what to get him. “Okay well then I guess I’m done. I’m going into town to give Tilly her gift.”

Ike was distressed. She had forgotten him. Hurt was written all over his face. Then he bowed his head and looked at the ground. Buck saw the look on his friend’s face and was shocked that Rayne hadn’t gotten Ike a gift.

“Oh wait. Ike?” Rayne said sharply. When he looked up at her she was shocked at the hurt in his eyes. “Did you really think that I forgot you?” She said accusingly.

He signed something to her and smiled. She hadn’t forgotten. The joy in his eyes was apparent.

It took her a moment to figure out what he had said but then scoffed at him. “You are not easy to over look. Let me tell you it took some work finding your gift. I had to travel an extra day out of my way just to pick it up.” She sounded angry but Ike saw the light in her eyes and knew he was teasing him.

As Rayne talked she began to unravel the rope around her saddle horn. “Here you go.” She handed him a few pieces of paper. He read them and looked confused. “Ike catch.” She threw the rope to him.

He followed the rope and saw the beautiful dapple horse on the other end. The horse danced nervously. Ike studied the animal. Not very tall maybe 15 hands, dark legs that faded to a gray body, and a black main and tail. Ike signed something to Rayne. “That’s right she’s yours. Ike McSwain I’d like you to meet Maria’s Ghost. Ghost for short. Those papers show that she’s a registered Arabian. Ghost is three years old. And Ike, she flies. I know I tried her out. Now maybe you can keep you hands off my horse.” She laughed. Ike was already getting aquatinted with the horse.

“Okay well now I’ve got go. I’ve got to go see Tilly.” She said. “I’ll see you later.”

“Rayne come back for dinner.” Rachel said.

“Okay,” she called over her shoulder as she rode off. Lou and Jimmy stood watching her go. They had hoped that she would have stayed for the day but instead they had only a few minutes. In fact she had never even gotten off her horse.

Cody flipped through his book. “This was better than Christmas.” Kid ran off to try his new saddle on Katy. Rachel had gone back into the house. Ike was halfway done saddling Ghost, intending on taking the horse for a ride. Noah was reading over Cody’s shoulder. “This Shakespeare guy new his stuff.”

“I’m going to town.” Teaspoon said. He was amazed at the money Rayne had spent on presents. Where did she get all that money? He bet Jimmy knew but didn’t ask. Jimmy hadn’t told anyone anything that he learned from Tilly. When he got to town he asked if the stage was in, truth of it was he wanted to see his new chair.

Jimmy was mending the fence on the corral when he heard the horse ride up. He didn’t think anything of it because he assumed it was one of the other riders and continued to hammer away. Then he heard the gun cock and turned around slowly to see a very angry Rayne with her gun pointed at him.

“Who the hell do you think that you are Jimmy Hickok?” She spat at him. “I’ve told you a dozen times to mind your own business.” She didn’t even smile when he began to back away from her.

“I- I’m sorry.” He tried to apologize.

“What gave you the right?” The other riders were watching with awed expressions. Rayne’s eyes were black with rage. Jimmy continued to try to back up but ran into the fence.

“Look I’m sorry. I just--” He couldn’t find the words he needed to get him out of the situation. He had known that Rayne was going to be mad but he hadn’t expected this. “Let’s go somewhere and talk about this.” Nodding to the other riders, he assumed that she didn’t want them all to know what he knew.

“You mean that they don’t already know?” Rayne accused him. “What you’re just a snoop and not a gossip. Well gee- thanks Jimmy.”

“Rayne.” He said sternly.

“Don’t take that tone with me. You want to go somewhere else and talk about it fine with me. There won’t be any witnesses.” She said and jumped up on Loki and took off. Jimmy walked over to Katy, who still had the new saddle on, jumped on and went after Rayne.

When she finally stopped she realized that she was in the middle of no where. She turned in a circle and saw flat plains stretching out for miles. Jimmy stood behind her and she turned to look at him.

Jimmy expected to see the same rage that he had seen at the way station but it wasn’t there. Instead she looked at him with eyes full of hurt and embarrassment. He had to look away because the emotions in her eyes were too raw for him to look at. “I’m sorry.” He said softly.

“Why Jimmy? I don’t understand. Why would you do that to me?” She was so confused. What had made him want to hurt her like that? When Tilly had told her everything that she told Jimmy, Rayne almost died. Now he knew what a bad person she was. Why would he want to know that?

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to know you.”

“You do know me.” She said.

“No, I don’t. None of us do. You only tell us what you want to tell us. For Christ sake I don’t even know your middle name.” He explained.

“So what? Do I know everything about you or the others? You have secrets, why can’t I?” She asked him.

“But,” How did he explain this? Could he explain this? He didn’t even know why he did it. “You can have secrets. I was just so tired of being so far away.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You keep all of us at arms length. And get mad when we try to get closer or when we try to help.”

“I don’t get mad when you try to help, I get mad when you think I can’t do something.” Rayne said.

“What about that thing with Hudson before you left? I was trying to help you and you yelled at me and then ran away.” Jimmy accused.

“I didn’t need your help. I can handle Hudson.”

“You can’t do everything by yourself.” He said pointedly. “Why do you get mad when I try to get close to you?”

“I don’t.”

“Yes you do.” He watched her as he spoke. She was seemed so delicate right now but there were other times when he swore she could take on an army. “Why didn’t you tell me anything about your life? Why did I have to go to Tilly to find out things about a person I care about?” He couldn’t believe he said that but it was too late to take back. Suddenly the look that she gave him made him understand what Tilly meant when she said that Rayne looked at her like she was lying. Disbelief washed over Rayne’s entire being, she even took a step back. “Why do you hide inside yourself? What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything!” She said. What was happening? Jimmy lied to her, she never thought that he would lie to her. People don’t care about her, she knew that much. He didn’t care; he was just nosy and now a liar. Anger overwhelmed confusion. “What was I supposed to tell you? That I was a horrible person? That everything I touch turns to horse manure? Why should I tell you? You would have figured it out sooner or later. Everyone does.”

What was she talking about? Jimmy was confused. “You’re not a horrible person.”

“Shut up Jimmy. How would you know? Like you said before you don’t even know me.” She spat at him.

Why was she getting so angry? Suddenly another flash from his conversation with Tilly entered his head. The woman had said that Rayne fought everyone off like a wild cat and that was what she was doing to him now. He must be hitting something that she didn’t want him to get close to. “I don’t know everything about you but I know that you are not a bad person.”

“Shut up Jimmy!” She yelled.

“You’re not!” He yelled back.

“Shut up.”

“Rayne you’re not!”

“Jimmy I killed someone when I was 10. Do you understand I was still a child and I took someone’s life.” She yelled and then sank to the ground. “I’m a horrible person.” She whispered.

When he knelt down in front of her Jimmy stared for a few seconds before he spoke. “He would have hurt you. It was self-defense. That doesn’t make you a horrible person.” He put his fingers under her chin and tried to make her look at him but she pulled away.

“Yes it does. He wasn’t a bad man, he was just drunk. I knew him. He bought me toys and I killed him. I am a murderer.” She said and looked at the ground, a knot in her throat. “Abby told me I was.”

He opened his mouth in shock. Abby, Rayne’s mother called her a murderer when she was a child. The little girl had saved herself and the mother cared about the man that had died. A new hatred bloomed inside him for the woman. “What else did Abby tell you?” He asked.

“That I was bad and ugly.” She said after a few minutes. Her voice was so soft that Jimmy had to lean closer to hear it. When she began to talk it was almost as if she was reciting what she was saying from word for word from memory, which was probably true. “She said that she couldn’t stand to look at me because I was so bad. And that everyone knew what a disgusting little girl I was because they could see it in my eyes. She said that my eyes were filled with evil gray smoke.”

Everything in his being told him to reach out to the girl and hold her until her pain went away but when he tried she stood up and backed away from him. Now there was fear in her eyes. “The other’s don’t know yet. Please don’t tell them.” She pleaded. “I like it here. I’ve never had this many people to talk to at once. On the ranch most everyone ignored me. Let me have the time until they find out. Just let me be happy for a little longer.”

Jimmy was taken aback. She believed everything that came out of her mouth. She thought that one day the riders would see that she was an evil person and never talk to her again. “Rayne, you aren’t evil.”

“I don’t care what you tell me, just promise not to tell them. I’ll never talk to you again if that’s what you want.”

“Damn it Rayne. Listen to me! You are one of the kindest, selfless people I know. You risked so much to save me, Buck and Teaspoon and some girl you didn’t even know. No one besides that mother of yours thinks you’re evil. And she was a liar.”

“Leave my mother out of this James Hickok!” Rayne snarled. “You don’t even know her.”

“Neither do you.” He thought to himself. So this was what Tilly meant about Rayne’s mother being the center of her world. She would rather believe bad things about herself that came from her mother than the entire world of people that told her otherwise. “Rayne listen to me. No matter what you think. Listen to what I say. I have not, do not, or will not ever think that you are a bad person. Do you hear me? I don’t want you to stop talking to me.” She nodded but she wore her look of disbelief. “I haven’t told anyone what I learned from Tilly. In fact Teaspoon is the only one that even knows I talked to her.”

Rayne shoulders dropped with relief. He wasn’t going to tell the others about her, but he knew. But he had to hate her. Abby always told her that people lied about what they felt so they would look better to other people. She stared up a Jimmy with a regretful look. Jimmy was the one that angered her the most but he was also the one that made her the happiest. Sometimes when he smiled at her she thought that he was different. For some reason the time that she had held Jimmy hostage came back to her. It was the first time in a long time that she had been close to another human being.

“Let’s go back to the house.” He said as he walked toward Katy. Yona was lying on the grass. With all the yelling going on the dog hadn’t once gotten up to stop him. The dog knew that he wasn’t going to hurt Rayne. When he turned to look at Rayne he couldn’t do anything but stare. She was standing like a statue. Her hat was hanging down he back and her long hair was tossed in different directions by the wind. But her eyes were what captured Jimmy. Abby had told Rayne that her eyes were evil but that was the furthest thing from the truth. Inside her eyes was a child that was scared and lonely and Jimmy swore to himself that somehow he would chase that all away and she would never be scared or lonely again.

He knelt down and rubbed the dog’s head. “Tell her that I’m not going to hurt her.” He whispered to the dog. “Tell her that I’m not going away like everyone else has. Okay? She’ll listen to you.”

The door closed to Lt. Hudson’s office and Oliver smiled in his chair. On his desk was the key to his revenge. He ran his hands over the pieces of paper. Rayne Kincade would be his by this time tomorrow or else she would be dead, but one way or the other he would win.

To be continued!

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