Hidden Heart

By Tara
Copyright 2001

Chapter Eight

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.

“Give it up MacMurphy.” Teaspoon yelled.

Stephen looked at the fallen Aaron. He could see his one of other brother’s feet as he lay outside of the saloon. Hatred overwhelmed him. Five shots answered the marshal’s question. “Go to hell.”

After she punched the man, Rayne moved over to the window and ducked underneath it. From her position the only thing she could see was a man’s back but she couldn’t tell who it was. Quickly she moved to the other side of the window.

Teaspoon saw a figure move across the window and wondered if the person was on their side or was one of the MacMurphy’s.

Now Rayne, could see that the man whose back was to her wasn’t one of the boys knew. She raised her gun but the lowered it. Shooting a man in the back was something that only the lowest person would do. When she looked back she saw the man taking aim. He had spotted Buck crouched as close as he could under the stairs. The man was lining up his shot. Still, Rayne couldn’t shoot him in the back. So, she did the first thing she could think of, she whistled at him.

He heard the whistle behind him and knew it wasn’t one of his brothers. Turning around, he started firing underneath the window where the person had to be hiding. Stephen got off two shots before he felt the pain in his shooting shoulder. Involuntarily he dropped the gun and grabbed the wound with his other hand. Before he could pick it back up, the gun was shot and it flew across the floor.

Buck saw the gun fly. “Nice shot.” He said to himself. Slowly he saw he person outside stand up with their gun pointed at Stephen MacMurphy.

“Teaspoon? Boys?” Rayne called to the inside. “Ya’ll okay? I got him covered. Were there only four?” She asked nervously looking around trying to see if anyone else was lurking then turned her attention back to the man.

“Rayne?” The marshal called. “That you?”

“Ya.” She yelled back. “Where there only four?”

“Ya.” Teaspoon yelled back, his jaw on the ground. He saw Buck walk up and hold his gun on MacMurphy. Jimmy looked as surprised as Teaspoon felt.

When Buck got to the man behind the table Rayne gave him a small smile. Then she walked over to the man she had kicked. He was still unconscious but she took the gun out of his hand anyway. The other one she knew was dead. Rayne walked inside the saloon; to do so she had to step over two bodies. When Teaspoon walked up to the girl she looked up and asked “Was anyone hurt?”

“No.” He said slowly.

“Well there’s one dead outside and the other’s unconscious.” She told him.

Teaspoon stared at the girl. She spoke about the gunfight as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Barnett cuff that man.” He pointed to Stephen, who Buck had gotten on his feet then went out to check on the men outside. One was shot clear thought he heart the other was out cold.

Rayne turned and watched the man she had shot. She heard Jimmy come up behind her.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?” He said lowly.

“What?” She said wondering if she heard him right. He looked down at her with harsh brown eyes. Anger overwhelmed her. Her gray eyes flashed as she glared at him. “Saving you butt, you ungrateful pig.”

It didn’t matter if she was angry because he was angry too. Rayne had just made and enemy for life in the remaining MacMurphy brothers. What if they escaped before their trial? They would most certainly come for her. “This isn’t a game.”

“You’re kidding?” Rayne said sarcastically. “I thought that this was just for fun. You mean I don’t get a metal. My mistake.”

“Rayne, I’m serious.” He said as Buck walked up.

Stephen watched the woman that had killed his brother. She was going to die. The clumsy man that was handcuffing had left his gun on the table. He knocked the man to the ground and grabbed the gun.

Jimmy saw the movement too. He pulled his gun out of his holster and raised it to the man with the gun. Four rapid shot hit the man before he fell. Jimmy only fired two. He looked down to see Rayne with a smoking gun.

“I am too.” Rayne said and she holstered her gun and walked out of the saloon. She passed Teaspoon who called out to her to stop, but she didn’t. Instead she walked to where Loki was tied, mounted him, and rode out of town as fast as she could. Yona tailing close behind her.

Teaspoon walked inside after he cuffed the unconscious man. “Where’d she go? I need to talk to her.” He walked over to where a very dead Stephen lay on the ground. One bullet was right between the eyes and three in the chest. One of those bullets was strait through the Stephen’s heart just like the bullet in Robert MacMurphy. “Jimmy where were you aiming?”

“Right at his chest.” Jimmy said offhandedly, still thinking about Rayne.

“Why?” Buck asked Teaspoon.

“Go look at Robert and then come look at this.” Buck and Jimmy looked at Robert and the shot in his chest and then walked to where Stephen was laying on the floor. “You sure you weren’t aiming anywhere particular.” Teaspoon asked.

“No, Teaspoon. Just shooting strait at the middle.” Jimmy said his eyes wide.

“Jimmy what does Rayne shoot with?” Buck asked.

“. 36 Colt Dragon.” Jimmy answered.

“Then she did it. Look at the holes in the head and heart. They’re smaller than the other two. Jimmy shoots with .44. Rayne shot him right between the eyes and right through the heart. Where’d she learn to shoot like that?” Buck said in awe.

“I don’t know but I’d sure like to find out. Why’d she shoot out of here like the Devil was chasing her?” Teaspoon asked as he raised an eyebrow at Jimmy.

“Jimmy yelled at her.” Buck told Teaspoon.

“She shouldn’t have been here.” Jimmy said firmly. “It was too dangerous.”

Teaspoon stared at the younger man. He knew that Jimmy was protective of his friends, especially the women friends. And Teaspoon knew were Jimmy was coming from, but he needed to talk to Rayne. “That little girl just took out three fourths of the MacMurphy brothers. I think that she has a few questions to answer. Barnett, take the prisoner to the Doc. That cut in his arm is bleeding pretty badly. Be careful when you cuff him that dog tore his arm up. Tie him to the bed so he don’t escape should he happen to wake up.” Barnett nodded and walked out the door. “Come on boy’s we’re gotta go find Rayne.”

Oliver heard he series of gun shots. By he time he make it to the window he saw Rayne Kincade walking out of the saloon, her gun in her hand by her side. She haunted his dreams. Every time she walked through the town he watched her. In the weeks since he had first seen her, he had found out everything that he could. Where she lived, that she visited a whore once a week, and that she and the marshal seemed to be friends. She also hung around with the pony express riders. How he hated to see her with them. Whenever they walked through town together he thought he would go crazy with jealousy. Now was his chance. He didn’t know what happened but he would go riding up to her like a knight in shining armor. “Sgt. Taylor saddle my horse.” He yelled.

Rayne made it back to the house in record time. She unsaddled Loki and began to brush him, all the while trying to cool her own temper down. How dare Jimmy yell at her like that. Who did he think that he was? “Ungrateful--” She heard horsed outside. Slowly she walked out to meet them. “What do you want?” She said harshly glaring at the men. Rayne wasn’t a stranger to a gunfight. Growing up in a saloon, gunfights were common place. And when she worked on the Belle Fille there were always men trying to steal the horses, she took turns with the rest of the ranch hands guarding the stock. But that didn’t mean that she liked them.

“We come to thank you Rayne.” Teaspoon began. He knew that this woman was upset and angry. He ignored Jimmy’s look of disbelief. The young man’s heart’s was in the right place. “So thank you.”

“Didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t have done. Just was in the right place at the right time.” She said offhandedly. A thank you wasn’t what she expected, she had thought Teaspoon was going to yell at her for interfering like Jimmy had done.

“No they wouldn’t have.” Jimmy said quickly. He didn’t want to discredit Rayne’s bravery, just to keep her from doing it again. “Did you see anyone else there helping?”

“That’s just cause there weren’t that many of them.” She said trying to throw the attention away from her. She didn’t like it when people talked like this, it didn’t sound real.

“Do you know who those men were?” Teaspoon asked. Rayne shook her head. “The were the MacMurphy brothers.”

“I heard about them. Heard they robbed stagecoaches from here to Missouri.” Rayne answered.”

“And you helped stop ‘em.” Teaspoon said proudly. “I ain’t seen shooting like that in a long time.”

“Ya, where did you learn to shoot like that?” Buck asked.

Rayne got lost in a memory for a moment before she spoke. “Jack taught me. When I was thirteen a new ranch hand came to the Belle Fille. He was already pretty well known. Lots of gunfights, bad temper, killed a couple of men; that sort of thing. Anyway turns out he was a pretty nice guy. When we had time off he showed me how to better use a gun. Taught me the quick draw.” She laughed. “And how to play poker. He gave me my first shot of whiskey. Uncle Joe used to drink something fierce. He was a little man, but could he hold his whiskey.”

Jimmy watched Rayne as she told the story. Her gray eyes held a faraway look as she retold the story. For some reason the way she said ‘Uncle Joe’ made him dislike the man very much.

“See Uncle Joe would be the most easy going guy around but the moment he was drunk it was like fighting with a bear. Once I was with Uncle Joe, I had to be about 15, it was right before he left, when these two big guys walked into a saloon. Joe was drunk as a sunk. The guys mean guys, started talking ‘bout how they just held up this wagon and killed the people inside. There weren’t a lot of girls there that night so I guess that’s why they started messing with me. Anyway one of the guys just picked me right up by the shirt collar and started yelling about something. I just started kicking and fighting with him; the guy dropped me. Then he must’ve bumped into Uncle Joe because right then and there Jack challenged the guy.”

Teaspoon listened to the girl tell the story. He wondered why she kept switching from “Uncle Joe” to “Jack.”

“I kept my gun on the other guy while Uncle Joe and that first guy had it out. Uncle Joe won needless to say and the other guy turned to me and pointed his gun. Before I could do anything Jack yells at the guy to get his attention and then shoots him right in the head when he turned around. On our way home that night I asked Uncle Joe how come he yelled at that guy before he shot him and he said: ‘Sunshine don’t ever shoot a man in he back, no matter what, for three reasons. One, it makes it look like you’re afraid to face him man to man, makes you look like a coward. Two, ‘cause if you start shooting people in the back and don’t look in there eyes before they die you start taking death to lightly and you should never take death lightly. And three, you shoot people in the back you can expect to get shot in the back.’” Rayne looked at Teaspoon as she spoke. “Uncle Joe moved on a few weeks after that. But I never forgot what he said.”

“Why do you call him “Uncle Joe” and then “Jack.”” Buck asked.

She laughed. “He called me Sunshine because he said Rayne was too sad. I called him Uncle Joe because everyone else called him Jack. His real name was Joseph A. Slade.”

Teaspoon and the boys blinked a few times. “Joseph Slade?” Teaspoon said. “As in Jack Slade.”

“Uncle Joe is Jack Slade.” Buck said with awe in his voice think of the legendary fighter.

“The Jack Slade.” Jimmy asked.

“You’ve heard of him?” She questioned.

Jimmy began to tell the story of the renowned man. Jack Slade was one of the craziest men around. People say he was UN-killable. There was a story about a trade post owner that had a beef with Jack Slade. Saw Jack walking unarmed into a general store and shot him six times with a pistol and then emptied two barrels of buckshot from a shotgun into him. The man that shot has said “When he is dead, you can put him in one of those dry goods boxes and bury him." Story was that Jack had looked up from the ground and told the man, "I’ll live long enough to wear your ears on my watch chain." The man had laughed then but as soon as Jack recovered he found the man, killed him and to this day still wore the ears on his watch chain.

“Sounds like something Uncle Joe would do. The man deserved it if he shoots and unarmed man. It’s good to hear he’s still alive.” Rayne said solemnly.

A white horse rode up to Rayne’s front step. The Oliver Hudson jumped off and walked up to the front door he knocked a few times but there was no answer. When he turned around a huge beast growled at him from the bottom of the stairs.

“Well, Rayne, I guess that’s all we need. You still coming over for dinner.” Teaspoon asked after he was finished talking to woman. “You’re a hell of a shot girl.” He watched as the woman looked at the ground instead of responding to the complement.

“See you later Rayne.” Buck said.

All of a sudden they heard Yona growl and begin barking angrily. They all ran outside and saw Yona barking at a man on a white horse. The horse tried to run but the man wouldn’t let him. Yona was practically foaming with anger. The white horse reared but the man managed to keep on the saddle.

Lt. Hudson was out of breath. When he saw the dog he knew that it was Rayne’s dog so he couldn’t shoot it like he wanted to. To get away from the beast he had to jump over the railing on the porch and jump on his horse. The dog had managed to rip the bottom of his pant leg. Oliver was angry but the moment he saw Rayne his anger vanished.

Rayne whistled sharply but Yona didn’t come to her. Jimmy looked at Rayne and saw the shock on her face. “Yona.” She said distinctly and the dog reluctantly walked toward her owner.

Jimmy watched the army lieutenant regain his composure. To Jimmy, Oliver Hudson was a pompous, arrogant man that thought that the world owed him something for gracing it with his presence. More than once he had tried to second-guess Teaspoon’s actions and that made him an enemy of all the pony express riders. He watched as the man stared at Rayne. Slightly Jimmy shifted so that he was between the man and his friend.

Teaspoon agreed with Jimmy evaluation of the man but there was something there that even Jimmy didn’t catch. There was an unstable look to the man. He had seen Lt. Hudson treat his men amazingly badly while at the same time he tried to make the town fall in love with him. Teaspoon was afraid that it might be working. Oliver Hudson would smile at you and stab you in the back at the same time; he was not a man to be trusted. Obviously the dog knew that by the way he had gone after the man.

“Can I help you, sir?” Rayne questioned as she stepped in front of Jimmy.

“Ah, Ms. Kincade. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Lt. Oliver Hudson United States Army.” He said and reached out for her hand. Like Cody he tried to bring it to his lips but Rayne pulled away. A dark shadow passed over the man’s eyes. Yona growled.

“How do you know my name?” She asked suspiciously. The man in front of her had to be at least 6-ft tall, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. He had light hair like the Kid. His eyes were blue and his face was chiseled with an aristocratic nose. She supposed that some women would find him attractive but all in all he reminded Rayne of a bird.

“I make it my business to know.” Teaspoon cleared his throat. “Hello Marshal, gentlemen.” He nodded at others his eyes never leaving Rayne.

“What do you want Hudson?” Jimmy snarled.

“Well Mr. Hickok I heard gunfire and then saw Ms. Kincade riding away. I was worried she had been hurt.” He explained.

“Why?” Rayne asked with a raised eyebrow, her eyes darkened dangerously. “You don’t even know me.”

Oliver was taken a back by the question. “Well, you are a woman living alone. Someone needs to take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself just fine, thank you.” Great another man who thought that she was helpless just because she wasn’t a man.

Teaspoon smiled at the woman. He had thought Rayne was going to fall for this man just as the other women in town had seem to, but was surprised for the second time that day. Rayne stared at him as she would stare at a rattlesnake. He didn’t doubt that her reaction to the man was influence by the fact that the dog hadn’t stopped growling. The dog didn’t even react like that to Cody, who still hadn’t come to an understanding with man’s best friend.

“Now that you’ve seen that she’s okay don’t you think you had better get back to your unit.” Buck said quietly staring the man in the eye. If Buck hated anyone it was this man. Lt. Hudson careless behavior was going to start a war with the Indians around here and he didn’t seem to care. “If I remember, Teaspoon said that you had a lot of things to do today.”

Oliver glared at the man. How would this kid know whether or not he had work to do today? Vaguely he remembered the Marshal sending word to him that a group of criminals had arrived into town. The marshal had asked for assistance but Oliver declined his regiment had better things to do that police this infernal town. “I believe that I am on Ms. Kincade’s land. Not yours Mr. Cross.”

Buck jumped for the man but Teaspoon held him back. “I guess we had better get going.” Teaspoon said as he practically dragged the young man away. Jimmy nodded to him saying that he was going to stay. “Rayne, we’ll see you at dinner. Jimmy. Lieutenant.” He tipped his bowler cap and climbed up on his horse and he and Buck rode away.

“Aren’t you going to join your friends, Mr. Hickok?” Lt. Hudson asked.

“No, I’m staying with one of my friends, Hudson.” Jimmy returned the man’s glare evenly.

“Very well. Ms. Kincade why don’t you invite me in and we can get to know each other better?” Oliver smiled charmingly at the woman.

This man made Rayne’s skin crawl. “No thank you. I have a lot of work to get done before dinner.” She answered evenly hoping he would take the hint and leave.

As Teaspoon and Buck rode away Teaspoon though about the day’s events, Rayne Kincade was more a mystery now that she had ever been. There were times when she seem to own the world, walking around as if every step that she took was a planed and calculated motion. Like during the fight with the MacMurphy’s. She didn’t even have to think; here reactions were as natural as breathing. And there were other times when she look like she didn’t have a clue as to what was going on. When she had told the story about the man bumping into Jack Slade and then being challenged to a fight, Teaspoon had known right away that Jack had challenged the man because the man had touched Rayne. But Rayne didn’t seem to know that. Then when Teaspoon had thanked her she tried to brush it off as if nothing had happened. The woman was a walking contradiction. Arrogant and cocky one minute unsure and shy the next.

Teaspoon turned his head around and saw Hudson’s white horse was still at Rayne’s house. He was glad Jimmy had stayed. The marshal didn’t trust that man alone with Rayne. Then he smiled to himself. Poor Hudson, if he did try something because Teaspoon knew that if that demon dog didn’t stop him Rayne’s Colt Dragon would.

“Well then have dinner with me.” He insisted. This wasn’t going the way Oliver had imagined it. He had seen himself riding up on his white horse, her waiting on the front steps. She would jump into his open arms and they would be together forever. Her at home making dinner, raising his sons, and waiting to hear everything that her heroic husband had done.

“Sorry I have other plans.”

“So? Break them. I asked you to dinner.” Did this woman not know that he was the most sought after man in the territories?

Of all the arrogant things to say. Right then and there Rayne decided that she never wanted to see this man ever again. “I said that I had other plans.” She said through gritted teeth. “Good day, Lieutenant.” Rayne walked into the barn.

Oliver took a step toward her and both Jimmy and Yona were on him in a second. Jimmy blocked his path and Yona stood snarling at Jimmy’s feet. “The lady said good day.” Hickok glared at Oliver.

“I don’t think she really meant it. Let me by Hickok.”

“Stay away from her Hudson. I’m warning you.” Jimmy pulled himself to his full height as if daring the other man. Yona growled.

The army man took a step toward Jimmy. Rayne pushed her way in between the two men. “Stop it. Stop it right now. Lt. Hudson I believe I bid you good day. Do I need to say it clearer?” She scowled up at the man.

“I was just on my way. It’s been a pleasure. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” He looked intensely into her eyes as he spoke then turned and rode away.

Rayne turned to Jimmy. “I ain’t got nothing to say to you Hickok. You best be on your way too.” With that she walked back into the barn.

“Rayne,” Jimmy began but she didn’t stop. He walked into the barn and saw her brushing Loki down. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Don’t apologize for something that’s in your nature.” Jimmy looked at her questioningly. “You think that because I’m a girl that I can’t handle myself. Nothing’s gonna change that. Not if I prove that I can ride as well as a man, shoot as well as a man, take care of myself as well as a man. You can’t help being closed-minded.”

No one called Jimmy Hickok close-minded. He began to yell. “I ain’t close minded. I was just looking out for you.”

“Why? Because you don’t think that I can look out for myself. Well guess what? I’ve been looking out for myself since day one and I don’t need some boy telling me what I can and can’t do!” Her eyes were black with anger.

“Boy? Are you calling me a boy?” He bellowed.

“Do you have wax in your ears?”

“If you aren't the most spoiled, selfish, person I ever met. How are you gonna call me close-minded? I ride with Lou, Lou and I get along just fine and she’s a girl. That ain’t closed-minded.”

“Bull. She has to fight you boys for everything. All men out here think that a woman can’t do anything because she isn’t a man. Well let me tell you something Jimmy Hickok. I worked at the Belle Fille for seven years and never once did anyone tell me that I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. I pulled my share just like everyone else. You know why they didn’t question me because they realized that I got a head on my shoulders that’s good for something other than cooking and making babies.”

“I’m not saying that you’re aren’t as good as a man. Damn, you handle a gun better than half the men I know.” He yelled at her.

“Then what’s your problem?” She asked in an exasperated tone.

“I just didn’t want to see you get hurt. I do the same for anyone else.” He said.

“Then why didn’t you yell at Buck or Teaspoon?”

“Because I didn’t expect to see you there. I hadn’t ever seen you shoot a gun before you surprised me. I was just looking out for you.”

“What about today with that Hudson man? Why’d you act so strangely then?” She said beginning to understand him. It didn’t make any sense to her though. He had seen that she could take care of herself why didn’t he just leave her alone about it?

“I don’t like Hudson. I don’t trust him.” Jimmy said evenly.

“Jimmy I’m not incompetent. I don’t need you watching my every move. I don’t want a baby-sitter. I’m telling you right now that I can take care of myself so let it go.” She said.

“Why’d you jump into that fight? Weren’t you trying to do the same thing to us?” His voice was calmer. Jimmy watched her. She didn’t seem to understand why he was worried about her. She didn’t seem to understand that that’s what friends did for each other.

“There’s a difference between helping you and telling you what to do. I was helping. You were trying to tell me what I should and shouldn’t have done. Besides I didn’t run in and yell at you for shooting up the saloon.” She smiled.

“I didn’t yell.” He defended himself.

“Ya you did. ‘This isn’t a game.’” She mimicked him.

“I don’t sound like that. Hurry up we’re gonna be late for dinner.” He said laughing; maybe he did sound a little like that.

“Shoot, I just finished brushing Loki and now I got to saddle him again.”

Jimmy thought for a moment. “We can just double up. I’ll bring you back over here afterwards.”

“Naw, that’s okay. I’ll go bareback.”

“Rayne, he doesn’t even have a bit in. Quit being a baby and just ride with me.”

Rayne’s jaw jutted forward and her mouth was set in a strait line. Jimmy knew that look. It was the face Rayne made when she was going to insist on being stubborn. “Loki doesn’t need a bit.” She snapped two leads on Loki’s halter for reigns and lead the horse outside.

“You going to be able to get on? Loki’s a really tall horse.” Jimmy laughed when Rayne threw him a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look and pulled herself on the horses back. He jumped on his own horse and looked at the girl beside him. “Come one, race ya.” With that he spurred his horse on.

“Cheater.” She called after him.

Loki loved a good race and was off before Rayne had even given the command. She crouched low on Loki’s neck and laughed as they cut threw the wind. In the distance she heard Yona barking. It didn’t take long for Loki to catch up with Jimmy’s horse and pass him like he was standing still. Loki was bred for speed. His large nostrils flared as he flew over the ground. With out a saddle and only having Rayne on his back he carried a lot less weight than Jimmy’s horse did and made it to the Way Station years before Jimmy’s horse did.

Jimmy watched as the woman and her horse passed by him. There was no way he was going to catch them but urged his horse on anyway. He just watched them fly. By the time he got to the house everyone else was already outside. Rayne was still on Loki laughing at him. She jumped off her horse and greeted Yona as the dog ran up behind him. Yona barked happily and followed Rayne as she walked Loki to cool him down. Jimmy’s horse’s breaths were deep and ragged but he gave he horse a long pat for effort.

“Jimmy let me walk your horse. I got to talk to Rayne.” Lou said as he got of the horse. Jimmy handed her the reins and she ran to join her friend.

“What did Kid do now?” Rayne asked laughingly as Lou walked up to her with Jimmy’s horse.

Lou smiled. “You know me too well. He’s just being Kid. Him, Cody and Noah were talking about all the girls in town. So and so is so pretty, so and so has such nice long flowing hair, did you see the white lacy dress so and so was wearing the other day she looked just like an angle.”

Rayne groaned. “Was it a particular so and so?”

“No it was a whole bunch of different girls. I heard Grace Foster mentioned a lot though.”

Again Rayne groaned. “What did you do?”

“Nothing I just walked by and Kid looked at me with this big horrified expression. I ain’t really mad I just hate that those girls get all dressed up like new pennies and I set here like a wooden nickel.”

“Hey Lou.” Rayne had an idea. “It looks like it’s going to rain right?” Lou nodded. “Why don’t you come home with me tonight? I got a guest bedroom you can stay in and sense tomorrow you probably won’t be able to do anything cause of all the mud we can spend the whole day dressed-up and make fun of everyone. We’ll have a girls day we can even ask Rachel to come.”

A huge smile burst onto Lou’s face. One whole day of being a girl. It was too good to be true. “Let’s do it.” She exclaimed happily. And both girls laughed in excitement.

After dinner the tired bunch walked out on the front patio. Dinner had been exhausting. Everyone wanted to talk about what had happened that day. Cody had had a falling out with Grace, turns out that she wasn’t the princess that he thought she was. Lou and Rayne move down and sat with Rachel at the other end of the table. The girl’s heads had been buried together the whole night and every so often they would laugh. Kid tried to catch Lou’s eye but she was to busy talking to Rayne.

“Kid,” Cody had leaned over to tell him. “Whatever they’re planning you can bet that it’s going to get you in big trouble.”

“Shut up, Cody.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

When everyone went outside Lou collected her things that she was going to take to Rayne’s with her. Kid walked in and saw her packing. “Lou where are you going? I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be talk about other girls. Don’t leave.”

“Don’t be silly, Kid. I’m not mad at you. I’m going to Rayne’s for the night. We are have a just the girl’s day tomorrow. Rachel’s going to come. No men allowed.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and rolled up her stuff and walked outside.

Teaspoon was looking at the darkened sky. It was going to start raining soon. Just as that thought crossed his mind a flash of lightening followed by a crash of thunder lit up the sky. “I love the rain.” He told everyone.

“Hey, its going to rain and we’re sitting with Rayne.” Cody exclaimed and everyone groaned.

Ike signed something and Rayne who had spent a lot of time with Ike was getting really good at understanding his sign language. “You want to know how I got my name?” She asked Ike nodded. “Well it just so happens that I was born during the worst storm of the year. My mom said that I cried so loud she couldn’t even hear the thunder.” Ike smiled at her and asked another question. “Do I like the rain? Oh ya. It’s one of my most favorite things.”

“Rain is when the angels in heaven cry because they see the prettiest little girl in the whole world and they want to come down and play with her.” Rachel said and everyone stared at her but she was staring at Rayne. It was if a bucket of cold water had washed over her and she finally remembered who Rayne reminded her of.

“What?” Noah asked.

“Rain is when the angels in heaven cry because they see the prettiest little girl in the whole world and they want to come down and play with her.” Rachel repeated. “You’re Jeremy’s little girl aren’t you? I should have seen the resemblance before. Those eyes, that dimple, that temper; that’s Jeremy. I see him in you clear as day.” Rayne had gotten so pale that she almost glowed white. “It all makes sense now. You know that every time it rained he would go out and watch it, sometimes for hours. And then he would say Rain is when the angels in heaven cry because they see the prettiest little girl in the whole world and they want to come down and play with her that. You were the little girl.”

“How-How do you know him?” She stuttered.

“Me and Jeremy used to play cards together. I had been to the house a few times but I never saw you there. I saw those pretty sisters of yours though.”

“Half-sisters. Francis ain’t my mom.” She said softly.

“Oh,” Rachel said quietly, realizing what that meant. Jeremy Elliot had only been married one time that meant that Rayne was Jeremy’s bastard child. The riders looked at Rayne. She was so still it looked as if she were carved out of stone.

“Did you know him well, Rachel?” She asked quietly almost hopefully. Rayne didn’t realize just how much she wanted to know about Mr. Elliot until Rachel said that she knew him. “What was he really like? I worked on his ranch but I never really knew him. I didn’t find out about him being my father until it was too late to get to know him.”

“Jeremy’s gone?” Tears formed in Rachel’s eyes.

Rayne nodded gravely. “Almost two months ago. Lung disease. What was he like?” She asked like a child.

Jimmy watched Rayne stare at Rachel as if to see into her soul. He wasn’t sure what was going on. The big thing that he got was that Rayne’s daddy made her work on his ranch. From the way she talked about working it was like she was just another hired hand. What kind of man did that to his daughter? He watched as every emotion that she felt shown out of her. Usually Rayne’s eyes were guarded as if she had some big secret to hide but now they were so clear Jimmy wondered if he could see himself in them. Slowly the rain started falling.

“Oh god, I remember one night he got really drunk and lost a big pot in a high stakes game. I helped him up to his room and he said something that didn’t make sense at the time but now it does. He said ‘My rain’s gone. Francis won’t let me have her. But I’ve seen her sometimes. So pretty, but hard too. Too hard. I wanted to make her happy. One day she will be with me and I’ll ride with the rain.’ I thought that he was talking about Francis being unfeeling toward him. They were having some problems. But it was you. Francis wouldn’t let him have you.”

“She told me that I had to leave because I was a constant reminder of Mr. Elliot.” Rayne’s gray eyes held so much pain in them that Lou had to look away.

“You are. I don’t know how I missed it before.”

Noah looked at Rayne and knew how she felt. He didn’t remember his father that well. All he had to go on where stories that Sally had told him and the shaky memory he had. It was hard not to remember your father. The rain was coming down in sheets now.

“Oh sugar.” Rachel said. “Come here.” She held out he arms but Rayne stepped backwards into the rain.

“No.” The woman said stiffly as water poured down over her. She looked around her at all the sympathetic faces and felt disgusted with herself. Rayne was so surprised that she let them see her ugly side. The side that she tried to hide from everyone, her weak side. “Why are you all staring at me like I have another head?” She said happily, her mood totally changing. “Come on Lou let’s get going before it starts to really rain. And boys don’t you dare think about coming over tomorrow.” She smiled and walked to the barn to get Loki.

Lou followed and saddled Lightening she didn’t say a word. It was times like this when not speaking was the best way to help. They walked back out toward everyone who didn’t look like they had moved.

“Bye guys. Thanks for dinner. See you tomorrow Rachel.” Rayne jumped up on Loki’s back and just held herself here for a minute. Her arms stiffened, Loki supporting her entire body weight. All she had to do was swing a leg over and she was on but one of her arms started to shake and she slid back down.

Jimmy was next to her in a minute. “Let me help you.” He said as he put his hands on her waist to boost her up.

She pushed away from him. “Let go of me Jimmy Hickok.” She growled but her eyes told a different story. They were large and wide with fright. Rayne looked at Jimmy the same way animals look when they are caught in a trap, like she would rather chew off her on leg than to have him any where near her.

Yona heard her master’s tone and snarled at Jimmy. He raised his hands and backed away. Jimmy was stunned he didn’t think that any human being could posses something inside them that made so frantic. It took only a second for her to get on Loki’s back. Yona was still growling at Jimmy. “Yona, good girl.” The dog stopped and the girls rode away.

“I didn’t know.” Rachel said. “I thought that she was Jeremy and Francis daughter. I didn’t know she was going to react like that.” Her emotions were spiraling. First she had found out that one of her friends had died. Second, she had hurt Rayne. And third, everything in Rachel’s being ached for the little girl that was locked up in that woman that tried so hard to keep it hidden. “I’m going inside.”

“I’ll walk you in Rachel.” Cody said as he reached for one arm. Kid grabbed the other.

“Thanks Cody, Kid.”

Teaspoon had seen some interesting things in his time and this one was right up there. Rayne had just undergone so many mood changes he hadn’t had time to count them all. But it was the last few that stuck in his head. Pain, panic, and fear. That girl had a lot she was hiding from them as well as herself. What else had happened that made her so scared of people touching her? When Rachel tried to comfort her or when Jimmy tried to help her she backed away like they were on fire. No one should be so afraid of human comfort. He watched Jimmy stare after the girls. “Noah come help me check on the horses.” Teaspoon said and they walked off.

“Jimmy?” Buck began. “You okay?”

He turned his head back to his friend. “Ya.”

“Ike wants to know what you think about the way Rayne acted.”

“I don’t know what to think, Ike.” He said addressing the man. “I ain’t never seen a person act like that.”

Ike stared into the darkness until a flash of lightening brightened the sky and he saw the two women in the distance. He hadn’t seen anyone act like that either.

Lou was in heaven, pure, absolute heaven. She had slept in all morning. Then when she got up her and Rayne had put on different gowns. Neither woman had an extensive collection of dresses but they made due with what they had. Rayne had used a hot iron to curl Lou’s hair on top of her head and Lou had then braided Rayne’s hair in one of the popular styles. Rayne had a small collection of rouge and some lip reddener. Now they were sitting down to a fine lunch of only apple pie. “I wonder where Rachel is?” Rayne asked taking a large bite of pie.

Lou raised an eyebrow. She thought that Rachel probably thought Rayne didn’t want her to come over after last night. When the girl’s had gotten home last night they had changed clothes and gone to bed. And this morning the subject of last night hadn’t come up. Rayne didn’t look like anything had changed and Lou didn’t want to ask and upset her friend. “Probably still at the house.”

“Well she needs to be over here. How are we going to get her over here without having to go get her?” Lou shrugged. “I know. Lou walk over there and get a piece of paper and the inkwell.” Rayne said as she ran upstairs when she came back down she saw Lou staring at the paper. “Don’t just sit there write something on it.” Then Rayne whistled.

“Okay.” Lou said Rayne’s idea finally dawning on her. “Rachel, get over here now. You’re missing all the fun. Signed Lou and Rayne.” She read to the girl.

“Perfect. Now roll it up.” Rayne took the note from Lou and tied it to Yona’s collar. “Yona go get Rachel.” The dog stared at her. “Yona go get Ike.” This time Rayne pointed at the direction the dog should go. “Lou you think Teaspoon’s in town.” Lou nodded. “Damn, she’d go to Teaspoon or you but that doesn’t do me any good.”

“Here let me try something.” Lou said as she looked at the dog. “Yona go get Jimmy.” With that the dog took of in the direction of the way station. Lou smiled at Rayne. “Just got to know who to ask for.”

Rayne rolled her eyes. She knew that Yona would go to Jimmy she just didn’t want to say it.

“Rayne you mad at Jimmy or something.” Lou asked.

“Not really. I just hate the fact that he treats me like a child.” She told Lou. “He gets mad at me for doing the same stuff he would do. All the boys do that. Like when I was building the fence. Noah kept telling me where each post should go, how deep the holes should be, blah blah blah. He acted like I hadn’t ever built a fence before. I’ve had to mend fences since I could hold a hammer. Then he offered to help me carry the heavy stuff saying that it would be easier on me. They are just so frustrating.”

Lou just laughed and laughed and laughed. When she say Rayne glaring at her all she could say was, “Join the club.”

Yona ran up to Jimmy, who was helping Kid muck, the stalls, like a dog possessed. His first thought was that something had happened to Rayne and Lou but then he saw the paper under Yona’s collar. He read the note and began to walk inside to give Rachel the message.

“Jimmy, what’s going on. Are they okay?” Kid said as he walked after Jimmy. Buck and Cody raised their heads wondering what was going on. “What does that note say?”

“What? Oh ya. The note’s for Rachel telling her to hurry up and get over there.” Jimmy told the worried young man.

“I really want to know what’s going on over there.” Cody told Buck. “I mean what could those girls do all day with out us.”

Buck shook his head. “Cody if you are thinking what I think you’re thinking you had better stop thinking it.”

Cody looked confused. “What? All I’m saying is that I’m curious.”

“You go over there and Rayne’ll skin you alive.” Cody wasn’t listening to Buck’s warning. He was already planning the diabolical scheme. Rachel saddled a horse and rode over to Rayne’s and Cody knew he had to find out what they were doing.

When Rayne opened the door for Rachel a look passed between the women. It said that neither one wanted to talk about what had happened the other day. Rachel looked at the younger women in front of her. Though she thought they were pretty normally they seemed exceptionally beautiful today. She looked at the girls. They seemed so happy and she knew why. Both girls had to live and dress like men to be taken seriously in a man’s world and finally they were getting a break from it.

Rachel looked at them thoroughly. Lou looked more like a woman that Rachel had ever seen her. The men’s clothes hid the cute little figure Lou had from all the time she spent on a horse but the blue dress accented them nicely. Her hair was curly and her face was done up. When she smiled her face lightened and Rachel saw what a beautiful woman she had become. Lou was the kind of woman that men tipped their hats too on the street and fought to dance with at church socials.

With Rayne it was different. Rayne’s curves were made even more obvious in the maroon dress that she wore. Her hair was pull back off her face and her lips were the same color as the dress. She seemed a little uncomfortable but smiled. Once, in Atlanta Rachel had seen a marble statue of an angel that sat outside a large church. Rachel had walked around and around the statue studying it’s delicate lines and carefully thought out design, it looked like a person but it was hard as stone. That was how Rayne looked to her beautiful but made of stone. Isn’t that what Jeremy had told her. “So pretty but too hard.” She looked over them again. “You two look exceptional.”

“Hurry up Rachel and change.” Lou said and pointed to the bag that carried a dress. The women began chattering and laughing. It was heaven.

“This isn’t going to work. The girls are going to kill us.” Kid whispered to Cody. All six boys were hiding behind Rayne’s barn. Somehow Cody had talked them all into going over to Rayne’s to spy on the girls. Truth of it was that it wasn’t very hard. They were all curious.

“It’s going to work just shut up. Jimmy you got the bone.” Jimmy nodded, he agreed with the Kid but he wanted to see what the girls were doing. “Good. Now call Yona show she don’t bark and give us away.” Cody told the man.

Jimmy gave a sharp quiet whistle and watched as a few seconds later the dog pushed her way out the screen door and walked over to him. “Good girl.” He said as he gave the dog the bone.

“Now what.” Ike signed.

“Now we go and look in the windows to see if we can see anything.” Cody responded.

“Like peeping Tom’s.” Noah exclaimed.

“You got a better idea.” No one answered. Jimmy, Buck, and Kid walked to the north side of the house while Ike, Cody, and Noah took the south. They each looked in a different window. Cody and Noah shared one kitchen window while Ike looked through another one. They couldn’t see anyone. Buck looked into the room that Rayne used for and extra bedroom but no one was there. Jimmy and Kid each looked through a different living room window but they turned up short-handed also.

“They must be upstairs.” Buck said as he met up with Kid and Cody. “Let’s go get the others.” Before they could move they saw motion coming from the stairs. Ike, Noah and Cody, who could see nothing from the kitchen, scurried over to the rest of the boys to see who was coming down the stairs.

“Who is it?” Cody asked.

“I can’t tell.” Buck returned.

“It’s Rachel.” Jimmy told them. “She’s all gussied up.” Before anyone could say anything else a huge downpour of water fell on to their heads.

Jimmy, Kid, and Ike who were looking out of one window looked up to see Lou in the window above them with an empty bucket. Rayne held the bucket over the heads of Noah, Cody, and Buck. “I told you, William Cody, not to come over here.” She yelled down at them.

Rachel laughed from the inside. She had been used as the distraction. The girls had been sitting outside when they saw the boys getting ready to go somewhere. It was Lou who thought they might be headed this way and she was right. Each of the women had begun planning for the attack. Quickly Rachel ran to the door and held it open for Yona to get in, shut the door, locked the boys out and then ran up stairs.

“Rayne Kincade I’m gonna get you for this.” Cody yelled as he ran to the door, only to find it locked. “Everyone find an open window.” He yelled.

“Lou did you latch the window in your room?” Rayne questioned.

“I don’t remember.”

“Found one.” Kid yelled.

“Guess not.” She said guiltily as Rayne ran to the window on the second floor that opened on the same side the boys were trying to get in.

“Okay Ike you climb in and the run and open the front door.” Kid told him in a serious voice.

“Lou get me the another bucket.” The girls had five buckets of water in Rayne’s room. When Lou handed her the bucket Rayne tossed the water out the window splashing Ike’s backside because he wasn’t all the way in the house yet and most of Jimmy who was giving him a boost. “Got ‘em.” She told the other women. Then she looked out the window again. “Oh, Hickok looks mad. Come on, to the attic.”

The top floor of Rayne’s house was very oddly designed. One half was the master bedroom and a smaller room that Rayne used as a library of sorts. The other half was an empty space that Rayne called an attic. It was empty except for a few boxes. A small hall separated the two sides. This was were the girls had laid their traps. Quickly they walked over into the attic carrying the remaining two buckets of water.

Ike unlocked the door for the others. He left wet footprints wherever he stepped. “Cody what are you going to do when we find them?” Noah asked.

This made Cody stop for a minute. “Good point. Anyone got any ideas?”

They sat and thought for a moment. Then Ike signed something to Buck and they left the room. Buck went outside and Ike went to the kitchen. “Guys, we can get the mud from outside.” Buck said when he came back.

“We can’t mess up her house like that.” Kid said reasonably.

“Well there’s a big hole that looks like someone already has gotten some out of here. I’m guess that Lou and the others have a few surprises waiting for us.” He said as Ike ran in carrying the remaining half of an apple pie and another whole one.

“Ike this is not the time to be thinking with you stomach.” Cody exclaimed. Every rider looked at him in surprise. Was this the bottomless pit talking? Ike make a few throwing gestures. “Oh good idea.”

Now it was Noah’s turn to protest. “We can’t throw the pie.” But no one listened. Jimmy had gone out with Buck to put mud in one of Rayne’s cooking pots and Cody joined Ike in the kitchen. Only Kid and Noah remained. A few minutes later the boys were back and began making their way up the stairs. “Ah ha!” Cody yelled as he jumped into Rayne’s room but it was empty. One by one they turned to the attic door.

“You first Cody.” Buck said.

“Why me? I already jumped through one door. Why not you?”

“I had to get the mud.”

“I guess that leaves me out too.” Jimmy agreed.

“Ike had to climb in the window.” Buck said.

“Well then,” Cody turned to Noah and Kid. “I guess that leaves one of you.”

“I ain’t going.” Noah said.

“Me neither.” Kid chimed in.

“Well it’s one of you two.” Jimmy told them.

Kid looked and Noah and Noah at Kid. “Shoot for it.” Kid stated. “Odds you go, evens I go.” Noah nodded. “One, two, three. Shoot.” Kid put out three fingers and Noah held out one.

“Look’s like you’re up Kid.” Cody grinned. Kid sighed and moved to the door.

Tentatively he began to open it. When it was about half way open he saw Lou standing in front of him smiling. “I was hoping it was you.” She said. He saw the bucket in her hands too late, and she doused him. He turned and looked to the others and said, “Give me that pie.” And rushed in.

It was a furious war. The girls were far better prepared that the boys who soon ran out of ammunition and started to throw what ever they could find on themselves or the floor. “Is that my apple pie.” Rayne screamed when someone hit her in the stomach with a hand full of the dessert.

“Sure is.” Cody said, then Rachel fired a handful of mud and hit him in the back of the head.

The girl had piles of mud hidden all over the attic. Rayne saw Noah sneaking up on Lou who was throwing mud at Buck and the Kid. “Noah.” She yelled. When he turned around she hit him square in the face with the cream that she had whipped to go on the pie that was now scattered all over the attic.

Rachel grabbed the last bucket of water and threw it on Jimmy who was coming at her with a handful of mud. Then she ran to Rayne. “We’re out.” She yelled over the laughter.

“I know. Let’s get Lou and move it outside.” The two women ran through the barrage of mud and food to their third member. “Lou let’s get out of here.” They turned to see five men standing between them and the door. Rayne did a quick head count and noticed that Jimmy was missing. She turned around and saw that Jimmy was behind them. She was so caught up in the playing that before she knew it she had her arm around Jimmy’s throat and held him like a hostage. A ball of apple pie in her hand as a weapon. “Move it boy’s or Hickok here gets it.” She said evilly.

One by one the boys moved out of the way. “Don’t do it.” Cody yelled. “He’s as good as gone.”

“Thanks a lot Cody.” His back was killing him because he had to kneel for Rayne to keep a hold on him. If he stood up he would pull her off the ground.

“Move Cody.” Lou growled. Cody reluctantly moved and Rachel and Lou backed out of the attic Rayne and Jimmy bringing up the rear. Right after Rayne was out the door she relaxed her hold on Jimmy. The moment he turned to face her she slammed the handful of pie on the side of his face. “Sorry Jimmy. All’s fair.” She ran down the stairs to join the girls outside.

When she saw Rachel and Lou she began to laugh. They were in their nice dresses covered head to toe with mud and other things but they were ready to do battle. Rayne made a mental note to go to town tomorrow and buy them new dresses. The boys ran out hot on her tail. They were an even sadder sight. Besides being covered with everything most of them were soaken wet. Looking around everyone joined Rayne in her laughter.

“Everyone to the pond.” Cody yelled and jumped on his horse. The spontaneous nature of the request made everyone follow his lead. Lou, Rachel, and Rayne ran to get their horses from the barn. Loki wasn’t saddled and Rayne didn’t want to take the time so again she jumped on bareback, which was difficult in the long dress.

By the time everyone got to the small pond no one wasted any time the just took off their shoes and jumped in, even Yona. They dunked and splashed each other until they were exhausted. Rayne climbed out of the water and sat beside Lou and Rachel who had stopped earlier. “My legs are killing me. Who knew it would be this hard to say afloat with all the stuff on. It was like I was wearing a suit of armor.”

“I know what you mean.” Rachel agreed. “I’m gonna head back to the house.”

“Rachel stay.” Rayne said.

“No, I’m tired. But thanks for today. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” Rachel said. Ike who saw Rachel leaving jumped out of the water and helped her on her horse. The long wet skirt was too heavy.

“Hey, where’d Rachel go?” Lou asked after a few minutes.

Rayne smiled. “She went home. You would know that if you weren’t staring at Kid the way a starving man stares at a steak.” Kid and most of the others had taken off shirts and socks and were swimming around in just their pants.

Lou blushed. “I was not.”

“Sure, hey come with me. I got to at least get these stockings off before I turn into a prune. I don’t want anyone coming up on me.” Rayne said. She and Lou walked over to a thicket of trees and Lou kept guard as Rayne took off her stockings and petticoat. The wet dress was about 25 pounds lighter. “Thank god,” she exclaimed. Lou saw the comfort in Rayne’s eyes and did the same.

“We’d better get back and start cleaning the attic.” Lou said.

“Ya, I guess you’re right. Besides even if this dress is lighter I still want to get in some dry clothes.” Rayne agreed.

“Let’s tell the boys we are leaving.” Lou suggested. The girls walked back to the pond and told the boys they were going back to Rayne’s. The girls mounted their horses. “Ugh, they didn’t’ even pay attention. What about the petticoats?”

“What do you expect they are boys?” Rayne said as they rode off. “I’ll come back when they are dry.”

The girls didn’t know how wrong they were. With out the petticoats on the wet dresses hid nothing. Each of the boys stared at the girls with a new admiration, not for how well they rode or shot but for their femininity. Kid watched as the material clung to the curve of Lou’s hips as she moved and wanted to go and cover her from the other’s prying eyes. He glared a Buck who stared just a little too long and the Cody who let out an appreciative sigh.

When Rayne had jumped on Loki her dress had lifted up revealing a slim calf and a tiny ankle. The dress outlined every stretch of her long legs as she rode away. The girl’s hair had come undone and flowed down her back in waves from the braid. Jimmy’s mouth had gone dry.

They boys stayed in the water for a little longer before they got out. As Jimmy buttoned up his shirt Kid walked up behind him. “Jimmy,” The other man nodded. “Back at the house, in the attic, how did Rayne hold you hostage. I mean how did you not overpower her.” Jimmy shrugged his shoulders.

“It was just a game Kid.” He didn’t’ remember much because it happened so fast. Maybe he didn’t fight her to the death but it was only a game.

Kid watched Jimmy’s face. “Ya, whatever you say.”

Jimmy gave Kid an odd look. “What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing, Jimmy. Nothing.”

To be continued...

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