The morning was quiet, the soft bustle of the restaurant a comfort to Chris after a long night of patrol. Everyone was on edge with Amanda's shooter still on the loose. Ezra wouldn't get so much a 10 feet from the house; neither would Ike. That left the rest of the seven to pick up the slack.
Chris shook his head as he sipped at the strong, steaming brew he held in his hand. He had never realized just how much the gambler did; not just for the town, but for the seven as well. Chris smiled to himself as he sat his coffee cup down and opened the first edition of the Rock Creek Register. 'It will be a cold day in hell before I ever let him that though,' Chris thought to himself.
"Hey pard," Vin said as he sat down at the table. "You ordered yet?"
Chris shook his head no, folding the paper slightly closed as he regarded the tracker closely. "Anything? You and Jay find anything at all?"
Vin sighed heavily and Chris could see the frustration on the younger man's face. "Nothing. It's like he just disappeared."
"Where'd Jay go?"
"She went over to the general store. Had to get some more ammo," Vin said, rubbing his weary face. "She's gonna meet me here, get some breakfast too and then we're going back out."
"You ain't gonna get any sleep?"
Vin looked at the leader through dry, aching eyes. He was tired, bone tired. Yet his mind would not let him rest. His thoughts were on the station house. He had thought the girls were safe out there. The riders were always there as was at least one of the lawmen. No one was ever too far away. 'And Amanda still got shot,' he cursed himself as he shook his head.
"Ain't a thing none of us could have done to prevent it, Vin. You know that, don't you?" Chris asked, his steely gaze filled with compassion and care. "Besides lock them girls up in the house." Chris laughed at the mere thought of it. Amanda, Tommie, Eshe and Lou all resigned to the house. "Like that is ever gonna happen."
Vin laughed softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, that would go over real well. And you can be the one to tell um'."
Chris shook his head sharply. "I've seen Louise with a six-shooter." Pausing, a wicked smile crossed the blonde leader's face. "We can send Buck."
The two friends laughed, enjoying the first moment of peace they had had since the whole ordeal started. Amanda was awake, and that did wonders to life the dark mood that had burned within them all. Despite the fact that the shooter was still on the loose, Chris felt that it was going to be a good day. Turning back to his paper, Chris began to gloss over the headlines and immediately, he smile disappeared.
"What the hell was she thinking?" he cursed under his breath, his back stiffening as he read the headline again.
"What is it?" Vin asked, concern marring his handsome face. He knew Chris well enough to know that the black clad leader rarely ever displayed that kind of outright attention, raising his voice to the level that the restaurant's other patrons turned to gawk.
Chris met Vin's sky blue eyes with a fiery glare. "It's Alex. What the hell was she thinking? She might as well have signed Amanda's death certificate herself," Chris growled as he handed the paper over to Vin.
It had taken months for Vin to be able to handle the written word, but with Mary's help, he had learned. He was still slow, had difficulty with certain words, but he could get the jist of what was written. And the words plastered on the front page of the Rock Creek Register were as simple, and as damaging, as they could come.
"Young Louisiana Heiress Shot at Her Own Way Station."
Vin immediately felt his heart sink.
"She's gonna have every no good, lowlife crook in the territory gunning for Amanda," Chris scowled, slamming his fist down on the table. "It ain't bad enough that someone's shooting at the girl and no one knows how much she's worth. Now, she's marked for sure."
Blood rushed to Vin's head and rage filled his heart. He and Alex has been spending a great deal of time together, growing closer with each passing day. He thought highly of her, her beautiful smile and doe eyes. She was funny and smart and full of life. "She used me," he muttered under his breath as he stood quickly from the chair, knocking it over in the process.
"Vin, I'll go...."
"No, I'll take care of this," Vin said quickly, turning on his heels and heading for the door.
Alexandra was elbow deep in printing oil when Vin burst into the small office. "Were you going to tell me about this? Or did you intend for me to get it slapped in my face?" he howled, holding the paper out in front of him.
Alex smiled, brushing curly strands of auburn hair from her eyes and effectively leaving a long track of ink across her forehead. "Good morning to you too sunshine," she said as she began wiping her hands on the ink stained apron that hung loosely around her waist.
"Don't good morning me, Alex. Do you know what you have done?"
The tone in his voice was harsh, almost hateful and immediately Alex was on the defense. "I know exactly what I've done. I've put out my first edition of MY paper, careful to accurately report the events that have taken place in this town as of late. I don't see how this has anything at all to do with me or you, Vin Tanner."
He felt as if he had been kicked below the belt. "Nothing to do with me? Young Louisiana heiress? How could you print that? Do you know what you've done to that girl?"
"You wait just one minute. Is she from Louisiana?" Alex asked, holding a long, ink-stained finger out in front of her.
"Yes, but..." Vin started to say, but Alex cut him off.
"No, wait. And does she not own the way station?"
Vin didn't like where the conversation was going. "Yes, but..."
"No buts," Alex said, waving her finger. "And is she an heiress to a healthy fortune left solely to her by a Margaret Dubios?"
Anger raged in Vin, and he knew there was no hope in reasoning with her. She was seeing it as black and white instead of the multitudes of gray that life really was. "You might as well have shot her yourself, Alex. She's marked now. Every criminal west of the Mississippi is gonna be looking for the young Louisiana heiress." He paused, staring at Alex as if he was seeing her for the first time. "She's just a kid, Alex. You just ruined her life." He paused again, shaking his head. "And you used me to do it."
Tears welled up in Alex's eyes as Vin's daggered glare bore deep into her soul. But before she could say anything, he threw the paper on the floor and turned to leave. "Vin, wait," she called after him, rushing toward the door. "I, um...."
But Vin didn't stopped. He pulled open the door, barreling down the boardwalk. Alex called after him as she reached the doorway, but he kept going. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his shoulder length hair blowing gently off of his shoulders with his quick pace. "Vin," she called again, but he ignored her. Alex was certain he wasn't going to stop for anyone; that was, until he saw "her".
The woman was tall, dressed in a long duster and chaps, but there was a grace about her that radiated confidence. She was beautiful in a rough, carefree way, a six-shooter strapped to her thigh as she held a Winchester over one shoulder. She smiled grandly as she approached the tracker, and Alex knew that they were certainly not strangers.
Vin never looked toward the newspaper office, keeping his head low, though he barely seemed to talk to her. But "she" talked; even going as far as to put an arm on the tracker's shoulder. Immediately, Alex felt the green monster of jealousy burning her heart.
He wasn't Alex's and she knew that. But they had spent a great deal of time together since her arrival. They had shared many secrets, stolen many kisses, felt the first budding of love begin to grow. "And you can cast me aside so easily," she scowled as anger flushed her cheeks.
"We'll see about that, Vin Tanner," she hissed as she stomped back into the newspaper office, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the glass in the frame. "We'll just see."
Ezra closed his eyes, his head beginning to pound. Silently, he began to pray. He had never been one for divine intervention or the idea of a supreme force that guided life. As far as he was concerned, he alone was the master of his fate. 'But if you're up there,' he thought to himself. 'You gotta help me with this one.'
Slowly, he opened his eyes, hoping for a miracle. He was met with only the same deadly headline.
Young Louisiana Heiress Shot at Her Own Way Station.
He continued to read the article for the fourth time that morning.
.....Amanda Dubious, young owner of the Rock Creek Way Station and heiress to the Dubios fortune, was shot outside her home last night. The gunmen has not been apprehended.
Amanda is sister to lawmen, Ezra Standish, and the youngest woman in the history of Russels, Majors and Waddell to own a way station. Amanda came to Rock Creek after leaving her substantial Louisiana family plantation, on which tobacco had been grown and harvested for many years. Due to the recent death of Aunt Margaret Dubios, Amanda is sole inheritor of the family fortune.
The attractive, single business owner is expected to make a full recovery.
"I'll kill her," he muttered under his breath. "I swear I will." He looked up quickly, his eyes burning as he glared at Vin. "Where'd she get all this information, Vin? How'd she know so much so quickly?"
Vin kept his head low, his thumbs hitched in his belt. He knew the tone in Ezra's voice, like venom from a snake, and knew that the best thing for him to say was nothing at all.
"Let's not focus on the whos and whys, Ez," Buck Wilmington said, never thinking he would be the voice of reason. "What we need to do is find the shooter."
"And we need some type of retraction," Chris said firmly, glancing between the men.
"Need a retraction from what?"
Ezra whirled on his heels at the familiar voice. "Amanda, what do you think you are doing?"
All eyes followed Ezra to the main house. Amanda stood on the porch, a thick shawl draped around her shoulders as she balanced herself on Eshe. She was pale, her hair mussed, but her smile was brilliant. Ezra felt his head pound worse.
"I had to get some air, Ezra. I couldn't stand being cooped up anymore," she said matter-of-factly. Her voice was strong and confident, despite her fragile appearance. "Besides, I feel fine."
Eshe helped Amanda get settled on the top porch step, sliding down next to her as she kept her eyes from meeting the burning glare of the lawman. "If I hadn't helped her," Eshe said, finally looking up. "She'd have done it herself."
Amanda looked to Eshe, seeing the soft fire burning in her cheeks. "Ezra, stop that. Eshe only did what I asked of her. If you wish to raise hell, do it with me." Not waiting for her brother to respond, she turned to the small group of lawmen and riders that had gathered in the front yard. "Now, what do you want a retraction for? Did Miss Moore finally get the Register up and running?"
Before anyone could answer, a small figure brushed past them all like an unexpected dust storm. His arms were waving frantically as he moved to Amanda's side. She smiled. "Ike, honey, slow down. I can't follow you."
"He wants to know why you are out of bed," Buck Cross said, following behind his best friend.
Amanda grabbed hold of Ike's hand, pulling him down on the step next to her. "Ike, I'm fine. Really. I just had to get out of that bed." She turned back to Chris. "What is the retraction for?"
No one moved for several seconds, the silence deafening as all eyes seemed to focused directly on Amanda. She was just about to ask again when JD snatched the paper from Ezra's hands. Crossing the small yard, he handed it to her. "A retraction for this."
Amanda took the paper, marveling at the sheer beauty of the printed word. Long had she hoped to see the small town of Rock Creek grow and expand. It had such potential and seemed to be growing with each passing day. The first edition of the Rock Creek Register was evidence of that. Amanda smiled lovingly as she brushed her fingers across the quality paper. Finally, she looked at the headline, carefully reading over the article itself.
Ezra waited, unsure of his sister's reaction. Never did he expect what was to come.
Without a single change in her expression, Amanda looked up. "I don't have it anymore."
Again, silence stunned the group.
"What do you mean, you don't have it?" the gambler asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, lowering her eyes to the ground in front of her. It was a conversation that Amanda had been dreading for a long time. "Like I said, Ez. I don't have it. It's gone. All gone."
"What's gone?" Cody asked, scratching his head as he tried to grasp the conversation that was unfolding around him. "The money?"
Amanda shook her head yes, but offered no further information.
"But I thought your inheritance was pretty big?" Jimmy asked, not caring for the money one way or the other, but confused by the current turn of events. "I thought your mama, um...I mean, aunt left it to ya. Ain't that what you bought the station with?"
Amanda shook her head, glancing quickly to see the expression on Ike's face. She was met with only concern and confusion. Her tongue darted out quickly to moisten her dry lips. She took a deep breath. "I gave it all away."
"YOU WHAT?" Ezra exclaimed, his voice louder than he had expected it to be. Amanda flinched at the sheer force of it. Ezra stepped back, regrouping his thoughts before he continued. "To whom? When?"
"I gave it away. Some I gave to the mission where Josiah's sister is. Some I gave to the orphanage where Lou's brother and sister are. Some I just gave to missionaries." She looked up quickly to see what everyone was doing, but all eyes were still on her. She continued. "Most of it, I gave to the families of the slaves that served at the plantation in Louisiana. They were really the ones that made that place work. It was really theirs to begin with anyway."
"So it's all gone?" Tommie asked, pushing through the crowd of men and sitting on the step below her friends. She rested her back against Eshe's legs, laying a hand on Amanda's.
Amanda sighed. "Most of it. I kept some for the station. Not much, but some. And there's a good size balance at the general store that Thompkin's is holding for our needs here. But otherwise...." She stopped. Looking up at Ezra, she cracked a half-grin. "I gave some to Maude too."
Ezra laughed in spite of himself. Maude. That made complete sense. Ezra had often wondered why Maude had left Sweetwater when she did, quietly and without much fuss. That certainly wasn't Maude. He had thought it was because of her dislike of Amanda's purchasing the Rock Creek station. Now, he understood. Maude had gotten what she had come for....money. 'She'll never change,' he thought to himself.
"Damn, and I thought maybe she just didn't know where to find us," Buck Wilmington said playfully, his charming smile doing wonders to lift the tenseness of the situation.
Laughter drifted through the small group, but Amanda's expression had turned grave. She turned to face Ike. "Are you okay with that, Ike? Okay that it's all gone? I have nothing." She stopped, looking around at the wonderful family that she had grown to love more than life itself. She grinned broadly. "Well, no money anyway."
Ike smiled, raising his hand to her cheek and gently caressing it. Leaning forward, he kissed her tenderly on the lips.
She stared fixed into Ike's clear green eyes, wondering how she had gotten so lucky. "I love you, " she said under her breath, leaning forward to return a brief kiss on his tempting lips. "You know that, don't you?"
Ike's eyes twinkled as the corners of his lips turned up into a delectable smile. Quickly, he kissed the tip of her nose, sliding his arm around her waist. That said everything she needed to know. Amanda let go of the breath she was holding. Looking to the rest of her family, she smiled. Finally, her gaze came to rest on Ezra. His face was a mass of emotion, that which she could not ready. "Good riddance," she repeated, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Ezra rubbed a hand across his jaw, his eyes fixed on Amanda. He knew better than anyone the trouble that money had always caused for Amanda. Even as a child, her wealth and family status kept her secluded from other children her own age. It had brought countless miscreants out of the woodworks to wreak havoc on her young life, and had turned trusted friends into foes. Now it was gone.
A dashing smile spread across the gambler's chiseled features as his left eyebrow arched high. Casually, he folded his arms across his chest. "Good riddance indeed."
After leaving Jimmy alone in the barn to attend to Lightning, Lou had slipped quietly into the house and into the kitchen to heat up water on the reservoir for her bath..then headed upstairs to see how Amanda was feeling.She found her wounded friend sitting up in bed talking to Eshe and her relief had been instantaneous...Ever since she had received word from Jimmy about Amanda being shot, the thought of her dying without her being there to say goodbye...had filled her with panic. She had hugged Amanda briefly, told Eshe Hi and promised both to come and tell them how her trip had been as soon as she had taken her bath.
Then she had slipped back downstairs and into the kitchen...She filled the large tub nestled in one corner of the kitchen behind a dressing screen with the hot liquid...removed her grimy clothes and sunk into it's deep warmth with a sigh.. She didn't linger long since the water tended to cool much too quickly for that, but shampooed her hair and washed her body.
A short time later, feeling much more refreshed and dressed in one of the few feminine blouses and skirts she owned...with her shoulder length dark hair hanging in loose tresses down around her shoulders...emptied the tub..then went out in search of the others...She found them all in a heated discussion on the front porch, shocked to see that even Amanda was there...and quietly moved up to Jimmy's side..
"What's going on?" she asked, noticing the scowl on Ezra's face...Vin's abashed look and the serious expressions on the faces of the other men gathered..It seemed that only Amanda had an expression of utter calm and peace on her pale face...
"Tommie."
A hand shook her shoulder persistently in the dark. Groggily Tommie
opened her eyes and rolled over. Eshe stood over her bed, a shawl
wrapped around her thin nightgown. Even in her half-asleep state, Tommie
could tell that her friend was worried.
"What is it? Is it Amanda?" She asked, sitting straight up in bed.
"No, no." Eshe shook her head as she sat down next to Tommie. "Nothing
like that. It's about Evan; Vin and his friend brought him in a couple
of hours ago. Josiah just rode out and told Kid."
Immediately Tommie rose and began to gather her clothes. "Is he alright?
Vin didn't..." She couldn't finish the rest, couldn't make herself ask
if Evan had been shot or killed.
Eshe touched her hand sympathetically. "He's fine, Tommie. Chris has
taken him into custody at the jail."
"I've got to go see him." Tommie murmured as she dressed. "I know you
probably don't understand this, Eshe, but he's my brother. I just want
to see for myself that he's alright."
"Tommie, you don't have to explain anything to me." Eshe soothed. "But
there's something else that you should know..."
She paused in buttoning her blouse, turning to face her friend. "What?"
Eshe hesitated a moment, wringing her hands together nervously. "It's
Buck, Tommie. He heard Josiah telling Kid...and he left."
Tommie closed her eyes briefly as she uttered a silent prayer. "I had
better hurry."
Eshe nodded understandingly. "Kid's saddling a horse for you."
The jail was brightly lit but quiet when Tommie arrived. She quickly
reigned her horse and headed inside. Buck Wilmington and Chris were
seated at the desk near the door. Buck had his chair tipped back and his
feet propped up. Chris was pensively leaning forward. The only other
person in the room was Evan, who was stretched out on a cot in the cell
on the far end of the room. When Tommie closed the door all three men
jumped.
Buck immediately jumped to his feet. "Hold on there, darlin'. I don't
think this is the best place for you to be right now."
"I just want to see my brother, Buck. I'm not here to cause trouble."
She replied calmly.
"I know you don't aim to, sugar, it's just..." Buck trailed off
uncertainly as he glanced at Chris.
An awkward silence filled the room until Chris cleared his throat. "What
he means, Tommie, is that your Buck was just here. I don't think he'd take
much to you being here."
Tommie looked back and forth between the two men. "What are you talking
about? What happened?"
"We, uh, we had to throw him out." Buck said nervously. He rubbed his
neck with an agitated hand.
"What?" She cried.
"That Injun lover of yours tried to attack me." Evan's voice piped up
from his cell.
Tommie looked at Chris for confirmation and he slowly nodded. "He
grabbed the keys from Buck and tried to get in the cell. We stopped him
before any damage was done, but he wouldn't calm down."
"Where is he now?" She wanted to know.
Both men shrugged. "Don't know. He got on his horse and tore out of
here." Buck replied.
Thoughts whirled in Tommie's head. What was going on in Buck's head?
She forced herself to forget about it for now, trying instead to
concentrate on Evan.
She walked slowly to his cell, reaching out her hands to grip the bars
that separated them. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Do you care?" Evan wanted to know, his expression inscrutable.
Tommie flinched. "You're my brother; nothing changes that."
"I'm fine." He sighed.
But she could hear the tiredness in his voice and see it in his eyes.
Evan had always been good-looking, with his long dark blonde hair and
deep blue eyes. He reminded Tommie of her father and would always be one
of those men who only got more handsome as he got older. Now she could
see something new in her brother though: a sadness that was almost
bitter.
"Did you do this, Evan?" Tommie asked now in a quiet whisper. "Did you
shoot Amanda?"
The opaque veil slid back across her brother's eyes but before it did,
Tommie caught a glimpse of something. Something like guilt.
"You're gonna believe all those stinkin' lawmen friends of yours anyway.
It doesn't matter what I say."
Her hands clenched the bars tighter. "You did, didn't you? But why did
you stay here? Why didn't you leave? You must have known that Vin or
Buck would track you--Unless...unless you wanted to be caught. But why,
Evan? Confession has never been your style. What are you up to?"
He watched her as she worked out the details out loud. Tommie spoke in a
soft whisper so that their conversation couldn't be overheard by Buck or
Chris and only Evan heard the fear and disgust in her voice as she came
to her realization. A slow grin spread across his face.
"My dear sister, oh how you doubt me!" He laughed. "I did not shoot
Amanda, of that you can be certain, as will your little friends before
long."
"You may not have pulled the trigger, but you had something to do with
it!" Tommie hissed. "You forget, brother, you taught me a few tricks a
long time ago. And how to evade the truth was one of them!"
"Stick to what you know, Thomasina: whoring around with your red man and
pretending you're all sweet and innocent with these fools you call
friends, cause you sure ain't no Pinkerton."
Tommie took a step back away from Evan's cell. Her face filled with
hurt. "I can't believe I defended you. I should have known all along
that you were behind this, just like Buck said. You're a monster, Evan,
and I hope you rot in hell for what you did to Amanda."
Tommie turned swiftly on her heels and strode out of the jail, slamming
the front door hard behind her and leaving Buck and Chris to stare after
her.
Raising her shot glass, Jay minutely examined the amber liquid that it
contained before putting it to her lips and tipping her head back. The
whiskey burned a trail down her throat before setting a fire in the pit of
her stomach. Licking the rim of the glass to catch any stray drops, she
finally put it back down on the well-worn mahogany surface of the bar.
"That's good whiskey," she murmured in a husky voice, shooting a sidelong
glance at her companion.
"It is," Vin replied non-committally.
"Relax partner," Jay said in drunken cheerfullness, reaching out to slap
the tracker on the back. "We caught the guy that shot your little
girlfriend. You should be happy."
"Yeah," he muttered before throwing back his own drink. "But she's not my
girlfriend."
"Sure she is. I mean, she's a girl and she'd have to be your friend to
inspire this kind of devotion. Thus, she's your girlfriend," she crowed
before picking up the whiskey bottle to pour herself another shot. "So she
better than me?"
"Is who better than you?"
"Your little girlfriend. She better than me?"
"You've had enough Jay," Vin said in a warning tone.
"I got plenty of room honey," she purred, picking up the bottle to swig
straight out of it. "And you haven't answered my question."
"I'm not going to either," he shot back. "Now give me the bottle."
"No." Closing her lips around the neck of the whiskey bottle, she upended
it to chug what was left down. "Here," she said, tossing him the empty
bottle with a negligent flick of her wrist. "So she's no good in the sack huh?"
He caught it and placed it on the bar, throwing her a dark look. "Jay-" he
started to say before she cut him off by sliding off her stool to lean
forward and fasten her lips over his. She felt him freeze in shock as she
kissed him, but he melted soon enough to return it, even as he reached out
to grab her upper arms. Then, with a quick exertion of his superiour
strength, he pushed her away even as she was nibbling at his bottom lip,
causing her to break the skin as she was shoved backwards.
"Bastard," she hissed as jealous rage bubbled up in her, and before she
knew it she'd broken the hold he had on her right arm to swing at him. Her
fist connected squarely with his jaw in a hook, and he released her left
arm so that he could use his left hand to stop him from falling against the
bar.
"You've lost your balls Tanner," she spat at him before turning on her heel
to stalk out of the saloon.
Tommie left the jail with her mind in a sickened state of anger and
confusion. Had she really seen what she thought she had in Evan's eyes?
It had happened so quickly she couldn't be sure. But something deep
inside her told her that she wasn't wrong and really she had known all
along if she was truthful to herself.
Suddenly she realized that she had been just as stubborn as Buck. Just
as much as he had refused to believe that Evan was innocent, she had
denied his guilt. And the fact was, the issue really wasn't even about
Evan. Buck had been upset because of her involvement in Evan's schemes
and she had become defensive.
"Oh, God, we've been so stupid!" Tommie whispered out loud.
She rode the short distance back to the station, berating herself and
hoping she would see Buck soon so she could explain her feelings to him.
However, she was disappointed to see that his horse was still absent from
his stall. With an aching heart she resigned herself to waiting until
morning to talk to him. She headed for the house, stopping short when
she recognized Ezra's tall frame stretched out in the porch swing.
Tommie smiled as she climbed the steps to him. Ezra grinned easily back
at her before taking a generous sip from his everpresent flask. Scooting
to one side, he made room for her on the swing and she sat down.
"Good evening, my dear." He greeted. "You're out late."
Tommie's smile widened at the gambler's slightly slurred speech. "Why,
Ezra, you're drunk!"
"Conceivably." He agreed. "Care to join me?"
He offered her the flask. Tommie started to decline but impulsively
changed her mind. Hesitantly she took a small sip and immediately began
to cough. The liquid felt like a burning inferno coursing through her.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" Ezra asked with sly amusement.
Tommie forced herself to nod even though her eyes were watering.
"Great!" She managed.
Ezra laughed then turned his gaze back to the moonlit station. "Lovely
night. Might I inquire as to where you've been?"
She sighed. "I went to see Evan."
"I presumed as much." Ezra nodded. "Pardon my prying but it doesn't
seem as if your visit went well."
"Not really." Tommie agreed. She lowered her head to stare down at her
hands. "I think maybe he's the one who shot Amanda."
Ezra leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and holding the
flask comfortably between his hands. "And how did you come by this
conclusion?"
"I don't know...just a feeling, I guess. I just feel so completely
idiotic...I've been trying so hard to convince Buck that Evan wasn't the
one who did this, that I didn't stop to consider the fact that he could
have." She sighed heavily again.
"I disagree." Ezra stated firmly. "You didn't discount Evan as a
probable suspect, you just wanted Buck to recognize the potentiality that
it could have been someone else just as well."
A silence fell between them as Tommie thought this over. Ezra took
another drink and handed the flask back to Tommie. She was surprised to
find that the alcohol no longer burned as badly when she swallowed.
"You know, this really isn't that bad." She commented.
"Well, it tends to put your worries into perspective anyway." Ezra
smiled.
Tommie leaned forward to gently touch the handsome gambler's knee.
"Amanda will be alright."
"I know." He nodded. "And I would be prevaricating if I didn't say that
the fact that your brother is currently behind bars relieves my mind a
great deal."
"Then what is troubling you?" Tommie wanted to know.
Ezra hesitated, squinting his green eyes into slits as he thought. He
crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "Does it not seem to you as
if my dear sister has a rather ill-starred destiny? As if the very gods
were against her achieving any measure of happiness?"
"Oh, I don't know about that, Ezra." She objected. "Some would say that
Amanda is very lucky; she has you and Ike."
"Is that fortuitous? Perhaps we are her very downfall." He said softly.
"After all, if it were not for Mother and myself, Amanda would not have
been kidnapped. If not for Ike, then Evan would not be the jealous
avenger."
"Ezra! You can't think like that! Amanda would die without the two of
you. You and Ike are everything to her!" Tommie exclaimed.
Ezra was quiet for a long moment then he leaned over to take the flask
from Tommie's hand. He took a long drink then raised the flask as if
toasting someone. "To my sister; may her days be filled with the
happiness she deserves and may anyone who tries to take it away from her
burn in the very pits of hell!"
"Ezra..."
"Thomasina, I love you dearly. You are very nearly as much a sister to
me as Amanda. But if your brother...Tommie, if Evan did this, then so
help me God I will see him pay."
Flinching slightly at the harshness of his words, Tommie gently took the
flask back. She took a large gulp and swallowed fast, hardly noticing
the taste now. She took another quick drink and passed it back to the
gambler.
"Ezra," Tommie finally said. "Brother or not, I will never forgive Evan
if he hurt Amanda."
He looked at her skeptically, his green eyes narrowed. "If? Only a
short while ago you were convinced that Evan was indeed the one who did
this. Are you changing your mind so quickly?"
"No." She sighed sadly. "No, not really. I guess it's just hard to let
go. All of my family...well, it doesn't seem like I even have one
anymore."
Ezra reached over to run a gentle thumb across her cheek. "Don't be
foolish. You have us, what more do you need?"
She leaned into him, grateful for his comforting presence. "I know. And
believe me, I wouldn't have made it thru these last few days without all
of you...It's just...Ezra, when my father sent me here to stay with Aunt
Marge...I can't even explain to you how I felt. I was just so hopeless,
so lost. I was too ashamed to let any of you know where I was. It was
just...just the absolute worst time of my life."
She was silent. Ezra patiently waited for her to finish. Never before
had he heard her mention her time spent in Rock Creek before the others
came. He had assumed that Tommie had talked it over with Buck but now,
hearing the raw hurt in her voice, he wondered if this wasn't the first
time the young girl had ever brought the subject up.
Finally Tommie took a deep ragged breath and continued. "Then, when you
came to get me and you took me home to Buck...I thought I could stand
anything as long as I had him. None of the rest seemed to matter.
"But now..." She paused, her face working in an effort to control her
emotions. "Now I know that those few months living with Aunt Marge were
nothing. I feel like I'm going crazy, Ezra. I can't stand this distance
between Buck and I...not being able to touch him...or talk to him. I
just miss him so much!"
"Shh, angel." Ezra tenderly took her into his arms, pulling her tight
against him. Tommie buried her face in the strong curve where his neck
and shoulder met. "Buck is merely being a fool; he'll come around soon
enough."
"Will he? Can I really blame him if he doesn't? I lied to him, Ezra!
And Buck is so good, so pure...he'd never do something like that! Maybe
I don't deserve him! Maybe he's just too good for me!"
"Tommie!" Ezra exclaimed sternly, pulling her roughly away from him to
look her in the eyes. "Do not ever let me hear you say again that you
aren't good enough for someone!"
"But my past! I did things--"
He stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Stop! Everyone has a past,
Thomasina. And everyone has something in it that they would alter. Do
you regret what you did?"
Tommie looked at him with confusion. "Yes, but--"
"And would you do it again?" He interrupted.
"Of course not! But, Ezra--"
"Then no one can hold it against you, my dear." He said quietly.
"Including Buck."
Tommie stared at him, searching for any deceit in his emerald gaze. She
found nothing but compassion. Even the usual trace of cockiness that the
gambler usually wore was missing.
"You're a good friend, Ezra Standish." She said softly.
"That I am." He replied, smiling mischievously. "Now, off to bed with
you. I need to go replenish my drink."
She grinned at him as she stood. Impulsively she leaned down to kiss his
forehead. "Thank you for listening."
Tommie scampered inside, leaving Ezra alone. He looked up at the cold,
pale moon and sighed. He didn't notice the figure on horseback watching
him from a distance...
The morning was crisp, bright, and cold. So cold it stung Tommie's
nostrils as she hurriedly walked to the barn. She pulled open the door,
grateful for the warmth and the rich musky smell of the animals that
emitted from inside.
More so, she was happy to see Buck's familiar form bent over his horse,
carefully checking its hooves and shoes as he always did before a ride.
She watched from the doorway, nervously clearing her throat.
Buck looked up at the sound. His expression changed from one of open
curiousity to a more guarded one. Mumbling a quick good morning, he went
back to his inspection.
"Buck..." Tommie faltered. How easy it used to be to talk to him! "I
just wanted to say...to...have a safe ride."
"Thanks." He replied shortly.
"Will you be back tomorrow?" She asked, cringing at the desperation she
heard in her voice.
He glanced at her. "Probably."
Probably. The word echoed in her mind. Funny how much it sounded like
mind your own business.
"Buck--"
"Tommie, don't." He cut her off. "I just don't want to hear it right
now."
"Why are you so mad?" She pleaded. "I know I made a mistake in not
telling you about my past but it's over! And I'm sorry we argued about
Evan. That was foolish and I should have known better. But please
understand, Buck, he's my brother...I didn't want to think him capable of
hurting Amanda. Can't you...can't you just forgive me, Buck? Can't we
start over? I miss you!"
His dark eyes cut into her. Tommie almost gasped at the anger she saw in
his face. Eyes brown like a rich coffee flashed almost black with
emotion.
"Do you, Thomasina? Do you really miss me?" Buck scoffed. "Because the
other night on the porch with Ezra you didn't look like you were missing
me at all!"
Tommie's blue eyes widened. "Ez-?? Buck, surely you don't think that
something happened--Buck, don't be a fool! Ezra is my friend and yours
as well!"
Buck grabbed his saddle and threw it carelessly astride the horse. "It
sure didn't look like friends on the porch the other night."
"Buck, what are you talking about? I don't know what you thought you
saw--Wait! Have you been spying on me?"
"It was kind of hard to miss, Tommie. When I came home the other night,
you and Ezra looked pretty friendly." Buck said slyly.
"We were talking!" Tommie cried indignantly. "About you! In case you
haven't noticed, you fool, I've been worried about you! About us! Ezra
was simply being a good friend and listening to me."
For just a second, she saw his expression soften. "I just don't know
what to believe anymore. I feel like I never even really knew you,
Tommie."
She rushed forward and clutched his arm. "But you do know me, Buck,
better than anyone else. And my past is just that: the past.
Please...please, Buck...Austin and Evan have already caused so many
problems...don't let them tear us apart, too."
"I don't know, Tommie." He shook his head slowly. "I think we may have
just rushed into things too fast. Maybe we both just need to step back
for awhile."
Her eyes were mirrors of hurt as she stared at him. "So you can't
forgive me? Why can't you just let it go? Is your past so perfect that
you can't forget mine? Why are you doing this, Buck?"
"I'm not doing anything, Tommie." Placing a hand on each of her
shoulders, he looked at her seriously. "I just need some time to think,
is all."
He hugged her gently then and climbed onto his saddle. "We'll talk when
I get back. I promise."
She watched him go. For the first time in ages, she felt a stirring of
hope. At least she had his promise to talk. If only she could make it
until his return. But little did she know that all hell was fixing to
break loose...
"Ezra's gonna kill me for this," Vin said, holding the reigns loosely in his hands as small team of horses carried the wagon toward town.
Amanda inhaled deeply. The day was beautiful, sun bright in the clear blue sky. She turned her face up to it, closing her eyes as she reveled in the tingling sensation it left on her skin. She smiled brightly. "He'll be mad, I know, but I really appreciate you doing this, Vin."
Amanda opened her youthful eyes, turning to face him and Vin smiled in spite the verbal lashing he knew he was going to get from Ezra when he got back to the station. She is so much Ezra's sister, he thought to himself. The color had slowly begun to fill her face again, her brilliant green eyes bright and full of life. She looked fresh and alive, despite how close she had been to death's door. Vin shook his head. "What are you so happy about?"
Amanda laughed softly, slipping an arm around Vin's as she laid her head against his arm. There was something about the tracker that Amanda had always been fond of. He was real, no fronts, no charades, and Amanda appreciated his honesty. "Why shouldn't I be happy? I'm alive," she said, her smile covering her entire face. "Plus," she added, sitting up and turning to face the tracker. "I have all my family and friends at the station house. Everyone's happy and healthy."
Vin shook his head. "Well, now that you're up and around we are."
Amanda swallowed hard, her smile faltering for only a moment before she looked forward. "I know I frightened everyone. I'll try not to get shot again," she said playfully as she winked at him.
Vin laughed. "Okay, good. Ezra gets too cranky when you get shot."
Amanda cleared her throat. The first buildings of town were coming into sight. She could see people moving about, going on with their daily routines. Life does go on, she thought to herself. "As it should."
"What?" Vin asked, turning toward her with a curious look on his face.
She simply shook her head. "And in addition to everything else that's great about life, I'm engaged to the greatest man I've ever met in my life. Oh Vin," she said, raising her shoulders bashfully. "I love him so much."
Vin wrapped an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder gently as he placed a tender brotherly kiss on her forehead. "He loves you too dear. He loves you very much."
As they pulled into town, Amanda didn't notice the woman standing outside the saloon, her duster shrouding her female form. Vin did. Quickly, he pulled his arm from around Amanda's shoulder. But the woman had already turned, shaking her head as she pushed through the bat wing doors. Vin cursed under his breath.
Amanda did not notice. Instead, she stared fixed on the jail. Evan was in there. Ezra had told her of his capture and detainment. It had been such a relief to everyone that Evan was behind bars, everyone except Amanda. She sighed.
JD stood on the boardwalk in front of the jail, his thumbs hitched in his gun belt as he smiled broadly. His badge gleamed brightly in the morning sun and Amanda was certain he had probably spent al morning shining it up. She wanted to smile at the thought of it, of the young, exuberant lawman. But she couldn't. She could think of nothing else but Evan. Finally, she made up her mind.
Vin jumped from the wagon, moving quickly to the other side. He held out his arms as Amanda stood up. "Let me help you," he said, taking her hand in his, his other slipping around her small waist. Carefully, he lowered her to the dirt street.
"Thank you, Vin," she said, moving past him as she stared fixed on the jail. "I won't let him win," she mumbled under her breath, her face full of determination.
"Mornin' Miss Amanda," JD said as he met her in the street, tipping his hat as his youthful smile covered his entire face. "What are you doin' in town?"
"Good morning, JD. Lovely day, isn't it?" she said quickly as she moved past him.
Vin had started toward the saloon, but seeing where Amanda was heading, he ran after. "Where are you going?" he called, his voice full of alarm.
It took JD several seconds before he understood what was going on. Immediately, he spun on his heels and moved after her. "Amanda, wait."
She was already at the door before she finally stopped. Vin stepped up behind her, slamming his hand on the door to prevent her from opening it. "I can't let you go in there, Amanda. You know he's in there."
Amanda stared at the door, her breathing labored as her heart beat loudly in her chest. "Please, Vin, let me do this. I need to do this. I need to show him that he didn't win."
Vin looked at JD who simply shrugged his shoulders. Glancing over his shoulder, Vin's sharp eyes briefly scanned the town behind him looking for any person, any reason to keep her out of the jail. He found nothing. Finally he stepped back. "I'm going in with you."
She was about to protest, but a fresh flare of pain in her side made her think twice. Instead, she shook her head in agreement. "I'll just be a minute." Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
The jail was dim, the only furnishings were a small desk and chair near the door, a single wooden chair that sat near the cells and two cots, one in each of the two cells the jail sported.
Evan sat on one of those cots, barely glancing over his shoulder at the sound of the door. But immediately he jumped to his feet, his hairs brushing through his hair as he moved to the bars. He was visibly surprised by the unexpected guest. "Amanda, you look beautiful as usual," he said, not quite sure what to say.
Amanda looked around the room, trying to gather the courage that she thought she had had when she walked in. But seeing him made her feel sick to her stomach, the unhealed pain in her side throbbing rhythmically with the force of her breathing. Slowly, she stepped into the room and moved toward the cell.
"You didn't win," she said calmly though her heart beat so loud in her ears, she thought she would go mad. "You can hurt me, shoot me, try and take away everyone I care about. But I'm still here, Evan."
Her voice was so cold, yet strong. For one brief moment, Amanda would have sworn she saw hurt in Evan's deep blue eyes. But the moment was brief and quickly was the cool, calculated demeanor that Evan was famous for. "It pains me that you think so little of me, my love," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Amanda visibly cringed. "Don't call me that. You don't love me. Normal people don't try to kill the ones they love."
Evan wrapped his hands around the bars, leaning forward until his head came to rest on the cold steel. "I didn't do it, Amanda. Why would I? I love you and I know that one day, you will love me."
Cold, harsh laughter filled the air and again Evan hesitated for a moment, only a brief moment. "I'll never love you, Evan. You repulse me. I'm sickened by the mere sight of you. How you and Thomasina can be of the same blood, I will never understand. She is everything that is good in the world and you are all that is evil. I despise you, Evan Windemere."
"THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?" he shouted, startling both Amanda and Vin.
The tracker immediately went for his gun, but Amanda held out her hand. Swallowing hard, she set her shoulders square again. "I wanted to tell you that despite all your efforts, I'm still alive. And I'm in love with the greatest man in the world....Ike. We're going to be married, and we are going to live happily ever after with a house full of fat little children and we are going to grow old together. He loves me and I love him, and no matter what you do, Evan, you can't take that away," she
said, holding her hand out to him, her palm facing down.
Evan's jaw clenched and unclenched as he looked down at the small ring on her hand. For several seconds, he said nothing, did nothing. No movement, nothing. She was about to ask him if he had heard her when he looked up sharply, his eyes burning into her soul. There was so much hate, so much darkness that it took every bit of her resolve to not shrink back from him. But she continued anyway.
"And.....I want you to leave Tommie alone too. You've tried everything to make her life hell and you've almost succeeded, but I know that her and Buck's love with pull them through. She's the kindest human being I've ever known and you'll only destroy her life, Evan. If you have any decency, any shred of humanity left, you'll let her be happy. You'll let her live her life."
Silence filled the room so heavy that Amanda feared she would suffocate. She wanted to look back at Vin, to make sure that he was still there. But she was afraid to turn away. Her eyes were locked with Evan's and she feared that if she even gave a little, she would loss what ground she had gained so far, and in her mind, it had been a victory.
In Evan's mind, he couldn't have planned it better if he had tried.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the gambler barreling toward the small jail, Tommie and the black clad lawman following close behind. As the door to the jail burst open, Evan began.
Uproarious laughter filled the air among the shouts and accusations from the gambler as Ezra pushed past the tracker, stopping in the middle of the floor.
"My precious Amanda," Evan said, shaking his head from side to side. "You have so much concern for my dear sister, so much love." His eyes narrowed on her, flickering between Amanda and his horrified sister who stood by the door. "But does she deserve it?"
"Amanda," Tommie said, nervousness edging the concern in her voice. "What are
you doing? You should be at home."
Both of them turned toward Tommie. "Tommie, you're just in time," Evan said, his voice full of cheer. "I was just about to tell Amanda what a really great friend you are."
"Evan, there's nothing you could say that would make me turn against Tommie so don't even try," Amanda said firmly, irritated by the man's juvenile tactics.
"Did you ever wonder how Austin knew so much about you Amanda?" Evan asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Evan, shut up!!" Tommie yelled. She didn't want it to come out like this. She hadn't had time to tell Amanda herself.
"Did you ever wonder why she got away that night when we had you both, and you didn't?" Evan tilted his head to one side, watching the confusion slowly grow in Amanda's youthful face.
Amanda looked to Tommie, then back to Evan. "I know all about that night. There's nothing you can say, Evan...."
"Has she ever told you about Fort Kearney?" he asked, his lips turning up into a delicious smile. "About her youth, about...."
"EVAN!!" Tommie yelled, lurching forward, but Tanner caught her.
"Tommie, it's all right," Amanda said, looking to her friend with love. "I don't know what he's talking about and I don't care. He's just...."
"Did she ever tell you about her relationship with Austin? Of the things she did for him? With him?" Evan stopped as Amanda's face began to pale. "To him?" he threw in, his smile spreading even bigger.
"EVAN, STOP IT!!" Tommie said, her voice filled with tears. Knowing that nothing, at that point, was going to stop her brother, Tommie shook loose of Vin's hold. Quickly, she turned and ran out the door, nearly bowling JD over in the process.
"Ask her about the cons we used to pull, the heists we got away with, the fortunes...."
"GO TO HELL!!!" Amanda finally screamed, her fists clenched tightly by her side. "If she had known Austin, Tommie would have told me. SO SHUT UP!!" Pain flared threw her side as the anger she held threatened to overflow. "You won't be happy until you've destroyed us all," she said, clutching at her wound, tears spilling down her pale cheeks.
Ezra moved to her, fearing she would collapse. But before he could so much as take a step, Evan's hands snaked out between the bars, grabbing Amanda on either side of her face. He pulled her forward, nearly crashing her face into the cold steel but stopped short as he pressed her lips to his.
Immediately, the room's occupants rushed the cell.
Amanda's arms were flailing as she struggled to get away, but Evan's grip was too strong. As Ezra reached the cell, he slammed the butt of his gun against the top of Evan's head, careful to avoid Amanda. The force was strong enough to break his hold, sending him sprawling backwards as his hands went directly to the spot of contact. "Ah shit," he screamed as he stumbled to sit down on the edge of the cot, missed and fell directly to the floor.
At his release, Amanda, who had been pulling away from the cell, went flying backwards. She would have been sent crashing into the desk behind her if Ezra hadn't been so close. In one fluid motion, he swept her up in his arms, allowing the force of her trajectory to spin him in a complete circle, but upright he stayed.
Amanda howled in pain as she clutched her side. Fresh bright red blood stained the pale blue shirt she wore. "Get Nathan," Ezra barked, pushing past all those in the room.
"Ezra, stop," Amanda said, her teeth clenched. "I'm all right. Please, put me down."
The gambler looked at her uncertainly. But the expression on his face told him the truth. Stopping at the door, he set her down on her feet. "But you're bleeding," he said, his voice wavering at the site of blood on his young sister.
"I know," she said, holding her hand gingerly to her side. "It just broke open. I'll have Eshe mend me when we get back."
She could see the graveness in her brother's eyes, and she smiled brightly. "Really, I'm fine. I just want to go home."
As Ezra and the others moved outside the door, Amanda stopped. Turning, she stared at Evan who sat on the cot, his hand still clutching head. His gaze followed her, every move she made, and it made her sick. Seeing the way he looked at her, Amanda's face turned up in a grimace. "You disgusted me," she said, spitting on the floor as she wiped her mouth. "I hope you rot in hell, Evan Windemere." With that, she turned and walked out, joining the others as they made their way to the wagon.
He watched as she walked away, his eyes taking in every bit of her petite form. Slowly, he began to smile. He knew that the seeds of doubt had been planted, and planted deep. He had seen it in her eyes. "Soon my love," he said as he laid back on the cot, his eyes staring absently at the ceiling. "Soon."
She rushed home, scarcely holding back her tears. Into the house and
upstairs to her room she fled, slamming her door shut behind her. Once
there, in the safety and privacy of her surroundings, Tommie let go.
It wasn't supposed to be like this! Fort Kearney seemed as long ago and
as real as an old forgotten nightmare. Yet now it all threatened to come
crashing down on her again.
Evan had lain his trap so masterfully. Giving just enough clues so that
Amanda and the others would wonder the truth to his suggestions but
hiding enough so that Tommie would be the one forced to come clean about
her
past.
And then what? Once Amanda learned that Tommie and Austin had once known
each other...once she knew the extent of their relationship...And what
would sweet, kind Amanda think when she learned of Tommie's role in the
con jobs Evan and Austin used to pull? What then?
Tommie couldn't bear it. She didn't want to see the look of
disappointment in her friend's eyes. Couldn't stand the hurt she knew
she would cause.
"I'd sooner die." She whispered aloud to herself.
She forced herself to stop crying, wiping at the tears impatiently.
Dropping to her knees, she reached under her bed and pulled out her worn
carpetbag. Just the sight of it brought a fresh wave of tears to her
eyes, but she managed to control them.
Quickly she began. She threw in her dresses and undergarments and the
few momentos she had accumulated. It didn't take long and for the first
time Tommie wondered if she had been preparing for this moment all along.
Grabbing her satchel, she paused at the bedroom door to give her room one
final sad look. Here, she thought she had found a home. Here, she
thought she had left the past behind her. Until now.
She would have to borrow a horse. Once she got into town, she could have
someone bring it back. By then she would be on a train on her way to
some new destination, leaving the town of Rock Creek far behind...forever.
Ezra watched carefully as Eshe carefully finished the last of the
stitches. Amanda held tightly to his hand, her face pale with pain.
"Are you alright?" He asked his sister, concern creasing his face.
"I'm fine." She replied through gritted teeth. "Please don't baby me
so, Ezra."
"There." Eshe sighed as she pulled the last thread tight. "That should
do. You're going to have to be more careful though. You need time to
heal, Amanda!"
"I know." She thought of Evan and his hateful words. "I let my temper
get the best of me. He played me like a violin and I let him...Has
anyone seen Tommie?"
"You might check up at the main house." Eshe pointed out. "I've been
mostly here in the bunkhouse this afternoon cooking. She could have come
in and I wouldn't have noticed."
"Do you think there's any truth to what Evan was saying, Ezra?" Amanda
asked worriedly.
The gambler thought carefully before answering. Privately he believed
that there must be a lot of truth in Evan's words or Tommie wouldn't have
reacted with so much fear, but he was loathe to tell his sister this.
"I'd say that there is a strong possibility that he is holding something
over Tommie's head; given his past history."
"But what could it be? I can't imagine Tommie doing anything wrong! And
what did he mean by asking if I had ever questioned how she knew Austin?"
"Well, we know that Evan and Austin already knew each other...Could it be
that Tommie knew him as well?" Eshe wanted to know.
Amanda looked doubtful. "I don't know. She never talks much about her
past...I do remember her saying that she had lived in Fort Kearney before
moving to Sweetwater...but even if she had met Austin, why would it
affect how we feel for her?"
"Do you suppose that Tommie and Austin were involved?" Eshe frowned.
"Oh, goodness no!" Amanda gasped. "I can't imagine that! Can you,
Ezra?"
Her brother stood silently, his normally sparkling green eyes a dark
murky color. Could that be it, he wondered. Was it possible that Tommie
had at one time been involved with Austin? It would certainly explain
her guilt: She would assume that everyone would hate her.
Ezra moved so suddenly, he startled both women. Grabbing his hat, he
gave Amanda a reassuring hug. "Will you be alright for a bit on your
own, my dear?"
"Of course I will!" His sister replied indignantly. "Besides, Eshe is
here and Ike will be back soon. But where are you going?"
Ezra flashed her a reassuring grin. "I, ah, have an errand to attend to,
but I shall return shortly."
"Alright." Amanda nodded. "Ezra?"
He paused at the door, turning to face her. "Yes?"
"Tell Tommie nothing she has done could possibly change how we feel about
her." Amanda smiled knowingly.
Ezra chuckled, as always surprised by his sister's uncanny shrewed
judgement of him. "That I will." And with another gold-toothed smile,
he was gone...
Pulling a brush angrily through her long tresses, Jay fumed at her
reflection. That had to be the little bitch on the wagon, all cosey
and lovey-dovey. With a sharp, sudden scream, she wheeled and threw
her brush at the back wall of her shabby excuse for accomodations,
enjoying the loud knock it made as it connected with wood. Why was
she so jealous?! What they'd had, it was history. It was beyond
history. It was eons ago in history.
Of course, that didn't stop a small green-eyed monster that was
whispering on her shoulder that thanks to that little wench Vin now
found her as attractive as a pack mule.
Well dammit, she was going to show him a thing or two. She still had
pulling power with the fellas, despite the fact that she'd been
living off the land for not quite a decade and showing it. Growling
to herself, she stormed over and picked her brush up to once again
start dragging it through her long, dirty blonde hair. After her
bath (so graciously provided at the public bath-house after she'd
threatened the owner with one of her colts), her hair was returning
to its natural curls, a fashion that was quite popular amongst the
young ladies. Well she wasn't so young anymore, but she didn't look
an old hag just yet so she imitated the latest style that she'd seen
in Chicago - the top few layers pinned up into a loose chignon while
the rest was left to fall over her bare shoulders.
And bare they were thanks to the dangerously low-cut neckline of the
one dress that she owned - in fact, if she took too deep a breath her
breasts threatened to spill out over the slim border of black lace.
It was very much a harlot's dress that she wore, and she'd actually
been gifted it by the owner of the last whore-house she'd stayed in
while hunting Dr Nicholas St Vincent, the infamous lady-killer.
Hugging all the right places, it was even able to make a woman as
hard as her appear soft and beautiful to the eyes of any man, which
was exactly what she had in mind.
It never did occur to her that Vin might not be down in the bar-room
as she walked carefully down the stairs. He was soon the last thing
on her mind as she floated gracefully through the room, using her
every last skill as both a dancer and a whore to keep every last pair
of male eyes fixed on her. She wasn't without company for very long,
a delightfully smelly man offering to buy her a drink, just about
tripping over his tongue when she daintily asked for a small
whiskey. As she'd thought before, there obviously weren't too many
women who drank hard liquor in Rock Creek, and even fewer must've
dared to brave the salloon after the sun had gone down.
Accepting the drink with a gracious smile, she had a surreptitious
look around the room for her one-time lover, her blue eyes flaring
when she didn't see him. Still, he might not be in for a while, and
meanwhile there were plenty of attractive (and un-smelly) men to keep
herself amused with. In fact, she was keeping herself amused with
one as Vin himself strode into the room. Settling herself in her
young buck's lap, and ignoring the effect her presence was having on
the poor boy, she watched the tracker stride across to the bar with
half-closed eyes. He'd seen her, she knew it from the tense lines
that'd suddenly appeared on his stubbled jaw. Jay smiled slyly and
slid off her companion's knee, ignoring his protest as she drifted
across the room toward her former partner, her hips swaying in an
open invitation to every man in the room.
"Howdy partner," she murmured into the tracker's ear, resting a hand
in the small of his back as she stepped up to his side.
Vin didn't turn his head for a moment, glaring instead at the mirror
that sat at the back of the bar. But he did eventually look at Jay,
his expression like ice. "You're drunk," he said bluntly.
"Only a little bit," she replied, the epitome of innocence with her
wide, blue eyes and ingenuous expression. "I just wanted to say sorry
about what happened-"
"When are you going to get it into your head Jessamyn," he growled,
turning to grasp her upper arms. "You and me aren't a team anymore.
Haven't been for years. Now why don't you go and find yourself
someone else to pester?"
Her jaw tightened, her eyes blazing dangerously, but she bit back
hard on the urge to smack him in the face again. She could already
see the marks of her last blow, and it'd hardly do her case much good
to compact on it. "Alright then sugar, I'll let you alone to make
love with your whiskey. But if you ever need the real thing, I'm
sure you can find me." Turning back toward the bar-room, she fell
into a graceful curtsey. "I bid you all fine gentlemen a fond
goodnight."
Then she strode back toward the stairs and ascended them without
looking back. But then, neither did he.
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~LOU~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~TOMMIE~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~JAY~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~TOMMIE~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~TOMMIE~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~AMANDA~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~TOMMIE~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~<*>~~~~~
~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~JAY~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~
