 Born
Rachel Flynn, Rachel is originally from the South (possibly Virginia?)
but appears to have spent her later years in Blue Creek. Her father
was absent for much of her childhood and youth; Rachel's mother turned
to both a multitude of men and the bottle to ease her loneliness.
Seeing how her mother was used by the men in her life, the young Rachel
determined never to let anyone take advantage of her. Though she
never sold her favours, it's apparent that Rachel had a succession of lovers
as she found employment in local saloons working as a dealer (and player)
at the card tables. She had possibly spent the spring of 1856 in
Fort Sutter, and definitely spent the winter of 1857 in San Francisco,
where she encountered J.D. Higgins. It was while working the
tables at a saloon in Blue Creek that she met her future husband, Henry
Dunne. For the first time Rachel found a man who respected her; the
two immediately fell in love and married. Moving into a home outside
of town, Rachel and Henry settled into married life as Rachel quickly became
pregnant. Her happiness only enraged her former lover That Browning,
however; used to getting whatever he wanted, he set out to provoke a confrontation
with the Dunnes. The resulting gunplay left Henry Dunne dead and
Rachel charged with murder, as well as suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage.
For a time
Rachel repeated some of her mothers mistakes, numbing her pain with alcohol,
until she was arrested for murder by the Marshal of Blue Creek, who was
on the Browning's payroll. Rachel escaped custody and fled
to Sweetwater where she began working at the way station. With the
help of the riders and Teaspoon, she was able to clear her name and, despite
a brief one-night sojourn back with the bottle, Rachel made a new life
for herself in the town. Upon her move to Rock Creek, Rachel became
the town schoolteacher while continuing her duties as housekeeper and cook
for the express station.
Photo
Credit: ABC Third Season promotional photo showing Clair Wren as
"Rachel Dunne"
|
