“Shut up Cody!”  Lou McCloud yelled.  The irritated girl glared at her fellow rider with as much hate as she could muster with everyone else snickering.

“Sorry Lou.  I just thought you would want to know.”  The blonde rider said sheepishly.  “I mean I would want to know if someone in town wanted me to go on a picnic.”  This caused the young men around him who had stopped laughing begin again.  Apparently Cody had heard in town that Elizabeth Andrews, a little red headed girl who couldn’t be over 13 years old, wanted to invite Lou on a picnic.  The “Lou” she thought was the smallest, male rider for the Pony Express.  “She said, now let me see if I get this right, you were the sweetest, cutest boy in the whole territory.”  He said in a high voice.  “I told her that you would be honored.  She’s coming by tomorrow to get you.”

Gritting her teeth she tried to remain calm, but it was no use.  The moment she saw Cody’s smirk she was filled with anger.  “I’m gonna kill you.” She screamed and lunged for the rider.  Cody ducked out of the way as Kid grabbed for the angry woman. 

Kid held Lou around the waist as she still tried to get at Cody.  Buck Cross, who was sitting nearby, grabbed Lou’s right hand and Ike grabbed her other hand.  It took all three men to control Lou; her anger was that fierce.  “Cody,” Kid said, his voice strained. “I think that you better tell her the truth.”

“What are you talking about?”  Cody said innocently. 

“I was there remember.”  Kid explained.  “If you don’t tell her the truth we’re gonna let her go.”

“Fine.  Kid you sure know how to spoil a good joke.”  Cody said sullenly.  “Lou I told Elizabeth that you weren’t available.”  He watched as Lou calmed down.  She still looked angry but she didn’t have that I-am-going-to-rip-out-you-tongue look anymore.  “Ya, I said that you had someone back home.”  Kid, Buck, and Ike let Lou go and she stood stiffly in front of him.  Then an evil gleam crept into Cody’s eyes.  “You should have seen her, I think her heart was broken.  Lou you should be ashamed of your--” He didn’t finish his sentence because Lou leapt at him again.

“Hey!”  Teaspoon Hunter yelled as he rode up to the fight.  “Hey-Hey.  Lou don’t kill him he’s got the next ride.” 

As Cody jumped up on his horse, Lou began to dust herself off.  “William Cody,” She said menacingly.  “You are lucky Teaspoon came along and you got a ride.” 

“Rider Commin’.”  Buck yelled. 

Jimmy tossed the mochilla to Cody who took off on the trail.  “Damn lucky!” Lou yelled and stormed off toward the bunkhouse muttering something about the male gender and livestock.

Tossing a questing look to the Kid, Jimmy dismounted.  “Cody was pickin’ on Lou again.”  Kid informed him.

“He had better stop, she likely to kill him one day.” Buck said out loud.  He turned to Ike who was signing rapidly.  “Ya, she almost did this time.”

The Kid was the first to notice Teaspoon’s pensive face.  “What’s wrong, Teaspoon?”  He asked.

Turning toward the young man he shook his head.  “Nothing.  Some men showed up in town today.  Said they worked for a construction company back east.  Said that they were here to build a house.  Didn’t know whom they were building it for or when the person was going to show up.  All they knew was that it was supposed to be finished as soon as possible.  They had already been paid in full.  It strikes me as a little odd.”

The other rider’s nodded in agreement.  “Where they building it at?”  Ike signed.  Teaspoon pointed to the horizon in front of them.  Sure enough, about a quarter mile away the boys could see a dozen men wondering around on the open land. 

Teaspoon shook his head.  “Who is this rich stranger that decided to build a house in my front yard?”  He wondered to himself.  “I don’t like it.  Not at all.”
 

Chapter 2

A young woman drove a small wagon across the open plain alone in the dark, a horse walked behind it.  She raised her hand and pulled a few loose strands of dark hair behind her ear and clucked her horse on. “We’ll make it there before dawn, I’m sure of it.” Rayne Kincade said to herself.  As she drove the little wagon on she thought about the past couple of weeks and how her life had changed.

Three weeks that’s all it had take to turn her life upside down.  She had spent her entire life running around the town of Alexandria, Louisiana.  The entire area of the Kisatchie Forest was mapped out in her head.  That was were she had grown up.  Her mom was a working girl at Nelly’s an old saloon outside of town.  And her father, well she hadn’t known who her father was.  She played around Nelly’s until she was almost eleven, then she was sent to work at a large ranch about fifteen miles out of town.  Rayne loved it there; she was still there when it happened.

“Rayne they want to see in the big house.”  Charlie, one of the stable-hands told her as he came up behind her as she mucked up a stall.  “They don’t look happy.”

“Why would they?  After all that’s gone on here the past couple of days who would be.”  She answered, referring to the death of her boss and the head of the ranch.  Jeremy Elliot had been sick for a very long time and had past way at the beginning of the week. Dusting off her clothes she walked up to the house, a doorman let her in.  She had only been in the house a few times and every time it stunned her.  Large rooms with white washed walls and ornate furniture.  Inside the study sat the mistress of the house.

Francis Elliot was a frail looking woman of about 45 with graying hair, dressed in blue satin.  Delicate pale hands sat folded in her lap and when Rayne entered she motioned for her to sit down in a mahogany chair.  As Rayne sat she was greatly aware of how dusty and dirty she was.  She ran her hands through her hair in order to try to make herself more presentable.  “Miss Kincade, I assume that you know why you are here.”

“No, ‘mam.”  Rayne said softly.

Francis gave her a startled look.  “Oh, well this is going to be a little more difficult to explain.  “As you know my husband has passed on.”  Rayne nodded.  “Though I loved him very dearly I know that he was not the most faithful of men.  There were other women in his life.  Your mother was one of them.”  Rayne was noticeably shocked and a tiny gasp escaped her. 

“Then you really didn’t know.”  Francis said then continued.  “You are in fact, my husband’s child.  Surely you had to know, you look just like him.”  She motioned to a portrait on the wall.

Rayne stood and walked over to the painting.   She studied the man who was her father.  Maybe they looked a little similar but it could have just been a coincidence.  No it couldn’t be true.  Jeremy Elliot couldn’t be her father. He was one of the most powerful men in Louisiana. 

Quickly every encounter that she had with Mr. Elliot washed over her.  He had been kind to her but not overly so.  There had been that time that she had missed that jump and flew off the horse.  The horse balked and Rayne was thrown over the top of it.  Mr. Elliot was standing over her when she woke up.  Rayne had thought that she was going to get yelled at for jumping the horse but Mr. Elliot just smiled at her and said.  “Next time move with the horse not without it.   You’re a tough kid.”

“I mean no disrespect ‘mam.”  Rayne said as she turned back toward Mrs. Elliot.  “But are you sure?”

“Positive.  Child you have his eyes.”  Rayne looked at Mr. Elliot’s gray eyes in the picture.  They looked like hers a little.

“It’s like he’s looking out of you.”  Francis’ eyes softened only for a moment.  “How do you think that you came to work here?  Jeremy wanted to look after you.  He was afraid for you growing up with that trampy mother of yours.”

Rayne gave the older woman a harsh look.  “Mrs. Elliot please leave you’re idea of my mother out of this.”  Rayne hadn’t spoken to her mother since the day she left Nelly’s.  But she still felt that she should be loyal to the woman who gave birth to her.  “Why are you telling me this now?”

“A woman doesn’t like to be reminded of her husband’s indiscretions, Miss Kincade.  You are a walking reminder.  I allowed you presence here because Jeremy seemed fond of you.  God knows he gave you more attention than he did any of his other children.  He gave you that stupid horse and that loud dog and made sure that no one ever touched you.  Why I’ll never know?  You are an ugly runt of a thing compared to Jaclyn and Mary.” She said talking about her two daughters.  Her voice raising with anger.

“She letting her anger control her.” Rayne thought to herself.  “It’s weak.”

“I told Jeremy before he died that you would be asked to leave when he was gone.  Jeremy understood and has set up a house for you along with some money.  He left you some of our money.”  Disgust dripped from every word she said.  “You will be out of here by nightfall.  Collect your things and go.  Here is a letter with directions telling you were the house is.  Do not set foot in this county again.  If I were you I would stay out of Louisiana as well.  Take that damn horse and that damn dog with you, they were gifts from Jeremy.  You are dismissed.”

Shocked.  Rayne couldn’t move.  Her first thoughts were to ask the woman what authority the woman had to kick her out of an entire state but she thought better of it.   She looked back at the portrait of her newfound father and then back at Mrs. Elliot turned and walked silently away. 

 When she walked outside a cold nose brushed her hand.  She reached down to rub the top of Yona’s head.  She looked at her dog as if for the first time.  The large black dog stared up at her.  Rayne remembered getting Yona as a puppy, one of the other stable hands had said he found it.  The dog took to her instantly and from that moment she was never far from Rayne.  Jeremy Elliot had given Yona to her, maybe not directly, but he had given the dog to her. 

Now she was supposed to leave the place that had been her home for the last seven years.  Instead of the feeling of sadness that she expected, Rayne felt relief.  She was going to be on her own and was looking forward to it.  She didn’t have any ties here.

It took a lot less time to collect her things than she had though it would have.  Charlie had hitched one of the large draft horses that roamed over the grounds to a wooden wagon.   Rayne loaded it in about an hour.  Then she walked into the stable and looked at the horse that she had just inherited. 

Loki snorted at her approach.  She smiled and rubbed his long neck.  It seemed as if she was outside herself as she watched her attached the lead on Loki’s halter and led him outside.  Securing him to the back of the wagon she turned toward the people hat she had been working with for the past seven years.  There were no tears in her eyes as she said her good-byes. 

Climbing up on the seat of the wagon she gave a shape loud whistle and a Yona jumped on the back of the wagon.  She clucked her tongue and drove off into the night, never looking back once. 

She passed by Nelly’s for some odd reason.  Nelly’s son told her that her mother left a few years ago with a gambler and he hadn’t heard from her since.  It seemed a fitting end to her life in Louisiana.  The letter from Mrs. Elliot told her that he had arranged a house for her in a little town in Nebraska and gave her directions to the town.

Rayne closed her eyes and saw a house on the horizon.  That was it her new home.  For whatever reason, Mr. Elliot had chosen this town, Sweetwater, this town was her new home.

Teaspoon woke up early and walked outside to look at the house in the distance.  The workers had finished it almost a month ago.  It turned out to be a nice little two-story house with a barn on the side. But no one had ever arrived to move into it.  He was surprised to see a wagon next to the barn.  Someone had arrived to live in it.  Strange they had arrived in the middle of the night and not on the stage has he had expected them to do.  In the distance he heard a horse approach.  A large red sorrel horse galloped up to the little house and he watched the girl on its’ back dismount.

Before she unloaded her wagon, before she checked out the house, Rayne unhooked the Beau, somewhere along the trip she had decided to name the brown draft horse. She saddled Loki and went for a ride.  She flew up and down the flatland around her, laughing.  Freedom, it was an amazing thing.  No one was telling her what to do or how to do it.  For the first time in her life something was hers, this land was hers.  It was a dream come true.

When she dismounted she just stood and felt the cool morning air around her.  Loki nudged her shoulder she turned and petted him.  Then she ran a little farther away and Loki followed.  She ran again and then again Loki followed.  Yona barked and ran with them.  Rayne fell down on the ground and sighed with joy. 

Watching from his spot on the porch he was surprised at their new neighbor.  He couldn’t tell how old she was but it was definitely a woman.  Maybe she wouldn’t be the stuck-up neighbor he had pictured. 
 

Chapter 3

“Come on Jimmy.”  Cody yelled to his friend.  It was after lunch and all the chores were finished so Cody suggested that they go to visit their new neighbor.  He had been raring to go ever since he had heard that it was a girl.

“I’m coming.”  The dark-haired man yelled back. 

“I don’t see what the big deal is.  Yesterday all of you were complaining because the house was so close and today you’re all fired up to great them just because it’s a girl.”  Lou said. 

“You wouldn’t.”  Cody said quickly.

Rachel had told a few of them to go and invite the neighbor to dinner; she had said that it would probably be better than the entire pony express ridding over there at one time and scaring her.  Cody volunteered immediately.  After him Buck announced he wanted to go and then Jimmy and Ike after him.  Lou said that she would go to keep the four boys in line because in truth she was a little curious about the woman, who had seemed to be living in alone; surely she had family on the way. Rachel laughed.  “So only Kid and Noah aren’t going.  I’m glad that you all aren’t riding over there.”

“Bout time. We were fixing to leave without you.”  Cody said and Jimmy mounted his horse.  Jimmy rolled his eyes.

Rayne got a couple of hours of sleep in during the morning and now she was trying to straiten out the barn so she could put Loki and the Beau in their stalls, right now both horses were tied up behind the barn.  The barn wasn’t huge but it was big enough for everything that she would need.  She walked out to the wagon to get Loki’s saddle and brought it back to the barn and hung it in the tack room. 

“She doesn’t seem to be home.” Buck said after Cody knocked on the door for the forth time.

“Where else would she be?” Cody exclaimed. 

Ike signed quickly.  “Ike says that we could check the barn.”  Buck informed them.

Lou, Jimmy, and Ike walked toward the barn while Cody and Buck went around to the back of the house.  A loud whinny got Ike’s attention and he changed direction to find the horse that had made the noise, Lou followed.  Soon they came upon a giant brown draft horse and a sorrel horse tethered to the barn.   They approached it slowly Ike extended his hand and tried to get closer to the horses.

The draft horse accepted Ike’s gentle patting and rubbed his head along Ike’s shoulder.  The red horse was another story.  It tossed it’s blond mane and stared at Ike.  Lou could see that the horse was tense, it’s muscles moved under its shiny red coat.  The horse didn’t seem to calm to Ike, which was unusual.  It let out a distressing cry and stomped nervously flipping the long tail in a show of agitation.

Yona growled by her side alerting her to danger.  Rayne drew the 36.Colt Dragon at her side and then heard Loki cry.  “Horse thieves?” Rayne wondered out loud.  “There is no way some one is trying to steal my horses the first day I move in.  That can’t be a good sign.”  Silently she moved closer to the door.  Yona growled again.  She silenced the dog with a look.  Before she could get to the door she heard it begin to creak open. 

Jimmy opened the barn door slowly.  “Hello,” He called and tried to see if anyone was inside.  He walked in to get a better look.  He looked around but didn’t see anyone; that’s when he heard it.  A gun hammer cocked behind him.  Slowly Jimmy raised his hands.

“Turn around.”  Rayne held the gun even with the back of the man’s head.  Yona ran out of the barn as she ordered the man to turn around slowly.

When he heard the voice tell him to turn he obeyed.  After all the woman didn’t know who he was, he just hoped that she didn’t shoot him before he could explain.  “Really Cody should be in this mess.”  He thought to himself.  “He was the one who wanted to come so bad.”  As he turned he tried to explain.  “Hey lady, calm down I’m you’re neighbor.  My name’s James Hickok.  I ride for the pony express.  We wanted to invite you to dinner.” 

She heard him tell her what he was doing there and she groaned.  “Kincade you idiot.  You just pulled a gun on you neighbor.” She reprimanded herself. 

“But how do I know he’s really my neighbor?” Rayne though to herself.  “Be careful.” Her inner voice warned her.  When he finally faced her she smiled apologetically and lowered her gun, but didn’t holster it.  “Sorry, but a girl can’t ever be to careful.”

“It’s okay.” Jimmy noticed the gun hadn’t left her hand, and she had a death grip on it.  He looked at the woman’s large gray eyes and knew that she didn’t trust him.  All of a sudden loud barking came from outside and then a scream.

“Yona.” Rayne said and ran outside.

“Cody.” Jimmy groaned and followed her.

From the moment they found Cody and the dog, chaos insured.  Cody was standing on the back steps pointing a gun at the very angry looking dog.  Immediately Rayne pulled her gun on Cody trying to protect her dog.  Then Buck, Ike and Lou turned their guns on Rayne trying to protect Cody.  Only “Wild Bill” remained without a drawn weapon.

“Mister I suggest you put down you gun.” She ordered Cody.

“You first.” Lou shot back at her.

“Everyone put down their guns.” Jimmy shouted.

“Hickok, if I put down this gun that dog is gonna kill me.”  Cody cried.

“Yona.” Rayne barked.  The dog returned to the side of her master, still growling at Cody.  Cody’s gun went slack and Rayne turned hers to the three that were pointing at her.  Yona turned his attention toward the people who were pointing guns at her master and glared at them, snarling. 

“Everyone put you guns down.” Jimmy repeated.  The three other riders began to lower their guns and then the girl followed suit.  “This is the neighbor.”

Rayne studied all five men.  “Five on one. Those aren’t good odds.” She thought to herself.  “Give them a chance maybe they do live around here.”  She watched as they holstered their guns and did the same with her own but she stood tense and ready.

“As I was saying in the barn, I’m Jimmy.  We came to invite you to supper.  We live over there.”  He said and pointed to the way station. 

The men didn’t look any older than she was; finally she dropped her shoulders and smiled.  “Rayne Kincade.” She offered the man her hand and he shook it.  “Nice to meet you.  Sorry about all that but we’ll I guess you could say you startled me.  This is Yona.  She don’t like strangers much.” She said patting the top of her dog’s head.

Jimmy noticed that the woman wore a man’s clothes: brown pants and a white shirt that was yellowed with age.  Her boots were old but sturdy.  This woman didn’t look like she had the money to build her own house.  He wondered when her family was coming.  His eyes roamed over her and rested on her gun belt, Holstered inside was a Colt Dragon revolver.  It was an older gun but it looked like she took good care of it.  Jimmy remembered it pointed at his head and remembered how the woman had crept up on him, he hadn’t even heard her.  Then he remembered the steady hand she had had when raised it at Cody then at the others.  He didn’t doubt that she could use it. 

He shook his head and smiled.  They had known this woman for only a few minutes and already she had pointed a gun at all of them.  “Why were they inviting her to dinner?”  He thought to himself.  At least she can take care of herself until her family gets here.  He tried to see what her reaction to all that had happened but her face was unreadable.

Rayne studied the tall man in front of her. His jaw was set in a hard line but he seemed friendly enough.  She moved her eyes over him and noticed the Navy Colts at his sides.  “Nice guns.” She thought to herself.  She studied his eyes trying to read his expressions but his face gave nothing away.
 

Chapter 4

After the woman began smiling everyone relaxed, even Cody, who was still very wary of the dog.  One by one the express riders took their turn introducing themselves, sizing up the woman, and getting evaluated by her.

“Buck Cross.”  Buck said offering his hand.  “This is Ike McSwain, he doesn’t talk.”  Buck studied the woman.  She was a few inches shorter than he was. Her hair was long and dark brown; it was braided and stopped just above her hips.  He wondered about this woman whose dog was named a Cherokee name.

Ike watched the woman’s eyes as she shook his hand wondering what he would see in them.  Whenever people heard that he couldn’t speak they always looked at him with sympathy and nervousness.  Her eyes were different.  They seemed to swallow her face.  Framed by thick, dark lashes they were such an odd shade of blue that they almost seemed gray.  Yes, they were gray.  Large gray eyes.  But what he saw in them shocked him.  They were empty of the normal expressions that he expected.  Instead he saw nothing; there was no hint that she thought that he was any different from Buck or Jimmy.  Ike smiled at her sincerely. 

“Buck Cross, Ike McSwain.”  She repeated in her head.  Watching the two men in front of her she tried to read what their bodies could tell her.  Buck was part if not all Indian.  He reminded her of Sam Littlefeather, a older Cherokee man that worked on the ranch for a few years.  He was the own who, she had thought, had given Yona to her.  He was the one that had named Yona, because he said that the dog was going to grow up as big as a bear.  Yona meant bear in Cherokee.  Buck Cross’ face had the same stone look that Sam’s face had. 

Buck had said that Ike McSwain couldn’t talk but Rayne assumed that he could hear because no one signed for him to understand what was going.  As she shook his hand she watched his eyes.  They reminded her of a deer’s eyes, very soft and warm.  She returned his smile with enthusiasm.

Lou offered her hand next.  “Lou McCloud.”  She didn’t like this woman too much.  After all she had pulled a gun on Cody over a dog.  The woman was taller and bigger than Lou was; the boy’s clothes didn’t hide her shape as they did Lou’s.  “Just what I need.”  Lou groaned to herself.  “Another useless woman to distract Kid.  Why aren’t there any ugly women that come to this town?  I bet she can’t even ride.”

Rayne watched the young man in front of her.  There was something different about him.  At first glance he seemed younger than the others.  But with a second look Rayne saw intelligence and maturity in the boy’s eyes that didn’t fit the body.  Also the boy seemed to dislike her.  “Probably because I just pulled a gun on his friend.”

“William F. Cody.”  Cody said in his I’m-god’s-gift voice.  He took he woman’s hand and meant to kiss the back of it but she pulled it away before he succeeded.  The others around him snickered.  She offered her hand again, in an handshake position.  Cody reluctantly shook it.  The girl’s mouth held a hit of a smile and Cody studied her face.  She had interesting eyes, a small nose, strong jaw, and pale lips that turned in a natural pout.  When she smiled a dimple appeared on her left cheek.  She looked like a challenge and Cody loved a challenge.

She couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s surprise.  He was good-looking but odd.  “Why would he do that to her hand?” She wondered.  She watched his eyes as he leered at her and gave him a puzzled look.  “What is wrong with him?” 

“Ms. Kincade,” Buck began.

“Rayne.”  She responded immediately.

Buck smiled.  “Rayne.  Ike said to tell you that you have a beautiful horse.”

“Thank you.  He’s ornery at times.  Did you try to pet him?”  Ike lowered his head thinking that he had done something wrong.  “You weren’t hurt were you?”  She said quickly trying to erasure Ike that she wasn’t angry.

Ike gave her an odd look and shook his head. He expected her to be angry at him instead she sounded angry at the horse.  “That damned horse gets so temperamental.  One minute he’s your best friend and the next he kill you as soon as look at you.  Why I remember one time when he kicked at Sam, like he had never seen him before.  And Sam was there when he was born. “  She talked as though she expected the boys to understand what she was talking about.  “Come on.  Let me see if I can get him to behave.”

Rayne and Ike walked toward the horses with Buck following.  Leaving Jimmy, Cody and Lou behind them.  “She isn’t a very good hostess.”  Lou remarked.  Jimmy gave her a funny look and Cody glared at her.

“She’s perfect.”  Cody said.

“Cody you think every girl who comes into town is perfect.” Lou shot back. 

Jimmy didn’t stay around and listen to them any more.  He just followed Buck and the others.  By the time he got there Rayne had gotten her horse under control.  He listened to her tell Buck and Ike about the horse. 

“I’ve had Loki since he was born.”  She said as she rubbed the horse’s neck.  The horse batted his head against her shoulder and she looked at the animal with soft eyes.  “He’s just a big baby.  Probably my fault, I spoil him.”

“I haven’t seen a horse quiet like him.”  Buck said. 

Rayne turned and gave Buck a stunning smile.  “There isn’t another one like him.  His daddy was pure Arabian and his momma was part Thoroughbred.  You ought to see him run.  It’s like he’s flying.”  She rubbed Loki’s nose. 

“We better be getting back to the house.”  Lou’s voice said from behind them.

“You’ll join us for supper won’t you?”  Buck asked. 

“Ya, sure.”  Rayne said after a moment of thinking. 

“See you then.”  Cody said suggestively.  Rayne gave him an odd look as the other’s said their good-byes. 

“Sorry about back in the barn.” Rayne told Jimmy when he said good-bye last. 

He smiled at her.  “Don’t worry about it.  See you later.”

Shaking her head in disbelief, she watched them ride away.  She never expected to meet anyone this quick, let alone people her own age.  Now she went to the task of unloading her things from the wagon and finishing up in the barn. 

The boys had been talking about Rayne ever since they had left her home.  Lou was getting sick of it.  “When do you think that her family is coming in?”  Ike signed.

“What makes you think that she has any family?”  Cody responded.

“Well, she can’t be living there on her own.  How could she afford it, for one?  And who will take care of her?”  Lou said.

“Maybe she is taking care of herself?”  Buck said quietly.  “The house wasn’t very big and she didn’t say anything about anyone coming.”

“She can’t be living there alone.”  Lou told him.

“Why not?” Buck shot back.

Lou didn’t have anything to say.  “Just cause,” was her only response as she rode in front of them.  “It wasn’t fair.”  She thought to herself.  “A new girl moves in around here and all of a sudden I disappear.  I get so sick of being one of the guys sometimes I could just throw up.  If I had money I could afford wear pretty dresses like the girls in town.  But this one.  She dresses in boy’s clothes like me.  Why is she so special?”  Lou jumped of Lightning’s back and walked into the barn.  She passed the Kid on the way. 

“Hey, Lou.  Did you see her?”  Kid asked cheerfully.

“Ya, I saw her.  Ya she’s wonderful.  And if you go any where near her I’ll shot you.”  Lou said harshly.

Kid was confused but he was a little happy at Lou’s display of jealousy.  At least it meant that she cared.
 

Chapter 5

“Rider comin’.”  Kid yelled as a giant red horse came into view.  Cody ran out of the bunkhouse and stood beside Kid as the rider approached.  “Nice clothes, Cody.”  He commented to the rider next to him who had put on the nicest clothes that he had. 

“I’m just trying to look my best.”  Cody said as he straitened a small black tie.

Rayne rode up and saw the blonde man, Cody, she thought and someone she had never seen before.  When she pulled Loki to a stop she noticed the man she didn’t know gazing at the horse appreciatively.  Yona, who had been running beside the horse, growled at Cody.  The man took a step back.  “Yona.”  Rayne ordered the dog back.

“Howdy, ‘mam.”  Kid said to the woman as Cody reached up to help her down.

She looked down Cody who held his hands up to help her down.  Rayne gave him an odd look.  “’Scuse me sir.  I can’t get down with you right there.”  Kid snickered as Cody moved away reluctantly and the woman hopped down off her horse. 

“I’m the Kid.”  He said holding out his hand.

Raising her eyebrows in surprise at the unusual name; she returned his handshake.  “Rayne Kincade.  Am I early?”

“No, not at all.”  Cody said giving her an enchanting smile, which she returned crookedly.

“Where do you want me to put my horse?” 

“I’ll take it.”  Kid offered.  When he stepped toward Rayne to take the reigns from her the dog put itself in front of Kid and growled.  Kid took a step back.

“Yona,” Rayne said warningly.  “She doesn’t like strangers.”

“So I noticed.”

“You can put him in the barn.  I’ll show you where.”  Cody exclaimed brightly and led her to the barn.

When the pair entered the barn Noah greeted them.  He smiled at the newcomer and shook her hand when Cody introduced him.  “Rayne Kincade allow me to introduce you to Noah Dixon. Noah this is Miss Kincade.”

“Rayne, please.” She smiled as she studied him.  The man was a handsome man and from the way he stood she guessed he was a proud man.  A long coiled whip hung at his side, but no gun.  He smiled at her friendly but his eyes were wary.

Noah watched Cody led the woman to an empty stall she could put her horse in.  It looked as if the blonde rider had already staked his claim to her.  But Noah noticed something he wondered if Cody picked up on.  Every time Cody put his hand on her to guide her somewhere she found an excuse to move away.  Cody offered to help her remove the saddle and she declined, instead she left the saddle on the horse.  As they walked back toward Noah, Cody offered Rayne her arm but she didn’t seem to understand and she just walked beside him. 

Cody did notice the little oddities about their guest.  When she was introduced to Teaspoon and Rachel she regarded them in the same friendly yet reserved way.  The dog, that hadn’t left her side and as far as Cody could tell hadn’t stopped growling, was ordered to stay outside.  It reluctantly sat down by the door.

They walked into the house and all them men paused and put there hands on their guns, instantly Rayne’s hand went to her own gun.  “What is this?”  She wondered as she took a little step back toward the door.

 Only Jimmy seemed to notice how tense Rayne had become.   “We take our guns off before we eat.”  He explained quietly.

She gave him a confused look and watched as the other’s removed their guns and then very slowly followed with her own gun.  When she hung it up she seemed almost reluctant to let it go.  She gave a wishful look to the outside as if she wanted to make a break for it and let go of her gun.

But, Jimmy wasn’t the only one who had noticed the girl’s odd behavior.  Rachel gave Teaspoon a worried look over the other’s head and saw the same look in the older man’s eyes.  Mentally Rachel moved the spot she had set for the girl to one of the end seats.  “Rayne, you sit right over there by Jimmy.”  She said and pointed to the seat on the end of the bench that was on the side of the table that faced the door, ignoring the angry look Cody shot her.  Rachel knew that Cody had wanted the girl to sit in between him and Ike on the other side.  Something told Rachel that the girl would just be uncomfortable there. 

Rayne smiled gratefully at Rachel when she pointed out the set.  She was afraid that she was going to be sitting in the seat that the blonde man was steering her too in the middle of the table with her back to the door.  Cody must really like new people she though to herself because he hadn’t left her side since she got there.  Rayne took her set at the end of the table next to Jimmy.  Next to her, at the head of the table, Teaspoon shot her a reassuring look.  She tried to give him a polite smile but didn’t succeed.  Her eyes rested longingly on the gun belt on the wall and then drifted down to where Yona watched her trough the screen door.  The dog snarled and bared its teeth letting Rayne know that if she need her, the dog would be through the screen door in a second.  Giving the worried dog a small smile she turned her attention back to the meal and tried not to think of how bare she felt.
 

Chapter 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You are welcomed anytime.”  Teaspoon said warmly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I like her.”

“But-”

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

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

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

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

“Me too.” Rachel agreed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Lou.  Why do you dress like a boy?” 

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

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

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

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

“No reason.”  She said hurriedly.

“You worried about the Kid?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Jimmy you can not stop true love.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Up here.” 

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

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

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

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

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

“What are you talking ‘bout Till?”

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

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

“Hush your mouth child.”

“What are you doing here?”

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

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

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

“Tilly, when have I ever cared?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 8

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?”
 

Chapter 9

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.
 

Chapter 10

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.