“Give it up MacMurphy.”  Teaspoon yelled. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No.”  He said slowly. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Why?”  Buck asked Teaspoon. 

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

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

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

“. 36 Colt Dragon.”  Jimmy answered.

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

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

“Jimmy yelled at her.”  Buck told Teaspoon.

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

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

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

Chapter 12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The Jack Slade.”  Jimmy asked. 

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

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

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

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

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

“See you later Rayne.”  Buck said. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What do you want Hudson?”  Jimmy snarled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Sorry I have other plans.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 13

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

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

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

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

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

“Do you have wax in your ears?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I didn’t yell.” He defended himself.

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

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

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

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

“Naw, that’s okay.  I’ll go bareback.”

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

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

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

“Cheater.”  She called after him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Again Rayne groaned.  “What did you do?”

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

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

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

Chapter 14

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

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

“Shut up, Cody.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What?”  Noah asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Thanks Cody, Kid.”

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

“Jimmy?”  Buck began.  “You okay?”

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

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

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

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

Chapter 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Now what.”  Ike signed.

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

“Like peeping Tom’s.”  Noah exclaimed.

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

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

“Who is it?”  Cody asked.

“I can’t tell.”  Buck returned.

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

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

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

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

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

“I don’t remember.”

“Found one.”  Kid yelled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You first Cody.”  Buck said.

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

“I had to get the mud.”

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

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

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

“I ain’t going.”  Noah said.

“Me neither.”  Kid chimed in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Rachel stay.”  Rayne said.

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

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

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

Lou blushed.  “I was not.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Nothing, Jimmy.  Nothing.”
 

Chapter 16

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“What happened?”  Noah questioned.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Oliver.”

“Fine, do I look injured Oliver?” 

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

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

“Well how about tomorrow?”

“Busy.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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