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Since we moved I decided to post this here for anyone who might need it.

Thanks everyone the other group has now been deleted. Welcome to our
new/old home. :)
Linda

Got it

Hey,


I got it.


*Megs

I got it

Sent from the TARDIS

Hi,


I got it.


~Ann

Everyone who gets this message please reply so I can make sure everyone
is here and receiving emails before I delete the other group.
Thanks a bunch
Linda

ColleenJan 19 #177
Just for future reference:

Molly - paired with Vin
Cheyenne - paired with (though not romantically) Josiah
Eva - paired with Buck
Kristy - paired with Ezra
Sarah - not yet paired
Nancy - not yet paired

Please let me know if this is not correct and I will delete and resend
the post.

Thank you!

Colleen

Name: Nancy Rebecca (Nan) Owens (newly widowed)

Age, 18

Father: Jack Collins

Mother: Annette Georgina Montgomery Collins



Nancy Rebecca Owens, maiden name Collins, is a plump girl around five
foot six inches tall, short mouse brown hair and green eyes. She was
married to a young man named Bret Owens, who was recently murdered by
two men attempting to rob their home in Maryland.



She has four older sisters, Sarah Eliza Collins (never married), Mary
Alice Baker, Rachel Susanne Miller, and Cynthia Louise Baxter.



Not wanting to move back in with her parents, and having no in-laws (her
husband was an orphan), Nancy fled west to find her favorite older
sister, Sarah Eliza, and hopefully with Sarah's help and guidance, she
will start a whole new life for herself and the baby she now carries.



Nancy Rebecca, is a skilled nurse. She can also cook anything, is an
excellent housekeeper, and is a sewing demon. Before she married at
fifteen, she wanted to be a dress maker.



Some of her hobbies are dancing, singing, and drawing.



She is still very traumatized by the murder of her husband.

?

RPG Introductory post Christina MacMartin.



Christina MacMartin’s wagon was quite distinctive as it had a tartan
cover. The original canvas top had got ripped during a storm the
previous month. She had got help to remove the canvas to make repairs
and covered the cloth with tweed. She sewed it up together by using
wool and soon not only was her wagon warmer at night, it was cool
during the heat of the day.



The wagon train had become much smaller the further west they travelled.
Kirsty had already made the decision to take the next fork in the trail
and glad she was not going to be alone for this final part of her
journey as two other teams were also heading towards Four Corners.



Kirsty bedded down for her final night on the trail. She was quite
excited and had watched the large moon from the rear of her wagon as she
drifted off to sleep, knowing that the next day they all would be in
Four Corners.



During the night she woke with a start, the firing of guns and screams
had rent the air. She peered out of her wagon wide eyed in shock. The
two wagons were ablaze and their occupants had been murdered. She bit
into her blanket to stop herself from screaming and giving herself away.



She had chosen to bed down with her wagon a short distance from the
men’s wagons, her tartan wagon hid by a copse of trees.



This had saved her life.





+++



Ezra Standish, had rubbed at his chin with contemplation, he was tired
but even gambling men who were tired and had sat up all night at the
poker table could see that something rather suspicious was going on.
Three men who had left the gameing table just before midnight were now
back at 4am with money jingling in their pockets and he was sure they
had left the gaming table pleading poverty. They looked as they had
been riding hard and keen to get back into the game.



Ezra threw in his final hand and left the gaming table leaving the three
yahoo’s to continue to play. He wandered out into the street to find
that the three men’s horses were soaked with sweat and had been ridden
hard. He also noticed the distinct stink of smoke. They had left their
rifles in their rigs and being curius he checked them and found all had
been recently fired.



Dumping his head into a water butt Ezra growled low as he headed to the
livery to collect his horse. He rode out of town as the sun came up.



There had been some light rain just after midnight so Ezra was able to
see the horses hoof prints in both directions. He easily followed them
to the ridge and he swore as he saw two burned out wagons across the
river and the dark shapes of what looked like bodies .



Ezra walked into the deserted camp and removed his hat. He stood in the
early morning sun and delicately looked over the devastating scene. The
poor people had been murdered in their beds. He saw the scattered
belongings and knew that the men gambling back in town had stolen not
only their lives but their money or what little they had to feed their
gambling.



He lowered his eyes and rubbed at his face. This day was going to be a
long one. He gathered up the horses and then heard a sound coming from
the nearby copse of trees.



He was instantly on alert and his gun was now clear of leather and in
his hand as he moved slowly forward.



Christina MacMartin felt her throat go dry. She had felt faint to see a
red coat in the West had horrified her. The red colour to her meant
danger, death and English. they had killed, raped and tore her family
from their homelands and now here was another one. Was he on her trail
to kill her. She must have let out a cry of alarm as the man turned to
face her. she was hiding in the trees. She thought she was safe but it
looked like she was not.



“Who ever you are, come out with your hands 耻辫.”



Ezra put on his annoyed face and moved in closer.



“狈辞飞!”



He moved around further and spotted the strangest sight. What appeared
to him was a tartan covered wagon. He did not know whether to laugh or
not.



“MacDonald Tartan,” Ezra muttered to himself not realising that he was
being watched and that he also had been heard.



Blinking back tears and with legs wobbling with fear, Kirsty stepped out
into the full daylight, with her hands held high.



“How d’ ya ken 迟丑补迟?” She asked.



“Because, I have some distant kin from that land and some are from the
clan who wear that tartan,” Ezra pointed to the wagon top and continued,
“they are all MacDonald’s.”



“Aye, your correct, me maw was a MacDonald, am a MacMartin.” She lifted
up her chin and her eyes flashed pride at her being a Scot back at him,
even if she was half scared to death. “I’m Christina MacMartin.”



“Welcome Miss, I am Ezra P Standish, I am part of the law in the nearby
town of For Corners, , can you tell me what happened?”



Apart from the man’s red coat giving her the jitters, she liked the look
of him and he had very nice eyes.





Ezra helped her hitch up her horses to her wagon and rode alongside her
with the other horses hitched up behind him and her wagon.



He decided not to take her straight to town as he wanted to return to
put those three murdering gamblers behind bars. Instead he would drop
the young woman and the horses off at Nettie Welles’s place then return
to town.





“You are tired Miss MacMartin, that homestead up there on the hill is
Nettie Welles’s place. I am sure she will be pleased to look after you
and your animals until I can head to town and get my fellow peace
officers to track down the miscreants who killed your friends.”





Nettie had seen their approach and was out waiting on her porch shotgun
in hand. The information was speedily given and Ezra shared a look with
the widow indicating there is more to it than just leaving the young
lady in her care.



“You look exhausted my dear, come inside I can get you fed, washed and
into a fresh bed. No doubt the last few hours have been upsetting. Get
down and come inside .”



The welcome the older woman gave Kirsty was just what she needed. She
could not relax in the company of the red coated man, although he had
been a true gentleman to her. Ezra handed her down into Nettie’s safe
hands and rode away at speed.



The coffee and fresh eggs with home made bread filled Kirsty up, she had
forgot how hungry she had been. The hot water to wash in and a fresh
gown to sleep in were very welcomed.



Nettie checked in on the young woman an hour later and found her sound
asleep. She hoped that Mr Standish and the other lawmen would be swift
to bring the murderers to justice. Otherwise the locals were going to
be running scared. She had realised that this young woman was a
potential witness and understood Standish’s actions. Perhaps he was
more than just a fancy pants man after all?





+++





Returning into Four Corners and into the Bar, Ezra found the three still
sitting at the gaming table. They were clearly worse for wear by the
number of empty whiskey bottles on the table and by the piles of money
it looked like that their luck had remained with them.



Well up until now.



Ezra threw the barman a look and a nod. The doors were locked and with
firearms out both men approached the table. The barman knew the signs
and had realised the gambling man had left the gaming table early for a
reason. This obvious now was that reason.



Ezra had slipped into the Sheriff’s office and collected three sets of
cuffs and with the help of the barkeep the three drunken murderers were
soon safely behind bars in jail.



They had come along easily and Ezra would have laughed had he not been
so tired. He left a note for JD to find explaining of their misdeeds.



He deliberately did not put in writing anything about Miss Christina
MacMartin, he preferred to explain about her in person.





Ezra made his way up to his bed and only had time to remove his jacket,
hat , guns and boots before he collapsed asleep on top of his feather
bed.





+++












?

Christina MacMartin known as Kirsty




Christina was named after her mother. The family always called her
Kirsty unless she was in trouble then she would get her full name.



The family of six were thrown off their ancestral land in Lochaber in
the Highlands of Scotland, by the new landowner. He had been gifted
the land by the crown. He was swift to displace the tenants and
invested in sheep a less vocal beast.



Kirsty’s family boarded an immigrant ship bound for the America’s, they
had little wealth and what they had was held in their hands. the life on
board the ancient ship was deplorable. Kirsty lost both parents and two
brothers to a sickness while at sea.



Alone in a new country Kirsty and her oldest brother Scott MacMartin
headed west. After a couple of months riding on their wagon on a wagon
train, Scott left her with a wagon stocked with the family’s wealth of
tweed. He told her to keep it as he rode off following men to the
newest gold mine that had just been discovered without giving her a
backward glance. He always had been selfish and inconsiderate and never
gave her a moments thought as he rode off to get rich.



Kirsty a tall young woman stood 5ft 5 in her stocking feet. She had
rich red hair that she covered under her fathers old Tammy --tam o
shanter. She had a good right hook and knew how to put off men with a
knee if needed. She dressed in second hand clothing that she had
bought as she found theold wool clothing she had too hot for the
climate. she had yards of tweed to make new if she needed things for
winter. Her father had been a weaver of Tweed and she knew how to make
and work a loom . Some thought her an old maid at 27 but she did not
care. She liked being on her own but did miss her family.



She had often found her campfire at night to be crowded as families
bought or bartered food from her as many liked the Scottish food she
cooked. This had helped to add to her savings along the route.



She was a stranger to this new land and had never wanted to be on her
own but she knew she had to work hard and make it not just for herself
but for the family she had lost.

When she left her home in Virginia, Sarah's mother cried, fearing that
her eldest daughter, who was heading off all alone into the 'wild
frontier', without a proper escort, would be kidnapped by savages or
ravaged or both. At the time, Sarah thought this was the wildest and
most exaggerated imaginings, but not unexpected from her mother. The
trip out to Four Corners however, made Sarah feel bad that she had
thought her Mother was just showing her usual hysterics.

I wonder if Mother was right? Sarah thought as she looked curiously at
this place which would be her new home. Perhaps this is the wild
frontier after all.

It hit Sarah, and hard, that she had never been so far away from home,
and so alone among total strangers.

It was a relief to disembark, finally, from that broken-down stage
coach, though she was regretting not letting someone help her with her
heavy case, and she vowed to let the next man who offered help carry the
bulky, heavy bag ... Well, maybe.

She did not have to wait long. Before she had gone more than a few
yards, three young men descended upon Sarah, all of them offering to
carry her case. Before she could decide which one to choose, they first
began to argue, then actually brawling in the street. Sarah backed away
hurriedly, open-mouthed and wide eyed, and stared in astonishment at
these three brutes. Dear god, what have I gotten myself into, she
thought with trepidation and gripped her bag tighter, ready to use it
either as a shield or a weapon. It was thick enough to make a good
shield, and if she dropped it on someone's toes or swung it into their
shins, it would really do some damage. Sarah learned this from some
experiences during her long trip.

"Alright, break it up there, gents! Break it up! Y'all back off and let
her alone!" came an unfamiliar but commanding voice, and Sarah prayed
that the man behind that voice had some authority in more ways than his
words.

Apparently, he did. He waded into the three showing no fear whatsoever,
and the three men seemed to know him? One man, the smallest of the
three, quickly gave in and backed away from the newcomer, holding up
both his hands and looking far too innocent, but the other two were not
giving up. The fourth stranger did not seem surprised or deterred by
this, however, and he swiftly dealt with one of his assailants. But

when Sarah saw the third much small man creeping up on the fourth man's
blindside, she stepped forward and stuck out her slender foot to trip
him up. With the help of his own momentum, she sent him sprawling into
the gutter.

If that fourth one isn't the constable, I may be in deeper trouble than
I thought, Sarah thought. And in the midst of her total shock at how the
first three strangers had behaved, and out in public no less, Sarah
could not help be impressed by how well the fourth man handled himself
and those others.

It occurred to her, too late, that she could have run away while the
fight was going on, but that was a cowardly thing to do. Sarah Eliza
Collins was not a coward. And, she could not run while lugging that
heavy bag, and she would die before leaving her bag. At best, and under
its weight, all she could manage was a slow and stately sort of waddle.

"Excuse me, Miss," the fourth man slowly approached her. "You alright?
None of /em hurt you, did they?"

Sarah knelt down and picked up this strangers hat. "I-I'm fine, thank
you, sir," Sarah finally found her voice. "They didn't hurt me. One
offered to carry my case. They bickered and they started to fight. Then,
you came along?"

Moving to peer around the helpful stranger, she saw the three men
nursing many wounds, and slinking off in the opposite direction,
muttering swear words not quite under their breaths.

She dusted off his hat and gave it back to him. "Much obliged, Miss,"
the man said.

"I'm Sarah Eliza Collins. I am supposed to teach school here in Four
corners. Are you the local constable?"

The man blinked.

"Well, I spose you could say that. So, you're the new school Marm?"

"Uh, I'm supposed to be," Sarah gave him a cautious smile. "And you
补谤别—"

"Well forgive my manners, Miss. Name's Buck Wilmington, at your
service."

"Mr. Wilmington, why do you look so surprised?" Sarah did not think it
was her accent that made him look so startled.

"Well, Miss, you're, uh, not what we were all 'xpectin'?"

Sarah grinned. "Let me guess," she said in her quiet voice with its posh
British accent. "You were expecting an dowdy old lady?" she mustered her
best educated southern accent and added, "Or some prissy Southern
belle?"

The man called buck laughed. Well, I don't know about old, but ain't you
supposed to be from—"

"Virginia," Sarah put in. "I am, daddy's grandfather was born and raised
in Virginia, and all his sons after him, but my mother is a blue blood
Brit."

"Well, welcome to Four corners, Miss Collins."

"I don't wish to be rude, Mr. Wilmington, but if those three are this
town's idea of a welcome wagon," Sarah began, but buck interrupted.

Listen, I'm real sorry those were the first men you met, Miss. If they
come around given you more trouble, you just ask for ol' Buck.

"Mr. Wilmington," Sarah said, determined to be a bit more proper until
she got to know this man better. He seemed goodhearted and
well-intended, but he had an air about him, like one of those men
Sarah's mother always warned her daughter's about.

"Would you know where the local school Marm is supposed to get settled?"
Sarah inquired. "I'm supposed to find a woman called Mary, Mary—" The
woman's last name slipped Sarah's mind.

"Ms. Travis. She'll get you settled in. I'd be happy to walk you to the
hotel and introduce you," and he held out his hand for her bag.

"Oh, thank you," Sarah sighed, giving up her precious case with visible
relief, and rubbing her shoulder. Lugging that suitcase around
aggravated an injury she received on her long cross-country journey.

"Would your hotel happen to have a nurse or a doctor on the premises?"
Sarah inquired.

"Nathan, I mean, our doctor's outta town right now, Miss. But he and the
others will be back soon. Want me to send him over?"

"Yes, please, but it's not an emergency," Sarah said but had no chance
to say much more as a woman was calling to Buck.

"Buck,? Buck Wilmington!" The lady rushed up. "Buck, I asked you to keep
an eye out for our new school teacher. And who's this young lady you
brought with you? Never mind, you get back and wait for the teacher."

"Why, I brung you the new school teacher, Mary," Buck said brightly,
tipping his hat to her.

The woman called Mary gaped at Sarah for a few seconds before recovering
herself.

"Forgive me, but ... Your Miss ... Miss Sarah Eliza Collins?"

"Yes Ma'am. I'm Sarah Eliza Collins."

"Well, I ... I ..." the woman swallowed and cleared her throat
recovering herself. "I welcome you to Four Corners, Miss Collins. I
thought you were from Virginia?"

Buck grinned. "C'mon, do you're Southern bell impression for Mary,
Miss," he urged.

Sarah blushed.

"Alright, Buck, behave yourself in front of our Miss Collins. We want
her to get a good impression of us."

"Too late for that, Mary," Buck said darkly. "She's already met the
Clancy boys."

Mary gasped and put a hand on Sarah's slender shoulder, and the girl
winced in pain.

"Oh no! Not those three! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

"No Ma'am, I'm fine, thanks to Mr. Wilmington," Sarah said with a
grateful nod at Buck, wishing Mary would move that hand. "I had some,
misadventures, on my way out here, Ma'am." Sarah did not elaborate on
the fact that the men hired to protect the first coach she traveled in
turned out to be lazy useless cowards who ran away at the first sight of
trouble, and she and the other passengers were forced to defend
themselves.

"Well, that's fine." Sarah winced again as Mary leaned toward her. "You
watch out for Buck here, Miss Collins. He's a good boy, but he likes the
young ladies, a little too well sometimes," she told Sarah in a stage
whisper, which Buck could obviously hear.

Sarah expected the man to be indignant, but he only grinned at Mary.

"Buck, bring her bag, and I'll get Miss Collins settled in to her room.
Mary ushered Sarah forward. "We've

We saved one of the best rooms for you, Miss Collins."

Anything as long as she removes that hand, Sarah thought, fearing she
might start to cry from the pain, if the woman did not let go soon.

Mary finally did release her, and soon Sarah found herself tucked into a
very comfortable-looking room at the hotel. But on the way, everyone she
met gaped at her in the same way that Mary and buck had done. "This is
the school teacher?" was a phrase which Sarah grew tired of hearing
repeatedly, and the young woman wondered if she would really fit in here
after all. If they had expected a dried-up old spinster teacher, Sarah
Eliza was not it, and she never would be.

?

Name: Sarah Eliza Collins (named after both grandmothers)

Age: 25

Father: Jack Collins, teacher

Mother: Annette Georgina Montgomery Collins, seamstress and house wife



Sarah Eliza is a little slip of a girl, barely five feet tall with long
blond hair and green eyes. She's not a great cook, like all her sisters,
but she can bake bread and cakes that men would (and have) fought over.
She speaks and teaches French along with her native English.

She loves teaching and children, dancing—she loves square dances, but
she also knows the more formal dance steps—and she loves cats and riding
horses, and writing poetry, though she usually doesn't let too many
people know about that hobby.

She has four younger sisters, Mary Alice, Rachel Susanne, Cynthia
Louise, and Nancy Rebecca, all of whom are married, most with at least
two children, and scattered across the country.

Sarah Eliza left her home in Virginia and took the furthest teaching job
that she could find, mostly to get away from an annoying suitor, and her
mother's constant match-making attempts. Her Mother cries herself to
sleep at night thinking her eldest is going to become an old lonely
spinster teacher, but her father is proud of his daughter's independent
spirit, and says she reminds him so much of her mother when she was
young.

Sarah is normally a thoughtful, even-tempered young lady, except when it
comes to the mistreatment of women and/or girls, which her fourth
brother-in-law learned the hard way when she blacked both his eyes and
almost broke his nose after he slapped Nancy Rebecca, her youngest and
favorite sister. He's been an upstanding husband ever since.

She is looking forward to teaching in a small town setting.

?

More than a few folks had sought refuge from the heat of the day in the
saloon. Buck tossed his hat on the table where JD and Ezra sat. The
gambler’s fingers shuffled a deck of cards.

“Care for a game, Mr. Wilmington?” Ezra asked with his slow drawl.

“I think I know better than that.” He laughed and dropped into a chair.
A quick wave at the bartender and a beer was in front of him. Ezra
wanted to ask Buck about Cassie but thought better of it when Chris
entered the saloon. Even if Chris had not joined them, he thought it
might be better to stay any questions since Buck would undoubtedly go
straight to Chris. And from experience the last thing Ezra wanted was an
overprotective brother after him.

The rumble of wagons and horses in the street outside pulled everyone’s
attention. Several folks stood to peer out the dirt and dust covered
windows. JD was the first up from the table and out the batwing doors.
Ezra leaned back in his chair continuing to shuffle the cards. Buck and
Chris took long draws on their beers before standing to look at the
commotion.



“Thank you again for the invitation, Mrs. Trav颈蝉.” Eva took a sip of tea
as they sat in the small sitting room behind the Clarion’s main room.

“I was glad you could join me. And please call me Mary. How are you
finding our little town? Must be quite different than Baltimore.”

“Yes it is. But it does have its charm.” Eva paused, she wasn’t sure she
should ask her next questions. “The graveyard, I was walking through it…
I know, morbid but a peculiarity of mine… I saw a name, Anna Thompson,
she seemed so young to have passed.” The spectral figure she’d seen
still pressed on her.

“Oh yes, scarlet fever. Such a sad story. Her husband had died a few
months earlier. She was waiting on her brother to arrive to escort her
and her two children back to Kansas City. She hadn’t come to get any
supplies in a few weeks. Another rancher checked in on them and found
her dead. She’d been dead a couple of days. The children were 3 and 6,
just trying to get by eating bread and some salt pork. Thank goodness we
found them then.”

“What happened to them?”

“Her brother arrived a week later and took them back to family in
Kansas.” Eva wanted to ask more questions but the rumble of hooves
halted her. “What could that be?”

The two women stepped out into the street. A half dozen covered wagons
loaded with people and crates stopped in the middle of town. A man on
the middle wagon stood up on the seat. “Greetings! We are a merry band
traveling group of performers. We will be setting up just outside of
town and invite everyone to come join us for a performance or two.”

Eva pulled her shawl around her shoulders. The day was gray and
overcast, a cold wind blew. She watched from behind the hotel at the
colorful set of tents set up just east of town. Most of the traveling
troupe were staying in tents and wagons with their group, but a pair of
the performers, a married couple were staying at the hotel. The wife,
Sabine, was French and had a lovely singing voice. Her uncle expected
all the rooms in the hotel to fill up with people coming from other
nearby towns to see the troupe. A strange prickling feeling skittered up
her spine. Eva scanned the area and saw a man watching her. He was
with the theater troupe, but stood alone by a wagon. He had a hat
pulled low so she couldn't see his face, but she knew he was watching
her. She hurried back inside pulling the door tight behind her.

"Everything alright, ma'am?" Cassie asked as she pulled loaves of bread
from the oven.

"Yes, quite." Eva took a steadingly breath. "I suspect we'll have a
full room for supper tonight. I'll ask Molly to help with taking orders
out."

Eva continued through to the dining room and the hotel lobby. Her uncle
stood chatting with the same man from the day before, who asked about
hanging posters in the windows. "And this is my niece."

"Yes, we met briefly yesterday. But were not properly introduced,
Benson Taggert." He shook Eva's hand.

"Eva Weathers."

"A pleasure, ma'am."

Eva wanted to ask about the man she'd seen but that would not be proper.
Perhaps she could ask Sabine about him. There was something troubling
about him. A gnawing feeling that he brought danger. It wasn't a
feeling she could ignore, much like the spirits she saw. She excused
herself and headed outside again, but this time through the front doors.
A pair of letters were tucked in her pocket and she wanted to get them
posted today. The town had been so quiet in the time she'd been there,
that it was strange to see all the hustle and bustle of the temporary
residents. She watched as a man juggled a trio of oranges for a handful
of children. The children clapped in delight as he tossed the oranges
high, catching each one in turn.

"Afternoon Eva," a familiar voice came from behind her. She turned to
find Buck Wilmington standing behind her, a roguish grin on his face.

"Afternoon Buck," she was still getting used to a lack of formality with
people, particularly him.

"What do you think of all this?" He gestured toward the juggler and
another pair of performers with him.

"I suppose it will be quite enjoyable for folks. And should bring in
some extra money for the businesses in town."

"Probably so." Buck did not share the concerns Chris had expressed the
night before. More people tended to mean more trouble. They'd already
had a pair of fights break out at the saloon the night before when a
couple ranch hands had too much to drink and thought they could arm
wrestle the troupe's strongman. "Do you plan on seeing any of the
shows?"

"I had considered it."

"Would you allow me to escort you?"


The night had been more eventful than any of the men preferred. Too much
alcohol flowing at the saloon had lead to three brawls and two ranch
hands sleeping off whiskey in the jail. One of the fights had involved a
couple of the men from the troupe in town. They had taken exception at
names they were called by a cowboy. Buck had complained about having to
watch over their prisoners half the night when he wanted to visit Eva.

“You really think you got a chance with Eva?” JD asked as they drank
coffee outside the sheriffs office.

“Just enjoying getting to know the lady.” Buck grabbed his hat.
“Speaking of,” he nodded to where Eva was exiting the hotel with Molly.
“Excuse me.”


“See if Cassie needs any extra help this 尘辞谤苍颈苍驳.” Eva instructed Molly
as they walked toward the general store. “All the rooms are reserved for
tonight so I think we can assume that the restaurant will be full for
蝉耻辫辫别谤.”

“Yes ma’am.” Molly adjusted the basket on her arm. The young woman
noticed the man at the end of the walk watching them. If Eva noticed him
as well, she didn’t show it. Molly knew he was part of the acting
troupe. She’d seen him from a distance several times over the last few
days; always watching the hotel, always watching Eva when she was out.

“Good mornin’ ladies.” Buck approached them and touched the brim of his
hat. Molly nodded in greeting.

“Good morning,” Eva allowed a small smile to cross her face. “We are
headed to the general store.”

“Don’t suppose you’d be free for a walk about town after?”

Eva hesitated before answering. She knew she should say no but being
around Buck made her happy. “I believe I could spare time for a short
飞补濒办.”

Eva stood outside the mercantile watching the town move around her. She
had just retrieved a letter from back east from a friend. The friend
still believed that Eva would return and there were times where Eva
wondered if she should. Four Corners had been welcoming but she still
felt a bit of an outsider.

Tucking the letter into her skirt pocket, Eva headed down the boardwalk
toward the far end of town. A juggler from the troupe amused a trio of
children outside the blacksmiths. Eva stepped around them and continued
till she reached the graveyard. The spirits had been quiet for the last
two weeks, something she was grateful for.

“Your town is nice.” An accented voice came from the left of her. It was
the man Eva had seen from behind the hotel.

“I don’t know that I see it as my town. I haven’t lived here long.” She
looked toward the man, his hat was pulled low making it hard to discern
his features. “You are with the troupe, mister…?”

“DelGarza. And yes.”

“Eva Weathers.”

“A pleasure.” Something behind her had caught his attention. “I must be
驳辞颈苍驳.”

“Eva!” She turned to see Buck to her. When she turned back the stranger
was gone.

“Afternoon, Buck.”

“Afternoon.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Who was that fella?”

“Someone with the troupe, just saying hello. I’m sure he was just trying
to drum up business for the first show tonight.”

“I do hope you’ll still let me escort you to the show.”

“Yes I would like that.” She took hold of his arm. “Now how would you
like to walk me back to the hotel.”

Eva was not sure how much time had passed in the back of the wagon. The
wagon's bonnet kept her from seeing anything. At some point she dozed
off and woke when the wagon stopped. DelGarza opened the back of the
covering and motioned for Eva to get out. She scooted to the edge and
tried to stretch her legs. They were stiff and cramped from the ride.
He took her arm and helped her out of the wagon. The building in front
of them could have been a house or a stable. It was old and looked to
be barely standing. He gave her a push toward the door. Inside there
was an old stove and a pair of chairs at a table. DelGarza set about
starting a fire in the stove.

"Why did you do this?" Eva asked. The night had passed while they were
in the wagon. She knew that someone had to have noticed she was gone by
now. But what could would that do her now. How would anyone find her?
She didn't even know where she was. "If you take me to a town and let
me go, I'll make sure the authorities do not come after you." DelGarza
mumbled something low that she didn't understand. It was Spanish,
maybe.

"I saw you. With the graves. You speak to the dead."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You lie badly." He took off his hat and laid it on the table. "Mi
esposa... she died. Killed. I need to know if she's at rest." Eva
could see the pain in his eyes. On some level she felt sorry for him.
The man wanted resolution.

"I wish.. I wish I could help you." Rage flashed in his eyes.

"You will help me." He grabbed her arm and pulled her back outside. He
drug her along to a patch of ground under a copse of trees. DelGarza
pointed at a tree. "There. She lies there."

Eva could see initials carved in the tree, presumably DelGarza's wife's
initials. She stepped toward the tree. There was no rhyme or reason to
why or when she'd see someone's spirit. She couldn't do it on command.
Even if she told DelGarza that, she doubted that he would listen. "Can
you untie me?" She held out her bound hands. "Sometimes it helps if I
can touch the ground." DelGarza studied her for a moment and grunted
before using a knife to cut the rope. "Thank you."

She knelt down and buried her fingers in the dirt. She didn't need to
do this, this spirit would have come no matter what. This spirit wanted
to speak. Waves of anger and rage threatened to overwhelm her. She
heard the spirit before she saw it. Screams of pain filled her ears. A
unhuman wailing rose up from the ground. The figure was fully formed
and just to Eva's right. A woman with long dark hair and a white
nightgown stood there. She screamed, not at Eva, but at DelGarza.

"She's here isn't she?" DelGarza asked. His eyes swung around them
searching for his dead wife. "Tell her I am sorry."

"Sorry?"

The spirit's words were jumbled and in Spanish. Eva couldn't understand
her. Whatever had happened the woman blamed DelGarza, Eva knew that at
least.



DelGarza's wagon had been easy enough for Vin to track. The deep tracks
led them south and east. The pace was not quick enough for Buck who
yearned to race forward to find her. None of the men wanted to talk
about why he might have taken Eva, none of the possibilities were good.
They came to a fork in the road. Vin had them hold there while he
checked both forks. The ground here was packed hard and the tracks were
not as easily picked up. He came back and mounted his horse. "This
way," he nodded to the right.

"You sure about that?" Buck asked. He didn't doubt Vin's abilities but
this was taking too long.

"I'm sure Buck."


Eva did something she'd never done before. She reached out and touched
the spirit. Blackness overcame her. Suddenly she was standing inside
the house. She was speaking but it wasn't her voice. The spirit was
showing her what happened. The body she inhabited gestured wildly while
arguing with someone behind her. DelGarza. He smashed a pot on the
floor and yelled at her. Eva didn't understand the words but knew that
he was angry at his wife. His face contorted with rage. He came at
her, his hands going around her neck, his fingers gripping tightly. She
struggled. Tried to hit him, scratch at his arms, face, anything. But he
was too strong. Life drained out of her. Eva gasped for breath as she
came back to herself. She stood and took a stumbling step away.

"You killed her." DelGarza's eyes snapped to her. "You strangled her."

"I loved her."

"You killed her."

"She must forgive me." The man was insane. She could see it in his
eyes. "You will tell her to forgive me."

"No." Eva shook her head. "You should be in prison."

"You do not understand. It was an accident."

"No, you murdered her." When she'd stood, she'd brought a handful of
dirt with her. Eva flung it in his eyes. DelGarza yelled and tried to
clear his eyes. Eva took the chance to run. There wasn't lots of
places to hide, but she'd run till she couldn't run any more if she had
to.

A gun shot rang out.


The three men heard the gun shot. They'd found the house and wagon
minutes before. They raced in the direction of the sound. DelGarza lay
on the ground dead, his gun to his side. Eva was no where to be seen.
Vin looked at the ground. He pointed to the west. "Looks like she took
off running." Buck headed that way on his horse. He wanted to ride
fast but slowed down so that he didn't miss seeing Eva. She could be
hiding anywhere along here. Pockets of trees and brush lined the way.

"Eva... Eva..." He called out her name. There was flash of movement
ahead on the left. "Eva, it's Buck. You're safe." He slowed down to
almost a stop.

"Bu-Buck?" She stepped out from a group of trees. He dismounted his
horse and took a step toward her. Relief filled her face right before
she collapsed.

Sun fought its way through the gauzy curtains. Eva wanted nothing more
than to languish in bed all day but there were things to be done. The
hotel only had one guest, but the restaurant was never lacking in
customers. She quickly dressed so that she could assist Molly. Molly
had been a godsend since the incident and taking on more things around
the hotel the last few days. Eva was surprised to find the dining room
empty. Usually by now there'd be at least a half dozen folks eating.
The distinctive smell of breakfast cooking that came from the kitchen
normally was missing. Dread pooled in her stomach.

"Molly?" She called as she crossed the dining room. "Molly?" The
kitchen was empty. The door to the small bedroom next to the kitchen
was ajar. Eva pushed on the door. "Molly?" It was also empty. The bed
had been made and everything was in its place. Eva turned and surveyed
the kitchen. Molly had been in here, that was obvious. The ball of
dough sat on the table waiting to be rolled out. And there was a bowl
full of cracked eggs. She stepped out the back door fearing Molly have
taken a tumble on the steps. She'd already told her uncle twice they
needed to be replaced. Like inside Molly was nowhere to be found.

"Mr. Tanner?" Eva called out to the wagon parked in the alley. It took
a moment before there was a stirring. The flap opened. Vin rubbed a
hand over his face. "I'm sorry to disturb you. Have you seen Molly
this morning?"

"Uh, no. She's not inside?" Eva shook her head. "Maybe something
happened with her brother?"

"Perhaps."

"Let me get my boots on. I'll go see if he seen her."

"Thank you."


Eva busied herself inside while she waited. She put a sign out saying
the restaurant was closed for breakfast. It was disappointing to a few
that tried to enter but they'd survive. Eva paced on the boardwalk
waiting for Vin to return. An involuntary smile crossed her face when
she saw Buck approaching.

"Mornin'." That languid smile spread across his face. It only took a
second for his expression to change to concern. "Somethin' wrong?" She
told him about Molly. "Let me go see what Vin's found out." He squeezed
her arm before turning on his heel and striding away.

From where she stood Eva could see Vin and Buck meet up near the saloon.
The young man who worked at the livery approached them. Eva knew that
Molly's brother was close with that young man, perhaps he knew
something. From this distance she couldn't hear their words but could
see their conversation had turned heated. Vin and the other man headed
back towards the livery and Buck jogged down to Eva.

"What has happened?"

"Seems some fellas took Molly."

"What? Who?"

"Not really sure. Jonah told us he saw something. They're gearing up to
head out. Vin can track anyone. I'm gonna tell the others what's
happening." Buck didn't want to say how he didn't want to leave Eva
alone in town. She must have sensed his hesitation. She laid a hand on
his arm.

"You have to go find her. You can't let anything happen to her."

"We won't. I won't." Eva lifted herself on to her tiptoes and brushed
a kiss across his cheek.

"Thank you."

“Buck,” Mary Travis called out from where she stood in front of the
hotel. At her side was the owner, Thomas Cole, who was checking his
pocket watch. He crossed the street followed by JD.

“What can I do for 测辞耻?” He pushed his hat back. The day was already
warm and he could feel sweat pooling down his back.

“The stage was due in an hour ago.” Mary could see their ready
objection. “And yes I know it could be running late from Eagle Bend...
but with the recent trouble...”. A half dozen stages had been hit in the
county in the last month.

“You ‘specting someone on the stage?”

“Yes, a woman from New York escorting a pair of orphans.”

“And my niece.” Cole looked at his watch again.

“Well I suppose JD and I could take a ride that way, see what we find.”

“We would both greatly appreciate that.”


Buck squinted looking up at the sun. They were a half hour out of town
and no sign of the coach. He’d bet JD fifty cents that it hadn’t even
left Eagle Bend. This would end up being a fool’s errand. JD gave a
whoop. “You owe me 50 cents.”

They’d rounded a corner and there ahead was the stage. It sat at a
lopsided angle. A man leaned against the side, a pile of luggage near
his feet. Buck recognized the driver and raised a hand in greeting. The
sound of female laughter carried to him from a small copse of trees. Two
women sat on a fallen tree while another chased two children around.

“Hey Mills, what happened?”

“Damn wheel axle snapped. Almost dumped us on our side. Sent Charlie to
get help. Guessing he went backwards instead of to Four Corners.” He
shook his head. “Surprised he ever keeps north and south 蝉迟谤补颈驳丑迟.”

“JD, ride over to the Johnson’s farm. Borrow their wagon so we can get
these folks into town.” The Johnson farm was only a mile to the east.
JD nodded and turn his horse. Buck nodded toward the women and children.
“I suppose you at least got pretty scenery while you wait.”



Eva Weathers had watched the two men approach on horseback. From where
she sat their conversation with the stage driver didn’t travel. One of
the men left and the other made his way toward their little group with
the driver following. The man was tall, like her Robert. But where her
Robert had been fair, from what she could see this man had dark hair. He
smiled at the women.

“Morning, name’s Buck. Buck Wilmington.”

“Buck sent for a wagon so we can get you ladies on yer way.”

“That is very appreciated.” The woman next to Eva stood and put out her
hand. “Mrs. Caroline Pressman, my maid and I are escorting these
children.” She nodded toward the young woman who stood to the side with
the children, a baby on her hip.

“Ms. Travis mentioned that. And you,” he focused on Eva, “must be Mr.
Cole’s niece.”

“Yes.” She hesitated for a moment. “Eva Weathers.”

“A pleasure.” He touched the brim of his hat. Buck tried to make
conversation with the women. The maid kept to her duties with the
children. Caroline laughed at his jokes but Eva was harder to read.
She’d barely looked up from the book in her lap. He excused himself at
the sound of JD returning with the wagon.

“Now that is a dangerous man.” Caroline said under her breath. Eva
glanced over at him. She didn’t doubt that his good looks and charm had
bedded more than a few women. The men loaded up the luggage and the
driver called to the women.

“Alright, these fellas as going to take you in to town. I can vouch for
them. They’ll get ya there safe.” The women could do little but go
along with the change. Caroline, her maid, and the children climbed up
and got settled. Buck held out a hand to Eva to help her into the wagon.
His fingers brushed the bare skin at her wrist above her glove. Warmth
swept over Eva and a feeling of safety. A feeling that she hadn’t felt
in a long time.

There had been little chance for Buck to strike up a conversation with
the women on the ride into town. The two children were excited and
overwhelmed by the scenery and pointing out everything they saw. He
smiled to himself thinking of how once everyone was all settled he'd
have to make a special stop over at the hotel to check on Eva Weathers.
It hadn't escaped his notice that she wore a narrow band of gold on her
left hand, but he'd enjoyed the company of more than a few married women
in his day.

There arrival in town wasn't without notice. A town this small would
always stop to watch new arrivals. Eva allowed Buck Wilmington to help
her from the wagon. She held her breath wondering if she'd feel the same
sensation as before. These feelings were always guaranteed and she'd
never know when they'd come on. Same as the visions. This time she
didn't feel anything as he lifted her down.

"Thank you, Mr. Wilmington."

"Buck. Call me Buck."

"I'm not sure that would be proper." He winked in response. Eva wanted
to smile but knew that would be inappropriate.

"Eva!" She turned at the sound of her name. Her uncle hurried toward
her with a woman with almost white blond hair. No doubt the infamous
Mary Travers her uncle had mentioned in his letters; as well as Mrs.
Pressman had talked about on the train.

"Uncle Thomas," Eva embraced her uncle. It had been years since they'd
seen one another. He was the spitting image of her father twenty pounds
heavier. Buck and the young man, JD, were pulling down the luggage from
the wagon. Eva took a hold of her black leather bag and another larger
carpet bag. She had a trunk too.

"I'll have someone bring your trunk." Thomas Cole assured his niece.
He didn't think he could manage it on his own.

"I'll bring it over after a bit." Buck volunteered. Thomas nodded and
lead his niece the other direction toward the hotel. Eva spared a
glance over her shoulder. Buck touched the brim of his hat.

Eva had to admit that she heard little of what her uncle said as they
walked to the hotel. She was overwhelmed by the sounds and smells of
the small town. The hotel wasn't large; two stories, a dozen rooms.
The lobby was comprised of a parlour and a dining room. Thomas lead her
past a flight of stairs to the rear of the building.

"It's not much." He showed her his suite of rooms. There was a sitting
room and two bedrooms. A third small bedroom, not much larger than a
closet was for a maid; something the hotel was currently without. "Not
that I expect you to do those duties."

"I've done a lot worse." Eva tried to smile. Changing beds or sweeping
floors was preferable to being elbow deep in blood and a soldier's guts.
Her room was a nice size with a bed and vanity. "If you don't mind, I
believe I'd like to clean up from the trip. Maybe lay down for a
spell."

"Of course, of course. We'll have tea when you're ready and you can
tell me all about your trip out."

Eva watched the young woman run from the room before turning back to the
babe in her arms. The girl looked ill, perhaps the long journey finally
catching up with her. “Look at your new home Bridget.” She pointed out
the window at a passing horse. The baby grabbed at her finger. Sorrow
buried deep into her heart. She and Robert had often talked of having
children. He had often joked that he wanted more children than rooms in
the house so that it would always feel full and full of laughter. But
then the war came.

“Oh dear, where’s Molly?” Caroline stood at the foot of the stairs. “I
cannot believe she left the child with you.”

“I insisted.” Eva assured her. “The babe has been no trouble.” She
smiled at the woman. “Though I believe Molly might have stepped out
back. She looked ill.”

“Yes, well, that still doesn’t-,” Eva cut her off.

“Caroline won’t you join me at my table. We can talk while the children
finish their breakfast. Remember you were going to tell me about your
winter ball.”



Eva wanted to get her bearings on this town she now would call home. The
day was cool but clear. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders
before venturing out. Her uncle had assured her that at least during the
day she could walk unescorted without fear. People were friendly as she
strolled. In a town this small, no doubt word had already spread about
their new residents. She came to the end of the main walk and the
cemetery.

The spectre started as a dark silvery shadow at the edge of her vision.
It hung near the far edge of the cemetery, no discernible shape. Eva
tried to ignore it, but she had found that only made them persistent. It
became a woman, long dark hair covering most of her face.

“Miz Weathers?” A hand tapped her shoulder. She turned and saw the man
from yesterday.

“Mr. Wilmington?”

“Yes ma’am. But call me Buck.”

“Yes, uh,” she turned back but the spectre was gone.

“You alright?” Something in her seemed to change in an instant. “Want
me to walk ya back to the hotel?”

“Yes, thank you.”



Eva sat behind the front desk of the hotel. Her uncle had stepped out
for a few minutes. She scribbled a few lines of a letter down to a
friend in Baltimore; another women left widowed by the war. The bell
jingled as the door opened. Eva smiled at the woman who entered. They
had met when she'd arrived but the name escaped her now.

"Mrs. Weathers."

"You'll have to forgive me, I know that my uncle introduced us, but I
have forgotten your name."

"Mary Travis." She held out her hand. "It was a whirlwind with what
happened with your coach. How do you like Four Corners so far?"

"I haven't explored much beyond the hotel, but everyone I've met has
been quite pleasant."

"I'm so glad to hear you." Mary smiled. "I was wondering if I might
impose on you for some assistance. One of our town's protectors,
Josiah, Mr. Sanchez, his goddaughter was injured this morning." Mary
explained what had happened. "He needs someone to assist her for a few
days until she can get around on her own. I thought maybe..."

"Well I mean, I..."

"Your uncle had mentioned that you were a nurse." Eva wavered a moment
before nodding.

"Of course, I'd be happy to help."



Mary had directed Eva over to the church, that Josiah would be expecting
her. The main sanctuary area was dimly light was the sun filtered
through the slats on the windows. She was going to call out when a door
near the far end opened. A man emerged. He wore a dark colored shirt
and vest, a string of white and black beads around his neck. "My
apologies ma'am."

"I was looking for Mr. Sanchez."

"That'd be me. Call me Josiah. Would you be Mrs. Weathers?"

"Yes, Mrs. Travis told me about your goddaughter."

"Cheyenne, yes. Appreciate your help. She just woke up, would you like
to come meet her."

"Of course."

"I should tell ya, she hasn't spoken much English as of late, so it'll
be rusty."

"Yes, Mrs. Travis explained. She said that she thought the girl spoke
some French."

"That she does."

"I do too. Perhaps we shall be able to make ourselves understood."

Josiah led the way through to another room. The young woman sat up in
bed covered by a quilt. Eva could see her body tense at the sight of an
unknown person. Josiah sat down on the chair next to the bed. She
didn't understand the words he said except for her name.

"Hello Cheyenne." Eva said in French. The young woman merely nodded at
her. "I hope that we can be friends. Will it be acceptable to you if I
come and help while you're recovering?"

Cheyenne looked to Josiah and said something in that same language that
Eva didn't know. The two conversed for a minute. Cheyenne looked back
to Eva. "Thank you for your help."

"I will be back after supper to help her get ready for bed." Josiah
thanked her and walked her out of the church.

"Really appreciate this Mrs. Weathers." Josiah hooked his thumbs into
his belt. "Howdy Buck." Eva turned and saw Buck standing at the bottom
of the stairs.

"Afternoon Josiah, Cheyenne doing alright?"

"She is. Mrs. Weathers here is going to help her out."

"Awful kind of her." Buck touched the brim of his hat to her. "Mrs.
Weathers, would you like an escort back to the hotel?"

"I do believe that I can find my way back." Eva didn't want to admit
that she would actually enjoy his company. "But it would not be polite
for me to turn down your offer."



Eva knocked on the room Molly was staying in at the hotel. The young
woman answered, her hair still unpinned. “Oh Mrs. Weathers, good
尘辞谤苍颈苍驳.”

“Good morning. I spoke with my uncle last evening. He would like to
offer you a position as a maid for the hotel.” It didn’t pay as much as
she had earned in New York but it would include room and board.

“I greatly appreciate th颈蝉.”

“Mrs. Pressman had paid for one more night for you. I suggest you enjoy
today and that bed one last night. The bed in the maid’s room is not
quite as comfortable.”

***

Eva spent a few minutes speaking with Josiah before spending the morning
with Cheyenne. He had asked if she could help Cheyenne practice her
English. “Let me look at your wound.” She removed the dressing and
inspected it. “It is looking much better. Mr. Jackson did an excellent
job of treating it.”

“Josiah said you were a nurse.”

“I was.”

“No more?”


***

Eva was still thinking of Cheyenne’s question when she left an hour
later. After the war, Eva wasn’t even sure I’d she wanted to be a nurse
any longer. A familiar figure appeared to be milling around in front of
the church.

“Mr. Wilmington, hello.”

“Afternoon Mrs. Weathers.” He touched the brim of his hat. “I was
passing by and thought this might be about when you’d be done sitting
with Cheyenne. Thought I could walk ya back to the hotel.”

“I was not aware that Four Corners was so dangerous that an escort was
needed midday.” Eva raised an eyebrow at him. Buck gave her a sly
smile. “I suppose there is no reason that we could not walk together.”

Buck finished his meal quickly and left the saloon. He’d heard JD say
something about Buck being smitten as he headed out. Shaking his head he
walked toward the hotel. Stopping in to say hello Eva was simply the
neighborly thing to do. Nothing more. Though he couldn’t deny she was a
very pretty woman. He spotted her near the Clarion with Mary and a
rancher he’d met before once.

“Let me go grab my bag.” Eva said with her mouth pulled in a tight
line. She nodded at Buck as she rushed to the hotel.

“Something wrong?” Buck asked as he reached them.

“Mrs. Simpson is having a baby.”

“It’s our third. But ain’t come as easy as the other two.”

“Eva volunteered to go with him and help with the birth.”


Eva pulled the leather doctor bag from under her bed. It had been her
husband’s. Her fingers traced the gold initials. A cough behind her
brought her back. Molly stood in the doorway.

“My uncle is at the saloon. When he returns tell him I’ve gone to the
Simpsons farm to help with the birth of a child.” Molly nodded. “If he
has any questions tell him to see Mrs. Travis. I’ll be back in the
尘辞谤苍颈苍驳.”

Buck stood outside the hotel doors waiting. He touched the brim of his
hat to Eva. He motioned to a wagon. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sent Simpson on home. Said I’d bring you.” He could see it he object
on they tip of her tongue. “We got a grizzly running around tearing up
folks. Be safer in the wagon.” He held out a hand to help her up. They
rode in silence for most of the ride.

“How long have you been in Four Corners?” Eva finally asked unable to
handle the quiet.

“A fair amount of time I guess. Not a bad place. I’ve been places way
飞辞谤蝉别.”

“My uncle told me about how you and your friends were hired to protect
the town.”

“Not my first time being a lawman. Though most time it’s just keeping
folks from getting outta control at the saloon.”

The Simpson place came into sight. Two children, neither older than six,
ran around with a dog in front of the house. Buck helped Eva down from
the wagon and set to settling the horse in the stable. When he came out,
he found Simpson sitting on the edge of the steps.

“The lady doc kicked me out. Can’t say I mind.”

“Got a grizzly seen over by Royal’s spread. Probably best you keep the
kids inside till it’s gone.” The two men talked, trying to ignore the
screams from inside. Soon the screams were replaced a baby’s cries.
Simpson hurried inside with his two sons and Buck trailing behind.

Beth Simpson lay in the bed holding her new baby. Eva washed her hands
in a basin. She gave the men a tired smile. “Your daughter did not want
to be born.”


Eva found Buck in the stable. She pulled her wrap tighter around her
shoulders. “Everyone is settled inside. We can head back to town.”

“Ain’t happening. With that bear around, not safe.”

“So what do we do?”

“Simpson said we could bunk down in here.” Buck motioned to an empty
stall. A layer of hay covered the floor. Eva raised an eyebrow at him.

“I can only imagine what my uncle will think of th颈蝉.”

Darkness surrounded Eva. Fear and dread surrounded her like mist over
water. She opened her mouth to scream but there was only silence. Her
fingers clawed at her throat trying to make any sound.

“Eva... Eva,” a gentle voice roused her from the nightmare. She sat up,
a shudder running through her body. It took a few seconds for her brain
to remember where she was. The barn was still dark.

“叠耻肠办?”

“You okay darlin’?”

“What time is it?”

“Hard to say but I’m guessing we’re still a couple hours till sunrise.”
She lay back down next to him. Eva tightened the wool blanket around
herself. “What were you dreaming?”

“I - I,” she considered lying but Buck Wilmington struck her as someone
who would see through her lies. “It was dark and I felt in danger.”

“You certainly don’t got to fear anything when you’re with me.” Eva
couldn’t help but laugh.

“I suspect that may be true except for my virtue.”


When Eva woke again she was alone. Sunlight filtered in between the
boards. She could hear voices outside. Children laughed and Buck’s voice
joined them. She stretched and stood. Once back to town she’d need a
bath but for now she’s settle for trying to pull pieces of hay from her
hair. Outside the barn Buck watched as the two young boys ran around
like they were riding horses. He tipped his hat to Eva. “Mornin’.”

“Good 尘辞谤苍颈苍驳.” She smiled at him. The door to the house opened and
Simpson exited with two cups of coffee. Eva took one. “Your wife?”

“Feeding the babe.” Eva nodded and slipped inside. The mother and baby
were doing well. It only too a few minutes for Eva to check on them and
gather her things. When she returned outside Buck had the wagon ready to
go.

They rode in silence. Dread swept over Eva. She grabbed Buck’s arms and
asked him to stop. The hem of her dress caught on the wagon and she
stumbled off the seat. Buck jumped down. He helped her to stand. Blood
and blackness filled her field of vision.

“Eva? Eva, what’s wrong?”


Eva was quiet on the rest of the ride back to town. Buck wasn’t sure
what had happened with her but she was obviously still distressed. As
soon as he stopped the wagon in front of the hotel she was climbing
down. She gave him a curt goodbye and disappeared inside. Buck didn’t
doubt he smelled a bit like livestock after a night in the barn. He
needed a bath and beer and didn’t really care about the order. Buck put
up his horse in the livery and ran into Cass who was checking on her
horse.

“Saw you leave yesterday with that lady from the hotel.” Cassie had
known Buck a long time. The sideways look she gave told him what she
suspected had gone on.

“Ain’t nothing like that. She was helping delivery a baby. I just
drove her out to the farm.” Buck didn’t add how he’d wouldn’t mind
spending a night with her again in another fashion. He followed Cassie
out of the livery.

“Speak of the devil.” Eva was approaching at a fast pace.

“What’s the hurry?” Buck asked as they reached her. He noted the black
doctor’s bag she carried.

“My uncle said a young man was brought in yesterday. Attacked by a
bear. I thought I’d go to see if I could assist Mr. Jackson.” She blew
out a heavy breath. “And I need to find our new housekeeper to see if
she has any skills at cooking since the hotel’s cook quit.” Buck spoke
up.

“Cassie here can cook.” Buck made quick introductions.

“I’ve been the cook for a couple trail drives.”

“And she makes the best chicken and dumplings I ever ate.” Buck winked.

“Then I think I can say you’re hired. Go over to the hotel and tell the
owner I sent you. He’s my uncle.





Eva knocked softly on the door to Nathan’s rooms. He opened the door.
“Mr. Jackson?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m Eva Weathers. My uncle owns the hotel.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He told me about the young man brought in. I’m, I’m a nurse. I
thought I’d come ask if you needed any help.”

“Come on in. Appreciate it.” Eva noticed Molly sitting beside the bed.

“惭辞濒濒测?”

“Sorry, ma’am.” Molly stood. “It’s my brother.”

“Brot丑别谤?” Molly explained that the young man in the bed was her
brother; a brother she hadn’t seen in years. Eva gestured toward Ian.
“May I take a look?” Nathan motioned for her to go ahead. The boy’s
body was pale, that paleness that comes when you stray too close to
death. Mr. Jackson had done a good job at closing the wounds. There
would be scars; many of them. She reached into her bag and pulled out a
small bottle. “Iodine.”

“For the wounds. Saw a lot of doctors use it in the war.”

“Yes, Probably a good thing he’s unconscious.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Molly, stay as long as you need. I’ll talk to my uncle.” She turned
back to Nathan. “If you need any assistance, please come get me.”

Eva sat at her desk composing a letter to a friend back east. She
described the town and several people she’d met. Her pen hesitated at
the thought of mentioning Buck Wilmington. Words wouldn’t come that felt
appropriate. He was certainly handsome and she did not doubt that he had
charmed a fair share of women. There were feelings he elicited from her
that she was not willing to dwell on. Instead she talked in generalities
about the men that had been hired to protect this town. A knock on the
door drew her attention.

“Yes?” Her uncle entered. In his clutch was a small carpet bag.

“Eva, I am catching the stagecoach in a few minutes.” She raised an
eyebrow. “I’ll only be gone a night. Maybe two.”

“Alright.” She stood and followed him out to the lobby.

“I won’t be far. Eagle Bend’s not far.” He took a breath. “There’s a
woman 迟丑别谤别.” Eva held up her hand.

“I do not need to know more.” They stepped out into the midday sun. She
saw Buck and another man walking in their direction.

“Ms. Weathers.” Buck touched the brim of his hat. She nodded.

“Gentlemen, good timing. I have a favor.” Eva’s uncle addressed both
men. “I need to leave for a day. I would be most appreciative if you
keep an eye on the hotel. Help my niece if there’s any trouble.”

“Of course.” Thomas excused himself and headed for the waiting stage.

“I don’t think you’ve met Chris yet.” Buck mad the quick introduction.
“His sister is Cassie.”

“Really? Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Larabee. My uncle is quite
pleased with how well your sister is working out.”

“Glad to hear.” He nodded and excused himself.

“I should get back into the hotel.”

“Maybe I could stop by around 蝉耻辫辫别谤.” He cocked his head to the side.
“Would you be up to some company for dinner?”


“Something bad is coming. We need to get back to town.”

Charlotte Weathers (30) - Charlotte’s mother died when Charlotte was 3.
She was raised mostly by household staff. Her father, a surgeon, loved
her but just didn't know how to interact with a child. She became
interested in medicine at an early age and wanted to become a surgeon
(or at least a doctor) but her father said that was no career for a
woman. Charlotte did the next best thing and became a nurse. Charlotte
married a doctor, Robert. He was a field surgeon during the war and was
killed near the end of it. Charlotte spent a lot of time taking care of
soldiers, so she’s seen some horrible stuff. They had been married only
5 years when Robert was killed. Much of their marriage was spent apart,
since he was helping on the battlefields. Her father died a few months
after she was married, so she feels very alone now. Since Robert's
death and the end of the war, she's sort of been adrift. She has
visited and stayed with various relatives, not finding anywhere she
feels comfortable. Charlotte uncle, Thomas, her father’s brother, owns
a hotel in Four Corners. It's taken quite a bit of convincing on his
part but she's agreed to travel west to the town.

Charlotte carries a secret with her. Since she was young, she would
have visions and see spirits. She told her father about it once and he
told her it was impossible and to never speak of it again. Since then
she's never told anyone of it, even Robert did not know. The visions
of the dead soldiers she tended to during the war nearly drove her to
madness. She hopes that this new place so far from the horrors she saw
will cleanse these memories from her.

She has long auburn hair which she always wears up. While it's been
more than a couple of years since her husband died, she still thinks of
herself being in mourning and therefore sticks to dark colors, primarily
dark gray and dark navy.

The warmth of the sun on her face caused Molly to stir before a sense of
panic filled her. She was always up well before the sun which meant she
was late in starting her day. Mr. Cole would be angry.

“Hold on there, honey,” came a deep voice she struggled to place. A pair
of hands kept her from sitting upright. Molly opened her eyes to see
Nathan Jackson's face. Concern filled his dark eyes and it all came
rushing back to her; bringing a meal for him and his patient, the
encounter with the man named Jonah and Ian.

Sweet Jesus. Ian.

Her intention to throw herself up and out of the bed she was laying on
must have shown on her face because his hands tightened on her arms,

“Ms. Crowley...”

“Let me up,” Molly demanded. “I want to see him. I want to see my
brother.” If her demand coupled with her declaration surprised him at
all he didn't show it.

“He's restin' which is what you should be doing,” he responded. Molly
let the statement sink in.

“Resting?” she echoed. “He's not...he's alright?”

“A few steps removed from alright but...”

“But not...gone...” Molly couldn't bring herself to say the word. Even
the euphemism seemed too much like tempting fate.

“No. Jonah got him here just on time. You should know though I ain't a
doctor. Just do what I can to heal folks.” He stood and walked over to a
table that sat underneath a window. Molly sat up and swung her legs over
the side of the single bed she now realized was more like a cot.

“I've seen the result of some so-called doctors efforts,” Molly
responded. “There's hardly enough space in the room for their egos and
their patients.”

Molly stood and for the first time got a better look at the figure in
the bed in the room. Except for the bandages on his arms which lay on
top of the quilt he could be sleeping.

“How long since you last seen him?” Nathan's voice was quiet.

“Years,” Molly whispered. Molly ran her hands down the front of her
dress smoothing it out, doing the same with her hair. She rolled up her
sleeves.

“What needs doing?” she asked, turning to face Nathan.

“Ms. Crowley, you don't need...”

“Mr. Jackson,” Molly bit out. “I have traveled the length of an ocean
and a country to find my brother and been through hell and back between.
If you think I am leaving this room without assisting you in his care
you are sadly mistaken. Now I ask you again. What needs doing?”

he sound of Molly's voice filled Nathan's clinic. Through her chatter,
Nathan got a better sense of what she'd been through in an effort to
search for her brother. 'Hell and back between' was the term she'd used
and it sounded not like much of an exaggeration. She worked as she
talked; folding, scrubbing, mending. Ms. Pressman had come to assure her
that the hotel was making due but Nathan got the sense Molly could have
been fired on the spot and she'd have hardly cared.

Nathan believed that people who were unconscious, even deeply so, could
hear those around them. He watched as Ian began to stir more and more as
if he could sense his sister was near him. Nathan learned quickly that
Molly Crowley was not to be handled. She'd insisted early on that he was
to call her Molly even as she still called him Mr. Jackson until he
likewise insisted she call him Nathan. She wasn't the least bit
disrespectful and deferred to, in her words, his expertise. Lord how he
didn't want to prove her faith in him wrong. She seemed to have come by
nursing much like he'd come by healing, by watching and doing. Nathan
had heard her mention a foundling hospital.

Late the end of that first night, as they both tried getting some rest,
a voice came from the bed, just above a whisper. Where it had Nathan
thinking twice about what he was hearing, it had Molly bolting upright
out of the cot she'd been laying in. She turned up the lamp next to the
bed.

“Ian?” the hope in her voice nearly brought Nathan to tears.

“Kathleen?” Ian's voice was raspy but at it's sound Molly let out a
laugh. “Can that be you, love, or have I met the angels?”

“Ian Crowley, you are as ever a caution.” Nathan stood and saw as Molly
placed her head on her brother's chest. “I dared to hope, dared and near
bargained with the devil himself.”

“Aye, I'd heard you. Stories fit for a pint of Da's. And more I'm sure
where that came from besides.”

“So many more. But you, my scamp of a darling brother, must rest,
because I want to hear yours. I want to know how an Irishman and an
Indian became friends.”

“It might be enough that we both know what it is to fight for land taken
out from under our feet.”

“It might be, but I know there's more. So rest now my love.” Before
she'd even finished speaking, Ian was again asleep.

Molly fairly skipped down the main road toward the post office. She'd
written to her family in New York and to Mrs. Pressman that Ian had been
found. She knew her family especially would want the news right away but
the cost of a telegram was too dear so a letter would have to do. She
saw the now familiar figure of Vin Tanner ahead. He stood nursing a cup
of what Molly presumed to be coffee, one leg casually crossed over the
other as he watched the town slowly wake. He touched the brim of his hat
when he saw her and Molly made her way over.


“Good morning, Vin, she called out in greeting.


“How's Ian this morning?” Vin asked. In the days since Ian had woken,
Vin never failed to ask after him when he saw Molly.


“I haven't been to see him yet. He's slowly starting to get up and about
and Nathan said he should be able to leave the clinic by the end of the
飞别别办.”


“I heard he and Jonah plan to go into business together.”


“He's told me his plans. Jonah seems a good sort if not a bit of a
caution. As plans go it's not the worst he could come up with. Ian seems
to like it here...in the West I mean.”


“What about you? You plannin' on stayin' on then?” Molly wondered if she
imagined the sound of hope in his voice.


“I am. For the time being anyway,” she responded.


“I'm glad to hear it,” Vin said. Molly felt her face heat as she excused
herself to continue on her errand.


Molly emptied the pail of the dirty water and set it next to her. She
wiped her hands on her apron as she took a few steps out of the alley.
She didn't think she'd ever get used to so much open space. Normally her
view was clear for miles around. The last few days it had been broken up
by tents and wagons of all kinds that had set up camp just outside of
town. It was a theater troupe planning to stay for a couple of weeks to
perform various plays. Mr. Cole was expecting an increase in business as
people traveled to Four Corners to take in the shows.


“惭辞濒濒测?” a voice called from the alley. Molly turned and walked back to
see Shawna leaning out the side door to the hotel. “You got an early
start,” she commented, nodding to the pail Molly retrieved. “Breakfast
is nearly ready but coffee is on,” she said.


“Well if the two of you aren't the perfect sight to behold on this
glorious morning,” Ian's teasing brogue came from the opposite end of
the alley. Shawna ducked her head and blushed as Molly rolled her eyes.


“You, Ian Michael Crowley are a caution,” she scolded turning to her
brother. He used a cane but was getting stronger with each day. He made
his way to them.


“I overheard something about breakfast and coffee,” he said, directing
his attention to Shawna.


“Which you can get the same as everyone else in the dinning room,” Molly
said.


“Yes, but I don't get the pleasure of your company in the dinning room,”
Ian winked at Shawna. Molly remembered her brother as a harmless flirt
that could give Buck Willmington a run for his money and clearly that
much hadn't changed.


“Shawna and I have work to get on with,” Molly motioned for Shawna to go
back inside and followed shutting the door in her brother's laughing
face.


“Brothers,” Molly muttered turning her attention to Shawna.


“Please don't pay any attention to him. He fancies himself to be
charming. If he ever gets to be too much, let me know,” Molly assured
the other woman. “Now you said something about coffee.”



Later that afternoon after the lunch service, Molly was straightening
out dinning room in preparation for dinner when she heard the bells on
the front door of the hotel.


“Excuse me,” a man stood in the doorway of the restaurant. He was
dressed in a long-tailed dinner jacket and held a top-hat in his hands.
Not a sight Molly was used to seeing in the early afternoon of Four
Corners.


“Are you the proprietress?” he asked. “No one was at the front desk.”


“My uncle stepped away but perhaps I could be of assistance?” Eva's
voice came from just behind him.


“Madam,” he gave her a low bow. “I would beg the use of one of your
front windows to advertise our shows. Mrs. Travis is printing some signs
for us and I'm asking several businesses if they'd allow one to be hung
耻辫.”


“I would have to confer with my uncle but I don't see why not,” Eva told
the man. He bowed to her again and left.


“Are you planning to go see one of the shows, Eva?” Molly asked after
the door closed behind the man.


“I may. It's been a while since I've seen a play,” Eva responded. Vin
Tanner passed by the window, caught sight of Molly and touched the brim
of his hat to her as he passed by. As it always seemed to whenever he
paid her attention, Molly felt her face heat. She realized that Eva had
been speaking but Molly hadn't heard a word she'd said.


“I'll make sure my uncle can do without you if you'd like to go. Or if
you're asked to be escorted,” Eva said knowingly.

Vin saw Ezra come out of the alley holding a woman in his arms and saw
it was Cassie. He watched him head in the direction of Nathan's place
and hurried over.
"What happened?"

"She's fainted," Ezra responded, heading up the stairs. "Perhaps we need
to fetch her brother." At that, the nearly semi-conscious woman began
stirring. "Hush, now, you're fine," Ezra said just as Nathan opened the
door to his clinic.

"What happened?" Nathan echoed Vin's earlier question.

"I have no idea which is why we're at your doorstep."

"Someone needs to go fetch Chris," Nathan said as they entered his
clinic and Ezra brought Cassie over to the bed.

"Not...Chris...not...yet," Cassie seemed to use all her energy to get
the words out. The men exchanged a look.

"I'll go get Molly," Vin said and left the clinic.

Vin hurried toward the hotel. He saw Chris coming from the direction of
the boarding house.

“You seen Cassie?” Chris asked him as he approached. “She's normally at
the boarding house about this time of day but she's not 迟丑别谤别.”

"She's...at Nathan's,” Vin responded. “Ezra brought her.”

“Why did Ezra have to bring her? What happened, Vin?” Vin knew all too
well the warning tone that was in Chris's voice.

“Maybe you'd best just go see for yourself, but Chris she's fine.” Vin
watched Chris hurry off and take the stairs up to Nathan's clinic two at
a time.


Molly took the kettle off the stove and carefully poured the water into
two large pails. She'd already brought the tub into her room. Vin
appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Vin, is everything okay?” she asked.

“It's Cassie,” he said. “She fainted in the alley. Ezra saw her and
brought her to Nathan's.” Thoughts of her bath vanished as Molly moved
to take her apron off.

“I should go to her,” she said.

“I think she's bein' looked after. I ran into Chris on my way here. I
don't know there's anything you can do.” Molly nodded.

"You're probably right. I'll do what I can in the morning for breakfast
if she's still not well.”

“Need any help with 迟丑补迟?” Vin asked, nodding at the pails full of
water.

“That's kind of you but I couldn't possibly impose,” she responded
taking the handle of one of the pails at the same time he did. His hand
ended up over hers. It was warm, calloused and sent a shiver through her
body.

“It...it ain't imposin',” Vin responded. Molly stepped back and took the
handle of the other pail. She led him up the back stairs and down the
hallway to her room. She set her pail down and turned to reach for the
one Vin held. “This your room?” he asked.

“It is,” Molly responded. “So you'll understand this is where we have to
part company.” Vin looked like he wanted to say something but instead he
just set his pail down next to the one she carried. “Thank you,” Molly
said, opening the door to her room. Vin touched the brim of his hat to
her. Molly griped the door frame as she watched him walk away using it
as an anchor to keep from doing something foolish like stopping him,
calling him back. She'd been affected by a longing for a man before but
she knew better than anyone that a woman carried the burden – sometimes
literally – for the consequences of intimacy outside of marriage. Even
if they didn't lay together all it would take would be the wrong person
to see him leave her room and she'd be the one to face the result. He
stopped just at the top of the stairs and turned to her.

“Good night, Molly,” he said to her, hesitating the slightest before
descending the stairs. Molly carried the pails into her room and emptied
them into the tub before undressing and lowering herself into the water.



The mood in the town was festive as it got closer to the day the troupe
opened their shows. Ian sat with Jonah in the restaurant finishing up
breakfast. Ian sipped his coffee and watched his friend who’d been in a
perpetual state of pleased with himself since he’d gotten the preacher’s
permission sit near them at a performance.


“You might want to rein in your pleased as punch look when we go
outside. Someone might see and tell the girl’s guardian you might have
different intentions,” Ian said as they stood to walk out of the
restaurant.

“Maybe you should worry about your own house,” Jonah retorted as they
stepped out into the morning and walked toward the livery.


“You mean Molly?” Ian asked. “Molly’s sensible.”


“You’re sure?” Jonah asked as they walked past the alley, he nodded
toward it. Molly stood next to the side entrance to the hotel with Vin
Tanner. Close to him, enough that her skirts covered the toes of his
boots. He sipped from a steaming cup.


“What have you heard about him?” Ian asked. Jonah just chuckled.


“Thought she was sensible?” Ian choose to ignore the tone in Jonah’s
voice.


“Mornin’, Kathleen,” Ian called down to his younger sister. He didn’t
miss how quickly they stepped back from each other.


“Ian, Jonah,” she called in greeting. Vin touched the brim of his hat to
them as he handed the cup back to Molly and walked toward the back of
the alley and around the corner. Molly stepped back inside the hotel.


“I’ll meet you later,” Ian said distractedly.


“Where you off to?” Jonah asked.


“To learn more about Vin Tanner.” Ian ignored Jonah’s chuckle as he
walked toward the telegraph office.

Molly walked back down toward the Saloon where Vin along with Buck
Wilmington and JD Dunn were getting ready to ride out to search for Eva.
She’d spent a considerable amount of time convincing Eva’s uncle he
should stay at the hotel and let the town’s protectors search. She then
closed the kitchen for lunch with his blessing while she made packets of
food for the three men to take with them, nearly tripping over her
brother with every step. If she’d thought him protective before, he was
insufferable now.


Vin approached her as she made her way down the boardwalk.


“Did you get any rest?” Vin asked. Molly shook her head.


“I’ve got food for you and the others,” she nodded toward where Buck and
JD were and handed Vin the sack of food. He took it, his hand tightening
over hers.


“Please find her,” Molly implored.


“We will, they couldn’t have gone far,” Vin responded.


“Please be safe,” Molly said, her focus on his hand over hers.


“We’ll bring her back,” Vin said. “While we’re gone, stick close to
Ian,” he nodded behind her and Molly knew her brother had followed her.
Molly nodded and stepped back, letting go of his hand. Vin touched the
brim of his hat to her and walked back toward his horse.


“Molly,” Ian’s voice came from behind her.


“Not now,” Molly said. “Ms. Weather's will be expecting the hotel to be
spit-spot when she returns.” She walked back toward the hotel.

Jonah walked back inside the livery and began pacing, doing his best to
ignore Cheyenne’s horse whose own behavior was getting the other horses
riled up. He knew those men meant every word they’d said. If he was even
30 seconds late bringing Molly to them, Cheyenne would pay.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what’s gotten into them?” Ian’s brogue came
from the doorway.

“Storm might be comin’” Ian replied. He watched Ian go to Wind’s stall
and begin talking to him. Normally the only person who could approach
the horse was Cheyenne but he seemed to still a bit for Ian. Jonah
wondered if Ian had learned more about Vin. He’d seemed on a tear about
it when Vin had escorted Molly to the theater troupe’s performance.

“You learn anymore about Tanner?” Jonah asked.

“Nothing more than we already knew. Besides, Molly’d have my hide if she
knew I was going behind her back. So far he’s been the gentleman she’s
claimed him to be and I suspect he knows I’d call him out if he
weren’t,” Ian responded. Jonah had resumed his pacing. “What’s eatin’ at
测辞耻?”

Jonah didn’t respond except to walk out of the livery afraid if he
didn’t, he’d reveal to his friend exactly what happened which would only
serve to get Cheyenne killed.



As plans went, it wasn’t a very good one. But he was running out of
time. It was early in the morning, sun just starting to rise but he knew
Molly would be awake. Vin’s wagon was in the same alley the door to the
restaurant’s kitchen was. Jonah couldn’t risk knocking and waking him.
Slowly he twisted the doorknob and quietly pushed the door open. The
smell of brewing coffee filled the air and he quickly closed the door
lest that also stir the tracker.

Molly stepped through the swinging door between the dining room and
kitchen. She gave a start when she saw Jonah.

“Mother of Christ, Jonah! You scared the life out of me! What are you
doing here?”

“I need your help,” Jonah said. “I know you’ve got experience nursin’
and as a midwife. Couple just outside town, seems it’s her time and her
sister ain’t here to help her yet.”

“I’ll help of course but we should also get Mr. Jackson,” Molly turned
for the door and Jonah reached out to grab her arm.

“We can’t…”

“We have to. Strictly speaking I’m not a midwife, I’ve only assisted at
a birth a few times.”

“Strictly speaking she won’t want Nathan,” Jonah hoped that the
implication of prejudice wouldn’t be enough for Molly to refuse to go.


Jonah had once heard Ian say that God looked after fools and children.
He assumed that was the case now as he made his way outside with Molly
and helped her up on a horse behind him. She’d wanted to leave a note
but Jonah assured her he had no intention of sticking around a birth and
he’d come back to town to tell the others where she was. He rode east,
toward the ravine and cave he was certain Abe and the others would be.

The ride was short and as he approached the location, he turned slightly
south to a stand of trees and stopped. He had to be sure Cheyenne was
still...that she wasn’t…

“Jonah?” His name from Molly’s lips held about a thousand questions.
Jonah dismounted and reached up to help Molly do the same. He found his
hands drifted down from her arms to her hands and he squeezed them in
his own as much to reassure himself as her. There was good in this
woman. He could see where Tanner would be so taken with her, why Ian
wanted to move heaven and earth to be reunited with her.

“Cheyenne was taken,” he said. Confusion passed Molly’s face.

“Taken? To the woman in labor?” Jonah shook his head.

“There is no woman in labor. She was taken, and the men who took
her...the men who took her are...they’re a bad sort, Molly.” Jonah felt
the tension in Molly’s hands even as her expression changed as an
understanding something was wrong took hold. Still, her goodness showed
itself again when she asked,

“Why didn’t you tell Mr. Larabee and the others? We could have gotten
Vin…” she was pulling from his grasp.

“Because, Molly, they warned me not to.”

“Well what on earth did you bring me here for?”

“A trade.”

“A trade?” she echoed back.

“You for her because they want Vin Tanner. They know Vin will come for
you.” If the situation weren’t so desperate he’d have been impressed at
how fast Molly’s demeanor turned. She twisted from his grasp and hauled
off with a right hook that’d have done her brother proud. Jonah dodged
it and grabbed her around the waist knocking her to the ground harder
than he meant to. He took advantage of the wind being knocked out of her
to grab her wrists with one hand above her head and cover her mouth with
the other. She kicked, her skirts preventing any real damage but he
still pressed his body into hers in an effort to stop her fight.

“Molly, stop,” he hissed in her ear. “You keep fighting me you’re gonna
get hurt and I don’t want that.” She stilled but her entire body
vibrated underneath his. He’d have taken it for fear if he didn’t see
blue murder in her eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.
But I had to do what they said. I won’t let anything happen to Cheyenne,
you hear me? Molly?” She nodded her head and slowly Jonah relaxed his
grip and got off of her. He walked back over to the horse and took a
length of rope out of the saddle bag feeling her eyes on his the entire
time. He came back and crouched down. She was sitting up, propped
against the tree. Her hair had started to come out of the combs she’d
always pulled it back in and he noticed a small bruise forming on her
face.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

“Would it make a difference if I was?” she retorted.

“Listen to me,” Jonah said, grabbing a hold of her hands and tying the
rope around them. “These men, these men like fight, they like spirit and
spunk if only so that they can break it. When I bring you to them, you
can not fight them. You stay quiet, you stay meek and they’ll talk a
good game but they’ll leave you be. Do you understand me?” Jonah helped
her stand.

“I am certain I’ve faced worse than them and survived,” Molly said.

“That’s the thing, Molly. You haven’t. Let’s go.”


Molly continued to look out at the men who were gathered around the
fire. Most of the horses were gathered close to the small patch of
grassland nearby and all were still saddled. Molly didn’t know how to
ride but she knew Cheyenne did. They just had to do something about
getting out of the wagon they were in. Somehow she had to get to Vin.
She didn’t understand what these men, specifically the one called
Wheeler wanted with him but it hardly mattered. As if she’d spoken his
name out loud, he turned his attention toward her. Jonah’s words of
warning about being meek and submissive echoed in her mind. Meek and
submissive wouldn’t have survived the hunger in Ireland and meek and
submissive would have made it impossible to live in Five Points never
mind what she’d done for Brighty…


She turned behind her to see Cheyenne still seated on the floor. Molly
had only spoken to the girl a handful of times and got the sense she
didn’t know much English and the few French words Molly had picked up in
her time as a maid weren’t going to be enough for this situation.


“Do you know where we are? If we could get to a horse, could you get us
back to town?”


Cheyenne shook her head.


“No, you don’t know where we are or you don’t understand me?”


“Jonah will come,” she replied softly. Clearly she’d seemed to take what
Jonah – or Abraham as Wheeler had called him – had said about coming
back at face value. “Bring Josiah and Vin.”


“Vin can’t come here,” Molly responded her tone harsher than she’d
intended. “That man, Wheeler, wants him. Do you know why?” Again
Cheyenne shook her head. Either she didn’t know or didn’t understand
Molly’s question. Either way, the situation they were in hadn’t changed
and never mind that Molly didn’t know how to ride, she wasn’t going to
leave Cheyenne behind.


“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Molly muttered not wanting her frustration to
give way to fear neither wanting to take either out on Cheyenne. Somehow
they had to get away and keep Vin from Wheeler.


The horse moved at a dead run but to Molly the world moved in slow
motion. Everything at the camp happened so fast – the men from town, her
brother, Jonah all fighting Wheeler and his men. Having never mounted a
horse on her own in her life, Molly found herself in the saddle of one
and before she could wonder at how to proceed, Ian mounted behind her.
“Ian, stop,” she shouted. He either didn’t hear her or was choosing to
ignore her. “Ian,” she grabbed a hold of the reins knowing enough that
pulling back on them would cause the horse to stop. The horse slowed and
then stopped.

“Are you daft?” Ian shouted at her. Molly struggled to get purchase
enough to dismount off the horse.

“Get me down,” she demanded. She felt Ian shift behind her and then he
was helping her off the horse. As soon as her feet touched solid earth,
her knees buckled.

“Jesus Christ, Kathleen, we need to get to town,” Ian said, moving her
back toward the horse. Molly found strength enough to shake him off and
took several steps toward the direction they’d come from.

“Where are they?” The faintest thrumming of hooves against the earth
filled the air. It could be the others from town. It could also be
Wheeler. A man like that denied what he felt owed wouldn’t hesitate to
take it back and rain hell down upon anyone in his way.

“We have to go. Now.” Ian’s voice held panic and Molly turned toward
him.

“We can’t leave. Not until we know.” Molly turned back toward the rise.
She’d marveled in her weeks at Four Corners the openness of this place.
Not since she’d been crossing the ocean had she seen anything like it. A
breeze kicked up carrying the sharp, clean smell of the grass and sage –
a scent she’d come to associate with Vin. The sky was starting to turn
golden as afternoon was turning to early evening and caused the
approaching figures to appear in shadow. The thrumming was getting
louder the closer they came.

“Mother of Christ,” Ian muttered behind her. One rider broke off and
moved ahead of the others and Molly knew it was Vin. Questions had
filled her mind starting with the instant that Jonah told her Wheeler
wanted him but doubt that he’d come for her never had. She watched him
dismount a few feet from her and fought down the urge to run into his
arms.

“You should be in town,” Vin said. “We don’t know it’s safe yet.” The
others came up just then.

“Wheeler?” Ian’s voice asked.

“Alive when we left,” Mr. Sanchez responded. “Vin’s right, we best be
gettin’ to town.”


When he should have moved to do what Josiah said, Vin found himself
unable to move. At a distance, Molly and Cheyenne had looked none the
worse for wear – disheveled and dirty but unharmed...and alive. Vin
didn’t blame Ian for wanting a pound of flesh from either him or Jonah
or Abe or whatever his name was. He’d have lost all respect for the man
if he hadn’t. All Vin had cared about was getting to Molly. She stood
before him now, her long red hair half in and half out of the combs she
used to pull it into a roll on her head – a chignon he’d heard ladies
call it. The fanciful sound of the word belying how common the style
was. Common on all but her. They’d taken to walking in the evening after
her work was done back behind the buildings where they could be alone.
They’d shared a lot about each other and he’d told her things he’d never
spoken aloud to another soul. Except for the one thing that really
mattered – the one thing that he knew could put her in danger.

“Molly…” he heard the raw sound of his voice that usually meant he'd had
a long ride on a dusty, hot trail. He had a thousand questions but only
one that mattered and before he could ask it, Ian put himself between
them.

“Kathleen, now,” Ian's words were for Molly but the look he was leveling
was for Vin. They were far from done and didn’t Vin know it.

Margaret “Molly” Kathleen Crowley grew up in County Cork, Ireland and
left for America with her cousin and aunt after the death of her parents
and uncle five years before at the end of the great famine. The trio
ended up in New York, in the Five Points tenement living with extended
family. Molly has worked as a seamstress's assistant and
maid-of-all-work and currently serves in the household of Michael and
Caroline Pressman, an upper class couple. Caroline sits on the board and
is a sponsor of several charitable causes including the New York
Foundling Hospital and their so-called “Mercy Trains” (often called
“Orphan Trains” though not at time). She's convinced Molly to accompany
her as an aid on a trip, helping to supervise and care of a group of
children being placed into homes out west in a town called Four Corners.
Caroline's been exchanging letters with Mary Travis, a newspaper editor
who is assisting in locating homes for the children. Wanting to see more
of America and rapidly losing patience with her current crowded living
arrangements, Molly readily agrees, though not all of her family is keen
on her making the trip. Molly is hoping to get information on the
whereabouts of her oldest brother, Ian, who she hasn't seen in nearly
seven years but had last heard was living out west.


Molly is 22, 5'5” with long, wavy red hair and green eyes. Molly is a
survivor, not afraid of hard work, kind and soft spoken.


My inspiration for Molly is actress Rachel Hurd-Wood in her portrayal of
Laura in the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murder:

The sound of horses galloping caught Molly's attention as she kept
Hannah and Matthew within arm's reach while trying not to jostle the
baby too much and keep them all from Mrs. Pressman and the other
passenger. The drive had already been cramped with them all inside the
coach and then the axle broke, stranding them until the other coachman
could bring help. Molly shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked
toward the noise. Two men, too far away to make out any features but the
closer they came the harder Molly's heart beat. The hat on the one was
similar to what most men seemed to favor wearing this far out west. But
the other's...every other young man in New York had that hat with the
rounded top and rounded brim. Ian had one. She could remember him
walking down the road toward the harbor after kissing her forehead and
promising his “fair Kathleen” he'd see her soon. That had been seven
years before. She'd lived a lifetime since then.
The closer the riders came, the more she could make out their features
and see that rider wasn't her darling older brother. The baby let out a
cry and Molly re-directed her disappointment to the here and now. The
two men passed her and both touched the brim of their hats as they did
so. The one with the western hat was older, had a mustache and a ready
smile that was full of what her mother would have called “malarkey”. The
other in Ian's hat was younger, her age, clean shaven and wore clothes
that could have been found on the streets of New York. Molly dipped her
head in response and returned her attention to the children now that
help had arrived.

The younger man had been sent to fetch a wagon from a near-by farm. Soon
they were on their way to Four Corners. The entire town could have fit
within four square blocks of New York.

“Is this where we're living now?” Matthew asked.

“Yes,” Molly responded. “I believe the Erickson's live just outside of
town but you'll come here to go to school.”

“It's small,” Hannah remarked in a tone that Molly couldn't quite tell
meant if she liked it or didn't. “You're staying, right?”

“You'll be so busy meeting your new family and getting settled, you'll
hardly notice if I'm here or not,” Molly assured her.

The wagon pulled up outside of a Livery and there was a scurry of
activity as several people came to great them and help with trunks and
luggage. One, a blond haired woman, greeted Mrs. Pressman warmly and
Molly surmised she must be the Mrs. Travis that had helped to place the
three children. Molly was the last to remain in the wagon. She had
managed to climb into the wagon with help from Hannah and Matthew but
now was faced with a long drop down to the ground juggling skirts and an
infant.

“You look like you could use some help,” a man's voice came from behind
her. Molly turned to face a man who had his hand out. He was tall, blond
haired under a wide-brimmed hat. He wore a dear-skinned jacket and light
colored shirt with a bandanna tied around his neck. His eyes were a
bright blue. Baby Bridget decided to voice her displeasure and Molly
realized they were well past her next meal time.

“Seems like she's not interested in waiting for you to make up your
mind,” his voice teased. Molly felt her face heat as she approached the
side of the wagon. He reached his arms in. “Just let me,” he instructed.
Before Molly could think to ask what he meant, his hands went around her
waist and she was lifted as though she weighed nothing and set her
lightly on the ground.

“Thank you, Mr...” Molly prompted, raising her voice over the baby.

“Vin Tanner, Ma'am,” he said, touching the brim of his hat to her.

“Molly,” Mrs. Pressman called to her from where everyone had gathered on
the sidewalk.

“Right away, Mrs. Pressman,” Molly called back. “Again, Mr. Tanner, my
thanks,” Molly said to him. He touched the brim of his hat to her again
and stepped back to allow her to be on her way. Molly felt the heat rise
again in her face as she walked toward the others. The men in New York
would hardly look the same after this trip, she thought.

Molly kept a firm grasp on Matthew's hand as they made their way over to
the hotel. Mrs. Pressman was waiting in the lobby with Mrs. Tanner and
Hannah.
“I apologize ma'am,” Molly said in greeting. “Matthew got...distracted.”

“By a real live Indian!” the little boy exclaimed.

“Matthew,” Molly let a warning tone in her voice. Her patience with him
and this day and this trip was nearing a breaking point.

“The Ericksons will be here tomorrow,” Mrs. Travis said. “Let's get you
all settled.” Molly watched her and Mrs. Pressman approach the desk and
get keys to two rooms and soon they were upstairs, their bags and the
children's trunk not far behind. Mrs. Travis even arranged for a meal,
complete with milk and mashed potatoes for Brighty to be sent up. Molly
got the children fed and into their nightclothes and into the second bed
in the room.

Morning came quickly. Molly washed and dressed quickly and quietly and
had just placed the last pin in her hair when Brighty made it known she
was up and her needs must be tended to immediately. The older two began
to stir as Molly tended to the baby. Molly got everyone dressed in their
best and checked that everything was in their trunk just as a soft knock
came on the door. Molly opened it to Mrs. Pressman.

“A quick breakfast in the restaurant downstairs, the Ericksons should be
here shortly,” she said.

“Yes, ma'am,” Molly replied. A look Molly couldn't quite comprehend
crossed Mrs. Pressman's face. “Is something wrong?”

“I'm afraid there's been a mix up concerning Bridget,” Mrs. Pressman
responded. “I take fully responsibility for it as I'm the one who
尘颈蝉耻苍诲别谤蝉迟辞辞诲.”

“What sort of mix up?” Molly asked.

“I'm afraid there's no family here for her. We'll have to take her back
with us.”

“But...we can't,” Molly said. “You know what will happen to her if we
do.” A door opening at the end of the hall distracted Molly from what
she was about to say. The woman they'd ridden with was exiting her room.
They all gave polite nods and greetings of good mornings and Mrs.
Pressman waited until she'd gone down the stairs to respond to Molly.

“We have no choice. There's no one here for her.”

“叠耻迟...”

“That will be all. Have the children downstairs in five minutes please,”
Mrs. Pressman's face and voice held little room for argument.

“Yes, Mrs. Pressman,” Molly responded.

In exactly five minutes, Molly had the children at a table in the
dinning room. As if sensing her fortunes had turned, Brighty, normally
good natured in the morning, was being especially fussy. They only other
person in the dinning room was the woman from the day before. Still,
Molly didn't want the baby to disturb.

“Can I trust you to be on your very best behavior while I take Brighty
out?” Molly asked. Both Matthew and Hannah looked up from their food and
gave nods. Molly allowed herself a quick sip of coffee before standing
from her seat.

“Excuse me, Molly isn't it?” a voice came from behind her. It was the
woman.

“I'm so very sorry the baby's disturbing, Miss. I'm just taking her
out,” Molly offered by way of apology.

“Actually, I was hoping I could hold her? Give you a chance to try and
eat your breakfast. I understand it's a big day today.” Molly wanted
nothing more than to take the lady up on her offer. But if Mrs. Pressman
saw, it could be her head.

“I couldn't impose, Miss, but thank you kindly for the offer.”

“It's Eva, Eva Weathers. And it's not imposing. I truly want to,” she
reached out and Molly found herself placing the baby in her arms.
Brighty stopped fussing just a bit wondering at the new set of arms she
found herself in. Eva held her to her shoulder and breathed in the top
of her head.

“What's her name?”

“Bridget. I call her Brighty,” Molly replied, resuming her seat. With
any luck she could finish her breakfast and have Brighty back in her
arms before Mrs. Pressman was the wiser.

“Don't fret about Caroline,” Eva said. “I'll make sure she understands I
hardly gave you a choice.” Eva walked back toward her table, stopping at
the window to distract the baby with something outside.

“Are Brighty's new parents coming today too?” Hannah asked. At Hannah's
question, a sense of panic filled Molly so completely she dropped her
fork with a clang against the plate and the little she'd managed to eat
threatened to come back up. She could not, absolutely could not, take
that child back to New York.

“Molly? Are you alright?” Eva's voice sounded distant. Molly scrambled
to stand.

“惭辞濒濒测?” Matthew looked up with concern.

“As if Sister Mary Francis were in this room,” she managed to get out
before rushing out of the dinning room and out the front door of the
hotel. The smell of horses and dirt caused her stomach to lurch even
more. She placed the back of her hand against her mouth as she hurried
down the board walk to the alley. Molly braced a hand against the
building taking in several deep breaths. She would figure out a way to
get a family for that baby. She had to.

“Miss? Molly?” a deep voice came from behind Molly and for several
horrible seconds she thought it was Mr. Markham come to threaten again
how the baby girl would never been seen in New York again or he'd take
care of her existence himself. But when she turned it was to find Vin
Tanner, concern in his blue eyes. “Everything alright?”

“Fine, thank you,” Molly said.

“Beg your pardon, Miss, but you don't seem fine. Can I help?” Molly felt
her knees go weak and was grateful to see a packing crate against the
building. She sat down heavily as the last few weeks caught up with her.

“There's been some sort of mistake with Brighty. The baby,” she
clarified at his confused look. “We, that is Mrs. Pressman and I,
understood there to be a family waiting for her. There isn't one. And I
can not, no I will not, take that child back to New York.”

“Because she'll be put in an orphanage?” he'd walked up to where she sat
and crouched down. Molly took in his features much like she had the day
before. He was strong and solid, this man. Had probably lived off the
land and knew what it took to protect himself and his family. She
imagined confronting Mr. Markham with him at her side.

“No, Mr. Tanner. Because she'll be killed.”
Who would want to kill a baby?” his question was a fair one. That he
asked it without a hit of disbelieve meant more than Molly could convey.

“Margaret,” Mrs. Pressman's voice called from the end of the alley. The
use of her given name along with a hint of impatience in her tone
suggested a dressing down later. Whether it would be because she'd
neglected her duties or was currently speaking with a man unchaperoned
remained to be seen. Molly stood.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Tanner. I must get back.” Molly hurried back to the end
of the alley feeling Vin Tanner's eyes on her the whole time.

“The Ericksons are here,” Mrs. Pressman said.

“Yes, ma'am,” Molly replied. She watched as Mrs. Pressman's eyes glanced
over her shoulder to where she knew Vin Tanner still stood.

“The return stage has been delayed so we won't be leaving for a couple
of days,” she said turning to walk back inside the hotel. Molly
followed.


The Ericksons were a nice couple with a small farm and ranch just a few
miles outside of town. Mrs. Erickson was clearly overjoyed and Molly
wished for a private moment with her to ask if they'd be willing to take
Brighty. It wasn't to be and soon after hugs and promises to write and
behave as if Sister Mary Francis was watching, Molly only had one orphan
charge remaining in her care.

The hotel owner, who was also Eva Weather's uncle, gave her the name of
an older girl who would be willing to sit with the baby while Molly made
inquiries about any families who may want to take in the baby girl. She
was the oldest daughter of the general store owner. Molly bundled
Brighty up and under the guise of taking a walk, left toward the general
store.

Vin watched Molly walk across the street from the hotel in the direction
of the general store. He was standing outside the saloon with JD and
Buck. Nathan and Josiah were at the church tending to Cheyenne who'd
gotten hurt while out on a ride. Chris was headed out to follow a lead
on a new cook. Molly's words from earlier echoed in his head as he
watched her. He'd wondered if the baby was hers, if the person who was
really in danger was her.

“Be right back,” Vin said absently to JD as he walked across the street.

“Molly,” he caught up with her just outside the Potter's store.

“Mr. Tanner,” she said to him, shifting the baby from one shoulder to
the other.

“What you said before, about Brighty,” he nodded toward the baby and
watched her place a protective hand on her head. “Who would want...”

“Her father,” Molly answered, anticipating his question. “She was...an
颈苍诲颈蝉肠谤别迟颈辞苍.”

“And he's?”

“A powerful man. One of the 500.”

“The 500?” Vin asked.

“New York elite. Power and money and all that can buy 丑颈尘.”

“He know you're here? That you have 丑别谤?”

“I don't know. He shouldn't. But it would take very little for a man of
his means to find out. Mrs. Pressman told me that the stage is delayed
back to Eagle Bend and the train. I have two days to find this baby a
home, to get her as far from him as I can. If you can't help me than I'm
afraid you're in my way.”


Mary Travis was apologetic about the mix up regarding Brighty. She
offered to do what she could to help find a home. Molly wasn't as
forthcoming about Brighty's past with the newspaper owner as she'd been
with Vin Tanner and decided looking too closely at why was fraught with
disaster. As helpful as Mrs. Travis was, two days came and went rather
quickly. There was nothing for it, Molly couldn't go back, not until the
baby found a home here. Mrs. Pressman was less than pleased by Molly's
request to stay behind.
“I'll not hold your position,” she stated as they sat in the hotel
restaurant.

“I wouldn't expect you to. But I am owed wages,” Molly stated, twisting
her fingers in the napkin at her lap.

“And you expect those wages to tide you over here?”

“They'll have to and if not, I'll find something.” Mrs. Pressman took a
sip of her tea and carefully set the cup back into the saucer.

“You are far from naive, Margaret. You know Brighty's situation happens
every day. Yet you are willing to risk a comfortable situation...”

“I also want to try and find my brother.” Molly explained about Ian, how
she felt certain he was here in the West.

“Very well,” Mrs. Pressman said, standing from the table and leading
them up to her room. She pulled out her purse and counted out Molly's
owed wages. “There will also be a train ticket for you to return to New
York. But I meant what I said. I'll provide a reference but your
position in my household is terminated.”


Molly stood and watched the stage containing Mrs. Pressman drive out of
town. Brighty was with Violet Potter who had proven to be an efficient
care taker of the baby. Molly realized she hadn't seen Eva Weathers in
the last couple of days. She knew her uncle owned the hotel and Molly
hoped she could obtain some sort of employment. Four Corners was
significantly less expensive than New York, still, her wages from Mrs.
Pressman would only go so far.

Molly turned and made her way down the boardwalk. Vin Tanner sat just
outside the door of the Saloon, a well dressed man leaning against the
door shuffling a deck of cards in one hand. He reminded her of Brighty's
father, monied, entitled. Molly gave a slight nod of her head as he
touched the brim of his hat toward her.

“Ezra Standish at your service...Miss...”

“Crowley,” Molly replied.

“You were escorting those orphans but I see you're choosing to stay here
rather than return to that grand city.”

“Grand for some, Mr. Standish, not all,” Molly replied. “Do either of
you know Mrs. Weathers? I'm hoping to speak with her.”

“She's at the church helpin' Josiah with Cheyanne,” Vin spoke up. “I can
walk you 迟丑别谤别.”

Molly and Vin walked toward the church at the end of town.

“Did something happen to Cheyanne?” Molly asked. Vin told her about the
accident and how Mr. Sanchez had asked Mrs. Weathers to help out until
she was able to move around again. She was just exiting the side of the
church when Vin and Molly approached.

“Thank you, Mr. Tanner...Vin,” Molly said. He touched the brim of his
hat to her and she could feel his eyes on her as she made her way to Ms.
Weathers.

“That's not the first time I've seen him being your escort,” Eva
observed. Mrs. Pressman's warning tone was absent from Eva's. She choose
to ignore the comment and get right to her point. “I' m sure my uncle
could find something for you to do. I'll speak with him about it
tonight,” Eva replied after Molly mentioned her reason for wanting to
speak with her. Molly was going to see if she could look in on Cheyanne
but Eva mentioned having left her resting. Together they walked back to
the hotel to see Mrs. Travis waiting, a piece of paper in her hand.

“A couple responded about Brighy,” she said as they approached. “They
are passing through on their way to California and should be here in the
next day or so.” Molly forgot herself long enough to put her arms around
Mrs. Travis in stark relief. California was the other end of the
country. She'd be safe, Brighty would be safe.

Molly had moved into the small maid's quarters at the hotel. Eva's uncle
had assured her she could move in later that day but Molly insisted. She
was due to say goodbye to Brighy that morning and wanted to start work
right away, as a distraction. Mr. Cole chuckled when Molly asked about a
uniform. He told her there wasn't any – just that he expected her to
dress respectful. Molly decided to set some of her wages from Mrs.
Pressman aside to have a couple of serviceable dresses made. In the mean
time she'd wear her uniform from Mrs. Pressman.
She shifted Brighty from one arm to the other as she paced the side walk
at the front of the hotel.

“The Bridgerton's are a wonderful couple, according to Mrs. Travis,”
Molly chattered to the baby. “They'll be good parents. I'd imagine
you'll have Mr. Bridgerton wrapped around your little finger in no time.
They're good people...”

“You trying to convince her or you of 迟丑补迟?” Vin Tanner's voice came
from behind her. Molly turned and forced a smile. As usual, he had a way
of reading what she was really thinking.

“Both I suppose. She hasn't been out of my care since she was born. I've
always known I'd have to give her up, just like I've done with dozens of
others. None of them have been easy but...”

“Brighty's different,” he replied, walking up to her. He reached a hand
down to brush the blanket away from Brighty's face. She grabbed at his
finger, a new game of hers. The smile he gave came so easy Molly let
herself have the fanciful thought of what he would be like with his own
children – and what it would be like to be the woman to give those
children to him. Heat filled her face and traveled down her body.

“Yes, she 颈蝉.”

The sight of a wagon pulling closer to the hotel with a man and a woman
on it had Molly's heart race. This was it.

“They're here,” she said simply. Vin touched the brim of his hat to her
in preparation for walking away. “Wait,” Molly said, putting a hand on
his arm. “Would you mind just staying here...with me until this is
done?” Vin nodded and took a step back as the couple came down off the
wagon and approached. They both smiled upon seeing Molly and the baby.

“Are you Molly?” the woman asked approaching.

“Yes,” Molly forced a smile. “And this is Brighty...Bridget.” Tears
shown in Mrs. Bridgerton's eyes as she looked down on her.

“May I?” she asked. Molly took a breath, nodded and passed Brighty over.
Mary Travis appeared just then and led everyone inside the hotel
restaurant. Documents were signed and Molly handed Brighty's small bag
over to Mr. Bridgerton. Everyone filed back outside and they walked
toward their wagon.

“We'd nearly given up when we heard from Mrs. Travis about Brighty.
We're so thankful to you,” Mrs. Bridgerton said as her husband helped
her and the baby into the wagon. Molly stood and watched as the wagon
left town feeling Vin Tanner stand just behind her the whole time. The
further away the wagon went, the closer he seemed to get to her. At once
she wished for his hands on her shoulders, for an embrace at the same
time she hoped he had enough sense not to cause such a display where her
employer of only 18 hours could see.

“There's that then,” she said, as the wagon went out of sight. It was
time to start her new life. And for Brighty to start hers.

Molly used work to distract herself from the sudden shift in her life.
It wasn't the first time things had changed in a radical way in her life
but it was the first time she felt a bit more control of the
circumstances. She had decided to remain in Four Corners, a situation
she had no control over hadn't made the decision for her. Now that she'd
made the decision she had no earthly idea what to do next. How did she
begin to search for a brother she hadn't laid eyes on in years? Vin
Tanner came to mind just then as she went to dump out the water from the
mop bucket into the alley. She caught sight of his wagon sitting as
usual at the end of the alley. Molly had learned that while JD Dunn was
the Sheriff of the town, six other men also protected it, paid by a
circuit court Judge who was also Mary Travis's father in law. Mr. Tanner
was one of those six. Setting the bucket down and wiping her hands on
her apron, she approached the wagon. The canvas cover was drawn tight
and it was difficult to tell if anyone was inside.

“Mr. Tanner, hello?” she called out reaching the back. There was no
answer. She returned to her work.

A couple of hours later, her day's work finished ended, Molly decided to
go to the general store to purchase some stationary. As she walked
across the street, she noticed several riders coming into town. The
closer they came she saw it was the seven protectors but her attention
was only for Mr. Tanner. She watched as he dismounted his horse and
whether by instinct or something else, his attention found her. Molly
watched as he secured his horse, and said something to Mr. Willmington
before crossing the street toward her.

“Molly, I'd meant to look in on you earlier,” Mr. Tanner said as he
approached her. “We got called away.”

“Is everything alright?” Molly asked, choosing to ignore, for the time
being, the slight thrill that this man had been thinking about her.

“Might be a bear or a mountain cat in the area,” he responded. “We're
still on the hunt, just came back to get some more men and supplies.”

Molly opened the door to the Clarion's office, the cheerful sound of
bells announcing her arrival. Mary Travis was working with the printing
press and stopped what she was doing to great her visitor.

“Molly, what a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?” she wiped her
hands on an ink stained apron walking toward the counter.

“I'm here on an errand for Mr. Cole,” Molly said, placing a sheet of
paper on the counter. Mary picked it up.

“I was worried he'd hired someone too...ambitious for the hotel's
kitchen when that cook arrived. I'll get this placed right away. He may
also want to consider the paper in Eagle Bend.”

“I've already sent the telegram,” Molly responded. The bells rang out
again.

“Morning, Mrs. Travis, Ms. Crowley,” JD Dunn approached the counter, his
hat in hand. Molly resisted the urge to brush his hair back off his
forehead like she used to with Ian. The last couple of days Molly had
not only being doing the work of the hotel's maid but also helping Mr.
Cole try to have some sort of meals coming out of the hotel kitchen.
She'd fallen into bed each night exhausted but her dreams were filled
with Ian. The part of her who grew up with Irish superstition wanted to
believe it was because she was close to finding him.

“Nathan sent me over with a favor, Mrs. Travis,” he continued. “With the
hotel restaurant closed he was hoping you could spare an evening meal
for him and that man he's tending. Mrs. Potter's already sending
breakfast and lunch over.”

“I can do it,” Molly offered. “I've got a stew just started to simmer.”


Later that afternoon, Molly packed a large basket with two crocks of
stew, half a loaf of soda bread and a few cookies she'd baked.
Shortbread, Ian's favorite. She'd only seen Nathan Jackson in passing,
knew he passed for a doctor in the town. Vin had mentioned the man who
had been attacked by the large animal they were still taking turns going
out hunting for.

Molly made her way up the stairs to Mr. Jackson's clinic. A young man
was opening the door as Molly reached the top of the stairs. He tipped
his hat to her.

“Afternoon,” he said with a smile. Molly nodded in return.

“You must be Molly, from the hotel,” he said, nodding toward the basket
she was carrying. She was just about to scold him about his familiarity
when he reached over to take the basket. “Let me help.”

“Help would have been meeting me at the bottom of the stairs,” Molly
said, handing it over. “Mr.?”

“I'm Jonah,” he offered. “You're Irish,” he stated.

“You're not,” Molly retorted. Jonah laughed.

“You'll be good for him. And by the smell of it so will this food.”

“Good for who?” Molly asked.

“My friend, Ian, he's the one whose hurt. Been talking about his mom and
sister, missing the sound of “sweet Irish voices” he's said...”

Molly stopped listening as she turned to face the door. It opened and
Mr. Jackson appeared. Molly watched his mouth move, knew he was speaking
to her but she heard nothing. Just beyond him in a bed lay Ian, her
brother. Molly had helped to bathe those who had passed. She knew what
that looked like. The stillness, the pale sheen to the skin. From
Ireland to New York to Five Points to Four Corners. From losing her
mother, her uncle and cousins, facing down hunger she thought would kill
her, working her hands raw, tending woman during birth, taking orphans
to new lives. This journey west, giving up Brighty. All of it so she
could find Ian. If she found him only to have lost him...Molly opened up
her mouth and screamed. She screamed until she couldn't hold breath in
her body. Until the world around her turned black.

Jonah stood outside the blacksmiths shop, cup of coffee in hand. He
leaned back against the wall as he sipped at the hot brew and watched as
Buck, and the other men who kept the law in town, rode in, heading
toward the hotel. The would-be actor in tow, and the woman he’d stolen
nestled in the arms of the self-proclaimed ladies’ man Buck Wilmington.
The girl looked distraught, other than that she seemed no worse for the
ware, at least from where he stood anyway. He was glad she was alright.
“Looks like they found her” came a snide voice from around the corner.
Jonah quickly turned, immediately on his guard hearing the familiar low
gravely tone. “You!” he hissed “What are you doing here?”
The man dressed in ragged rebel soldier attire and sporting a scraggly
beard smiled. “Could ask you the same question.”
“I work here. Now what do you want?”
“All in good time.” The man leered looking over and noting Vin heading
for the livery with the horses.
“You know him?” he asked nodding toward Vin.
Jonah turned in the direction the man was looking. “The tracker? Not
诲颈谤别肠迟濒测”
The man nodded “Maybe you should get to know him a little better” a
devious grin forming. “Might need your help with something.”
Jonah spun around facing the ex-soldier. “Look, whatever you and Ames
have planned I don’t want no part of it ya here Benson, none of it” he
growled.
The man smiled wickedly and spat out a chaw of tobacco, “You will Abe.”
He said evenly “you will.” With that he turned and disappeared behind
the blacksmith shop before Jonah could say anything more.

Later that afternoon
Cheyenne made her way from the hotel, having just come from visiting Eva
and bringing her something to eat. The girl still seemed distant. She
preferred not to talk about her ordeal and Cheyenne did not press her,
instead she left her to rest with her uncle at her side. And Buck
Wilmington awaiting his own turn to visit.
Just as she reached the boardwalk, she noticed Vin and Molly standing
off to the side. She smiled as she passed them and nodded a greeting
before continuing her way back to the church but not before making one
more stop.
The livery seemed quiet as she reached it and walked inside. There
appeared to be no one around as she walked over to her horse. Wind
seemed agitated as she handed him the apple in her hand. He ignored the
ripe red fruit and stomped and whinnied.
“shh, be calm, we will go out for a run soon.” she cooed as she stroked
the black and white paints neck. But as she tried to soothe her best
friend, a hand from behind her suddenly went over her mouth as another
grabbed her around the waist. Cheyenne tried to scream but the strong
hand over her mouth kept the muffled sound from escaping. Cheyenne
struggled to free herself, but the man was too powerful.
“Damn, shes a wild cat aint she?” a man with unkept curly dark hair and
bad teeth, waring the remnants of an army uniform snickered as he
stepped in front of her, his eyes roamed the length of her body as he
reached over to touch her hair. “And look at them blue eyes.” He
admired.
Just as the tips of his fingers barely brushed the strands of hair that
had fallen from her braids and into her eyes Cheyenne landed a kick
straight to the man’s groin.
He fell backwards and groaned; his face masked in pain then quickly
giving way to anger. “You little bitch!” He snarled between gritted
teeth as he flung out his hand to slap her until the man holding onto
Cheyenne stopped him.
“Not now! You idiot, go get Abe and be quick about it.”
The curly haired man glared at Cheyenne then turned limping out the back
door as a third man came in from the back. “What the hells the hold up?”
“She aint exactly hospitable Ames” the man blurted out as he struggled
to keep Cheyenne under control. “You wanna give me a hand?”
“Tie her up you fool and let’s get outta here before someone comes in
here.” he grumbled as he helped the man to first silence the fighting
girl by tying a bandana over her mouth so she could not scream, then
securing her hands behind her back. Within minutes, they had Cheyenne
under control just in time for the curly haired man to walk in with
Jonah. His eyes narrowed when he saw Cheyenne.
“Let her go” Jonah hissed
“Nope, can’t do that” Ames an older man with greying hair also waring
the remnants of soldier attire. “Boss wants your help and this is the
way he intends to get it.”
“I told Benson what ever you three have planned I’m not in on it, I’m
through with the bunch of you and you can tell him the same. Now let her
驳辞!”
“Word is your sweet on this little squaw.” Ames smiled as he held tight
to Cheyenne’s arm “Now aint that cute. figure you’ll do whatever we need
as long as we have her.”
Jonah suddenly rammed his elbow into the stomach of Curly who’d been
standing next to him, sending the man reeling to the ground. Then
quickly leaping toward Benson until Ames instantly jerked Cheyenne
against him, one arm around her waist the other holding a knife to her
throat.
“That’s enough!” he barked causing the men to stop fighting. “One more
move Abe and I slit her throat.” he looked over at Benson and Curly.
“Get to the horses, and as for you Wheeler.” he turned toward Jonah “You
bring that trackers girl to us. Several miles east of town theres a
ravine and a cave. You bring her 迟丑别谤别.”
“I, I can’t, what do you need her for anyway? What about Cheyenne?” he
asked as Ames started to back toward the rear door dragging Cheyenne
with him.
“Because the tracker will come for his woman, and when he does we will
have him, and you can have your girl back.”
“What do you want him for?” he asked as he watched Benson and Curly
disappear out the back door.
“You mean you really don’t know who he is? He’s an ex-bounty hunter and
he’s got a hefty price on his own head. The boss intends to collect. Now
you do as your told, if you aint there by noon tomorrow, your girl.” He
looked down at the frightened Cheyenne he now held hostage, and sniffed
her hair, with a malicious look in his eyes as he glanced back up at
Jonah. “Well, after I play with her a little, there won’t be anything
left for you to get back.”
“Her godfather’s gonna be looking for her, those seven men that are the
law in this town, they’ll come after you. ”
“Then you best see to it, they don’t.” Ames smiled as he backed out the
door.
Jonah followed watching as Ames lifted Cheyenne on to his horse and
climbed on behind her.
Cheyenne looked helplessly at Jonah as if pleading for him to help her.
“It’ll be alright 颁丑别测别苍苍别.” He told her in their Lakota language. “I’ll
get you back, just do what they say.” he then turned his attention back
to Ames.
“You hurt her Ames and I’ll kill you, ya here me I’ll kill you.”
Ames smiled “I hear ya Abe, you just bring us the other one and make
sure that tracker comes alone.” With that Ames and the other two men
turned their horses and raced the back way out of town unseen.
Inside the stables Wind stomped and Whinnied, kicking at his stall
doors.



Jonah paced near the outside of the cave as he waited for the men who
held Cheyenne captive to arrive. He glanced back at the still bound
Molly sitting on the dirt floor, the sight sickened him, and he
chastised himself for being so careless and letting this man find him
again. He had no choice than to do as he was told, he knew what would
befall Cheyenne if he did not comply and that turned his stomach even
more. He didn’t have to wait long. The sound of horses and a wagon soon
broke the awkward silence.
Jonah stood as the wagon; a prison wagon no less, made its way to the
cave. Surrounded by not only Ames, Benson and Curley but at least
another 20 men which included the two who sat in the wagon’s driver
seat. And leading the way, the man Jonah hated most and had tried so
desperately to avoid, so much so that he had changed his name. His
Father, Jedidiah Wheeler looked down from atop his white stallion.
Wheeler’s crooked smile seemed more foreboding than happy to see his
son. “Well now, look who we have here, my own flesh and blood taken
after his papa. Makes a man proud. How have you been Abraham? Seen your
brother lately?”
Jonah glared at the tall dark-haired man with the unkept beard, his wavy
hair tumbling several inches below the dingy and worn union colonel’s
hat. His pants were that of a soldier, but the buckskin coat was more
like the tracker Vin Tanner would be seen wearing. “If I had I wouldn’t
tell you” Jonah snarled back. “We ain’t here for pleasantry’s where is
she? Where’s Cheyenne?”
Wheeler laughed, “So that’s her name, feisty little thing.”
Jonah saw red and lunged for the man on the horse. “If you touched her,
I’ll kill you!” He was quickly stopped from reaching Wheeler by two
horsemen immediately moving between the two and a barrage of guns
instantly pointed at him, their hammers cocked in unison causing Jonah
to halt his assault.
Wheeler gave another wicked laugh then nodded toward the wagon. Jonah
shot the man another ominous glare before rushing over and peering
through the barred window. Cheyenne sat on the floor of the wagon bound
and gagged.
“No one’s touched her” wheeler spoke out.
“I’m sorry” Jonah whispered through the restricted window ignoring
Wheeler for the moment. “I’ll get you out of here.” He promised, then
turned and headed toward the cave.
Molly looked up as he entered.
“Don’t say anything, just stay quiet and they won’t hurt you, all they
want is Tanner.”
If looks could kill Jonah would have fallen down dead where he stood,
from the glare Molly imposed on him right now. Jonah tried not to look
at her, instead keeping his eyes lowered as he helped her to her feet
and led her outside.
Wheeler dismounted and walked over to them. He touched Molly under the
chin to lift her head up and she abruptly snapped her head in the other
direction. This time Wheeler grabbed her cheeks with one hand and
jerked her toward him. “Now, now Missy, that’s no way to act, you’ll not
be harmed if you behave yourself.” he let go of her face then lifted a
strand of her hair. “Pretty red hair, you and that little blue-eyed
breed would fetch me a fancy price for sure.”
“You said you’d let her go once you had Tanner!” Jonah shouted.
Wheeler looked over at him “And so I shall, once you’ve brought me
Tanner.” he motioned for one of his men to take Molly and put her in the
wagon.
Jonah watched then looked back at his father. “You have her, now give me
颁丑别测别苍苍别.”
“All in good time boy, all in good time. If I was to give her to you now
whats to keep you from double crossing me.”
“You lying Bastard!” Jonah lunged for him again, this time he was
stopped by two men coming up behind him and roughly taking hold of his
arms, holding him tightly.
“Now you just simmer down boy, you’ll get your squaw when I get Tanner.”
Wheeler growled before stepping into the saddle and mounting his horse.
He looked over at the two men who still held on to Jonah and motioned
for them to let him go. “Mount up” he told them then turned to his son.
“You get Tanner here by sundown tonight, or I’m gonna have to take those
two little beauties for payment, you understand Abe? Right here, by
sundown.” With that he turned his horse and rode off followed by the
other men and the wagon.
Jonah watched them ride away then retrieved his mount and raced back to
town.



Back in town……….

Josiah strode purposely toward the livery, once there he quickly went
over to Wind’s stall. He had been so concerned about finding his
goddaughter that he didn’t notice Vin and Ian.
“Somethin wrong Josiah?”
Josiah turned to see Vin saddling his horse along with Molly’s brother.
“Have either of you seen Cheyenne this morning?”
Both men shook their head no, but it was Ian who spoke up. “Haven’t
seen Cheyenne but I saw Jonah a while ago. He wasn’t quite himself.
“What do mean by 迟丑补迟?”
“Nervous as a cat in a room full a rocking chairs.” Ian answered in his
full Irish brogue.
“Where is he?” Josiah asked between gritted teeth.
Before either one could answer, the trampling hooves of a horse were
heard outside and all three men walked out to see who it was who’d come
riding up so fast.
Jonah flew off his horse and headed into the livery. He stopped in his
tracks when he saw the three men coming from inside.
He did his best to avoid Ian and Josiah instead looking straight at Vin.
“You need to come with me.”
Vin looked at him questioningly “Whats wrong?”
Jonah began to pace mumbling to himself. “This wasn’t supposed to
happen, it wasn’t supposed to go down like th颈蝉.”
Ian looked over at him “Je-sus man, what are goin on about?”
Jonah didn’t answer but kept mumbling to himself “How did he find me, I
knew I stayed to long, I knew I should have just kept 驳辞颈苍驳.”
Once more Jonah looked over to Vin again, “Just take my word for it, you
need to come with me, it’s important” he pleaded.
Vin stood his ground “I ain’t goin nowhere till you tell us what’s going
on. Molly’s missing and Josiah here is looking for his goddaughter, you
seen either one of them?”
Jonah kept up his pacing back and forth and mumbling. “Not my fault,
it’s not my fault, I didn’t know..”
This time it was Josiah who stepped in taking him by the shoulders “Calm
down boy, tell us what happened?”
Jonah looked at him shame and grief emanating from his eyes. “I didn’t
have a choice, they took Cheyenne, I had to do it to get her back. I
swear I didn’t have a choice.”
Josiah flared; rage shot from his eyes as he shoved Jonah up against
the wall his arm over his throat. “Who took Cheyenne? Where’s my
daughter?” he growled angrily.
Jonah fought for air, the force of Josiah’s arm on his throat so strong
he could barely get out a word. “Ha… had too… you… don… don’t under…
耻苍诲别谤蝉迟补苍诲.”
Josiah released his arm from Jonah’s throat and took a step back “You
best start talkin boy!”
Jonah rubbed his throat. “They took her so I would help them…they want
Tanner that’s why, I..” he glanced at Ian. “I had to take Molly.”
“You took my sister?” Ian asked his temper beginning to burn.
Jonah nodded, “So Tanner would go after her.”
This time it was Ian’s fist that caught Jonah’s jaw sending him reeling
to the ground. “You son of a bitch! Where’s my sister?!”
Vin’s gun was aimed at Jonah “You best tell us the whole story and it
better be the truth.”
Jonah grimaced and rubbed his jaw then looked up at the three men, each
one looking as if they would like nothing better than to take turns
ripping him apart right now.
“My names not Jonah High Wolf. High wolf is my Indian name, my given
name is Wheeler, Abraham Wheeler. I’ll spare you the sorted details of
my life, Ian already knows. Jedidiah Wheeler is my father, he’s well,
let’s just say he goes where the money is and that usually means easy
money, like the kind you get from selling human beings, and bounties. I
havent seen him in years, I left when I was a kid after he killed my
mother. I don’t know how but he found out I was here, and he found out
I…” he glanced at Josiah “That, well, that Cheyenne is…that I care about
her. So, he used her to get me to help him, he knew I would never do it,
so he took her as leverage. He knew as long as he had her I’d do
whatever he wanted. He said if I brought Vin’s girl to him, he would
let me have Cheyenne, but he didn’t keep his end of the bargain. He kept
them both. He figured; Tanner would come for his girl and it would be
easy to take him, He looked at Vin, “You must have a hefty bounty on
your head if my father wants you so bad.”
Vin didn’t answer instead sharing a look with Josiah as Abe continued.
“I was supposed to lead you to a cave down in a little gully outside
town a few miles. I suppose he’s using Molly to keep you in line the way
he’s using Cheyenne to make me do his bidding.”
Josiah grabbed Abe by the front of his shirt and jerked him to his feet.
“Well then Abraham Wheeler, looks like you’ll be taking the three of us
to your little meeting place.”
“You don’t 耻苍诲别谤蝉迟补苍诲.” Abe objected. “He’s got 20 or 30 men riding with
丑颈尘.”
Vin, Josiah and Ian shared a concerned look.
“We best get some help.” Vin said lowering his gun.
Josiah nodded. “Find the others. Ian and I will keep Abe here company
until you get back.” he snarled glaring at Abe.
Vin Nodded, “Just don’t kill him…yet” he said as he made his way toward
the saloon.
….Back at Wheelers camp…..
Cheyenne’s gag had been removed as were the girl’s ropes. They were now
free to walk about the small prison wagon. Cheyenne huddled on the floor
against the wall her knees pulled up in front of her, while Molly stood
and peered through the bars of the window. Out side the men made camp, a
small camp fire burned surrounded by several men. Some drank whiskey,
others poured the harsh liquid into their coffee. Wheeler sat at the
camp fire. His eyes gazing into the flames, every now and then he would
glance up At the wagon……

It had taken the men under twenty minutes to load up with extra ammo,
saddle up and be on their way out of town. Jonah, or Abe, as they now
knew his name to be, led the way toward where he knew his stepfather and
his men would be camped.
“You sure he’s not leading us into a trap?” The ever-skeptical JD asked
as they followed Abe into a grove of juniper, mingled with large
boulders, fallen dried up trees and sage brush.
“If he is, he’ll be the first one to meet his maker.” Josiah warned with
a glare Abe’s way.
Abe didn’t seem to hear the conversation behind him, or he was just
ignoring them, when he suddenly stopped holding his hand up signaling
for the rest of them to do likewise.
Chris reigned in his horse to a halt as did the others.
“We have to go on by foot, they’ll hear the horses” Abe told them.
“They’re just down that away hold up in a draw.”
“Why don’t we just ride in there and surprise em.” JD was nothing if not
enthusiastic.
“We go in there, guns blazin someone’s gonna get hurt, might be one of
the girls.” Vin cautioned. “I’ll go scout ahead.” He said looking at
Chris.
Chris nodded his approval and began to dismount.
The rest of the men followed suit. Josiah and Ian keeping their eyes on
Abe.
“Why didn’t we bring Buck and Ezra?” JD asked taking the canteen from
his saddle.
“Some one needed to stay in town, just in case.” Nathan answered as he
dismounted.
“Well if this guys got so many men don’t you think we might need em?” he
asked after drinking from the canteen and replacing the cork.
Chris looked over at JD unimpressed by his eagerness “Not if we can
avoid a fight.”
Abe paced as he waited for Vin to return. He was getting nervous and
impatient.
“Let me go in there, I told you he said he’d let the women go If I
brought Tanner, let me get them out of there then you can move in.” he
pleaded.
Chris shot him an ominous glare that said not a chance.
“Who’s to say you won’t go in there and turn on us.” Josiah growled
distrusting.
“I give you my word I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Cheyenne or Molly.”
“Then why’d you take them?” Ian barked.
“I told you, I had no choice.” Abe bit back. “They took 颁丑别测别苍苍别.”
“You could have come to me! but no, you took my sister, I thought we
were Friends Abe?” The look of disappointment and betrayal masking Ian’s
features turned Abe’s stomach. Ian was his friend, he’d kept his secret,
and here he had repaid his loyalty by kidnapping his sister. He had
broken the bond and the trust the two of them shared and who knew if
that bond and friendship could ever be mended.
“I’m sorry.” Abe apologized, his eyes looking toward the ground. “Your
right, I should have come to you.” he turned to Josiah. “And you. I
wasn’t thinkin, all I wanted was to get Cheyenne back unharmed.”
“Damn right you wasn’t thinkin boy.” Josiah snapped.
“Alright, that’s enough” Chris interjected. “You can tear him apart
濒补迟别谤.”
The sound of Vin’s bird call signaled his return and all eyes turned as
he rode in.
“What ya find out?” Chris asked.
“Well, he was right about one thing, theres a bunch of ‘m, 20 to 30 men
at least. The good news is, half of ‘m just left.”
“Left?” Chris asked.
Vin nodded. “Couldn’t hear where to or why, just heard the head man send
them off.”
“Did you see Cheyenne?” Josiah asked hopefully.
“And Molly?” Ian demanded anxiously.
Vin shook his head no. Saw ’n old prison wagon, I’m guessin they’re in
迟丑别谤别.”
“That’s where he put them, I saw Cheyenne in 迟丑别谤别.” Abe confirmed.
“Well then maybe we should give them what they want.” Ian snarled.
“Tanner, and throw Abe in for good measure. Maybe they’ll give us the
girls then.” Ian walked over standing in front of Vin his eyes narrowed.
“What do they want you so bad for Tanner? So bad they took my sister to
lure you in?”
“No time for that right now.” Chris stepped between the two men.
“Where’s the Wagon?” He asked turning to Vin as Ian took another moment,
his eyes still focused on the tracker, his expression never changing
from suspicion.
Chris shot Ian a look that told the Irishman to back off and watched as
he reluctantly stepped away.
“Off to the side” Vin finally answered as he crouched down picking up a
twig, he began drawing a map of the camp in the dirt. As the rest of the
men gathered around to watch.
“The main camp fire’s here.” he pointed to the middle. “They’re all
huddled around it drinkin.” He pointed off to the right side. “Theres a
tent here, that’s where the main man seems hold 耻辫.” He pointed off the
left of his make shift map. “The wagons here, a few feet from the main
fire. I figure if we wait until dark we could slip in and get the girls,
if we could get the key.”
Chris turned to Abe. “Alright Jonah, or Abe, what ever your name is, who
would have that key?”
Abe looked over at him, “My Fath—my stepfather, He’d be the one in the
迟别苍迟.”
“If we wait til dark, we should be able to slip in and grab the girls
before any one knows whats happening.” Vin said, then turned to Abe. “If
we can get that key.”
****Back at the
Wagon****
Cheyenne looked up at Molly, who still stood watching and contemplating
an escape. “What do you hear?”
Molly looked down at the blue-eyed Indian girl who sat huddled on the
floor of their prison. “How much English do you understand?”
Cheyanne gave a small smirk of a grin. “More, -than -I speak.”
Molly returned the gesture and turned back to the window watching as
several men gathered around the fire. A man with longish curly hair and
the man they called Wheeler exited the tent and made their way over.
Wheeler glanced over at the wagon then back to the fire.
“So how long we going to stay here?” one of the men at the fire asked,
“Ames gets to go have all the fun and we’re stuck watching over two
little filly’s we can’t even play with.”
“We’ll be on our way soon as the boy gets here with the tracker, and you
know theres no sampling the merchandise less you gotta pay.” Wheeler
laughed as the men began checking their pockets.
“huh uh” he grinned. “Not yet, need that tracker first.”
“How much is he worth any how Wheeler?” a younger man with bad teeth and
a thick southern accent asked. “Must be a perty penny if’n your so all
fire anxious to turn him in.”

“Five hundred dollars.” Wheeler smiled and you will all get your share
when we sale the girls, if you don’t spend your money on’m before then.”

Molly’s face paled and she looked over at Cheyenne who was now standing
beside her looking out the small window as well. “Did you understand all
迟丑补迟?”
Cheyenne nodded that she did.
“Will you help us to escape now? We must get to the horses.”
Cheyenne hesitated with her answer. She knew in her heart Jonah would be
back, and he would bring Josiah and the others. She also knew escaping
would not be easy and these men, if they managed to accomplish it, would
follow. Then again, she had a few tricks of her own. Cheyenne glanced
once more out of the window. Several men glanced her way. She understood
their words and she knew what that look in their eyes meant. She had
seen it before. She was torn. Should they wait for rescue? Or should
they try to escape on their own? She was tired of this cage, tired of
the men peering in at them like animals. Josiah would come, Jonah would
come. -But when. And how long would the men outside their prison wait?
Making up her mind Cheyenne looked over at Molly, and again she nodded.
She bent down reaching inside one of her moccasin boots and pulled out a
knife showing it to Molly.
Molly looked over at her surprised. “I thought they took your knife?”
she asked looking at the empty scabbard hanging from the beaded belt
around Cheyenne’s waist.
Cheyenne gave her a sly grin as she struggled with her English, saying
the words first in her own language, then repeating them. “Ah -Always
-Hi -hide one. Jacques, Marcel teach.”
Molly looked confused. “Jacques and Marcel?”
Cheyenne smiled and nodded She spoke again in her own language and
struggled for the word, then her eyes lit up and she pointed to Molly.
“Ian, Molly.”
“What about my brother and I?” As if the proverbial light had just been
turned on Molly smiled. “They are your brothers. Jacques and Marcel?”
Cheyenne let another small smile escape. “Yes, brothers, warriors, live
with the Sioux.” Cheyenne looked to the window. “We go soon.” She
slipped the knife back inside her boot.


****
The men kept close watch on the camp, each taking turns watching from a
safe distance and staying hidden in the brush and rock that surrounded.
While the others made do staying with the horses. Abe sat on the ground
cross legged contemplating his actions. Ian and Josiah kept a close
watch.
“Guess I owe you an explanation.” He admitted to Josiah without meeting
his gaze.
Josiah leaned against the tree Abe was sitting under. He used a stone to
sharpen his knife as he listened.
“Confessions good for the soul.”
Abe nodded. “Ya, well ya see, my pa, my real pa he died when I was just
a kid and my younger brother wasn’t more than a baby. Pa’s brother
Jedidiah took my mother for his own and raised us up to be his. Things
was ok for a while, then he got in with men like the ones he runs with
now and things changed. He started stealin, kidnapping and selling
people like they were nothin but merchandise to bring him money. When I
was old enough, he sort of made me go into the family business ya might
say. I didn’t like it, but thought I had to stay so I could watch over
my mother and little brother. Then he started making my brother help him
out and bringing him into his little enterprise. Well my ma had enough,
they got into a big fight, he was drunk as usual and he ended up beating
her to death. I hit him over the head with a fireplace poker, he went
down, I never stopped to see if he was dead or alive, I grabbed my
brother, and we ran. I ended up leavin my brother at an orphanage a few
weeks later, I aint seen him since. I was sixteen then. Later I heard
Jedidiah was still alive, and he blamed me for killing my mother. All I
could think about was staying as far away from him as I could. I changed
my name to Jonah High Wolf, just so he wouldn’t find me. I swear Josiah
I never meant for any of this to happen. When he took Cheyenne all I
could think of was getting her back and away from him. I’d rather die
than see Cheyenne, or Molly for that matter get hurt. I didn’t know who
I could trust.”
Josiah looked down at him. “You call that man your friend?” he nodded to
Ian, “And you couldn’t trust him?”
Abe brushed away the stray hair that had come loose from his braid and
fallen into his eyes.
“That was a mistake, one I regret that’s for certain. I wasn’t thinkin
蝉迟谤补颈驳丑迟.”
“Regrets something, we all live with boy.” Josiah sympathized. “As for
not thinking straight” his tone turned more threatening. “That there’s
an understatement, next time it just might get you killed.”
As the day went on they dined on jerky and water from their canteens.
Nothing filling but they couldn’t risk hunting or even making a fire.
By afternoon the blue sky gave way to dark clouds that covered the
brightness of the sun. Vin and Nathan took their turns keeping vigil
over the camp, watching as the men down below feasted on? Well, whatever
it was it smelled good. Nathan nudged Vin and nodded to two of the men
who had broken off from the others carrying plates of food toward the
wagon.
“Looks like they’re getting ready to take the women some 蝉耻辫辫别谤.”
Vin took out his spy glass to get a better look….

Down at the wagon Molly and Cheyenne stood near the door.
“It’s about time.” Molly scoffed. “Now if you don’t mind we need to -we
need a bit of privacy if you understand?” She insisted.
Both men looked at each other and stifled a laugh. “Well of course ma’am
right this way.” He cautiously glanced back at the others around the
fire. Then to the man next to him and winked. “Why don’t you take the
little squaw, and I’ll help the lady here.” The scraggly man with
straight stringy blond hair that fell into his eyes caught his partners
underlying meaning and grinned. He set the two plates down as Molly and
Cheyenne exited the wagon.


**

“Ah, hell.” Vin swore, “Best get the others, don’t know where those two
are taking the girls but we best be ready.”
Nathan nodded he understood and scurried backward until he could stand
unseen and rushed back to where Chris and the others waited.
“They took the girls out of the wagon.” Nathan announced as he reached
the others, “best be ready.”
Chris and the others followed Nathan back to where Vin was keeping
watch. Crouching down and laying on their bellies so as not to be seen.
The two men below began leading the girls toward a cluster of rocks and
brush.
“You just gonna sit here!” Abe growled at them before he suddenly jumped
to his feet and ran toward the camp.
“Abe!” Josiah reached to grab him but it was too late, he was out of
reach.
“Damn it!” Chris swore. Ian and Vin both aimed their guns ready to take
their shot until Chris put his hands on them both. “Wait.” He commanded.
**
The moment they were out of site of the camp the two men waisted no
time. “Over here it’s more private.” the one holding on to Molly coaxed
her while the other led a struggling Cheyenne behind the rocks.
At the same time the man holding onto Mollys arm jerked her over to the
nearest tree pressing her back against it as he leaned over her, his
wretched mouth searching for hers. Molly hauled off with a slap that
momentarily made the man take a step back as her knee caught his groin
with one hell of a jolt sending him to the ground wreathing in pain. A
scream came from the rocks where Cheyenne had been dragged then there
was silence. Molly rushed to Cheyenne’s aide when she saw the Indian
girl come from the foliage, the knife in her hand dripping with blood.
Neither girl waisted time as they ran for the horses before the man on
the ground could recover.
*
“Lets 驳辞!” Chris ordered as they saw the two girls trying to escape, the
men stood and pulled their weapons. “JD get the horses.”
JD ran for their mounts as a barrage of gunfire erupted and the men
scattered, finding cover where they could.
Abe was already down the gully and running toward the girls.
The men in the camp hearing the scream, had scrambled to their feet
with their guns in their hands.
“Wheeler!” one man called out as he pointed to the escaping women.
Wheeler spun around. “Go get um!” he shouted angrily.
As four men rushed toward the girls Abe made his presence known,
standing between Cheyenne, Molly and the men coming for them.
“Jonah!” Cheyenne cried out as a bullet caught his shoulder knocking him
to the ground.
“Go back!” He ordered her as the girl ran toward him.
Just as she reached him and was trying to help him up, strong arms
wrapped around her waist.
“颁丑别测别苍苍别!”
“Josiah.” Cheyenne breathed a sigh of relief “Help 丑颈尘.” She begged
nodding toward Abe.
Josiah fired as one of Wheelers men aimed toward them and a bullet
whizzed passed him. Wheeler’s man fell.
“Get her out of here!” Abe yelled. “Don’t worry about me get the girls
outta here!”
****
Molly had already reached the horses as the onslaught of gunfire
continued. She looked back just in time to see Cheyenne reach Abe.
“颁丑别测别苍苍别!” She called out to her. “Hurry!”
“I got you Molly.” Came her brothers reassuring voice from behind her as
he lifted her onto one of the saddled horses and climbed on in front of
her just as a bullet creased his shoulder. Before he could turn and
fire, Vin had his mares leg aimed and pulled the trigger. The man who
had shot at Ian and Molly fell dead.
“Go!” he yelled out to Ian.
As JD joined the fight Chris’s voice shouted out over the gunfire. “Lets
驳辞!” he rushed toward his horse as did the others amid a crossfire of
bullets.
Josiah reached to help Abe to his feet when Nathan rode up to him and
handed Josiah the reins to his horse. Before Josiah could get Abe to
Nathans horse, another bullet hit him, this time in the leg and Abe once
again fell to the ground. Abe rolled and fired but it was Nathans bullet
that found its mark. Several other of Wheelers men rushed toward them,
including Wheeler himself.
“Get out of here!” Abe shouted again, “I’ll cover you!”
Josiah was hesitant as he looked at his *Goddaughter* distraught and
refusing to leave.
“Get her on that damn horse and get out of here!” Abe shouted once
again.
“Josiah we gotta go. Now!” Nathan quickly urged his friend.
Josiah glanced at the oncoming men and in one fail swoop scooped up
Cheyenne and set her on back of his horse despite her objections. In
seconds he was mounted. With a last regrettable look at Abe, and a nod
of appreciation. Josiah spurred his horse toward town just behind Chris
and the others.
“I’m sorry 颁丑别测别苍苍别.” Abe spoke out loud as he fired his gun towards his
stepfather and his men until that final click told him he was out of
bullets.

Jonah stepped out of the church letting out a big sigh and a small smile
crossed his lips. He looked over at Ian who still stood across the way
leaning on a post waiting sporting an amused grin that broadened as
Jonah made his way over to him.
“Well?” Ian asked good heartedly “What did he say?
“He didn’t say no, but he didn’t say yes” he answered as he nodded
toward the saloon and kept walking.
Ian fell into step with him. “Well?” he asked again anxiously “come on
boyo throw an old dog a bone will ye, What did he say?”
Jonah gave him an annoyed glance “he said he was taking her but I could
come sit by them. There ya happy now?”
Ian put a friendly hand on Jonahs shoulder “Well that’s something isn’t
it? Tell you what maybe I’ll bring my sister and we could all go out for
a walk after. I mean Molly and I could discretely go in another
direction and leave you and your Indian princess alone to get to know
one another how’s that sound.”
As they reached the saloon Jonah opened the bat wing doors letting Ian
step in first. “Ya know that’s not a bad Idea, if that ole man will let
her out of his site.”
“Now ya can’t go blaming him, can you? Shes a right pretty lass and
those blue eyes, well…”
Jonah pointed a finger at him warningly “I told you don’t go getting any
颈诲别补蝉”
Ian laughed “Now A..Jonah, you know me better than that”
“I know you that’s the problem” Jonah remarked giving him a sideways
look before pulling out a chair at a nearby table.
This brought another hearty laugh as Ian pulled out a chair for himself
and sat down calling for the bar tender to bring them two beers.

The sun climbed high as lunch time came and went and after noon soon
followed. Jonah busied himself with his work inside the blacksmith shop.
Having finished up with the horseshoes he gathered them up and headed
into he livery where Ian was hard at work cleaning out the stalls.
“Here’s those horseshoes you wanted.” Jonah called out. “Where do you
want em?”
Ian looked up from his duties and leaned on his rake. “Why don’t ya set
them over 迟丑别谤别.” He grinned nodding toward one of the stalls closer to
the back where the young Lakota usually kept her black and white paint.
Jonah smiled as he looked over and saw the girl standing there tending
to the animal. He turned back giving Ian a thankful nod and nonchalantly
walked over and set the horseshoes on a near by shelf.
“Afternoon.” He greeted her
Cheyenne turned and smiled “Hau, Toníktuha he?”

“Wa?té” he smiled back “looking forward to seeing the show tonight” he
continued their conversation in their Lakota language. “I know I am,
well” he shuffled his foot “Looking forward to seeing it with you that
颈蝉.”
Cheyenne blushed and turned away embarrassed.
“Ah now look what I done” he stepped in a little closer to her. Then
took a step back looking around. “Uh where’s your god fat丑别谤?”
“The saloon.” She answered turning her attention back to her horse
continuing to brush him down.
Jonah gave the animal a pat on his neck admiring the feather braided
into the horse’s mane.
“What do you call him?” he asked nodding to the horse.
“Wind Spirit, he runs like the wind.”
Jonah smiled playfully “Sometime maybe we should see just how fast he
颈蝉”
Cheyenne gave him a mischievous look “One day maybe”
Their conversations was interrupted as Josiah stepped into the livery
“Cheyenne?” he called out to her as he made his way back to where Winds
stall is.
Jonah quickly tipped his hat “Until tonight” he winked and headed out
the back way before Josiah could see him.



Jonah adjusted his fresh clothing and brushed them down as he left the
bath house, bathed, clean shaven, his long hair washed and neatly
braided he was ready for what he hoped would be a relaxing night getting
to know the pretty blue eyed Lakota girl he’d had his eye on since he
first saw her. He shook his head chastising himself. What did he think
he was doing? Getting so wrapped up in one woman. He was a fool if he
thought there could be anything between them other than friendship. For
one thing she was the goddaughter of a lawman of sorts, and he, well as
far as he knew he was still wanted. He couldn’t even tell her his real
name. The only one who knew that was his friend Ian, and he’d been sworn
to secrecy.
Still something drew him to her, the moment their eyes locked the first
time he’d seen her on the board walk he knew there was something special
about her. It wasn’t just that they were both half Sioux, It was
something more, something he couldn’t put his finger on, but it was
there.

Jonah looked out toward where the acting troupes’ tents had been put up
just a hope skip and a jump behind the church and the grange. A stage
had been built inside the largest one. He’d seen the men working on it
the last few days and snuck a peek. Folks were already starting to
meander over to it as the sun started to set.
He looked over to the church, The preacher had given him permission to
sit with them but had said nothing about walking with them. Jonah let a
devilish grin slip and headed toward the church. He’d be polite and just
wait outside.
Cheyenne walked out first as Josiah opened the church doors. She stopped
at the top of the stairs when she saw Jonah standing at the bottom
waiting.
Josiah shut the doors and turned to escort his goddaughter down the
steps when his smile suddenly faded when his eyes fell on the young half
Indian boy standing there waiting patiently for them.
Jonah politely removed his hat. “Hope you don’t mind if I walk with you”
he smiled his eyes not leaving the blue-eyed girl. Her long dark hair
was braided halfway and adorned with fringed leather ties. She wore her
traditional buckskin dress and a beaded choker.


“I know you said you were gonna escort Cheyenne” High Wolf smiled
despite Josiah’s warning looks. “Didn’t think she would mind two
escorts” He held out his arm as Cheyenne and Josiah descended the last
step.
Cheyenne smiled and took his arm as they started toward the tents.
Josiah glanced over at Jonah giving him a disapproving look.
Jonah’s attention however was on Cheyenne. None of them aware of the
stranger watching from outside the livery.



Cheyenne watched intently as the singers and dancers went on with their
skits, Both Josiah and Jonah took turns explaining what was happening
and translating when necessary. It was Jonah who seemed to be doing most
of the explaining and translations. Josiahs looks of displeasure still
never swayed him as he carried on with his explanations in Lakota to the
girl. It was Cheyenne who noticed the man at the side of the stage who
seemed to be unable to take his eyes from Eva as she sat with the man
Cheyenne knew only as Buck. Something about this man made her uneasy
with the way he was looking at her friend. The thought of warning Eva
crossed her mind, but she wasn’t sure how the girl would take it. Once
he’d disappeared Cheyenne returned her attention to her two escorts
making a mental note of perhaps speaking to Eva about it tomorrow.
The dimmed lights finally brightened as the show came to an end and the
performers took their bows. The crowd clapped and the curtains closed.
As the people rose from their sitting spots and began to disperse. Eva,
Buck, Molly and Vin, Josiah along with Cheyenne and Jonah found
themselves outside the tent together.
“Heck of a show, wasn’t it?” Josiah commented
“Well, it was intresting that’s for sure” Buck chuckled
“What did you think Cheyenne? Did you like it?” Eva asked
Cheyenne smiled “Yes, is good, more different but good”
“It was nice to see something like this come to town” Molly put in.
Jonah seemed quiet as the group visited. Uncomfortable with a group of
folks he hardly or didn’t know at all. Finally he whispered something in
Cheyenne’s ear and she smiled and nodded.
“If you’ll excuse us, with your permission that is Josiah “Me and
Cheyenne are gonna go for a 飞补濒办.”
Josiha opened his mouth to object when he got a stern yet pleading look
from his god daughter.
“Don’t keep her out late, or I’ll have you hide” he warned with a strong
look toward Jonah that told the boy he meant no nonsense.
Jonah swallowed “Yes sir we won’t be long” He offered Cheyenne his arm
and before she took it she smiled and kissed her godfather on the cheek.
Buck and Vin both Chuckled “ a little protective there arn’t you Josiah”
Buck teased.
He was rewarded with a scowl from Josiah as the ex preacher turned and
headed for the saloon.
“I’d tread easy there Buck if I was you” Vin cautioned


It was early morning as Cheyenne made her way from the church toward the
hotel. The man she’d seen gawking at Eva last night disturbed her.
Something in his eyes made her nervous and uneasy. So much so that she
felt drawn to warn Eva about him.
Still not feeling completely comfortable in this strange village
Cheyenne hesitated at the door way as she arrived at her destination.
From up the boardwalk Molly was being escorted back to the hotel by Vin
Tanner. Cheyenne smiled as they reached her, a smiled that soon faded
when her eyes fell upon Molly looking very distressed.
“Something is wrong?” she asked the distraught redhead. Concern masking
her own features.
“Seems Miss Weathers may be missing” Vin answered for the visibly upset
Molly. “Have you seen her this morning?”
Cheyenne shook her head. “No, but…”
“Cheyenne? Did you see something?” Vin questioned.
“Last night” she began “at the ..shoo” she struggled to remember the
word. Still struggling with her English Cheyenne continued in her own
language.
“she said she saw a man with evil eyes watching Eva last night at the
show. She was coming to warn her.” Vin translated for Molly then turned
back to Cheyenne. “Why didn’t you say anything last night?” he asked in
both dialects
Cheyenne looked at the ground, her remorse clearly visible.
“She was with the one called Buck, I thought she was safe with him” Vin
interpreted as Cheyenne spoke.
Molly managed a small smile and stepped over to the young Indian girl
noting the guilt mirrored in her eyes. She wrapped a comforting arm
around the girls shoulder. “It’s not your fault, The most important
thing now is to find her.”
Cheyenne looked up at her and nodded.
“Whats all the worrisome faces?” Jonah asked as he came up to them
taking a stance near Cheyenne “Are you alright?” he asked almost
protectively. Cheyenne rewarded him with a small smile and a nod that
she was.
“One of the women came up missing this mornin.” Vin Answered him “Miss
Weathers from the hotel, you see anything strange around last night?”
“Now that you mention it” Jonah ran a hand through his long hair
brushing away stray strands that had fallen from his braids. “I saw one
of those wagons from the theater troupe pull out last night. It was
late, thought it was kinda funny them not waitin till morning, but Hey,
those folks are a little odd if ya know what I mean.”
Vin nodded “You see which way the wagon went?”
Jonah motioned out of town toward the east. “You think one of them took
丑别谤?”
“Don’t know, but it’s worth a look, especially from what Cheyenne and
Molly here just told us.”
“That right?” He brushed another strand of hair out of his eyes as a
light breeze swept over them. “Well, a wagon shouldn’t be hard to track,
need some help?”
Vin looked at him then shook his head “I think we can handle it.”
Jonah nodded then turned to Cheyenne “How about I see you home?”
Cheyenne gave him a shy smile and a short nod before looking over at
Molly
“My English still, not so good, if you have, need….” frustrated she
looked at Jonah and spoke in her Lakota dialect.
“In other words,” He translated “She said if you need anything or if she
can help don’t hesitate to ask her.”
With that Jonah and Cheyenne headed back toward the church.