Challenged to Write at least 11 Stories:
1 for each character in this list:
Teaspon, Rachel, Sam, Emma,
Tompkins, Ike, Buck, Lou, Jimmy, Cody
There were 33 songs to choose from,
all of the songs are in the Statler Brothers
famous four part harmony.
Email
catsimmie
|
Character
|
Title
|
Summary
|
Jimmy
|
Whispered at the Wedding (It Should Have
Been Me)
|
Jimmy's just
had to do the
hardest thing he'll ever have to do. Give the love of his life away at
her wedding. |
Tompkins
|
Do You Remember These
|
Tomkpins is
remembering
the better times the town has seen and some of his favorite customers,
when he gets a surprise. |
Lou
|
All
I Have to
Offer You Is Me
|
Lou is having
trouble
deciding who she is compared to who she should be and what Kid wants
her to be. |
Kid
|
She's
Too Good
|
Kid has mixed
feelings
about being with Lou for the first time. (Requiem for a Hero from Kid's
POV)
|
Cody
|
Hat
and Boots
|
Cody looses
more than he
bargained for while he & Lou are on a special run.
|
Sam
|
Angel
In Her
Face
|
Sam and Emma's
first date. Inspired by the line "We tried that, you got bored." from
the pilot episode. |
Buck
|
I'd
Rather Be
Sorry
|
Buck can't
take the reminders off Ike anymore and goes off to remember his friend
when Emily comes to say goodbye. |
Ike
|
If
It Makes
Any Difference
|
Ike asks Lou
for advice on Annie and then writes his results in his journal. |
Emma
|
Have
a Little
Faith
|
Emma recieves
word of Lou & Kid's upcoming marriage and sends Lou some motherly
advice. |
Teaspoon
|
A
Couple More Years
|
Teaspoon looks back on
how much his boys have changed since theirbeginning. |
Rachel
|
I've Had
a Good Time
|
Rachel is trying to pull
one last con, but will she be the one who's conned? |
Whispered at the
Wedding
AN: This deals with the
scene at the wedding when Jimmy kisses Lou. It’s always bothered me how
his hand was a little to high up and Lou's look after the kiss was just
weird. This justifies why in my mind.
Jimmy just couldn’t believe he had done it. He’d just given his heart
away along with the bride.
Lou had always been family to him, but the first time he saw her in
Emma’s house wearing that pink dress, well he knew those weren’t the
sisterly feelings he should have been having. Besides, Lou and the Kid
were in love, any blind person could see it. And some things a man just
didn’t do. Moving in on someone you considered a brother’s girl was one
of them. If you were lucky, you’d loose a friend, but more often then
not, one of you was looking down the wrong end of a shotgun.
So he held back on his feelings, tried to deny he had any. He had even
given advice to The Kid on what to do next. Then as he watched them
ride off into the sunset on the way to the Redford Station, knowing
that the chase between Lou and The Kid would soon be over, so was his
chance with her.
But it wasn’t like he hadn’t had chances with Lou. She had often come
to him seeking advice when The Kid had done her wrong. He would tell
her all the things he knew she wanted to hear. It was bad enough giving
advice to the person who was meant to be with the woman you wanted so
badly, but when she came to him for advice about The Kid, deep down all
he really wanted was to beg her to leave The Kid and run away with him.
The night they spent in Willow Springs, the dinner, the fair, dancing…
He could see desire burning, like a wide spread prairie fire, in her
chocolate brown eyes and the way the moon shone on her chestnut hair…
Whenever she wore it down, it was all he could do from running his
fingers through it.
But Lou hadn’t been herself after dinner, it had been the wine. He
couldn’t help feeling what he felt and all he could think about was
taking her in his arms and loving her in a way The Kid never had or
ever would. But he respected and cared for Lou too much. Sure he’d
bedded plenty of drunken women before, but that night with Lou, he knew
things would be different. He’d be forever different.
And later, when she told him he was a better man than he gave himself
credit for, his resolve had snapped. One innocent kiss on the cheek,
and he’d started to kiss her hungrily on the porch steps. He would’ve
taken more than she was offering, had they not been interrupted. But
when they broke apart and he saw the fire in her eyes had died, he knew
that at that moment, her heart would forever belong to The Kid.
Now as he’d watched them over the past few weeks, fighting over the
details regarding the wedding, he knew Lou was getting cold feet. Was
it because Kid was forcing her give up her identity as one of the boys?
That was something he would never have done. Why couldn’t Kid love Lou
the way she was? Why make her give up the one thing she held dear-
being able to prove how strong she was to herself? She’d been through a
lot in her years before she joined the Riders; she had the right to
prove how tough she was.
Maybe Lou had been getting cold feet because of him? Could they still
have a chance? He knew better in his heart, but what his heart and mind
wanted, had always been two different things.
He’d arrived late to the wedding. He hadn’t wanted to come, thought it
was best. He knew Lou would be heartbroken over him not giving her
away, but why hadn’t she realized how much that one, simple request had
hurt him. How could he give her away when she held his heart and didn’t
know it? How could he watch the one love of his life, marry another?
And why had everyone stared at him when Teaspoon had asked if anyone
objected?
Now the wedding was over. In later years, he wouldn’t be able to recall
any of it. But now as he headed out to congratulate the bride and
groom, he fought to keep a tear from rolling down his cheek. And now as
he went to kiss Lou’s cheek, he whispered in her ear, “It should have
been me.”
|
Do You Remember These
Rock Creek, 1877
“Another day wasted,” Tompkins said to himself as he finished preparing
to close shop for the evening. Ever since the Pony Express closed
down and the war started, the town hadn’t been the same. “Never thought
those hell raising trouble makers were what kept this town jumping.” He
chuckled as he shook his head.
Times were changing. Rock Creek was becoming a ghost town. The stage
didn’t even make scheduled stops anymore. Most of the shops had closed
and there were only a handful of residents left. Many of those that
were left were too old or too stubborn to leave. He was one of
them. Most days he didn’t even make enough to justify opening. He spent
more time keeping the shelves clean then he did stocking them. But
closing up the shop would mean giving up on the memories that kept
him going in his advanced age.
Both Rachel and Teaspoon had stayed in town after the Express ended.
Rachel finally became the town’s schoolteacher and eventually married
the president of the bank. She’d kept in touch with her boys throughout
the years and would often give him bits of news in their lives when she
came in for supplies.
Teaspoon had continued on as the town marshal and tried to keep the
town going. Tompkins still couldn’t believe that Teaspoon wouldn’t ever
come in again. Standing with Rachel, alone at his best friend’s grave
just a few days earlier, was the hardest thing to do. He had been
surprised that none of the remaining boys had come to pay their last
respects to a man who had been more of a father than their own had been.
Now, as he walked through the store with a broom, he thought of each
section in the store that held special memories for him; many of those
were the sections the riders often spent the most time in.
Tompkins had often felt it peculiar that Lou, the scrawniest of the
boys often would browse through the women’s clothing and perfumes. He
had never heard of anyone talking about Lou courting one the town’s
fine, young ladies and he just didn’t think Lou was the type to buy
that kind of gift for some of the town’s not so fine ladies. He thought
maybe Lou had had a sister he was browsing for, but as much as he
looked, he never purchased anything from that section.
It wasn’t till later, after hearing some gossip from some of his
*livelier* customers, that the pieces started to fall into place. The
longing in her eyes as she glanced over the hats… her small frame that
would never look good in some of the new styles… the way she always
held her arms across her chest when she thought people were looking at
her… It made sense and whenever she’d come in to the store alone, he’d
casually mention some new item she might like. “For your lovely lady
friend,” he’d often tease her.
The day she married The Kid, was one of Tompkins better memories. All
of the *boys* had grown, but Lou had in more ways than one. She had
gone from a scrawny boy to one of the most beautiful Tompkins had ever
seen. The happiness she showed made Tompkins know that all her
struggles had been worth it for just that moment, the moment her life
would be forever tied with The Kid. Rachel came in a few months back to
let him know about the birth of their twins; their beautiful daughter
Katy, and their handsome son Lou. He and Rachel had a good laugh over
the names. At least they got the genders right, even if their own
parents hadn’t.
Now as he passed by the dry goods, he recalled how many times Jimmy
wound up having to pay because he’d thrown a bag at flour at someone,
or knocked into a display, breaking jars of whatever item was on
special. More than once Tompkins had complained how every time the boys
had come in to the store, trouble usually followed.
Jimmy had eventually become not only a fine, law-abiding citizen, but
Teaspoon had appointed the once trigger-happy cowboy to sheriff. A
move, that had surprised him as much as it had the rest if the town.
Never in all his life did Tompkins expect that. He was even more
surprised to see Jimmy gunned down and killed by the McCanle’s Gang on
the street out side of the store.
Now, as Tompkins passed the literature section, he wondered why he even
bothered to allow new 10-cent novels to come in. No one had
bought one since Cody was about to leave town with the army and stocked
up. He could always count on that boy coming in for fuel for his
wild imagination, and always managed to keep a few new ones in stock,
just in case…
Rachel had told him that Cody had started his own acting troupe that
toured around the west after he left the army. Rachel and Teaspoon
would go and see a couple of his shows when ever he managed to be in
St. Joe. Both had nothing but praise for the boy and said he’d finally
found his calling. The audiences loved him and his wild tall tales of
his misspent youth.
The only member of the team Tompkins had never heard from or about had
been Buck. He always had regretted his treatment of the boy and often
wondered what he had been up to. Rachel and Teaspoon had worried as
well, but they knew that if anyone could survive, it was Buck.
Maybe tonight after the shop was cleaned and closed, he’d pull out his
memory box and read through the letters over again. “Maybe I should
just leave. Head on off to California. I’ve heard its real pretty
there.”
“Ain’t that the truth! You goin’ crazy Tompkins or is someone here I
don’t see?”
Tompkins had been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard the bell over the
door ring, alerting him that someone had entered. He was about to tell
them he was closed and too leave when he looked a saw a familiar face.
“Cody!” he said as he started to cross the floor to shake the boy’s
hand. “It’s good to see you.”
Cody met him half way. “Good to see you too. Tried to get back here
sooner, so I could pay my respects all-proper and the like, but I had
to make a few stops along the way. And let me tell you, traveling with
a coupla babies ain’t my idea of a good time.”
“You’re a family man, congratulations.”
Cody beamed. “Well I’ve always been a family man, and I wanted to make
sure that the family came to pay the respects Teaspoon deserved.” Cody
moved away from the door, nodding his head in the direction of the
street.
Tompkins felt the tears start to slide down his cheek, as out on the
porch stood the family Cody had been talking about. There stood The Kid
and Lou, each holding a squirming bundle and Buck standing proud as
ever with his exotic Kiowa wife and their young son.
As Tompkins went out to greet his long lost friends, he heard Cody walk
over towards the books and exclaim, “Hey I remember these!” He came
back out of the store holding several of the novels, beaming like a
child at Christmas. But his question of, “Hey guys! Look! Do you
remember these?” was lost in rounds of hugs and greetings.
|
All I Have to Offer You
Is Me
Lou sat on the steps of the bunkhouse against a post listening to the
sounds of the evening. Everyone had turned in some time ago and even
now the coyotes had quieted down. She was alone with her thoughts and
that’s what scared her.
Kid was on a run and wouldn’t be back for two more days. For once she
was glad to be away from him. Now she was thinking of leaving. Leaving
her job, her family, her life as a boy behind… no, she couldn’t do
that. More than anything, that’s what he wanted.
Actually, she wasn’t sure what Kid wanted and that was the problem.
When it was just them that knew who she really was, things were fine.
He had no choice but to treat her as one of the boys. There had been
times when it was obvious that Kid would rather her be anywhere but
where the action was but he left her to do her job, he’d had no choice.
Now everyone knew, even Teaspoon, and he was trying to treat her more
and more like the girl she should be.
Things were changing. She was changing. As much as she loved what she
had, a part of her had always yearned to be the real Louise again. Why
couldn’t she have both? Why couldn’t she have all that and still have
Kid accept her for whom she was?
She knew the answer. Kid’s southern upbringing dictated that he would
stop at nothing to protect women. Especially those he loved. He would
give his life to save hers. He’d seen the pain his mother had gone
through at the hands of his father.
Lou didn’t even want to think what the Kid would do if he knew about
her own troubled past. She’d gotten to where she was because she had
had to be strong to survive. From the time she had been born her father
had thought of her as an inconvenience. She wasn’t the son he had
expected to be born first.
On her deathbed, her mother had confided in Lou, that she had received
a beating that almost killed her, because their first-born had been a
daughter. That was the reason there was such a big age difference
between Lou and Jeremiah, almost ten years. Her mother had been scared
to try again. But when her father had finally gotten the son he wanted,
he started to ignore her and Louise.
Teresa had been an accident, one their mother had never regretted, but
the final breaking point in their father’s eyes. When the beatings
resumed again, her mother did all she could to protect her daughters.
When she walked in catching her husband drunk and slapping around a 3
month old, colicky, Teresa, she knew she had to leave. Two nights
later, while he was off “working” she took them all and left. There was
no way she could leave Jeremiah to be raised by a man like that.
If Kid ever did find out, at least he’d have the satisfaction of
knowing he had killed her bastard of a father.
Lou didn’t even want to think about what made her spend the life on the
run as a boy. She’d been helpless beyond her control once. That one
time she’d lost more than her innocence. She lost her identity, lost
the young girl on the verge of womanhood that she had been. That night
Louise McCloud died and Lou was born.
It had been hard at first, trying to pass herself as a boy. She had
been a beautiful eighteen year old woman, but she could barely pass
herself off as a fifteen year old boy. She would take whatever job she
could find, though none lasted for very long when the people she worked
for realized she just wasn’t as strong or as tough as she had swore to
get the job. Many times she’d left because some of the other workers
picked fights with the “helpless scrawny drowned rat”.
After about a year and enough fights she’d finally had been strong
enough to leave several lasting injuries. She’d been strong enough to
do as hard and as much, if not more, work than the others could do.
Three months later, one of the boys she had beaten found out her
secret. His first look had been repulsion; the next look had been the
same look Wicks had given her when he said she had “all grown up”. She
was gone before he could recover from her planting her knee squarely in
his groin.
Three days later, she decided to stop and rest her horse. She was about
to check in to the hotel when she’d overheard Sam talking to Tompkins
how the Pony Express was setting up a station out at Emma’s place. She
got directions and headed straight there. She was sure if Teaspoon had
been wearing his glasses he wouldn’t have given her the chance.
She’d proven to the boys in these past few months that not only could
she sit as high in the saddle, ride as fast or shoot as straight as any
of them, she could survive it and anything that came her way. But most
importantly, she’d proven it to herself. Lou was stronger than Louise
would ever be.
But last week when they were going after Lambert, she had been able to
be the woman she should and still do her job; better than any of them
could have done. And the looks on the boys’ faces when she’d shown up
wearing that saloon girl dress had been priceless. They had finally
started to see her for the woman she could be- if she wanted to, and
that didn’t sit well with Kid either.
She had been willing to do things she thought she would never do, just
to save him. But she’d enjoy being a woman once again too much, and it
was that distraction that Kid had felt the need to defend her honor and
rescue her.
Maybe he’d handle it better if she stayed one way or the other. But she
wasn’t ready to make that choice yet. She would never make that choice
because he wanted her to. When she was ready, if she was ready, it
would be her choice. Her being something she wasn’t had already killed
a part of her once and if the Kid made her choose between him and her
survival, well either way it would kill her all over again.
It would be easier for her to just start over somewhere new. Somewhere
where she could find a new job that would eventually allow her to get
Teresa and Jeremiah out of the orphanage. By then, maybe she would be
ready to make the choice. Then they could be a family again and live
the normal life they’d always deserved.
Kid wouldn’t wait, but it would be easier to leave now. Leave before
she and Kid fell too much farther in love. It was hurting her to think
that once again, she had disappointed a man because of what she was.
She looked up and saw a shooting star and sighed. “I love you Kid, but
why can’t you accept who I am. Why can’t you be happy that all I have
to offer you is me?”
|
She's Too Good
I keep pacing the room. I can’t help it. I’ve never been
so nervous or scared in all my life. Tonight the waiting will end, but
I still feel maybe we’re rushing things. I haven’t even told her I love
her, and now we’re about to commit the ultimate act of love.
After the advice Jimmy gave me, I pleaded with Rachel to
allow us this
run together. She didn’t ask questions; I was relieved. She just smiled
and said “Treat her well Kid, make it special.”
Lou is taking so long to wash up I’m worried she’s
changing her mind. I
know I have over a hundred times since this trip started. When she fell
from Lightning and I saw her lying on the ground, I had never been so
scared. But when I rolled her over and she started laughing, I didn’t
know whether to throttle her or kiss her. I tickled her to make sure
she was ok. She’s always been ticklish and everyone knows she can’t
stand it.
After looking around to make sure we were alone, I
melted. One look in
her eyes, and I knew that this was meant to be. I was ready to end all
this waiting right there on the creek bed. Lou was too. But then
Rachel’s words came back to me, “Make it special”, so I pulled away.
Lou must have been confused and hurt, but the most important thing on
my mind was getting here and doing things right.
Not that I’ve had any experience on doing this right.
Not that many of
us do. Jimmy and Cody are mostly talk and they don’t care about doing
right by the girl they’re with, Buck and Noah don’t talk much about
their women at all, and Ike’s the dreamer like me.
I hear Lou’s nervous chuckle and then a small crash of
metal on the
floor coming from the other room. “Lou?” I asked worried.
I’m about to check on her when she says, “I’m ok. Be out
in a minute.”
She’s so nervous she can barely talk. I know the feeling.
I light a fire in the fireplace. My hands are shaking so
badly, I break
half the matches before one finally catches. Now I’m pacing again. With
a fireplace, the room is so small. It barely has enough room for a
double bed and dresser.
I sit on the edge of the bed. It hits me that soon this
will be where
we declare our love for each other, and I jump up as if a snake has
bitten me. The room is decorated real nice though. Those paintings sure
are pretty. I go to look at the one over the fireplace when I stop
dead. Lou’s coming out of the other room.
It takes me a moment to realize this is Lou, my Louise.
She’s wearing a
white sleeveless gown that hangs in all the right places. I must be
imagining things and I just stare at her. I keep blinking expecting her
to disappear. My mouth drops open, but I’m too stunned to speak. I’ve
never seen her more beautiful than she is right now. No matter what
happens in our future, I’ll never forget the sight of her nervously
clutching the gown as she waits for my impression. I try to smile, but
it’s hard. She’s stolen my breath away.
“Surprise,” She says with that nervous chuckle again.
That’s an understatement. All doubts have left my mind.
She comes to me
and shivers in front of the fireplace. I rub my hands on her arms. I
can feel her goose bumps, but like mine, they’re not from the cold. I
gently grab her waist and lift her to my eye level. I’m hoping my eyes
will tell her what I can’t. I want her to see, to feel the effect she’s
having on me.
She does and I kiss her to silence the giggle. I lay her
gently on the
bed and kiss her again. She starts unbuttoning my shirt and I realize
that this is it, the moment has finally arrived. “Lou?” I ask, “Are you
sure?”
Lou nods and pulls me closer to her. I try to go slow,
try to be
gentle, but I can’t stop now. The wait is finally over.
~~ ** ~~
I wake up disoriented. I’m not sure where I am at first
but then I see
Lou sitting on the far end of the bed. She’s wrapped tight in the sheet
and she’s hugging herself. I can’t see her face, but I hear her quiet
sobs and my heartbreaks. “You okay Lou?”
She looks over towards me, but not at me. “I don’t
know.” I can hear
the uncertainty in her voice.
I sit up against the headboard. “A coupla hours ago, the
most important
thing on my mind was gettin' on with what we've been puttin' off for so
long,” I say honestly.
She buries her face in hands and looks towards me again.
I hear what
sounds like a half sob, half chuckle. I can’t tell if she’s crying or
if she’s relieved. “Me too.”
She seems scared that she’s disappointed me somehow. She
keeps
fidgeting with her hands and feet. ”Seems like endin' all that waitin'
was more important to us than the reason we wanted to end it.” She
nods, but I wish she would look at me. If anything, I feel as if I’ve
disappointed her.
“Do you think we made a mistake?” She can barely get the
words out.
”No, no...” God how can she think that. I move closer to
her and kiss
her shoulder. I see the pain in her eyes, and I want to reassure her.
She finally looks at me and it’s not as bad as I thought. “Don't see
that we could've done anything else anyway.” She smiles and nods. But I
think she’s doing it because she thinks I want her to. God, what I
wouldn’t do to hear her nervous chuckle right now. To have that
reassurance that she’s truly ok. “Things are gonna be different between
us now.”
”Maybe better?” I kiss her shoulder again, and she leans
her forehead
against mine. She runs her finger under my chin, and raises my face to
look her in the eyes. “I love you, Kid.”
I’m stunned. This is why she’s been worried. After all
we’ve shared,
after all I’ve done with her, and I’ve forgotten to say the one thing
that mattered most. I’m relieved to hear her say it, but I know now
that she thinks I don’t feel the same. “I love you too, Lou.”
We lay back down. I can’t help but to hold her tightly.
Her hands grip
the arm I have wrapped around her tightly, but it doesn’t hurt. I kiss
the back of her head and listen to her breathing as she falls asleep.
Things have never felt this right before.
I wasn’t joking when I said things were going to be
different between
us. I’ll never be able to let her go now. I know what we’ve done is
wrong in the eyes of God, but how can something so wrong, feel so
right?
As I watch her sleep, I say my prayers, asking for
forgiveness for
sinning. My last thoughts before falling asleep are telling God that
“She’s too good for me but I love her. I know I don’t deserve this
happiness, but please, never take her from me.”
|
Hat and Boots
“Aw come on Lou, if we’re
stayin’ the night here, a little bit of fun ain’t gonna hurt me,” Cody
begged. They were riding slowly down the street looking for the hotel.
Cody stopped in front of the Saloon and Gambling Hall that promised the
“Loosest Luck and Ladies this side of the Mississippi.”
Lou sighed. She was not in the
mood. “Cody, I promised Teaspoon I would keep you outta trouble. If you
go in there, I can’t keep that promise.” She and Cody had been riding
almost 3 days nonstop on a special run. She just wanted to soak in a
hot bath, relax, and try not to think about how much she missed Kid.
The last thing she wanted to do was babysit Cody.
“Ever since you and The Kid
ain’t
been together, why does everyone else have to be miserable?” Cody knew
he hit a sore spot. The look Lou sent him confirmed it. He knew he was
pushing it, but the next words came out anyway. “Kid would let me.”
Lou started Lightning walking
again
and looked back. “Well that’s the difference ‘tween me and The Kid. I
care about what happens to my family.”
Cody felt dirtier than the
manure
on Soda’s hoofs. Lou didn’t deserve the kind of treatment she was
getting. Kid was flaunting his new relationship with Samantha. He was
pretty sure that’s why Lou had volunteered for this run. Now he’d have
to find a way to make it up to her.
Catching up to her, they came
to a
stop in front of the hotel. “I’ll take care of the horses while you get
our rooms.” Lou nodded. “Go ahead and have your bath sent up, by the
time you’ve finished we can grab somethin’ to eat, ok?”
“Sure Cody. Gimme about an
hour?”
Cody nodded and Lou entered the lobby of the hotel. It was crowded for
a Tuesday, but she patiently waited for her turn to check in. “I’d like
two rooms please.”
“Sorry mister, only got one
room
left.”
“Are you sure?”
“Look, do you want it or not?
Storms we been havin’ the past few days flooded some of the trails and
people for miles around are stayin’ put. People who’d pay a lot for the
room. It’s got two beds in it take it or leave it.”
Lou sighed. At least she
wouldn’t
have to share a bed with Cody. “Guess we’ll have to take it.” Lou
signed the register and took the room key. Before going out to let Cody
know the change in plans, she turned. “Can you have a hot bath sent up
with extra towels?” The clerk nodded. “Thanks.”
She found Cody out by the
stables
brushing down Lightning. He saw her and looked up. “What happened to
the bath?”
“Change of plans. Only had one
room
left, but it has two beds. Was wantin’ to let you know.” Cody nodded.
“Did you want to wash up after me or should we meet an in hour?”
“Take your time Lou. You need
some
time to relax. I’ll walk around town and meet you at the lobby in an
hour.” Lou smiled and took his pack from him before heading back
towards the hotel.
Cody made quick work with the
horses and decided to head off to the General Store. Maybe he could
find a small present for Lou, something to show how sorry he was for
his earlier behavior.
Passing the Gambling Hall,
Cody
could hear the sounds of laughter coming from inside. He knew he
shouldn’t but decided to take a peek inside. Immediately three saloon
girls approached him. Tipping his hat he grinned. “Evenin’ ladies.”
“Lookin’ for a little
entertainment
tonight?” The blonde asked.
“No, just lookin’. Thanks
anyway.”
He said as he turned around to leave.
The redhead grabbed his arm
with
one hand and ran her other hand down his backside. “Just one little ol’
game won’t hurt you. I’m Georgia.” Cody blushed. There was something
about southern accents that turned him to mush. And this one’s was a
smooth as a peach. He knew he shouldn’t, but what would one game hurt?
He still had some time before he had to meet Lou, and if he won, he’d
be able to get her a real nice present. Maybe even a pretty dress.
“Well(,) if it’s just one
game.” He
smiled. “Poker?”
The brunette grinned. “Not
just any
poker. Come on towards the back room and you can play our version.” She
wiggled her eyebrows and started to lead him towards the back.
Cody was long gone. He’d never
had
this many beautiful women fawn over him and he was enjoying it. They
could rob him, tie him up and leave him for the coyotes and buzzards,
and he’d still die a happy man. Once in the back room, they ladies led
Cody to a corner table. There were two other men there, both looking
like they’ve seen better days. One looked like he’d lost everything to
gambling, including the shirt on his back!
“Gentleman,” Cody nodded as
the
introductions were made and he took his seat.
“Well Gentlemen, we have a new
player, so it looks like your luck is about to change.” The blonde said
with a wink. The man without his shirt looked like he was about to say
something when the blonde shot him a look similar to the one Lou shot
him earlier. “Five card stud gentleman, Ladies and Deuces are lucky.”
“What’s the ante?” Cody said
as he
reached for his money.
“You’ll see.” The redhead said
with
a smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost two hours later and Lou
was
fuming. She had been waiting around the lobby for Cody and he still
hadn’t shown. She even walked down towards the gambling hall and looked
in without seeing him anywhere. Now she was sitting on the swing the
hotel had on their front porch. She was about to head back up to the
room and lock him out when she heard a noise.
“Psst. Psst, Lou?”
“Cody if that’s you, you
better
have a damn good explanation. Where are you?”
“Around here. Could you do me
a
favor and go get me my pack?”
Lou walked around the side of
the
hotel and saw Cody hiding behind a cactus. “Stop playin’ these games
and come on. I’m hungry and tired. If you didn’t want to eat with me,
all you had to do was say so.”
“Lou I’m serious. Please go
get my
pack. I’ll take you out to eat; I’ll even pay, just go get me my pack.”
Lou walked closer. Cody kept
moving
around the side of the large cactus. “Damn it Cody, you went to the
Gamblin’ Hall didn’t you. How much trouble did you get in?” Lou stopped
dead in her tracks. She tried to hold her laughter back but couldn’t.
There standing behind the
cactus
was Cody. Wearing nothing but his hat and boots.
|
Angel In Her Face
Sam rode up to Emma’s property just as she finished
hanging the last sheet on the line. He stopped a few feet away. “Miss
Emma,” he said as he tipped his hat.
“Why Marshal, what brings you out this far so late in the day?”
“Just wantin’ to stop by and check up on ya. This far out, a lady
livin’ by herself can’t be too careful in these parts.”
Emma smiled. “Well now, I was just headin’ in for some supper. Would
you care to join me?”
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said hesitantly, even
though he was hoping she would ask him just that.
“No trouble at all. Nothin’ fancy, just soup and
sandwiches. Won’t take me no time at all to make a couple of more. Go
hitch your horse and wash up, I’ll have it waitin’ when you come in.”
Ten minutes later, Sam knocked on Emma’s front door before entering.
“You have some mighty fine horses out there Emma, I especially like
that black Mustang. Ride him much?”
Emma looked up from setting the table. “Him? No, he’s never been
ridden. I had to have some men from town help me move him to the corral
behind the barn to keep him away from the others. He’s got a mean
streak to him.”
“Just need to break his spirit that’s all. No sense keepin’ him around
if you’re not gonna do anything with him.”
“Enough talkin’ ‘bout the horses and let’s sit down to eat, before your
soup gets cold.” Sam walked around the table and pulled Emma’s chair
out for her. “Why thank you Marshal, that was very sweet of you.”
“Call me Sam, please.” They sat quietly eating for many minutes before
Sam spoke again. “Do you mind me askin’ why I young woman like yourself
lives out here all alone on this huge piece of land? Seems mighty big
for just yourself, have you considered movin’ closer to town?”
“Funny you should mention that. I received an offer earlier this week
from a representative for the company Russell, Majors, and Waddell.
Seems they were out this way scoutin’ for locations for the Pony
Express and they seemed mighty interested in this land as a station for
some of the riders.”
“That mail service everyone in town’s talkin’ bout’?” Emma nodded. “Are
you gonna sell the land?”
Emma shook her head. “No, they even offered me a job as a cook and
house mother.”
“Well I’m not sure if I’d feel comfortable with you out here by
yourself with a bunch of boys. Don’t know what kind they’ll be. Might
be more trouble than it’s worth if you ask me.”
“I didn’t. But even you said early a woman this far out isn’t safe by
herself. This way I’ll have some company. If it all works out, the
station master should be arrivin’ in the next month or so, and the boys
soon after that.”
Sam finished his meal and stood, “That was a fine meal, Emma. Best I’ve
had in awhile. Would you like me to help with the dishes?”
Emma shook her head and reached for Sam’s plate. “No, you’re a
guest, I wouldn’t hear of it. Since it’s such a nice evening, if you’d
like, go sit on the porch swing and I’ll bring out some coffee.”
“That’d be real nice. It is unusually warm for February and I’m sure
the sunset is pretty out here.” He headed outside and sat in the swing.
A few minutes later, Emma joined him.
“So Sam, you’ve been the Marshal almost three years now. Why’d it take
you so long to come see me?”
“Well, I’d hoped you would invite me over sometime.
But seein’ as you didn’t, I took it upon myself. And if I’d known how
wonderful your suppers were, I would’ve come out here a lot sooner.”
Emma smiled. “Would you like to see the rest of the property?”
“I’d love to,” Sam said as he stood and held out his hand to help Emma
out of the swing. Once she stood, he didn’t let go.
They walked around for a several minutes, Emma pointing out the
bunkhouse, the stables, and other various sights of interest. Finally
Emma showed him the few horses she had including the wild mustang. Emma
held out an apple and he came over to take it.
“He seems gentle when he wants to be, but I don’t dare think of ridin’
him. Like you said, his spirit has never been broken, and I don’t want
to take any chances.”
Sam smiled coyly. “Well there’s still some daylight left if you’d like
for me to give it a try.”
“Getting’ bored on me Sam?”
Sam blushed. He’d enjoyed the evening very much, but he’d hope to have
some fun when he came out here. Of course, breaking a wild mustang
wasn’t the type of fun he’d imagined, but it would do.
“Not at all. Just offerin’ to help is all. If you don’t want to get rid
of him, you might not want him around a bunch of young boys who think
they can’t die.”
“Be my guest then. I won’t be responsible if your foolish notions get
your neck broken. There’s a saddle and tack in the barn.”
Sam went into the barn to grab the items he’d need and cautiously
walked into the corral. The mustang cautiously approached him, and
allowed Sam to ready him with only a minimum of shyness.
“See Emma, this won’t be so bad. Come hold him steady while I get on.”
Emma held on the reins and tried to soothe the horse while Sam mounted
up. Sam slowly backed the horse away from the fence and let Emma get
safely away before spurring him. The horse started to buck like mad.
“Sam!” Emma cried out. “Be careful!”
“Ahh this is nothin’ Emma. Broken worse with less.”
Sam continued to try and control the horse as the sun set and the full
moon rose over the hills. He’d finally thought he horse was starting to
settle down when a coyote howled in the distance. The horse
bucked madly throwing Sam halfway across the corral.
“Sam!” Emma cried again as she climbed under the fence posts and ran to
where Sam was lying deathly still. “Sam, can you hear me? Are you ok?”
She continued to check him over for injuries.
Sam regained consciousness and struggled to breathe. He could tell the
wind had been knocked out of him, and he’d have a bump on his head in
the morning, but other than that he felt fine. He looked up to see
Emma’s hair glowing in front of the moon positioned behind her. She
looked like an angel.
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re an angel Emma?”
Emma chuckled and playfully slapped his arm. “Oh Sam.”
|
I'd Rather Be Sorry
I enter the doctor’s office and see Ike lying on the
bed. He's ghostly pale and soaked in sweat. Ike slowly turns his head
and smiles at me as I sit down next to him and wipe the sweat from his
forehead. "The Doc says you'll be outta here in a coupla days," I say.
Then for some reason I can't help but to look under the bandage. I
can't believe it, all I see is...
Buck awoke after having a nightmare. He looked down to
the bunk below
him expecting to see Ike smiling up at him, but as he looked down he
remembered that it hadn't been just a dream. Ike's bunk was empty and
he'd never see Ike smile again. He also remembered what his dream
wouldn't, how he tried joking with Ike, telling him he'd seen worse.
But he knew as he sat in the chair next to the bed, the friend that had
been more like a brother to him than his own, wouldn't make it through
the night.
It wasn't like he hadn't seen his share of death, or
even been the
cause of someone dying, but with Ike's death it was different. It had
been a senseless death and he hadn't deserved to die like that when his
whole life was just beginning to start. Buck had hoped to feel
something, anything when he shot Neville in cold blood, but Teaspoon
had been right. He had just crossed that fine line and now he would
have to live with it and with the knowledge that it wouldn't bring Ike
back. Nothing would ever bring Ike back, so why did everyone want to
keep his things around to be reminded of that fact?
Ike's bunk was exactly the same way it was when he had
been alive. Not
sure what to do, none of the other bunkmates had touched anything. He
got down from his bunk with a loud thud and heard Cody mumbled
something about being quiet, but Buck couldn't take it anymore.
He threw open the bunkhouse door and went over to Ike's
bunk. Family
photos, mementos, all of Ike's personal belongings were tossed out on
to the porch. He knew Ike's trunk would be too heavy, so he opened the
lid and just started throwing out Ike’s clothes as well.
"Buck?" Lou asked placing her hand softly on his
shoulder. Buck jerked
away, wiping the tears that he hadn't even realized he was shedding,
and headed towards the barn. Lou sighed as the others joined her in
watching Buck ride off.
"Was wonderin' how long it would take before he
snapped," Cody said.
The other riders just stared at him. "Well he has. For a week now he's
not eaten, he's taken any run he can, and have any of you heard him say
anything? I ain't."
"He's grieving Cody," Kid offered. "He just lost his
brother and
everybody handles grief different."
Lou walked outside, still in her long johns and started
to gather the
tossed items. Kid and Jimmy came over to help. "Maybe Rachel can keep
all this up at the house. If Buck doesn't want them, maybe Emily will
want..." Lou paused as she picked up a small red drawstring pouch.
She'd forgotten about the ring. "'Scuse me," she said as she turned and
ran back into the bunkhouse trying not to cry.
Kid and Jimmy heard the sound of hoofs approaching. They
knew there
weren't any scheduled runs until that afternoon, and thinking it may be
Buck returning, quickly finished picking up Ike's things. "Rider
comin'," Cody called out as the rider approached.
"What happened here?" A soft and sad feminine voice
asked.
Rachel chose that moment to come outside. "Emily what a
nice surprise,
the boys were just helpin' with some spring cleanin'." Rachel sent the
boys a look letting them know to clean the mess up and then placed her
arm around Emily's shoulder. "Would you like some coffee? We can talk
while I finish preparing breakfast for the boys." She guided Emily
towards the house.
Emily glanced between Rachel and the mess. "Well I was
hopin' to speak
to Buck if that's possible,” she trailed off as Rachel led her into the
house.
~~~
Buck sat on a flat rock that overlooked the land Ike had
intended to
buy so he and Emily could build a house for when they got married. When
Ike first showed Buck this land and explained what it was for, Buck
thought his best friend had been crazy. Ike and Emily had only known
each other a few days, but Ike said sometimes it happened that way.
Buck asked him how he knew that Emily was right for him.
He pointed out
that everyone had assumed Kid and Lou were meant for each other, but
they didn't last. Ike looked him square in the eyes and signed *When
you realize that you would rather die than see that someone you love
suffer*.
Neither one of them had known that in less than 36 hours
later, Ike
would do just that.
Buck knew he shouldn't hate Emily, but he couldn't help
it. If it
weren't for her, Buck wouldn't keep having these nightmares. He would
still be able to tell Ike something funny that happened to him on a run
and his bunkmates wouldn't look like they were ready to take him out
back and shoot him.
He knew they were just trying to help, but the last
thing he wanted was
to talk about his feelings, or talk about everyone's memories of Ike.
He’d made his peace, he had had to so that Ike’s spirit may be set
free, but he didn’t have to like it; and the more everyone wanted to
talk, the harder it was to accept it.
Buck heard footsteps approaching. Only one other person
knew about this
place. “Emily,” he stated without turning around.
“I thought I might find you here. I went to the...”
“Why? I have nothin’ left to say and I don’t want to
talk about Ike,
especially not with you.” He got up to leave.
Emily grabbed his hand stopping him. “Then don’t talk,
just listen.”
She paused a moment to see if he would and then added “Please?” Buck
sat back down and continued to look down the hill. “I know that you
must think about me...”
“You don’t know anything about me,” he snapped. His cold
tone surprised
even him.
“I know that you were a brother to Ike, in every sense
of the word
except for blood. You were all he ever talked about. Do you know I
didn’t even know he had had a sister until after he died?” Buck shook
his head. “He said if we were to get married, the hardest thing would
be leavin’ you behind.”
“It’s just not fair. He shoulda had the chance. He
shoulda...”
“Lived long enough to be happy, I know. And I’m truly
sorry about what
happened. I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know because I feel like his
death is my fault. If I hadn’t come to town, if my daddy hadn’t been a
gambler, if I had shot Neville just seconds earlier...”
Buck didn’t have the heart to tell her he agreed but
when he finally
had the courage and looked at Emily, he saw the tears and sadness that
he had as well. He finally understood that they had been truly in love.
“I just wanted to let you know that. I’m leaving on the
stage this
afternoon, but I just wanted to tell you, I’d rather be sorry for the
pain I’ve caused you and everyone, than to have never have had the
chance to love Ike.” Emily stood to leave.
“Emily,” Buck said softly as she started to leave. “Me
too.”
|
If It Makes Any Difference
Ike sat stroking Sampson's neck waiting for Lou to
arrive. He needed
her advice on picking out a ring for Annie. Not just any ring, but the
ring and he couldn't think of anyone better to help him.
Lou arrived and held out a small red velvet bag to him.
"Here. If
you want my help for what I think you do, this should do the job."
Ike opened the bag to reveal a beautiful gold band set
with a blue
stone. It was perfect. The color matched Annie's eyes. *How did you
know?*
"Sometimes a girl knows these things. I've seen the way
you look at
her, and figured when you said you needed my help..."
*You already bought this? Why?*
"I don't know why I bought it. Sometimes I think the Kid
and me, you
know."
I try giving it back to her. If it was meant for The
Kid, I can't take
it. She pushes my hand away.
"Don't worry Ike, there's plenty of rings in this
world."
*You're giving it to me?*
"On one condition. You can't tell The Kid about it. I
didn't tell him I
bought that thing."
I smile. She loves him as much as I love Annie. *Why not
if you two are
in love?*
"Yeah, maybe I should have. The way things are goin', I
don't think
I'll be needin' it."
This has to be hard on her. We don't know why Kid ran
off to join
Hawk's gang, and now Lou might not see him again. She's trying not to
cry so I go to hug her. She just pushes me away.
"Ike, you take care of Annie. She's a good girl."
*Not as good as you.*
Lou smiles. "Now you're on your own when it comes to
askin' her. I
helped you with the easy part."
I nod and watch her walk away. I spend all day thinking
of how to
ask her. Emma figured I was up to something and I had to confide in
her. Emma has the perfect solution...
~~~ Journal Entry: October
15, 1860 ~~~
Lunch after church yesterday was humiliating. Sam was
completely
clueless, and Lou and Cody kept pushing me to ask Annie. They just
don't understand how nervous something like this can make you.
 Then
all of these doubts entered my mind. I kept thinking about what Annie's
life would be like if we were to get married. I know she's learning
sign so we can communicate, but is that enough? What about my job with
the Express? Can she handle the risk that my next ride may be my last?
But one glance at Annie, and I know we can make it work.
I reached
in my pocket for the ring and was about to ask when the impossible
happened. It seems her intended husband hadn't been killed in the mine
accident after all.
Harold Jackson had been found alive, and had come to get
her. Annie
felt obligated to go with him. I even tried to get them to leave before
Hawk's gang arrived, but he insisted on staying to help us fight.
 I
realized that as much as I hated to let her go, Harold could provide
Annie with all the things I couldn't. A stable home with a safe job; he
quit working in the mines, the hope of children in the future... Things
I didn't know when or even if I could give her.
But as they were finally leaving this morning, Annie
told me that
Harold was a good man. I watched her climb into the buckboard with him,
and tried not to cry in front of them. As they rode past me, I saw
Annie tell me one last thing... Something Harold would never
understand.
*If it makes any difference, I would have said yes.*
|
Have a Little Faith
Sam entered the house later than usual for his lunch
break. But today
he had a letter from Lou in his pocket and a smile on his face. He
already knew what the letter said, because when Kid burst into Sam's
office, his first words were "Lou and I are getting married!"
Sam insisted that Kid come out to the house for lunch
to deliver
the news to Emma in person, but he was in a hurry on his way to Fort
Laramie on a special run.
Emma walked out of the kitchen and placed the last of
the meals
preparations on the table. "Emma, you should've waited for me to do
that," he said as he wrapped his arms around her expanded stomach and
kissed her neck.
"Well if you had been here on time," she said pulling
awkwardly
away and facing him. She noticed the expression he wore and wondered
what he was up to. "What are you up to Sam Cain? You look like the cat
that ate the canary."
They sat at the table and said thanks before starting
to eat. After
a few moments Emma spoke again. "Well, are you going to tell me or
not?"
Sam smiled and reached for the letter. "Kid stopped by
the office
today and brought this for you. Now before you ask, I did invite him to
lunch, but he was in a hurry to get to Fort Laramie."
Emma playfully swatted at her husband with her napkin.
"You already
know what's in that letter don't you?" Sam nodded. "So are you gonna
tell me or what?"
"Well Kid made me promise not to. He told me as soon as
he entered
the office." Sam held the letter out and teased her with it. "He also
made me promise to give you a hug from everyone first..."
Emma stood and reached across the table to grab the
letter. She
immediately opened it. "It's from Lou, and oh my goodness!" Emma's
squeal of delight made Sam flinch. "She and Kid are getting married. Oh
that's wonderful."
"Kid said he'd stop by some time tomorrow on his way
back for the
reply."
"Oh Sam, I wish we could go... I'm going to write Lou
back right
now. If I know Kid, he'll be ridin' harder than usual to get back to
Lou. And for once, you can do the dishes."
Sam groaned as Emma stood and headed towards the back
bedroom. Sam
had set it up as a temporary office when they first moved in, and now
she sat at the desk to write.
October 12, 1861
My Dearest Loulabelle,
Sam and I were thrilled when we received your letter
today. I am so
happy that you and Kid have worked things out, and now you're getting
married!
Sam and I wish more than anything that we could be there
to share in
your special day, but we have a little surprise for you as well. It
should be arriving about the same time as your wedding, and Sam being
the nervous father-to-be, he thinks it's best not to travel so far, so
close to my due date.
I know you're worried about the future, that's to be
expected. When
Sam and I ran off to get married, we had no idea where we would live or
what we would do until he got the job as Territorial Marshal. You and
Kid are facing a similar situation; will he go back and fight for
Virginia or will he allow you to continue to ride with the Express?
You both have gone through so much in your short lives.
But because
of that you both have grown into fine adults. Sam and I are proud of
you both for how far you've come. And you've come this far because you
both love each other and put each other's needs above your own.
You once wrote saying you don't want things to change,
but they will.
You won't always think it's for the best and you won't always like it,
but just have a little faith and you'll see that in the end, it will be
worth it.
Again, I wish Sam & I could be there, but once the
baby is born
and you and Kid have settled as husband and wife, we'll get together;
maybe for the holidays? Give our love to everyone, we both miss you
all.
Sincerely,
Emma & Sam Cain
|
A Couple More Years
~~ April 1860 ~~
Teaspoon Hunter sat against the fence looking around at
his charges.
Why Russell, Majors and Waddell put him in charge of such a group of
misfits was beyond him. He'd trained some of the roughest and toughest
boys in his days in both the Army and as a Texas Ranger, but he
wondered if maybe now he'd met his match. Though the fact they survived
their first month was nothing less than a miracle; especially since he
had laid odds that they would kill each other before someone else did.
First there's Ike. My first thoughts on him were that he
wouldn't
fit in, that his lack of speech would alienate him from the others. And
except for Buck, he'll have to prove himself to the others. What this
boy lacks in speech, he makes up for in passion. And as Buck said, he
is very good around horses. He'll probably be one of the best riders
this outfit will see. He...
Why is everyone laughing? I turn around just in time to
see Ike
signing something. I know it's about me. "Ike, stop talkin' behind my
back."
Then there's Cody. He's too cocky for his own good. Once
challenged
he won't back down, and he's often getting himself in trouble with his
pride. I can tell he's going to be the lazy one. I've already caught
several of the other boys doing Cody's chores. I think once he grows up
out here, if he survives, might just prove us all wrong, and make
something of himself.
I'm not sure if Kid can handle himself out here. Being
raised in the
south hasn't prepared him for what he's about to see and do. He'd
rather talk his way out of a fight than go for his gun, but out here
it's a different world and one I'm not sure he's ready for.
He doesn't seem to want to fit in... doesn't talk much
about himself...
but he's got to learn that he'll have to work with the others as a team
if they're to survive. If he lasts out here he'll grow up real quick.
Lou keeps pretty much to himself, though I've noticed
Kid talking to
him on occasion. He's got horse skills far better than any of them and
I expect him to be the best rider we've got. He may be small but he's
got guts. And his size doesn't matter, he'll catch up to the others,
and it's often the small ones that pack the most punch.
There's something about Lou and I just can't put my
finger on it. I
can tell he's lived a hard life up until now and he probably has more
secrets than any of them, but I doubt anyone, even Kid, will ever get
close enough to him to learn what.
Jimmy is the one I'm most worried about. He reminds me
so much of me at
that age, and if he's not careful, he'll find himself in an early
grave. He's not too good on a horse, but he'll learn; he'll have too.
He'll also have to learn to be able to trust the others, but it won't
be easy.
The boy needs an attitude adjustment if he's going to
fit in. He'd
rather go for his gun first than think things over and that hair
trigger of his will either get him shot, or on the wrong end of a
noose. Jimmy's like a coyote fighting for pack leadership. Nothing or
no one will stand in his way.
Lastly there's Buck. He thinks he has to prove himself
because he's a
half breed. But most people will never see past that no matter what he
does. I have a feeling it will cause him more problems with the others
even though it makes no difference to me. But he must feel that he
needs to prove that he can survive in both worlds. If he can do that,
than this boy'll do anything.
"I want to congratulate you boys."
"For what?"
"Stickin' together and stayin' alive and that ain't
nothin' but dumb
luck, so don't go gettin' smug."
"Do you like us Teaspoon?" Cody asked with his cocky
smugness.
I look again at these boys and I realize that yes,
they're growing
on me. Of course it's like the scum on the top of the water in the
trough, but that's the last thing they need to know. "Can't say. I
ain't paid to like ya."
Then again, let's see how I like them after a couple
more years...
~~ ** ~~
~~ October 1861 ~~
"I guess I... I guess I've seen more than my fair share
of funerals.
I kinda got use to 'em. They seem like they was a natural part of life.
But this, this here... this ain't natural."
I'm standing here as we bury yet another one of our
family. Noah
wasn't one of my original boys, but he meant the same to me as the
others. And now that the Express is about to end, I take another good
look at my boys now and wonder how I was wrong in so many ways about
them back then.
Buck did finally find his place in a world that accepted
him for who
he was, not what he was. He became the one the others went to for
guidance or if they needed a shoulder to cry on. It wasn't an easy
journey and he was often torn between his two worlds, but he always
will be torn that way; and it will make him a stronger man for it.
Jimmy did get his attitude adjustment and became a
better man for
it. He learned to accept help and to trust in the others and they
learned to trust him. Most surprisingly was Jimmy's friendship with
Kid. At the beginning they fought like two wet cats tied up in a potato
sack, but eventually they became best friends, even though their love
for the same woman nearly tore them apart.
Jimmy would still rather go for his gun first, but at
least now
he'll pause if necessary to make sure it's the right thing to do. I'm
sure of them all; Jimmy will make me the most proud in the future.
The more I learned about Lou, the more my heart broke.
Never did I
imagine that scrawny little boy was really a beautiful young woman
hiding from the pain of her past. She did turn out to be one of the
best riders, but it was the budding relationship with Kid that brought
her out of her shell.
Only Kid treated her differently after the boys learned
her secret. To
the others she was still one of them. She had proven to them not only
could she could fight beside them and hold her own, but they could go
to her when they had girl troubles. Then again, they gave her more than
her fair share of troubles by always teasing her and Kid. But when Kid
broke her heart, they rallied around her and comforted her.
Kid learned that not everything was as black and white
as he'd like
to believe. The hardest lesson he learned was that his southern ways
almost cost him the woman he was meant to spend his life with and it
had pushed her straight in to the arms of his best friend.
The two of them had had their fair share of problems,
but I was lucky
enough to have the honor of presiding over their union just a few days
ago... What a shame to have to bury their brother just days after such
a joyous occasion.
It wasn't too long ago that we had to say goodbye to
Ike. Ike had
always cared too much for & tried to protect children and animals,
but when he met Emily, he realized there was more in this world to
love. When he should've been planning his future with her, he tried to
keep her from killing the man that killed her father, and sadly he made
the ultimate sacrifice saving her. His was just one more senseless
death that shouldn't have happened.
Cody was another one of my surprises. He may have been a
lazy,
gluttonous, care free young boy, but he became a man you could count on
in a pinch. He's full of big dreams, but I know the army will soon
change that.
Out of all my boys, he took Noah's death the hardest.
Maybe it was
because they were so close or maybe because he had been there when it
happened and there was nothing he could do. Either way, he'll have to
get use to death if he wants to survive in this war.
"What's happenin' around us ain't natural. Our nation
bein' divided,
friends are turnin' against friends, family against family and it's all
leadin' to the same place. That place is here. In cemeteries like this,
with grief stricken friends and family like this; young lives cut
short, long before their time..."
And if the Good Lord's willing, it'll be a couple more
years before we
have to gather here again.
|
I've Had a Good
Time
Rachel looked around the gambling hall for Roger for the
third time.
He'd left over an hour ago to check on his young daughter and hadn't
been back since. This was supposed to have been their last con, the big
break before he went legit for the sake of Daisy.
She had no doubt she could pull the con off by herself,
but it would be
so much easier with his help. They were to find an unexpected mark, and
while she dealt the cards, Roger would communicate via a system they
had used in the past. They would bluff the poor man out of his money,
and no one would ever know that the dealer in the dark corner wasn't
even an employee of the fine establishment.
"Are you waitin' for others or takin' a break?"
Rachel looked at the strange voice and smiled. He
might just work,
she thought to herself. "I was waitin' for others, but if you don't
mind we can play without them."
"I don't mind. Name's Henry, Henry Dunne."
"Rachel Fly..." It was too late, she started to break
the number one
rule, never give out your real name. "Just Rachel."
"Well just Rachel, ladies choice."
They spent the next few hours playing and talking with
each other.
Henry seemed to be sweet and there was something about him that made
her feel bad about taking advantage of him.
"Well looks like I'm gonna have to go all in," Henry
said with a
devilish smile. "Which is a shame because if I loose our time together
will be over. And I've enjoyed talking with you."
Rachel had enjoyed their time together as well. She had
a full house,
Kings over fours, and knew Henry most likely didn't have anything that
could beat it.
"I've enjoyed it too."
"How about we sweeten the deal some. If you win, you get
all my money
and I leave. If I win, you can still keep the money, but you have to
agree to have dinner with me."
Rachel looked uncomfortable. "I'm not sure that's a good
idea."
"Why not? I already know you're not married, never have
been, and that
there isn't anyone who'd get mad if I escorted you to a lovely meal.
I'm sure that the manager here wouldn't mind if he found out, so why
not?"
He flashed Rachel a grin and her resolve melted. She
knew she was
breaking another rule, but then again, it would be hard to beat her
hand. "Ok sure, why not." Rachel revealed her hands, "Full House, Kings
over fours."
"Well I'm sorry to say I only have 2 pairs," Henry
revealed a pair of
Aces and a Queen of Hearts.
Rachel look disappointed but started to collect the
money on the table.
She knew the bet had been too good to be true.
"Well wait, I have another pair," he said as he revealed
his last two
cards. "And they also just happen to be a pair of Aces."
Rachel shook her head in disbelief. The Queen of
cons got conned
herself, she thought. Well at least I'll get to have a nice
dinner with him.
"I'm sorry that wasn't fair of me," Henry said smiling.
"I won't hold
our bet against you; you don't have to accompany me to dinner."
"No, you won and I'll honor it. It was a sneaky way to
get me to go out
with you, but I admire it. So how about we meet outside the restaurant
in about an hour. That'll give me time to freshen up."
Henry nodded and they went their separate ways. Rachel
searched through
her travel bag and realized she didn't have any clothes that were
decent enough to wear on a date with a man like Henry. All her blouses
were too low cut or all her skirts were too short. Knowing she didn't
have enough time to buy a new outfit, she chose the most conservative
outfit she could find, and prayed Henry didn't think she that she
belonged at a whorehouse.
There was something different about Henry that intrigued
Rachel. For as
long as she could remember, she didn't let what others might think
dictate her life. Now as she made her way to the restaurant, she
couldn't help but think what he's think of her when he saw her dressed
like she was.
Henry was waiting outside dressed in his Sunday's finest
holding a
bouquet of wildflowers and smiled as she approached.
"I would have rather have given you roses, but I
couldn't find any on
such short notice. I hope you don't mind."
Rachel blushed, "These are lovely, thank you. I think
they're much
prettier than roses."
"Not as lovely as you are, shall we?" Henry placed his
arm around
Rachel's as they entered the restaurant.
Several hours later, Rachel was surprised when the owner
of the
restaurant had kindly thrown the couple out so they could close for the
evening. They had spent the time talking and lost track of time. As
they exited the restaurant, Rachel realized she still didn't want the
night to end.
I've had a good time tonight, Henry. It was wonderful
and I'd like to
thank you for your company."
"It should be me who's thanking you Rachel. I can't
imagine when I've
had a more enjoyable time or with such wonderful company. I'd love to
see you again if that's possible."
Rachel was at a loss for words. She too would love to
see him again,
but during the meal, she hadn't been able to tell him that she made her
living as a con woman.
"I'd like to Henry really, but I don't think..."
"You don't think what?"
"I don't think we'd be compatible in the long run. I
mean I..."
"Of course we are Rachel. I hoped tonight would prove
how compatible we
really are."
"It's just that the life I lead, I don't think you're
the type of man
who would understand." Rachel turned her head away before he saw the
tears forming in her eyes.
No man had ever made her feel this way. Even though
she'd met him only
hours before, there was something about Henry that made her pulse race
and heart feel as if it were about to beat right out of her chest. She
even started to understand why Roger had wanted to give it all up for
the sake of someone he loved.
Henry turned her head back towards him with his finger
and lightly
kissed her lips.
"All I need to understand is life is a gamble and con
artist or not, I
don't want to bet on it without you."
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