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Victoria woke the next morning to the sounds of horses and wagons going by. At first she couldn't remember where she was, it sure didn't sound anything like what she was used to in Illinois. But after looking around the room, she soon remembered the past days events and that she was staying at Mary Travis' house. Quickly getting dressed and ready for the day she went out to the kitchen where she found Mary preparing a basket of food.
"I thought you might like to have breakfast with your friends. I had told Nathan I would send something over for them but since I have to get the newspaper office open I thought you could take it over for me. I made plenty for you and Nathan as well." She smiled, closing the lid on the woven basket. "And around lunch time maybe you could meet me back here and we could talk more about you taking the teaching job."
"Sounds just fine. It will give me plenty of time to look around your town, get the lay of the land so to speak." Victoria picked up the basket and headed out the door.
She had not gotten far when she spotted a few familiar faces up the street. Vin, Buck, Ezra and JD were standing in front of the jail making plans on who would be baby-sitting the prisoners next. When they saw her approaching they stopped their conversation and greeted her warmly.
"Good morning Miss Victoria." Vin said, tipping his hat.
"Yes it is, Mr. Tanner…….. I mean Vin." She smiled shyly, remembering he had offered his first name.
Vin turned to the other men standing around him.
"I don't think you have met Buck or Ezra, at least not formally." He introduced.
Ezra stepped forward and took Victoria's free hand and kissed it in true gentlemanly fashion.
"Charmed to be sure, my dear." He said, his southern drawl rich and husky. "You do put the morning to shame with your beauty, Miss Victoria."
"And you sir, could charm a greedy banker out of his last dollar." She laughed, enjoying this man's manners very much.
"And I am sure he has." Buck was quick to intercede as he pushed his way in front of Ezra. "Buck Wilmington, Ma'am." He introduced himself. He had to admit that it disappointed him some that she didn't recognize him. That is if she was truly Christine.
"And am I to assume that the two of you, as well as you, Mr. Dunn are three of the seven that Mrs. Travis spoke of who so gallantly protect this town?" She asked.
"Yes Ma'am." JD was quick to admit, proudly pulling back his jacket to expose his gun. "So if anyone gives you a lick of trouble, just let us know and we will handle it for you."
"That is indeed comforting to know. And I will keep that in mind as I inspect the town later today."
"All alone?" Ezra asked, sounding horrified by the thought. "I won't hear of such a thing. I insist that you take along a guide, not only to show you around, but for your protection."
"Do you think it wise?" She asked, a little concerned by his words.
"For once I agree with him, Miss Victoria. If you are not familiar with this town it would be too easy for you to end up where you don't belong." Vin added.
"In that case, could I impose upon you to escort me, Vin?" She asked hopefully. "Unless you are too busy, I don't want to take you from your duties to the town."
Ezra opened his mouth in a momentary protest, but closed it quickly as JD began to snicker behind him.
"I….." Vin began, looking uncomfortably from one man to the next, but they were of no help. "Be happy to." He ended, her pleading look disarming him until he could think of nothing else.
"Splendid. I will meet you back here in an hour then. But now I must get to the infirmary and deliver the breakfast Mrs. Travis prepared."
Ezra was not about to be side stepped again and held out his arm to her.
"May I escort you there then, Miss Victoria?" He asked, giving JD a sly wink as she placed her hand upon his coat sleeve. The two of them walked off towards Nathan's clinic, leaving the remaining three staring after them.
"She sure does brighten up this town." JD said, once she was out of ear shot.
Buck looked over at his young protégé, narrowing his eyes at his words.
"You just remember what Chris said and treat her with respect. She isn't like one of Wick's girls." He told him with deadly seriousness.
"Don't you think I know that, Buck. I am not an idiot. Victoria is all lady, and as such deserves to be courted by a gentleman." He straightened his collar and tugged down on his bowler hat for emphasis.
Buck gave JD a shove towards the jail house, pushing the love sick puppy inside as he followed, leaving Vin alone on the sidewalk. He stared after Victoria and Ezra as they entered the clinic, not having heard much of what was said by Buck or JD as he was lost in thought. Why had he agreed to show her around town? He knew he had been attracted to the girl ever since he had helped her off the stage coach, and with each time they met, the attraction grew. But Vin was a hunted man, and no amount of dreaming would erase that. So what was he doing entertaining thoughts of this woman? He should cancel their plans for this afternoon, he knew that to be true. But for the life of him, he couldn't bring himself to do so.
Chris had been watching out the window of his room as Victoria left Mary's place and as soon as she had gone inside the clinic he headed over to the newspaper office.
Mary heard the bell on the door ring as it opened and she turned around to greet her first customer of the day. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the man in the dark duster entering the room.
"Good morning." She began in a pleasant tone, but her smile turned into a look of concern when she got a closer look at him. "Chris, you look terrible." As if he ever could in her eyes, she thought ironically. "Are you all right?"
"I will be as soon as this band in my head stops playing." He told her, swearing off liquor for the sixth time that morning. "Vin tells me that you talked Victoria into staying with you. Did you find anything out?"
"I sure did." Mary replied proudly, gesturing towards a chair which Chris soon occupied. "Victoria is a school teacher and has traveled west to see some sights and then settle down out here and continue her teaching. I think I may have her convinced to stay on in Four Corners and teach the children here."
"Not a bad idea." Chris admitted. "But you have overlooked one thing. We don't have a schoolhouse."
"I know, but we can always think of something. The point is we don't have to worry about her packing up and leaving just yet." She was a little hurt that he had not thought of that as one of her motives.
"You're right. You did a good job." He could tell he had hurt her feelings, something he never wanted to do. "Anything else interesting come up?"
"As a matter of fact there was something. Did Christine ever have a scar above her right ear?"
"A scar?" Chris questioned, his brows coming together in deep thought. "No, she had no scars. Even though you would have thought she would be sporting a dozen or so by the way she was always into everything." He smiled a genuine smile at the memory. "She was such a little tomboy, nothing scared her. Not the tallest tree or the biggest horse. We had to watch her constantly for fear she would pick up a snake just to see what it felt like." He looked back at Mary who was enjoying his recollection. "But she never had a scar, and certainly not one above her ear. Why, does Victoria have one?"
"Yes, a very long one. I asked her how she got it and she claims not to remember, which I thought was quite odd. I was hoping it was something you knew of and would prove to reveal her identity." Mary was very disappointed that it had not helped as she thought it would.
"Don't feel bad, it was a good try. Just keep at it, something is bound to help us make sense of this." Chris stood up and leaned forward, letting his finger graze gently under Mary's chin, tipping her eyes up towards him. "I appreciate this Mary, I truly do."
And then before she could think of anything to say he walked out of the office quickly.
Victoria came out of the clinic feeling much better now that she had seen Michael up and around, his shoulder hardly seeming to bother him. They were talking about leaving the following day for Bitter Creek to catch the train and was very grateful for her offer to stop by the post office to send word to his brother. She held her hand up and shaded her eyes as she looked up the sidewalk. She had told Vin she would meet him by the jail soon, and she didn't want to keep him waiting. She wondered what he must think of her after she so brazenly asked him to show her around. The men are supposed to chase the girls, or at least that was what her mother had always told her. But with Vin, she seemed to forget all that. She wanted to get to know this man, and if he was not going to make the fist move, she would just have to herself. So with determination in her eyes, if not very much confidence in her heart, she headed towards the jail.
Vin sat in a hard backed chair, leaned back against the wall and waited for the last half an hour for Victoria to arrive. He chided himself for how anxious he was. Vin was no stranger when it came to women, but he was when it came to dealing with the feelings he was having for Victoria. She was not only attractive, but he admired her spirit and her sense of humor, and that was something he had never taken time to notice in a woman before. Could it be that he had just never been ready for a woman like her, or had he just never met anyone like her? Either way, Vin found that she was taking up all his thoughts.
He saw her approaching and stood up to greet her.
"I hope I have not kept you waiting." Victoria said, swinging the empty basket in front of her, a little shy now that she was with him again.
"No, not at all." He told her. "So what would you like to see first?"
"The post office. I need to send a telegraph to Michael's brother. And then I need to stop by the general store to get a few things. Other than that I put myself in your hands." Victoria blushed as soon as the words came out, hoping that he didn't notice.
"Then we better get started." Vin reached out, offering to take the basket for her as they walked across the street.
After she had sent the telegram and picked up her items at the store, the two of them just wandered around aimlessly, keeping a leisurely pace as they covered the town. Vin was surprised at how at ease she had put him, not once had the conversation lagged as he had been afraid it would. She had asked many insightful questions and seemed to find everything he showed her very interesting, making the two hours they spent together fly by. They had just stepped back up onto the side walk in front of the clinic when they ran into Chris coming out.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Larabee." Victoria greeted him cheerfully, brushing a wisp of hair out of her eyes.
Chris was stunned into silence once again at the sight of her. It was like someone had reached into his memory and pulled Alesha out and placed her before him. He had to force himself to even give her a polite nod, she had shaken him so much.
"Mr. Tanner here was giving me a tour of your town." She told him, trying to think of something to say.
"Is that so?" Chris replied, looking oddly at Vin. "Mary asked me to find you, she says that she needs you over at the newspaper office."
"All right." Victoria said, turning to Vin. "Thank your for the tour, you were an excellent guide."
"Glad to be of service, Ma'am." He nodded, handing the basket he still carried to Chris. And with a nod to the two of them he walked on up the street.
Victoria stared after him for a second before turning back to Chris.
"Did Mary say why she needed me?" She asked, as Chris took her lightly by the elbow and guided her across the busy street.
"She called a meeting with some of the towns people about setting up a school." Chris told her.
"So soon?"
"Mary Travis does not believe in letting things collect dust." Chris said with a smile. "You haven't changed your mind about teaching here, have you?"
"No, I am still interested, I had just not expected things to move this fast." She explained.
"Well just because they are talking does not mean things will come about any time soon. People in this town are a bit slow on change. But Mary has big dreams and she is determined to see they happen."
"And I think that she has the strength and will to see it gets done too. She strikes me as a lady who gets whatever she goes after."
Chris was amazed at how fast she had sized Mrs. Travis up, wondering if she knew just how true her words were. He was just about to say that Mary had been fighting alone against the town for some time, when he caught her staring at him.
"What?" He asked, not liking the way she was examining him.
"I am sorry. I don't mean to stare, it is just that you seem familiar to me. Have we ever met before?" She asked, looking up at him. But before he could answer her, she started to laugh good naturedly. "Listen to me, it sounds like a line you might hear at a saloon or something."
They had stopped in front of the newspaper office when she started laughing, and Mary, having apparently heard her, opened the door and ushered her in. Chris was still trying to figure out how to take what she had just said as he followed them inside, finding a seat in the corner out of the way. They spent the next hour talking with Victoria, as Mary tried to stress the need the town had for a school. In the end it was decided that funding could be set aside for a teacher's salary, but only under certain conditions. And after the three men had said their good-byes, Mary sat back in her chair with a heavy sigh.
"I can't believe they are being so unreasonable about all this." She said, her anger showing in her tone.
"You can't blame them though. None of them have any kids who would be using the school, so to them it is not as much of a need." Victoria reasoned.
"But at the very least they could have offered to help us find a place and fix it up. And to require that we find and maintain an average of at least twenty students at all times." She threw up her hands in an exasperated manner. "I don't know why I even try sometimes, I just keep running up against a brick wall."
Chris stood up and walked over, placing his hands on the desk as he leaned forward and looked at Mary.
"Then we will just have to figure things out ourselves." He told her, hating to see the defeated look on her face after all she was going through to help him out with his troubles. "And I think I have just the place where we can hold the school."
"You do?" Mary's hopes seemed renewed by Chris's encouraging words.
"Yes, but first I need to talk it over with someone. You two keep planning, we will work this out." He then strode out of the room, leaving both ladies staring after him in wonder.
"Is he always this mysterious?" Victoria asked, once he was gone.
"Chris Larabee is a lot of things, and mysterious is just one of them. Confusing is another good description, stubborn, prideful, but not in a bad way, and……." Mary stopped, searching for more words.
"Very handsome?" Victoria finished, a knowing smile coming to her face.
"Victoria! He is old enough to be your……" She sputtered, stopping herself just in time before she said something Chris might regret.
"Does not mean I can't notice how handsome he is. Or could there be some other reason you sound so appalled." Victoria laughed, watching Mary's face turn red.
"What are you talking about? Mr. Larabee and I are merely friends. That is all." She stated emphatically.
"If you say so." She conceded, but she didn't sound very convinced, and her face still held traces of amusement.
Chris entered the run down church that Josiah had been trying to renovate for some time now and looked around. The place still needed a lot of fixing up, but it was a perfect place, ideal for a school.
"What brings you by, Chris? Looking to make a confession?" Josiah asked, coming in the back door, wiping the sweat off the back of his neck with his bandanna. He held a freshly cut piece of wood in his hand, evidence that he had been working hard.
"Not exactly." Chris said. "But can I interest you in a business proposition?"
Josiah looked at Chris with a puzzled expression on his face.
"Why didn't I think of it?" Mary said, realizing Chris' idea was nothing short of inspired. "Are you sure you don't mind sharing the building with us, Josiah?"
"I would welcome the company. It gets kind of lonely fixing her up alone." He assured her graciously.
"And with more of us to help it will be done all the sooner. Things are starting to look up, we might have it ready in time to start school as soon as next month." Mary was getting more and more excited as she spoke.
"But I still have to round up a substantial amount of students." Victoria reminded them. "How would you suggest we get the word around so we can start enrollment?"
"I could place an ad in the newspaper, but it wouldn't hurt if you went around to the farms and ranches and introduce yourself to the families. The personal touch can win people over faster than anything."
"Good idea. Perhaps I could enlist the assistance of Mr. Tanner once again to guide me around to the homesteads." She suggested.
"I think Buck would be a better choice. He knows the area better than Vin." Chris broke in, deciding that if someone was going to be escorting her anywhere, he would feel better having Buck doing it.
"Fine, I will look forward to it." Victoria told him, but inside she was a little disappointed that it wouldn't be Vin that she would be spending time alone with.
"It is settled then. We will all pitch in and get the church ready while you and Buck start your rounds on gathering students." Mary said, as if calling the meeting to an end. "We will commence project School House first thing in the morning."
The next day dawned bright as they all took turns helping with the work. The old church had fallen into ruin from lack of use, and fixing it up was not going to be an easy job. Mary started by measuring the windows for curtains, and while she went to the general store to buy fabric, Victoria got a bucket of water and began cleaning the parts of the floor that were still useable.
"Heads up!" JD and Nathan called as they came through the back door carrying a long plank at each end. Josiah ducked behind one of the long benches just in time to avoid a knock on the head. He poked his head up when they had passed and looked at Victoria.
"I am starting to wonder if getting them to help was a good idea or not."
Victoria laughed and shook her head. She was truly enjoying her time in this town.
The day wore on, with much work and laughter taking place inside the church, as well as out back when JD had backed up too far and had fallen into the box of nails. Nathan had assured him he would survive the ordeal, even if his pride would not.
"I am so hot I could just melt." JD complained, mopping his sweating brow as they sat down to take a rest. "And where exactly is Vin and Ezra during all this?"
"Vin is watching the jail house and you can guess where Ezra is." Nathan told him. "I believe his exact words were "My hands are precision instruments, and I dare not risk them by performing such mundane tasks as carpentry." Nathan did a very impressive imitation of his friend, making the others all start laughing. He then got a wicked gleam in his eye as he looked at JD. "But if you are so hot, perhaps a little water would cool you down." And with that he reached into Victoria's water bucket, pulled out a sopping rag and tossed it at the young man.
The rag hit JD squarely in the face, knocking him off balance and landing him on the floor with a loud thud. JD scrambled back to his feet, ripping the rag off and looking at Nathan with such shock that the remaining three couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter.
"Oh, you think that is funny, huh?" JD asked, a slight smile tugging at his own lips. "Well let's see how you like it." And picking up the still sopping rag he hurled it back. Unfortunately he was not as good an aim as Nathan was and the rag flew past Nathan and hit Josiah square in the chest.
Now even though Josiah was a peaceable man by nature, or so he claimed, you could tell that he was not going to let this one slide. And as quick as a rattle snake when it strikes he grabbed the bucket and threw the contents towards JD. Well, Victoria had found this little skirmish quite amusing, as long as the men were battling among themselves. But when the entire bucket of water came flying towards JD, she knew she was going to get wet. And sure enough, half the water went on JD and the other half went all over the front of Victoria.
The silence that followed, as the three men stood with mouths open staring at the drenched lady, was as loud as thunder. She could tell they were afraid she was going to throw a fit, or worse yet, start to cry. But she had another plan, one that they wouldn't be expecting.
"Gentlemen." She said in the calmest voice she could muster. "This means war!" And running to the barrel of drinking water in the corner she scooped up a large pitcher full and started after the three of them.
With a whoop and a yell the race was on. Each of them grabbing buckets, cups or more rags to soak with water and toss at each other. Josiah was the unhappy victim of Victoria's first barrage of wet ammo, while Nathan and JD ran for cover and fresh weapons. JD had just secured a bucket of water, but as he hurried to catch up with Nathan, he slipped, hitting the floor as the bucket spilled instead all over him. But he was up again in a flash, going for more water so he could return to the fight. Victoria had grabbed the large rag from the back of one of the benches where it had landed last and after soaking it thoroughly she got Nathan in her sights and took precise aim.
Chris and Buck had been over at the clinic making sure the Blake family had everything they needed before the stage coach that would take them to Bitter Creek arrived. Beth had asked them if they could round up Victoria and the rest of the men so that they could thank them all before leaving, and that was where the two were headed when they heard screaming coming from the church. Chris and Buck paused only for a second before the two of them took off at a dead run for the church, pulling their guns out as they went.
Chris kicked the front door with his foot, watching as the latch gave way and flung open. But instead of seeing some bandits, or robbers, or even people in trouble, he saw a large dripping red rag coming right at him.
Victoria had thrown the rag with all her strength, aiming right at Nathan. But at the last moment he turned, saw it coming and ducked, allowing it to pass right over his head. Which consequently turned out to be the worst time for the doors burst open and Chris and Buck to come in.
The rag stuck Chris' face and hung there for a few tentative seconds before it fell to the floor in front of him with a sloshy thud. Chris didn't move, he just stood there and looked at the four dripping people before him. Buck reached up and pulled his bandanna from around his neck and held it out in a helpful manner, but Chris could sense the laughter building up in his friend's throat as he took it from him.
"Mr. Larabee….." Victoria began, her voice heavy with shock and horror at what she had done. "I am so terribly sorry!" She ran forward, bringing up her apron hem to help wipe the water from his face.
"Please, don't bother." Chris said, taking hold of her hand midway towards his face.
"But I want to help, to make amends." She argued.
"Well you won't be doing much good with that." He said, pointing to her apron.
She then got a good look at it, poised there in her hand halfway up to his face, and saw that it was dripping wet itself.
"One unexpected bath a day is all I can handle." Chris told her, his face losing all its hardness as he began to laugh.
This broke all the tension in the room and everyone let go with such booming amusement that Mary looked at them as if they had lost their mind when she stepped back into the church.
"What is going on here?" She asked, then noticing the wet floor and the even wetter people. "And how did all of this happen?"
"Rainstorm, Mrs. Travis." Nathan offered, between breaths.
"Inside the church?"
"The Lord works in mysterious ways." Josiah offered, causing everyone to laugh all the harder.
Once the humor of the situation had died down and Chris had explained the reason they had come, everyone wet filed out to change their clothes for the Blake's departure. Buck, Chris and Mary were left standing alone among the puddles of water.
"Well I will say this." Buck began in all seriousness. "She sure has inherited your knack for landing herself in trouble. But I think her aim is much better than yours Chris."
Chris turned just in time to catch the smile that flashed across Buck's face before he ran out the door laughing.
The send off for the Blake's was a tearful one, at least for Beth, Victoria and Daniel. Michael was looking as good as new, except for the sling that held his tender shoulder in place, as he shook hands with each of the men.
"I can't tell you how much we appreciate all you have done. We will be forever in your debt, all of you. And if you are ever down our way, we would be obliged if you would stop by, you are always welcome."
"And do not for get to write us once we get settled." Beth said to Victoria, giving her a hug. "Unless you are too busy with your new school to think about us."
"Never." Victoria assured her. "But I will expect the same from you in return." She then kneeled down in front of Daniel. "And you young man, I want to hear all about that train trip you are going on. I will be looking for your letter in the mail as well."
"I will miss you Victoria." He said, throwing his arms around her in a big hug.
Victoria pulled him away and wiped his tears from his face.
"Oh Daniel, you have so many adventures ahead of you that you will not have a spare minute to miss me." She tried to sound confidant, but the catch in her voice gave her away.
"Yes I will. I will never forget you, Victoria." The little boy assured her.
"And I will never forget you either." She pulled him close once again and squeezed him tightly. She stood up at last, when she had composed herself enough to put up a good front.
"Up you go, Daniel." Michael said, giving his son a hand up into the coach followed by his wife. He then climbed up beside them and shut the door. "Take care." He called to them all as the driver slapped the reins and the horses took off.
The group stepped off the sidewalk and into the street as they waved at the departing stage.
Mary came up behind Victoria and put her hand on her shoulder.
"Are you all right?" She asked, noticing the tears brimming in her eyes.
Victoria reached up and put her hand over Mary's, as she looked after the disappearing stage.
"I will be." She nodded. "Amazing how fast they can work their way into your heart, isn't it."
"I know." Mary agreed.
Victoria straightened suddenly and with a quick motion, wiped her eyes with a brave smile.
"If you will excuse me." She said, heading across the street to Mary's house where she could be alone.
"The poor dear." Ezra shook his head in sympathy. "A woman's heart is a fragile thing, to be sure."
"I better go after her." Mary said as she followed the hurried girl.
The rest of the men departed as well, all except Buck and Chris who continued to stand in the street.
"Hits a little close to home, doesn't it." Buck said quietly, referring to the whole stage departing scene.
"Too close." He agreed, echoes of the past only now beginning to fade away as the coach disappeared from view. But the hardest thing for him to bear was the look on Victoria's face and seeing the tears hovering there. He had forgotten how much it hurt to see his little girl cry. Whether it had been a skinned knee or the childish teasing of the boy next door, every time Christine had shed a tear, Chris had cried a thousand inside. And even now, with all the years that had past between them, he couldn't deny the hold she still had on his heart.
The sun was just setting behind the far hill as the two men left the street and headed for the saloon.
Vin leaned up against the bar, deep in thought as he lifted the shot glass to his lips and drank it down in one gulp. What Ezra had said bothered him more than he cared to admit. It was true that Victoria was a strong woman, full of fire and life. But she also had a kind and gentle heart, the scene just minutes ago attesting to that fact. He had been toying with the thought, a very pleasant thought, of pursuing a relationship with her. But after today, he was not so sure. He had seen how much little Daniel's leaving had affected her, how easy it was for her to get hurt, and he knew he never wanted to be the one to cause her such pain again. Not that he would have ever done so intentionally, but a man with a price on his head didn't have the luxury of choice. If he allowed things to continue the way he wanted them to, there could come a day when he would be forced to depart Four Corners, possibly on the run, leaving her behind to wonder why. And even as he contemplated all this, he knew he was not being completely honest. Victoria would not be the only one hurt if he had to leave, it would wound him as well.
He signaled the bartender for another shot and drank that one down just as fast. But who was he kidding anyway. He was just chasing after the wind if he ever thought a girl like Victoria would give a drifter like him a second glance. He shook his head with a sad laugh. You are a hunted man, Vin Tanner, he told himself, and there is no room in your life for such foolish dreams.
When the bartender came back around, offering to fill his glass a third time, Vin instead took the whole bottle from him and headed to one of the nearby tables. He had just settled down in the chair when he felt a pair of soft hands sneak around his shoulders and slide down his chest. He turned slightly to see the sexy and flirtatious Jolene peek over his shoulder.
"Hey Vin. If you want to feel better, you don't need to crawl inside a bottle to do it." She hinted as she came around, planting herself uninvited on his lap. "What say we take a trip upstairs and see what we can do about finding your smile."
Vin was not in the mood for this. He had successfully avoided Jolene pretty much since she started working at the saloon, but she was bound and determined to keep at him. And he had to admit that he had thought of taking her up on her offer more than once, but each time something inside told him that it wasn't right. He wondered about this new sense of caution since he had never shied away from a pretty saloon girl before. Maybe it was because he was a wanted man now. Maybe the thought of lowering his guard, even to a pair of bedroom eyes, would make him vulnerable somehow. But either way, he had always come up with some reason to decline when she asked. He never had the heart to be rude to her though, choosing instead to placate her with excuses of being too busy and such. But today his nerves were wearing mighty thin and the last thing he needed while trying to get a woman out of his mind, was one on his lap.
"Jolene, I just want to have a quiet drink, that is all." He said, indicating the bottle of whiskey.
"We could take that upstairs and both drink it together." She persisted, letting her hands move over his chest once again in a seductive manner.
"I am just not in the mood for company right now." He told her, trying his best not to let the irritation in his voice show as he gently removed her hands from off his chest.
"You're never in the mood, Vin." She pouted, sitting up a little straighter. "A girl could start to think you don't like her with as many times as you have turned me down. Is that it? You don't find me attractive?"
Vin watched in horror as she seemed to be ready to burst into tears. That was something he was not prepared to handle.
"No, it is not that. You are a very pretty lady. Come on Jolene, don't be sad." He begged, growing anxious.
Jolene's expression of total rejection and heartbreak disappeared in a flash and was replaced by her normal flirty nature. Vin knew he had just fallen for the oldest trick in the book.
"I knew you couldn't resist me." She laughed, getting up from his lap. She then leaned in close to his face and whispered. "But I will hold you to that…… er.. drink upstairs next time." And with a wink she was gone.
Vin sat there and closed his eyes. Most men would take one look at Jolene and see her as a golden opportunity, but Vin saw her for what she was, trouble.
He had just settled down once again, nothing else on his mind but to get rip roaring drunk when Buck and Chris walked in and came over to his table.
"What are we celebrating?" Buck asked, leaning back in his chair far enough to grab two more shot glasses off the bar and slide them over to Vin.
"Self pity." Vin answered, filling them up.
"Good a reason as any." Chris nodded, lifting the glass in a salute before drinking it down.
Between the three of them, they managed to polish off the rest of the whiskey, each one so lost in their thoughts that no one noticed not a word was spoken the rest of the night.
Victoria was feeling much better by the next day. She and Mary had stayed up very late the night before talking and crying about everything and nothing. She was growing very fond of Mary and truly enjoyed spending time with her. And today she was determined to live up to the faith that Mrs. Travis had put in her and recruit as many students as she could for school in the fall. She had to get at least twenty to please the town council, but she wouldn't be satisfied until she had every eligible child around eager to attend her classes.
She had made arrangements with Buck the day before to take her out to some of the nearby ranches this morning and she hoped he had not forgotten. Dressed in a proper white shirt, dark vest and a full skirt that came down just below her knees with high riding boots, she hoped she looked presentable enough to impress as well as be comfortable on the ride. It was something that she had debated on bringing with her, but now she was glad she had kept her old riding outfit. And if Buck was not waiting for her as they had planned, she was determined to head out on her own and not waste the perfect day or the lunch she had packed for the two of them. But when she entered the stables and saw him just finishing putting the saddle on his horse she was sorry she ever doubted him.
"All saddled up and ready to ride." He announced, indicating to the pretty mare who was tied to the rail beside his horse.
"She is beautiful, what is her name." Victoria asked, reaching up to rub her mount's nose.
"The stable hand called her Lady." Buck answered. "He said she was just as meek and mild as one too."
Victoria smiled at Buck with a twinkle in her eye.
"And if you believe that all ladies are of such a nature, then you Mr. Wilmington do not know much about women." She laughed.
Chris entered just then, hearing her last words.
"What Buck here doesn't know about the opposite sex, they haven't discovered yet themselves." Chris teased, enjoying how his friend's face turned red. "But you needn't worry, he can be a perfect gentleman………when he wants to be."
"I never doubted it for a moment, Mr. Larabee." She laughed, mounting the horse and heading it towards the open doors. "Shall we get going then?"
"You two only go to the homesteads this side of Baker Pass today. No sense in trying to cover everything in one day, the school house isn't going to be ready for a good month yet, so you have plenty of time." He warned.
"We should be back sometime before dinner then." Buck called back to Chris as the two of them rode away.
"I can't believe what beautiful country this is Buck." Victoria said, looking around at all the bright colors and wildlife. "I had always dreamed it would be like this out west. Ever since I can remember, I had wanted to see this for myself, to experience the wide open spaces and know that no matter how far you ran you wouldn't hit anything."
"Well I would watch out for trees." Buck warned.
"My parents tried living out west once, unfortunately it was just not in their blood. But not me. I think my parents grew sick of me always talking about how I would come out here one day, to experience it all for myself. I think that is why they saved up the money they left me when they died, to give me the chance to go where they couldn't take me." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the fresh air. "You wouldn't dare to this in the city, you would choke for sure."
"You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." Buck mumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?" She asked.
"Uh…. I said this is the perfect country for running the horses." He lied, kicking his horse into a fast trot.
"I can't agree with you more!" Victoria shouted, urging Lady to catch up with Buck. But soon it was Buck that was having to hurry to keep pace with Victoria as she raced down the hillside, expertly jumping the narrow stream that ran across the valley.
They ran for what seemed forever, or for Victoria only seconds, until they came to a halt at what appeared to be an old homestead, long since vandalized and half burnt down.
"Who lives here?" She asked, holding on tightly to Lady's reins as she pranced around, eager to run once more.
"No one for a long time." Buck answered, not realizing they had been headed this way. "But it used to have a good well and I think the horses could use a rest and a drink before we go on." He dismounted and came over to help her down. "You relax for a while, and I will tend to the horses. That was quite a run for a city girl."
"My parents humored my fascination with the west by enrolling me in riding school back home each summer. So that was just a brisk stretch of the legs in my book." She laughed, walking towards the house to investigate.
Buck pulled the horses over in front of the old well and began to pull up buckets of water for them. He was probably making a huge mistake letting them stop here, and Chris was more than likely going to be angry with him, but what if it helped. He had not been out to Chris' old place in years, not since he rode through after the war on his way to wherever. This place had been like a second home for Buck when Chris and Alesha had lived here. The house had rung with laughter and good times on so many occasions that it was impossible for him to ever count them all. But now it was quiet. He had never told Chris how much it had meant to him to be allowed to share in on his family, but he figured he knew. Buck had never had what you would call a normal home life growing up, not that he regretted any of it. But when he had spent evenings here, it had been like he had been given a glimpse at how the other half had lived. Those who had grown up with a Father and a Mother, who had a normal family who ate around the dinner table and did things together. And when Christine was born, he had almost felt as if he had gained a little sister. Not that he considered Chris a father figure, no that was going too far. A friend to be sure, a respected brother was not out of the question either, but not a father. Maybe that was why he seemed to ride JD so hard, always yelling at the kid and giving him advice whether he wanted it or not. He was trying to pass on what Chris had done for him when they had met, being his mentor now, and in the future his friend.
The horses had each drunk their fill by now and Buck led them back to where he had left Victoria, but she was no where to be seen.
"Victoria?" He called, looking around.
"Over here." He heard her voice call from behind the part of the house that was still standing.
He tied the reins to a nearby post and walked back to where she had called. When he came around the building he saw her under a large tree in the back sitting on a swing hanging from a low branch.
"Look what I have found." She called, pulling her feet forward as she began to swing back and forth. "I have not done this in years."
Buck laughed as she swung higher and higher, remembering the last time he had seen her on that swing.
"Christine, come say goodbye to your Father and Uncle Buck, they are getting ready to leave." Alesha called out the back door to her daughter.
But Christine wouldn't budge from where she sat on the swing, her little legs hardly long enough to reach the ground.
Chris and Buck stood behind Alesha as they too watched her sitting there.
"I don't know what is wrong with her. She has been acting this way ever since she got back from spending the day with the Branson girl up the way." Alesha told Chris.
"Don't worry." Chris said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "I will talk to her."
Chris walked out the back door and up to the large tree and leaned his back against it. Buck, who had followed stood nearby, not so close to be obtrusive, but close enough to hear.
"Your Mother tells me that something is bothering you. Anything you want to talk about?" He asked in a matter-o-fact voice.
"No." Was her only answer, not even lifting her head to look at him.
"I see." Chris mused. Something was obviously upsetting her, but he was a smart enough man not to try and guess what a woman was thinking, even a five year old woman. "Well, I won't make you tell me if you don't want to. But your Uncle Buck and I have to be heading out for Gadsden and we won't be back for at least a week." He leaned his head down just a little so that he could see her face. "Don't you even have a list of what you want us to bring back for you?" He would always return with something from where ever he went and she had come to look forward to his little surprises.
"What I want, Anna Branson said you won't get me." Her voice was hardly above a whisper.
He and Buck exchanged a quick glance of confusion as Chris walked over and squatted down in front of Christine. He took hold of the rope swing and held it still as he looked up into her sad face. He had never known his daughter to be the least bit greedy, never asking for more than a piece of candy or a licorice whip. And he knew very well that if it was in his power to get her something she wanted, nothing and no one was going to tell his daughter she couldn't have it.
"Why don't you tell me what it is you want and I will be the judge of whether I will get it for you." Chris told her, placing his fingers under her chin and lifting her face till she looked him in the eye.
"Anna's mother is going to have a baby soon and I told her that I was going to ask you to bring home a baby brother or sister for me to play with too from Gadsden. But Anna said that you wouldn't, that you can't do that. And I told her that you could if you wanted to because you could do anything. Then she laughed at me, so I told her that she was not my friend any more." Christine blurted out.
Buck, hearing what she said, couldn't help but feel sorry for Chris. He was faced with the bitter job of telling his little girl, who believed her Daddy could do anything, that he couldn't bring her back a baby from Gadsden.
"Well, that is a large order to fill, sweetheart. And Anna is partly right." Chris began. "You see the problem is that they just don't sell babies in stores, not even the ones in Gadsden. And if we decided to have a baby brother or sister come live with us, it would be something your mother and I would have to……uh……work on together." He could almost feel Buck's eyes on him, and he wished he could see if he was laughing. "But just because I can't bring you one back from this trip, does not mean that we can't get you one someday. It will just have to be something we think long and hard on, after all if we ever get another baby, that would mean you would have to help take care of it, because you would be it's sister."
"I can do that. I will help, I promise." Christine's face lit up at the idea. "And I would love it if I was called it's sister."
"But you understand that I can't get you one on this trip, right? And that even if we decide to get a baby, it might not be for a long time." He asked hopefully.
"That is Ok. I just can't wait to see the look on Anna's face when I tell her that someday I will be a sister too like she is going to be." Christine looked questioningly at her Father. "But could it be a boy baby? I would like to have a brother if I could."
Chris couldn't help grinning at her last request, wondering just how to break the news to Alesha that her five year old daughter has put in her early request not only for a sibling, but if they could please make sure it was a boy.
Buck came forward just then and kneeled down beside Chris.
"You know, if a brother is all you want, I think I have some available time on my hands if you think I would qualify for the job." He offered.
"You can't be my brother, you are my Uncle." Christine giggled, amused by his suggestion.
"True." He nodded. "But that doesn't mean I can't call you my Baby Sister, does it?"
"You would call me that?" Her eyes widened in hope.
"I sure could."
"And would you call me that in front of Anna Branson?" Her smile getting larger at the mere thought.
"I will not only call you that in front of Anna, but in front of everyone from now on. As of today, you are officially my Baby Sister and I will fight any man who says different." Buck stated, holding his hand up as if swearing on a Bible to the fact.
Christine jumped off the swing and flung herself into his arms and hugged him as hard as she could.
"I love you, Uncle Buck."
"And I love you too…….Baby Sister." He told her, feeling her wiggle with excitement at his words.
Chris looked at Buck and gave him a silent nod of thanks. He could see that despite all of Buck's flaws, and he had many, he genuinely loved Christine. And any man who could make his daughter this happy couldn't be all bad.
Christine let go of Buck and headed for the house at a run.
"I am going to go tell Mommy about how I am a sister!" She called back over her shoulder.
"You better get in there too and explain this to Alesha before she starts thinking you have another wife and kids hidden away." Buck laughed, shaking his head at Chris' look of horror at the thought.
"I had forgotten how much fun this is." Victoria's voice broke Buck from his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
"Yeah, well we better get going, we have a lot of ground to cover before we head back." Buck told her, watching as she stopped the swing and came walking towards him.
"I do believe it is the job of the teacher to call the children in from recess, Mr. Wilmington, not the other way around." She teased, heading towards the horses and mounting up. "But as you say, we have a lot to do and only a little time to do it in."
As they rode on, Buck was disappointed that being at her old homestead had not sparked a reaction from her. Could it be that she truly was not Christine? That this was all some astounding coincidence? He would have bet anything that she would have somehow recognized her old home if it had been her. Oh well, so much for getting his hopes up.
The two of them rode from farm to farm, from ranch to ranch, talking with the parents at each house that had children. Most of them seemed very pleased at the idea of having a school in town and expressed interest in signing their kids up for the fall term. While others were very skeptical, saying that they would believe it when they would see it. But even those people were no match for Victoria's charm and sweetness and by the time they headed on their way, the people had fallen under her spell. They were not going to have much trouble filling up the school with the rate they were going, Buck thought.
They had just left one of the last houses they had planned on visiting when Buck noticed that Victoria was looking at him in an oddly upset manner.
"What?" He asked, knowing he must have done something. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because……..I mean…… Well Buck, you make it very difficult to hold a conversation about school with some parents when you are sitting beside me making goo-goo eyes at their eldest daughter. Granted, the girl is over the age of consent, but do you know how distracting that is?" And even though he sensed some tension in her voice, there was a hint of laugher as well, letting him know she was not truly upset.
"Hey, can I help it if she found me irresistible? Most women do you know, and I can't fault them for having good taste." He said, his boyish smile and twinkling eyes making Victoria shake her head with laughter. "And she looked very interested in attending the Buck Wilmington school of romance just as much as her parents were interested in you teaching her baby sister." He ended, raising his eye brows quickly in succession.
"What did you say?" Victoria asked suddenly in a very low voice, her face turning almost white. "That last part, say that again."
Buck looked over at her, his smile fading at her odd stare. He was confused, but repeated it as she had asked.
"I said 'as much as her parents were interested in you teaching her baby sister'."
But this time Buck was listening to what he had just said and he knew he had struck a cord. Baby Sister.
Victoria's hand went up to her temples as the pain and dizziness threatened to overcome her. Her other hand gripped the pommel of the saddle so hard that her knuckles turned as white as her face.
Buck was off his horse in a flash and grabbed Victoria around the waist, pulling her from the saddle and carrying her to a nearby log to sit.
"Are you all right?" He asked, afraid she was going to pass out on him. "Let me get you some water." He started to rise to get his canteen.
"No, I will be OK in a minute. It will pass, they always do." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples until the pain had subsided to a dull ache.
"You have had this happen before?" Buck asked.
"I used to, but not since I was twelve. I thought I had outgrown them or something, but apparently not." She looked up at Buck and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I am not going to die on you out here." She gave a nervous laugh. "I am fine now, no lasting damage I assure you.
"Well I think that we better head back to town anyway. No sense in risking a second episode. Do you know what might have triggered it?" He asked, trying to see if it had been his old nickname for her.
"Not a clue. It could have been anything from too much sun to the scent of a wildflower I might be allergic to. Impossible to say." She was embarrassed that this had happened, and wanted to forget it as soon as possible.
Or it could be the fact that I called you Baby Sister, Buck thought to himself as he helped her up on her horse.
The two of them rode slowly and close together all the way back to town, Buck ever ready to reach out a steadying hand should she falter again.
When they got back to town and had returned the horses to the stables, Buck escorted Victoria back to Mary's place and told her it might be best if she rested for a while, just in case. And although she protested for a while, she finally agreed to lay down for at least a half an hour if it would make him happy.
So Buck left Mary's with her promise and headed out to find Chris. It didn't take long to discover him at his favorite table by the wall in the saloon, his hat pulled low as if he were taking an afternoon siesta. But before Buck even opened his mouth, Chris spoke up.
"You are back early Buck, wasn't expecting you till almost dinner time." He leaned his head back against the wall so that he could see Buck without tipping up his hat. "Did something happen?" Noticing the anxious look on his face.
"I will say it did." Buck pulled out the chair next to Chris and sat down, leaning in close so their voices wouldn't carry. "I think I might have discovered another clue to proving that she is Christine."
Chris leaned down closer to Buck as well, his eyes narrowing slightly at his friends words.
"What clue?"
"Well we ran the horses for a while at first, Victoria enjoying the countryside and all. She is a very good rider by the way." He added, notably impressed. "And we ended up out at your old place." He stopped there when he saw Chris' expression harden.
"You did what?" His voice a harsh whisper.
"I didn't plan it, we just gave the horses their heads and they led us there, totally by accident, I assure you. But even though I hoped it might mean something to her, she didn't seem to recognize a thing." He saw Chris' shoulders slump in disappointment. "But that is not the interesting part. Do you remember how I used to call her Baby Sister?"
Chris couldn't help but smile at hearing that nickname used again. It had meant so much to her the day he had started it and she would practically beam every time he had used it since.
"Yeah, I remember."
"Well, we were heading back from about the fifth or sixth farm we had visited, and we were talking, nothing special, just normal talking when I inadvertently used the words 'baby sister' in a sentence. Well you should have seen how she reacted. I mean she almost fainted for pete's sake. And although I don't think she even knew why, I think it was because of my saying 'Baby Sister'. She recognized those words coming from my mouth, I just know it Chris. It is her!"
"Is she all right now?" He asked, paternal instinct kicking in once again.
"Yes, she recovered quite quickly in fact. But there was true recognition there, believe me."
Chris sat there and stared at Buck with a furrowed brow.
"Could be. But I can't base all my hopes on suspicions, Buck. I need more." Chris closed his eyes in frustration.
"So you think it was just a coincidence?" Buck sounded almost hurt.
"Couldn't it have been?" He reasoned.
"Yeah, I suppose it could." Buck admitted, defeated. "Maybe I am reading too much into it. Maybe I just want her to be Christine so bad that I am grasping at straws."
"What about me?" Chris rubbed his eyes, trying to relieve the tension that had built up behind them. "I want it to be her so bad that I can't sleep nights thinking about it. But it almost killed me when I lost her before. I don't know what I will do if I get my hopes up too high then find out she isn't Christine. It would be like losing her all over again. So until I get some solid proof, and some explanation that makes sense, I am going to remain skeptical."
"I understand, Chris." Buck nodded.
They were quiet for a moment, lost in thought, and didn't see Vin come in the saloon and walk over to their table.
"Is this a private conversation or can I join you?" He asked, noticing the serious looks on their faces.
Chris looked up and extended his hand to the empty chair.
"Help yourself." He told him. They were done with their talk anyway.
"So how did you and Victoria make out with the farmers and ranchers today?" Vin asked, shifting the gun he had strapped to his right leg just a little as he got comfortable.
"Rather well." Buck said, then added. "Not as successful as I had first thought, but we will keep trying." He said the last words for Chris' benefit more than to answer Vin. And from the look on Chris' face, he understood.
Vin was just about to ask what he meant by that when something by the saloon doors caught his eye. Buck and Chris noticed his sudden expression of surprise and followed his gaze. It was directed at Victoria who had just walked in the saloon and was looking around. When she spotted the three men she smiled and walked over to them, not noticing that the other patrons were all watching her with shocked filled faces as well.
"There you are Buck, I wanted to talk to you." She began, but Chris cut her off.
"Victoria, what on earth are you doing coming in here!?" He asked, in a bewildered voice.
"What do you mean?" She looked from Buck to Vin for explanation, but found that their faces mirrored Chris'.
"This is a saloon. This is no place for a lady." Vin told her, trying to make her understand.
Victoria looked around the room, now seeing that many of the eyes were turned her way. But then she saw three girls standing over by the bar.
"What about them? They are ladies and they are in here." She argued.
"They are ladies all right. Ladies of the evening." Chris said, stressing the 'evening' part.
At first Victoria didn't understand, but then her eyes grew wide as she comprehended their meaning.
"Ohhhh." She whispered, looking back at the three girls through new eyes.
"And unless you want someone else to thing that you are…….well…….with them, you best march yourself right back out the way you came." Chris directed, his father voice showing through.
"I will, I assure you. But let me talk to Buck for just a second." She insisted, turning her attentions back to Buck.
"I thought I left you taking a nap." He broke in. "You are supposed to be taking it easy. If you over do yourself I will refuse to take you to any more farms tomorrow."
"One small head ache does not make me an invalid, Mr. Wilmington." She huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "And besides, that is what I wanted to tell you. I will not be needing your assistance tomorrow because Mrs. Travis and I are planning a trip to Bitter Creek to place an order for some school books. I just found out and wanted to let you know so you won't keep the day open for me." The three men still looked appalled at her presence. "But if I had known it would upset you so much I would never have dared to deliver the message inside your precious 'Men's Club'."
Vin stood up and opened his mouth to say something, anything to stop her looking at him so angrily when Jolene came sashaying up beside the table.
"Now what have we here?" She said, her voice thick with suspicion and just a touch of jealousy. "If you are looking for a job in here honey, you need to be talking to me and not cutting in on my business."
Victoria looked at the woman in confusion, trying to decipher what she had just said.
"Jolene." Vin said, his voice full of warning, but the woman put her hand up and looked back at Victoria.
"Not to say that we couldn't use another fresh face around here. And you are pretty enough, in a naive sort of way, men might go for that." Jolene's business sense having overridden her suspicious nature.
Chris had heard enough and leapt to his feet ready to defend his would-be daughter's honor when Victoria started to laugh, silencing him before he spoke.
"Oh, Ma'am, you have this all wrong. I assure you that I am not trying to cut in on any of your business. I just came in to deliver a message." She held her hand out to the lady, a gesture that took Jolene by surprise. "I am Victoria Ashford, and I hope to be running the new school we are trying to get started."
Jolene took her hand and shook it tentatively, unsure about this girls open friendliness.
"Well, it is your loss honey, but I can't say I am too upset that you don't want to hire on." She stepped back until she was practically standing on top of Vin's foot. "But a pretty little thing like you might have been more competition than I would have cared for. And I would have had to hate you if you started stealing my best customers." She looked over at Buck and gave him a wink, then let her gaze fall across Chris before she turned and looked at Vin. "And you, honey, how about us getting that drink up in my room like you promised. You don't seem too busy now."
Vin could feel the heat rising in his face like a forest fire. He was not sure if it was from anger or embarrassment. Jolene had gone too far this time. And the look on Victoria's face confirmed it.
Victoria knew her mouth had dropped open the second Jolene had looked at him. How dare that woman show such familiarity with Vin Tanner! But wait, it wasn't Jolene that she was so mad at, this was just her job, but Vin was here by choice and apparently he had a few other choices presented before him. Victoria couldn't stand there another second and watch that woman put her hands on Vin like he was her personal property. So shutting her mouth, she nodded to Buck and Chris, who sat there with sick expressions on their faces.
"Miss Jolene, it was nice meeting you. Gentlemen, I will leave you to your……..revelries."" And turning on her heel, she marched out of the saloon.
"What has gotten her in such a snit?" Jolene asked, as she watched the swinging doors bang back in to place.
Vin shrugged out of Jolene's arms and shoved past her as he headed out the door as well.
"Well, that was rude." Jolene huffed, storming back behind the bar, leaving Buck and Chris alone at the table once more.
"Well that was an awkward situation, now wasn't it." Buck said, letting out a pent-up breath.
"You have a talent for understatement." Chris agreed.
"It didn't do much for our image in her eyes, either."
Chris looked at Buck and shook his head.
"Buck, that is your image." He pointed out.
"True, but it is not like I wanted Victoria to know that. Let me hang on to at least a shred of dignity before she gets to know the real me." He got a puzzled look on his face. "And what is a revelry?"
A strong southern accent behind him offered the answer.
"A revelry, Mr. Wilmington, is a noisy or riotous feast or festival fraught with joyous or clamorous merriment." Ezra said, sitting down in the chair Vin had vacated. "And I applaud Miss Ashford's choice of words in describing the lovely Jolene." He pulled out a deck of cards and began to shuffle them through his hands. "I was watching your performances from across the room gentlemen, and I must say, your acting needs work. How are we ever going to convince our new school teacher that we are respectable upstanding citizens so that she will stay in our fair town, if you keep displaying your less than savory characteristics?"
"Inferring that your past is squeaky clean?" Chris all but growled. He had just been humiliated in front of Victoria, he didn't need Ezra playing the holier than thou routine with him.
"Good lord no, but at least I do my best to conceal it from the uninformed." He set the deck on the table before them. "Cards anyone. Your luck can't possibly get any worse."
Victoria had shot out of the saloon so fast that she was half way down the sidewalk by the time she had heard the doors swing back shut behind her. She was spitting mad, and if she had not been taught that spitting was un-lady-like she just might have done so. Yes, she thought, spit right in Vin's face. That would have shown him a thing or two. But after a second of thinking about it, the glamour wore off and it just sounded disgusting.
Who was she kidding anyway. What gave her the right to feel jealous over Vin Tanner when his only crime had been to be nice to her. She was probably the only one who felt this way, and he was more than likely back in the saloon as confused as all get out by her odd behavior. How could she have acted like such a fool? And what about Buck, she could have cared less how he spent his evenings, but now that she had behaved so badly in front of him as well, it would be hard to face him. Good thing she had just canceled their plans for the ride tomorrow, a day to regain her composure would be appreciated. But what about Chris? Was he also a 'favorite customer' of the infamous Jolene? He didn't strike her as the carousing type, that honor was left up to Buck. But if it was true, where did that leave Mary? It was only obvious that she admired him, possibly even fancied him and she had thought she had gotten the same impression from him about her. But Victoria had been wrong before, Vin being a perfect example.
She was so wrapped up in her misery that she didn't notice Vin standing just outside the saloon doors watching her go. Nor did she see JD approaching until he said hello.
"Miss Victoria?" He said again, when she almost walked by him.
"Oh, Mr. Dunn. Forgive me, I was deep in thought." She put her best smile on, not being one to pass on her troubles.
"Are you headed somewhere? I would be more than happy to escort you." He offered, holding out his arm like he had seen Ezra do.
"Why thank you, kind Sir. I believe the company of a true gentleman would be quite a refreshment at this moment." She told him, taking his arm as they continued on down the way.
Vin had never hit a woman in his life, but he had come as close as he ever wanted to back inside the saloon with Jolene. But he had only himself to blame. If he had put his foot down earlier and told her the truth, that he was just not interested, none of this would have happened. Now Victoria thought he was a womanizer and a scoundrel, basically a Buck Wilmington, and there was no way he could think of to convince her otherwise without letting on that he had feelings for her and that he cared what she thought of him. Why not let her think it though, he already had the reputation of being a murderer, his $500.00 bounty attested to that, why not a cad as well. Maybe it was a good thing, now he didn't need to stress over whether he should peruse the lovely Miss Victoria, the decision had just been made for him. She wouldn't welcome his advances now even if he offered them on a silver platter, thanks to Jolene. Fine then, it was settled. But when he saw her take JD's arm with all the grace of an angel, it still felt like a knife twisting in his back. If he didn't like JD so much, the kid being like a mascot for the group, he would have strode down the sidewalk and punched him in the mouth, just for daring to share the same space with her. But just because she despised him, did not make it JD's fault. And turning away he walked across the street.
The next day Mary noticed that Victoria was a little quiet on their ride to Bitter Creek. She had seemed so excited about the idea of ordering school books yesterday when she suggested this trip that she had run right out to cancel her plans to make time. But today, she was sullen, almost moody in fact.
Victoria was glad to be out of Four Corners, well not the town so much as away from some of its residents. Chris and Buck she had only humiliated herself in front of, but Vin Tanner she was mad at. And what made her madder still was that she had no viable reason to be so upset with him. This was getting her no where, and if she kept this up, Mary would soon begin to notice and then ask questions. And the last thing she wanted to do was let it slip that Chris might be hanging out with saloon girls. Oh what a tangled web we weave, she thought.
The rest of the trip she forced herself to be happy and pleasant, confidant that she had covered over her feelings well enough to fool Mary.
When the two of them got back late that evening, tired and exhausted from the long ride Mary sent Victoria ahead to the house and went in search of Chris. She couldn't find him anywhere but ran into Ezra and JD at the hotel in the restaurant.
"Have the two of you seen Chris?" She asked, as the two men rose from their chairs respectfully.
"Can't say that I have, Mrs. Travis." JD answered. "Not since around noon anyway."
"Is there anything we can assist you with?" Ezra asked, pulling out a chair for her to sit down.
"Possibly." Mary told them, sitting down between the two men. "You see something is bothering Victoria and I was wondering if you might know what it is. She seemed fine yesterday, but today it is like there is a cloud hanging over her."
"She seemed just fine to me when I walked her back to your place yesterday afternoon." JD answered with a shrug.
"I believe I can shed some light on the subject, so to speak." Ezra replied, fiddling with his fork in an uneasy manner. "I found myself witness to an altercation between the lady in question and a certain employee of our local saloon. You see it has come to the attention of Miss Victoria that certain members of our fair town my not have such pristine reputations as she had thought. Nothing serious I am sure, just a bit of disillusionment. The lifting of the veil of innocent fantasies you might say."
Mary looked at Ezra, knowing he was trying his best to sugar coat the occurrence, as well as not drop names.
"I see." She nodded. "And do you think that this disenchantment may be enough to scare her away from our town?"
"Do not fret overly about it, Ma'am. I believe that Miss Victoria is made of a sterner metal than others give her credit for. After all she did put up with a full day of Buck's company and live to tell the tale." He laughed, trying to break the gloom that had fallen over the table.
"I just don't want her to feel uncomfortable here and decide that she needs to be moving on."
"Then if I may make a suggestion. To lesson any chance of her feeling uncomfortable, you might employ another guide for Miss Victoria's coverage of the farms tomorrow. Our Mr. Wilmington may not be the wisest of choices at the present time." Ezra proposed.
"Buck?" Mary asked, realizing that he must have been one of the persons in question. "How about Chris or Vin, they could take his place…….." She stopped when Ezra pursed his lips and shook his head. "Not Vin or Chris?"
"Now myself, on the other hand, have done nothing to offend her that I am aware of and would be more than happy to offer my services." Ezra was quick to add.
"You?" JD broke in. "What makes you think you would be the best choice? I could show her around just as well."
"But I asked first." Ezra glared at JD in such a way that the young man quieted down.
"Fine Ezra, you meet Victoria in front of my place at 8:00am and I will go meet Buck at 8:30 and explain why she won't be coming. I hate to go behind their backs like this, but since they are no where to be found tonight, and I dare not risk alienating Victoria before she has a chance to settle in." Mary got to her feet to leave, thanking the men once again.
"Do you really think Victoria will stay?" JD asked, Mary's worry rubbing off onto him.
"I have no doubt in my mind. The lady is no flighty jack rabbit." But after a minute of thought he added. "But it wouldn't hurt to be extra nice to her just in case."
Victoria was glad that things had gotten changed so that Ezra was taking her out today. Not that she cared a lick what Buck did with his free time, she liked his devil may care attitude just like it was. If only she had not embarrassed herself in front of him the way she had, because other than that she enjoyed his company very much.
Ezra was waiting outside, her horse's reins securely in his hand, when she came out of the newspaper office. He gave her a warm smile, but his blood shot eyes betrayed that he was not a morning person.
"Big night last night, Ezra?" She asked as she mounted up.
"Lets just say that the amateurs at the poker table were far too entertaining, not to mention profitable, to have left at a decent hour. But fear not, dear maiden, I shall aspire to remain alert." He liked how she was so blunt, that he didn't have to hide things with her.
The two of them rode out but didn't make it any further than Whitley Pass when they heard a familiar voice to the left of them.
"Well, well, what a surprise." JD said, urging his horse out from under the tree that had kept him hidden from sight. "Here I am out enjoying a morning ride and who should I bump into? What a coincidence."
"Truly an astounding one, to be sure." Ezra drawled, giving JD an evil look.
"Would you care to join us then Mr. Dunn?" Victoria asked. "I know for a fact that Mary packed us more food than we will eat for our lunch. That is unless you have someplace you need to be."
"Yes, I am sure JD has a whole list of things that need tending to back in town." Ezra said, his voice thick with meaning as he hinted to JD.
"Oddly enough I don't. So I would be happy to join the two of you." JD, tipped his hat to Victoria and giving Ezra a wide Cheshire grin.
"Won't this prove to be exciting." Ezra said sarcastically, just loud enough for JD to hear.
Mary entered the stables just as Buck was leading his horse out of it's stall and began to saddle it up.
"You needn't bother." She told him. "She isn't coming."
"Why not?" Buck asked, looking confused.
"I sent her out with Ezra today."
"You did what?" Chris's voice came from behind her, making her jump at his deep voice.
"I sent her out with Ezra today, he picked her up at the newspaper office half an hour ago." She explained, standing her ground in the face of the two upset men.
"I wanted her to go with Buck because I can trust him. I wouldn't trust Ezra with my mother, let alone my daughter!" Chris shook his head.
"Don't worry, I fixed it so that JD will join up with them at Whitley Pass." Mary added, trying to ease his mind.
"JD?" Buck sputtered. "That is like telling the fox to guard the hen house from the bear."
"Well they were my only choices last night and I couldn't find either one of you to get your opinion on the matter." Mary argued.
"Why didn't you just leave things like I had fixed them and let Buck take her out? Or if you had to send someone else, why not Vin?"
"Because she seemed a little uncomfortable with the idea of spending time with Buck, not to mention Vin, and even you for that matter." She informed them.
"What?" Buck asked, walking forward.
"Why?" Chris chimed in.
"Because of some incident in the saloon as near as I can figure. And she doesn't hate you or anything, I just believe that she is embarrassed for some reason and isn't comfortable facing you right now." Mary felt sorry for the two men, they looked so hurt by her news.
"She was embarrassed? She looked more mad. We were the ones who were embarrassed!" Buck said in surprise.
"Well I just didn't want to force her into an awkward situation, is all. So I asked Ezra and JD to play guide till I had a chance to talk to the two of you."
"Well, it wasn't what I would have done, but thanks for trying to help. I appreciate it." Chris told her.
"I didn't do it for you, Chris Larabee. I did it for Victoria and for this town. I don't want her to decide to leave just because of some misunderstanding. She is a very kind girl and I have grown very attached to her, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her here and happy." Mary, looked from one man to the other. "Now I think this will all blow over in a day or so, but until then I suggest the three of you, Vin included, be on your best behavior." She waved her finger in their faces, as if scolding a little child before she walked out of the stables.
After she had gone, Buck fidgeted around a little, putting his hands on his hips and looked at Chris questioningly.
"Just how good do we have to be?"
Victoria was thoroughly enjoying her day out with Ezra and JD, finding their constant needling adorable. More than once their arguing had reduced her to fits of laughter. But during one conversation they were having, JD said something that caught her interest.
"What was that again, JD?" She asked.
"I said that Chris has lightened up considerably since I first me him, and I think we have Mrs. Travis to thank for that." He repeated.
"So are you saying that Mr. Larabee might have feelings for Mary?" Victoria brightened at this news. Here she had been worried that maybe Mary's affections were only one sided.
"Now I am not one to gossip or anything." JD said nervously. "And Chris would skin me alive if he heard me talking like that. But I only call them as I see them. Don't you agree Ezra."
"In this instance I find myself compelled to concur." Ezra replied absently, as he shaded his eyes against the noon day sun.
"You what?" JD turned in the saddle and looked at him.
"I agree, you imbecile." Ezra shook his head. "You should have invested what money your mother left you on a better education instead of a ticket out west."
JD chose to ignore Ezra, like he did most of the time and continued his conversation with Victoria.
"And I think Mrs. Travis could do a lot worse than Chris. If they would each just let down their guard long enough to admit it."
"But what about the saloon girl named Jolene? Isn't he involved with her?" She asked, not so easily convinced.
"Jolene?" JD, asked in a surprised voice. "What has she got to do with anything. I don't think Chris has said two words to her since he has come to town."
"Really? What about Vin and Buck?"
"Oh Buck knows her quite well, she even calls him her favorite customer. But if you ask me I don't think they ever do anything but talk and drink together. You see Buck has a soft spot for working girls and he sort of takes them under his wing so to speak. As for Vin, well he has been avoiding her like the plague, don't know why, but it takes a strong man to resist Jolene. Ezra spends more time in the saloon than I do though, you should ask him. What do you think, Ezra?"
"I think you talk to much, that's what I think." Ezra replied, causing JD to roll his eyes.
Victoria, for one, was very pleased that he did. But now that she knew the truth, she felt like more of a fool for not giving the three men the benefit of the doubt. So……. the little Miss Jolene was all talk and it was Vin who was no show. She felt almost giddy inside at the thought. She now couldn't wait to get back to town so that she might accidentally run into him on the street and strike up a conversation, and somehow let him know she knew the truth and apologize.
Four Corners Chronicle
'Wanted' page
