Mountain Man's Bride

by Lauren Wood

  “Rick.” He belched. “You must be lost.”

  “No sir. I am exactly where I had planned to be. Right here in—” she paused, searching the room for a clue as to where she was. “I’m sorry Rick, where exactly am I?”

  Finally, his expression changed. He began to laugh deeply from his gut. “You’re in Wiltshire, ma’am. Specifically, you’re at Wilty’s Tavern.”

  “Then Wiltshire is exactly where I planned to be! Rick are you married?” She quizzed.

  “Yes ma’am. Why do you think I am here?” He laughed. As did the rest of the men who lay half conscious on the counter. “Got myself a dozen offspring too. Are you married Miss Annie?”

  “Well not yet. But I reckon I should probably get married soon seeing as I left my family and all. What are you drinking?” She peered over the counter at his pint.

  Rick chuckled again. “Hey, Jimmy. Get the lady a pint of house brew!” He called out.

  Annie scanned the room but there was no bartender in sight. From the back, a tall man appeared. He had his dark hair brushed the the side off his face. He was clean shaven and had rich emerald eyes. His stature was quite thin however muscular. Annie’s jaw dropped.

  “Rick, I think it’s time you head home.” The man placed a mug full of black coffee in front of Rick.

  “I will do so when I please. Now, get this lady a drink!” Rick cheered.

  The bartender laughed and did as he was told. A moment later he slapped down a pint in front of Annie and then disappeared into the back again.

  In amazement, Annie turned to her new friend Rick. “Is HE married?” She jabbed her finger in the direction the man had been standing in.

  “You don’t want to catch that fish. No, no, no.” Rick sucked back his coffee.

  “And why not?” Annie shouted. “He is so handsome! I could certainly stand a husband like that. Easy to look at. Imagine what our children would look like!”

  Rick cocked his head to the side, taking a good look at Annie. “Do you ever stop talking?”

  Annie blushed at such a harsh question but then thought to herself. “Well,” she placed her palms down on the counter “I suppose not.”

  Rick began to laugh uncontrollably. “Miss Annie, you are a fine woman. A catch even. Find yourself a half deaf husband and I swear you will live happily every after.” Rick finished his coffee and slammed it down on the counter. “It has been a pleasure my dear, until next time.” Rick kissed the top of Annie’s hand and put his hat on his head. Annie watched as he stumbled out the door.

  The tavern was dimly lit. Most of the chairs were turned upside down on top of the tables that were scattered across the room. For the first time since she left her home Annie felt truly alone. She reached forward and cupped her pint in both of her hands, put it to her lips and tilted her head back. In one go, she emptied the glass. When she placed the pint on the counter and looked forward, the bartender was standing right in front of her with a smirk wiped across his face.

  “Thirsty?” He asked and poured her another.

  “Not exactly. But from what I have heard the more of these I drink the duller my sorrows will become. Is that right?” Annie brought the second pint to her lips and began tucking it back.

  “Something like that.” He laughed. “Maybe you should slow down though.” He rested his hand on hers coaxing her to bring the glass away from her mouth.

  Annie burped and licked her lips. The glass was foamy and half consumed. “I’m Annie.” She stuck her hand out toward the man.

  He gently shook it and smiled at her. “Annie as in Oakley. I know, I could hear from the back room.”

  Annie blushed, recalling her conversation with Rick. Had he really heard everything?

  “I’m James. These guys call me Jimmy.” He nodded in the direction of the drunk men on the other side of the bar.

  “James. I rather admire that name.” Annie took another swig and wiped the foam off of her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “Tell me your story.” She pressed on.

  “I’m afraid you would find it quite boring.” James began drying out the pint glasses behind the bar, looking down and away from Annie.

  “I can’t say that I bore easily, James. I certainly would like to hear it!” Annie gushed.

  “You first.” He played back.

  “Well as you know, my name is Annie. Annie Buckner. I am twenty-one-years old and I am from Borden. I grew up on a farm with two brothers, my mother and father. Father died only a week ago suddenly from a disease. He was quite rather my favourite person in the entire world. I feel quite lost without him. I am not overly fond of my mother or my brothers so I decided to leave. Last night I packed a few items into a bag and climbed out of the window. Now I am here!” She raised her glass in the air and downed the remainder of its contents.

  James waited for a moment to see if she was about to add anything further. When he was sure she was finished, he responded “How did you get here from Borden? That has to be at least a day away by foot.”

  “Oh, I actually found a horse in the middle of the desert. Can you believe that? It was almost as though it was there waiting for me. His name is Puppet. He is just outside there now.”

  James walked over to the window on the far side of the room. “He was alone in the middle of the desert? You rode a wild horse to Wiltshire? You can’t just leave him unattended like that. There are outlaws and thieves in this town that would take him away on a whim.”

  “Hmm.” Annie thought to herself. “I hadn’t quite thought of that.” She scratched her head trying to come up with something. “I haven’t any place to put him though.”

  “You can use my stable. It is just around back. I will meet you there.”

  “Great idea!” Annie leapt off of the stool and almost fell to the floor as the pints finally hit her. She toppled herself to the door and stepped out into the bright sun. Puppet was exactly where she had left him. “Hello my friend.” Annie began to fumble with the knot around the fence. She leaned against him to steady herself as she led him toward the stable. James was there with the door open.

  “Where did you get that cart?” James questioned.

  “Oh, it came with the horse.” Annie whispered and started to giggle.

  “Annie you cannot be serious. That horse obviously belongs to someone!” James scolded taking over the lead.

  “No, I made sure of it. There was no one in sight, just desert. I even called out for someone to come back for him. No one answered. I think he was forgotten.” She twisted his mane in her fingers. “My poor Puppet.” She mumbled.

  “The less I know the better.” James shook his head. “Let’s just get him inside.” He led Puppet into the back of the stable. “I assume you have no place to stay?” He quizzed.

  “No, I suppose not. I hadn’t quite thought that far ahead.” Annie pondered.

  “Well let’s go inside and get you a bed.” James motioned toward the door at the rear of the tavern. Annie hesitated momentarily. “Is there something the matter Annie?” James looked confused.

  “Sir, we hardly know each other. I hardly think it would be appropriate to share a bed with you this early on. I am a modest woman.” She stomped her foot down as though to stand her ground.

  James laughed to himself. “I was hardly insisting that. I own the inn above the tavern and I thought that you would like to have a room to stay in while you are in Wiltshire.”

  “I am so embarrassed.” Annie took her hands to her cheeks and tucked her chin down. “Silly me.” For once Annie didn’t know what to say.

  James showed Annie to the door at the back of the building. As they turned the corner James could hear unfamiliar voices coming from the behind the bar. They weren’t exactly welcoming voices. At the sound of glasses being shattered, James whispered to Annie, “Stay right there and be quiet.” Dramatically Annie threw her hands up to cover her mouth. Her eyes wide as a deer’s.

  Slowly, James made his way around the corner w
ith his ear pressed up against the wall trying to place the voices. They were male voices and they sounded very stern.

  “Tell me where he is.” The first voice threatened. James could hear one of the drunken men stammering but couldn’t form any words.

  “You know the problem with rats is that they have a very distinct scent. So distinct that regardless if you tell me where he is or not, I will be able to sniff him out. Now, listen carefully. The only difference between you telling me where he is or me sniffing him out to find him is that one less person will get hurt. Do you hear me?” The second voice was deeper and shallow. Whoever this was, wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with.

  “Do what he says.” The first piped up.

  “Is there something I can help you fine gentleman with?” James entered the room to see two giant men standing along the bar. He could tell from the stallion sewn into their gun holsters that they belonged to the biggest outlaw gang in the state, the Fader Hallow Gang. These were not people you wanted to have on your bad side.

  “Well, there he is.” The second man spoke in his booming voice. “The rat has surfaced.” He took a step toward James. “If it isn’t James Wiltshire in the flesh. I would recognize you anywhere. You look exactly like your wormy father.” He spat on the floor. “Boy I thought you already had it all? The money. The women. Hell, this town is named after you.” At this point he was so close that James could almost see what he had eaten for breakfast that morning still stuck in his yellowed teeth.

  “May I ask to what pleasure I owe this visit?” James suggested.

  “Smart guy.” The first man slipped in.

  “You know exactly why we are here and the sooner you hand him back to us, the sooner we will leave.” He nodded and took another step into James.

  “I can’t say that I do. Please, enlighten me.” James played back.

  “My name is Big Ray.” The second man said. “This here,” he motioned toward the first man “is Baby Nicky. You may have heard of us before or maybe you haven’t. If you haven’t heard of us I suggest you pay attention, this could very well save your life.” He crouched down so that he was standing eye to eye with James placing his hand over his gun holster. “Give me my fucking horse back and I will give you your fucking life. The word on the street has it that they saw my horse tied up just outside of your tavern this morning. You better think twice before you answer me boy.”

  “I think you are mistaken. I don’t have your horse.” James calmly noted but on the inside he began to panic. Shit, Annie had stolen a horse from the worst gang in the entire state. Thanks to that, he was a dead man walking. James knew that even if he admitted the horse was hiding in the back of his stable, this man was going to kill him. He had to think up a plan, fast! The only chance he stood at keeping his life was to get the horse back to the Fader Hallows without them knowing it was him. “Would you gentleman care for a brew? We always love new guests at our tavern!” James made his way around the counter to pour them a drink. The entire time his head felt as though it was spinning so quickly it may unhinge from his body at any given moment.

  Big Ray grunted. “We don’t want your swill.” He nodded toward Baby Nicky. “Let’s get out of here Nicky. Don’t think this is the last time you’ll hear from us. We want that horse back.” He spat on the floor at James’ feet. “This is only the beginning.”

  Just like that, they were gone. James collapsed on the floor in a pile. His heart was racing and he couldn’t seem to bring air to his lungs quickly enough. What had this girl done?

  “You are James Wiltshire?” He heard Annie’s voice ring out. “As in the James Wiltshire? How ‘come you never told me that you were famous?”

  James sighed and scrambled to his feet. Trying to keep calm he responded, “You heard that entire conversation but the only thing you really heard was that I’m James Wiltshire? Nothing about the biggest outlaw gang in the state, if not the entire country, planning to bury me? You didn’t catch any of that?”

  “Well sure, but why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Annie stood in front of him clucking her tongue, arms akimbo.

  Ignoring her inquisition, James paced behind the bar. “Annie we need to get out of here with that horse, immediately. I don’t know what they want with it but they cannot know that we ever had it.”

  “Taking the horse again doesn’t seem like a very good plan.” Annie scoffed.

  “I don’t have time to explain. Just get the horse ready and I will meet you outside in ten minutes. Do not leave the stable, stay out of sight.” James darted up the stairs and Annie pouted her way to the back door.

  “Can you believe this man?” She suggested to the drunken man at the bar. He didn’t flinch.

  Annie stomped her way across the yard toward the stable all the while grumbling and mumbling under her breath. “What an arrogant and ignorant man. At least I can count on you Puppet.” She fussed with Puppet’s mane. “At least you listen to me and understand me. You never snap at me.” Annie kissed him on the neck. A few moments went by and Annie fidgeted impatiently waiting for James to return. “I reckon he isn’t coming back. This is all a ruse.”

  “Does your mouth ever stop moving?” James appeared with a large bag that he threw over his shoulder into the cart.

  Annie puffed, “I’m sorry sir but what have I ever done to you to deserve such attitude?”

  “Maybe when you put my life in danger by taking a horse out of the desert that wasn’t even yours? Just maybe.”

  “If you hate me so much why didn’t you just tell them where the horse was? Why didn’t you snitch on me?” Annie folded her arms across her chest. “Tell me sir James Wiltshire.” She rolled her eyes.

  “To protect you.” He stated so obviously. He walked over to Annie and reached behind her to grab a saddle. Slinging it over Puppet’s back and buckling it on.

  “Why would you care to do that?” Annie pried.

  James remained quiet. He mounted the horse and reached out his hand for Annie to grab. He slung her up onto Puppet’s back and didn’t say a word until they had reached the edge of town. “Because up until that moment, I could have sworn I was falling in love with you.”

  Annie kept quiet. She felt disappointed in herself. How could she have been so foolish? All of her life her Daddy handed her everything on a silver platter. Hell, she didn’t even know how to boil potatoes. Every poor decision she had ever made, Daddy was sure to bail her out. More than ever, her heart ached for just one more conversation with him.

  The desert was humid and the sun angrily beat down on them. Annie scanned her surroundings only to see more barren desert and the odd cactus here or there. Neither of them had dared to breath a word since they left Wiltshire. Puppet trudged forward with the rickety cart bouncing around behind them. Finally, Annie couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

  “I’m sorry.” She blurted.

  “Go on.” James pleaded.

  “I’m sorry for making such a mess for you. I never meant it. You have been nothing but kind to me since I showed up at your tavern this morning. You have only been a little bit rude but I am eager to look past that. We all have our moments of doubt.” Annie paused, bobbing side to side with each step Puppet took. “I don’t understand why those angry men needed Puppet back so badly. I imagine they have many other horses they could use.”

  James thought on that for a while and then it hit him. There was something special about this horse. Annie was right. There was no way they would go through all of the trouble to threaten his life if there wasn’t something more to it. James pulled back on the reins forcing Puppet to stop in his tracks. “My Lord, Annie you’re right.” He dismounted Puppet and began to pace back and forth.

  “Why thank you!” Annie beamed but immediately became puzzled as to what he could be talking about. “Tell me again what exactly I am right about?”

  “There has to be something more to it! It’s not just the horse. The horse must mean something to them.” He continued t
o pace until Annie was sure he would burn a hole in the soles of his shoes.

  “Maybe he’s their pet! We used to have a pet mule back at home, we would have done anything to get him back if someone took him. They probably miss Puppet!” Annie was so proud of herself. She felt as though she had just solved the mystery. It all made so much sense.

  “Annie you are a genius!” James bolted toward the cart and began rummaging through its contents.

  “My Daddy always told me that.” She smiled. “So why don’t we just take him back? I’m sure they will be thrilled! They will be so happy that they may not want to kill you anymore James.”

  James continued to rifle through the cart. “There is no way we can just return him now Annie. They can never know that you took that horse. We need to think of a way to get Puppet back to them without them knowing.” He reached down and flipped the cart over onto its side spilling all of the contents into the sand.

  “James! What do you think you’re doing?” Annie jumped down off Puppet’s back and scrambled to pick up her belongings.

  “You said you had a pet mule?” James tried to distract her. The cart was completely upside down at this point.

  “His name was Sisco. I miss him dearly.” Annie reminisced.

  “Well you had a pet mule and so do they. Puppet is their mule.”

  “Puppet is not a mule! He’s a beautiful mustang.” She ran her hand along Puppet’s back.

  “I don’t mean he is physically a mule Annie. I mean he is hiding something for them.” At that, James pried up the boards under the cart. Annie’s jaw hit the sand and she jaunted forward to get a better look at what was inside.

  “There must be millions of gold pieces in there!” Her eyes shone with desire.

  “And weapons too.” James reached into the loot and pulled out a loaded pistol. “No wonder they wanted Puppet back so badly.”

  “James I have never seen such riches in all of my life. We always had just what we needed, never more. What should we do with it?”