by Cherie Shaw
Well, Olivia still hadn’t seen an Indian, and would be sure to inform Amelia, when she returned to England, that she’d been wrong about that. There were certainly no wild Indians in the west after all. Only argumentative cowboys. Though they had talked about those savage Indians in her dime novels, however those were fiction stories anyway.
Half an hour later Olivia and her uncle Claude were seated in the small restaurant off the lobby of the hotel. They were the only ones eating at that time of day, and the waitress, an older tired looking woman was ready to take their order. “Well, what’ll it be?” she asked. “You can have hash and eggs, or eggs and hash. Coffee’s hot too.”
Olivia opened her mouth to answer, but her uncle spoke first, “How about a plate of sandwiches for my niece and me. She’ll have a spot of tea; however, the hot coffee will be fine for me.”
“No hash? Well now.” The waitress raised her eyebrows, and then set two cups on the table. “Guess I can rustle up some sandwiches, if that’s what you want. My name’s Bertha and I’ll be back.” With that she flounced back into the kitchen.
Olivia snickered, “This is some town, uncle.” She said. “Did you hear the argument from down the street earlier?”
“Yes, well, it’s a far cry from London, Ollie. You’re seeing the other part of the world now.” He said, and then continued, “Though I believe this town of ‘Nowhere’ could grow on you.” Then he chuckled, when Olivia made a face at his remark, “It’s an experience anyway. Hopefully the sandwiches will be edible though.”
“How long will we be here in Nowhere, Uncle Claude?” She asked.
“We’ll hopefully only be here one night, Ollie.” He said. “Logan tells me that the stagecoach only comes through every other day, so we should be leaving tomorrow morning a little after nine-o’clock, as that’s when the conveyance is due to come in, and they have to change the team of horses, then we’ll be on our way.
“I’ll be ready whenever you are.” She said.
“Logan and Ricardo went over to the mercantile to fetch a few supplies, maybe you’d like to go browse around after we are finished eating.”
“It might prove interesting, uncle. I’ll see.” She offered. “I may pick up a few items.” .
“Logan also said that he and Ricardo are going down to the livery to see what there is available in the way of horseflesh, as he called it.”
Olivia was surprised, “Why in the world would they be looking at horses? We’re going by stagecoach, aren’t we?” She asked.
“He said they needed a couple of mounts for themselves, as the stages are usually cramped for space, and they are going to be riding part of the way on horseback. Though Ricardo joked that he may ride shotgun, if they don’t have one.”
“What in the world did he mean by that?” Olivia remembered the term from some of those dime novels, but couldn’t recall just what the term meant. She thought it was some kind of protection, but that would be ridiculous. Wouldn’t it?
“Actually,” Claude began, “I think Ricardo was joking, though I’m not at all sure what he meant, however, we’ll find out. This will be an experience, no matter how you look at it. I just may saunter on down to the livery stable myself, and pick up a mount. Logan said that if I didn’t want to ride, that we could just tie the horse to the back of the stage. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one ready. I’ve ridden our horses a lot back at the manor, and it might be nice to ride for awhile, as you see lots of scenery that way.” Claude laughed, “You know, Niece, I’m feeling younger every day that we are on this trip.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll stick with the four-wheeled vehicle, thank you.” Olivia stated. Although she’d ridden the horses in her uncle’s stables quite a bit, she wasn’t at all sure about these western type mounts. From what she’d seen of some of the ones tied up in front of the businesses here, they looked pretty rugged to her.
The waitress, Bertha, entered the dining room with a huge plateful of sandwiches, in one hand, and the coffeepot in the other. She returned a few minutes later with a pot of hot tea for Olivia.
The sandwiches were made with cold tender beef, between thick slices of fresh home-baked bread, and were absolutely delicious, the coffee strong and hot. Olivia enjoyed her relaxing cup of hot tea.
When Logan and Ricardo had finished picking up a few supplies at the mercantile, for the long trip by stage, they headed down the road towards the livery stable, at the far end of town. When they reached the place, they were directed to the stalls, in which there were several riding horses, though only three or four appeared to even be halfway worth the price the owner was asking for them.
Logan chose a sturdy-looking roan gelding with a white nose, and four white stockings, and immediately took a liking to the horse. He then walked over to check out a display of used saddles, while Ricardo petted the nose of a two-year old pinto. Ricardo began softly speaking to the horse in Spanish, and Logan grinned, but said nothing. He hadn’t grown up in the west for nothing.
Logan and Ricardo paid for the horses and a couple of saddles, bridles and other gear they would need, then headed back towards the hotel with their packages from the mercantile. As they walked back, they noted Olivia and her uncle entering the store, and figured they wanted to do some shopping also. Then Claude came right back out, and headed down towards the livery.
“Did you chaps find what you wanted?” Claude asked them. “I figured I’d have a look at those horses also. I may decide to ride with you for a while.”
Ricardo answered, “It will be hot for you, Señor, but mucho enjoyable. You have the right idea. How about your niece? Does she ride?”
“We’ll wait until we arrive at the ranch, then I’ll get her on a western horse. I’ve never ridden one myself. I’m used to my horses back home, but I think I will enjoy this experience. We do have a stable at the manor and several fine steeds. When I was a much younger man, I did some racing at the tracks, but that was many years ago.”
“You will like our western horses, Señor.” Ricardo offered.
“You want me to help you choose a mount, Claude?” Logan asked.
“That might be a good idea, Logan, I appreciate the offer.” Claude answered.
Ricardo took Logan’s bundles from the store to carry to the hotel for him, and Logan continued walking back to the stable with Claude to assist him in picking out a suitable mount, and soon Claude was outfitted with what he needed: A five-year old stallion with a black shiny coat and a good sturdy saddle. They headed back down the dusty main street towards the mercantile, as they would pick up the horses and gear from the stable in the morning.
Logan advised Claude that he needed to purchase some western wear, if he was going to ride horseback, as the nice tailored suit that he was wearing, would be shredded within miles, and would be too hot to ride in anyway. He said that he and Ricardo had already gotten what they needed to wear, though he would return to the store and show him what he needed to get. As for Logan and Ricardo, it would be good to get back into western garb once more, and also see the countryside from between the ears of a good western horse again too. Logan, for one, was tired of dressing fashionable in eastern suits, though they sure beat the rags he had been forced to wear while on the ‘Red Dragon’. But now he needed to be himself again, and in the morning when they rode out, he would be.
Olivia had just finished purchasing a few personal items for the trip by stage, and was carrying her bundles toward the door, when her uncle came in followed by Logan. Her heart skipped a beat, when the tall green-eyed rogue nodded to her. She covered up quickly enough with one of her haughty expressions, and a toss of her pretty golden-blonde head, then turned, innocently enough, to her uncle and smiled. “I’m quite finished, Uncle, and will be returning to my room. Are you going to be long?” She asked.
“Why don’t you wait here in the store, Ollie, then we’ll walk you back when we’ve finished here. I won’t be but a few minutes.” Claude said.
“I’ll be fine, Uncle, an
d I’m a little tired so I’ll go on ahead.” She answered.
“Alright, Niece.” He knew it would do no good to argue with the strong-minded girl.
Olivia had seen the sudden familiar sparkle in Logan’s deep green eyes as he looked at her, and she needed to get out of there.
She walked quickly to the door, but Logan was ahead of her, and he opened the door for her then grinned as she, head tilted high, walked through, then out into the street, looking straight ahead.
There was a lot of activity along the main street of the town, horses, cowhands, buckboards being loaded with supplies, and several women with children in tow. The women were mostly dressed in homemade gowns, made from homespun material. Though a few ladies were well-dressed, probably wives of the business owners in town. Most of the women though wore large sun bonnets, to shade their faces from the hot Texas sun.
Olivia wore a perky little bonnet, that did nothing to shut out the glare of the sun, but it was for show only, and matched her pretty blue dress.
A few of the ladies walking by, nodded to her, and she smiled back. A couple of cowboys tipped their tall western hats, though more than a few just openly stared at her, as she walked quickly to her hotel, thinking that maybe she’d been a bit impulsive to not wait for her uncle to walk her back.
This was a strange town, and a strange country, and she didn’t really know what to make of it all, or how to react. She chose to head for the safety of her room.
<><><>
Logan awoke early the next morning, just as the sun was rising in the east. He quickly bathed, then shaved off his twenty-four hour growth of dark whiskers. Donning one of the two new pairs of jeans he’d purchased, he then brushed and combed back his shoulder-length head of thick black hair, then slipped on the new plaid dark blue cotton shirt, he’d purchased at the mercantile the day before.
Logan had gotten his hair trimmed back in New York, though it had grown fast, and was back down to his broad shoulders already, but there had been no time for a haircut here in the small out of the way place of Nowhere, so that would just have to wait until they reached their destination.
He now reached down inside the saddlebags he’d packed the night before, and drew out the new colt .45 caliber six-gun he’d stashed in there the night before, spun the cylinder to be sure it was fully loaded, then slipped it into the holster on his right hip, tying down the thong around his thigh. He’d buckled on the leather gun-belt out of habit, right after he’d dressed. Old habits never die, even after so many years.
After pulling on a pair of new black cowhide boots, Logan snatched up the saddlebags, one small satchel, and a bedroll, that he’d purchased, for just in case. Then after donning the black felt flat-brimmed Stetson hat, he opened the door of his hotel room, turned to take one last look around, making sure he wasn’t over-looking anything, and stepped out into the hallway, colliding right into the softest bundle of femininity that he’d ever felt.
Logan felt a jolt as he caught Olivia in his arms, dropping his valise and bedroll in the process.
“Oh, my,” She stuttered, trying to collect her balance and her nerves at the same time, as she felt strong muscular arms holding her. Then she noticed the western garb, and her heart fluttered dangerously. Her instant reaction was that now this was truly the type of western hero those dime novels were written about. That is, until she looked up into that grinning devilish green-eyed silly expression on his dark face.
“Oh, it’s you!” She exclaimed, flustered. “Take your hands off of me immediately.”
“I was only trying to keep you from falling.” He spoke to her ever so softly, with that deep soothing voice of his. “And I apologize for being in your way. It won’t happen again.” He let go of her like he would a hot coal from the fire, then bent to retrieve his valise and bedroll.
Claude had just stepped out of the room from across the hall, and called to her. “Are you alright, Olivia?” He asked.
“Yes…..yes, of course, Uncle Claude. We….we, just collided. That’s all. No harm done.” She struggled to regain her poise.
Olivia didn’t notice the grin that spread across her uncle’s face. Claude had never seen his niece so unnerved by a man before, and it was quite a sight.
Olivia did an about face, and took a second look at her uncle. Heavens, the old fool was dressed the same way as that ‘cowboy’ Logan person. She’d have to find out what that was all about. All he lacked was a ‘dangerous-looking’ weapon on his hip. “Oh well.” she thought to herself, “Boys will be boys. Will men never grow up?”
When they had taken the stairs to the lobby, she saw that Ricardo was dressed even worse. He had on tight black shiny pants, flared at the hemline, with some kind of silver-toned round metal decorations running down both sides, she found out later on that those decorations were called ‘conchos’ and were widely used in Mexico, and parts of the southwest territory. He also had on decorative black boots, a black shirt, and wore a huge tall black sombrero which had a drawstring under the chin. The perfect ‘caballero’. He wore a wide grin, and sported a low-hanging gun belt with some kind of a weapon in the holster, which was tied down of course, as Logan’s was.
Maria however, appeared proud of her vaquero, and she also was dressed different, wearing a beautiful white decorative blouse, gathered at the round neckline and sleeves, and a full gathered aqua-colored skirt. Maria was still a very beautiful, vivacious woman, even at her age, and her dark eyes sparkled with pride, as she stood next to Ricardo looking up adoringly at him.
“Oh well,” Olivia thought, “to each his own.” Though she did think the men looked rather ridiculously foolish, she figured maybe this was just all new to her, and she just wasn’t used to the ways of the west.
The stage was late. It was ten-o’clock and it just now was rocking and rolling into town. No excuses were made, just the usual changing of the team to fresh horses, then loading the luggage on top of the conveyance. The be-whiskered, weather-beaten old driver, Joe Carlson, had to check all the wheels to make sure they weren’t about to fall off the old vehicle, then they were ready to admit the passengers to the hot interior.
Olivia and Claude found out what ‘riding shotgun’ meant. No need for Ricardo to ride ‘such’. There was one tough-looking hombre, forty-ish, who sat next to the driver. The man was a brute, huge shoulders, eagle-eyed, and mean-looking. He had a no-nonsense way about him that spoke of ‘don’t mess with me’. He also carried a very serious–looking Winchester rifle, as well as a side-arm. If that wasn’t enough, he had some kind of knife in a holster strapped to his left leg. The driver referred to him as ‘Wolf’. Well, the name did fit him with his gray curly sideburns and slanted red-rimmed black eyes.
Olivia certainly felt well-protected now, so why in the world were Logan and Ricardo armed? That was a puzzle. Was this dangerous country after all?
There were three other passengers, and when they first climbed into the coach, Claude decided to ride inside with Olivia and Maria for awhile, so he tied the black mount to the back of the stage, then climbed up into the coach taking the seat across from Olivia. Maria sat next to her.
There were three seats, two people per seat.
As the stage took off swaying and creaking, Olivia looked out of the window to see where Logan and Ricardo were riding, but Maria said, “Don’t worry, señorita. My Ricardo, he would not desert us. I believe they rode on ahead.”
“Oh, no, Maria, I wasn’t worried, really.”
The three other travelers were two polite, though rugged looking, young cowhands, who sat on the rear seat, and one lady, who sat next to Claude, facing Maria and Olivia, who both sat in the middle seat, and had a good view out the side window.
Olivia pointed out some distant mountains, and said, “Mercy, I have never seen mountains that high. Are we going over those?”
Maria answered, “No, no, those are miles and miles to the west, and are much farther away, and higher than they appear. There are beautiful tall pin
e trees, and cool running streams and lakes in those mountains.”
“Oh, that’s hard to believe, with such heat and dry desert growth where we are.”
“Oh yes, Señorita Olivia. It is cool up there, but distance fools you here in the west, much different from back east. But I love it here. This country is where life is.”
Olivia didn’t know whether to believe the Spanish woman or not, but didn’t disagree.
Then Maria continued talking, “We aren’t going towards the mountains though, they are to the west, and we are going southwest. Ricardo, he and Logan talked, and they know the way to this rancho of your uncle’s, and it is in much prettier land than what you have seen so far. We will be entering into cattle country and towns where there is much activity..
“Believe me, Señorita, you will love it here, and may never wish to leave Texas.”
Olivia seriously doubted that too, but again didn’t answer.
Claude had been listening to the conversation, and now joined in. “Yes, Ollie, Ricardo told me as much. The scenery does get better. He said that where my ranch is located, is in the center of a verdant valley, rich with rolling hills, trees, and streams. Not in the mountains though, but on a higher plain than where we are now.