by Lynn Landes
“It's a lovely piece. Excuse me.” Softly, stepping around the men, she flinches when he grabs her upper arm. Dark images of death fill her mind, and she can only watch as a gentleman is shot in the back and falls from his horse to the muddy earth below.
In her vision the stranger holding her arm holsters his pistol and flips the man over, searching his pockets for anything of value. Blood blossoms on his chest and he gasps, grasping at the thief’s arms. On the inside of his black jacket, he finds a deed. Boomer hands the paper to his brother, and he says, “Well, well. Looky what I found. Mr. Rivers here has shares in the railroad.” The victim has long sandy blonde hair, tan skin, and a cleft in his chin, he looks to be thirty-something.
“Jeb?” Boomer calls out struggling with the stranger. Jeb walks over and points his revolver in the stranger's face and pulls the trigger.
Cassie screams echoing through the shop and the one she now knows as Jeb releases her arm, stepping back. His brother, Boomer jumps so hard he slams into a shelf, knocking the very same mirror she was admiring to the ground. The glass inside shatters and Mr. Chou comes running with his shotgun ready.
“Leave the Lady be! You okay?” He asks, keeping his shotgun trained on the two men. Cassie quickly moves to his side and nods her head. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself.
“Please forgive me, he startled me. I should go, my husband is waiting at the hotel. I will pay for any damages, just add it to the bill.”
“We didn’t mean no harm, Mrs.?” Jeb asks cautiously.
“Rivers,” Cassie responds choosing the first name that comes to mind. Turning back to Mr. Chou she misses the look that passes between the brothers. She smiles apologetically as Mr. Chou lowers his weapon.
“You two go on if you not buying,” he orders.
“I was just lookin’ for some shovels, we ain’t done nothing wrong!” Boomer yells. Jeb never takes his eyes off Cassie, so she moves further behind the Asian shop owner hoping they will move on.
“Come on brother, I saw some over on the other side.” Jeb grabs Boomers' arm and pulls him along with him.
Mr. Chou turns to Cassie, “I wrap packages for you and have sent over. You go find your man, not safe for you alone.” Glaring at the two men who are moving through the aisles.
“Thank you,” she whispers and hurries out of the shop.
Jeb stares hard after the young woman, “Jumpy lil’ thing, ain’t she Boomer?”
Boomer spits on the wooden planks that make up the floor and moves to the window to watch her cross to the hotel. “So, tell me Jeb, what kind of man would let his wife walk around this town, alone?”
A dirty smile spreads across his bearded face. “No kind of real man to my way of thinkin.”
Chapter 3
The trembling doesn't stop until she enters the hotel and moves to the restaurant on the first floor. She knows the safety she feels is an illusion, but she's thankful to be inside the restaurant and off the streets. Those two men are trouble, and she felt the cold pressure of eyes on her as she hurried across the street.
“Mind your own business Cassandra,” she tells herself for the third time, but she keeps replaying the vision. She can almost feel the impact as the bullets entered his body and his eyes! They widen with shock and his body jerks before he glanced down at his now bloody shirt.
Reluctantly, she glances around the restaurant hoping she will not see him, then she can be on her way. When she left her family land, she promised herself things would be different. No longer would she hide and pretend that she did not have this gift. Just once she would like to use her gift for good and see what comes of it. When she spies a large blonde man sitting alone at a table for two near the window, she sighs.
“A quick warning and you can leave,” she mutters.
Dalton notices the beautiful young woman when she enters the restaurant. Like any normal male, he checks her over, and a slow smile spreads when her eyes meet his. Her full pink links purse in disapproval and she seems to be talking to herself. He sips his coffee and glances down.
'It isn't proper to stare so openly, Dalton Rivers,' he remembers hearing his Grandmother say.
'Yes, but sometimes you can't help it. Besides, I've seen how Pa looks at you Granny, after forty years, no less.' Her blush said it all. He wants a love like they had. Passion, trust, friendship, and love. When he looks back up, he notices her clasped hands, and she turns about to leave, but a noise stops her in her tracks.
His eyes follow the direction of her glance, and when he sees what has her so concerned, he sits up a little taller. The Williams brothers are fighting outside with a man on the street, and they seem to be headed this way.
Jeb and Boomer Williams were hired to work on the railroad, but their drinking and violent ways caused terrible problems. When they attempted to rob Dalton of his earnings from the stockyard, he was forced to defend himself and reported them to the authorities. As a result, they were fired, and they blamed him. Trouble follows some people, and these are two ringleaders.
“Time to go,” he mutters pulling out cash to pay for his meal. A shadow passes and the sound of a heavenly voice stops his hand.
“Please excuse the interruption, but I…” Dalton looks up, and Cassandra stops talking. Her mouth goes dry as she stares at him. His eyes are exquisite like the gray of the sea before a storm. He's dressed like an upper-class businessman, but the day old beard doesn't seem to go with his attire. His large frame and tan skin make it look like he's seen days in the sun, not an office.
Concern etches his brow when she stops talking. From a distance, he thought she was pretty, but up close he is in awe. Hair the color of autumn leaves, streaked with sunlight and luminous amber colored eyes, so large a man could get lost in them. Her tongue darts out moistening her lush lips and instantly his mind fills with images of what he would like to do with her mouth. He stands slowly pushing his chair back and steps towards her.
“Are you okay?” Dalton asks stuffing his hands into his pockets to keep from touching her.
“I, I am not the one in danger, you are,” she stutters. Great Cassie, excellent way to start a conversation, she thinks. Surprise shows on his face at her words. The noise escalates inside the restaurant when the brothers make their way inside.
Cassie jumps at the noise and swiftly makes her way to his side. “I hope you have an open mind because things are about to get odd, Mr. Rivers,” she softly says as she tucks her arm through his and smiles up at him.
The moment she smiles, a single dimple winks at him, and he is lost. He smiles automatically in return, and his hand covers hers. “Well, now darling, I believe in trying anything once and twice if I like it.” A blush blossoms and her soft laughter ripples across his body, sending his thoughts tumbling. They are lost in each other for a moment when a voice calls out.
“It looks like Mr. Rivers has been holding out on us, brother. It seems he got himself something more precious than gold while he was here.” Once again, the vile stench fills the air from the two men, and Cassie clutches tightly to his arm. Daltons hand tightens on her as though to comfort and she responds by squeezing back.
“Sure looks that way, Jeb. Why don’t you introduce us to your wife?” Boomer asks sarcastically, smirking at her once more.
Cassandra waits for the shock and denial from the man at her side, but it doesn’t come. “Well boys, it would seem as though you’ve already met. Though, I don't take kindly to the way you're looking at her.” He tucks Cassie behind him and turns to meet their shocked faces.
“Perhaps you would care to take this outside, and I will teach you the proper way to speak to a lady?” Cassie’s swift intake of breath is covered by the noise of chairs sliding and feet running from the restaurant.
“Dalton, I am sure they didn't mean anything by it. Besides, I don't want to spend our honeymoon dealing with a mess.” She says and quickly moves to his side. Once more she slides an arm through his.
Boomer is quick to stammer out an apology, “We were just surprised is all. Not too many married couples in these parts.” Glancing at the fury on his brother’s face, Boomer backs away.
Jeb glances from her to Dalton and then at the crowd gathered outside. “You won’t always be so lucky, Mr. Rivers and when your good fortune runs out, I will be there to cash in.” Jeb turns and kicks some chairs out of the way, quickly followed by Boomer.
The crowd buzzes outside, disappointed that they will not have a show and they flow back to their lives. Dalton looks down and feels the quaking in her small form. “Well now, it looks like my day just got more interesting.”
Chapter 4
Cassandra smiles up weakly at him, “I can explain, Mr. Rivers.”
The smile fades from his eyes as he watches the two men shove and fight their way to the saloon across the street. With a deep sigh, Dalton rubs his neck and picks up his hat from the table.
“Yes, you will, but not now. Are you staying here?” He demands. Cassandra looks shocked at his implication.
“Yes, but you can’t come up to my room!” She stammers.
“Of course I can. I am your husband after all.” He quickly guides her around the fallen chair and pulls her to the door past the murmuring customers.
“Mr. Rivers!” Cassandra starts to shout, but he silences her with a firm kiss to her mouth. “People are watching, darling. If you want to keep up appearances, we need to move now. It’s not safe here!”
“Fine!” She snaps quietly at him and lifts her skirt stepping over a piece of a broken chair. “Fourth floor, room 4B.”
They hurry from the restaurant up the stairs and stop outside her door. She turns to argue with him, but two men enter the hallway. She smiles and hands him the key. He quickly throws the door open and waits for her to enter before turning to meet their eyes. “Gentlemen?”
“Everything okay, Dalton? We heard you had trouble?” The older gentleman asks with questions in his eyes.
“Nothing I can't handle. Thank you for your concern. If you'll excuse me, my bride is waiting.” He turns quickly and enters the small room, locking the door behind him.
Drawing his pistol, he waits for the sound of their footsteps to pass the door before turning to greet her.
Cassandra did not waste any time. The moment he shoved her inside she made straight for her trunk and pulled her daddy’s pistol.
Surprise and anger flash across his face. “Now, is that any way to greet your husband?”
“I'm sorry, truly. I knew better than to get involved, but I didn't want to live with your death on my conscious too, Mr. Rivers.” The quakes have turned to serious tremors, and Dalton is afraid that she might accidentally shoot him.
“Okay. Fair enough.” He lowers his pistol and backs into a chair near the window. He squeezes his large frame into the tiny chair and lays his gun across his lap. “I only wanted to get you to safety, Miss?” He asks carefully.
“Ms. Cassandra... Brown,” she responds only stuttering a second on the last name. “I can explain. I was in the general store across the street, and I overheard those men talking about robbing you. I only wanted to warn you, but they caught me listening. I told them I had to meet my husband and when they saw the two of us together, things got complicated.”
“I see, so where is your husband?” Pain flashes in her eyes and he knows the answer before she speaks.
“Dead. He's been gone a few years now. I'm leaving on the train in a few days, Mr. Dalton,” she lies, “So, you can go now, and I will be out of your hair.” She lowers her pistol and looks at him.
“I'm sorry for your loss, Cassandra.” His sincerity touches her heart. It's the first time the words ring true.
“Thank you,” she whispers lowering her pistol a little more.
“Ms. Brown, could you put the pistol away? You're safe with me.” Dalton says with such intensity that she almost believes him, but she has seen too much death to be taken in by a strong man and lovely eyes.
“Mr. Dalton, they mean to kill you and take your shares of the railroad. You aren’t safe here.” She responds ignoring his request. “You need to get out of my room and leave the city.”
“My shares of the railroad? How did they know about that?” His mind is spinning. It doesn't surprise him that the brothers would try to rob him, they'd already tried once before. The fact that she put herself in the direct line of fire is unacceptable.
Cassie waits quietly while he takes it all in. The William brothers are trouble for both of them.
“You have to leave…” they both say simultaneously.
“Good, we’re in agreement. Get your things, Ms. Brown,” he orders, standing up, he holsters his pistol.
“Wait, what?” She stares at him incredulously. “Mr. Rivers, perhaps I wasn't clear enough.” She explains slowly as though speaking to a child. “You aren't safe, not me.”
Dalton offers her a grim smile, “As my new bride you have inadvertently made yourself a target. You're no longer safe here.”
Shock flickers across her face, but she quickly recovers. “That is not your problem, Mr. Rivers, besides, I'm leaving on the train in a few days. I'm sure I will be fine until then.”
The sun has set during their conversation, and the streets begin to grow noisy. He moves to the window and watches the men entering and leaving the saloon. “We need to go now before they are so drunk, they only think about getting to you!”
“That's ridiculous. I have been here for two days...” Cassie starts to say, but the sound of gunshots stops her cold.
“Ms. Brown, I have been here for two weeks, and in that time, I have been almost killed three times. Trust me when I say, you're not safe here. The Williams Brothers have it in for me, and that means they will go after my ‘wife' if that is what it takes to get even. I am merely suggesting we switch rooms until we can figure this out.”
She stares at him for a moment before she turns and grabs her bag stuffing the pistol inside. “Fine. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved. Can you grab my bag in the closet, please,” she asks? Dalton sighs in relief. Quickly, he moves to the closet and finds a medium size carpet bag inside. Lifting it, he turns and sees her waiting with a smaller bag by the door.
“Is this all?” he asks.
Her blush confirms his suspicions that she's in more trouble than she admits. “I travel light, Mr. Rivers.”
“Call me Dalton. I'm on the second floor. Let's go.”
Truthfully, Cassie is relieved, his assumptions regarding the brothers makes sense. They quickly make their way down the stairs. He draws his key and his pistol, dropping her bag. Cassie feels his tension and wonders, yet again, what she was thinking getting involved.
His eyes meet hers, and he gives her a wink. “Wait here, while I check my room.”
Dalton moves quickly and notes the door is closed and locked a good sign. He unlocks the door and swiftly checks the room. Cassandra watches from the stairway and moves inside. Dalton shuts the door and moves to light a lantern, then turns to find Cassie staring at him with wide eyes.
“Easy now, darling. You're safe here.”
She glances around the room which is identical to hers, minus the view of the street. The only difference is that his room is on the back side of the hotel.
“How is it you think I will be safer in your room if they are gunning for you?” She looks at her bags near the door as though she is ready to bolt at any second.
“I never register under my real name, especially in this city. I have two rooms. We should be safe for the night and tomorrow we will change hotels while they sleep off the whiskey.”
Cassie's shoulders droop as exhaustion sets in. “Mr. Rivers while I am thankful to you for thinking of my safety, I'm not your responsibility. I can easily get another room…” the sound of gunshots outside has Dalton quickly pulling her from the door and snuffing the light. Terror strikes and she backs away.
The streets of San Francisco change at
night and not for the better. During the daytime, the streets are busy with commerce and trade. At night, those who are struggling for survival find their way to the brothels, opium dens, and saloons looking for a way to dull the pain. Sometimes it floods into the neighboring businesses.
“Damn. That didn't take long,” he mutters. Grabbing a chair, Dalton wedges it under the doorknob to keep anyone from getting inside. Her wide eyes are full of fear, and the combination of the flickering light from the gas lanterns and the gunshots, screams, and laughter terrifies Cassie. She starts gasping for breath and finds herself on the verge of a full-blown panic attack.
“Not again, not again….” she whimpers backing up in terror seeing Eustace and the gang of men who came for her. Dalton turns at the sound and hurries to reassure her. When his hands grasp her upper arms, he feels the tremors running through her body.
“Ms. Brown, look at me, I promise that you are safe with me.” Her eyes jump to his, and she nods her head trying to slow her breathing. “It's going to be okay, just breathe.”
“Okay, I'm okay,” she whispers, “I'm okay.” Dalton grabs a blanket off the remaining chair and drapes it around her trembling shoulders.
“You sit here,” he says and guides her gently to the chair. “It is outside the hotel, not inside. We should be safe for the night,” he promises, needing to ease her fear.
“Thank you, Dalton.” She says through chattering teeth.
“What are you thanking me for? For turning your life upside down? You're the one who tried to do the right thing. Ms. Brown, what in the world are you doing in this godforsaken town?” he asks and stomps over to the fireplace. Striking a match, he hears her whisper to him.
“Cassie. You can call me Cassie, D... Dalton,” she stammers out. Looking into his eyes, she has to smile. “I'm just passing through. I am leaving and heading… heading wherever the next train out of here goes. My father left me a little, and I am going to make a new life for myself.” Saying the words gives her strength and hope. She must believe it is possible for her to get away. Maybe they can help each other.