by Sable Hunter
Reno listened, speaking when he got a chance. “You wouldn’t have gotten far on an empty stomach, that’s for sure.”
“Yes, your arrival was very fortuitous.” She clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. “I love it out here, this is so different from anywhere I’ve been before. The countryside is gorgeous. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of looking at these rolling green hills and beautiful limestone cliffs.” Fancy sighed. “I’ve never belonged anywhere or to anyone before. I just can’t wait to get to my new home. I’ll be the best wife any man has ever had.”
“Fortuitous is a fancy word, Miss Fancy,” Reno chuckled. “You must have excelled in school.”
Fancy laughed. “I’m self-taught. Mostly. I worked for a school master for a year and a half. He let me use his library.” She smiled, remembering Mr. Tomlinson with fondness. He’d been easy to please and kind to her when it mattered. “At other times books weren’t so easy to come by.” Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “I remember once getting beaten for borrowing a novel at another place I lived. They accused me of stealing, I spent a few days incarcerated. They were going to…molest me, but I wasn’t pretty enough. They just whipped me and let me go.”
Reno didn’t know how to react. The information she passed along was said so offhandedly. He felt anger build up within him at anyone who would raise a hand at so defenseless a creature. “King has a wall full of books, that’s one thing you two will have in common.”
Fancy hugged herself when a shiver of anticipation made her tremble with excitement. “I look forward to many exciting discussions with my husband.”
Knowing Cap’s feelings about his ex-fiancée, he was still having trouble processing the fact that King had connected with this unusual woman and offered to marry her. “Why were you working in so many different jobs?”
“To survive,” she said simply. “My parents died when I was small, and I was placed in an orphanage. When I turned eight, they placed me on one of the orphan trains. I was taken off in St. Louis and bought by a family with four small children.”
“Bought?”
“Yea, that’s the way the orphan trains worked for most kids. Some were adopted out to families, but most were sold to farms and factories for an indentured servants price. If you can’t save up to buy your own freedom, you’re sold to someone else for a profit and the price goes up.” She sighed. “It’s very difficult.”
“How did you escape the system?” He was beginning to see that he wasn’t the only one with problems.
Fancy gave him a satisfied grin. “I was rewarded for a good deed, a deed I would’ve done a thousand times over for nothing.” At his quizzical look, she elaborated. “A house in the neighborhood caught fire and I happened to be passing by. When I heard the little girls screaming, I couldn’t walk away. I raced into the building and brought them out.”
“By yourself?” Reno was astonished.
“Yes, there was no time to wait for the fire brigade. There were other people standing about, but I was younger and faster, I guess.” She rubbed her palms, which still bore the scars. “Their father was very glad to have them safe and sound. He gave me a reward large enough to buy my freedom. There was even a write up in the newspaper.” She blushed profusely. “They took my photograph.” Fancy looked up at Reno. “Did you happen to see the article?”
“No, I didn’t. Sorry.”
She nodded, understanding. “After leaving St. Louis, I traveled to Kansas City. Of course, I worked there also, but the jobs were my choice. For the most part, I was treated fairly,” she told him calmly. “It is very hard for a woman to make it on her own, so I decided to try and find a husband.” She straightened her skirt and sat up primly. “I am almost certain that King saw the write-up about me in the paper. What other reason could there be for him to notice me?”
Reno didn’t have a clue. This was all a surprise to him. “The sun will be going down soon. I’m sorry you aren’t chaperoned properly, but I think it would be wise to stop for the night. You can sleep in the back of the wagon and I’ll put a bedroll down by the campfire.”
“Camping out!” Fancy was all smiles. “I think this will be a grand adventure.”
Once he stopped, she helped him by gathering wood and settling the horses for the night. “I don’t have any food for us with me, I wasn’t expecting company.”
“No problem.” She patted her stomach. “I’m still stuffed from the stew.”
“Well, I have water.” He held up the canteen. “When you’re thirsty, just say so.”
“These accommodations are first class,” Fancy assured him. “I’ve spent many nights in much worse circumstances.”
Her reassurance didn’t go very far in making Reno feel better. He still felt like he was walking into a trap of some kind. “Well, catch some shut-eye. The sooner we go to sleep, the sooner we can get on the road.”
“I’ll be out like a light in just a few seconds.” Fancy settled down on the blanket he’d left for her, her mind racing with the possibilities that tomorrow held.
CHAPTER FOUR
Reno went from asleep to awake within the space of a heartbeat. Cole always said their Indian blood made their senses sharper than most. He jerked to his feet before whoever was approaching got within striking distance.
“Easy, Black, it’s us,” Boone whispered.
It took about a second or two for his friend’s voice to register. “What the hell are you all doing here?” he asked as his eyes adjusted and the other members of the group came into focus.
“Did you find your brother?”
“No. I didn’t. I hired a Pinkerton to help me, though. Sent them a telegram while I was in town.”
Boone nodded, then glanced around, while Jericho spoke up a little too loudly, asking what they were all thinking.
“Well, where is she?”
“Keep your voices down.” Reno pointed to the wagon. “You can imagine my surprise to find Kingston’s bride-to-be waiting for someone to claim her at the Herald’s office.”
“Yea, we were late,” Clay inserted. “Are you sure you got the right one?”
“What do you mean?” Reno asked softly. “There wasn’t a group to choose from.”
Boone glanced at the wagon where the woman lay sleeping. “Yea, the name the clerk gave us at the newspaper for this woman didn’t match the one we were expecting.”
Reno stepped closer to his friends. “I’m sure King knew what he was doing.”
Gentry clapped a hand on Reno’s shoulder. “King is expecting another male cook. This…” He gestured toward the wagon… “Is a surprise.”
Reno’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?”
Jericho folded his arms over his chest. “We picked one out of a catalog. A real looker. Blonde. Beautiful smile. Her name is Anita Mae Droddy.”
Reno shook his head. “Anita wasn’t the one waiting on King. This woman’s name is Fancy Grace.”
“Fancy? What kind of name is Fancy?” Jericho’s voice rose a little higher than he intended.
“Hello.”
All five pairs of male eyes turned to stare at the place where the slightly husky feminine voice was coming from. Four of those men drew in a sharp inhale of breath.
“Nothing fancy about her,” Jericho whispered, but not softly enough.
Fancy saw their faces and heard their whisper. She bowed her head, automatically acknowledging their disappointment. She was used to getting this reaction from men. “Good morning. Yes, I know I have a silly name. I would love to question my mother about her reason for bestowing it on me, but I never got the chance.” She stood, running a nervous hand over her skirt and another over her hair. Easing to the edge of the wagon, she went to jump down. Reno ran over to give her a hand. “Oh, thank you, Reno. I appreciate you so much.”
“So, you received a letter from King?” Boone stepped forward, ignoring the questioning glances from his friends.
Fancy glanced nervously at Reno. “Are these men frien
ds of yours and King’s?”
Reno cursed under his breath. “You all are making her nervous. She’s one woman alone with five men.” Turning to Fancy, he spoke gently. “It’s okay. We all live on the ranch with King. He was our Captain during the war. You’re perfectly safe.”
“Thank you.” She gave Reno a small smile. Surrounded by such a group of large, intimidating men, Fancy felt woefully inadequate. The only thing keeping her chin held high was the fact that she’d been chosen to come to this place by a man who saw something of value in her…or he wouldn’t have asked for her. Right? “Hello, so you know I’m Fancy Grace. And you are?”
One by one they took off their hats and introduced themselves.
“I’m Gentry Nelson, ma’am.” He took her hand and kissed it.
Fancy blushed. “Oh, you’re English. Bless the motherland and God save the Queen!” Her smile brightened. “I’m sure Kingston feels very lucky to have a friend who chooses to stay with him when your home is so far away.”
“And I’m Jericho Wright.” Jericho wanted to ask her what she thought she was doing taking Anita Mae’s place, but he refrained, waiting to hear the word from Boone.
Feeling decidedly nervous, Fancy clasped her hands together tightly, her eyes holding Jericho’s. “You remind me of the Rock of Gibraltar. Steadfast. Solid. Able to brave any storm. I’m sure you are a good friend to Kingston.”
Jericho looked a bit guilty, nodding his head, then gazed at the ground.
“Hello, Miss Grace, my name is Clay Bennett.” He nodded to the woman, who looked nothing like the beauty they’d expected.
“Oh, hello, Clay. What a nice name. You have a very kind face and warm eyes. I expect your friends know they can count on you.”
Clay gave her a half smile, backing away so Boone could come nearer.
“And I’m Boone Roberts, ma’am. We’re very protective of King.”
“I’m glad to hear that, King seems to be the luckiest person I know, to have so many loyal friends.” She licked her lips and kept eye contact with Boone. “You asked about a letter?”
“Yes.” Boone repeated his question. “Did you receive the letter from Kingston, telling you he’d seen your advertisement?” He knew better, Boone just wanted to see what this woman would say. He felt sorry for her, but there was a problem somewhere. This was not the woman they’d written.
“No, I never saw it,” she readily explained. “The letter must have been delivered to the agent who called me in to tell me the good news. I asked if there was a photograph of Kingston, but Mr. Pierce said he didn’t send one.” She settled down to sit on a fallen log. “I can understand why he didn’t. I couldn’t afford a photo, it was an extra nickel. I asked Mr. Pierce if maybe Kingston saw the article in the paper a while back, maybe that’s why he chose me.”
“What was the article about?” Gentry asked softly, offering her a drink of water from the canteen Reno had left lying near his bedroll.
Fancy blushed, accepting the proffered canteen, pausing to take a much-needed sip. “I helped someone in a fire, I don’t like to talk about it. That was the first time I ever had my photograph taken, I looked a mess.”
Boone felt there was more to the story, but one thing bothered him. “So, this Mr. Pierce didn’t let you see the actual letter Kingston sent?”
“No.” She stopped to study his face. “I should have insisted, shouldn’t I? What did I do wrong?”
The men glanced at one another. Boone hesitated to say if she’d done anything wrong – yet. He needed to speak to this Mr. Pierce. “So, this man works at the newspaper in Kansas City?”
“Yes, he does. His name is Pierce, Jubal Pierce.”
Once she mentioned the agent’s full name every one of King’s men stiffened in surprise.
“Son of a bitch,” Clay muttered. “Now, I’m seeing the big picture.”
“How well do you know Jubal Pierce, Miss Grace?” Boone asked, his voice clouded with suspicion. They all knew the animosity Pierce held against their Captain. He blamed King for shutting down his operation to spy for the union. If the south had won the war, he would’ve been prosecuted. Since the north was the victor, he walked free. The only price he’d paid was the forfeiture of the silver bars he’d hidden in the Confederate camp.
“I only met him twice, once when I placed the advertisement and once when he summoned me to his office to tell me I’d been chosen.” Her voice had fallen with the telling. “There’s something wrong, what aren’t you telling me?”
Boone thought fast. Things were already messed up. This wasn’t the woman they’d planned on taking home to King. She didn’t seem the type to take advantage. He’d bet every penny he could get his hands on that she was just as much a victim of Jubal Pierce as Jubal intended King to be. Once more he made eye contact with his friends. They looked at him as if they expected Boone to wave a wand and fix things. Hell, he didn’t know how. The only plan he had at the moment was to stall until he could figure things out. “Nothing. His name sounds familiar, that’s all.”
“Oh. Well, thank you so much.” She pointed to the bushes. “I just need to visit the little girl’s room, I’ll be right back.”
Once she was out of hearing range, all the men started talking at once.
“What the hell are we going to do?” Clay whispered under his breath.
“She’s homely as that mud fence we were talking about,” Jericho said what they were all thinking.
“King is going to croak. There’s a big difference between Fancy and Anita.” Boone rubbed his eyes. He suddenly had the devil of a headache.
“King never saw Anita’s likeness,” Gentry reminded them lowly.
“Yea, but he ain’t blind. This woman’s butt-ugly.” Jericho lamented their decision. “This was a mistake. A huge mistake.”
Fancy heard the last part of the discussion too clearly. She slowly returned to the campsite, feeling mortified. “I understand how you must feel. King must be blind or very, very kind. What man would want me?” With tears welling in her eyes, she made a muscle with her arm. “I’m strong. I’m not afraid of hard work. I’ll be so good to King that he won’t know what hit him. I promise.”
“Look, we’re sorry…” Reno began, but Fancy cut him off.
“It’s fine, I have no illusions about the person I am.” She ran her fingers through her own hair. “My looks are unfortunate, but there’s more to me.” Fancy lifted her chin. “I’m a good person.” Before any of them could respond, she climbed back in the wagon. “Whenever you’re ready to get on the way, I’m determined to go.”
* * *
Back at the ranch, King and Domino were having their morning coffee on the front porch. “Where’s Ace?” Domino asked as he gazed out into the distance, watching the mist rise off the river.
King chuckled, propping his feet up on the railing “Out in the barn. He’s obsessed with the new foal, I think he’d sleep in the stall with that little filly if I’d let him.”
“Does he ever talk about his family?”
“Not much, Domino. I think he’s blocked it all. Seeing his parents killed, his sister kidnapped by the Indians, all of it’s too painful to think about.” King sighed, pulling his knife from its scabbard to cut a loose thread on the hem of his pants. “I’m probably not the best person to deal with this.”
“Oh, I think you’re doing great. You’ve given the boy security and stability, just what he needs. Does he have any other family?”
“No. Once the trail boss picks up our herd, we’ll send someone down to the settlement to see what might be left. Ace doesn’t think his folks owned the land they were living on, I think they were in some type of share-cropping situation.”
“I know it bothers you about Ace’s sister.”
“Hell, yes it does. If I knew where those damn Indians were hiding out, we’d saddle up and go get her ourselves. They move around, though. Those tribes are like migrating birds.”
“They follow the bison herds.
They’re a nomadic people. A few times, I’ve got Reno to talk about his mother’s tribe, but not often.” Domino leaned forward and set his empty cup on the top of the corner post next to the step. He leaned back in the rocker, cocking his head to listen to the sounds of the early morning. “I hope nothing has happened to our men.”
“I expected them home yesterday,” King observed dryly. “I’m hoping Reno gets here soon too.”
Domino snorted. “You’re just like a big Mama hen, Captain. Trying to keep all your biddies in the same coop.”
“Yea, and the damn pullets keep squeezing through the bars.”
“They’ll be here soon enough, I’m sure.” And when they arrived, they wouldn’t be alone. He felt a twinge of guilt over what they’d done for King. He preferred that way of looking at it, what they’d done for King instead of what they’d done to King. They owed him so much. At least he would be leaving with the cattle drive, he was going along to represent their ranch and serve as the camp doctor. Rocking gently, Domino eyed the rising sun. “You know, the last couple of years have been something. We followed you west, each man for a different reason. Boone wanted to start over in a place where people wouldn’t know his past, wouldn’t know his mother was a whore. Jericho can be whoever he wants to be in Texas, he’s not bound by other people’s expectations or suspicions.”
“True.” King pulled his lucky piece from his pocket and rubbed his thumb over the time worn silver surface. “I figure there’s more to Gentry’s story than just a boyhood dream for adventure, maybe he’ll tell us someday. When he’s ready.”
“Maybe. The Englishman likes us to think he’s happy-go-lucky, but there’s something in his eyes, at times. A sadness.”