Pistols and Petticoats (A Historical Western Romance Anthology)

by Barbara Ankrum

  Lacey considered this a moment, then said, "She will not like having her brother as a shadow, not a wee bit, but I think you are right."

  "You'll find that I usually am." He tapped the tip of her nose, and then brought his mouth against hers, whispering, "Now where were we?"

  Chapter 2

  Cheyenne, Wyoming,

  August 8, 1902

  Knees knocking, hands shaking, Shannon struggled to calm her nerves as William "Buffalo Bill" Cody looked her over. He was a tall man, at least as tall as her father at six feet, and much older than she last remembered him.

  Cody's dark eyes took her in as he said, "What did you say your name is?"

  He had a thin gray beard that didn't span the length of his mouth. It bobbed up and down like a turkey wattle as he spoke. Shannon tried not to stare at it as she replied, "Shannon Winterhawke."

  He furrowed his brow and then began to circle her. As he passed by her back, he gave a tug on the single braid into which she'd plaited her hair.

  "The name sounds Indian," he said, "but I never saw an Indian with green eyes and red hair before. Is Winterhawke your stage name?"

  Her mother's hair was red, but Shannon's was much darker, more auburn than red. Her skin was dusky, more like her father's than her mother's, and after spotting so many full-blooded Indians as she rode into the encampment, Shannon thought it better not to mention that she was only one fourth Indian. It seemed better not to mention that her father was just half Indian as well.

  She raised her chin and pushed back her shoulders. "My father is Arapaho. His name is John Winterhawke. I got the red in my hair from my mother, who is Irish."

  "Ah, that explains it." He looked her up and down yet again. "I already have hundreds of entertainers. What could you possibly add to this show?"

  "I am an expert horsewoman," she said proudly. "I can do trick riding, and even tame bucking broncos. There's nothing I can't do with a horse."

  "Is that so?" Cody stroked that weird little beard a moment, and then said, "I'd like to see what you can do before I make a decision."

  "Not a problem. My horse is right outside your tent."

  Cody shook his gray head. "That's not the way we operate around here. I have several staff members, one in particular who is in charge of the animals. He's the one decides who rides which horse."

  "But my horse is trained," Shannon protested. "She will do anything I ask of her."

  "Tell that to Seth Edwards. He might let you ride your horse, but he'll probably make you try another mount. In either case, be back out front of my tent in fifteen minutes."

  "Yes, sir." Shannon gave a little curtsy, and then asked, "Where do I find this Seth?"

  Cody stuck his thumb over his shoulder. "Out back behind this row of staff tents. You'll see the corrals. Just tell any cowboy you're looking for Seth."

  With a quick nod, Shannon said, "Thank you, sir, for giving me this chance. You won't regret it."

  "We'll see." Cody turned on his heel and headed back to his desk.

  After Shannon left Cody and collected her mount, she circled around back behind the tents and stopped dead in her tracks. There were several corrals just a few feet away, huge corrals that held horses, buffalo, elk, steers, oxen, donkeys and mules. The horse corral was the largest and contained at least two hundred horses. Although she had seen Buffalo Bill's Wild West as a young girl, she hadn't absorbed the enormity of the ensemble.

  As she approached, Shannon noticed that two or three cowboys were inside the corral roping horses, while two others lounged just outside the gate smoking thin cigars.

  Careful to mind her manners, she said to the first cowboy who noticed her, "Excuse me, sir, but where may I find Seth Edwards?"

  The cowboy straightened and gave her a crooked grin. "Won't I do?"

  "I'm afraid not. Mister Cody told me to ask for Mister Edwards."

  He came to attention at the mention of Cody's name. "Seth is in the corral. I'll just go get him."

  Then he disappeared into the horses and the dust. Moments later a different cowboy came strolling through the corral, gently nudging horses aside as he walked. Seth, Shannon assumed, a man dressed all in black save for the blue scarf tied at his throat and the buckskin chaps he wore over his trousers.

  As he neared, he tipped his hat and said, "Ma'am. What can I do for you?"

  "Are you Seth Edwards?"

  "That I am. And you are?"

  "Shannon Winterhawke."

  He furrowed his brow, probably wondering about her last name, dusky skin, and the mismatch of green eyes and reddish hair.

  "And again," Seth said rather impatiently. "What can I do for you?"

  It was important to get on this man's good side. Shannon flashed him her best smile as she said, "I hope to join this organization, and Mister Cody was kind enough to allow me to show him what I can do."

  He tilted his head and pushed his hat back, giving her a good look at him. His hair and eyes, like pretty much everything else about him, were black. Shannon had never seen black eyes, dark brown yes, but black? She couldn't see so much as a speck of brown.

  She was still staring into them when he smiled and said, "Exactly what is it you do?"

  She had to think about that a moment. "Oh, uh, I ride horses."

  He nodded grimly. "So does everyone who works for Bill. I doubt he needs anyone else." He turned as if to walk away.

  "No, wait," Shannon called after him. "I didn't explain. I'm a trick rider, and I am very good with horses. I can make them do anything."

  Seth laughed, he laughed, and then he said, "That's a pretty tall claim. Even so, I still don't know what you want with me."

  Ignoring his laughter as best she could, Shannon explained. "He wants to see some of the things I can do on horseback, but when I offered to show him by riding my own horse, he said I had to check in with you because you decide who rides which horse."

  "True enough."

  Seth walked on by her and made a show of looking Stormy over. He checked her teeth, raised up each of her hooves and inspected them, and slapped her on the rump to gauge her reaction. Of course she stood still like the perfect horse that she was.

  Then Seth strolled back to where Shannon stood and said, "Nice horse. Full quarter?"

  "Her dam is," she said proudly. "Her sire is the son of our mustang, Phantom. My father raises horses up near Centennial."

  Seth ran his hand under the animal's nose letting her smell him. Then he stroked her sleek black coat, paused for a moment and asked, "Is she going to dapple out?"

  Happy to be discussing her favorite horse, Shannon nodded and dragged her fingers through Stormy's mane, a mix of both black and white hairs. "Both her sire and Phantom were dapple gray. Phantom was almost completely white when he took his last breath around ten years ago."

  "She's a beautiful animal, but I can't let you ride her to show off for Bill."

  "But why not? We are a team."

  "Two reasons. She looks like she could use a good rest, and Bill and I can't get an idea about how well you know horses if you ride the one you trained."

  Shannon stamped her foot and set her jaw. "That's ridiculous. Just the fact that I trained her should be enough for you. Stormy is mine and that's the horse I want to ride."

  Seth put the reins in Shannon's hand and closed her fingers into a fist. "If that's how you feel, then I can assure you that you will not be working here."

  "But—"

  "No buts about it." He tipped his hat again, and then turned on his heel.

  As he started to walk away, Shannon swallowed a huge amount of pride and said, "Wait. All right. I'll ride the mount you choose."

  Seth looked over his shoulder. "You're sure?"

  Nodding reluctantly, she muttered, "Yes."

  With a grin that begged to be slapped off of his face, Seth took the reins out of Shannon's hand. "I'll see that she gets some water and a few oats. You wait here."

  Wondering exactly what she'd gotten h
erself into, pacing as she thought over her options at this point, Shannon decided that all was not lost. She had confidence in her abilities and felt sure that whatever mount Seth offered would be a horse she could easily handle. She had absolutely nothing to worry about.

  * * *

  Shannon was taking in the sights, the rows of tents, the workmen building twin grandstands that faced each other across an enormous arena, and feeling a surge of excitement when she heard Seth approaching. He was whistling the tune to "The Old Gray Mare." Almost afraid to look at the mount he'd selected for her, she turned and was surprised to see him leading a lovely brown and white pinto.

  "Meet Dolly," he said, handing over the reins.

  Shannon brought her hand to the horse's nose and then proceeded to run her fingers through her mane. The mare nickered, whipped her head around, and nuzzled Shannon's shoulder.

  "Oh, what a sweetheart," she said, circling the horse, checking for blemishes, tics, anything that might be a potential problem. She looked to be in good health and alert. The only thing Shannon could find that made her less than a desirable mount was the fact that she was at least a hand shorter than Stormy.

  Sure that she could handle even that small problem, she turned to Seth and said. "Dolly is lovely. Shall I take her to Mister Cody's tent now?"

  "We'll go together. Just lead her along and she'll fall in line."

  And that's what they did. When the trio reached Cody's tent, Seth said to Shannon, "Wait here and I'll go get Bill. Don't try anything with Dolly until I'm back. Bill will want to see how you handle a bareback mount."

  "I won't move a muscle," she assured him.

  Then Seth disappeared into the tent.

  * * *

  "What have you got for me?" Cody inquired, looking up from a sheath of papers and ledgers.

  "That Winterhawke gal you sent to me so I could get her a horse?"

  "Oh, right." Cody laughed and leaned back in his chair. "She going to work out?"

  "I seriously doubt it. She's probably just another one of those spoiled city gals who think taking part in the Wild West would be a grand adventure, that is, until they break a nail." He shook his head and added, "And Winterhawke. Where the hell did she come up with a name like that?"

  Cody shrugged. "From her father is what she told me. Also said that he's an Arapaho Indian."

  Seth thought back to his appraisal of her, recalling the hint of fire in her hair, the clear green of her eyes, and then thought of her dusky skin. It sure wasn't the creamy ivory you'd expect to see on a red-haired, green-eyed woman. She wore buckskin trousers with a matching shirt that hung down to the top of her thighs. Not exactly the garb you'd find on a spoiled city woman either.

  Suddenly curious about this Shannon Winterhawke, he said, "Whatever she is, she's outside waiting for you to come out and take a look at what she can do on one of our horses."

  Cody pushed himself out of the chair and circled the desk. "So she's not riding that black mare of hers?"

  "No, I thought we ought to see what she can do with a horse she hasn't worked with before."

  "Good idea. Who did you pick out for her?"

  Although he was no longer sure he'd made the right choice, Seth said, "Dolly."

  Cody stopped in his tracks and shot Seth a glance filled with surprise. "Dolly? Our little Dolly?"

  "One and the same."

  "Did you tell Miss Winterhawke what to expect from that mare?"

  With a grin he simply couldn't hide, Seth said, "Where's the fun in that?"

  Chapter 3

  Shannon tried not to think about the two men leaning up against a hitching post, especially the one in the black hat with the smug grin. Instead, she concentrated on the task at hand.

  First she gently looped the reins over Dolly's head, and then whispered in her ear. "Let's you and me get to know each other a little better, girl."

  With that she ran her hand along the mare's neck, grabbed a fistful of mane, and then launched herself onto Dolly's back. Not much of a feat when she considered the fact that she could repeat the same action on horses much taller than this one.

  Glancing at her male audience, Shannon said, "I'm just going to walk and trot her for a little bit so we can get used to the feel of each other, then I'll do a few tricks for you."

  For a moment there, Shannon could swear she heard the sound of laughter, but she shrugged it off, gently nudged Dolly in the ribs, and they began to move together as one. She rode several feet away, then turned the animal and urged her into an easy trot. Feeling in complete control of the situation, Shannon breezed past Cody and Seth, turned Dolly back in the other direction, and then urged her into what should have been an easy lope.

  The pair didn't get more than a couple of feet, pretty much right in front of their audience, before Dolly suddenly and quite unexpectedly began to buck. She threw her back legs high in the air, head down, nose practically buried in the dirt, and sent Shannon flying.

  Since this wasn't the first time she'd been tossed off the back of a horse, Shannon knew how to land. She tucked her body into a ball of sorts, and rolled to a stop. Then she sat up, legs splayed, hair in disarray, and spit out a mouthful of dust.

  "Are you hurt?" Seth inquired as he approached her. "You took quite a spill."

  "I'm just fine," she insisted, climbing to her feet. "No thanks to you, you big donkey's butt. Why didn't you tell me about her?"

  He shrugged, but at least he was no longer wearing a cocky grin. "You told me you knew everything about horses. I guess I thought you'd figure out that Dolly here just loves to buck. You sure she didn't hurt you?"

  Pride for sure, but Shannon wasn't about to admit anything of the sort. Instead, she ignored the question. "Has anyone, including you, ever tried to train the buck out of her?"

  "Yes, ma'am, but she has too much fun bucking to be bothered with training. She's become the star of our bucking bronco exhibition."

  Shannon glanced over at Cody, who was smiling to himself, and then back at Seth. "If you didn't want me in the show, why didn't you just say so? You didn't have to have me thrown off a horse to make your point."

  He considered this, and then held up his index finger. "Just give me a minute with Bill."

  As the two men conferred, Shannon made her way back to Dolly, who didn't seem to realize that she'd just flung her rider halfway across the encampment. She was as sweet as before, still trying to nuzzle Shannon anywhere she could. By the time Seth returned, all was forgiven and horse and rider were best friends.

  "I just talked to Bill," Seth explained, unnecessarily, "and he says that he promised to take a look at the tricks you say you can do. We haven't given you a fair shot. Plus," he added, head lowered. "I owe you an apology."

  Arms folded across her breast, Shannon said, "You sure do. That and another chance to prove myself."

  "Agreed. If I bring another mount for you, one that doesn't buck, do you feel up to showing us what you can do?"

  "Here's what I feel up to doing." With that, she marched over to where Cody stood. Seth was one step behind her.

  "If you don't mind, sir," she said to Cody. "I would like to tell you about a few of the things I can do." He nodded so she continued. "I can ride a horse in full gallop while lying on its back, fling myself on and off a horse in full gallop just by clinging to its mane, and hang off the side of a saddled galloping horse with no fear of injury to myself. I can also do a couple of other things and I'd like to show them to you with Dolly. May I do that?"

  Surprise flashed across his expression. "You want to get back on that horse again?"

  "I sure do."

  Cody glanced from her to Seth. "Is that a good idea?"

  "I expect." His dark eyes appraising Shannon anew, Seth added, "It's not like she doesn't know what she's getting into."

  "Fine then." Cody waved Shannon away. "Get to it. I've still got a lot of bookkeeping to figure out today."

  Shannon didn't waste any time. She kicked off her bo
ots and peeled off her stockings. Then she grabbed hold of Dolly's mane, flung herself over the mare's back, and gingerly stood up. After balancing herself, she jiggled the reins and made clucking noises with her tongue. Dolly began to walk and then fell into a trot.

  As the pair passed by the hitching post, Shannon said, "I can do this all day long on a galloping horse, if you want me to. I can even spin in circles or dance a little if you like."

  "Let's see you dance," Cody called after her as she went on by.

  Humoring the man, she did a little bit of a jig, but then turned Dolly back toward the hitching post again. Sliding her feet down the mare's sides, she sat down on her back and hollered, "I can also do this."

  With that, Shannon clamped her knees around Dolly's belly, renewed her grip on the mane, and urged the horse into a gallop. As expected, the mare began bucking, twisting and jumping in an effort to dislodge her rider, but Shannon wasn't about to get tossed this time. She persevered until Dolly got tired of the game and came to an abrupt stop.

  After she slid off the horse, Shannon strolled over to where the men stood and said, "Well? Am I hired or not?"

  "Oh, I would think hired," Cody said with a chuckle. "What do you think Seth?"

  Though it was obvious that he gave his consent grudgingly, he said, "I guess we can find a place for her."

  "Several places is what I'm thinking." Cody tapped his bottom lip where the thin beard began. "In fact, if it's true she can hang off the side of a galloping horse, I think you ought to figure a way to work her in after the Deadwood Stage act tomorrow. You know, ride up and save her from certain death."

  "I don't know," Seth muttered. "That's a tall order to have ready by tomorrow."

  "I can do it today, if you want," she challenged. "Just make sure that I get to ride Stormy and the act is ready to go."

  "That's what I like to hear," Cody said through his laughter. "Seth, you take Dolly back to the corral and pick out a mount for yourself suitable for saving this lovely creature. I'm going to run her on over to see Bethel about getting some costumes ready for tomorrow."