Rayne's New Beginnings

by Dannie Marsden

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Back of the Book

  For Rayne Matthews life wasn’t easy. At sixteen, she ran away from home to avoid marrying an older man she didn’t know. After months of travel, she finally ended up in a small town, Willow Springs where her aunt and uncle lived.

  Finding that her relatives had passed earlier in the year, Rayne began taking care of the homestead that her uncle left to her. Her life took on a new meaning when she rescued Emma Rodgers, a saloon girl, from the horrors of that life.

  Together Emma and Rayne worked the farm and soon found that they loved each other. It wasn’t until a cruel twist of fate ripped Rayne’s world apart filling her full of anger and rage.

  Rayne’s past comes to haunt her and brings her life full circle in a bizarre twist of fate.

  Rayne’s New Beginning

  © Dannie Marsden 2013

  Affinity E-Book Press NZ Ltd.

  Canterbury, New Zealand

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this e-Book may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the author and publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violate the author's rights and is Illegal.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Editor: Zoe Menez

  Cover Design: Helen Hayes

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank Mel, as always for her endless advice and help, Nancy, for her helpful advice as well, and most importantly Affinity, for their faith and support in my writing.

  I’d like to add a special thanks to Zoe for all the editing help in getting the vernacular right.

  Dedication

  To my amazing family, thank you for your tireless support and understanding.

  Chapter One

  Five years after Rayne came to town

  The harsh, bitter wind seemed to blow right through the windowpane, causing the room to have a chill despite the fire burning in the hearth. Snow blew down in thick, pellet-like flakes, quickly forming drifts along the uneven ground and piling up against the buildings that stood in its way. The only light emanating from inside the small house was from the fire and the single lantern sitting on a small table that stood in the middle of the room. All was quiet until, with a bang, the door swung open and would have slammed against the wall had not a strong arm had a good hold on it.

  Shaking snow off her coat and hat before going farther inside, the silent figure closed the door and began removing gloves, coat, hat, and scarf before neatly hanging them on the pegs on the wall next to the door that served as a coat rack.

  Grateful to be sheltered from the storm outside, Rayne walked over to the fire and added another big chunk of wood. The aroma of the simmering venison stew sitting on the stove quickly filled her nostrils. Her belly growled and rumbled at the smell, immediately reminding her that she was hungry. She walked over to the pot, and using a leather glove, she carefully took the lid off the pot and stirred the concoction of venison, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Unable to help herself, she gingerly chose a piece of meat, scooped it out, and popped it into her mouth. Although the heat from the meat burned her tongue, it melted in her mouth.

  “Oh, God, that’s good…hot, too…damn!” Rayne fanned at her mouth trying to cool it off while she eagerly reached for her bowl. After ladling a generous helping of the steaming meal into the bowl, she headed for the table where she placed the bowl down. She retraced her steps and pulled a cloth sack holding biscuits, made the day before, off the shelf. Rayne placed it on the table before grabbing her coffee cup and filling it from the pot. Finally, her table was set and she was ready to eat. Rayne sat down and pulled her chair close to the table. A smile rested on her lips as she looked at the spread on her table.

  Rayne folded her hands in front of her and bowed her head. “Thank you, Lord, for this warm house and good food. Amen.” She dug into the stew, blowing across each bite before putting it in her mouth. When the bowl was almost empty, she took a biscuit and sopped up the last of the broth.

  The windowpane shook and Rayne looked toward the window and watched as it rattled with the wind as the blizzard raged outside. The glass, along with the oilcloth covering, did little to keep the cold out—but it was better than nothing. She scraped her chair backward and stood.

  Rayne started to collect the dishes but stopped. For an instant, she felt a pang of loneliness wash over her. She thought of her life thus far and decided that her thirty years were what they were and there wasn’t any room for regret or wishful thinking. This house and the land was hers, and that in itself was something to be damned proud of, yet her heart still ached with loneliness. With a deep sigh, she went to the back room with her bowl, spoon, and coffee cup, and placed them in a bucket on the counter. She reached for the other bucket that held cold water and dumped it over the dishes. With several fluid strides, she retrieved a pot of steaming water from its place near the fire. After dumping some of the hot water over the dirty dishes, she washed and dried them. Once the sack of biscuits were back on the shelf again, she grabbed the lantern and moved it over to the tiny table next to the rocking chair close to the fire. She had a little time before she needed to check on the animals one last time for the night. She picked up the book she’d tossed on the rocker early that morning. It was a bible that had belonged to her grandparents and had been left to her uncle Luke—one of the few treasures she possessed. Uncle Luke had given it to her on her last visit, years ago, and she made sure it went with her wherever she went. The pages were thin with repeated turnings and the binding showed wear, yet it gave Rayne comfort every time she touched it.

  Rayne smiled when she remembered how her uncle had chosen her to give it to, instead of her older brother, Jason. During her childhood, she had been happiest when her family came to visit this very homestead. Her Uncle Luke and Aunt Martha had made her feel comfortable and loved and she had grown close to them. She didn’t feel any of the expectations to be something she was not—a proper young lady—as her own parents had expected. Her Aunt Martha never expected her to wait on her uncle, hand and foot. Instead, they told her to go play outside and have fun.

  With a sigh, Rayne put the bible back on the table—it was time to check on the animals one final time for the night. She wrapped the scarf around her neck, donned the heavy coat and buttoned it before placing a hat snuggly on her head. As soon as she opened the door, the furious storm assaulted her.

  Sheer determination made Rayne’s trek to the barn successful. Walking through deep wet snow was always a chore but this time the snow was blowing in her eyes so hard it stung them. Once inside the barn, the two bays that were nestled to one side looked at her before continuing to chew on hay. To the right, in a stall all his own, stood an enormous black bull whose dark eyes seemed to fix on her. Next to him, in a stall with fresh hay, stood her cow, Belle, who was busy chewing while a tiny newborn black calf suckled on a teat. She lifted her head as Rayn
e approached and Rayne stroked her head.

  “Hi there, Mama, how’s that new baby of yours?” She smiled and continued her gentle strokes. “He sure is a cute little thing. You did a real good job today. Okay, guys sleep well and stay warm. There’s a hell of a storm out there and I will make it back here as soon as I can in the morning. Samson, Delilah, you all keep the noise down...little Beau needs his rest.”

  The two bays neighed and nodded while the big black bull pawed at the ground in what Rayne thought was understanding. “Yes, I know you had a helping hand in things today too, Goliath. Good job.” She spoke soothingly to the massive bull before he snorted and settled down as she made her way back toward the door. “’Night, boys and girls, sleep well.”

  Rayne groaned as she slowly made her way back to her little house through the raging storm. “Damn it! I bet I‘ll have to dig myself out tomorrow morning.”

  You knew the dangers of moving out here, Rayne, a little voice in her head replied.

  “Well, yes, I...it beats the alternative.”

  Inside again, Rayne went through the routine of removing her hat, coat and scarf and this time she removed her boots as well. She went to the fire, added more wood, and made sure she had it banked for the night. With a yawn and a stretch, she made her way to the room off to the side of the main area—her bedroom. It held the most furniture. The room contained a big bed made of rich cherry wood, with a feather mattress, and there were two bedside tables and a tiny dresser that matched the head and footboard of the bed. Two lanterns sat on each table on top of crocheted lace doilies that her great grandmother had made. The furniture was a link to her past, and like the bible, she treasured it dearly.

  Rayne stripped down to the long johns she habitually wore in winter and climbed under the thick blanket and quilt that covered the mattress. With a contented sigh she closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, Rayne was up with the sun. Or would have been if it hadn’t been hiding behind dark, heavy clouds. Pulling back the heavy oilcloth that covered the window, she peeked outside and saw that the snow had finally let up. With a little luck, the storm had passed and in a day or two, she would be able to get into town for supplies. Supplies that were sorely needed. It was a damn good thing she had enough hay and feed for the animals. Rayne had planned to go in yesterday, but with the birth of Beau, she didn’t want to take the chance of anything happening to either the mother or the calf, and today she still wanted to keep an eye on the two.

  All things considered, it was probably a good thing that she hadn’t headed for town. The storm that blew in out of nowhere could have stranded her in town or worse, on the road. Storms at this time of year could turn bad in the blink of an eye.

  Looking at the sky, she shook her head. “Well, if nothing else, I can always just saddle up Samson and Delilah to carry a few supplies to last me a while till I can hook up the buckboard and go to town.”

  She made her way to the barn to make sure all was well with her animals.

  Rayne pushed the barn door open and all the animals lifted their heads as they pawed at the ground in what she believed was anticipation of a meal. With a smile, her first stop was Samson, who walked up to her and nuzzled her with his warm nose.

  “You think you can just love up on me and you’ll get your oats, boy?”

  She rubbed the soft muzzle, and then set about getting a bucket of oats for him. The same process went on with each of the animals. Her voice was soothing and low as she spoke to them as she worked.

  “Samson? Delilah? Tomorrow we’re gonna head to town. This storm kinda put a kink in the plan to hitch up the buckboard, but I think we’ll be fine heading in tomorrow. Think you can manage that without too much difficultly? I know, I know it wasn’t your fault that old snake spooked ya the last time we went, Delilah.”

  When the smaller bay started to snort, Rayne laughed, thinking that the horse was showing her displeasure at the idea that she was the reason for the ruckus on the last trip into town.

  Rayne pushed the door open and made a path to the chicken coop, lifting the rope that held the wire gate closed. She was glad that Emma had talked her into covering the area with a roof for it would have been hell trying to find eggs in the snow.

  With the morning chores of feeding and collecting done, she headed back to the small house with a half dozen eggs cradled inside her shirt. She shook off her outerwear along with her boots before placing the eggs on the table and then going to the fire and reaching for the coffee pot. She poured coffee, placed it on the table, and sat down. She pulled out two biscuits and smeared them with the peach preserves that she had put up earlier in the fall. It was days like this that she dreaded; when she couldn’t be out in the field, or the barn, working, or doing the physical things that kept her thoughts at bay. It wasn’t long before loneliness hit, and the memories she usually avoided came flooding back. She wondered how different her life would have been if she hadn’t left her home in Boston. Rayne ate her biscuits and drank her coffee, then placed her cup on the counter near the wash tub. She wandered around the small house, just looking at her possessions, the memories pushing at her. Rayne went to her bedroom and crawled under the top quilt.

  Her mind went back to the year she had first arrived in Willow Springs. She had wanted to get back to the Rocking M ranch to visit, maybe live with, her aunt and uncle, but they had passed from fever before she arrived. Her heart told her that no matter what her choices were, Uncle Luke and Aunt Martha would always love her and support her. But the trip to the homestead had taken too long. Her aunt and uncle were dead by the time she got there but they left her the one thing they treasured—their ranch. The Rocking M was hers, and she was damned proud of it. She was going to work hard and make her aunt and uncle proud of her, in a way her father never would have been.

  A small smile curled Rayne’s lips just before she fell back into a dreamless sleep, on the big cherry wood bed in her bedroom.

  †

  Rayne never did make that quick run into town and it was almost a week before she could hitch up the buckboard to both Samson and Delilah and head in for supplies. The late March snowstorm was finally melting, with the sun shining down on it and with a significant rise in temperature. She let the horses set their own speed but wasn’t happy that they chose to walk slowly as it gave her mind a chance to remember Emma.

  Shortly after arriving in town she had rescued one of the working girls at the Lone Star Saloon. Her name was Emma Rodgers and when Rayne first walked in, she had spied Emma walking down the flight of stairs from the rooms above the saloon. The cocky smile on the face of the man that walked behind Emma made Rayne see red and her head explode in fury as her blood boiled in rage. The voice in her head told her to walk away…she didn’t need the trouble. And then she heard the smug bastard brag and laugh to the whole room about what a good little piece Emma had been. She also noticed that the petite blonde was completely humiliated by his words. The look on Emma’s face and the laughter was more than she could take and she put all her strength into a punch that felled the man like a log.

  Then Rayne had calmly walked over to the blonde, grabbed her hand, and took her out of the saloon. Had Rayne known that it was Emma’s first time, she might have killed the man. Emma hadn’t said a word but had followed Rayne, never returning to the saloon as a working girl.

  From that moment on, Rayne never allowed Emma’s name to be mentioned in any demeaning manner. Rayne was always by Emma’s side and Emma was devoted to Rayne. Neither of them questioned the emotional or physical expression of that love. Although it wasn’t what they were used to, the town’s people accepted Rayne and Emma’s relationship without question.

  “Ha,” Rayne bellowed as she slapped the horse’s hindquarters with the reins. “We got to get to town for the supplies…I don’t want to spend the night.”

  Rayne pulled the horses to a stop when they came to the town’s mercantile. She jumped do
wn from the buckboard and walked briskly toward the shop.

  “Good morning, Rayne,” Cyrus Gillum said as Rayne entered. “I expected you earlier in the week.”

  Rayne looked at the older man with his leather apron and eyeglasses, and smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Gillum. The snow was just too deep to risk going out in it.”

  “We had a good amount but it sounds like you had more.”

  “Well, I can’t fault it. We need the moisture,” she said.

  “That we do. What can I do for you today?”

  Rayne held out a piece of paper to him. “Here’s what I’ll be needing and I’ll be back to pick it up later.”

  “I’ll have it ready for you,” he said, waving her off.

  Rayne left the mercantile and headed for the small dining room inside the hotel.

  “Well, land’s sake, look who the snow blew in,” Bessie said, moving close to hug Rayne.

  “Morning, Miss Bessie. I finally dug myself out of the snow and I figure I deserve a plate of steak and eggs.”

  “Comin’ right up. Grab yourself a seat and I’ll see to your meal.”

  Bessie disappeared and Rayne smiled. Of all the people in the town, Bessie had been the one to stick by her during her darkest hours. The woman always had a ready smile and a big hug. Rayne sat at the one empty table left in the room.

  †

  The snow began to fall once again early the next morning and Rayne was going crazy in the silence all around her. She was glad she had been able to make it to town and get the supplies she needed when she had. After pouring a cup of coffee, she sat in her rocking chair, comforted by the regular squeak it made when she rocked. The memory of her uncle sitting in that very chair, squeaking as he rocked, comforted her somewhat.