“What are the people of Willow Springs like?” Lisbet asked finally.
“Most of them are good people. The ones that aren’t, I don’t bother with.”
“What do you suppose they will think when they see me with you?”
“Don’t much care about that. I am who I am; they can take me or leave me.”
“Most leave you?”
Rayne shook her head. “No, I’m on good terms with most of the folks.”
She reached over and patted Lisbet’s hand. “It’ll be all right you’ll see.” When Lisbet didn’t pull away, Rayne let her hand rest over Lisbet’s hand.
Lisbet sat up straighter and looked at the people that walked along the street or entered the businesses in the small town. From this vantage point, she could see a bank, the saloon, a livery stable, a hotel, which advertised a public dining room, a barber situated next to the doctor’s office and two mercantile shops. In addition, there was a coach station, the jail and sheriff’s office, an assayer and lawyer’s office, and a blacksmith. Just outside town she spied a small church with a pointy steeple, a cemetery and what she guessed was the undertaker’s workroom. All the things that a thriving town needed. She was grateful anew that Rayne hadn’t turned her in to the law. She could see now that the town was well-established. Much more so than she had realized when she had jumped off the coach that she had hidden under.
Rayne pulled to a stop in front of Gillum’s Mercantile and hitched the horses to the hitching post. She then went to the other side and held out her hand for Lisbet to help her down from the buckboard.
The leather-gloved hand firmly holding her hand made Lisbet feel very protected.
†
“Well what do you know, looks like maybe Rayne Mathews has decided to join the land of the living again,” Sheriff Tom Kennedy said to his deputy.
“Why do you say that, boss?” James Dobson asked as he walked to the door and looked out just in time to see Rayne’s hand let go of the smaller woman’s. “Don’t see why she is still around these parts. She is a miserable excuse for a human. Sick, just not right, the way she carries on with other women,” he muttered.
“What did you say, James?”
“Nothing, boss, I didn’t say a thing.” The deputy shot a look of pure rebellion toward his boss.
“Say, James, you wouldn’t by any chance know who was behind the killing of a couple of Rayne’s cows earlier this fall, would you?” Tom asked
“No, why the hell would I know that? I told you, a couple of the boys and me rode up there when she came in and told you about it. We didn’t find anything. A few tracks leading in and out of the canyon but who they belonged to was anyone’s guess.”
“I know what you told me,” Tom replied. “It just seems to me, though, that you didn’t do a whole lot of looking around for answers.”
“You tryin’ to insinuate something here, Tom?” James asked, his eyes showing the fire of his anger.
“James, I’m not sure why you’re getting so upset. I was just askin’ a question. Oh, and just so you know, as long as I’m the sheriff and Rayne is a member of this community …she is welcome to go anywhere she wants to go. And one more thing, never speak about her like you just did. If you do, I’ll be more than happy to take the badge off and kick the shit out of you.”
Tom walked away from the seething deputy.
“We’ll see who shows who something,” James muttered under his breath with his hand on the butt of his Colt.
†
Inside the mercantile, Rayne was talking to Mr. Gillum and waiting for the rest of her supplies when Tom came ambling up to her.
“Rayne, how’s it going?” he said with a smile.
“Not too bad, how about you, Tom? How’s Sally?”
“She is doing well. No baby yet though Doc says there’s nothin' to worry about but I’m kinda worried, you know. Hey, listen, I need to talk to you privately do you think you can.…” Tom motioned toward the door.
“Sure, Tom, hang on a second.” Rayne turned to the shopkeeper. “Mr. Gillum, could you also throw in a couple of yards of this here material, some thread and needles, and maybe some yarn and some of those knitting needles? Lisbet would like that.”
Tom and the old man looked at one another, then at Rayne.
“I’ll be right back.” Rayne walked a few paces to where Lisbet was looking at saddles. “You interested in a saddle?” Rayne asked.
“No, I was just trying to keep out of the way, that’s all.”
Rayne shook her head. “You’re not in the way. I need to step outside for a minute to speak with the sheriff. Look around for whatever personal items you need and I will be back shortly.”
“Okay,” Lisbet said
As she reached the front of the store, Rayne overheard the sheriff and Cyrus Gillum talking.
“Who is Lisbet?” they both asked one another.
Rayne joined Tom and Cyrus with a grin on her face at their confused frowns.
“What?” Rayne asked.
“Um, nothing, just talking is all, Rayne. Let’s take a walk.” Tom nodded his goodbye to the elderly storeowner before walking outside.
†
Out on the boardwalk, Rayne looked at her friend. “What’s up, Tom?”
“Nothing concrete, okay? But I need you to keep your head up whenever Dobson is around. I don’t have any proof, but I just got this feeling that he may be behind all the trouble you’ve been having around the ranch, especially last fall.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me, the little son of a bitch has it in for me for some reason. Yeah, Tom, I’ve heard some of the things he’s spouting from that mouth of his.”
Tom looked at her with surprise.
“Well, hell, Tom, you should have known I would know. I have lots of friends in this town. That pip squeak Dobson just came into town one day and won’t leave. Doesn’t he realize that he still has things to prove and that he ain’t doing a good job of that by talking the shit he was about me?”
“Yeah, he’s has been caught talkin’ out of his ass, I’m sorry to say. Look, I can’t up and fire him for no good reason. Otherwise, he’d be gone already. I do need you to be on the lookout for him. Um, another thing,” Tom said hiding a smile. “The young lady you rode in with this mornin’…she stayin’ out at your place?”
“Yup, she is, Tom, at least for the time being. Why?” Rayne asked in a defensive tone.
“Because James saw you ride in with her and he didn’t take to kindly to your hands bein’ on her. She needs to be aware of him too, all right?”
“Yup, I get you, Tom. You think I need to pull out my 45’s, start wearing ‘em again?”
“I think it would be a damned good idea, Rayne.”
“Well, shit. Thanks for the heads up, Tom. I need to get the rest of my supplies loaded. Hey, soon as that baby of yours decides to make its appearance and Sally is up to it, come on out to the place and have dinner with us.”
“We’d be honored to, Rayne. Oh, hey, your new house guest…she looks to be a good influence on you.” Tom tipped his hat and walked away chuckling
A minute later, Rayne was back in the mercantile paying for her supplies. As an afterthought, Rayne said, “Mr. Gillum, you got any more of those dime novels? I’d like a couple added to this. I’ll pay for them when I get all this loaded.”
About ten minutes later, she had the buckboard loaded and a tarp covering it. Rayne walked back into the store and dug for some coins to cover the cost of the books.
“Put your money away. These are on the house, Rayne,” Cyrus said, smiling.
“I can’t do that, Mr. Gillum.”
“Rayne, after what you just spent here today, I think I can live with losing a couple of dime novels.”
“Well, thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. Nice to have you back with us, Rayne,” he said before he went off to help another customer.
Rayne stared at his back. Lost in thought, sh
e felt a gentle touch on her arm and looked over to see Lisbet smiling at her.
“Hey, I was just about to go looking for you,” Rayne said. “Are you ready? Remember I promised that we’d stop at the hotel and have a proper meal.”
“That sounds great,” Lisbet said with excitement in her voice. “I’ve never been to a place like that before. When I was in the saloon, I’d watch fancy dressed men and woman going into an eating place and always wondered what it was like.”
“Well, today you will find out. Oh, and we need to talk to Ellie and see about a couple of dresses for you.” Rayne felt the excitement in her voice. Where did that come from?
“Rayne, can we wait and talk about that first, please?” Lisbet asked.
Rayne felt a little of her excitement drain from her. “Well, I suppose. I was just thinking maybe you’d like your own dresses, is all.”
“Oh, I know and I truly appreciate the offer. I just…” Lisbet stammered. “I just want you to know you don’t have to do that, especially when I don’t have the money to pay for them or pay you back.”
“We’ll talk about it,” Rayne said remembering a similar conversation years ago.
†
Rayne talked and laughed often while she and Lisbet dined in Bessie’s Dining Room. Bessie made Lisbet feel enormously welcomed and comfortable the entire time that Rayne and Lisbet were there.
“Oh, Rayne, thank you for bringing me here, it is grander than my wildest imagination thought it would be.” She lowered her eyes. “Thank you for treating me like you do,” she whispered.
Rayne reached across the table and took Lisbet’s hand. “Never think of yourself as less than anyone else, Lisbet. You are a very special woman.” When Rayne realized she was still holding Lisbet’s hand she pulled her away. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry Rayne. I like the feel of your hand on mine.”
A few minutes before they finished eating, the door opened and through the lobby of the hotel, a tall redheaded deputy walked in. Dobson took his hat off and strolled into the dining room, scanning the faces of everyone there. Once his eyes saw Rayne and Lisbet he sneered.
“Well what do we have here? I thought you had higher standards, Bessie. I didn’t think you’d let a heathen dine among good, God-fearing folks”. His voice boomed so that everyone stopped what they were doing to stare in his direction.
Rayne, who had her back to the entrance, stiffened when she heard the deputy’s voice and reached to her hip for the gun that wasn’t there.
The deputy walked up to their table and looked Lisbet up and down with a leer in his eye. “No. No, you don’t have to leave.” Dobson said to Lisbet who was about to stand, “Why don’t you sit back down and finish your meal with me? You, however,” he continued as he glared at Rayne, “do need to leave. In fact, why don’t you do all of us God-loving folks a favor and leave town period?”
The dining room grew silent.
Rayne looked down at her hand, as it formed a fist. She shook her head and pushed her chair back. As she stood, Rayne held out her hand to Lisbet, who grabbed it without hesitation and came to her feet. When Rayne spoke, it was deep and low, yet held respect as she looked at an elderly man who sat at the table next to them. “Mr. Samuels, I hate to impose, but could I ask that you please escort this young lady outside?”
“Sure, Rayne, I’d be honored.” The elderly man stood and nodded at the group of men sitting with him. “Gentlemen, I’ll be back shortly.”
Lisbet shook her head. “No, Rayne, I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“I’m not alone and I won’t be long.” Rayne’s eyes darkened from the anger swirling within her.
After Mr. Samuels ushered Lisbet out of the dining room, Rayne turned to look at James Dobson. A table of men got to their feet and stood behind her. Rayne could feel the rage radiating from her body. The tone in her voice was cold, however. “Dobson, I don’t know what wrong you seem to think I’ve done you in this life. I’ve heard the things you’re saying about me, and I’ve let ’em slide. I’m gonna tell you once and only once—you will not speak about me like that again, nor will you speak to me like you just did again. Do you understand me?”
Dobson looked at Rayne and spat on her boots. “You speakin’ to me, you unnatural bitch?” The disdain dripping from Dobson’s voice caused the men that stood behind Rayne to start to move toward the man. Rayne’s hand immediately shot up as her knee found its way between his legs just as fast.
The deputy fell.
“What’s the matter, Dobson, you upset that I get more women than you do? Or is it that between the both of us, I’m the one that’s respected most in this room?”
Dobson groaned, as he turned green and curled up in a ball on the floor grabbing at his crotch.
Rayne stepped over him just as the sheriff appeared at the entrance. “Tom, you might wanna get your deputy some ice. Seems he tripped and stepped on his dick.”
The group of men burst out laughing.
Tom, although he felt for his deputy, was having a hard time choking back his laughter too. Even the women in the room, although they blushed, were laughing behind their hands.
Rayne walked out of the room as the patrons of the dining room applauded.
Once outside, Lisbet and Mr. Samuels were instantly at her side wanting to know why there was laughter and applause.
Rayne grinned. “I put Dobson in his place for the moment.”
Mr. Samuels tipped his hat. “If you don’t need me anymore, Rayne, I will take my leave.”
Rayne nodded. “Thank you again.”
“You are welcome,” Mr. Samuel’s said before rushing back inside to hear what had happened.
†
Tom was helping James back to the jailhouse when Rayne and Lisbet drove by in the buckboard.
James saw them and yelled, “You fucking bitch! You’ll be sorry for what you did.”
At hearing that, Tom let the man go and he promptly fell into the muddy street.
“What the hell,” James shouted.
With a smile on his face, Tom reached down and helped James back up. “Sorry. I lost my grip on you.”
As they reached the jailhouse, Tom laid James on the bunk in a cell, still groaning in pain. “That bitch is gonna be sorry she messed with me.”
Tom had heard enough. “James, leave it alone. And yes, that’s an order.”
James stared daggers at Tom. “Yeah, sure thing, boss.”
Chapter Seven
“I’m sure sorry for the deputy’s behavior,” Rayne said. She slapped the reins gently against the horse’s hind sides. “There was no call for how he acted and what he said.” She was mad as hell that he had embarrassed them in front of the whole dining room. Worse, Lisbet had heard everything. I can’t believe that he had the nerve to look at her that way.
Lisbet put her hand on Rayne’s arm and smiled. “I’ve heard it before and even worse. I always wondered why bigoted men like that have no problem going to the saloon and visiting the girls there.” She squeezed Rayne’s arm. “The only one who should be embarrassed is that man.”
You shoulda seen his face as he was falling to the floor. It was a mixture of pain and disbelief.”
“I bet the whole town knows about it already.”
Rayne smiled. “Bullies like Dobson don’t expect retaliation…he left himself wide open for attack.”
She looked at the woman next to her who had not removed her hand.” Lisbet, I need to know…do you know how to use a gun?” she asked, her voice taking on a serious tone.
“Now, why on God’s green earth, would I know that?” Lisbet had a puzzled look.
“Well, I was hoping. Earlier this fall I had a couple of cows go missing and then I found a couple more slaughtered. Tom, that’s the sheriff, warned me earlier today to watch my back whenever Dobson was around. Tom isn’t usually one to worry, but he’s got something on his mind. He suspects Dobson. And after what I just did, Dobson is gonna be o
ne pissed man.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“He told me he thought it would be a good idea if I started wearing my gun again and that if you’re staying with me, that I need to keep an eye on you as well. Now, I need to ride out to the north canyon tomorrow and check on the herds out there. I’d feel a hell of a lot better if I knew you could shoot.”
“Do you think he will come out and try something now?” Lisbet asked “Surely not this soon. It would be too obvious who was behind it if anything happened.” She gave Rayne a thoughtful look.
“It would be stupid, but yeah, I do expect him to do something.”
“I can take care of myself, Rayne. You don’t need to worry about me. How long will it take you to check on the cows?” Lisbet asked.
“If I leave early in the morning, I should be back by early evening. Are you sure that you’ll be all right? I can saddle up Delilah, and you can go along,” Rayne offered.
“I’ll be fine. I can’t have you adding to your work just because I decided I was going to try to steal from you.”
“Okay, I’ll make it a fast trip.”
†
Rayne pulled the buckboard around to the back of the house and climbed down, before going around the back to help Lisbet down. With a smile, she went about unloading the buckboard and carrying the supplies that went inside the house into the back storeroom. With Lisbet helping her, that chore was finished quicker than ever before. Once everything was in the house, Rayne took the buckboard to the barn and unloaded what few items belonged there and unhitched the horses. She brushed them down and gave them their supper along with the other animals. She smiled and said goodnight to the animals and headed to the house.
As she walked inside, she saw Lisbet going through the wrapped packages and putting what belonged in the kitchen area and the dry goods where they belonged. Lisbet had just found the package that held the knitting items and she looked straight at Rayne.
Rayne's New Beginnings Page 6