She smoothed her dress. “It is how life is. You can either accept it or watch as people cover their mouths and whisper about you being unnatural.”
“I don’t care.”
“You will.” Alice gave Rayne one last kiss and opened the door. “Be careful out there, sugar, and have a safe trip to your uncle’s place.”
Naked, Rayne sat on the bed and considered Alice’s words. “I will never marry.”
She crawled under the covers, breathed in Alice’s scent, and wrapped her arms around a pillow. Just as sleep overtook her she smiled. “I had no idea.”
†
For the next two months, Rayne made her way to Willow Springs. In each town she visited, she would check the wanted posters and never found any with her name. She’d visit the local saloon, take her hat off, and let her hair flow to her shoulders. When she revealed herself to be a woman, she found that many of the working girls in the saloon would fight over who would be the one to take Rayne upstairs.
Chapter One
The tall, lone figure sat astride a large bay looking out over a vast area with a sprawling, riverbend town centered in it. The sun shining high in the sky was already too hot for most and thoughts of a nice river bath, or some shade were teasing the woman in the saddle.
“What I wouldn’t give for a cold stream right about now,” she said aloud.
The bay snorted and shook his head.
“Yeah, I know,” she responded. “Come on let’s get goin’. If all goes as it should, we’ll hit town by sundown. That means a nice stall with fresh hay for you and a hot bath, home cooked meal, and soft bed for me. Maybe even a beer if there’s a decent saloon.”
The bay nodded and struck the ground with his front foot.
Rayne laughed and shook her head in amusement before giving the horse a gentle nudge with the heel of her boot. Off they went down a slope, moving as one. With a few stops now and then to rest the bay and give her a break from the saddle, they eventually made it to the town just before sundown as Rayne had predicted.
The town was like every other she had been in during her travels. The only difference—on the outskirts of this town, stood a small house and grounds that that belonged to her aunt and uncle. As she rode into the town, she looked for the hotel, and the livery, knowing finding those would make her happy. A little way into town she spotted what looked to be a saloon, judging by the way all the dusty, rowdy men were going in and coming out. Weary from her journey, Rayne decided to try this establishment first. She rode up to the hitching post that stood in front and tied her horse to it. She swung her leg over the tall animal and finally, her foot touched solid ground. She pulled her hat low over her eyes, adjusted the gun belt she wore around her hips, and walked with confidence into the establishment. Like any other saloon, the minute the swinging doors opened and she walked in, the sounds of laughter, music, and empty mugs slamming down on the bar assaulted her ears. With a self-assured swagger, she made her way to the bar.
“What can I get for ya, mister?” The short man behind the bar asked without looking.
“I’ll have shot of whiskey,” she replied in a husky voice.
The bar keep looked up. “Comin’ right up.”
“Where might I find a decent priced room and bath, and get a good meal?” Rayne asked.
“Miss Bessie serves a fine meal three doors down and her rooms are two bits.”
“One last thing, where can I find the livery?”
“Down the street take a left and it’s at the end. Ralph should still be there.”
“Thank you kindly.” Rayne swallowed the amber liquid, tossed out enough coins to cover the drink, turned, and walked out the swinging doors.
Once she grabbed the reigns off the hitching post, Rayne walked to the side of the bay, mounted then led the horse down the road toward the livery. As she rode, she spied the big building at the end of the road bearing a livery sign. When she reached the entrance, Rayne dismounted, and with reins in hand, walked inside.
“Howdy, what can I do for ya?” the man asked.
“Lookin’ for a stall and a bucket of oats for Apache here.”
“Got one open off to the left there,” he said as he motioned with his chin before walking over to Rayne, and reaching out his hand “Name is Ralph.”
“Nice to meet ya, Ralph.” She extended her hand and shook his. “Name is Rayne and this here is Apache.”
Ralph reached out and petted the large bay, which nodded his head and nudged the farrier. Ralph took a good long look at Rayne as she started to un-strap the saddle and bridle. “You look familiar. Been in these parts before?”
“Years ago when I was a small sprout. I was visitin’ my aunt and uncle.”
“Mathews. You’re Luke Mathews’ kin, ain’t ya?” Ralph took off his hat and scratched his head. “I can see the family resemblance.”
“Yeah, I am.” Rayne continued to take care of her horse.
“I’m real sorry about their passin’. Luke and Martha were real good people.”
He eyed Rayne. “You come to stake your claim? I know the local attorney, a fella named Benton, goes out there every once in a while to check that the place is in good condition. Course all the cattle was sold to cover the burial expense and legal fees. I understand that what little was left was put into an account for Luke’s kin”.
Rayne, stunned by the words Ralph uttered, could only stare at the man in disbelief.
“I thought you knew and that’s why you’d come here.”
“They’re dead?” Rayne shook her head.
“I’m right sorry for saying it the way I did.”
“What happened to them?”
“It was the influenza that took ‘em. Came into pneumonia, it did.”
“When did this happen?”
Ralph scratched his head again. “Near as I can recollect it was about two months ago…maybe longer.”
“Thanks. Do you know if…can ya tell me if it was quick?”
“Doc Adams could tell ya more… you can find him over at Bessie’s right about now. You ask me, them two might as well get hitched. Shoot, neither of them can see straight when the other is around.”
“Getting’ hitched isn’t for everyone, ya know,” Rayne said quietly.
Still stunned by the news, Rayne finished brushing Apache down. She tried to make sense out of the news. They were all I had…where am I going to go now?
“How much for the night?”
“That’ll be a bit for the night, includes bucket of oats in the mornin’.”
Rayne reached into her pocket, pulled out a coin, and handed it the young man. “Much obliged. I’ll be back in the mornin’ to pick him up. Thanks for tellin’ me about my kin.” She gave the man a weak smile. “You have yourself a fine evening, Ralph.”
“Thank you.” Ralph pocketed the money, “Welcome to Willow Springs. Guess you will be livin’ here now.”
Rayne just nodded. Uncle Luke probably left his place to my father not knowing I killed him. “Who’d you say was looking after the place?”
“Mark Benton. He has a place near the sheriff’s office.”
“Thanks, Ralph, I’ll see you in the mornin’” Rayne put her hat back on and walked out heading down the street toward the dining room.
Rayne walked into the dining room and looked around. Her heart was heavy and when she saw several people looking at her with their hands covering their mouths while they talked, she snickered. Isn’t that what Alice told me would happen. With a shake of her head, she moved further in the room looking for a table. While she stood there, she overheard two women speaking.
That's her, the resemblance to Luke is amazing, Mavis. They said she was a woman. I've never seen a woman dressed like that. She won't last out there very long since every man around wants her land.
Rayne didn’t understand the comments. How did they know who she was and why she was there? She never thought that she bore any resemblance to her uncle yet two people now said
it was so. She looked at the two women and cocked her head in question—they immediately looked away.
Rayne continued to scan the room for somewhere to sit when a woman walked up to her with a big smile. “Well hello there and welcome. You must be Luke and Martha’s kin. Bet your hungry and tired, come on let’s get some food into you and then I’ll have Jessie show you to your room and get you a bath. I’m Bessie, by the way. Heard about your arrival, and took the liberty of getting you a room already. Now what would you like? Judgin’ by how scrawny you are, you’ll need a nice thick steak, some fried potatoes and a nice cup of coffee. How does that sound?”
Rayne immediately liked the woman, and broke out in a smile before she remembered the passing of her aunt and uncle. “Did you know my Uncle Luke and Aunt Martha?”
“Sure did, honey. They were just real good people.” Bessie looked at her. “You didn’t know did you?”
Rayne shook her head. “Not until Ralph at the livery told me.”
”Oh, I’m so sorry. We’ve been expectin’ you for months now so I assumed you got the news and came here.”
“I was fixin’ on visitin’ them, not findin’ em dead.”
Bessie patted Rayne’s arm and showed her to a table. “Now you sit right here and I’ll see to it that you get a real good meal.”
She started to leave then turned back. “Pay no mind to those busy bodies.”
Rayne was dusty, tired, and hungry. And she could feel the eyes of everyone in the dining room staring at her, most of them probably not realizing she’d just heard about the death of her aunt and uncle. In her travels, she’d been in enough small towns to know that news traveled like wildfire. Here she was in Willow Springs, a place she’d visited as a child and had loved, feeling sad and alone.
From the comments she’d heard other make, it sounded as though the people were expecting her and not her father. How can that be? Surely, the ranch should have passed on to my uncle’s brother…my father who is dead. Just as her coffee arrived, she heard someone behind her clear their throat and she turned and looked up to see a tall man standing next to her with a handsome, rakish smile.
“May I help you?” she asked.
“I don’t mean to interrupt your dinner, just wanted to introduce myself and welcome you. I’m Jeremiah Sprigs; you must be Luke Mathew’s kin.”
“Name is Rayne. It’s nice to meet you, Mister Sprigs.” She studied the man as he held his hand out waiting for her hand. She did not take it
“Yes, well.…” He cleared his throat again. “Welcome to Willow Springs. If you need anything…help with the ranch, someone to show you around town…a dinner companion…feel free to contact me. I’d be honored to help you out.” Jeremiah said.
“Noted.” Rayne picked up her coffee consistently staring at the man who nodded, abruptly turned on his heel, and proceeded to leave the dining room. In his haste, he nearly knocked Bessie down.
“Oh dear, not even here a day and already the vulture is circling. So sorry you had to experience him on your first evening in town. Trust me when I say that we are not all like him,” Bessie said.
“He was just offering his services as a dinner companion if I should feel the need.”
Rayne frowned, creasing her forehead. “Um, do all the snakes around here try to be charming?”
Bessie placed a thick steak and pan-fried potatoes in front of Rayne.
“Well, no. Jeremiah Sprigs is one of a kind I’m pleased to say. Lord help us, he does seem to think he is God’s gift. He is more like a wart on a toad than the Lord’s gift to anyone.”
Rayne choked on the sip of coffee she had just taken. “Bessie, I do believe I like your sense of humor. Might I be able to talk you into resting your feet for a minute or two and give me the low down on who to avoid in this town?” Rayne flashed her most charming smile.
“Well it doesn’t seem to be too busy right now. Don’t mind if I do. My, my, talk about a charmer. Why I believe you could talk the skin right off of a snake if you set your mind to it.” Bessie laughed as she sat down.
“Well, Bessie, I would surely try to give that snake a run for its money.”
Rayne smiled before her face grew somber. “I understand that a fella named Benton is lookin’ after Uncle Luke’s place.”
“Mark is a fine man…he’s the only lawyer we got in Willow Springs. He’s been takin’ good care of the place so it would be ready when you arrived.”
“I don’t get it.”
“What?”
“How everyone around her seems to know me and why I am here. I came to visit my aunt and uncle without telling anyone. How do you know it is me?”
“It’s a small town and we all knew that Luke left his place to you.”
“He what?”
“After Luke and Martha died, Sprigs was talking about the bank sellin’ the place. Mark, told him that the place belonged to you and he sold the cattle so he could make sure the bank wouldn’t take possession. Luke left a will givin’ you his place.”
Rayne’s eyes widened so much she knew she looked like an owl. “I can’t imagine that.”
“Neither could Sprigs. He said no woman should be runnin’ a ranch…that it was a man’s job.”
“Sounds like I need to meet that lawyer tomorrow.”
Bessie patted Rayne’s hand. “Let me get you some more coffee and a piece of apple pie.”
Rayne watched the woman go and a smile curved her lips. I like her. She seems genuine.
After pie and more conversation, Rayne stretched.
“Thank you for the mighty fine meal, Bessie. I reckon I’ve kept you from your work long enough, I think I’ll head on up to my room and that hot bath you mentioned
“Of course, sweetie. Come with me. I’ll fetch Jessie and she will show you to your room and help with your bath. You know, with you in town, Willow Springs just got a whole lot more interesting.”
Chapter Two
The morning sun shone brightly into her window, signaling the new day. With a stretch and a deep yawn, Rayne slowly swung her feet over the bed and onto the floor. Feeling better than she had in weeks, she got dressed and headed down for breakfast. She walked into the dining room and grinned broadly when she saw Bessie heading her way.
“Good mornin’. How did you sleep?”
“Like a log, I have to say. Don’t think I’ve ever had a bed that felt so good,” Rayne answered.
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. Now, how about some breakfast before you head on out to speak with Mark? Maybe you’d like a nice stack of flapjacks, some bacon and eggs and hot strong coffee?” Bessie said.
“Well, that sounds mighty fine.”
Rayne allowed Bessie to lead her to a table in the corner. She looked at the woman. “I still can’t believe they are gone.”
“It’ll take time.”
Rayne sat waiting for her coffee and the mouth-watering meal that Bessie had described to her. She watched as the town’s residents slowly entered the establishment. Mostly men, ranchers she imagined, ranchers who were just itching to take her uncle’s land off her hands. Of course, there were some that looked at her with barely concealed lust in their eyes. If she been so inclined, some of the men she saw were handsome enough. What caught her attention was the fact that some of the people she noticed sneaking glances at her were attractive women.
Don’t bother even imagining that, she told herself. You brought enough troubles on yourself back in Boston. Besides, they are probably more curious about what I’m doing, or whether or not I have my sights set on their men. She shivered at the thought of what they would think if they knew the truth.
Bessie placed a plate of food in front of her. “There you go. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, it looks good.” Rayne ate her food absently as her thoughts turned to the past.
Boston seemed so long ago, when in reality it had only been five months since she left her home and her family. The months had been hard and lonely. The only family members, in
cluding her immediate family, who understood her had been her Aunt Martha and Uncle Luke. They were the only ones who didn’t turn their backs on her—the only ones that she knew of. It was hard to say what her two sisters and her brother thought. Her brother was probably still mad that she took his best clothing.
To be fair, her aunt and uncle were the only ones she even wanted to keep in touch with. She was scared to let her mother know where she was and had no clue about her father or if he was even still alive. She was sure the law was looking for her.
She reached up and put her hand over her cheek still feeling the sting of her father’s hand. The events of that evening came back full force…
“You will marry Martin Sinclair in a week, girl, it’s all been arranged.”
“But, Father, I don’t know him nor do I love him. His breath smells awful and I can’t stand it when he touches me.”
“You will grow to love him, child. He is a well-respected man in this community and he needs a wife. You are old enough to marry and he has promised to make you a decent husband.”
“Father, please...”
“There will be no more said on the subject.”
“Father, please don’t make me do this,” she had begged.
A hand struck her on the left side hard enough that she saw stars.
“Do not argue with me. You will do as I say without question.”
She hadn’t meant to kill her father but he sure had looked dead when she left the house that day. Now she was always on the run, worried that someone would show up and arrest her for murder.
“Rayne, sweetie…are you all right?” Bessie asked.
“Sorry, what did you say, Bessie?”
“I asked if there was anything more I could get you.”
“Oh. No. I’m stuffed. Besides, I need to head out and find that lawyer fellow.” Rayne stood.
“Are you all right there, young lady?” Bessie asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just remembering things,” Rayne said.
Rayne Comes to Town Page 2