Laura rubbed a grubby hand across her eyes and adjusted her hat. She wondered to herself which was worse, the relentless sun beating on her dark brown head or the sweat that built up around the rim of the hat meant to protect her from the heat. She was finally entering the town she had been able to see for the last half hour or so. It wasn't much but the sign reading Four Corners gave her a sense of independence and relief. She was sure she would be able to find a room and a meal here. Maybe she would stay a couple of days... if she dared take that much time.
Chris Larabee leaned casually against the support beam of the porch in front of the sheriff's office. His black hat pulled low over his eyes didn't impede his line of vision. Though he appeared relaxed he was ready for anything. His eyes focused on the horse entering town limits. He could tell immediately it was a woman. He frowned. He did not like the idea of a woman riding alone in this wilderness. He watched unnoticed as she looked from building to building. Passerbys glanced at her momentarily. He watched as some acknowledged her uninterestedly, others showed their disapproval of an unchaperoned female immediately. She looked at him then, her eyes focusing on his. Briefly glancing up to read the sheriff's office sign she headedtowards him.
"Who's this?" Vin asked coming up silently behind him.
"'bout to find out." Chris stood straight as the stranger dismounted.
Laura smiled at the two men. Both handsome, the dark one didn't appear overly friendly but the one in the buck skins looked ready to help. "'Scuse me? Could one of you gentleman direct me to a place where I might get a room and meal?" She did her best to sound confidant and at ease even though her nerves were obviously visible to the observant. She couldn't keep the hands that held the reigns from shaking unless she held on with a white knuckled grip.
"Mot a problem, ma'am." Vin gently took the reigns from her and pulled her saddle bag down. He through it to Chris who caught it easily.
"Allow me to take care of your ride. Chris here will take you to the hotel. I'm Vin by the way, he's Chris. "
"Much obliged to ya. I'm Laura. Laura Dawson."
Vin started off with her horse and she turned to Chris.
"This way," he mumbled tipping his hat back a degree.
Smiling to herself Laura wondered how much of an inconvenience this was to him. He sure acted like it was a problem. "If you would prefer to just give me directions, that would be fine," she said quietly.
"'s'all right, I was heading that way myself."
"I thank you Mr.. "
"Larabee."
"Mr. Larabee."
The Hotel was dark compared to the bright outside. It took a moment for Laura's sun scorched eyes to adjust to the dimness. There seemed to be quite a crowd at this hour. Mostly gentlemen, well, Men she corrected reminding herself that there was a severe shortage of Gentlemen of late.
Buck Wilmington had been enjoying a drink at the bar with JD Dunne when he heard Chris and Laura enter. His eyes widened at the sight of the young woman. He smiled at her outfit, a riding skirt of some kind, and ragged hat. She pushed it off her head as she entered and revealed two long dark braids. Like a young girl he thought.
"Howdy Chris! Who's your friend?" His boisterousness caught Laura off guard and she stumbled slightly. Chris caught her elbow.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Just clumsy," she said softly, but Chris saw something flicker in her brown eyes.
"Buck, this is Laura dawson, Miss Dawson this is the infamous Buck wilmington. and his side kick J.D. Dunne."
"Hey, I'm no side kick!" J.D. protested indignantly. "But nice to meet you." He tipped his hat.
"It is a pleasure indeed to make your acquaintance." Buck bowed dramatically and grabbed her hand to kiss. She tensed perceptibly and Buck paused for a moment. He exchanged a quick glance with Chris and kissed her knuckles.
"Inez here can get you set up with a room," Chris said nodding to the woman behind the counter.
"Tthank you again Mr. Larabee," Laura said calmly reaching for her bag as Inez came around the bar.
"I'll take it up," Chris said evenly after Inez and Laura had exchanged greetings. Laura only nodded and followed him and Inez to the room she would be using while she was in town.
Once the door closed behind Mr. Larabee and Inez Laura let out a giant sigh. Flopping across the bed in what her mother would have deemed and unladylike manner she smiled at the ceiling. "My room," she said out loud. As tempted as she was to just allow herself to just fall asleep she got up and quickly undressed. The wash basin was full and though the water was cool it was immensely refreshing. Within an hour she was dressed again with clean dress and clean hair both fitting the description of "Proper". As she descended the stairs into the saloon she immediately recognized Buck , J.D. and Vin. They were talking with three others. She noticed that they all seemed to have an air of importance compared to the rest of the patrons. She did not see Mr. Larabee.
"You look rested," Inez smiled
"Mostly just refreshed," Laura admitted.
Buck glanced her way and did an obvious double take. "Well well if it's not our traveler." Six pair of eyes turned to her and she shifted nervously.
"Howdy again Miss Laura," J.D. said. "This here's Vin,"
"We've met,"Vin said nodding.
"Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez and Ezra Standish." Each man greeted her congenially. Ezra smiled charmingly, his voice rich with a thick southern drawl. "These gentleman were about to leave but would you be interested in joining myself and Mr. Tanner here for an evening meal?"
Laura smiled graciously. "I would like that very much."
The meal was delicious after her hard day of riding. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. The conversation varied from small talk to various other subjects. She found Vin to be quiet and sensitive in his own way. Ezra was very talkative and his charm was overwhelming. After Inez had cleared the dishes with help from JD and Buck who had returned.
Ezra announced his need for a game of cards and offered to teach her how to play.
"Why not?" she agreed. To herself she thought, 'A female playing cards with a bunch of gunmen can't be any worse than traveling unchaperoned.' Of course she lost the first few hands, listening intently to Ezra's
explanations and tips. They kept the pot small which Laura assumed was due to her.
"I have a pair of Kings." Ezra smiled after Buck called.
"I have two tens . . " Laura paused and winked at Vin. ". . .and three Jacks. Is that good?" she asked innocently laying her cards face up on the table. Ezra stopped and looked at her his blue eyes wide. JD and Buck burst out laughing.
"Gentlemen," Ezra said slowly," I do believe we have been hustled."
"And good," Buck added.
Laura merely shrugged and smiled. "I couldn't resist," Ezra laughed then and refused to take his money back. It hadn't been much but Laura admitted to herself that the extra cash would be of some help. Maybe she could stay here an extra day after all. She bid her good evenings and thanked the men for their company. Once in her room however, she was restless and unable to settle enough to even try to sleep. She grabbed a blanket from her bed and still clothed slipped down the stairs. The town was quiet as she stepped out onto the porch. She could hear faint and comforting stirrings and the darkness was broken only be a few scattered lanterns. Deciding against walking she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and settled on the step.
"Kind of late for star gazing ain't it?"
Laura jumped at the presence behind her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you. Can I join ya?" Chris Larabee was already settling onto the step next to her before he finished hisquestion. Not knowing what to say she just nodded.
"You like to do things on your own all the time?" Chris asked. He'd taken his hat off and fiddled with it absently.
"Kind of."
"Not exactly safe." He looked at her. In the shadows his dark eyes reflected the light of a lantern behind her.
Laura shrugged and pushed her loose hair back.
"It's hard to know what is safe anymore," she said softly.
Something about her drew Chris, he wanted to lean in and put his arm around her, protect her, know her.
"Where are you heading anyway?" he found his voice.
"Don't know really, maybe here."
"Away from anything in particular?"
She looked at him, their eyes meeting. He continued before she answered "Running doesn't always help."
"It doesn't always hurt either," she said simply.
"You aren't running from the law are you?"
Laughing she shook her head," sorry not a criminal."
"What about family?" the questions just kept coming before he realized he was actually voicing them. He knew he would never have put up with it, and yet he couldn't bring himself to stop asking.
"They're gone," she said flatly.
"You're young to be on your own." He smiled as her eyes flashed.
"Not that young."
"Okay," he agreed laughing. Laura liked the sound of his laugh. Strong and genuine. They sat there in silence for what felt like eternity. Laura was torn, part of her felt safe and comforted sitting beside him and part was fearful, wanting to run away from him and this town as fast as she could.
" I better go in," she said in a whisper but didn't move.
"Yeah."Chris leaned towards her slowly. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her. He wanted to push her hair away from her face and feel it entwined in his fingers like dark silk.
"Laura?" he moved closer. Their lips were almost touching when she quickly pushed him away and rose to her feet.
"I'm sorry Chris, I can't. It's just..." She shook her head tears filling her eyes "You don't know me." She turned and ran back into the hotel.
Chris sighed heavily. She was right of course but there was something else. She was afraid. Why was she afraid of him? She seemed so lost. "You don't know me either," he whispered putting his hat on and turning towards home.
When Laura crawled into bed she was still shaking. She had wanted Chris to kiss her. She knew she was attracted to him, she knew when she first dismounted and followed him to the hotel.
"I'm crazy," she whispered into her pillow."Crazy."
The next morning Laura awoke with a sense of doom. The town below was bustling, she had slept late. She wondered if Chris was downstairs and what she would say to him if he was.
"Morning Laura," Inez greeted her "Would you like some breakfast?"
"No thank you." She was not hungry at all."But I do have a questionfor you."
"Sure."
"Do you know of anyone in town who might be looking for some help? I'd like to earn some more money before traveling on. I can read, write and figure a little." The voice that sounded spun her around with surprise and fear.
"Why don't you try earning it the old fashioned way?" The connotation could not be missed and Laura's knees weakened at the familiar coldness.
"Michael," she whispered. He stood there smug and grinning. Chris was on one side, Vin the other. Their expressions hard and cold.
"Emily," Michael said simply. His dark hair smoothed back from his face. He was shorter then Chris and Vin both but she knew what he was capable of.
"No." She shook her head.
Michael stepped forward. "Did you forget to mention a few things to your new friends here?"
She backed up bumping into the bar. "Didn't you mention your profession?"
"No, please, Chris?" her voice pleaded with him.
Michael interrupted her again, advancing to stand beside her. "You mean you didn't mention your talent for charming men into your bed and then stealing them blind and leaving in the night?"
"NO!" she started. Looked at Chris again, but his face was closed, he believed Michael.
Michael was enjoying his created drama. "May I present the consummate actress Miss Emily Dawson."
He turned to her. "Go get your stuff."
His eyes glimmered as he spoke. It was all she could do to keep herself from running up the steps. She heard Michael say "I do apologize for any trouble she may have brought to you."
Behind her locked door she let out a sob How could she have thought she could get away from him? Pulling herself together she threw things haphazardly into her bag. She dug out a pencil and piece of paper. She had to try to explain to Chris the truth, she had to try.
Michael was standing impatiently when she came back down the stairs. He had been talking with the men and she could tell be their looks he had been spilling out more sordid details. While he wasn't looking she lay the folded note on the bar.
The grip on her arm felt like fire and she knew it was only the
beginning. She didn't look at anyone as they waled out. Knowing they believed Michael made it impossible to look at them.
"Get in the wagon." Michael said forcefully. He half lifted her in,
half shoved. She sat there still stunned as he went around and got in front with his handler. She looked up then and met Chris's glare.
"I will not cower," she thought as the wagon jerked into motion. "No matter what he thinks of me." She hoped some how that his eyes would soften. That he would run after the wagon and snatch her away. It wasn't until his stiff form was no longer visible that she realized there were tears running down her cheeks.
The steel grip that tightened on her neck pulled her further back into the wagon as soon as they were fully out of sight. Wincing in pain she tried to pull away but was instead slammed onto the hard floor of the wagon. Michael pinned her down, his face angry." I told you you would never get away from me. you are mine Emily."
"No," she said struggling. She knew what reaction it would bring but she couldn't will herself to care. She wanted to fight, her hatred for him stronger now then it had ever been and knowing she would lose didn't change that.
"I will never be yours," she hissed over the ripping of fabric. "Never," she cried as the next blow stunned her into silence.
Chris stared hard at the departing wagon, his feelings jumbled and angry. He felt betrayed and didn't know how much of a right he had to feel that way .
"We were all fooled Chris, she lied," Vin said quietly from behind him.
"Yeah," Ezra added softly.
"It ain't so much the profession, it's the stealing and worse.. the lying," Buck said. "I'm getting a drink."
"Sounds right," Chris murmured following him into the saloon.
" Chris?" Inez motioned to him when he approached the bar.
" I found this." She handed him the note. In smooth printing it said Chris larabee. He scowled and shoved it into his pocket.
" I think you should read it," she said handing him his drink.
"Why? "He downed the drink in one shot.
"I'm not saying it's right or anything but maybe there's just more to it then she could say?"
He looked at her a moment, considering. "I'll think on it." It was afternoon before he let himself take the note out of his pocket. He sat at the desk in the sheriff's office and ran his fingers over his name remembering the sound of her voice as she pleaded. Opening the note, he read.
Dear Chris,
I know you are angry with me but I could' t leave without trying to explain to
you about me and Michael. I don't want to go with you thinking as you do about
me but I have no choice. I only hope this note helps in some way to let you
understand. My name is Emily Dawson. I used the name Laura because I don't like
who Emily has become. My family died a little over a year ago. My pa had
borrowed money from Michael and still owed him a lot. When Michael came and took
the house and the land I had no where to go and no way to pay for pa's debts.
Michael gave me a choice. I could live at the hotel he owned in town and earn
money the old fashioned way as he called it, or I could live with him. I didn't
want either but, when forced to pick between many men or one man, I chose him.
Michael is a cruel man and I know I will not be able to get away from him again.
I have never stolen from anyone. I am not pure but I am innocent. I am sorry
that I lied to you. I did not mean to betray or trick you. I just need you to
know the truth. Forgive me if I hurt you. Emily Dawson
Chris refolded the paper and looked out the dirty window. He wanted to believe her words. He struggled for a minute then put the note in his pocket. Putting on his hat he went outside. "VIN!" he shouted.
"Yeah?"
"We're riding out!"
"Going after her?" Vin asked squinting in the sunlight at him.
"Yeah."
It didn't take long to get everyone together, Chris quickly explainedthe note .
"You believe her?" JD asked getting on his horse.
"Not sure," Chris admitted honestly.
"Then there is certainly a reason to find out more," Josiah said spurring his horse into action.
By evening they had picked up the wagon's trail but stopped at nightfall to camp. It was a restless night for Chris. He slept little
and stared into the fire seeing over and over Emily's tears as the wagon pulled away. Her determination to not look away, the words of her note. He had read it again by fire light." I'm not pure but I am innocent."
The words stood out and rang in his head again and again. He knew the truth and inside he knew that he had turned her over to a monster.
By dawn they were up and out. Vin had picked up the wagon's trail and Chris hoped that night had slowed Michael down too. Splitting up to cover more ground, Nathan, Josiah and Ezra rode one way while Buck, JD and Chris stayed with Vin. It was late morning when Vin pointed out riders approaching. They could tell immediately it was Ezra and Josiah in front. Nathan rode behind them his horse carrying an added burden.
"No," Chris said overwhelmed suddenly with dread. "Oh no." He rode straight to Nathan.
"I'm sorry Chris," he said looking at the form he carried.
"Give her to me," Chris whispered hoarsely.
Carefully Nathan handed Emily's body to Chris who cradled her in front of him. Her hair fell across her face only slightly obscuring the bruises. Nathan had wrapped a blanket around her to cover her completely.
"There was nothing we could do, "Nathan continued in a low voice. "He used a
. . . " Chris held up his hand cutting him off.
"Where did you find her."
"Along the trail." Ezra answered. "No wagon, he just left her there the son of a bitch."
Chris nodded. "Let's head back."
"You want to bury her here?" Josiah asked
"No, we take her back." No one questioned him. He waited until the others had started out then followed them.
They made good time getting back to Four Corners. No one felt like camping out and by the time it was dark they were close enough that the horses knew the way. Chris handed Emily's body over to Josiah then and stormed off. It was Vin who found him later, sitting in the dark staring up at the sky.
"You gonna be okay?" he asked sitting down beside him.
"I should have believed her, should have given her a chance to explain before letting him haul her off."
"We all should have."
Chris held the note and turned it over again unconsciously running his finger over his name.
"Think we could find him? We don't even know where she was from," Vin asked.
"Doubt it." Chris shook his head. "But if I ever do. . . " his voice faded.
Vin nodded sharing the unspoken sentiment. "You wanna get a drink?"
"Not now."
"Alright." Vin stood and slapped him on the back as he left.
Chris watched him walk away. Looking up at the sky again he ran the words of Emily's note through his mind one more time. He's memorized the note. The last line echoed in his head. "Forgive me if I hurt you."
"Forgive me Emily," he whispered. "Forgive me."
The End
