‘It isn’t so funny!’ She defended the idea. ‘It was a verse from Tennyson. It was – would have been – sort of romantic, if he hadn’t messed up the words.’
‘I didn’t know you had been reading Mom’s books.’
‘A person wouldn’t have had to read Tennyson to know the teamster only took bits and pieces out of the composition. He cut words from the middle so the whole thing hardly made any sense.’
‘The guy has it bad for you.’
‘Yes, and it got him a beating.’
‘I didn’t break his nose or knock out any teeth,’ Mike replied. ‘Besides which, he wasn’t much to look at before we got after it.’
She finished with the cleaning of the cut and began to wrap his head with a bandage.
‘I suppose, as hired killers go, he’s not as bad as most of the Huxton men.’
‘He told me he wasn’t our enemy.’
She tore the strip of cloth at the end and tied it off.
‘Keep that on tonight in case it starts to bleed again. I think it’ll be OK to take it off in the
morning
.’
‘You don’t sound near as upset with Dane as you were yesterday when I seen you scooting across the yard, clad only in a horse blanket.’
She ducked her head.
‘It was partly my fault. I shouldn’t have been so harsh about his poetry. And he certainly didn’t deserve a beating for trying to court me.’
‘I never figured you would jump my hide because I defended your honor.’
‘I’m only saying I was partly at fault too.’
‘Yeah.’ He displayed a narrow smirk. ‘Sounds more like a lover’s quarrel to me.’
‘Oh, go to bed!’ Jessie threw her hands up into the air and stormed off toward her room. ‘Or go hang yourself! I don’t much care which!’
Mike laughed to her back, but Jessie did not look round. She was furious at him, at Kyler, at herself – at the whole blasted world!
The man moved like a ghostly shadow, not a walk or stroll but a glide along the walkway. There was an aura about him, a dark foreboding. As Phoenix Cline approached the wagon, Kyler suffered the sinking sensation that he was confronting the Grim Reaper, a bringer of death.
Pausing from checking the team’s harness, Kyler looked up to make eye-contact with the deadly
gunman. His was an icy gaze, as if he lacked human warmth, while the body merely offered a shell to house his lethal purpose.
‘Dane, isn’t it?’ he asked, coolly appraising Kyler from boot-sole to the top of his weather-worn
freighting
hat.
‘And you’d be Phoenix,’ Kyler replied, concealing an inner shudder.
‘I hear you’re a man with a price on his head.’ Phoenix was abrupt.
‘Just a misunderstanding at a saloon over Colorado way.’
Phoenix frowned. ‘You look familiar. Where else do you hail from?’
‘I’ve been down a few trails,’ Kyler evaded. ‘I don’t recall seeing you before, but I’ve heard of you.’
‘Trouble with a name like Phoenix,’ the man replied, ‘everyone remembers it.’
‘Sounds like something you borrowed from one of those Greek myths.’
‘It’s an Egyptian myth, actually,’ Phoenix corrected Kyler, ‘and I’ve used it for a good many years. It’s who I am now.’
‘And were you raised from your own ashes?’
‘Something like that.’
Kyler allowed the subject to drop.
‘So, what’s on your mind, Phoenix? Did you come to offer me some tips about how I could keep my deliveries safe?’
‘I’m curious as to where you were night before last.’
‘That part of your job,’ Kyler evaded, ‘to tuck in
Huxton’s men at night?’
The cold eyes narrowed. Phoenix studied him for any sign of guilt.
‘Two of Huxton’s boys arrived in town strapped over their horses. They said they were jumped by a gunman over near the Yates ranch boundary.’
‘I heard about it.’ Kyler showed a grin. ‘There have been a few jokes at those boy’s expense going around town.’
‘You wouldn’t know anything else about it?’ Phoenix asked.
Kyler arched his brow. ‘Nothing more than what I’ve heard.’
Phoenix regarded his innocent look with a chill scrutiny. Then he let the matter drop.
‘I hear you and Big Mike had quite a fight.’
‘We didn’t see eye to eye over my trying to ask Jessie to the dance.’
His confession caused Phoenix’s expression to soften.
‘That female is going to be tougher to corral than a Texas tornado.’
‘You’re not telling me anything new. She about bit my head off in person, then sends Big Mike to pay me a visit. There’s a man I don’t want to cross a second time.’
‘I’m told you fought him to a draw.’
Kyler laughed. ‘I was still on my feet, but that doesn’t mean the fight ended even. I’m pretty sure I got the worst of it.’
‘The way you wear your gun is familiar.’ Phoenix was curious again. ‘I saw a man at a carnival once. He
had two people stand several feet apart and drop beer-mugs at the same time. He drew and shot both mugs before they hit the ground.’
‘Sounds pretty amazing.’
‘You wouldn’t be him?’
Kyler chuckled. ‘If I was that good with a gun, I wouldn’t be shagging freight for a living.’
Phoenix studied him again. Kyler had worn a handlebar moustache and a ridiculous outfit when working the carnival. There was little similarity between his carnival character and the man he appeared to be now.
‘Yeah.’ Phoenix finally grunted the words. ‘You wouldn’t be him.’
‘Why the questions?’ Kyler asked. ‘Don’t those two fellows know who it was who got the drop on them?’
‘They never seen his face and didn’t recognize the voice.’
‘Maybe Big Mike has hired himself a watchdog for his place?’
‘Maybe.’ Phoenix regarded Kyler with another long look. ‘I can usually see it in their eyes,’ Phoenix said.
‘What’s that?’ Kyler asked.
‘Fear.’
Kyler smiled to hide the tremor of alarm which shot through his body.
‘Why should I be afraid of you? We’re on the same side.’
‘Yes, we are … for the present,’ Phoenix replied. Then he turned about and lifted a hand in farewell. ‘I’ll be seeing you.’
Kyler watched the man walk away. He moved like a slinking wolf, never looking in any one direction, yet constantly surveying all that was around him.
‘What did the honcho want?’ Nat asked, having walked up without Kyler hearing his approach.
‘He was wondering where I was the night Mugs and Strap came into town tied over the backs of their horses.’
‘He buy your innocent act?’
Kyler tossed a quick look at Nat.
‘Somewhat.’
‘I admire how you risked your neck to stop those two from burning down the Yates place. But if Phoenix finds out, I’ll be stomping dirt over your final resting-box.’
‘I should think the bruises on my face from Big Mike’s beating ought to remove the doubt of anyone else. Most fellows don’t beat up the man who saved their barn from being burned to the ground.’
‘Unless it has to do with his sister,’ Nat pointed out. When Kyler did not reply, Nat continued: ‘The boys have always been protective of the only girl in the family.’
Talking about Jessie only made Kyler wish things were different between them. He turned back to business.
‘You’re the one who sent for help, Nat. How do we prove Huxton is behind trying to run the Yates family out of business?’
‘I’m only a hostler, son. You’re the smart jack who has to figure that out.’
Kyler thought for a moment. ‘Once they trust me,
they might ask me to do a job.’
‘You’re doing the job they want,’ Nat replied. ‘You make sure no one messes with their deliveries while they raise the devil with every load of freight or
stagecoach
the Yates bunch tries to move.’
‘We can’t help the Yates family if we can’t prove anything against Huxton.’
Nat rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘The local banker threw in with Huxton right off and has cut off any financial help to the Yates family. If he is involved in the overall scheme, he might be the weakest post along the fence.’
‘The banker, huh?’
‘George Glenn is his name. He’s a weasel. Got his stake from marrying a wealthy woman … who died shortly after H and B Freight came to town.’ At Kyler’s inquisitive look, he shrugged. ‘It might have only been a coincidence.’
‘They have a good marriage did they?’
‘George’s wife dug her spurs into him at every jump seven days a week. He opened the bank, but she was the one who ran the household.’ Nat squinted intently. ‘She had herself an accident while riding in her buckboard,’ he related. ‘Her scarf became tangled in the wheel and she was strangled to death.’
‘Anyone see it happen?’
Nat grunted his disgust. ‘A couple of H and B employees … Skinny and Mugs.’
‘Sounds suspicious. I wonder if there is a way to get to the truth of the matter.’
‘You just met Mr Death, sonny,’ Nat alluded to
Phoenix. ‘You sure you want to test your luck against a man like him?’
‘That’s the last thing on earth I would want to do, Nat.’
The old gent laughed. ‘Yep, it would
be
the last thing you would do too!’
Kyler had just dropped off his dirty laundry when he came face to face with Jessie.
‘I’m glad I found you,’ she said, while blocking his path.
‘Funny.’ He tried to lighten the tension between them. ‘I didn’t know I was lost.’
No smile. Jessie was obviously concentrating on what she wanted to say.
‘I want you to know that I didn’t ask Mike to beat you up.’ She skewed her face into a frown. ‘Not that you didn’t deserve a thrashing for taking my clothes.’
‘I was going to return them.’
‘Yes, Mike brought them home clean and neatly pressed.’ Her words were crisp, and she appeared poised like a deer about to spook – one foot in the air, ready to plant it for traction and sprint away.
‘That all you wanted to see me about?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ she was again abrupt, ‘What else would I have to say to you?’
‘Hum-m,’ he said. ‘Sure a long way to ride just to say you’re sorry.’
‘I didn’t say I was sorry,’ she countered defensively. ‘I merely wanted you to know I didn’t ask my brother to pick a fight with you.’
‘Why should it matter what I think?’
Jessie threw up her hands. ‘It doesn’t matter!’ she snapped. ‘Not one tiny bit!’
He smiled at her flash-fire temper.
‘I was about to get some breakfast. I’d be right proud if you’d join me for a bite to eat.’
‘I didn’t seek you out for a social call.’
Kyler displayed a serious mien.
‘You don’t have to constantly keep your guard up around me, Jessie,’ he said easily. ‘My only aim is to court you proper.’
‘You’re one of Huxton’s gunmen!’ She spat out the words. ‘I could never feel anything but contempt for you! Not in a million years!’
‘Only a million?’ He grinned. ‘At least there’s hope for the future.’
‘You’re an insufferable dolt, Kyler Dane!’
He ignored the insult. ‘What would it take to impress you, Miss Yates? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.’
‘You could go take a dive off of the nearest tall cliff!’
He chuckled at her pluck. ‘Well, almost nothing I wouldn’t do.’
She gave him another once-over, obviously taking note of the bruises on his face, the swelling around his jaw and the lump over one eye. Mike had dealt him a fair amount of punishment.
‘At least this is one contest you didn’t win,’ she
said with a grim satisfaction.
Kyler arched his brows.
‘Didn’t win?’
‘You know, you won the horse-race and you embarrassed me at the creek. You even made a fool of me when I stopped your wagon. It’s nice to know you can lose too.’
‘You’re here, aren’t you?’ he asked pointedly. At her scowl, he smiled. ‘What makes you think I didn’t allow Mike to pound on me some, just so you would be forced to come and express your regret?’
‘Don’t hand me that garbage! You had no choice about taking a beating!’
‘And it’s right satisfying too.’ He ignored her argument. ‘It was worth getting a few bruises, just to have you apologize.’
‘Apologize!’ she screeched. ‘I don’t know why I thought I had to come into town and humiliate myself. I should have known my brother didn’t do you any real harm – he kept hitting you in the head!’
‘It don’t change the fact you cared enough to make the ride,’ Kyler replied. ‘I sure do look forward to our having a dance together tomorrow night.’
‘Mike will be there, Mr Gunman. You so much as look at me wrong and I’ll have him finish what he started!’
‘I reckon one dance with you would make another beating worthwhile.’
She jerked the reins of her horse loose from the hitching-rail and swung aboard like a Comanche warrior.
‘You’re impossible!’ she yelled down at him.
‘You’re the most impossible man I ever met!’
Before he could offer another word, she dug in her heels and dashed away on her horse. She rode out of sight within seconds and Kyler smiled at her hasty retreat.
‘By jingo! I do believe I’ve finally broke through the ice with that there gal.’
Charles Huxton escorted Alma to the coach. He grimaced at the fact Jeff Yates was the man up on the driver’s seat.
‘I’ll be expecting some positive changes, Charles,’ she said. Then meaningfully, she added: ‘Thirty days.’
‘I’ll be in touch,’ was Huxton’s reply.
Alma climbed aboard and shut the stage door.
‘I should have waited for your Concord to be in service,’ she complained, taking a seat next to the window. ‘I’m going to be stiff for a week after riding in this bucket of busted springs.’
‘I’m sorry about the delay,’ Huxton sympathized.
‘Just see to it some of that red ink starts to
disappear
,’ she warned. ‘I’m serious about cutting off funding and writing this off as a bad investment.’
‘Don’t worry, Alma.’ Huxton displayed his best smile. ‘You’ll soon see the returns I promised.’
She didn’t speak again. Jeff received the mail sack from the store clerk and placed it under the driver’s seat. Then he took up the reins and got the team under way.
Huxton waited at the walk until the stage was well down the street before he was able to take a normal breath.
‘Talk about a walking heart attack,’ Strap said, having come to stand at his side. ‘Your brother must be one tough son to handle her.’
‘Yeah,’ Huxton grunted, thinking David had probably learned to master a mere two words since his marriage to Alma –
yes, dear
!
‘What’s the plan, boss?’ Strap asked. ‘The boys want to get even for that little stunt what got them strapped over the back of their horses.’
‘It’s a dire situation, Strap, but we’ll hold off doing anything until after the dance. I have one card left to play. If it gets trumped, then we’ll do this the hard way.’
‘Whatever you say, Mr Huxton. You got anything for the new driver? He sure ain’t been getting enough work to earn his keep lately.’
‘I’ve been holding him back to drive the new stage. He’s the kind of man I want on that run.’
‘So we wait,’ Strap said.
Huxton gave a nod. ‘For the present. If my plan doesn’t work out at the dance, we’ll open the gate and run the Yates operation out of business.’
‘You only have to give the word, boss.’
Huxton didn’t speak to him again. He needed to get his best suit cleaned and have his boots polished. He would speak to Jessie. If she refused to see the logic in his offer it would be too bad … for her and her brothers.
With the town torn between support for the two freighting outfits the dance was a carefully planned affair. In order to mix the single folks and cross the
line between each faction the mayor had thought up an idea to promote mingling.
‘Gather round, all you single gents!’ he called out, bringing a silence to the crowd. ‘It’s time we raised some money for our new school,’ with a smirk, ‘and you unattached men can best afford to chip in.’
Almost everyone had shown up for the festivities. Kyler wandered over to where he could see and hear what the game was about. The mayor pointed to the nearby wall.
‘If you look here you will see we’ve got a number of different-colored ribbons spaced along the wall of the barn, one for each of the single girls here tonight. Then he smiled. ‘I’m going to auction off a matching ribbon for each of those on the wall.’
‘Why would we want to buy a ribbon?’ one man asked.
‘The girls are standing outside, behind the side door,’ the mayor explained. ‘Each of them has a ribbon pinned to her dress. You bid on the ribbon of your choice and you purchase the first and last dance with the girl who holds that ribbon.’
‘How do I know who is holding which ribbon?’ another fellow enquired.
‘You aren’t supposed to know which girl belongs to which ribbon,’ the mayor answered. ‘That’s the whole idea.’
There came mumbling and talking between some of the men. The mayor let them discuss it for a moment before raising his hands for silence.
‘I don’t have to remind you fellows – those who can count, anyway,’ he added with a grin. ‘But we
have only eleven single girls here tonight, between the ages of seventeen and twenty-three. And there are …’ he looked out over the group of eligible men and gave a negative shake of his head, ‘well, not near enough girls to go round,’ he finished. ‘That’s why we are having this here auction.’
Kyler looked at the row of ribbons. There were a number of plain-colored ribbons and several with mixed colors. The odds of picking the right ribbon to win the first and last dance with Jessie was eleven to one.
‘You best have brought some money,’ a voice spoke at his side. He discovered Big Mike standing next to him. ‘Might take a fair price to buy the last ribbon or two.’
‘Could be,’ Kyler agreed. ‘Must be forty or fifty single cowboys, teamsters, miners and farmers here tonight, and only eleven girls.’
‘I’m glad to see you didn’t suffer any lasting effects from our bout.’ Mike displayed an odd sort of grin. ‘I knew you weren’t yellow – except for the bruises that ain’t quite healed. Yep,’ he shook his head, ‘you’re kind of a pink and yellow mix.’
‘I’d have figured black and blue was more my color.’
‘Trust me,’ Mike said quietly, a serious set to his eyes, ‘you’re pink and yellow.’
Kyler did not reply and Mike moved away. The mayor held up the bucket, ready to start the bidding. Kyler wondered why Mike would tell him to bid on the pink and yellow ribbon. Did he have an ally in the Yates family?
‘First ribbon is green,’ the mayor called out. ‘Let’s start the bidding at one dollar. That isn’t much of a price for the first and last dance with a beautiful girl. Come on, boys! It’s for a good cause.’
The bidding began. The green ribbon went for three dollars. The white followed for four. After the blue and orange sold for five each, the bidding became more intense. Four gone and only seven left. Each represented a man’s chance to have the first and last dance with a young lady. The red ribbon went for six dollars and Kyler decided it was going to be costly to purchase one of the final ribbons.
‘Here’s a mixed-color ribbon,’ the mayor said, lifting up the next strip. ‘It’s pink and yellow. How much am I bid for this one?’
‘Five dollars!’ a man started the bid.
Kyler stayed out until it reached six-fifty. Then he bid seven. Another bid came in higher and he bid eight. After another two bids, Kyler declared:
‘I’ll bid ten dollars!’
‘All right!’ the mayor was almost giddy. ‘This is more like it! We’ll have the new schoolhouse raised in no time!’ Then he looked out over the crowd. ‘Any more bids on the pink-and-yellow ribbon?’ After a moment, he called out, ‘Sold! For ten dollars!’
Kyler went forward and exchanged the money for the piece of ribbon. He sure hoped he hadn’t paid so much money to dance with Toothless Beda, one of the less attractive girls around town.
The bidding went on for the remainder of the ribbons. The last one sold for eighteen dollars! Kyler felt lucky to have gotten his ribbon before the frantic
bidding-war had erupted for the last couple girls.
The mayor displayed the empty bucket. ‘The musicians are ready to play,’ he called out. ‘Each girl will now come forward to stand by her ribbon.’
Kyler held his breath, as the girls came through the side door. One by one, they moved over to stand in front of their own colors. As Jessie took her place, he smiled and experienced a sense of elation. He moved with the other men holding ribbons, walking over to his dance partner.
Jessie blushed and pulled a face at his approach.
‘Y-you bought my ribbon?’ She was incredulous. ‘But how did you…?’
‘I believe I have the first dance, Miss Yates,’ he answered, handing her the ribbon to prove his claim. ‘More important, also the last dance.’
Jessie’s complexion darkened. ‘Who told you my colors?’ she demanded to know. ‘I’m going to skin someone alive!’ She swept the room with her gaze until she located her brother.
‘Hard to be angry with Big Mike,’ Kyler said. ‘He bought Toothless Beda’s ribbon.’
Jessie attempted to hold on to her ire, but her expression gave way to mirth.
‘Poor Mike,’ she whispered. ‘Beda has always had a crush on him.’
‘All she needs is a trip to a good dentist, so she can get a set of phoney chompers.’
The music started and Kyler did not waste any time. He led Jessie to the floor and began to dance. It was a slow tune, so they had time to get their rhythm together. As they began to move around the
dance area, Mike and Beda came in close.
‘I’d better be able to see daylight betwixt the two of you,’ Mike warned.
Jessie glared at him. ‘Consider yourself lucky to see anything but stars, you traitor!’
Mike pretended innocence. ‘What are you talking about?’
She exploded. ‘You’re the only one who knew my colors!’
He showed a curious smile.
‘I figured I was doing you both a favor,’ he said.
Before Jessie could respond Mike turned in the opposite direction with Beda and they were quickly out of earshot.
After a few steps and turns, Jessie uttered a sigh.
‘I can’t believe Mike told you.’
‘I reckon he knows true love’s blossom when he sees it.’
‘It’s strictly one-sided. You’re still one of Huxton’s dirty, leering! gunmen.’
Kyler smiled. ‘Yeah, but other than that, I’m a right nice fellow.’
‘Hah!’ she fired back. ‘What kind of nice fellow steals a woman’s clothes?’
‘I left you the saddle blanket.’
‘It was rough and coarse and caused an itch for the rest of the day.’
‘Winning seems real important to you, Miss Yates,’ he explained patiently. ‘I had to prove to you I was capable of winning too.’
‘By cheating! The same as with buying my ribbon!’
‘If I could have afforded it, I would have bought
each and every ribbon tonight,’ he told her firmly. ‘Then I would have let the other ten girls choose their own partner for the first and last dance. You’re the only one I wanted.’
‘Why? Because you think I’m a challenge? A victory to be won?’
He stared into her eyes, searching, delving deep beyond the outer fringes. They continued to move in rhythm, but the sound of music was lost. Jessie could have lowered her lids to shield her inner feelings and stop the intrusive exploration. However, she allowed the intimacy, until the boldness of the act caused a flush to color her cheeks.