Thanks to Randi for the very last minute corrections. She's the best. All mistakes are hers. I never make any!
*
Christine Hamilton gazed at the passing scenery as the stagecoach bounced over the rough terrain. The differences between Nevada and Virginia were stark and had become more apparent with each passing day of her journey. Virginia had many more towns, homes and businesses along the more traveled roads, and far less dust. She hadn't seen a single building in the entire five hours she'd traveled since leaving Carson City.
As she watched the sagebrush and colorful wildflowers glide across her view, she once again pondered the wisdom of her trip. Now that she was removed from her family, it had become obvious that her rather rash decision to travel to Bonnet, Nevada, was in large part, a result of her irritation at Will.
When her brother, Will, had turned twenty-one, her father had given him half ownership in a working gold mine. Three years later, Christine celebrated her twenty first birthday in anticipation of receiving something special, and rather expensive. That had been far from the case. She could still hear her brother's raucous laughter as Christine's face dropped when her father placed a deed in front of her at the dinner table.
"Now that you're all grown up, I'm giving you a working cattle ranch in Nevada," beamed her father as he smoothed out the document sitting in front of her. "The Bar M was given to your late mother by her father over twenty years ago. She'd be real happy to know that it's remaining in the family. With the railroads expanding west, the value of the land and the cattle will only increase. You own a cattle ranch now!"
The gift would have been better received by Christine if the ranch hadn't been the butt of more than a few jokes and sarcastic comments over the years. Everyone in the family knew that Molly Murphy Hamilton had found it necessary to inject money into the ranch, almost annually. The best she could ever recall her mother saying about the property was that it had broken even one year.
As those thoughts crossed her mind, Will was unable to contain his mirth any longer. "Yeah, Sis! You've got yourself a regular goldmine there. Oh, I'm sorry! I've got the gold mine. You've got some scrawny cattle and a few swaybacked horses. I'm sure it'll become profitable pretty soon, just like you'll be getting married pretty soon!"
Her brother's hearty laugh accompanied his stinging remarks. Christine's temper flared immediately. Her Irish heritage overruled the composure she normally maintained. Over the ensuing weeks, Christine would recall her exact words and marvel at the situation she had placed herself in because of a fit of pique.
"Listen to you! How many times have you been to your mine? You don't even know where it is. Grandpa Murphy loved that ranch and I'm going to make it successful and give Grandpa and Mom up in heaven something to be proud of.
"I'll probably settle down out there and raise a bunch of kids. They'll be riding horses and working cattle, not sitting around waiting to turn twenty-one so they can retire!" blurted Christine before she gave any thought to her words.
Her brother only laughed harder. "You may be right! I've heard there's a shortage of women out there. You should be able to collar some broken down lonesome cowpoke who would be willing to put up with a bossy stubborn man-hating woman so he can have a roof over his head. I can't wait to meet this guy. I bet he'll even have a few of his teeth left!"
It had always been that way between Christine and Will. They had spent much of their youth quarreling about anything and everything. He had teased her mercilessly at every opportunity. As they approached adulthood, Christine's social life had become a favorite source of derision for Will.
It wasn't that she wasn't attractive. With her copper-colored hair, high cheek bones, flawless skin and noticeably female figure, Christine had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her stumbling block, socially, was her intolerance. When a young man would show some interest in her, she'd try very hard to curb her tongue and fiery temper. Her ability to control her unflattering comments normally lasted a few weeks at most. By then, her suitor would begin to slide from his best behavior and become more relaxed. Invariably, that would lead to Christine observing traits that she found unacceptable in a mate. The young man would end his courtship with his tail between his legs and an oath to never again set foot in the same room as Christine Hamilton.
Christine firmly believed that her expectations regarding a mate were not unreasonable. A husband should possess certain traits, such as honestly, loyalty and confidence. He had to understand that Christine was not some kind of an ornament to hang from a man's arm, but a partner, a friend and an equal. Most men whom she had met had more than a little trouble with that concept. Christine had begun to wonder if there even were such men, or if she'd have to settle for something less.
Will knew she had high standards and enjoyed teasing her. Even though they had argued and disagreed on almost everything during their youth, Christine was secure in the knowledge that her brother loved her. Just last Christmas Christine had attended a gala, along with Will and her younger sister, Becky. They represented the Hamilton family since their father had begged off with a bad cold. Shortly before the party was over, Christine was accosted by a rather drunk Alan Huffman.
"How about a kiss, you stuck-up little bitch," snarled Huffman as he grabbed Christine's wrist and pulled her to his chest. As he leaned in to kiss her lips, Christine lowered her head and struck Huffman's nose with her skull. Since he was a large, ruggedly built man, the blow to his face simply served to enrage him. He again grabbed Christine's wrist and pulled her closer as he pulled his other hand back. It was obvious to everyone watching that the man fully intended to backhand Christine. Just as Christine prepared herself for the impact, Huffman suddenly flew backward as a fist smashed into his already tender nose.
Christine turned to see Will rubbing his hand as he watched Huffman begin to regain his feet. "Once you're back on your feet, you'd better use them to walk the hell out of here," suggested a neatly dressed man with a star pinned to his chest. "If you'd managed to strike Miss Hamilton, I'd be trying to save you from a lynching about now. I strongly urge you to see what's over the next hill. Your kind aren't welcome in this town."
The town marshal was not a large man, but the gun his hand rested on looked exceptionally big. Huffman first glared at Christine, and then at Will before stomping out of the building. That was the last time he was ever seen in Glenwood.
Christine's musings ended as the stagecoach slowed to a stop in what appeared to be a very small town. The driver opened the door and spoke to Christine and the other passenger, a portly drummer.
"We'll be here a couple of hours. There's a pretty fair diner across the street and a saloon up the street, if you're so inclined. Be back here and ready to leave at two PM sharp.
"Just watch your step on the planks everybody uses to cross the street where it's muddy. More than one fella's found himself sitting in the mud after his boots slipped on a slick board."
Having nothing better to occupy her time, Christine carefully made her way to the dinner and took a seat at a table. An older woman appeared at her side a few minutes later, leaving a cup of coffee and taking her order back to the kitchen.
Christine noticed two slovenly dressed men wander into the diner as she waited for her food to be served. The men casually scanned the room until their eyes fell on her. The taller of the two showed a mouth full of yellowed teeth as he broke into a big grin and elbowed his companion. He nodded in Christine's direction and sauntered over to her table.
