Isabella Bosworth stepped off the stage in Dodge without barely a side ways glance at anyone.
Dressed in a gown with a large bustle in the back, lace and ruffles, Burke who greeted the arriving stage made it appoint to greet her personally.
The woman asked Burke to see that her trunk was delivered to the only hotel in town, the Dodge House.
After obtaining a room of modest accommodations, the woman from Atlanta headed out to see just what Dodge had to offer.
"I tell ya Doc," Festus said walking with the town's only physician down the board walk in front of the Long Branch. "There is nuthin better than a crisp fall day!"
Doc nodded as he shuffled along beside the deputy. "What your really trying to say is, you want to go fishing!"
"Wal," Festus said running a hand along the back of his neck. "It would be kinda nice."
Before Doc could say anything, Isabella stepped up onto the boardwalk, caught the heel of her shoe in a lose board and lost her balance just as Festus walked by.
"Well, I do declare," the lady said disentangling herself from Festus surprise grip.
"Ma'am," Festus said righting the lady back on her feet.
"Are you alright," Doc asked as the lady smoothed out her skirts.
"I believe so," she said flashing a perfect smile. "I'm just not used to walking around these types of...what do you call them?"
"Boardwalks ma'am," Festus said removing his hat. "I'm Festus Haggin, deputy Marshal."
"And I'm Doctor Adams," Doc said removing his hat as well.
"Isabella Bosworth," the lady replied. "Such a pleasure to meet you both."
"Pleasures all mine ma'am," Festus replied.
"Perhaps you can help me," she said taking Festus arm. "I'm looking for some land to buy in this area. Do you know anyone that maybe selling any?"
"Wal," Festus said thoughtfully. "Don't rightly know ma'am. But I can ask around for ya."
"Perfect," Isabella said. "I'm staying over at the Dodge house. I hope I see you again, Deputy."
Festus nodded as the lady headed off down the street. "Now that there is a very looksomess lady Doc," he said watching the woman walk away.
Isabella stepped into Delmonico's that night and greeted the waiter. As the man led her to an empty table, she smiled and politely waved when she seen Doc and Festus sitting at a table with Matt and Kitty.
"Who is that?" Kitty said turning toward Festus.
"A new lady in town Ms. Kitty," Festus said sipping his coffee. "She says she wants to buy some land."
"Here," Kitty said slightly surprised as Festus waved the woman over he stood up to greet her.
"Ms. Isabella Bosworth," he said indicating Matt and Kitty. "This here is Marshal Dillion and Ms. Kitty Russell."
"Mr. Dillion, Ms. Russell," Isabella said greeting the pair.
"Won't you join us," Festus said.
"Yes," Doc said in agreement. "Please join us."
"Thank you," Isabella said taking a seat.
Kitty smiled at how the woman didn't allow her back to touch the chair and the way she placed the napkin on her lap. If it wasn't obvious to the others it was clearly obvious to Kitty that this woman had been breed into a life of society.
"So Ms. Bosworth," Kitty said linking her hands together. "What brings you to Dodge?"
The lady smiled politely, it didn't escape her that Kitty had been watching her.
"It occurred to me that I have not been outside of Atlanta since a little girl," she replied. "And when your expected to dress a certain way and act a certain way, well it just gets tiresome. I just needed a change of scenery."
"Well you've certainly come to the right place," Doc said. "If your planning to buy land, does that mean your planning to stay?"
"Oh yes," Isabella said quietly. "I have absolutely no plans to return to Atlanta. To be quite honest, I would rather have my own ranch where I can raise show horses."
"Wal a horse is a horse, ain't it?" Festus said innocently.
"Show horses are quite different Mr. Haggen," Isabella replied. "And they are quite expensive to buy. A business like that here would bring a lot of revenue to your town."
"How so?" Doc said curiously.
"Well," Isabelle said. "Just the buyers coming here would be from all over the country. Dodge may need to build a new hotel, a transportation system, new roads."
Doc swiped his mustache before he replied. "Well I think that would be great for Dodge."
"I think so to," Kitty replied politely.
"Finances are no problem," Isabella said. "I just need to find the perfect spot for the ranch."
"Well," Matt said looking at Festus. "Isn't there a few areas north of town that haven't been claimed that are still retained by the state."
"I believe so Matthew," Festus said looking at Isabella. "I can take ya out there tomorrow ma'am."
"That would be wonderful Deputy," Isabella said raising her glass. "Here's to Dodge!"
The next morning as Festus brought Isabella into the county to scout out a spot for her ranch, the stage arrived with an impeccably dressed man and his man servant.
"This," the man said looking around angrily. "Is what Isabella left Atlanta for!"
"Master Richard," the servant said taking the man's trunk. "The hotel is just across the street."
"Yes Horace," he said turning back to the older white man. "Let's get a room, then I shall personally deal with my sister."
"This is wonderful," Isabella said twirling around in a field of wild flowers and green grass. "This is it Mr. Haggen! This is the spot that I want!"
"Wal ma'am," Festus said with a smile. "I'm a thinking you can buy this here piece of land, ya just got to talk to the bank."
"I can't wait," Isabella said exuberantly. "Let's go back to town right now! I want this land today!"
"Wal alright," Festus said as the woman grabbed his hand and led him to the horse and buggy.