Old Fashioned Romance

Chapter 1: Feathers and Dust

I'm just testing this out. I have no chapter two yet but if you like this I'll probably get to work on it.

Disclaimer is on my profile page.

Jude sat at her vanity staring at her pallid reflection in the mirror. Her hands shook slightly as she adjusted the feathers she just stuck in her hair. The brightly colored feathers were a stark contrast to her blonde hair. Her bouncy curls gave her the innocent look her boss was going for. He thought it would bring in more people, how that was going to work? She didn't know. She wondered how she'd gotten herself into this.

She never wanted to work here. Her father, the sheriff of Abilene, encouraged her to showcase her talents as a singer. With her mother running away with a cattle baron and her and her sister to feed, they needed the money. She knew that was another reason for her to work here. Knowing her talent was wasted here, the people she'd be performing for wouldn't pay a speck of attention to her voice. Not when she was wearing a dress like this. Where is the innocence? She thought, examining the shiny glass beads that brushed her shoulder.

She fastened the choker around her neck before looking down at her dress. The bodice was black and very form fitting, she kept fidgeting with the too thin straps that dug into her flesh. The skirt was a bright pink that matched her feathers perfectly and rustled when she moved. Coming right below the knee it showed more leg than she was ever comfortable with. Her black tights felt horrible against her skin and the shoes were worse. How much pink do they expect me to wear? Disgusted by the thought of all girlishness she was forced to endure, she slammed her hand down on the surface in front of her.

"Jude you're on," Jude jumped when she heard Darius, the saloon's owner, speak to her from the door. She put on her lace gloves before she checked her appearance once more. Taking a deep breath in she gave a stiff nod as she rose from her seat. Motions clipped, she straightened her skirt and left the safety of her dressing room. She wrung her hands as she followed Darius towards the stage. She didn't mind performing for these people, she loved to sing. Even if no one listened she would go out there and sing like she's never done before.

She made a silent plea, looking at the few patrons seated in front of the stage, that she didn't faint or worse, sound like a cow giving birth. Deep, shaky, breaths kept her from running back to her dressing room. The choker was living up to its name as Darius stood in the middle of the stage, getting ready to announce her.

At the promulgation of her name, she walked out onto the stage for the first time.

The sun had just shone over the horizon. Tom Quincy, the most wanted outlaw on the frontier, sat atop his sandy horse, looking out at the terrain ahead of him. He knew his next destination: Abilene. Something was calling him to go there. There's nothing there for him but he made the choice to go.

The sun was beating on his back as he rode further and further away from Dodge City. The dirt clouded around the hooves of his horse. He was closing in on Ellsworth, only an hour or so before he got through the city and on to Abilene.

He received a curious glance or two when he reached the outskirts, avoiding the crowds that could harbor his enemies. And there were plenty of them. Thieves who knew his wealth, the people from where he got the aforementioned wealth, and then there was always the idiots who thought they could outdo him in a shoot out. Of course the cowards always tried a sneak attack.

The hours passed without incident, a miracle in itself. Usually he would have been attacked by robbers or bloodthirsty savages that have yet to be run out of the area. He never let his guard down though, he'd faced a lot of surprises in his short twenty three years. Indian raids, shootouts, hold ups, and the list goes on.

Sunset was upon him as reached the outskirts of town.

The town came into view. Building after wood building lined the main street. Women swept the planked walk between the establishments. Men were heading toward The Shootout, a local saloon, to get there fill of liquor and women. He's been alone for quite a few days and a little debauchery would do him some good.

Hopping down from his steed, he brushed off the dust from his shirt. He removed his hat and wiped the back of his arm across his forehead, taking the dirt from his face. The long ride was hell on his body, his arm shook as returned his hat to its place.

His boots clopping on the planks, he strode into the saloon. This being his first time in Abilene, no one stopped to watch to see what he was going to do. He wouldn't be recognized unless they had the wanted posters with his face on them.

He was leaning against the bar when a bartender asked what he wanted. He thought for a moment before he said whiskey. He hadn't had one in awhile. He might as well get good and drunk while no one knew who he was. A blonde bar maid came up and smiled at him. "Hi, I'm Sadie. Can I get you anything?" He picked up on the double meaning and was about to answer when he heard an announcement.

He wasn't sure what the bald man had said but the crowd quieted down slightly. He hoped the room wasn't going to turn on him. But instead a girl, who couldn't have been more than seventeen, walked onto the stage. She was as pretty as the girl next to him but he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

What she going to do? He thought as he watched her stand in the middle. Dancer? She didn't look that graceful. Singer? Hm, that had possibilities. Both? No, dancing and her looked like they didn't belong in the same room. What's her name? Sally? Susie? Whatever it was, she kept trying to get his attention.

Watching the girl on stage he heard her voice rise over the buzzing of the crowd. Pretty nice voice, from what he could tell. He felt like he was being pulled to her by an invisible rope. He left -Sara?- and weaved through the crowds to the only empty table he found. Hopefully he left behind the prostitute. When he wanted her he would get her, he didn't need to be followed around.

From his new area, only a few feet away from the stage, he could really hear her voice. He listened to the soft sweetness and let himself enjoy the peace that he rarely had. He took another whiskey when a bar maid came by and looked back at the girl on stage. He wished he could of heard her name when it was announced. But he doubted that he would ever get a chance to stay long enough to actually get time with her.

He wondered how she would look without the frills she was wearing. He hoped she didn't like to look like that. She looked too overdone, too much like a working girl. Not that he was against working girls. Working girls brought much (temporary) companionship to his nights.

His thoughts were so wrapped up, that he didn't notice that the stage was empty. The blonde beauty was gone. He scanned the area but found not hint of her. He saw the prostitute that was talking to him earlier, she was with the piano player, her hand lingering over his face.

A group of guys came in and took up a portion of the bar. There were three of them. The two flanking the other guy, watched him as if he were their leader. He took his drink and leaned his weight on his arms as he looked around. His shaggy hair covering his eyes.

Tom watched as, Sandy, she looked like a Sandy, walked over to the group and spoke to the man in the middle. Even from the distance he could hear each word clearly. Her slightly high pitched voice told the man, "she's waiting for you." She then turned and winked at the piano player before going back to her job.

The man smirked as he pushed away from the bar and walked to the backstage entrance. He kept his eyes moving around the room, just to be sure he didn't miss her. After a few minutes Tom saw his blonde. She was with the man that disappeared only a few moments ago.

He saw how chivalrous he was being towards her. Keeping her close to him at all times. His hand staying on the small of her back. He watched more closely as they stopped at the bar. She was more conservatively dressed this time. A simple floor length blue dress. Her hair still had all the elaborate curls, but with the feathers gone, it was a vast improvement.

There was a smile on her face as the shaggy haired man next to her handed her a sarsaparilla. She was laughing as she listened to the group of guys speak raucously. Her laugh was even beautiful. The blonde turned her head slightly in his direction, her smile still in place. But it dropped from her face as she felt his gaze.

She faced him completely and he felt his breathing change. So difficult with her blue eyes boring into him. After a moment, too short of a moment Tom thought, she turned back towards the bar. Her head lowered slightly, shoulders hunching.

"Jude?" Tom heard one of the guys say. Her eyes slowly met the curious one watching her. He felt heated as he saw a hand run down her back comfortingly. With the space between the two closing, he wanted nothing more than to pull the boy away from his angel, Jude. She moved back a bit after the short kiss.

"I need to get home. Papa will be worried, especially with..." the boy nodded in understanding, put his hat back on and escorted the blonde out of the saloon. Leaving Tom with a feeling he never felt before.

Yes, I have watched one too many John Wayne movies. Can't help it, I love him!

Review please!

Thanks, Eternita14. I'm an awesome nerd!