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I just noticed I think I changed the first names of some of the Miller's too. I don't know what I was thinking.


The high sun of afternoon was beating across the false fronted alley of Box Junction when North and Faith rode in.

With two steers on a tether line they hitched their horses in front of the mercantile store. Sliding from his saddle North reached up to help Faith down and she adjusted her hat, tucking at the wisps of hair that had escaped her bun from the long ride down the canyon.

It had been almost two months since they had come through but the quaint little town hadn't changed. The street was quiet besides a few men moving about. A pump squeaked and the sigh of the billows in the blacksmith's sounded as the forge was stoked.

Faith held a couple of gunny sacks, one with eggs and one with thimbleberries that she intended to sell to the store if possible. She walked with North to the livery, him leading the two steers and he settled them into a small corral separate from any horses stabled there.

The blacksmith who owned the livery also came over, leaning on the fence he worked a plug that made his brambled red beard shift back and forth.

"Mighty nice looking animals you got there Cassidy." The man commented, he might have been forty but looked older with the hard work of one who has stood over a blazing forge most of his life. "I don't think I never saw a healthier steer. You sell'n 'em?"

North nodded, "Joseph wants 'em."

He gave the man ten cents to keep them and then they walked back down the street, passing the store again and moving on to the small jail house at the end of the row. The door was open and Cecil Graham was at a desk with a cup of coffee and a week old paper.

Looking up at them he smiled, "Well there you are! Both of you!"

He stood to nod to Faith, "Ma'am, you're looking fine just fine, that mountain air suits you?"

At his warm reception Faith smiled, "Yes sir, it's lovely up there."

Judge Graham looked pleased and turned to shake North's hand and brought his other hand to pat his arm, bumping it into his side. Still sore North grimaced at the touch.

Graham didn't miss it and asked with concern, "Everything alright son?"

Guiltily Faith dropped her eyes and North spoke quickly, "Got kicked by a calf. It's mend'n fast."

Worry still apparent in his face, Cecil hitched a smile, "Well that's good to hear. Come in and sit. Got some coffee on."

Again North looked awkward, "Uh, been trying to give it up actually."

"How does a body get through the day without coffee?!" asked a truly surprised Judge Graham.

Faith's cheeks blushed and she turned her head, her hands wringing at the necks of the sacks.

Trying to suppress a smile, North cleared his throat, "Always left me a bit jittery anyway."

The older man just shook his head and chuckled, "Well since you're down here, we should go fish'n! That river of yours' wash'n down mighty fine look'n bass."

"Mebbe. But I wanted to talk to ya about some things." North trailed off as he glanced at the small woman next to him, "Uh Faith, could you go see if Joseph wants to take a look at them white faces before he tries to haggle the price down with me?"

What he wanted to talk about he felt might worry her needlessly and decided it would be best if she weren't there for the conversation.

Glancing between them, Faith gave a halfhearted smile, "Of course, I'll wait for you there then?"

She obviously knew what his intention was, her eyes perceptive and considering.*

North took out a couple gold pieces from his pocket and held them out to her.

"For your cloth." He said.

"Don't you want to pick something out for your shirt?" She took it slowly.

"I reckon you'd choose better'n me."

At this Faith brightened and she nodded to Judge Graham again and stepped out and started down the walk.

Cecil's friendly smile tensed into a concerned line, "It's been that rough has it?"

North had taken his hat off and raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Wouldn't put it that way. It's been...not what I'd expected."

With his calm mannerisms, North was a difficult man to read but he glanced over at the coffee pot a little too long. Graham noticed and went over to pour him a cup and handed it to him. North didn't take it at first, almost feeling guilty but Cecil gave him an encouraging touch to the shoulder.

"I told you. They breed 'em different, them city girls." Said Cecil as North took the cup.

Watching him, the judge sat on his desk and folded his arms, waiting expectantly.

North took a sip and accidently let a pleased smile slightly show, "She's take'n to it. She's try'n."

"But is she happy North?" The question had been lingering in North's mind like a ghost, troublesome and haunting.

He couldn't give the answer he wished he could and he glanced out the window for diversion.

"You remember Georgie Pfeffer got kicked in the head by that ornery mare o' their's and killed him. What if it had been more serious Cas? What would happen to her?" Sighed Graham.

With a weighty seriousness*, North exhaled, "That's why I want to have her name put on the land. I want her to be taken care of, if something happens to me."

The judge's eyes went thoughtful and he rubbed at his chin with a grunt. "Have you ever thought of giving up that ranch? Move to Henryville?"

The cup sank away from North's lips and he stared at the man.

"Now hold on there Cas. Don't look at me like I told ya to saw off your arm. I just mention it because I have a friend who is looking for a cattle shipper there. It's good, steady pay and you have an eye for cattle* that no one can match. And Faith would be back in a familiar situation again. She'd be more comfortable."

Feeling jarred almost as much as when the calf's sharp hoof had impacted his side, North stood aghast. It was something that was almost unfathomable. North had come upon that mountain on his way to settle with his brothers and had gone no further. The jutting peaks, the green meadows dappled with wildflowers and solitude broken* only by the pure, cool winds that soared that high. He felt as though it was a part of him. To leave it?

But what if Faith didn't see it the same way? What if it was a prison for her? If he had thought of it before she had come he would have most likely called the whole thing off. But now, that possibility that he had to consider. Not because he was obligated to, but because he had a deep ambition to do what he could for Faith.* Even leave the uplands?

There must have been a time of quiet deliberation and Cecil's voice brought him from his contemplation.

"Northrop, just think about it. What would that little lady do with all that land by herself? I think Lew Miller would push her off of it, force her to sell at a loss…maybe if you had a trustee, one of your brothers...or even I…." Graham spoke the painfully possible words smoothly.

While North shuddered to think of the land being sold, especially to Miller, it was a very likely chance. Big Lew Miller was aggressive and had been hounding North for months now to sell to him. The thought of him pressuring Faith like he had threatened and spurred him made him bristle protectively. At the same time, he had seen some quiet resolve in her, perhaps she wouldn't be pushed so easily.

"Write it up Cecil, I'll sign it. I reckon Faith can handle the estate, but just in case, you put your name on there to help her would ya?"*****

Joseph Fry looked up when Faith came in the door.

"Well good morning Mrs. Cassidy!" the thin man came out from behind the counter with a friendly smile.

Realizing how long it had been since she had been around people other than North she smiled back at the familiar hint of society. There was one other man in the store as she entered who was looking at the jaw traps. Probably later twenties with dark hair and small, darting eyes. He was wiry and slouched a little in his shoulders. He looked over at her as she came in.

"Good morning Mr. Fry how are you?" She asked, the two sacks still in hand.

The man wiped his hands on his apron, "Please call me Joseph. Everyone does. Mr. Fry sounds so old."

They laughed together. The other man quietly went out the door leaving them alone.

"Now what can I help you with?" He asked.

"Well there are a few things we need. Do you carry any seeds in stock? I was hoping to find tomatoes." Faith told him, reaching in one of the sacks for the list she had made.

Fry frowned as he took the paper from her, "I don't have any tomato seeds in but I would sure order them for you. It'd take a good couple of months."

"That's alright." She smiled, "I was also looking to buy some yardage. A skirt length, a pocket shirt and a blouse?"

At this his brows raised as if he'd remembered something, "I do have something I'd like for you to have a look at first."

Taken back at the man's sudden enthusiasm** Faith blinked at his back as he disappeared into a back room.

Looking to a small shelf next to her which held few ornate dishes and a mantle clock she traced a finger along the cut design in one of the glass reservoirs of a lamp. Mr. Fry came back out, bulking cloth hanging over his arms.

"Now I don't usually carry these, not much call for them." he chuckled as he laid out what she could see now were dresses on the counter. "Cas had me order some when you came through. Said it was for your birthday and you'd be in to see if you liked them. I order them from a woman in Henryville who sends on what she doesn't sell so I never know what I'll get. I told her they needed to be...petite of course."

For her birthday? That was five days away. No wonder he hadn't said much when she had asked him about getting material for a new set of work clothes for her. Her dress, because of the higher hem, it would brush up against the hearth and she had more than one singed spot.

Fry was smoothing them out, "I had them folded up in the cedar chest to keep them from the dust and moths so they've a few creases…"

There was a plain linen dress of a violet and blue plaid pattern which had a modest ruffle that yoked the bodice and cuffs. The other dress was more fancy. A rich, deep blue with the skirt extra full and an orate stitching at the bottom. The bodice was simple but fitted and had a row of matching buttons running down the front. It's sleeves were long and had a little extra impractical material at the shoulders. It was lovely.

Faith's father had fallen ill when she was 15 and so had never had a grown woman's dress. The dress she wore was one she'd been given before she came because her other dresses were far too small anymore. With their fortune gone nothing more couldn't be spared. A woman kept her hem close to the ground, not to even expose her ankles. It suddenly struck Faith that she was a woman now. A married woman.

"They're already paid for, if you'd like to try one on you can go in the stock room, there's a lock and a mirror in there." he offered.

The shawl and the comb, her horse and now the dresses. What had she done for him? Left a needle carelessly to stick him and give him coffee that tasted little better than lye. For a moment she thought of asking for the money back but somehow she knew that North would want her to have them. He may even feel insulted if she didn't accept them. Like it or not he was stuck with her now and she would have to just keep trying to not disappoint him.

Joseph took her sacks from her, picked the dresses back up and escorted her to the stockroom. She tried the linen dress on first. It was too long and hung a bit loose about her waist. She would have to take it in but it was a suitable daily dress especially in warmer weather. Reluctantly she tried on the finer dress, the skirt was gathered more at the back giving it a bit of a bustle look. It was snug about her slender middle but the hem went only an inch or two above the floor. It fit like a glove.* She then noticed that the color of the dress was very close to the color of the ribbon that wrapped around the crown of her hat. About to change back into her old dress she glanced in the mirror one last time. No she'd wear it home, she would have to clean it after the long ride but she couldn't help but be excited about it.***

She moved back into the store, the fuller skirt brushing against the shelves, tables and counter as she walked.

Mr. Fry had some spectacles on that he was studying his ledger with and looked over the top of the rims.

"Why Mrs. Cassidy that is nice indeed!"

She blushed a little, her hat still in her hands, "Thank you Mr...Joseph. I'd like to see some material to make another shirt for North."

"Of course ma'am." The merchant came around the counter to show her over to a wall of yardage. "North huh? Never thought to call him that."

She smiled shyly again but looked over the different bolts of cloth until she found one, a small blue and white check pattern of durable quality.

As he cut the shirt length he asked casually, "So you're a seamstress?"

She nodded, "I was quite good at needle point. I made many shirts for my father."

"I'll tell you, boys around here go through shirts like rolling paper. I can't keep them in stock and they have to go to Henryville." He looked thoughtful as he folded the cloth. "Say, if you were to make some extra, I'd pay a ridiculously good price for them. I'd even supply the yardage!"

Faith was about to politely refuse, she didn't even know when they'd be back to town next and what extra time she may have in the day. With that she usually liked to read or go with North out into the pastures.

Her fingers spread across the new fabric of her dress and frowned. On the other hand, perhaps she could make enough to pay him back for the dresses though, then she wouldn't feel like such a burden.

Mr. Fry noticed her hesitation, "Oh if it's inconvenient for you I understand."

"Well maybe if I spoke to...my husband about it first, could I tell you before we leave today?" It was so strange to call him her husband.

Joseph nodded with a warm smile, "Of course! Now let's get you all packed up."

"Oh Joseph, I have some thimbleberries and eggs I was wondering if you were interested in buying?" Faith remembered when she saw her bags still sitting on the counter.

"I may be able to use some of the eggs but not likely the berries. Not much call for raw berries." He paused then spoke again, "Well actually, maybe over at the Loop, they have lunches and dinners they do. That gal Maggie who works over there, she's a decent cook you know. Maybe she'd want some for pie or something if you'd want to go ask her?"

Averting her eyes, Faith shook her head, "Oh, I've never been in a place like that."

A worried expression took the man's face, "I'm sorry I understand! Please, would you like me to go ask her for you?"

"Oh no sir, I don't want to put you out." Faith shook her head.

"No trouble t'all ma'am I'd be happy to. To be honest no one comes in this early anyway and it'd only take a few minutes if you were going to stay here?"

Faith smiled and nodded, "Alright thank you very much."


THis was an awkward place to end this chapter I know. It just was going to be super long so I just kinda ended it and the second half is chapter 5. Sorry!