Josephine brushed the front of her dress as she exited the hotel. The sun was resting just above the top of the livery across the street, blinding her temporarily before she raised a hand to shield her from the light. Through narrow eyes, she scanned the store fronts across the street. Not one was what she was looking for.
"Whatcha lookin' for?" The sound of Vin's voice startled her; she hadn't noticed him sitting by the front door. He peered up at her from beneath his hat.
"You scared me."
"Sorry about that." Josephine gave him an aggravated look before glancing back out toward the street.
"Am I too forward in believing this town has a newspaper?" she asked, turning her head back to Vin. He smiled up at her as he stood, unfolding his body slowly from the chair on which he had been perched.
"It's just down the road a bit." He said, pointing off toward the right. "Why?"
Josephine smoothed the front of her dress once again before waving the piece of paper she had held in her right hand in the air. "This." She said plainly.
"What is it?"
"It's an ad." Josephine answered proudly. "I want it run during my run at Digger Dave's."
"Well the newspaper office is right down there, right next to the bathhouse, and there's a good bet the lady who runs it will be there readying things for the morning." Josephine's eyes lit up.
"It's a woman who runs the newspaper?" Vin nodded. "That's rather impressive."
"She's a rather impressive lady. I do got to warn you, though…she might not be the nicest to you." Josephine's eyes narrowed once again, but not from the glare of the late afternoon sun.
"Well, why not? I happen to think I'm a very likable person. Don't you think so, Mr. Tanner?" Vin chuckled and pushed back the brim of his hand with a finger.
"Maybe not all the time." He teased gently which achieved the reaction he was looking for. Josephine tried to scowl, found it impossible and flashed him that charming smile, the one that screamed innocence and showcased the tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth.
"Well, I'm sure she'll be very lovely."
"I could escort you down there if you like." Josephine thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"I don't think Ezra would find that idea very appealing." Vin nodded, hoping the rejection he felt wasn't mirrored on his face. He tipped his hat and took his place at the chair by the door once again. "What is this woman's name, anyway?" she asked.
"Mary Travis." He was rewarded with another smile before she turned her back and crossed the road, careful to miss the deep tracks left behind in the dirt by hundreds of wagons. Vin continued to watch her navigate through the crowds, light for the time of day but would most certainly become heavier as the hours ticked by, until the road curved and she vanished from view. He hadn't been prepared for some of those feelings to well back up after seeing her again. He wasn't a fool to believe she had actually cared for him; he had been after her brother, after all, and it hardly was a coincidence she had chosen his that night in Amarillo. But it hadn't been too hard to convince him to spend the night and after that, there was no need for convincing. For a week he had shared her bed, well aware Cage Devereaux was riding further and further away, but he didn't care.
She had disappeared on a Sunday morning, leaving him fifty dollars lighter. Josephine had convinced him well enough she enjoyed his company, and maybe she had, but if there was any doubt as to why she come on to him after one of shows, it was erased. Deep down he supposed he really didn't care it was he for whom she pined, but why did it have to be Ezra?
He leaned back him his chair and pulled his hat back down over his eyes. A nap would do him some good.
"Miss Travis?" Jospehine asked after knocking twice on the door to the office. The Clarion News was dark save an oil lamp burning in the corner. A blonde woman glanced up from the lamp as Josephine entered.
"Yes? Can I help you?" Mary's voice was cool yet professional, but Josephine noticed the once over the woman had given her after she stepped into the light. She didn't seem too impressed with the woman standing before her; in fact, the look in her eye was almost hostile.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Josephine Devereaux." She stepped closer and offered a hand, which Mary took gingerly and almost begrudgingly.
"Of course. I've been hearing about your arrival for weeks now." Josephine smiled.
"Ezra was excited, was he?" Mary gave a tiny laugh, in spite of herself.
"Excited is an understatement."
"Well, that certainly is a pleasure to hear. Sometimes Ezra isn't exactly an open book."
"Is there something I can help you with?" Mary asked, the niceties over. Professional once again.
"Actually yes. You see, I'm not just here on a personal matter, but on a professional one as well, and I was hoping you could run an ad for me highlighting that fact." Mary gave Josephine another hard once over, not exactly hiding the fact she was a little more than bothered by the heavily decorated bodice and ruffled skirt the dancer wore.
"The paper is already put together. I can't put your ad in there." Mary finally said, her tone still cool.
"Well, that's fine." Josephine countered, matching her tone. "What about the rest of the week?" Mary sighed, quietly but still loud enough so Josephine could catch it.
"Well, it depends. Just how big was the ad?" Josephine silently handed over the piece of paper in her hand. Mary turned it over with a critical eye and turned her attention back to Josephine.
"It's ten dollars a week. Paid in advance."
"Well, that's fine. May I stop by in the morning and pay you?"
"I suppose." A smile crept along Josephine's lips.
"Thank you. And It certainly was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Travis." Josephine turned to go, only to be stopped by Mary's voice.
"Just how long do you plan on being here in town, Miss Devereaux?"
"I'm sorry?" Josephine asked, turning her head slightly so Mary was in view.
"I'm asking if you plan on staying here much longer after your shows at the saloon." Mary asked, folding her arms over her chest defensively as Josephine turned her body.
"Well, considering Mr. Standish and I are…involved…I was hoping on staying here as long as he does. Why?" Josephine's tone was no longer light; her voice dropped a pitch as she spoke through a tense jaw.
"This is a good town. We don't need your type here ruining it."
"Excuse me?" Josephine stepped forward, the Southern charm all but completely washed away. She stood, hands on hips, her face twisted into a look of disdain.
"I know what happened last time you were here. And I know about your past. We don't need that here and I would appreciate it if you moved along after your shows."
"You don't know me."
"Oh, but I think I do." The two women stared at each other for several beats before Josephine relaxed her stance and replaced the look of disdain with one of amusement.
"I'll be sticking around for a while, Mary." Josephine declared. "Sorry if that gives your uppity sensibilities a shake." She straightened her back and forced another smile onto her face. "As I said, it was a pleasure, Miss Travis. And I'll see you in the morning to arrange payment." With one fluid motion, Josephine turned on her heel and was out the door in two steps.