We're back with another chapter! We had one reader suggest that the previous chapter was the calm before the storm... well, hold onto yer hats and glasses, folks! ;)

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Chapter 11

June opened with a constant state of dread cast over the Harvey House staff. The labor unrest that had been affecting the country since Spring was no better now that it was Summer - in fact, it had intensified, and what had originally been limited to regional pockets of discord was now spreading out to even the farthest reaches of the West.

Although California hadn't been as hard-hit by the Panic of 1893 - the worst depression the country had ever known - as other locales had, the railroad was carrying its continuing effects from elsewhere. Coxey's Army, who had organized a march on Washington, D. C. from Ohio to lobby the government for assistance in the form of new jobs, had gained supporters on the West coast. On June 7, a train was seized outside of the town of Mojave by some of these unemployed "Commonwealers" - an offshoot known as Barker's Army - who were trying to take the train all the way to the nation's capital. They stopped in Barstow, where the District Marshal and a posse of deputies confronted them with a warrant, and over 200 people were arrested. Though the arrest was peaceful, it was enough to unnerve the townsfolk.

News had also been circulating of the discontent among employees of the Pullman Company in Chicago since mid-May, where factory workers had walked out of their jobs to protest reduced wages while rents in their required company housing remained sky-high. Support was building among members of the fledgling American Railway Union, which on June 12 called for a boycott on all trains that included Pullman sleeping cars, if no resolution was reached by the 26th of that same month. It held the potential to cripple train travel and become a nationwide crisis.

The air almost buzzed with anticipated tension as Jessie worked the counter for breakfast. She was pouring coffee for an older gentleman, who met her with a kindly smile. "Been a bit of excitement in these parts of late, hasn't there?"

"A bit," she smiled back.

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've lived in this area for a while now, and things always have a way of working out."

Woody and Buzz entered the room, surprised to see the familiar face at the counter. Buzz hung back while Woody approached the man and greeted him with a friendly handshake, "Mr. Gornik! What brings you this far out of Calico?"

"Now, Marshal, how many times have I told you to call me Pete?" He lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Word is there's gold out in Daggett. Thought it couldn't hurt to find out if there was any truth to that."

"I've heard those reports myself. I hope you find what you're looking for!"

Pete rose from his stool and gestured to Jessie, "As I was just sayin' to this nice young woman, things have a way of working out. Good day, Marshal, ma'am." He tipped his hat - which he had retrieved from a peg on the wall - and left the depot.

"You know him?" Jessie asked as she poured coffee for the now-seated marshals.

Buzz nodded, "He's a prospector from Calico. We've spoken with him a few times when we were out there."

"He sure seems like a nice old man." Woody added, but Buzz reserved comment.

The conversation was halted as Trixie rushed in from outside, having delivered some morning provisions to the railroad staff who weren't able to come in to the counter. She was waving a printed flyer in her hand excitedly. "Did you hear?" she exclaimed, out of breath. "There's a troupe of actors in town and they're putting on a play! And not just any play, but Shakespeare! I can't believe it, right here in this tiny little town. My parents used to take us to plays when I was a kid, and I couldn't get enough. The costumes and scenery… if I could be a part of that, I'd jump at the chance." She shoved the piece of paper in her co-workers' faces. "This weekend, look!"

The other girls clustered around her and peered over her shoulder at the advertisement. All were atwitter at the prospect of a cultural diversion in the sleepy western settlement.

"Much Ado About Nothing," Dolly read out loud.

Jessie looked askance as a rather unladylike snicker escaped Bo's lips. "What?"

"Oh nothing, I'll tell you later," she smirked.

Mr. Kartoffelkopf scowled at the outburst from his post at the register, where he had been ringing up the last of the morning's travelers. "Professional behavior, ladies. May I remind you there are shifts to be worked on weekends as well as weekdays."

"Oh, please, you have to let us go!" implored Trixie. "Nothing this exciting ever happens here in Barstow. Just Friday and Saturday night; we don't even have to go Sunday for the matinee. Please, Mr. Kartoffelkopf, please?!"

The manager sighed; he knew he'd hear no end of it if he didn't consent. "Alright. Half of you can go Friday; the other half Saturday. Work it out amongst yourselves and let me know what you decide. But curfew still stands!"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!" Trixie squealed.

Buzz and Woody overheard the commotion as they nursed the final sips of their breakfast coffee. It wasn't long before Jessie and Bo came over to them, anticipation sparkling in their eyes.

"Ya wanna go see a play Saturday night?" Jessie's hands were clasped hopefully.

"Do we have any choice?" Woody laughed. His sister twisted her face in response.

"You're terrible, Sheriff," teased Bo. "I used to teach Shakespeare to my older students. This is an enjoyable one, you'll like it."

"If you say so," Woody grinned back in jest.

"I can't say I'm a Shakespeare aficionado, but I wouldn't mind going," Buzz chimed in. "What time?"

"It's at seven. Bonnie and Trixie and Dolly are goin' on Friday. Barbie's still not over Ken, so we can't talk her into comin' with us."

When the weekend finally arrived and it was time for the first round of Harvey Girls to go to the play, they could barely contain their excitement. At six o'clock sharp - the time Mr. Kartoffelkopf had designated for the theatergoers to be excused from work - the trio of friends blustered out of the depot and rushed to change in the dorm.

The next morning, once the tables were ready and all the staff had left to do was await the arrival of the first breakfast guests, the Harvey Girls - all but Trixie, who as of yet hadn't shown up for work - gathered behind the counter to read the latest news. The top headline was about a local crime that had happened only a few days prior.

"Where's Odessa Canyon?" questioned Bonnie, as she leaned over Dolly's shoulder, who was holding the newspaper.

"I think it's out by Calico," she responded. "This says the man was a banker in Calico, at least. But he was found shot and robbed, out in the desert. Probably foul play, but no clues to suggest who might have done it."

Jessie and Bo glanced at each other, their eyes wide with concern.

"Should we be worried?" Bonnie looked up, her countenance pleading with her friends for reassurance.

"Nah, Calico's an hour away, and he prob'ly had a lot'a money on him," Jessie replied with a comforting smile. "Nobody's gonna think we're rich enough to rob."

Trixie had walked in to hear just enough of Bonnie and Jessie's discourse; and she slouched against the counter, the bags under her eyes giving away the fact that she had gotten very little sleep the night before, if any. "How can you care about that when the theater is in town?"

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence," Dolly remarked, as she folded the newspaper and stashed it beneath the counter. "You're lucky Mrs. K has been lax on curfew checks; I sure wasn't covering for you."

Before Trixie had time to respond, the unmistakable sound of a train whistle sounded outside, and all the girls stood to attention. In no time, hungry passengers had descended upon the eating establishment.

After the breakfast crowd had dispersed, the girls began to ready the tables for the next round of guests. When the dining room was in proper order, they moved on to the counter, and Trixie quickly sidled up to Jessie and Bo. "Oh, I've been dying to tell you about the play! It was just swell! And wait'll you see the lead. He's actually from England and a real knockout," she leaned her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands. "R. Maximus," she breathed dreamily. "The way he spoke his lines… 'I do love nothing in the world so well as you' and oh, what was the other one? Oh! 'I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes'. I sure could go for some horizontal refreshment with him."

"TRIXIE!" the other girls cried out in aghast unison.

"PLEASE tell me that's not what you were doing til nearly dawn," groaned Dolly .

"You were out all night with him?" Barbie's face and tone smacked of disapproval.

Trixie giggled at the reaction. "Maybe we were, maybe we weren't."

"Last we saw her, she was hanging out by the back door, talking with him," Bonnie explained to the rest. "So Dolly and I came back on our own. How late did you come back, Trixie?"

"Late enough. But he told me that the evening was glorious, and that I made him question everything he knows."

"Well, I guess he knew how to get here, because look who just walked in," Dolly gestured to the doorway as a few of the actors, including R. Maximus, entered.

Trixie flew to the counter to wait on them, which came as a relief to the other girls, who weren't sure they could make eye contact after the girl's earlier comments.

"Good afternoon, Trixie!"

"H-hi." She stared adoringly at the tall, dark-haired man, who was strikingly handsome. A throat-clearing 'ahem' from Dolly brought her to the present. "What can I get you for lunch?"

"To gaze upon your beauty is all the sustenance I require," he replied, his voice a rich, warm baritone made elegant by his accent.

Jessie coughed into her hand to cover up a laugh, and Dolly put on an expression of mock nausea. "Come on, we better help her."

Trixie hovered around the counter while the actors finished their meal, enjoying their stories of traveling and performing. She sighed as they stood up to go. Maximus reached across the counter and took her hand, "Will I see you tonight?"

"I can't, I'm working," Trixie bit her lip, and her eyes darted around the room. She turned back to the actor. "But I can meet you at the stage door afterwards," she spoke softly and hastily, lest the others hear.

"Farewell, Trixie," he brought her hand to his lips. "My heart will burn bright until the moment of your return. Tonight, around nine thirty."

Later in the afternoon, as Jessie and Bo prepared to leave for their turn at the performance, Jessie approached Barbie. "Ya sure ya don't wanna come with us? It might help get your mind off… things."

"No, I don't want to be a third wheel, and I really don't need to watch a romantic play, either," her brows knit in faint disgust, "especially when he might be there. You have fun, though; you can tell me about it more objectively than Trixie," she added with a chuckle.

It wasn't long until Buzz and Woody were greeting Jessie and Bo at the dormitory door. All four were dressed in their best attire, which they hadn't had occasion to wear since their outing in Redlands three months prior.

They began their stroll into town, and Jessie spoke up as they crossed the footbridge over the tracks, out of earshot of the railyard workers. "I've been meanin' to ask, that murder in the paper - is that why y'all were out in Calico all day yesterday?"

"Yeah," answered Woody. "Hamm wanted us to help him with the investigation."

"Was it the gang?" she continued.

"Evidence is inconclusive, unfortunately," Buzz said. "The paper printed all the known information."

"First the train robbery a few weeks ago… now this. If it is them, I don't like it one bit," Bo shook her head, as she recalled an out-of-town incident the Huggins gang had perpetrated just before the Commonwealers' trouble. "They're getting far too daring."

"Nobody was hurt in the train robbery," Woody placed his hand over Bo's, which was linked through his arm, "and we don't know if the gang was involved in the shooting. They haven't killed anyone before, that we know of."

Buzz could see the concern in Jessie's eyes, and gave her hand a squeeze. "No need to worry about this tonight," he smiled warmly, "we're on top of it. Just enjoy the play."

"At least one of us should," joked Woody. "Verdict's still out for me."

After a short and pleasant walk they arrived at the makeshift theater, housed in the community's school building that had also been the locale of the Christmas dance. At the door, tickets were purchased, and seats were secured inside.

"This place brings back memories," Bo commented as they waited for the performance to begin. "We haven't been back in here since Christmas."

Jessie grinned at the recollection. "That was such a fun night!"

"You know," Buzz started, and Jessie pivoted to face him, "I nearly fell to my knees when you turned around to hand me your cape, and I first saw you in that dress."

"Didja really?" she beamed.

He reached for her hand. "I did."

"I can vouch for him," Woody laughed. "He was a goner."

The lights dimmed, and three of the cast members entered from the side of the stage, setting the plot in motion. The audience was held rapt with attention, especially when R. Maximus delivered his monologue as Benedick. Jessie and Bo sat on opposite ends of Buzz and Woody, often elbowing their respective partners to silence the snickers that peppered the performance. At one point, Bo had to rouse her beau when she noticed his head bob drowsily out of the corner of her eye.

When the two couples walked outside after the play's conclusion, they noticed an oddly familiar form hanging around towards the back of the building.

"Isn't that Trixie?" Buzz pointed out, gesturing at the shadowy figure in the darkness.

"Yeah, she's dead gone on that Benedick fella," explained Jessie, and Buzz snickered at the name, just like he and Woody had done so many times throughout the evening. Jessie rolled her eyes.

"What did I just watch, anyway?" Woody quipped, as they headed back to the depot. I'll give them the 'nothing' part."

Buzz let out a chuckle at his friend's remark. "I'm with you on the 'nothing'. I've had enough Shakespeare for one day… or longer."

"I don't think the title means what you think it does, boys," Bo laughed, as she looked at them both mischievously.

Woody's eyebrows furrowed. "How could it mean anything but what it is?"

"In Shakespeare, words don't always mean what they seem to on the surface. Or I should say, they don't mean only what they seem to."

"Is that why ya giggled over the poster?" Jessie grinned, joining in on the conversation. When Bo nodded, her friend prodded further. "So, you gonna explain, or just leave us hangin'?"

Bo exhaled, having opened up this can of worms that she now had to clarify. "Well, Shakespeare was often directly bawdy, but sometimes he disguised it. The word 'nothing' in the title means both nothing and - " she paused, blushing slightly, "well, it also referred to a certain area of female anatomy." When Jessie stared back at her blankly, Bo added, "You know, thing versus no thing?"

Buzz and Woody let out hearty guffaws, and Jessie burst into a fit of giggles. "Wouldn't Aunt Molly like t'know that all the culture she was exposin' us to was really dirty! Ya didn't teach your students that, didja?"

"Not officially, no," Bo winked. "I might have mentioned it to one or two students that I thought could handle it. Besides, it's not all double entendre; there are plenty of phrases used today that are thanks to Shakespeare." She ticked off on her fingers, "There's 'good riddance', 'fair play', 'love is blind', just to name a few."

"Huh, maybe we're more cultured that we thought," Jessie nudged her brother, noting the look of immense pride on his face as he gazed down at Bo, in awe of her knowledge.

Sunday's workday came as usual, albeit with Trixie showing up even later than she had the day before. And oddly enough, to her friends, she seemed much calmer and closed-lipped about the visiting troupe than she had been the day before. As Jessie and Bo recounted the performance for Barbie - leaving out that they had seen Trixie lurking in the shadows - the others hinted at their starstruck friend's unusual demeanor.

"You're awfully calm for someone whose fella is leaving town today," Bonnie pointed out.

"Who says he's my fella?" her face reddened furiously.

"Staying out with him two nights in a row says something," muttered Dolly. She had become visibly weary of her roommate's dalliances, and the position they put her in.

Trixie crossed her arms, "Can you blame a girl for wanting to have a little fun? It's not as though we get the chance all that often."

"You won't find it fun to be out of a job," Barbie scolded. "Train's pulling into the station, ladies. Get to your posts."

The rest of the day ran with the clockwork-like precision that Harvey establishments were known for; even Trixie maintained her best professional manner despite her exhaustion. With the theatrical troupe performing their final show that afternoon, and set to depart on the first train out of Barstow on Monday's schedule, the girls' lives would soon be back to normal. Or so they thought.

The following morning, Dolly showed up for work with a letter in hand, which she held out to Barbie. "We've got a situation…"

I've run off with Max. I'm going to be an actress! Sorry to leave you and the girls in the lurch. I'll write when we get to L.A. xoxo Trixie


By the end of June, the threatened Pullman boycott had come to pass, and the Santa Fe was the hardest hit of all the railroads. As expected, trains were backed up for days, seriously delaying the transportation of passengers, freight, and U. S. Mail.

July Fourth arrived with no fanfare. The depot was still in the midst of the strike, and any plans its staff might have had to celebrate the holiday, whether in town or on their own, were regretfully discarded. With cantankerous stranded customers to cater to, and a picket line on the tracks that they didn't dare cross, those in the Harvey House were just as stuck as the Pullman car occupants.

"The first Independence Day since I'm really independent, and everythin's cancelled," Jessie grumbled as she slumped down onto a depot bench next to Buzz, resting her head on his shoulder. Evening had fallen, and the day's turmoil - the new normal in Barstow - had temporarily settled.

"At least they got one train out today," Bo smiled at her friend from the adjacent bench, where she was seated with Woody. "That's some progress."

"I s'pose. I do feel for the strikers, they're just tryin' to fight the greedy ol' rich folks and get what they're due, even if it's a pain in the neck."

"Pain or not, it's illegal, Jess. They're interfering with the mail," Woody interjected.

"Yeah, well, it's interferin' with the workers' lives that they can't get paid fair!" Jessie snapped at her brother.

"Okay, you two, that's enough," Buzz held up his hand. "I'm all for the railroad owners taking a hit; they've stolen enough rancho land from my relatives over the years. But arguing won't solve anything. We're all tired, and on edge."

"Ugh, I know," Jessie sighed. "I just need to get away from the depot for a while." She looked at Buzz and Woody, "but you fellas hafta stay here, and help keep an eye on things, don'tcha?"

"It's been a little quieter since that relief train left. Why don't you and Buzz go out to Buzzard Rock?" offered Woody. "Bo and I can stay here, or walk down by the riverbed - if that's okay with you," he deferred to Bo.

"That's fine. My head's been hurting since this afternoon, anyway. I don't mind staying closer to home."

"You sure?" Buzz asked his partner.

"Positive. Get outta here. But don't do anything I wouldn't do," Woody added with a smirk.

Bo giggled, and reached out for Woody's vest, tugging him toward her. Their lips met, and he willingly reciprocated the kiss. When they pulled apart, Bo grinned at Jessie and Buzz. "There's one less thing on that list. Have fun!"

Buzz and Jessie had only stepped a few yards away from their friends when he stopped in his tracks. "Wait, shouldn't we have something to sit on?"

"I really don't care; I just wanna get away," Jessie's eyes pleaded her desperation for an escape. "We don't have as much time as usual as it is."

"Still, we shouldn't be just sitting out in the sand. Why don't you go get Bo's blanket real quick; we won't need a lantern with this full moon tonight."

Jessie darted off to the dorm, and was back at her marshal's side in a flash. He took the blanket from her, she grasped his free hand, and the couple hastened across the desert expanse, toward their usual hideaway.

"Long day, florecita?" Buzz smirked, amused at the almost-frantic pace of her steps.

"It's this strike. Everyone's grouchy from bein' stranded in the heat. Coffee was too cold, then too hot. One guest didn't like the food touchin' other food on the plate. The silverware was dirty, except it wasn't. They can't understand why we're only servin' 'em two meals a day, when it's been a week already and there's no end in sight. Would they rather we run out, and have no food at all? One passenger even acted like we were responsible for this whole mess and backed it up by pointing out the white hair bows of our uniform. He actually made Bonnie cry! It's a good thing Mr. K stepped in, or I'd'a given him a piece of my mind and then some."

He chuckled, "Good thing; I don't want to have to negotiate your release from jail."

"She's still convinced it's all because of those grasshoppers, even though they're gone now," Jessie said with a short laugh.

"The way Bonnie's mind works is a mystery of science."

The two reached the rock, and Jessie flopped down onto the blanket that Buzz had spread out for them. He sat down next to her, and she continued her much-needed venting session.

"To top it all off there was this little snot of a boy in a high chair - if he wasn't at least seven, I'll eat my boots. Ate like a horse for half price, too. He spent the whole meal tryin' to get me mad."

"Oh, I've seen him. He's been staying in the hotel, and 'shoots' me every time he passes me in the hall. El pequeño mocoso," Buzz's face twisted in annoyance at the thought of the badly-behaved child, "that means 'little brat.' But why was he trying to make you mad?"

"His grandmother apparently told him that redheads have fiery tempers and he thought it meant my hair would actually burst into flames." Buzz let out a snicker and she poked his side, "Sure, you can laugh. He wasn't throwin' peas at you all through the meal."

He wrapped his arm around her waist, "Maybe he just didn't know how to do it right."

She looked up at him with a warning glare, "Don't you dare."

He laughed again and kissed the top of her head, "No, ma'am; wouldn't dream of it."

"Hmph," her tone was skeptical, but nevertheless she snuggled against her beau's shoulder. "I just wanna sit here a while, and stare at the stars, and enjoy the quiet. No customers yellin' about every little thing, no strikers shoutin' 'scabby' at the trains… just quiet."

The couple sat silently, in one of those moments when words need not be spoken. Yet not even Buzz's comforting embrace could soothe all the ills wrought by current stresses. After some time had passed, Jessie abruptly bolted upright, and began tugging at her hair.

"Ugh, Bo's not the only one; this whole day's given me a headache, too, and this hair ain't helpin'." She began taking the pins from the heavy braid that she hadn't bothered to let down before, then pulled the ribbon from the end and raked her fingers through in an attempt to unbraid it. "Tarnation," she grunted, as the tangles were getting the better of her frazzled nerves.

"Here," Buzz gently lowered her hands, "May I?" She nodded and he shifted to sit behind her. He was almost dumbstruck by the sight of her hair hanging loose to her waist. The gleam from the moonlight gave her hair a soft glow and his hands ghosted over it, almost reverently. He worked unhurriedly and gently, easing the knots from her tresses. Small noises of contentment escaped Jessie as Buzz repeatedly combed his fingers through her untangled hair. "There; feel better?"

She shook her head, "Still hurts."

"Where?" He turned to look at her.

"Here," she pointed to her temple. Buzz smiled and pressed his lips gently to the offending spot. "Here," she moved her finger to her forehead and Buzz followed. "Here," pointing to her cheek. After Buzz pulled away, she put her finger to her lips, "Definitely here." Buzz took her chin in his fingers and slanted his mouth against hers.

He drew back slightly after a few minutes. "What about here?" he asked, his voice low. Jessie inhaled sharply as he delicately brushed her hair aside and put his lips on her neck, gently sucking at her skin. As he continued his ministrations, Jessie found it hard to remain upright. His hand dropped to her back and she leaned against his arm heavily. Their lips met again, and Buzz slowly lowered her onto the blanket they had been sitting on.

Jessie ran her fingers through his hair as he returned his attention to her neck. One of his hands still spanned her back, and she gripped his bicep. He was heavy against her, and she felt a rising desire to feel more of him. She loosened the hand he had resting on her hip and brought it up to her breast. Even though several layers of clothing separated her skin from his, she felt the heat from it nonetheless.

The move caught Buzz by surprise, but he was fighting the same hunger. His mouth met hers mercilessly and he moaned into the kiss. Jessie returned the affection more than willingly, wanting nothing more than to lose herself completely to the moment. He felt the inside of Jessie's leg brush along the outside of his and he forced himself to pull away from her. "We have to stop," he panted.

"We don't," Jessie protested and reached to pull him back down.

Buzz caught her hand, "No, we do." He could see the look of hurt confusion on her face and he pressed his lips to her knuckles. He released her hand and cupped her cheek, running his thumb gently across it. "I gave my word of honor to your employer that I would respect your reputation. Beyond that, I promised Woody that I wouldn't overstep my bounds." He smiled tenderly at her, "Most importantly, I love you too much to risk compromising you." His smile turned into a toothy grin, "And I would very much like to do that right now. But Woody'd know; I'm a bad liar and he's a good shot."

Jessie laughed, "So'm I, if you remember." She reached up and kissed him softly. "But I s'ppose you're right."

Buzz raised himself and sat back on his heels, then offered a hand to pull Jessie up to sitting. As she straightened her shirtwaist, Buzz took his watch from his vest pocket. He held it at several different angles before he was finally able to read it, thanks to the moon being obscured by dense clouds that had only recently rolled in.

"Uh, Jessie? Your curfew is at ten, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"We need to go. Now," he held the watch towards her, and she could see that the time read quarter past ten.

"Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln!"

Jessie stood in haste and rebraided her hair, while Buzz folded the blanket they'd been sitting on and draped it across his arm. There was no time to waste, and they headed back toward the depot nearly at a run. The pair hadn't even made it to the bridge before the sky opened up and the clouds that had gathered during their outing unleashed a fierce downpour.

Jessie normally would have appreciated the sweet smell of creosote that the desert rain brought out in the air, but there was no time to enjoy such pleasantries now.

"Do you think you'll be able to get in alright?" Buzz asked as they drew closer to the depot, his voice raised to be audible over the deluge.

"I hope. They lock the door, but Trixie said she climbed the trellis when she was sneakin' in after bein' out with that actor. An' Bo'n I never lock the window. Just hold onto the blanket for me, 'k? One less thing to worry about."

When they reached the dorm, they parted with a quick kiss. Jessie stood at the base of the trellis, that was attached to the side of the porch away from the depot and the Kartoffelkopfs' living quarters. She took a deep breath and grasped the wooden latticework beneath the rain-wet leaves of the climbing bougainvillea that adorned it. "Here goes," she whispered to herself.

The climb was an easy one, despite the slick surface, and Jessie cautiously and stealthily crept along the porch roof, steadying herself against the second story of the building as she made her way to her own window on the opposite side. The window was closed, as she expected due to the rain, so she pushed on its frame - and it didn't budge. Peering inside, all was dark, and Bo was fast asleep. Jessie tapped lightly on the window - as much noise as she dared make - but the sound was no louder than the raindrops already beating against the glass, and her friend didn't stir. Jessie brushed her dripping bangs away from her forehead and tried again, still to no avail. "Blast!" she cursed under her breath, then retraced her steps across the roof and down the trellis.

No sooner had Jessie's boots hit the ground than she was met face to face with Lenny, who was standing on the porch. She let out a gasp.

"Lenny! I'm so sorry, but can ya let me in? I lost track of time, and…"

The depot's watchman chuckled as he rifled through his keys to find the right one. "It's okay, I ran into Marshal Lightyear. I had noticed someone scaling the roof of the dormitory, and he told me it was only you, and asked rather sheepishly if I could make sure you got in safely." With a swift turn of a key and click of a doorknob, the dorm door was opened. "Don't worry, I won't rat you two out. But you should take off your shoes, so you don't leave wet footprints," he suggested with a smile. "I'll lock up behind you."

"Thanks a heap!" Jessie exclaimed, as loudly as she could under the circumstances. "I owe ya one."

Following Lenny's advice, she removed her footwear and tiptoed in stocking feet across the foyer and up the stairs to her room, stepping deliberately so as not to elicit a creak from stair tread or floorboard. She slowly turned her own doorknob, and once she was finally safe, inside and undetected, she let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

Sensing another presence in the room, Bo wakened and sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "Jessie?" She immediately recognized her roomate's deflated leg-o'-mutton sleeves and heavily-waterlogged skirt walking past the foot of her bed. "Jessie! You're soaking wet!"

"Yeah, well, I didn't make it back by curfew, and thought I could climb in the window, but it was locked."

Her friend brought her hands to her mouth in horror. "Oh, Jessie, I'm sorry! The rain was coming down so hard, I was afraid it would leak if I didn't lock it. Did you get in trouble with Mr. K?"

"Nah, Lenny let me in," she flung her wet clothes over the dressing screen that she had changed quickly behind, and emerged wearing a dry nightgown. "'Sides, it was worth it," she added with a wicked grin.

Bo smirked. "Jessie Pride, what have you been doing?"

"Nothin, really," she shrugged, as she snuggled down into her own bed and pulled up the covers beneath her chin, "but not for lack of tryin'."

Meanwhile, in the adjacent hotel, an equally-soaked Buzz walked through the door. His cotton shirt clung to his arms, transparent, and rainwater was dripping from his slick, dark hair. He draped the wet woolen blanket over the back of a chair, and fervently hoped that his partner wasn't aware of the time.

Woody sat on his bed, polishing his revolver. He looked up over the barrel and raised his eyebrows suspiciously. "Isn't it past Jessie's curfew?"

Buzz felt the heat rising to his face. "Yes, it is, b-but… funny story… we… uh… got caught in the rain."

Woody spun the cylinder, as he reloaded it with cartridges. "That better be all you got caught in."

"Heh… uh… I- I'm gonna go get dried off," he hurried out of the room.

The door closed hastily and Woody fell back on the bed, helpless with laughter.


"We have to run out to Daggett today. We'll be back after lunch sometime."

"Be careful out there."

Buzz set down his cup, and Jessie let her hand brush his. It was the most affection they dared display while they were both on duty; yet the recent chain of events made her feel as if she needed even the briefest of comforting contact.

By mid-July, a couple weeks after it had started, the Pullman boycott was finally over. However, there was a lingering sense of apprehension hanging around the Harvey House, thanks to all the staff had been through. Although Barstow hadn't seen the levels of violence and vandalism other depots had dealt with, they had been shaken by the foreboding presence of numerous armed deputy marshals and federal troops who rode the trains and got off at each stop to stand guard as the strike progressed. To further complicate matters, the impasse brought about by the boycott had prevented the Harvey company from sending a replacement for Trixie, and the dining facilities remained shorthanded. Still, the girls managed, even as train travel picked up again now that the rails were open.

In this whirlwind of activity, the hours since the marshals' departure for Daggett had flown by. Now midday, the lunch counter was bustling, with every seat occupied by travelers. Jessie, Bo, and Barbie all had their hands full keeping up with the orders, performing a kind of dance as they maneuvered in and out of the kitchen. The sounds of pleasant conversation filled the room, accompanied by the clink of flatware and glasses. Without warning the doors swung open and a group of masked men flooded in, "Alright, nobody move; this is a hold up!"

Male and female customers alike cried out in fear as the bandits spread across the room, revolvers drawn. One of the outlaws stepped forward, clearly the leader. "Ladies, if you would be so kind as to remove your jewelry. Gentlemen, your wallets. You," he pointed at Mr Kartoffelkopf, "go to the back; get bread, potatoes, and no funny business!"

As the gang moved among the patrons, Jessie glanced across at Bo and Barbie, the latter of whom was white with terror. Mr. Kartoffelkopf came back from the kitchen, lugging a flour sack filled to the brim with provisions. He threw it across the counter with a deep scowl. "New guns in my office, if I could just get there," she heard him mutter.

"If you can get one, get two," Jessie murmured.

The manager shot her a look. "For who, exactly, you? You're not Annie Oakley, Miss Pride, and I'm not interested in helping you make a spectacle of yourself."

Jessie fought to keep her tone even, "I know how to shoot."

"Absolutely out of the question. And even if I were to arm someone, it wouldn't be a woman, much less one of my employees."

"Quiet back there!" one of the robbers yelled. "You got access to this register?" he directed at Bo, gesturing at the ornate brass cash register that sat on the newsstand counter.

Mr. Kartoffelkopf volunteered, "I do."

"Then open it."

The laughter that had been so prevalent had been replaced by sobs. An older lady at the counter was crying as one of the men rid her of her wedding band while two others waved their weapons at her, mocking and laughing at her fear. Jessie charged out from behind the counter, her fists clenched in anger. She had only taken a few steps when one of the men noticed her. "You aren't going anywhere," he growled menacingly.

"Yeah? Who's gonna stop me?" she met his glower, not moving.

He leveled his revolver at her, "Go on; back behind the counter."

"Now Jonesy," drawled the man Jessie took for the leader, "we don't need any bloodshed." He looked at Jessie appraisingly, and clicked the piece of hard candy in his mouth against his teeth. The sickening scent of sugary-strawberry wafted in her face along with his menacing breath. "We do need a woman's presence back home, though. Don't you agree?" He leered at her, bursting out in maniacal laughter as he used the end of his wooden cane to lift the hem of her skirt. Jessie kicked the cane away, which only resulted in louder cackles of evil humor.

Jonesy let out a raspy chuckle, "Sure, boss." He grabbed Jessie by her upper arm and tried to pull her forward.

"Let me go, ya big varmint!" As she was fighting back, a man ran into the room, his face obscured by a bandana like the others.

"Lawmen are coming! Better run, boys," his voice wavered with panic.

Another outlaw, with bulging, bug-like eyes, twitched in agitation. "Told ya we shoulda hit the dining room first! More money in there!"

The leader spat his command, " No time! Get the hell outta here, now!"

She saw Jonesy was distracted by the commotion and seized the opportunity, landing a solid punch to the man's right eye. He shoved her away roughly, sending her sprawling to the floor as the gang scattered.

Buzz and Woody ran into the depot, followed closely by Sheriff Varney and his two deputies. "We'll go after the bandits, Marshal. You two take care of everyone here." They came into the lunch room, greeted by slight chaos. Buzz's brows dipped as he saw Jessie standing up and brushing her skirt as Bo hovered anxiously over her.

Woody held up his hand, "All right folks, please just calm down. I know you just had a fright, but we need everyone to sit down so we can find out exactly what happened. Mr. Kartoffelkopf," he looked to the manager, "how many of your employees were present?"

"Just these three girls, and myself."

"Okay. If you can spare them right now, I'm sure they could use a few moments to compose themselves. I'd like to start talking to the patrons first, since they have a schedule to keep. Is there somewhere that your staff can wait for us?"

"Yes, I can handle things here," the manager assented, with a more sympathetic tone to his voice than they were accustomed to. "Go on, girls; get some fresh air."

Bo spoke up, "There's a parlor, Marshal, that's for the girls. We could wait there." Jessie admired her friend's level-headedness as she affected a purely professional manner for the benefit of the customers - whose meals were now free of charge as compensation for their ordeal, a necessary waiver considering their funds for payment had all been pilfered.

Buzz shared a look with Woody and nodded, "That would be fine; thank you, miss. We should be along shortly." As the girls walked past him, he caught Jessie's gaze. His eyes searched her face for any clue of what had transpired, but it offered none. He let out a small sigh and set to work, memo notebook in hand, questioning the witnesses so they could be on their way.

In the parlor, Bo sat quietly on the sofa, her arm around Barbie's shoulders, while Jessie paced out of nervous distraction. There was a knock on the door before Woody and Buzz were escorted in by Mrs. Kartoffelkopf, who had run to the depot at the sound of the uproar to make sure her husband was safe.

"Oh girls, what an awful experience for you! The marshals just want to ask some questions. Once you're done, you of course are excused from the rest of your shift."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kartoffelkopf," Bo said levelly, "but that won't be necessary for me."

"Me, either," Jessie stated, "I'm fine to come back to work. I'd rather do that, if you don't mind."

She smiled, "If that's what you'd like, I appreciate your dedication. I'll let my husband know."

Once the door was closed, the professional pretense was dropped and Buzz hurried over to Jessie. "Are you alright?"

"I'm mad, that's what I am! I could'a helped, Buzz!" She railed on about her employer's obstinance.

Woody knelt before Bo and took her free hand, "Are you okay?" he ran a thumb gently over her hand.

She offered him a smile, "Yes; guess it's just hitting me now, what happened."

He turned to Barbie, "And you, Miss Roberts?"

Jessie's voice broke in before Barbie could answer. "An' then he said he wasn't interested in helping me make a spectacle of myself. As if I'd suggested that I wanted to stand on the lunch counter in nothin' but my drawers and do the two-step!"

The room was silent until Buzz coughed and thumbed his nose. "Yes, well... I'm, uh, I'm sure that would have served as an effective distraction. But I think I'm glad it didn't come to that."

Jessie stared at him for a moment, then finally giggled. Buzz gestured for her to sit and she perched herself on the arm of the sofa.

Woody started, "Now, why don't we just start from the beginning. Miss Roberts, could you tell us what happened?"

Barbie took a deep breath and wiped a tear from her cheek, "The shift was just like any other, maybe a bit busier. I think the train might've been more crowded than usual." She continued on, "The way they were waving around their guns, I've never been so afraid. When one of them grabbed Jessie, I thought I would faint."

Woody and Buzz both looked sharply at Jessie. "What!?" Woody asked, turning towards her.

She shrank a little under her brother's scrutiny. "A couple'a the robbers were really scarin' this one lady, an' no one else was gonna stop 'em!"

"Jessie, these men have murdered someone!" he flung his arms wildly.

Barbie burst into wailing tears at Woody's exclamation. Buzz rolled his eyes, "Nice going, Woody," he muttered.

The parlor door flung open and Woody and Buzz immediately drew their revolvers. As he did, Buzz reached his other arm out as a shield in front of Jessie. They lowered their guns and shoulders in relief as Ken came running into the room, "Barbie! I just heard the news. Are you alright?"

"Oh, Ken!" she jumped off the sofa and into his arms. "Ken, it was just awful! I… I can't take it anymore! Robberies and bandits and murders… take me away from this place, Ken; take me awayyyyy!" she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Darn it, Barbie… I know we've only known each other a few months, but let's get married. I'm done with playing poker, I promise. That weasel Purvis at the saloon, he cheated me, thought I was a pushover. I don't want anything to do with gambling again, ever. I've learned my lesson." He took his hands in hers, and their eyes met, his displaying earnest emotion. "Marry me and we'll build a fashion empire, together."

She looked at him, then to Jessie and Bo, her two closest friends. Jessie smiled encouragingly and gave her a thumbs up. Barbie's face illuminated with happiness, and she turned back to Ken, "Oh Ken, of course I will!" She giggled as Ken escorted her from the parlor, the door closing behind them.

"Well, I guess that interview is over," Woody grumbled as he returned his gun to its holster.

Buzz stared down at Jessie, "Yours isn't. Please continue."

She made short work of the story without leaving out details. When she mentioned the leader's words and actions she paused, "It was sorta strange, when he was talkin' I could swear I smelled strawberries." She heard Buzz and Woody both inhale sharply and continued, "Anyways, they must'a had someone keepin' watch, because right then he came runnin' in. That distracted Jonesy and he ain't gonna be able to show his face for a while. I got him right in the eye," she boasted. "He pushed me down so he could run, an' that's it."

"Jess, that was dangerous," Woody gently scolded .

She gaped at him incredulously. "They were terrifyin' that poor lady, Woody! Someone needed t'help!"

He held up his hand quickly in response to her glare, "I know, but hear me out. I'm proud of you for wanting to step in, but you were outnumbered. And if no one was willing to help her, they might not have helped you if you needed it. You don't want to make yourself a target, especially given that I'm your brother."

Bo laid a hand on his arm, "You said these men murdered someone. Was it that man they found in the canyon?"

Buzz shot another look at Woody before answering Bo's question. "Yes. We're sure this gang was behind it, but that information was supposed to be confidential. We don't want it getting out; hopefully that will help lull them into a false sense of security."

She frowned, "Do you think they'll try and rob the depot again?"

"No," Woody shook his head, "I doubt it, anyway. They're going to have to lay low for a while after today's close call. And if Jessie got that one as good as she says, and I'm willing to bet you got him better," he added with a grin at his sister, "he'll definitely have to stay hidden. We'll be keeping an extra eye on this place, don't you worry, little lady."

There was another knock at the door and Rex poked his head in. "Excuse me, Marshals, sir, but I'm supposed to tell you that Sheriff Varney wants you to come down to his office."

"Thank you, Rex," Woody waved at the young busboy in dismissal.

Bo stood, "We'd better get back to work, anyway. And you should change your apron, Jessie."

Jessie scowled as she saw the marks on the white fabric, "Tarnation. I feel bad for whoever has to clean my uniforms."

Woody pecked Bo on her cheek, "We'll be back for dinner. If you need us…"

She smiled, "I know just where to find you, Sheriff."

Jessie pressed her lips and then her cheek to Buzz's, uttering the words that had become habit for her over the past tumultuous month, "Be careful, 'k?"

He turned her face and caught her lips against his, "You, too, florecita. And no dancing on the counter unless I'm here to see it," he winked.

She laughed, "No promises." Her gaze lingered on him as he brought her hand to his lips before she and Bo left to attend to their duties. Woody saw Buzz staring after Jessie, a clouded look on his face. "Come on, Buzz," he clapped his hand on his friend's back, "let's go."

Their meeting with Slink took up the rest of the afternoon, leaving Buzz and Woody barely enough time to get back to the Harvey House and secure seats in the dining room for dinner. Before heading up to their room, Woody managed to stop Bo long enough at the counter to say that they would meet up with her and Jessie after their shift was over.

Back in their private quarters, Buzz was furiously pulling the straps of his exercise apparatus while Woody looked over their notes. "I don't like it, Buzz. They're getting bolder, that much is plain. One or two robbing the bank or the post office, but seven of them? They definitely know by now why we're here, but how did they know we weren't at the hotel to pull that kind of heist? I've been thinking about it, and in the last few months, the gang seems to strike when we're out of town. We were in Calico when the train was held up in June, and now this. But the only way they'd know that is if they had an informant somewhere here in town." He glanced up at his friend, "If you don't take it easy, you're going to pull the door frame out of the wall."

Buzz dropped the cords. "I know. It's just… I can't stop thinking about what happened earlier. What might have happened." He balled his hands into fists, his mind replaying the details of the leader's advances on Jessie.

Woody gave him a sympathetic smile, "Jessie's pretty resilient; she can take care of herself."

"Blast it, I know that!" Buzz shouted. "Sorry," his voice immediately dropped in volume, "but you heard what she said. What if I'm putting her at risk? If the gang has a spy who knows when we're here, and when we're not, what else might they know?"

"If you're putting her at risk, so am I. Don't worry, Buzz. I think the girls are pretty safe here, and Jessie's not going to go looking for trouble." Woody's mouth formed an "o" and his eyebrows lifted. "Say, though…we could use their help."

Buzz narrowed his eyes warily, "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing that would put them in harm's way, I promise." He outlined his idea to his partner.

"Yes," Buzz nodded slowly, his fingers curled around his chin as he contemplated Woody's proposal. "Yes, I think that would be harmless enough. We'll ask them tonight."

Later that evening, Bo and Jessie were changing out of their uniforms before meeting the men. As Jessie slipped the black bodice of her uniform down over her shoulders, Bo let out a gasp. "Oh, Jessie!"

Jessie followed her friend's gaze to her own left arm. Bruises had formed from where the bandit had grabbed her earlier. "Confound it! Oh, what I wouldn't give t'get another shot at that rotten son of a…" she grimaced. "Don't tell Buzz or Woody, okay?"

The four met outside and strolled down to the now-dry riverbed; everyone was exhausted from the day's events, but the copse of cottonwood trees would provide the privacy they needed for their conversation. Once they were seated, Woody began, "We'd like to ask a favor of you girls, if we may."

"You know we'll do anythin' to help," Jessie eagerly replied. Bo followed with a nod of consent.

"We have reason to believe that there's an informant on the premises," he continued. "The gang must have known that Buzz and I would be away today, just like when they held up the train between here and Minneola last month. Have you seen anyone acting suspicious, lurking around the depot or spending a lot of time at the counter?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Bo replied. "But we've been so busy since Trixie left, we could have missed something."

"We know you're both very busy when you're working," Buzz interjected. "But if you happen to notice someone who looks like they might be eavesdropping, please take note of everything you can about them, and let us know as soon as possible." He turned to Jessie, who was sitting at his side. "And DON'T engage them. This gang is far more dangerous than we realized."

"We'll do our best. So… if we're in on this, can ya tell us what 'xactly happened in the desert?" Jessie asked. "Ya know you can trust us to not say a word."

Woody looked to Buzz, not wanting to commit the same misstep as before. "Well, it was a clerk from the bank in Calico - the paper should have told you that much," he explained, after getting his partner's silent approval. "Apparently, he had gone to collect on a mortgage debt from one of the miners - Pete Gornik, you met him at the counter that one time. Anyway, Pete said he paid him, but the gang ambushed the clerk out in the desert on his way back to town, shot him and stole the mortgage money and his personal belongings. Hamm was called in by the bank manager, when his employee never returned, and he and his deputies found him in the desert with a piece of strawberry candy laying nearby. Hamm sent his deputy to get us -"

"I remember that!" Jessie blurted out. "Y'all were whisperin', and ya left for Calico, and that was the day the train got robbed!" Her face grew serious, and her voice smaller. "Wait, so the strawberry I smelled… that's why y'all were so upset? The one who went after me was the… murderer?"

"Him, or one of his accomplices," Buzz said, rubbing his thumb across her hand that he was already holding and looking her intently in the eye. "That's why you mustn't interact with any of them, or anyone you have even the slightest hunch could possibly be involved with the gang. They seem to be getting desperate; and we're not sure what could be motivating these attacks, besides provisions being low in Calico due to the strike."

"I know times have been hard, but why now?" Bo questioned. "The mines have been struggling for ages, but I thought things were finally turning around, what with gold being found and the strike over with."

"I have my suspicions." Buzz met Woody's gaze, a stubborn resolve in his eyes. "Woody doesn't quite see things the same way I do, but we'll get to the bottom of it soon, one way or another."

"Just keep a lookout, that's all we ask," Woody's glance shifted between the two girls who meant more to him than anything in the world, "but play it safe. And don't say anything to the others; we don't want to cause a panic."

Jessie smiled first at her brother, then at Buzz. "You got it."


Historical Notes: There was, in fact, that much drama in Barstow during the summer of 1894. While the theatrical troupe's visit is fictional, the uprisings (and gold discovery) are not, and all of those details come from newspaper accounts of the time. Coxey's Army was also known as the Army of the Commonwealth in Christ, hence the term Commonwealers. The Pullman Strike, or boycott, crippled railroads in the midwestern and western states between June 26 and July 11 of 1894, with the effects lingering some days after. In solidarity for the plight of the Pullman employees, members of the American Railway Union refused to service trains pulling Pullman sleeping cars. The mention of the white bow in the Harvey Girls' hair is a reference to strike supporters wearing white ribbons - although for the girls, it was just an everyday part of their uniforms. Also, children in high chairs got their meals for half price at Harvey restaurants, hence Jessie's reference to the boy being close to seven - customers often abused the discount.