Chapter 13

After walking Anna home from the dance, Kipp had been expecting big things for the night but had his hopes dashed pretty quickly. She had given him a quick kiss and jotted down a thank-you for the lovely evening but she was very tired. He reluctantly let her go upstairs and locked the back door as he left. He had sat down on the swing to think about things. Eventually he had wadded up his suit jacket and used it for a pillow as he laid down and stared up at the porch ceiling in frustration. Anna's room was just above him…inside she was undressing and sliding into bed for the night and he wanted to be with her more than anything in the world. He let out a heavy sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. After an hour of fantasizing about her, he fell asleep.

XXX

Happy had his arm draped over her ass, the rest of his body spread eagle on the bed. His feet rested at the head of the bed, pillows were on the floor, and Happy's face was buried in the bed. Jenny laid with head resting on the edge of the bed. Her arm dangled toward the floor, fingers just barely touching the whiskey bottle and she had his hat on her head. He had slid his hand up her back while she began to rouse. With the whiskey and the night she had, her head was a spinning.

"Ohhhhhhh my head." She did her best to sit up and look around the hotel room. She cocked her head as she noticed how bright it was even with the curtain blocking the sun. She gasped and sat upright, holding her head from the stars and lights speckling in front of her eyes. She scooted to the edge of the bed. "My father is going to kill me! Oh I am in deep trouble."

"Mebbe we should do some more prayin'." Happy mumbled as he moved to cradle his head with his arm. He rolled over to watch her and smirked as she scampered around the room gathering her clothes and trying to get dressed.

"Happy, this is not the time to be joking. If I am not home before morning mass, I will be lynched!" Jenny hissed.

He shrugged at her. "Not my problem, you're the one that wanted to sin last night darlin'."

She scowled at him while she got her dress buttoned back up. She threw the whiskey bottle at him which he caught easily with one hand. He looked the bottle over, gave it a shake and then set it on the floor. He did not bother getting dressed. The stark naked Indian laid there on the bed while she took off out of the room with a slam of the door. He just laughed and rolled over to sleep some more.

XXX

Chibs' arm remained snaked around Grace's waist as he slept behind her; he breathed in slow and steady, asleep. Her hair was undone and covered her face. Her arms were tucked close to her as she stirred awake. She opened her eyes with a bit of a start and looked around the room. It took a second for her to realize she was not in her room and instead in the room with Chibs at his place.

Grace shifted to lying on her back and he slid his hand up to rest on her stomach. A deep breath escaped from his nose while he settled next to her. She brushed her hair away from her face and looked over to him. Her eyes followed his bare arm to the bare shoulder and her brow arched. She bit her bottom lip and looked under the blanket then closed her eyes. She slid her hand up his arm while he squeezed her body with his arm.

"I have to go." She said quietly as she turned to face him.

He lifted his arm then slid his hand down her side, grabbed her ass and pulled her closer. Chibs grunted before he mumbled. "No you don't, you're staying."

She pressed her head against his and raised a brow as she sighed. "As much as I want to, I can't. I have errands to take care of today."

"They can wait." He mumbled again and squeezed his fingers along her side. He tickled her which got her to squirm and squeal out as she pushed him away. He grinned broadly and grabbed her from under the blankets. He continued tickling her as she pushed and pawed at him to stop. Their laughter grew louder and then he groaned pleasantly as he climbed back up from under the blankets. He rested his chin on her arm and gave his best puppy dog look with his eyes.

She was breathing heavily from being tickled but rolled her eyes and pushed him away to sit up. "Not working." She smirked at him as he reached out and tugged at a piece of her hair. He played with the end of the lock of hair between his fingers, loving the deep red of her hair. "Besides, don't you have ass kissing duty with Gemma today?" Grace chided.

"Aye, don't remind me." Chibs said and laid back. He rested his head on his arm and swung one leg up out of the blankets. His gaze stayed on her while she finally got up and gathered her clothes. A smirk rested on his lips as he watched. He was amused as she stood holding a huge pile of clothes in her arms with a frown.

"God I really do not want to put this back on. Mind if I steal one of your shirts?"

He let out a laugh and shrugged. "Want to steal my pants too?"

She gave him a dirty look while she walked over grabbed the shirt he had on last night. It had blood stains on it but she really didn't care. He looked her up and down in his shirt; how it hung on her, coming to her mid thigh, the sleeves big on her. She actually looked pretty saucy in his shirt.

"Gonna leave looking like that are ya now, lass?"

She held up the complicated dress. "Yeah, I am not putting this back on I tell you. I can race through the back to the store. It's a straight shot along the edge of the timber." She knelt on the edge of the bed while he placed a hand on her hip and squeezed lightly. He reached up and pulled her down to kiss her. She let the kiss linger then pulled back and sighed, "Wish me luck making it there."

As she got up and re-gathered up her shoes, corset, cord, and dress, he leaned over and started putting his pants on. "I will walk you out."

They walked downstairs and he led her to the back door where he pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. He watched her glance around then step out. She took off running with her armful of clothes, her long hair flying loose behind her as she ran in his shirt and her bottoms. He laughed and shook his head but finally shut the door once she was out of sight.

Grace skirted along the timber line through the back side from Chibs' place to the TC trading store. She came to a halt to hop over a tiny creek. Old Man Juniper stood at the creek and watched her with alarm. She smiled politely and walked backwards past him then continued running until she bounded up the steps to the store in her bare feet.

XXX

Grace quickly noticed a figure asleep on the porch swing. She quietly walked over and got a closer view…it was Kipp. He was using his jacket as a pillow and slept on his side with his arms crossed tight across his chest. She smiled, well there is one man that didn't have such a happy ending last night. She listened to the boy snore for a few seconds and rolled her eyes. Grace kicked the porch swing with her foot and damn near scared the kid to death. His eyes shot open and he almost fell off the swing but managed to stick his foot out and steady himself first. He looked around the porch quickly and saw Grace staring down at him.

"Time to go home, Kipp." Grace said playfully.

He stood up quickly and gathered his jacket. He tried to brush the wrinkles out of his clothes and glanced back toward the kitchen, automatically wanting to go see Anna.

"HOME." Grace repeated.

Kipp grinned sheepishly. "Yes ma'am." He bounded down the porch stairs and headed for the stables to claim his horse and then ride to the bunkhouse.

XXX

Grace opened the back door to kitchen, rushed inside and sighed with relief as she closed her eyes and leaned against the door as she closed it. She had held her clothes in her arms and didn't notice that Anna leaned against the kitchen entry, a cup of tea in her hands, watching her.

Anna had been worried about Grace and had wondered where she had spent the night. At first she was going to harp on her cousin about last night but then she took a closer look at Grace. She noticed the men's shirt on her and began to grin widely, a grin so hard that her face would break if it got any wider. Grace opened her eyes to push away from the door and froze dead in her spot upon seeing Anna there.

Anna scrambled to grab the nearest writing pad and scribbled HUSSY on the pad and held it up to Grace.

With a scowl Grace, shook her head and was about to say something when Anna scribbled something else. She held up the paper and had written BRAZEN at the top of HUSSY and smiled widely at her cousin.

Grace walked over and snatched the pad of paper and scribbled a response of her own. And I enjoyed every moment with him. She handed it to Anna and headed up the stairs with her head up and clothes in her arms.

Anna read what she wrote and giggled manically but silently as she raced after her up the stairs. Grace dumped her clothes on the floor and Anna came up behind her and hugged her tightly with a soft giggle. "Grace, I can not believe you actually slept with Chibs!"

"Me either but things happened and well, one thing led to another and I don't regret a moments choice." Grace replied with a smirk and began to brush her hair and braid it.

Anna moved over and jumped onto the bed with her legs tucked up by her and her hands in her lap. She knew her cousin and how she thought about men in general; normally Grace did not have a use for them or the want to be with any. So she was giddy and proud of her for being with Chibs. He must have done something right for Grace open up and let him into her life.

Grace looked in the mirror and got goose bumps while thinking about the night before; thinking about the soft way he treated her had her blushing. She looked over at Anna and smiled more, her cheeks getting more and more red. Anna laughed while she watched Grace.

"I was so angry last night from the embarrassment of Paul grabbing me." Grace confessed as she looked down at the brush in her hands. "Anna, I am so sorry about last night, it was the last thing I ever wanted to do. I never wanted to ruin the night for you; I know how you love events like that. I know I could never get the night back for you and I am very sorry for messing it up. "

Anna dropped her grin and scooted over to the edge of the bed. She stood up and walked over to where Grace was and sat down on her lap. Her hugged Grace and gave her a big ole smooch to the cheek then whispered, "Gracie, I was upset yes, but you're not the only one who was out of sorts either. I was being reckless last night myself." Anna moved to sit on the vanity dresser. She bit her bottom lip and then whispered, "I kissed Tig Trager last night."

Grace blinked as her mouth fell open. She smacked Anna's leg with the hair brush. "Now who are you calling the Brazen Hussy, huh?"

Anna started laughing and she jumped from being smacked on the thigh with the brush. She blushed. "I kissed him, not fucked him." She pointed at Grace and smirked. "So you're still a brazen hussy. "

"You know, I do not even know why I did it, but God almighty, I want to do it again." Grace confessed as she stepped by the dressing screen. She pulled off Chibs' shirt and folded it. She cleaned herself up a bit and then got dressed in a clean shirt, jeans, socks, boots and her gun belt. She walked to the closet and took a bag and started to pack a few things.

Anna watched Grace a moment and signed, Where are you going?

"I have to take a delivery of gold to San Francisco today. I want to make sure it goes there in one piece and I am expecting some coming from Sweetwater. I should not be long though, two days time really. No longer than that and I will be back."

She walked over to Anna and hugged her. "Navic will be around, he has been taking care of thing at his place, the cabin and here." She pointed and smirked at her cousin. "You stay out of trouble, and don't let Kipp catch ya sneakin' kisses to Tig. But I have your back with whatever you want to do." She grabbed her bag. "The gun is in the drawer if you need it and plenty down stairs. Also can you make sure the deposit gets to the bank? Don't let Helensworth be a dick to you. "

The girls walked down the stairs as Grace gave more instructions on the next couple days of errands. "Oh and fresh meat from the butcher. He carries the good slabs for steak."

Elroy was milling around the kitchen when the girls came down. Grace nodded to him and smiled broadly. "Congratulations Elroy on your engagement. I am so happy for you and Patsy."

Anna went over and hugged him with a nod to what Grace had said then went over to the register to take up the stack of mail to sort. Elroy beamed proudly while he gave a wave to Grace and took to dusting some of the merchandise.

XXX

After Grace had left, Chibs walked back upstairs and lit the cigarette he had rolled. He got dressed and picked up his gun belt to put it on but glanced down at the bed and noticed the pair of silk stockings Grace had worn. He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked them over for a moment then rolled them up and placed them in a drawer for safe keeping. From the floor, he picked up the tulip that had been in her hair and put it on top of the bed side table.

After a bit he headed downstairs and grabbed his hat while he opened the door. He almost got a knocking fist in his chest. Chibs frowned at scrawny Doc Hunter. "Morning to ya, doc." Chibs greeted as he closed the door behind him and stood on the porch.

"Chibs, morning." Doc Hunter replied. He held his doctors bag in one hand while he looked at Chibs a moment, noticing his busted knuckles and then mostly examining his face: the black eye, busted lip, cut above the eye, bruises. The old man shook his head.

"What brings you by, Hunter?" Chibs asked as he flicked away the last of the cigarette. He brushed his fingers on his pants then took his hat off to re-adjust it.

Doc Hunter looked to him. "Well after last night's bout, I came over to see how you are fairing from it. Montgomery is well but not upright yet. You did one hell of a number on him."

Chibs smirked and stepped off the porch to head to the barn for his horse with Hunter trailing him. "Good. He is lucky that I d'na' kill him last night." He grabbed the saddle and got his horse ready while Hunter leaned along the bar door.

Hunter had to smile on that note. "Well it looks like you were taken care of, so no treatment from me eh?"

"Pretty much. I was very well treated last night. Ride with me to the barn?"

Hunter nodded and walked over to his horse and the two of them had headed off to the main town barn, talking about various activities in town. Despite how some saw it, the two men did have a sense of respect to one another and got along for the most part.

XXX

Tig sat on the front porch of the bunkhouse with his feet propped up on the railing, a cup of coffee in his hand. He yawned and grinned as he listened to Bobby give a vivid blow by blow detailing of the previous night's Paul Montgomery ass kickin' as handed out by Chibs.

"I can't believe you missed it. Thought ole Hap was gonna stomp him before Chibs came rushing through and slammed Paul into the wall. Where the hell did you get off to last night? Figured you and Hap would have been shaking the rafters at Cara Cara. While the cat's away, the mice will play sorta thing." Bobby said with a smile.

Tig shrugged. "Eh, got a bad taste of pie."

"Do I even want to know what that really means?" Bobby asked with a wince.

"No you do not." Tig replied with a sly smile. He stared out over the yard and began debating on the day's activities, he had some shit to do around the ranch but then perhaps he would try to sneak over and steal another moment with Anna, make up a reason to be needin' to go to the store. His plotting was interrupted as Kipp rode across the yard to the barn. Tig frowned slightly as he realized the kid was still wearing his suit from last night. He glanced at Bobby and pointed in the kid's direction. "He just now getting in?"

Bobby nodded. "Think so."

A few minutes later Kipp came walking up to the bunkhouse, jacket slung over his shoulder. Bobby grinned at the kid while Tig glared at him. Kipp stepped onto the porch and looked at the ground shyly. "I feel asleep at Anna's."

Tig had taken a drink of coffee just about the time of the kid's explanation and fought not to spit coffee everywhere. Feel asleep at Anna's? He coughed a few times as his mind began to race. No fuckin' way…no way did she fuck him after messing around with me. No fuckin' way.

"Is that right?" Bobby asked and slapped at Kipp's shoulder. "You little sly dog; didn't know you had the moves to pull that off."

Kipp frowned and then shook his head wildly as he realized what Bobby was assuming. "Oh no…wait. You think…no no no. I didn't…she didn't. She's not like that. I…"

"Did you fuck her or not, dipshit?" Tig asked bluntly with irritation very evident in his voice.

"NO!" Kipp replied. "She went straight to bed." He pointed to himself. "I feel asleep on the porch swing." He had been so caught up in defending Anna's honor that he didn't think about the ribbing that was sure to come from the guys.

"You humped a porch swing instead of your date?" Tig let out a big laugh and Bobby couldn't help but grin. Tig stood and threw the rest of his coffee into the yard. "That's sad, kid." He sat the cup on the bench and bounded down the porch steps, happy that the kid had not gotten one up on him with Anna.

XXX

Grace had been on the move for a few hours and had passed several towns already. She followed behind the stagecoach bound for San Francisco. She had been lost in thought over last night while she kept the horses moving. In another hour she would be in town at the main freight station. She checked to make sure the load she had in the back was secure and then sat back in the seat of the wagon and continued to ride in quiet, enjoying the view on the way to the city.

XXX

Patrick Darcy-Cassidy and Henry Winthrop had been on the train back to New York. Cassidy was going to fetch his family and then they were all traveling back to California. They watched the scenery go by and longed for the city life. Both found the ruggedness of the West disgusting and were quick to get back home and out of the madness and demeaning quality of mining and gold diggers. As the train trudge on, Henry let his mind wander to thoughts of bringing Grace back home and the onslaught of humiliation he could bring upon her for taking off on him all those years ago.

XXX

The day after Grace left for San Francisco, a messenger from that very city had arrived with a letter from the telegraph office. The message was safe and snug in the pocket of his coat as he rode into town hard and fast. The young lad trotted his horse down Charming's main street to the TC Trading Co. When he arrived, he got off his horse and headed into the store. He was dirty and tired form riding for delivering messages but that was his job and he still had another delivery after this one.

The bell chimed as he cleared the door and he looked around. He walked to the register and asked Elroy if he was Elroy Jenkins. The man nodded and the rider handed him the letter. In return Elroy gave him a five dollar gold piece. The young man headed off to the nearest saloon for something to drink before heading off to find Ethan Zoebell.

Elroy opened up the letter, started to read and his paled. His hand started to shake while he looked around. He found Navic in the back and asked for him to mind the trade store. He explained that he had a family emergency and had to leave. He wasn't sure when he would be back but told Navic to watch over the place and Anna and Grace. Elroy took off to pack and left on the next stage to take a train to Sweetwater.

XXX

In San Francisco, Grace sat back in a chair at a poker table. She had been biding her time, waiting on an arrival from a train that was supposed to come in soon. After she anted, she put her cards down and took the winnings since the hand she held won over everyone else's. She smiled to them and stacked the coins, waiting another dealing of cards while the train pulled into San Francisco. She gave a quick glance to the window and then folded kindly, leaving to deal with the shipment from the train.

Grace took to helping get the boxes onto the wagon while she counted and double checked that these were the expected supplies heading to the trade store. While she was back at the storage cars, Elroy had made his way off the train and was already looking around. He saw the packages being unload and spotted Grace as well. He weeded his way through the crowd of people and finally made it to Grace and grabbed her shoulder.

Grace jerked around, not expecting to be grabbed and she blinked in surprised. "Elroy what are you doing here? Oh my god… did something happen to Anna?" She grabbed ahold of his arms, her concern growing quickly.

He shook his head but leaned into her. "Timberland, he he is hurt real bad… I am leaving to Sweetwater now. Saw you.. I I figured I tell you and see if if you wanted to g-go."

"Let me get this situated and I will."

He nodded and helped her get the supplies together. She instructed the ranch hand to have the items delivered to Charming and the trade store. She gathered her things and purchased a train ticket, along with Elroy. Once boarded, they settled in for a long ride. Both of them were full of worry, Grace even more so since she had read the letter he had received.

Author's note:

Don't freak out at the short chapter length. Chez and I love you fans VERY much and are working on posting another longer chapter later this week. My laptop caught a virus this weekend so I spent two days fixing it and lost some serious writing time. Never fear…your patience will be rewarded!