The creaking of the floorboards is the only sound heard in The Pussy Willow as the man – Bobo, Jeremy had called him - moves towards the center of the establishment. As he walks, he seems to survey the room, as a coyote would to find its next meal. Every subject that falls under his scrutiny seems to cower in fear, sinking into their seats to try and escape his calculating gaze. I find this ridiculous. The man looks like an overgrown cockatoo in a coat, what's there to fear?
His dark gaze finally falls on me, the immediate interest in his eyes has my spine crawling with unease. But I am an Earp, and we stand down for no man. To honor this, I keep my head held high and meet his gaze head on. He switches his direction and starts walking towards me then. I feel Jeremy tense from behind me, but I stand firm.
He stops in front of me and gives me a once over, like a farmer deciding upon the quality of an animal. An animal which he would like to make a profit off once he slaughters it.
"Well now. What have we got here? I don't believe that we have met." He says in a low voice, increasing my level of unease. What is it with the men in this place always making me feel like some kind of meal to be consumed?
"We have not. And I do not quite wish to meet you. I have other matters to attend to. So If you will please excuse my friend and I." I say as I start to brush past him and walk to the exit. I hear the shift of Bobo's boots against the floor as he turns in my direction.
"You will do well to watch how you speak to me, darling." I hear him say, a dark and threatening tone in his voice. I look back at him with a frown and scoff, then I exit. I did not have the patience for dealing with this level of arrogance right now.
As I start walking rapidly away from the tavern, I hear Jeremy's rapid footfalls behind me. "I can't believe you just spoke to Bobo del Rey like that!" He says with a mixture of awe and distress in his voice.
I just shrug. "I don't get what the big deal is. Why did everyone act all scared like that? He is just a man in a coat, didn't seem so scary to me." At my words, Jeremy jumps in front of me, blocking my way. I am taken aback by the serious look on his face.
"Bobo del Rey is the most feared man in Monument, Waverly! He collects taxes for Countess Eleanor. And he gets what's owed by ANY means necessary." He explains with fear flashing in his eyes.
"What, so he basically bullies people into giving up their money?"
"Yeah, but bullying is putting it lightly. If he comes for you and you don't have the money, he gets really violent. He has been known to maim and disfigure people so they can act as warnings to others. He is downright sadistic." Jeremy's words cause me to frown deeply in shock.
"Does the Countess know of this?" I ask. How can someone like that be allowed to do such acts? Surely there are laws set by the Countess to protect her people?
At this Jeremy scoffs bitterly. "Oh, she more than knows. She does not give a rat's ass. As long as she gets her money, Bobo has free reign to do as he pleases." My face warps with disbelief, horrified at his words. That cannot possibly be true. The Nobles are supposed to protect and serve the people who had given them their position and status.
"What? But she is the Countess! Regarded highly by her people, people she swore to serve!" This was not how the stories mother told me went. My face must show how stricken I am at hearing this, because Jeremy looks at me with a saddened expression. "The Nobility is not as romantic as the stories make them out to be."
I just look down sadly, trying to process the fact that I had been placing people on a pedestal my whole life, people who had not deserved to be there at all. I am brought from the turmoil in my mind by Jeremy's hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, I am sorry that you had to find out this way. I forget sometimes that there may be people who have not experienced the harsh reality of the Nobility like I have." He says softly, apologetic. I nod sadly at him. I really was still quite naïve to the realities of the world, my simple life on the farm with mother having shielded me from it all up until now.
I then remember the purpose of my journey and my shoulders straighten once more. I have to find Wynonna. And no Bobo or heartless Countess was going to keep me from doing that. With that, I shake off all the negativity and turn to face Jeremy with a determined smile.
"All right enough with all this dark stuff. I am not here to ponder the evils of the world, I am here to find my sister. And you are going to help me do that!" I say happily, my enthusiasm causing the frown to lighten on Jeremy's face. He gives me a small smile.
"Of course, I will help you." He says sincerely. Then he places his hand on my arm, stopping me once more. "Waverly, I just need you to be careful around Bobo, okay? He is really dangerous and…you are like the first real friend I have made in a while." He says, smiling sheepishly. I smile warmly in return at his words.
"You are my first real friend, ever." I tell him truthfully, causing him to light up. All I ever had as a child were my imaginary friends and Wynonna. But Wynonna left. The last thought causes the smile to drop from my face again.
Jeremy comes to my rescue again. "Well then, Waves. As your first official friend, how about I help you find that dentist the bartender mentioned? I think I know in which part of town he lives." His joy is contagious and causes another smile to take its rightful place back on my face. I laugh and grab his hand. "Lead the way then, Jer!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
As Jeremy leads me in the direction of the dentist's house, I marvel at the beautiful structures and buildings in the more sophisticated part of Monument. One building, however, does not fit this category.
I immediately stop at seeing the blackened remains of a home that had clearly been destroyed by fire. It seems to have happened quite a while ago, years even. However, I notice a tiny plaque has been set against one of the only standing pillars. It reads "In loving memory of the Valdez family. They were beloved members of Monument and are greatly missed."
Jeremy notices that I had slowed near the building site. He slows down and walks to me. "What happened here?" I ask as he approaches me.
At my question, his expression becomes melancholic. "This was the house of the Valdez family. It burned down three years ago and took the family with it." His words cause me to gasp and my hand automatically goes to my heart.
"Oh, that's so very terrible! How…how did it happen?" I ask, my voice full of sadness and dismay.
"No one really knows. One night someone smelled the smoke and saw the building engulfed in flames. They rushed in to save the family, but it was too late. They found Mr and Mrs Valdez's bodies in the bedroom…still holding onto each other."
"That's so very sad." I say, wiping a stray tear that runs down my cheek. Jeremy nods slowly in agreement. "Yeah, they were great people. Always kind and welcoming to everyone. Especially the poorer folk. Mrs. Valdez was a physician and she opened her doors to help treat anyone's ailments. Free of charge."
"Wow, she sounds like an amazing woman." That was the kind of people my mother had described in my stories. The kind of people who had me filled me with hope that the world is a good place. Unlike Bobo and apparently the Countess, which I have now learned.
"Yeah, she really was. Her husband too. That's why it was such a huge shock when it happened, it almost felt as if the town had lost its heart. People lost a bit of hope after it happened, especially the poorer folks. We still mourn it to this day." Jeremy explains in a soft, sad voice.
I nod my head softly. "Well, may they rest in peace and be greatly rewarded for their good deeds here on earth then." I say solemnly. "I am just glad there weren't any children."
At my words the anguish on Jeremy's face makes my heart clench painfully. "There was actually. Rachel Valdez. She was only 11 years of age when it happened."
My hand goes to my mouth in shock at hearing this. "No, please…no." I am unable to stop the tears rolling down my face this time. She was just a mere girl, barely of teenage years.
My body feels very heavy under all of the truths I have learned about the dark side of the world today, but this one crushes my heart the most. I wish I had never left the confines of our little farm and was still tucked safely away from all the evils of the outside world, living happily in blissful ignorance. But it was much too late to go back now.
"She was a very well-mannered child, adored by everyone. She had this butterfly shaped birthmark behind her ear, so everyone used to call her Little Butterfly." Jeremy says fondly. Then he becomes pensive. "What is really confusing though, is that they never found her body like they did her parents. She was, however, never seen again after that night. So, people assumed she had died in the fire somehow too."
This gives me a small ounce of hope. "Perhaps she could still be alive then?" I ask Jeremy with renewed energy. He looks like he wants to protest, but must not wish to see me sad again because he just nods with a small smile. "Perhaps she is, yes." I respond to Jeremy with a smile, happy that the conversation has turned more positive now.
"Hey, I think that could be the dentist's house!" Jeremy says suddenly, as he points at something behind me. I turn to follow the direction of his finger to find a sign hanging from the side of a house, a single molar emblazoned on it. Dentist is etched into the wood above it.
I nod happily. The hope starts to grow in my heart once more, despite all of the heavy things I learned today. We found the person who could lead us closer to Wynonna. I turn back to what remains of the Valdez family home, something holding me back. I feel like I need to contribute somehow. I look around and spot a bush of roses at a house to the right.
"Hey Jer, why don't you go up ahead so long. I just want to do something quick." Jeremy seems to understand my need for some kind of closure, so he just nods without question and heads towards the dentist's house so long.
I walk in the direction of the rose bush and pick one of the beautiful flowers. Then I walk back to the Valdez building to place it as a sign of my condolences. I fail to notice three figures lurking within the shadows of the alley that separates the two buildings.
As I am about to bend down to place the rose below the memorial plaque, I feel two sweaty hands grab me from behind. One covers my mouth, muting my scream. I feel a painful bang against the back of my head before everything fades to black.