Josie was behind the bar, making sure it was fully stocked for the evening
ahead; and Inez was in the kitchen, busy with last minute preparations for
dinner, when Ezra returned. Chris and Vin were with him, looking for that
drink Josie had promised.
"Did you have any luck catching your cattle rustlers?" Josie asked, glancing up as they entered the saloon. All three looked exhausted, and Josie knew they'd had a rough time at it.
"Not much," Vin replied as he sank into a chair. "We checked every farm halfway to Eagle Bend. No one saw a thing."
"Mrs. Potter said they hit the Nelson place. You didn't have any luck tracking your rustlers from there, no markings to follow?" Josie asked as she set a beer in front of Vin and indicated by motioning her arms for Chris and Ezra to join him.
"You make it sound like you know something about tracking," Chris stated, glancing at Vin, who was watching Josie carefully.
Josie shrugged while mentally cursing herself. Sometimes Chris Larabee was too perceptive. "My cousin and her husband own half a ranch. The other half belongs to Buck and my cousin, Resa. Buck's half-Kiowa. When I was little, he would allow me to accompany him when he went to round up wild horses." Josie could feel Vin's eyes on her and she felt the sudden need to get as far away from him as possible. She knew it was unlikely he had any knowledge of who Buck was or how he was connected to the life she'd left behind; but it felt as if Vin's probing eyes were trying to gleam every last confession out of her. And before she complied, she had to get away from him. "Inez is fixing something quite delicious for dinner. Why don't you gentlemen finish your beverages and then get cleaned up. You have approximately thirty minutes. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sanchez will be joining us. And if one of you would inform Buck and JD, I would be appreciative. Now if you will excuse me, I'll go so if Inez needs any assistance." Then Josie fled the room.
"Might interesting," Chris drawled, staring at the doorway Josie had just exited through.
"Whatever are you implying?" Ezra questioned, eyeing Chris as he lifted the glass to his lips.
"The way Josie high-tailed it out of here so fast," he replied as he set his hat on the table and ran his fingers through his dark blond hair.
"You are just mistaking an overabundance of energy for something sinister. Josie is constantly overseeing several projects at once. If you'll pay closer attention in the future, you will notice that she's always rushing from one thing to the next. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me," Ezra said as he stood, "I am quite famished and am looking forward to whatever that divine aroma is coming from the kitchens. I have no intentions of being tardy." Ezra turned from the table and proceeded up the stairs to his room.
"I've noticed she's more likely to take off when the questions have to do with her past," Vin stated after Ezra was out of range.
"Yeah, I noticed that, too," Chris agreed.
Vin inhaled deeply. "Whatever Inez is cooking sure smells good. I guess I'll go get washed up." Vin stood and downed the remaining beer in his glass. Chris acknowledged his statement with a nod, deep in thought and still watching the doorway Josie had exited through.
The men slowly began to file in for dinner. Ezra was helping Josie and Inez set the three tables they had pushed together. Vin was the first to join them and he immediately stepped right in to help. Buck and JD arrived next, followed by Josiah and Nathan only minutes later. Chris still hadn't made an appearance so Josie ushered everyone into chairs then helped Inez serve out helpings. Inez had already taken her seat and Josie was just getting ready to sit also, when Chris sneaked in, looking sheepish and apologetic. Josie smiled, relieved that Chris had decided to join them.
Dinner was a comical affair. As Josie listened to the banter around her, she felt at home. She looked around and could almost see Jimmy and Cody throwing food at each other while Kid and Buck watched- wanting desperately to join in the fun. And if it hadn't been for the warning looks they'd received from their wives, they probably would have. But the stern look on Lou's face never stopped Jesse, Colt, and Slade from joining Jimmy and Cody in their antics.
Vin watched as Josie seemed to leave their surroundings as her eyes glazed over. Then she blinked, looked directly at him, and smiled- a smile so pure and bright, Vin got lost in it. He came to his senses when an well- aimed roll hit him upside the head. He turned to find Chris eyeing him with raised eyebrows.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Josie and Inez began to clean up. JD and Buck proceeded back to the jail to check on a prisoner. Nathan returned to his clinic to see a few more patients. And Josiah was getting ready to return to the church when Chris asked him about his conversation with Josie. Josiah, sensing that Chris was leery where the girl was concerned, carefully explained in detail what had transpired.
Chris listened to Josiah in silence. He glanced at Vin pointedly as he stood, intent on confronting Josie. He wanted the truth and he was tired of waiting.
"Now Chris, there could be an innocent explanation for this," Vin stated as he stood also and grabbed Chris's arm.
"Well, I'm tired of wondering," Chris hissed. "It's time to find out the truth." He pulled his arm out of Vin's grip and marched toward the kitchen.
Josiah, unsure of all the particulars, decided he should leave, and went back to the church to repair the roof while there was still a little bit of daylight.
Vin grimaced and followed Chris.
"What is this all about?" Ezra asked, matching Vin's stride.
"Chris thinks she's after the reward on me," Vin explained in a whisper.
"That is a ridiculous notion!" Ezra cried as they entered the kitchen behind Chris.
Josie turned at Ezra's raised voice, but stopped in her tracks by the look on Chris's face.
"Whatever has occurred?" she asked as she rushed to Chris, frantic with concern.
Chris grabbed her arms and held her at arms length.
"Why are you here?" he asked slowly, in a hoarse whisper.
"I don't understand," Josie replied softly, so softly Vin and Ezra had to strain to hear her.
"It isn't such a difficult question to answer," Chris stated.
"Chris, this isn't they way." Vin didn't want Josie to know of their suspicions unless they found some proof to back them up. He didn't think Josie's conversation with Josiah was proof of her guilt. And if they were wrong, Chris was going to hurt Josie real bad, and all she'd done was be nice to them.
Chris paused, seeming to take Vin's suggestion to heart.
"Mr. Larabee, what you are implying is absolutely absurd," Ezra stated.
Chris's temper exploded. "Then, Ezra, why don't you tell me what she's doing in Four Corners and why she's asking Josiah questions that could only refer to Vin."
Josie stared at Chris wide-eyed. Then a defeated look passed over her face and she stood up straight, her back rigid. "I'm not sure why my questions to Josiah have upset you so. For that I apologize. Why you would think my conversation in anyway pertained to Vin, I can not imagine? But as to what I was referring to, it really is none of your damn business, Chris Larabee. Now if you will excuse me, I have a business to run." Josie broke away from Chris and gracefully walked out of the room, not acknowledging anyone's presence.
"Well, Mr. Larabee, that was certainly the way to go about getting information from a hardened criminal," Ezra commented dryly.
Chris, not having gotten the answers he was looking for, turned on Ezra. "Ezra, if you were thinking of someone other than yourself and your desire to own part of this saloon, you would have noticed that things aren't right with that girl."
Ezra turned to Vin, wanting to know whose side he was on, although he assumed he already knew. Vin always sided with Chris and vice versa.
"Now Ezra, I'm not saying I totally agree, but Josie is hiding something," Vin stated softly.
"And if she is, have you thought that it just don't concern you?" Inez yelled, having heard enough accusations hurled in Josie's direction. She turned to Chris, ignoring the rage in his eyes. "All that Josie wants is to take care of you and your friends. She sees the same thing the rest of us see, you trying to kill yourself. Only Josie thinks you're worth saving, though for the life of me, I can't figure out why," she hissed, waving a spoon at Chris. "The only thing that poor girl is trying to hide is that some worthless man broke her heart. And until you apologize, you can just get out of my saloon." Inez began to advance on Chris, swinging the spoon as if it were a weapon. Vin took a step forward, not sure what Chris would do and afraid he'd take his anger out on Inez.
Instead, Chris gave Inez a look of warning, then stormed out the back door, slamming it behind him. The three remaining people were silent for a moment.
"Is that why Josie was crying last night?" Ezra asked softly, finally breaking the silence. Inez looked surprised, having thought everyone believed her lie concerning Josie's health. "Come now, Inez, her room is right next to mine, and the walls are exceptionally thin. I heard her crying off and on a better part of the night."
Vin was shocked and felt all the more guilty about letting Chris treat Josie so badly.
Inez nodded in reply to Ezra's question. "She received a letter from him yesterday. And though she wouldn't say exactly what was in it, it wasn't good news. It seems he is a gunslinger who doesn't want to settle down. And I think Josie wants nothing else but that. She wants a family and it seems she has adopted us, even that no good Chris Larabee," Inez informed as she waved the spoon towards the door Chris had exited through. "And don't let me catch you boys disappointing her."
Vin watched Inez, hand on one hip, shaking her spoon at them with the other, and grinned. "No Ma'am." He tipped his hat then went back into the saloon. It had already started to fill up. Ezra, who had followed right behind Vin, took Josie aside. Vin watched the two as he made his way over to the table Buck and Vin were sitting at.
"Hey Vin," Buck greeted cheerfully as he poured a whiskey for JD, Vin, and himself.
Vin nodded as he sat next to JD. He was too busy watching Ezra and Josie to verbally reply. Ezra was the one who seemed to be doing all the talking, with Josie just nodding occasionally.
"Josie, Mr. Larabee can be an unreasonable bastard a good part of the time. Don't let him effect your opinions of myself and the rest of my comrades. And never fear he will eventually get over his distrust. I know from experience." Josie looked at Ezra surprised. "Come now, my dear, Chris Larabee, the avenger of evil, trusting a con man like myself." Ezra laughed as if the notion was the preposterous. "Even you had reservations about me." Josie shook her head vigorously. "There's no point dissimulating what is already fact," Ezra reprimanded and Josie smiled then nodded. "Exactly as you should have," he said with a grin. "Mr. Larabee will eventually discover the erroneous error of his ways. Until then, I wouldn't loose sleep over it." Josie looked at Ezra, her eyes filled with hope. It was then that Ezra realized just how badly Chris's accusations had devastated Josie. And if Ezra had had any reservations, they were dispelled at that moment. "I promise," he affirmed as he squeezed her hand.
Vin saw Ezra squeeze Josie's hand and her smile back at him before Ezra approached their table.
"There are two patrons of our fine town's hotel who are interested in a game of chance. Would any of you gentlemen care to participate?" Ezra asked, fishing a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Sure would," JD exclaimed, jumping up enthusiastically.
Buck sighed. "Might as well. Someone needs to make sure you don't take all the Kid's money." As Buck stood, the three turned to Vin.
"I reckon I'll just sit here a spell," Vin replied.
Buck and JD turned to join the two men Ezra had mentioned, arguing as they went over Buck calling JD "Kid".
"How's Josie?" Vin asked quietly, stopping Ezra as he turned to follow them.
"Though I can't fathom why, Chris's opinion means a great deal to Josie. He had better make amends quickly or he is going to have to deal with me. "Ezra paused. "It would help if she knew you weren't of the same mind set." Then Ezra went to join his game.
Vin tried to talk to Josie, but as soon as the game began, she stood behind Ezra to watch. Josiah and Nathan finally joined Vin and he gave up trying to gain Josie's attention. Josiah, Nathan, and Vin had just finished that first bottle of whiskey when an angry voice rang out,
"You son of a bitch! You're cheatin'!"
Vin glanced up. Josie was standing behind Ezra, her hands on his shoulders, while one of the hotel patrons stood, both hands on the table, leaning towards Ezra.
"I can assure you he was not," she replied indignantly.
Ezra patted her hand, signally Josie to remain silent.
"Stay out of this, girlie," the man leered. "And you," he said to Ezra, "I want my money back."
"I have no intention of returning to you what I have won fairly," Ezra stated calmly. "And I think it's time you left this establishment."
The man growled, overturning the table and grabbing Ezra by the throat. Buck jumped up to intervene, trying to pull the man off Ezra, which caused his friend to also rise and grab Buck's shirt.
"Hey!" JD exclaimed as he jumped at the second man who'd dared to attack Buck's back.
Vin would have sat back and watched the scene knowing full well Ezra could handle it if he hadn't realized Josie was in the middle of a brawl. Josiah recognized the danger also and both rose. Before they'd gotten more than a couple steps, a shot rang out, causing everyone in the room to stop in mid- action. Josie stood in the middle of the fight with a derringer in her hand.
"Sir, kindly take your hands off my partner." Josie's eyes narrowed as she watched the man who had started the upheaval accessing her. "And if you think because I am a woman I won't shoot you, think again." He still hesitated. "I have three shots left. Now the question is where will I shoot you first."
Seeing Josie before him, gun in hand and that hard, determined look in her eyes caused Vin to remember another time. He'd tracked Eli Joe to a small town in Oklahoma, There in a bar, he'd witnessed a boy with short red hair stuffed under a black hat outdraw a man he was trying to arrest. That boy had been JC McCloud's younger brother and a deputy to "Wild Bill" Hickok. That boy had been Jo McCloud, or Josie McCloud dressed as a boy.
As the man relinquished his hold on Ezra, Josie glanced across the room. Her eyes connected with Vin's. A jolt went through her. She wasn't certain how, but she knew without a doubt that Vin was aware of her identity. As Josie secured the derringer back up her sleeve, she indicated with a nod for Vin to follow her outside. Then once everything had settled back down, she slipped outside.
She waited for Vin at his wagon, sitting in the back with her legs dangling over the edge. Only a minute or two passed before Vin was sitting beside her. After a moment of silence, Josie asked the question that was utmost on her mind.
"How?"
"'Bout two years ago in the Tin Cup saloon."
Josie sighed. "You were there?"
"If I hadn't seen you tonight with that gun in your hand, I never would have remembered seeing you with Hickok," Vin explained, looking at Josie with admiration. "But I'm surprised Hickok and JC let you ride with them."
Josie smiled. "So you've never seen Jesse or any of the Cross brothers?" she asked and Vin shook his head. "They didn't really have a lot of choice in the beginning. Jesse and I lived with Lou and her husband, Kid, on their ranch after our father passed away. Resa and Buck Cross, and Buck's three brothers, Slade, Colt, and Shane lived with us. Kid, Lou, Buck, and Jimmy rode together for the Pony Express. After the war, they all invested in the ranch. While Resa took care of the house and the sizable garden, Lou and Kid raised the cattle, Buck broke wild horses to sell to the army, and Jimmy went to Hays City. When Jimmy got the job in Abilene, Jesse, who was only seventeen, ran away from the ranch with Colt and Slade. Jesse had always idolized Jimmy. When Jimmy would visit, Jesse followed him everywhere so it wasn't much of a surprise when Jimmy wired that they were in Abilene. And it was Jimmy who convinced Lou to let Jesse stay. He deputized all three, though I think Jesse was the only one Jimmy counted on. Over the years, I think Jimmy started to think of Jesse as his own child." Josie paused and glanced at Vin, trying to determine if she was making any sense or just babbling. Vin watched her silently, waiting for her to continue. Josie assumed he had no questions and resumed her story. "Over the next year, I received dozens of letters in which Jesse, Colt, and Slade described all their many adventures. So when Shane confided that he was going to join them, I refused to be left behind. It was Shane's idea that I impersonate a boy. When we arrived in Abilene, neither Jimmy nor Colt recognized me. Slade convinced Jesse to let me stay, on the condition I remained a boy."
"I can't say I blame him. People aren't likely to take a girl with a gun too serious, even if she is the law," Vin commented, interrupting Josie.
"That is true enough, but I think the real reason Jesse wanted me to pretend to be a boy was to avoid the hurtful things the other women would say because I chose an unconventional job. It was one of the reasons why Mary Travis surprised me so. A woman saloon owner is usually looked down upon. But because of you, your friends, and Mary, the populace here have been friendly," Josie explained softly, her voice thick with emotion.
Vin grasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Do you mind me asking about the talk you had with Josiah?"
Josie shook her head, tears threatening to fall as the images of an unpleasant pierced her consciousness. She took a deep breath and plunged back into her story. "In all the time I was with Jimmy, I'd never had to kill a man. But after Abilene fired him, things changed for us. We all knew Jimmy's sight was failing him, so Jesse had wanted to leave Abilene with Jimmy. But Jimmy convinced Jesse to take over as sheriff, so we stayed on and we thought we were invincible. It was after word came from Deadwood that Jimmy had been murdered, well, things fell apart. Kit, Lou and Kid's oldest boy, joined us in Abilene, and then we went after Jimmy's killers. It took us a year to track down everyone involved. After Jack McCall's first trial, Jesse was the one who pushed for him to be retried." Josie was silent a moment and she leaned against Vin's side. "But during that year we did things- no, I did things that are not normally in my nature. When Colt discovered that Tim Brady and Johnny Varnes were behind Jimmy's murder, I called Brady out. Jesse found out about it and prevented me from facing him. It was Jesse who actually went through with the challenge, and killed him in the street. " Josie shook her head, trying to erase unpleasant memories. "That year changed me and I didn't like who I had become. And I found revenging Jimmy's death didn't make it any less painful. And so while Jesse and the boys alternated between staying at the ranch and cleaning up towns that hired them, I began looking for someplace of my own."
"What about the ranch?" Vin asked as he shifted, leaning back against the wagon and taking on more of Josie's weight. She sighed, so relieved to have someone to depend upon again. She realized Vin was letting her know in his own silent way that he could be relied upon.
"The ranch was always Jesse's sanctuary, not mine. It was actually Jesse who picked Four Corners, which is far enough from Kansas that the likelihood of me being recognized was supposed to be slim." Josie looked up at Vin and grinned mischievously. "But if by chance someone did, Jesse decided the "Magnificent Seven" were marginally adequate enough to protect me." Vin grunted, but looked down at Josie with a smile that could melt hearts. She wondered again why Vin was in Four Corners, living out of a wagon, without a home or family. She'd noticed the way the young girls in town giggled and sighed when he walked by. He was a sensitive, caring man who shouldn't be alone. "So now that you know my big secret, would you care to explain that scene earlier with Mr. Larabee?" Josie watched Vin's smile fade and he grew serious.
"I was after a bounty when the man I was tracking killed a farmer, framing me for the murder. There's a $500 bounty on me in Texas," Vin replied in a low voice.
Josie whistled. $500 was a vast sum of money. And even though Josie had heard the same story dozens of times before during her bounty days, Vin was the first she'd ever believed.
"And I guess I need to know what you plan on doing about it."
"I plan on running my saloon and making sure you gentlemen eat properly. Other than that, I have no plans," Josie stated, assuring Vin of her intentions.
"And JC McCloud?" he asked nervously.
"Vin, Jesse thoroughly researched this town before I came here. If there is a bounty on you, Jesse knew about it." Josie paused, wondering why Jesse hadn't informed her, though. "Jesse obviously has decided it is of no import. So now do you think you and Mr. Larabee can stop surveying my every movement?"
"You knew?" Vin asked, clearly stunned.
Josie sat up and looked down at him pointedly. "How could one not, the both of you were so obvious."
Vin sat quietly, it really sinking in for the first time who Josie was. "Josie, I'm going to have to tell Chris."
"Can you guarantee he will respect my privacy?"
Vin nodded, taking note that Josie automatically assumed he would. "He's going to understand the importance of our silence concerning your past. I am guessing you don't want anyone else to know."
"I think the less who know the truth the better," Josie confirmed as she leaned back against Vin.
"It's a shame JD will never know he shares most of his meals with Jo McCloud," Vin mused.
"I guess I'll have to make it up to him by convincing Bat to visit."
"Bat Masterson?" Vin questioned.
Josie smiled. "Yes. Bat is a very good friend. Did you know he's actually my age, not much older than JD himself? JD might yet become an idol for the next generation of greenhorns."
Ezra, who had begun to worry after Josie disappeared, left the saloon in search of her. He finally spotted her in the back of Vin's wagon. Josie was leaning against Vin with her head on his shoulder, and Vin had his arm around her. The two looked quite familiar, actually too familiar for Ezra, but he turned away from them anyway.
"Did you have any luck catching your cattle rustlers?" Josie asked, glancing up as they entered the saloon. All three looked exhausted, and Josie knew they'd had a rough time at it.
"Not much," Vin replied as he sank into a chair. "We checked every farm halfway to Eagle Bend. No one saw a thing."
"Mrs. Potter said they hit the Nelson place. You didn't have any luck tracking your rustlers from there, no markings to follow?" Josie asked as she set a beer in front of Vin and indicated by motioning her arms for Chris and Ezra to join him.
"You make it sound like you know something about tracking," Chris stated, glancing at Vin, who was watching Josie carefully.
Josie shrugged while mentally cursing herself. Sometimes Chris Larabee was too perceptive. "My cousin and her husband own half a ranch. The other half belongs to Buck and my cousin, Resa. Buck's half-Kiowa. When I was little, he would allow me to accompany him when he went to round up wild horses." Josie could feel Vin's eyes on her and she felt the sudden need to get as far away from him as possible. She knew it was unlikely he had any knowledge of who Buck was or how he was connected to the life she'd left behind; but it felt as if Vin's probing eyes were trying to gleam every last confession out of her. And before she complied, she had to get away from him. "Inez is fixing something quite delicious for dinner. Why don't you gentlemen finish your beverages and then get cleaned up. You have approximately thirty minutes. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sanchez will be joining us. And if one of you would inform Buck and JD, I would be appreciative. Now if you will excuse me, I'll go so if Inez needs any assistance." Then Josie fled the room.
"Might interesting," Chris drawled, staring at the doorway Josie had just exited through.
"Whatever are you implying?" Ezra questioned, eyeing Chris as he lifted the glass to his lips.
"The way Josie high-tailed it out of here so fast," he replied as he set his hat on the table and ran his fingers through his dark blond hair.
"You are just mistaking an overabundance of energy for something sinister. Josie is constantly overseeing several projects at once. If you'll pay closer attention in the future, you will notice that she's always rushing from one thing to the next. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me," Ezra said as he stood, "I am quite famished and am looking forward to whatever that divine aroma is coming from the kitchens. I have no intentions of being tardy." Ezra turned from the table and proceeded up the stairs to his room.
"I've noticed she's more likely to take off when the questions have to do with her past," Vin stated after Ezra was out of range.
"Yeah, I noticed that, too," Chris agreed.
Vin inhaled deeply. "Whatever Inez is cooking sure smells good. I guess I'll go get washed up." Vin stood and downed the remaining beer in his glass. Chris acknowledged his statement with a nod, deep in thought and still watching the doorway Josie had exited through.
The men slowly began to file in for dinner. Ezra was helping Josie and Inez set the three tables they had pushed together. Vin was the first to join them and he immediately stepped right in to help. Buck and JD arrived next, followed by Josiah and Nathan only minutes later. Chris still hadn't made an appearance so Josie ushered everyone into chairs then helped Inez serve out helpings. Inez had already taken her seat and Josie was just getting ready to sit also, when Chris sneaked in, looking sheepish and apologetic. Josie smiled, relieved that Chris had decided to join them.
Dinner was a comical affair. As Josie listened to the banter around her, she felt at home. She looked around and could almost see Jimmy and Cody throwing food at each other while Kid and Buck watched- wanting desperately to join in the fun. And if it hadn't been for the warning looks they'd received from their wives, they probably would have. But the stern look on Lou's face never stopped Jesse, Colt, and Slade from joining Jimmy and Cody in their antics.
Vin watched as Josie seemed to leave their surroundings as her eyes glazed over. Then she blinked, looked directly at him, and smiled- a smile so pure and bright, Vin got lost in it. He came to his senses when an well- aimed roll hit him upside the head. He turned to find Chris eyeing him with raised eyebrows.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Josie and Inez began to clean up. JD and Buck proceeded back to the jail to check on a prisoner. Nathan returned to his clinic to see a few more patients. And Josiah was getting ready to return to the church when Chris asked him about his conversation with Josie. Josiah, sensing that Chris was leery where the girl was concerned, carefully explained in detail what had transpired.
Chris listened to Josiah in silence. He glanced at Vin pointedly as he stood, intent on confronting Josie. He wanted the truth and he was tired of waiting.
"Now Chris, there could be an innocent explanation for this," Vin stated as he stood also and grabbed Chris's arm.
"Well, I'm tired of wondering," Chris hissed. "It's time to find out the truth." He pulled his arm out of Vin's grip and marched toward the kitchen.
Josiah, unsure of all the particulars, decided he should leave, and went back to the church to repair the roof while there was still a little bit of daylight.
Vin grimaced and followed Chris.
"What is this all about?" Ezra asked, matching Vin's stride.
"Chris thinks she's after the reward on me," Vin explained in a whisper.
"That is a ridiculous notion!" Ezra cried as they entered the kitchen behind Chris.
Josie turned at Ezra's raised voice, but stopped in her tracks by the look on Chris's face.
"Whatever has occurred?" she asked as she rushed to Chris, frantic with concern.
Chris grabbed her arms and held her at arms length.
"Why are you here?" he asked slowly, in a hoarse whisper.
"I don't understand," Josie replied softly, so softly Vin and Ezra had to strain to hear her.
"It isn't such a difficult question to answer," Chris stated.
"Chris, this isn't they way." Vin didn't want Josie to know of their suspicions unless they found some proof to back them up. He didn't think Josie's conversation with Josiah was proof of her guilt. And if they were wrong, Chris was going to hurt Josie real bad, and all she'd done was be nice to them.
Chris paused, seeming to take Vin's suggestion to heart.
"Mr. Larabee, what you are implying is absolutely absurd," Ezra stated.
Chris's temper exploded. "Then, Ezra, why don't you tell me what she's doing in Four Corners and why she's asking Josiah questions that could only refer to Vin."
Josie stared at Chris wide-eyed. Then a defeated look passed over her face and she stood up straight, her back rigid. "I'm not sure why my questions to Josiah have upset you so. For that I apologize. Why you would think my conversation in anyway pertained to Vin, I can not imagine? But as to what I was referring to, it really is none of your damn business, Chris Larabee. Now if you will excuse me, I have a business to run." Josie broke away from Chris and gracefully walked out of the room, not acknowledging anyone's presence.
"Well, Mr. Larabee, that was certainly the way to go about getting information from a hardened criminal," Ezra commented dryly.
Chris, not having gotten the answers he was looking for, turned on Ezra. "Ezra, if you were thinking of someone other than yourself and your desire to own part of this saloon, you would have noticed that things aren't right with that girl."
Ezra turned to Vin, wanting to know whose side he was on, although he assumed he already knew. Vin always sided with Chris and vice versa.
"Now Ezra, I'm not saying I totally agree, but Josie is hiding something," Vin stated softly.
"And if she is, have you thought that it just don't concern you?" Inez yelled, having heard enough accusations hurled in Josie's direction. She turned to Chris, ignoring the rage in his eyes. "All that Josie wants is to take care of you and your friends. She sees the same thing the rest of us see, you trying to kill yourself. Only Josie thinks you're worth saving, though for the life of me, I can't figure out why," she hissed, waving a spoon at Chris. "The only thing that poor girl is trying to hide is that some worthless man broke her heart. And until you apologize, you can just get out of my saloon." Inez began to advance on Chris, swinging the spoon as if it were a weapon. Vin took a step forward, not sure what Chris would do and afraid he'd take his anger out on Inez.
Instead, Chris gave Inez a look of warning, then stormed out the back door, slamming it behind him. The three remaining people were silent for a moment.
"Is that why Josie was crying last night?" Ezra asked softly, finally breaking the silence. Inez looked surprised, having thought everyone believed her lie concerning Josie's health. "Come now, Inez, her room is right next to mine, and the walls are exceptionally thin. I heard her crying off and on a better part of the night."
Vin was shocked and felt all the more guilty about letting Chris treat Josie so badly.
Inez nodded in reply to Ezra's question. "She received a letter from him yesterday. And though she wouldn't say exactly what was in it, it wasn't good news. It seems he is a gunslinger who doesn't want to settle down. And I think Josie wants nothing else but that. She wants a family and it seems she has adopted us, even that no good Chris Larabee," Inez informed as she waved the spoon towards the door Chris had exited through. "And don't let me catch you boys disappointing her."
Vin watched Inez, hand on one hip, shaking her spoon at them with the other, and grinned. "No Ma'am." He tipped his hat then went back into the saloon. It had already started to fill up. Ezra, who had followed right behind Vin, took Josie aside. Vin watched the two as he made his way over to the table Buck and Vin were sitting at.
"Hey Vin," Buck greeted cheerfully as he poured a whiskey for JD, Vin, and himself.
Vin nodded as he sat next to JD. He was too busy watching Ezra and Josie to verbally reply. Ezra was the one who seemed to be doing all the talking, with Josie just nodding occasionally.
"Josie, Mr. Larabee can be an unreasonable bastard a good part of the time. Don't let him effect your opinions of myself and the rest of my comrades. And never fear he will eventually get over his distrust. I know from experience." Josie looked at Ezra surprised. "Come now, my dear, Chris Larabee, the avenger of evil, trusting a con man like myself." Ezra laughed as if the notion was the preposterous. "Even you had reservations about me." Josie shook her head vigorously. "There's no point dissimulating what is already fact," Ezra reprimanded and Josie smiled then nodded. "Exactly as you should have," he said with a grin. "Mr. Larabee will eventually discover the erroneous error of his ways. Until then, I wouldn't loose sleep over it." Josie looked at Ezra, her eyes filled with hope. It was then that Ezra realized just how badly Chris's accusations had devastated Josie. And if Ezra had had any reservations, they were dispelled at that moment. "I promise," he affirmed as he squeezed her hand.
Vin saw Ezra squeeze Josie's hand and her smile back at him before Ezra approached their table.
"There are two patrons of our fine town's hotel who are interested in a game of chance. Would any of you gentlemen care to participate?" Ezra asked, fishing a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Sure would," JD exclaimed, jumping up enthusiastically.
Buck sighed. "Might as well. Someone needs to make sure you don't take all the Kid's money." As Buck stood, the three turned to Vin.
"I reckon I'll just sit here a spell," Vin replied.
Buck and JD turned to join the two men Ezra had mentioned, arguing as they went over Buck calling JD "Kid".
"How's Josie?" Vin asked quietly, stopping Ezra as he turned to follow them.
"Though I can't fathom why, Chris's opinion means a great deal to Josie. He had better make amends quickly or he is going to have to deal with me. "Ezra paused. "It would help if she knew you weren't of the same mind set." Then Ezra went to join his game.
Vin tried to talk to Josie, but as soon as the game began, she stood behind Ezra to watch. Josiah and Nathan finally joined Vin and he gave up trying to gain Josie's attention. Josiah, Nathan, and Vin had just finished that first bottle of whiskey when an angry voice rang out,
"You son of a bitch! You're cheatin'!"
Vin glanced up. Josie was standing behind Ezra, her hands on his shoulders, while one of the hotel patrons stood, both hands on the table, leaning towards Ezra.
"I can assure you he was not," she replied indignantly.
Ezra patted her hand, signally Josie to remain silent.
"Stay out of this, girlie," the man leered. "And you," he said to Ezra, "I want my money back."
"I have no intention of returning to you what I have won fairly," Ezra stated calmly. "And I think it's time you left this establishment."
The man growled, overturning the table and grabbing Ezra by the throat. Buck jumped up to intervene, trying to pull the man off Ezra, which caused his friend to also rise and grab Buck's shirt.
"Hey!" JD exclaimed as he jumped at the second man who'd dared to attack Buck's back.
Vin would have sat back and watched the scene knowing full well Ezra could handle it if he hadn't realized Josie was in the middle of a brawl. Josiah recognized the danger also and both rose. Before they'd gotten more than a couple steps, a shot rang out, causing everyone in the room to stop in mid- action. Josie stood in the middle of the fight with a derringer in her hand.
"Sir, kindly take your hands off my partner." Josie's eyes narrowed as she watched the man who had started the upheaval accessing her. "And if you think because I am a woman I won't shoot you, think again." He still hesitated. "I have three shots left. Now the question is where will I shoot you first."
Seeing Josie before him, gun in hand and that hard, determined look in her eyes caused Vin to remember another time. He'd tracked Eli Joe to a small town in Oklahoma, There in a bar, he'd witnessed a boy with short red hair stuffed under a black hat outdraw a man he was trying to arrest. That boy had been JC McCloud's younger brother and a deputy to "Wild Bill" Hickok. That boy had been Jo McCloud, or Josie McCloud dressed as a boy.
As the man relinquished his hold on Ezra, Josie glanced across the room. Her eyes connected with Vin's. A jolt went through her. She wasn't certain how, but she knew without a doubt that Vin was aware of her identity. As Josie secured the derringer back up her sleeve, she indicated with a nod for Vin to follow her outside. Then once everything had settled back down, she slipped outside.
She waited for Vin at his wagon, sitting in the back with her legs dangling over the edge. Only a minute or two passed before Vin was sitting beside her. After a moment of silence, Josie asked the question that was utmost on her mind.
"How?"
"'Bout two years ago in the Tin Cup saloon."
Josie sighed. "You were there?"
"If I hadn't seen you tonight with that gun in your hand, I never would have remembered seeing you with Hickok," Vin explained, looking at Josie with admiration. "But I'm surprised Hickok and JC let you ride with them."
Josie smiled. "So you've never seen Jesse or any of the Cross brothers?" she asked and Vin shook his head. "They didn't really have a lot of choice in the beginning. Jesse and I lived with Lou and her husband, Kid, on their ranch after our father passed away. Resa and Buck Cross, and Buck's three brothers, Slade, Colt, and Shane lived with us. Kid, Lou, Buck, and Jimmy rode together for the Pony Express. After the war, they all invested in the ranch. While Resa took care of the house and the sizable garden, Lou and Kid raised the cattle, Buck broke wild horses to sell to the army, and Jimmy went to Hays City. When Jimmy got the job in Abilene, Jesse, who was only seventeen, ran away from the ranch with Colt and Slade. Jesse had always idolized Jimmy. When Jimmy would visit, Jesse followed him everywhere so it wasn't much of a surprise when Jimmy wired that they were in Abilene. And it was Jimmy who convinced Lou to let Jesse stay. He deputized all three, though I think Jesse was the only one Jimmy counted on. Over the years, I think Jimmy started to think of Jesse as his own child." Josie paused and glanced at Vin, trying to determine if she was making any sense or just babbling. Vin watched her silently, waiting for her to continue. Josie assumed he had no questions and resumed her story. "Over the next year, I received dozens of letters in which Jesse, Colt, and Slade described all their many adventures. So when Shane confided that he was going to join them, I refused to be left behind. It was Shane's idea that I impersonate a boy. When we arrived in Abilene, neither Jimmy nor Colt recognized me. Slade convinced Jesse to let me stay, on the condition I remained a boy."
"I can't say I blame him. People aren't likely to take a girl with a gun too serious, even if she is the law," Vin commented, interrupting Josie.
"That is true enough, but I think the real reason Jesse wanted me to pretend to be a boy was to avoid the hurtful things the other women would say because I chose an unconventional job. It was one of the reasons why Mary Travis surprised me so. A woman saloon owner is usually looked down upon. But because of you, your friends, and Mary, the populace here have been friendly," Josie explained softly, her voice thick with emotion.
Vin grasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Do you mind me asking about the talk you had with Josiah?"
Josie shook her head, tears threatening to fall as the images of an unpleasant pierced her consciousness. She took a deep breath and plunged back into her story. "In all the time I was with Jimmy, I'd never had to kill a man. But after Abilene fired him, things changed for us. We all knew Jimmy's sight was failing him, so Jesse had wanted to leave Abilene with Jimmy. But Jimmy convinced Jesse to take over as sheriff, so we stayed on and we thought we were invincible. It was after word came from Deadwood that Jimmy had been murdered, well, things fell apart. Kit, Lou and Kid's oldest boy, joined us in Abilene, and then we went after Jimmy's killers. It took us a year to track down everyone involved. After Jack McCall's first trial, Jesse was the one who pushed for him to be retried." Josie was silent a moment and she leaned against Vin's side. "But during that year we did things- no, I did things that are not normally in my nature. When Colt discovered that Tim Brady and Johnny Varnes were behind Jimmy's murder, I called Brady out. Jesse found out about it and prevented me from facing him. It was Jesse who actually went through with the challenge, and killed him in the street. " Josie shook her head, trying to erase unpleasant memories. "That year changed me and I didn't like who I had become. And I found revenging Jimmy's death didn't make it any less painful. And so while Jesse and the boys alternated between staying at the ranch and cleaning up towns that hired them, I began looking for someplace of my own."
"What about the ranch?" Vin asked as he shifted, leaning back against the wagon and taking on more of Josie's weight. She sighed, so relieved to have someone to depend upon again. She realized Vin was letting her know in his own silent way that he could be relied upon.
"The ranch was always Jesse's sanctuary, not mine. It was actually Jesse who picked Four Corners, which is far enough from Kansas that the likelihood of me being recognized was supposed to be slim." Josie looked up at Vin and grinned mischievously. "But if by chance someone did, Jesse decided the "Magnificent Seven" were marginally adequate enough to protect me." Vin grunted, but looked down at Josie with a smile that could melt hearts. She wondered again why Vin was in Four Corners, living out of a wagon, without a home or family. She'd noticed the way the young girls in town giggled and sighed when he walked by. He was a sensitive, caring man who shouldn't be alone. "So now that you know my big secret, would you care to explain that scene earlier with Mr. Larabee?" Josie watched Vin's smile fade and he grew serious.
"I was after a bounty when the man I was tracking killed a farmer, framing me for the murder. There's a $500 bounty on me in Texas," Vin replied in a low voice.
Josie whistled. $500 was a vast sum of money. And even though Josie had heard the same story dozens of times before during her bounty days, Vin was the first she'd ever believed.
"And I guess I need to know what you plan on doing about it."
"I plan on running my saloon and making sure you gentlemen eat properly. Other than that, I have no plans," Josie stated, assuring Vin of her intentions.
"And JC McCloud?" he asked nervously.
"Vin, Jesse thoroughly researched this town before I came here. If there is a bounty on you, Jesse knew about it." Josie paused, wondering why Jesse hadn't informed her, though. "Jesse obviously has decided it is of no import. So now do you think you and Mr. Larabee can stop surveying my every movement?"
"You knew?" Vin asked, clearly stunned.
Josie sat up and looked down at him pointedly. "How could one not, the both of you were so obvious."
Vin sat quietly, it really sinking in for the first time who Josie was. "Josie, I'm going to have to tell Chris."
"Can you guarantee he will respect my privacy?"
Vin nodded, taking note that Josie automatically assumed he would. "He's going to understand the importance of our silence concerning your past. I am guessing you don't want anyone else to know."
"I think the less who know the truth the better," Josie confirmed as she leaned back against Vin.
"It's a shame JD will never know he shares most of his meals with Jo McCloud," Vin mused.
"I guess I'll have to make it up to him by convincing Bat to visit."
"Bat Masterson?" Vin questioned.
Josie smiled. "Yes. Bat is a very good friend. Did you know he's actually my age, not much older than JD himself? JD might yet become an idol for the next generation of greenhorns."
Ezra, who had begun to worry after Josie disappeared, left the saloon in search of her. He finally spotted her in the back of Vin's wagon. Josie was leaning against Vin with her head on his shoulder, and Vin had his arm around her. The two looked quite familiar, actually too familiar for Ezra, but he turned away from them anyway.