Okay, sorry about the delay! Hey that rhymes! Ah, I need sleep. I'm home sick with the flu so I had a chance to bang this puppy out. Also I found the book it's based on. It's called Long Texas Nights. And it's by Lindsay Hanks. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've read it so much that it fell apart. Which is why I couldn't find the damn thing. Any way if you don't have the book go to your nearest Dollar General Store and buy it! Seriously it's only a buck! Don't waste that on a long distance phone call.       

WIDOW WOMAN! Marie fumed as she took one final look around the saloon, which was gleaming with cleanliness, how dare he call me widow woman? Then she noticed big white sheets covering squares on the walls.

"Kurt? What are those white sheets covering?" She asked puzzled.

"Uh, um…well," Kurt began turning red then he noticed Jubilee and Kitty walking down the stairs. "Jubilee can tell you, I have to start warming up." He said and dashed over to the piano.

"Jubilee what are those sheets covering?" Marie asked again.

"Oh they're just covering…"

"Paintings!" Kitty interrupted

"Oh how nice this place could use some color." Marie said reaching for the sheet but Jubilee flung herself in between Marie and the wall.

"Trust me, you do not want to pull this off."

"Why?"

"Well, um because, because, Kitty tell her why she doesn't want these exposed."

"They're real ugly."

"Ugly?"

"Yeah," The girls chimed

"Hideous."

"Right, they belong in the fire bin." Jubes agreed

"Well why don't you let me be the judge of that." Marie said kindly

"Ooookay we tried to warn you." Jubilee said putting her hands up in defeat and moving to stand next to Kitty. Marie chuckled and pulled the sheet off the wall. What met her eyes nearly made her knees buckle. A large painting of a gloriously naked woman nearly covered one entire wall, on the frame was a name plate, it read Moira. Marie was stunned speechless.

"We told you." Kitty said

"We were going to have them taken away before you came but we didn't have the time."

"No, no it's quite alright. Don't worry. Would you two go and started taking the chairs down it's almost opening time and I'm not ready." Marie said as she walked up stairs to her apartment.

            Thirty minutes later she had changed into a clean dress and washed up. She looked at herself in the mirror. The black dress made her look washed out and pale. Would he hair look better down and gathered in the back with a ribbon, the way Kitty had worn hers this morning? Taking out her pins she let the dull mass of hair flow down her back. Picking up her brush she drew it through the unruly waves, curlier than usual because of the hot balmy weather. The more she brushed the frizzier it became. Giving up, she coiled it into the usual wad at the back of her neck. Taking off her glasses, she leaned close to the mirror and pinched her cheeks to add color to their pale expanse. Next, she raked her teeth across her lips to redden them. There much better, she thought, slipping her glasses back on her nose 

            After rubbing Miss. Rogue's soft belly, Marie left her room. Only the Power Above could hear the frightened words that half rose to her lips as she gazed over the balcony at the raucous crowed celebrating beneath her.

            Jubilee saw Marie at the top of the stairs first, and then Kitty. One pair of eyes followed another, wondering what held other's attention. Little by little, the din diminished as the boisterous chattering stilled, dealers stopped shuffling the cards, and the music ended in the middle of a song. Everyone suddenly was staring up at her, waiting. Her muscles suddenly went limp; she clutched the banister to support herself. Trying to gain her composure, she took a deep breath, almost coughing as a thick cloud of tobacco smoke filled her lungs. After exhaling slowly, her mouth slightly trembled as she smiled down to the crowd.

            Squinting, she scanned the room of unfamiliar faces until she settled on the man at the foot of the stairs. Her heart stampeded as her green eyes met a pair of steel-gray eyes. Logan Wolf leaned casually against the end of the bar, his long, muscled legs crossed at his ankles. A mocking smile curled one corner of his mouth and one black brow arched inquisitively as he studied her with keen curiosity. Was it a challenge she read in their dark depths? He thinks I'm a coward, she thought, licking her suddenly dry lips. Well, I'm not, her inner voice countered. Drawing from his strength, she focused her attention on Logan's silent encouragement. Squaring her shoulders and, she lifted her skirt and, with hard-won grace, began descending the stairway.

            As she neared the foot of the steps, the hem of her skirt caught on the toe of he shoe, tripping her. Her arm flailed the air as she tried  to grab the banister, hitting the rim of her glasses and sending them sailing from her head.

            Gripping her shoulders, Logan righted her, then gazed down into a red-faced, wide eyed Marie Elders. Behind them, roars of laughter shook the rafters. Logan watched her face turn from a deep red to a startling white. Swallowing rapidly, she quickly placed her hand over her mouth and spoke through her fingers.

"I've… I've…got to get out of here. I'm…I'm going…to be sick."

"Like hell you are," he countered with a whisper, lightly squeezing her shoulders. "Turn tail now, and you'll never be able to face them. Get a hold of yourself, Mrs. Elders," he ordered.

            Panting with fright, she took a deep breath to calm herself, and stiffened her back. Logan watched her with tender regard. What a hellacious chore she had before her. As she steadied herself he could see the strength flowing into her, and for the first time, she reminded him of Charles Xavier. Stubborn to a fault. He could see the fire leap into her eyes and suddenly he knew she could handle any situation.

"Where are my glasses I need them." He looked down at her laughing a little

"Maybe not as badly as you think, you haven't squinted once since they came off."

"But I have to have them," she pleaded.

"Know what I think?"

"I don't have time for you to tell me what you think the whole room is staring at us."

"How would you know, if you can't see them?" he taunted "I think you wear glasses to hide behind, Mrs. Elders."

"I do not," She hissed

"Prove it. You have such pretty big green eyes, don't hide them behind those hideous spectacles." Until now, he hadn't noticed the golden highlights that tipped her long dark lashes.

            Marie swallowed deeply. "Oh, all right, I'll welcome my customers without them. Now are you satisfied?"

"Very," he answered with a crooked grin. Logan repositioned himself at the bar as Marie slowly turned her head towards the sea of faces. She tried to recall the speech she had rehearsed time and again. All she could remember was the first line.

"G-g-ood" She licked her dry lips and tried again. "Good evening, welcome to the Tumbleweed."

Jubilee and Kitty nodded and gave her smiles of encouragement.

"In case you don't know, I'm Marie Beth Elders, Charles' Xavier's daughter. Though I never actually knew my father, I've been told he was one of the first citizens here in Hazard and helped develop the community. Those are hard shoes to fill. For some strange reason, he wanted me to try to fill them, and I intend to give it my best." She laughed uneasily, and looked at Logan for support. Unconcerned, he struck a match on the sole of his boot and touched it to his cigar. Facing the men again she saw the doubtful expressions as they looked form one to another. She could understand their reluctance to except her.

"I know I don't exactly match the descriptions for a saloon keeper," Murmurs swept through the room until suddenly it quieted and she saw their smiling faces. "But I promise you, you are no less shocked now than I was when Mr. Summers read me my fathers will. At any rate, I am here, and will do the best job I can. We have a fine staff here, and with their help, I know the saloon will run as smoothly as it always has. I'm only asking for you to give me a chance." She drew a deep breath , then sighed. "That's all I have to say, so please go ahead and enjoy yourselves."

            Shock and disbelief coursed through her when they started to clap and cheer. Marie beamed. They were accepting her; they would wade through her inexperience with her. As familiar sounds picked up again, Jubilee and Kitty came forward, each taking one of her hands and gently squeezing it, noticing her damp palms. "You did real good Marie."

"I've never been so nervous in all my life."

"Don't worry, we're behind you all the way," Kitty said, "Everyone is."

"You bet," Jubilee agreed. "We'd better get back to work Kitty the men want their drinks."

Marie turned to Logan, her heart sinking when she saw that he left. Then she remembered her glasses. Where were they? What if some one steps on them? She asked Chad if he saw them. He hadn't. As they searched around the bar a guffaw of laughter burst from several men at a nearby table. Then suddenly silence hung in the room again as Marie saw a man get up from the table and approach her. Coming to a halt in front of her, he offered her a glass filled with amber liquid. Her heart skipped several beats.

"I…I don't drink, but thank you." He threw back his head and laughed.

"I ain't offering you no drink Mrs. Elders," he held the glass up to her eyes. "Just lookee thar." Frowning she looked down inside it and saw her glasses. "Oh, my goodness!"

"Now I admit, I've had too much to drink a time or two and seen double, but I ain't never had it staring back at me." The room erupted in laughter. Marie felt her shoulders start shaking, and with a good natured grin, she joined them in laughter. Removing her glasses from his drink, she held them out from her , letting the whiskey drip to the floor. "I think you need a new drink Mr…?"

"Jones, Sam, Jones ma'am."

"Chad?" she called over her shoulder, "fix Mr. Jones a new drink."

"Sure thing, Mrs. Elders"

"Thank you ma'am." Sam replied as he went to replace his drink. Marie cleaned her glasses and, feeling a spark of confidence, slipped them into her dress pocket. Then she helped the girls serve drinks, on her way back to the bar she noticed Logan and Scott sitting at on of the tables near the front door. She felt a tremor of happiness surge through her, wonder why so should feel so pleased that Logan had not left she made her way to their table. Noticing Logan watch her as he ground a cigar into the ashtray.

            Scott slid back his chair and politely rose from his seat to greet her. "Good evening Marie. Won't you join us?"

Her eyes riveted on Logan. "If I won't be intruding."

"Intruding? Of course not," Scott said, seating her across from Logan and then taking his own seat. "Logan tells me you delivered quite a speech tonight, I'm sorry I missed it."

"Oh, yes you also missed my grand entrance." She gave Logan her most charming smile. "I never thanked you, that's the second time you saved me from a fall."

He shrugged his broad shoulders indifferently "Forget it. I'll just put Rescue Widow Woman on my to do list." Marie stared at him, speechless, trying to decide if he was teasing her or insulting her. When he did not smile she took it as the latter and became angry. Before she could think of a retort fit for a lady, he slid back his chair and stood up.

"if you two will excuse me, I need to go back to the jail and relive Bobby." He glanced down at Marie's fuming face. "See you tomorrow, Widow Woman," he said with a wink.

            Her eyes shot though him like red hot arrows through him. Chuckling softly, he pushed through the swinging door and left, a teasing smile on his handsome face.

"Did you hear what he called me?" her voice shrieked. Scott reached over, placing his hand on her clenched fist.

"Now, Marie, he was only teasing you."

"I don't like him calling me Widow Woman."

Scott lifted an eyebrow in response, "You are a widow, and you are a woman aren't you?"

"Yes but when he puts the two together it sounds so vulgar."

"Well, I've heard women called worse."

             Marie opened her mouth to retort but a loud slurred voice interrupted her. "Jett you're a lying, cheating sack of shit!" Marie spun around to where two men, obviously twins, were facing each other from across a table. She noticed that they were both armed with guns, yet neither indicated that they planned to use them.

"Damn it to hell Chett! Watch your mouth, you're in a 'spectable  place now!"

"Well lets go the fuck outside were it ain't!"

"Oh heaven's no," Marie gasped "Scott go get Sheriff Wolf!"

"No need to Marie, they're brothers."

"So? Remember what Cain did to his brother Abel?" she screeched in alarm

"They do this all the time, don't worry."

Digging in her pocket, she retrieved her glasses and put them on her nose. Sliding back her chair, she announced,

"Well, if you won't go, then I will!"

"Wait a minute," Scott shouted, too late.

Marie was out the door and running toward the jail. Great my first night and this happens, she thought, panic-stricken.