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It was following morning when Emma Jane realised that Hank's mother's locket was gone. She was sat in front of the mirror putting on her own jewellery when she decided that it might be nice to wear the locket. Hank had never said that she couldn't, except for the first time, many years ago when she had found it and put it on, only for him to yell at her that she was never to touch it again. Afterwards, when his temper had been soothed by her body, he had told her she could wear it whenever she wanted. More often than not, she didn't, but this particular morning, she thought it would be apt. Emily Lawson, from what she had heard, had been a feisty lady and her daughter in law was determined to be no different.
Opening the wardrobe door, she found the wooden box, but when she opened it, it was empty. Thinking it may have fallen out, she crouched down and ran her hand along the wooden floor, but there was no sign of it.
Downstairs, Hank was watering down the whisky in preparation for opening and she hurried into the bar, holding the empty box in her hand.
"Hank?"
"What is it?"
"Your mother's locket's gone." She waited for him to look shocked, for him to run past her up the stairs and toss every piece of furniture and article of clothing around in his quest to find it. Instead, however, he merely carried on with what he was doing. "Did you hear me?"
"I heard ya."
"Well…aren't you worried? I don't know what's happened to it. I haven't had it on in weeks and…"
"I sold it."
Emma Jane paused, "You what?"
Hank put down the jug of water and turned to face her, "I said, I sold it. Took it to Old Nick in Soda Springs a few days ago."
"But…but why?"
"Why do ya think? For the money."
"Oh, Hank…" Emma Jane sighed, "You didn't have to do that. We're going to get the money. You didn't have to sell the locket."
"Got a hundred bucks fer it." Emma Jane didn't reply, "I know, ain't much."
"It was worth more to you than that."
"Yeah well…bein' sentimental ain't gonna pay the bank off." He tasted the liquor, "ain't sure this harebrained scheme of yers is goin' to either."
"It has to."
"Maybe it ain't worth the bother."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe we should just cut our losses and go."
Emma Jane stared at him, "Go where?"
Hank shrugged, "Another state, another town, what's the difference?"
"The difference is that Colorado Springs is our home!"
"Don't gotta be yer home. Ya got another one just waiting for ya a train ride away."
She stepped forward, "Stop it. I'm fed up of that sort of talk. This is our home and we are not leaving it without a fight. I can't believe you would even think about it."
"Might not have any other choice."
"Don't say that until after Friday."
"Oh yeah…Friday."
"Hank," she put her hand on his arm, "After Friday night we are going to have the exact amount of money that Joseph Newberry wants. We are going to hand it to him and we are going to get ourselves out of this mess."
He pushed a lock of hair away from her forehead, "Hope yer right."
She stepped forward into his arm, "I am."
SSSS
"Who are the Bluebirds?" Brian asked, staring up at a flyer stuck on the side of Loren's store.
"They're a famous dance troupe from New York," Michaela replied.
"What's a dance troupe?"
"Well, it's a group of ladies who…dance. They're very popular."
"And they're coming here? To perform in the saloon?" Brian looked incredulous, "There gonna be enough room?"
Michaela shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"Can we go see 'em?"
"Oh, no Brian."
"Why not?"
"Children ain't allowed in the saloon," Loren said, coming out through the doors, "You know that."
"But this is a special night," Brian protested, pointing at the poster.
"I'm sorry Brian," Michaela replied, "In a few years time you'll be able to go to as many saloons as you want. But right now…" she pointed to the clock, "it's time for you to get on with your chores."
"Ok," Brian sighed, "I'll see you later." He hurried off down the street in the direction of the school house.
"You know what all this nonsense is about?" Loren demanded, gesturing to the flyer.
"It's a special night at the saloon."
"I know that, I'm not blind," the older man grumbled, "but what the hell for?"
Emma Jane had sworn both Michaela and Grace to secrecy and Michaela was determined to respect that, "I really have no idea, Loren. Why don't you ask Hank?"
"Hmm…" Loren shook his head, "He's been in a funny mood lately." He looked over to the saloon where Emma Jane was coming through the doors, "Reckon it's something to do with her."
"Emma Jane?"
Loren nodded, "She's always up to somethin' that one." He turned and headed back into the store. Michaela hurried down the steps to greet her friend.
"How are things going?"
"Well…"Emma Jane replied, "Hank wasn't exactly thrilled when I told him about Friday but…he'll just have to live with it."
"And you're definitely having the Bluebirds?"
Emma Jane looked at her, "You've heard of them?"
"Of course. I've never seen them but…"
"So, you'll be coming on Friday night then?" Emma Jane asked eagerly.
"Oh…well I…"
"Oh, please Michaela! It would mean so much to me if you would. Not for the money, but for the support. I know you wouldn't normally come into the saloon but…won't you want to know who wins your raffle prize? The medicine selection was a great idea."
Michaela paused, "I suppose…maybe just for a little while…"
Emma Jane squeezed her arm, "Thank you. I'm so glad."
SSSS
Mandy had never known was real love was. She had been a working girl since the age of fifteen, moved from town to town before settling in Colorado. She had been with so many men that she had lost count. Lost count of the number of times she had experienced physical pleasure, yet never felt that pull deep inside. She had always wanted to love and be loved, but had just never gotten the chance.
She remembered well the day Emma Jane had arrived in Colorado Springs. A frightened sixteen year old who had clearly been brought up far away from the sights, sounds and goings on of a frontier town saloon. She remembered watching as Carolyn had teased Emma Jane mercilessly and made it difficult for her. She remembered thinking, night after night, about how Hank must be treating her, revelling in the fact that she was young and naïve. She could recall well her own first experience at Hank's hands. But she also remembered seeing the tenderness and love eventually grow between Hank and Emma Jane. She remembered the pain it had caused Hank when Emma Jane had gone back to New York, remembered watching as Jessica had tried to take her place and the joy when Hank had brought his wife home. Their love was one that she envied. For all its ups and downs, they were strong together; they loved each other.
Mandy had never known was real love was until she met Harry Burke. He was a farmer who lived on the outskirts of town who had helped her up one day when she had fallen. Since then they had courted tentatively, well away from the saloon. During that time, she had felt the stirrings of something deep inside, something which she thought might be love. Now he had asked her to marry him, give her a new life away from prostitution, a fresh start. All she needed was Hank's permission to leave but with the mood the way it was in the saloon, she was afraid to ask. Harry was pressing for her to do it, yet she couldn't seem to find the courage.
That Tuesday night, she found that courage. Emma Jane had spent most of the day out organising things for Friday night's event. Hank hadn't been best pleased to be left in the saloon without her help for yet another day, but when Emma Jane had come home, full of how wonderful Friday was going to be and how it would definitely solve their problem, his mood had softened and Mandy seized on this good humour to make her announcement.
"I'm gettin' married!" It came out blunter than she had expected and both Hank and Emma Jane, who were tidying away the glasses stopped to look at her.
Emma Jane was the first to speak, "You're what?"
"I'm…I'm gettin' married," she repeated.
"To who?" Hank demanded.
"Harry Burke."
Hank frowned, "Who's Harry Burke?"
"I believe he's that good looking farmer from the edge of town," Emma Jane said, "I didn't know you were seeing him, Mandy."
The other woman blushed, "I haven't really talked about it cause I was afraid to but…now that he's asked to marry me I…" she laughed, "I felt I had to tell you, seein' as I'll be leavin'."
"Leavin'?" Hank echoed, "Ya ain't leavin'." Mandy's face fell and Emma Jane whirled around to face her husband. "Got a contract."
"Hank…" Emma Jane started.
"No!" he glared at her, "Got enough money problems as it is without losin' my best girl. Ya ain't leavin' til yer contract expires."
"When's that?" Mandy asked fearfully.
"Not fer another two years."
"You can't make her wait that long," Emma Jane protested, "And you're not going to. Mandy, of course you can leave, with our blessing." She stepped forward and hugged her.
"The hell she can!" Hank exclaimed, coming around the bar and pulling them apart, "Told ya, ya ain't goin' nowhere."
Emma Jane glared at him, "Mandy, can you give us a moment?"
"Of course," Mandy replied, relieved to be able to get away. She scurried towards the stairs and then hid in the shadows so she could hear what was said.
"Hank, you can't keep her here against her will."
"Ain't what I'm doin'. Just makin' sure she honours her contract."
"She's in love! She wants to be with Harry Burke!"
"Well, ya know that we can't always get what we want."
"We have the power to give her what she wants. Let her go, please."
"No."
"You know, you're not the only one who runs this saloon and technically, I look after the girls. If she wants to go, I say she can go."
"I run this place Emma Jane, not you!"
"What are you going to do? Tie her down?"
"Can call a marshal and get her arrested."
"Oh don't be so ridiculous!"
"Ain't bein' ridiculous, Emma Jane. Bein' realistic."
"No you're not, you're just being pig-headed." Emma Jane swept out of the room, bumping into Mandy in the process. She looked at the other woman sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Mandy…"
"It's all right," Mandy said downheartedly.
"I haven't given up," Emma Jane reassured her, "I promise we'll have you out of here and down the aisle before you know it."
SSSS
The folks at the Denver stagecoach stop had never seen anything like it. Four beautiful women, dressed up to the nines, standing giggling as they waited to get on board. Each one had on a different coloured heavy velvet dress and at least three bags each which the driver was currently attempting to get on top of the stage.
"Can you imagine? Dancing in a saloon?"
"I know! If the proprietress wasn't a personal friend of Mrs Hyatt's I would definitely have said no!"
"I can't even begin to imagine what a terrible place it must to be. To think, the roads won't even be paved!"
"Urgh – how dreadful!"
The driver turned to them, "All aboard ladies. Next stop, Colorado Springs!"
The four burst out laughing again. The oldest of the four composed herself and turned to the others. "Now girls, let's behave ourselves. We're going to show that terrible little town just what the Bluebirds are made of!"
SSSS
Emma Jane was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when there was a knock at the bedroom door. "Come in." The door opened and Mandy came into the room. "Mandy!"
"Sorry to bother ya," she said, "I just wanted to make sure that…well that Hank hadn't given ya any trouble since ya asked if he would let me leave."
"Oh, don't you worry about Hank," Emma Jane said, coming over and sitting on the bed beside her. "He'll come around. He's just worried about what's happening with the saloon."
"I know, I figured as much. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You're as entitled to your life as everyone else. If Harry loves you and wants to marry you, then I'm delighted for you and I'm going to make sure that you get to be with him."
Mandy giggled at the mention of her beau's name. "He really is the kindest, gentlest man I've ever met. I never knew that men could…could be like that. I've been givin' myself to 'em most of my life and…" she broke off, "well, I always wondered what it would be like to love one properly. I don't mean that…" she added quickly.
"I know," Emma Jane said, "You weren't implying anything improper."
Mandy smiled, "I want to be as happy as…well…as you and Hank are."
Emma Jane chuckled, "Oh, I'm not sure you want a marriage quite like ours."
"Why not?"
"Well, you know that things haven't always been good between Hank and I and…" she paused, "I know you've seen how he can be with me."
"But it doesn't happen very often," Mandy said, "Does it? And he loves you. He loves you like nobody else."
Emma Jane smiled, "I guess he does."
"Oh he does," Mandy reassured her, "He definitely does." She sighed, "I suppose I'd better get to bed."
Emma Jane hugged her, "And I promise I'll work on Hank." She watched as the other woman left, just as Hank came in. They eyeballed each other before Mandy scurried away.
"What she want?" he asked.
"Nothing," Emma Jane continued brushing her hair, "we were just talking."
"Hope ya got them fool ideas about her leavin' out of her head."
"No, of course not," she said, "I wouldn't dream of trying to separate a woman from the man she loved."
"Sure."
"She told me that she wants a marriage like ours."
He looked at her in the mirror, "Well, we do got the best."
"If you say so."
"Ya don't agree?"
She turned to face him, "I think you're being very selfish about Mandy. Yes, we have our problems and yes we need to make as much money as we can't, but that isn't Mandy's fault. It isn't Mandy's fault that you didn't make those repayments." She saw his jaw set. "I'm not retreading old ground, I'm just…" she rubbed her eyes, "I just want Mandy to be happy, don't you?"
Hank sat down on the bed, "Didn't answer my question. Ya don't agree we got the best marriage?"
"No," she said finally, "I don't agree. But I think we're getting there."
Hank looked at her for a long moment before standing and stepping towards her, taking her in his arms and kissing her. When they broke apart, he held her to his chest and stroked her hair. "Let's go to bed and see if we can get there."
Emma Jane looked up at him and smiled wanly. Come Friday they would know exactly how good their marriage was, and how strong.