Those who do not confront their demons, have given them time to grow stronger
The next morning, when Kitty reached the bar room floor, she found LeighAnn standing next to Sam behind the bar, industriously washing dishes and chatting with Sam about the weather.
"It's been really warm out." Sam told her. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if a storm didn't roll in."
"You think?" LeighAnn asked. "I mean it looks pretty calm out there and I looked out when I got up. There weren't any clouds in the sky."
"That doesn't mean anything." Kitty joined in the conversation as she crossed the floor to the bar. "Here in Kansas we know all too well how quickly that can change."
"Well, I'll have to take your word for it." LeighAnn smiled at Kitty. "But in the meantime, I hope you're wrong. I kinda like the weather like this."
"Me too." Kitty answered as she looked at the coffee pot behind the bar. "Sam, is there coffee in there?"
"Sure is." Sam nodded. "Let me get you a cup."
"Thanks." She smiled as Sam swiftly poured a cup for her and sat it on the bar in front of her. "Hey!" She exclaimed as she took her first sip. "That's good! Did you do something different?"
"I didn't make it." Sam answered with a chuckle. "LeighAnn did."
Kitty looked over at LeighAnn. "You're just full of surprises."
"Coffee really isn't that hard to make." LeighAnn shrugged.
"Uh huh." Kitty wasn't convinced.
"Miss Kitty?" Sam headed from behind the bar. "I'm going to have go down and get another keg of beer. The one we have is only about half full."
"Alright." Kitty answered. "Do you need any help?"
"No, Ma'am." He shook his head. "I won't be long."
As Sam left, Kitty returned her attention to LeighAnn. "LeighAnn, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." LeighAnn answered although she kept her focus on the glasses she was washing. "What do you want to know?"
"Why are you here?" Kitty asked bluntly. "I know what you told me when I hired you and I don't doubt that's part of it but I suspect there's something more and I'd like to know what it is."
"You? Or the Marshal?" LeighAnn looked up pointedly at Kitty.
"Me." Kitty answered. "I won't lie, the Marshal is curious about you too. But I want to know for me. Anything you tell me, stays with me if you want it. But I need to know because if there's something that could cause problems here…"
"There isn't." LeighAnn sat the mug down she was washing and grabbed a bar towel, drying her hands. "I promise you, Miss Kitty. I would never bring trouble to you or anyone else."
"I believe you." Kitty answered honestly. "But I still think there's something more than meets the eye about you being here." Kitty waited for LeighAnn to answer but continued when she didn't. "LeighAnn, please. I know there is something more. I mean look at you. You're beautiful, talented and tough. You're as good at cards as I am if not better. I can tell by the way you talk that you're well educated. Girls like you don't just decide to be a saloon girl to learn business."
LeighAnn started to answer but heard Sam coming back from the cellar with the keg he'd gone after. "Can we talk in your office?" She asked.
Kitty nodded. "Come on. Sam?" She called as they headed to the back. "We're going to be in my office for a little while."
After securing the door to her office, Kitty turned and stepped over to her desk, taking a seat opposite of LeighAnn who'd already sat down, crossing her arms against her chest. Kitty noticed that LeighAnn looked pensive.
"You're not in trouble, LeighAnn." Kitty reassured her. "And you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But if there is something I can help you with…"
"Have you ever heard of a man named Joseph Baines?" LeighAnn suddenly asked. "A tall man with brown hair and a small scar just above his lip."
Kitty searched her memory for a moment. "Well, I don't recognize the name." She answered after a brief space of time. "But I do know a man that generally fits that description. Of course that description could fit a great number of people."
LeighAnn's eyes blazed as Kitty spoke. "He has brown eyes and wears a ring on his right hand." LeighAnn added to the description. "A gold ring with a the letter T in the middle?"
The additional description fit in with the man Kitty was thinking about and she nodded. "The man I'm thinking of says his name is Brandon Wails. He's been around for about a year or so. I don't know too much about him though. He owns a ranch about 5 miles south of town. Only comes to town once in every blue moon. Why?"
"He killed my brother Travis." LeighAnn answered. "And by extension my father."
"What?" Kitty didn't know the man in question very well but he seemed to be as mild as milk toast. "When?"
"Three years ago." LeighAnn answered solemnly as she got to her feet, hugging herself as though she was cold. "My brother and I grew up on a large ranch with our father. Our mother died when I was ten. That ranch was our whole life. Because of my mom's insistence before she died, my father made sure that Travis and I had a formal education but we both knew after that we'd come back to the ranch. It was a wonderful life. At least it was until Baines came into our life."
LeighAnn stopped and took a deep breath as the memories flooded through her. Feeling calmer, LeighAnn returned to her seat and continued.
"Baines, or Wails as you call him, and a friend of his named Harris, showed up at our ranch one day with the stated intention of buying some stud horses from us. Baines said he wanted to better his herd." LeighAnn took another deep breath. "But he didn't want to pay for them, at least not what we were asking. When my father told him what the cost would be, he tried to get him to lower it by half. My father refused and Baines and his friend starting arguing with my father. That's when my brother stepped in."
LeighAnn dropped her face into her hands and Kitty could see her shoulders shake as she silently sobbed. Kitty knew the young woman wasn't yet through with her story and there would be nothing she could do to comfort her at this point; so she sat quietly waiting until LeighAnn could compose herself again.
"I'm sorry." LeighAnn finally raised her head. "I…"
"You've got nothing to be sorry for." Kitty shook her head at her. "And you don't have to continue if you don't want to."
LeighAnn took a couple of deep breaths before responding but she finally shook her head. "No. No, I need to tell you everything. Because after I do, you'll understand why I am here and why I have to do what I planned."
TBC
