Chapter Three

Waiting for the Stage

On the street, Kid ran his fingers through his newly trimmed tresses, pleased (for once) with Jim's work. The old barber was past the age where he should have retired years ago and his eyes were not as good as they used to be, resulting in some interesting, if lop-sided haircuts. Fortunately, today his work was fairly even and Kid was satisfied that he looked presentable for meeting Catherine.

He was impatient. Even after killing time with Genevieve and getting a fresh haircut, he figured he still had a good while to wait before Catherine's stage pulled in.

A gentle, warm breeze stirred the air, a pleasant reprieve from the day's stillness. Kid glanced up at the sky. A few billowy clouds were moving in from the west. It was still hot, but all indications pointed to an impending change in the weather.

Another breeze swept past him, more forceful than the one before. He noticed that this gust brought with it a barely noticeable drop in air temperature. 'Looks like we might get some weather later this evening,' he thought, studying the sky over the Laramie Mountains. 'Should hold off until we get back to the ranch though.'

Kid was still contemplating the heavens when he heard the familiar squeak and grumble of a well-traveled stage. Surprised, he turned to watch as the coach pulled up and stopped about fifty yards from where he stood. He felt an unexpected stomach flip, excitement over the prospect of seeing his daughter again after such a long time; excitement, and if he were honest with himself, a bit of apprehension too. "Early," he mumbled out loud to himself, walking as quickly as his leg would allow, his cane bearing most of the weight of his right side.

The driver was just setting the foot brake as he came alongside. Smiling broadly, blue eyes twinkling in anticipation, he stepped forward and eagerly pulled the coach door open. Expecting to see his young daughter poke her head out of the door, he was mildly startled to see that the face greeting him was not Catherine's but Emma Jeffries, the daughter of the owners of the local mercantile. Kid knew who she was because she often waited on him when he came in to buy supplies for the ranch. He had noticed how pretty she was but hadn't spent much time thinking about it. After all, what would an attractive young girl like her see in an older man like him, especially one with a gimp leg?

Besides, she wasn't his type. For now at least, women like Genevieve were more to his liking. Still, he had wondered about her, while standing at the counter waiting for her to take care of his order, and he'd been curious why such a pretty girl hadn't found a husband yet.

"Afternoon ma'am," Kid said politely, though disappointment showed in his face. Leaning on the cane in his right hand, he offered her his left, helping her step down from the coach.

With both feet safely on the ground, she straightened her hat and favored him with a charming, demure smile. "Mr. Curry, how nice to see you." Curious to know what he was doing meeting the stage, she asked, "Are you expecting someone?"

"Uh, yes. My daughter actually," he said hesitantly.

"Your daughter? Oh, I had no idea you were even married." She looked slightly disappointed. Realizing what she had just said, she was suddenly embarrassed and a warm flush rose in her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said suddenly. "I didn't mean to pry. It's just that—well, never mind."

"It's all right, ma'am. No harm done." He hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to explain about Catherine. "I'm not married. My daughter lives with her mother and step-father in New Mexico."

"Oh, I see," she said, still a bit flustered. Awkwardly, she searched for a way to change the subject. "Will I see you at the church social next Saturday night?"

"Uh, no ma'am. I don't really dance much these days," Kid said uncomfortably, glancing down at his cane before he could stop himself.

Her eyes followed his, but she didn't comment. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. No one goes to those socials to dance anyway. It's just a time to get together with friends and talk." She gave him a hopeful look.

"Well, I'll think about it, ma'am, but I'm awful busy with those new foals out at the ranch and the yearlings to saddle break. Besides, those functions are more for the young folk like you to enjoy."

The young woman's face fell slightly, and she leaned over to pick up her travel bag. Kid hesitated momentarily, wondering if he should offer to carry her bag for her; if there was time to help her and still be here to greet Catherine when she arrived. He decided to make the time and reached for the bag, saying, "Here, let me help you with—"

In the instant before his fingers closed around the bag's handle, however, it was grabbed by another masculine hand. "Here, Miss Jeffries, let me carry that for you." Kid found himself face to face with Sheriff Jack Caldwell. Caldwell had been the sheriff in Pine Bluffs for two or three years. He was still young, in his late twenties, and idealistic. As such, he was determined to be the best lawman he could be. He didn't like outlaws. And he didn't have much use for reformed outlaws either, which was altogether too obvious in the disapproving look he gave Kid as he reached for the bag.

Kid's stomach flip-flopped at the sight of the sheriff. Even after getting the amnesty, the sight of a lawman, especially a dedicated lawman like this one, always gave him a momentary start. After the shock of seeing Caldwell passed, it was replaced with an angry tightening in his belly.

Caldwell didn't like Heyes or Curry, and it seemed to Kid that the lawman took every opportunity to let Heyes and him know how he felt. He just couldn't seem to get over the fact that the town's newest ranchers had been outlaws and never formally "paid" for their crimes. Even when the man didn't say anything, Kid had the feeling he was being judged and he didn't like it. They had earned their amnesty, dammit. Hell, they'd probably suffered more getting it than they would have if they'd served their sentences. And if that was good enough for the governor of Wyoming, it ought to be good enough for some small town sheriff.

He'd tried talking to Heyes about it but his partner didn't seem concerned, he'd merely shrugged it off, saying they couldn't expect everyone—especially a lawman, to accept them as honest citizens, given their long history of thievery. He just kept reminding Kid that as long as Caldwell left them alone they shouldn't worry about it, they should just be content with the chance they'd been given and the life they'd found in Pine Bluffs.

Kid didn't understand how Heyes could be so cavalier about it, but he tried to follow his lead and let cooler heads prevail. Lord knew how he struggled with it though.

"Thank you, Sheriff, I'd appreciate that," Emma murmured quietly. The three hurriedly stepped out of the street and onto the boardwalk as the coach that had brought Emma into town pulled away, making room for the arrival of the coach which had just pulled up behind.

"Good bye, Mr. Curry," she called back over her shoulder. He wondered if he glimpsed just the slightest bit of regret in her face, as she was propelled away down the street by the protecting hand of the sheriff.

"Good bye, ma'am, Sheriff." The former outlaw nodded and tipped his hat politely, but his eyes were hard steel as they followed the retreating figure of the sheriff. The man had stood no more than a foot away from him and never even acknowledged his presence. Kid felt the anger burn in his stomach.

While Kid reined in his anger, the driver of the second coach reined his team to a stop. By the time the dust from its wheels had settled, all his negative feelings had slid away in anticipation of seeing his daughter again. He tried to peer inside the coach to see if she was among the passengers. At first glance, he didn't see her and his heart fell, wondering if this were the right stage after all. But only two stages were due into Pine Bluffs on this day, so he had to assume this was the one from Cheyenne. He wondered, fleetingly, if she had been detained in New Mexico; but then he noticed a pretty young woman staring at him expectantly, an amused smile playing across her lips.

"Catherine?" he asked tentatively.

"Who else were you expecting?" she responded, teasingly. "Aren't you going to help me down from here?"

"Oh, right. Well, of course. Here, give me your arm." Kid helped her out of the coach in the same way he had helped Miss Jeffries, just a few minutes before, as a gentleman helps a young lady. The only difference was, this time the young lady was his daughter.

Standing face to face, Kid took a minute to look at his daughter appraisingly. It was hard to believe that she'd changed so much in the few short months that had passed since the last time they were together.

The little girl who had worn pigtails and riding clothes had been replaced by a pretty young woman in a pale blue dress. With a fatherly embarrassment, Kid noticed that she had started to 'fill out' since the last time they were together. Gone was the boyish figure that he remembered; now Catherine was all gentle curves and softness. Once he got over the surprise, Kid grinned and shook his head in wonder. "You just look so grown up."

"Well, I am grown up," she declared. "I turned sixteen last week. You know, in Mexico a girl is considered a woman at fifteen. We had a big party for Carmen on her birthday."

Kid stared at her with a blank look for a moment and then smiled. He remembered the Mexican family who had befriended Eliza and her young daughter when they had first moved to New Mexico, and their daughter who had become Catherine's best friend. "Well, it looks like we'll have a lot of catching up to do."

"Where's Joseph?" he asked in sudden alarm, thinking of Catherine traveling alone all the way from New Mexico. "I thought he was going to be traveling with you? Don't tell me he let you come all this way by yourself?"

"He stayed in Cheyenne, his business there was taking longer than he expected. I was going to make this last part of the trip by myself—it's only 40 miles for goodness sake, but we met Mrs. Garvey at the stage stop and she said she'd keep me company."

"Oh, I see," Kid said, doubtfully. He noticed, for the first time, the older woman standing behind Catherine. Mrs. Garvey was one of the area's oldest residents and ran a millinery shop in town. "I'm much obliged, ma'am." Kid said, nodding to the woman.

"Oh, it was no trouble at all, Mr. Curry. Your daughter was a most delightful traveling companion. We had a wonderful time." Turning to Catherine, she smiled sweetly, standing on her toes to plant a soft, feathery kiss on the younger woman's cheek. "You have a nice visit now, Miss Curry. Stop in and see me at the shop and I'll show you those hats I was telling you about," she said as she turned and strolled off down the street.

"Miss Curry?" Kid asked, raising his eyebrows and looking at her with surprise.

"Well," Catherine began, "I told her I was coming to visit my father so I suppose she just assumed…"

"I suppose it would make more sense around here, since everyone knows who I am. Would that be alright with you?"

"Oh, yes," she said with a quick smile. "Should I call you Pa, then? Or maybe Jed?"

He looked at her seriously for a moment. "Well, what sounds right to you?"

"Pa, I suppose," she said cheerfully.

"Well, alright then," he said laughing.

"Good, can I go see the horses now? How many foals are there? Which horse will I get to ride?"

"Whoa now, one question at a time. I've got a buckboard around by the livery so we can head on out to the ranch right now if you want to."

"I'm ready!" she exclaimed, "let's go."

Kid picked up her bag with his left hand and headed down the street. Catherine followed a step behind. "Oh my!" he heard her exclaim suddenly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking back, instinct making his right hand itch subtly. He was ready to defend his daughter from whatever danger loomed.

"Well…nothing. Except—what happened to your hair?" she asked, craning her neck to look with adolescent horror at the back of his head.

"What? Are you kidding? I just had a haircut, is all," he said, frowning, fingering the curls at the back of his head. They felt perfectly normal to him.

"Oh. Really?" she said, disbelief coloring her words. "Well, no matter. Let's go." She started walking briskly. Kid followed, his frown deepening. "I'm sure you have a hat you can wear for a while, right? This is going to be so much fun."