Chapter 3
Five days later Kid was waiting for the stagecoach to arrive in Rock Creek. The day before he had received another letter from Doritha, just a brief note stating when she had arrived in St Joseph by train, so he knew that today was the big day. She would be arriving on today's coach, and since the morning he had been on tenterhooks. Actually, it had been before that; since he had returned to Rock Creek after receiving Doritha's first letter, he had driven everybody crazy with his nervousness. The riders had teased him about it but Kid just couldn't help himself. The days seemed to drag and he was anxious to see her. It had been over five years since he had last set eyes on her. Kid had dreamed of this day for so long and it had finally arrived.
That morning he had woken up earlier than usual while his fellow riders had still been sleeping. He wanted to do all his chores as quickly and as soon as possible so that he could have free time that afternoon and be ready to welcome Doritha to Rock Creek. So now he was waiting for the stagecoach to arrive at the spot where it usually left its passengers, outside the hotel. An hour had already gone by and there was no trace of the coach; as usual it was late, and Kid couldn't stand still for one single minute. He was making a show of himself in front of everybody as he paced up and down the walkway before the hotel façade, all dressed up in his finest suit and holding a colorful bunch of flowers.
As he was scanning the end of the street for the umpteenth time, he could then make out a cloud of dust approaching the town, and he knew that in a matter of minutes Doritha would be by his side. Like always the arrival of the stagecoach attracted the attention of the numerous passers-by that were in town at the moment. Kid was grinning broadly as his eyes followed the stagecoach along the street. The coach finally stopped raucously leaving a dusty cloud behind it while the driver called loudly, "Rock Creek, ladies and gentlemen!"
Kid approached the stage clearly in a nervous wreck, and as he opened the small door, his eyes fell on her, ready to leave the compartment and he felt his heart leap in anticipation. She was smiling and staring lovingly in his direction. She was even more beautiful than he had imagined; Doritha had sent him a few photographs of her in her dozens of letters, but now that she was before him, the reality was much better than any of those black and white portraits. They kept staring at each other for long seconds, Kid intent on imprinting her beautiful face on his mind for all eternity. He was mesmerized and in that moment he felt unable to react or talk. After a while, it was Doritha who spoke up. "Kid, are we staying here much longer because my back's getting crooked by the minute?" she said playfully.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," he hurried to apologize and helped her out of the stage. Now that they were at the same level, Kid kept staring at her, still doubting whether to believe that this wasn't some joke his eyes were playing on him. "You're here," he whispered with a husky voice. Noticing the love in his eyes, Doritha smiled broadly, pleased with herself.
The journey to Rock Creek had been far from pleasant or comfortable, but she would have gone around the world just for the man staring at her right now. It hadn't been easy at all to stick to her decision of waiting for him. Her father had never liked Kid as her future husband since he wanted somebody who really matched her class. During all these years Mr. Simmons had tried to make her accept the proposals of the many suitors who had called at her door, but she had proved more stubborn than her father. His attempts to find her a suited match and his obvious campaign of demeaning Kid had been barren, and Doritha had stood her ground. There was only one man she wanted and nobody would make her change her mind. When she had announced her decision of leaving for the west, her father had almost locked her in her room, but again her will had been stronger than his and finally she had set off to meet the man that filled all her dreams.
"Yeah, I'm here," she replied with a big smile and let him draw her into a close hug. Kid held her tightly against his chest, reveling in the softness of her skin and the smell of her beautiful hair. After a while they pulled away and for the first time, the rider noticed the presence of a young girl behind his fiancée, who was watching them curiously. Doritha followed the direction of his gaze and her eyes fell on the girl behind her. "Oh this is Mary," she said breezily, and Kid greeted the lady politely.
"Nice to meet you, Miss," he said, tilting his head to her. The girl merely nodded and mumbling an excuse, she turned away from the couple and began to retrieve the luggage from the stagecoach. Kid turned to Doritha and asked, "Is she a friend of yours?"
The blonde lady let out a peal of laughter, amused by the naiveté of Kid. "For God's sake, no! She's just my maid."
"Your maid?" he repeated with a puzzled frown.
She nodded and added, "She's not too bad. She doesn't speak much but is quite efficient. I hired her just before leaving Virginia. Papa insisted I should take Luther with me, but I didn't think it would be proper in these parts."
Kid listened to her and relief shot through him as he heard that she had declined her father's offer. He remembered Luther; he was a slave in her family's homestead. The man didn't work in their plantation but was a helping hand in the Simmons' household. Kid just thanked heaven that she had that much sense. How would he have been able to face Noah if his fiancée had shown up with a slave in tow? Fortunately, he wouldn't have to find out, but still the whole matter with the maid troubled the rider.
"Doritha, we can't afford her," he whispered at her, trying not to be overheard by the girl struggling with the luggage.
The woman smiled sweetly and squeezed his arm breezily. "Oh Kid, you have nothing to worry about. I have more than enough to pay her salary and even more. You know Papa can't deny me anything," she said proudly.
"But…" he tried to protest. This wasn't the way he wanted things between them. He didn't need to depend on Doritha's father for his money; he could take good care of her without Mr. Simmons, but they had to make do without some things she was used to back in Virginia. He had explained all this to her in his letter, but it seemed that she had plainly overlooked his words.
Doritha knew what he was going to say and cut him off before he had the opportunity to protest any further. "Kid, there's nothing wrong with me enjoying father's money before we get married. Anyway, I couldn't travel on my own all those days; something might have happened to me. The west isn't safe for a single lady like me."
Even though her reasoning didn't manage to convince him completely, Kid didn't want to ruin their first day together by putting up a fight. He had to admit that she needed a period of adaptation to her new life. The rider was sure that she'd love it here, and in no time she'd get used to life in the west as if she had always been living here. For the moment all he cared about was that she was finally by his side and the rest would come about with time. "Why don't you get going into the hotel while I help … uh… Mary with the luggage?" he said as he watched the girl fighting with a heavy trunk and a couple of carpet bags. "You sure don't travel lightly," he added teasingly.
Doritha giggled brightly and swirling around she headed for the hotel entrance with a proud demure. Inside the building she retrieved the key to her room from the clerk. Looking around her, she realized that things here in the west were quite different from what she was used to at home. She'd definitely have to forget about certain comforts and formalities for the man she wanted. At least, this hotel was much better than the places she had been forced to sleep in while traveling west. Anyway, she wouldn't have to stay in this low class hotel for long since she planned to find herself suitable accommodation to her standards as soon as possible.
Before climbing the stairs towards her room on the second floor, Doritha cast a glimpse outside and giggled amused at the scene before her eyes. Kid and Mary were struggling with her weighty trunk and seemed to be having a hard time moving it towards the hotel. Doritha admitted that the trunk was really heavy, and she ruefully thought that even though her maid was quite efficient, she was such a weakling. The blonde woman wished that she'd have been able to bring Luther along; he was really strong and that way she wouldn't have had to spend extra money to hire somebody to move her luggage when they had had to change trains or coaches. There was no courtesy in this land of savages, and no men would move a finger to help a proper lady. Doritha was glad that Kid was so different to all those rough cowboys that she had seen lately; he really was a gentleman.
With a pleasant smile she began climbing the stairs, and then her eyes fell on a girl who was energetically waxing the hand-rail. Her body was petite and small, but in her stance Doritha could see that she was used to hard work.
"Hey you!" the woman called out without much reservation.
Louise looked up from the task at hand to find an elegant woman hovering over her. She could tell the blonde lady was one of those women who put on airs and looked down on others different from them. Louise had no doubt whatsoever that this so proper lady fell into this category who she had often come to meet in this hotel. "Yes?" she asked politely, making a conscious effort to hide the feelings of dislike automatically coursing all over her.
"You see, my fiancé and my maid are having some difficulties moving my luggage," Doritha explained, pointing at the door. Lou followed the direction of her finger and through the door she could clearly see a girl and a young man, who she recognized as the obnoxious boy she had the little problem with a few days ago. "Could you be so kind as to go and give them a hand?" Doritha asked with a soft voice.
Despite the sweetness the lady tried to pour, Louise could feel and hear the authoritative tone and stance, and without giving a second thought, she just blurted out, "No"
The reply caught Doritha off guard, not expecting that answer from this low hotel employee. "Excuse me, what did you say?" the blonde girl asked, her tone now cold and unkind.
"I said no," Lou stated loud and clear. "I got better things to do. If you want help, you pull your own weight. I don't see you are doing anything right now."
Her words ignited Doritha's fury and her blue eyes rounded and shone with blind rage. "How dare you?" she barked uncontrollably. "How dare you talk to me like that?"
Louise hardly heard what the very angry lady was growling at her, and as she had finished waxing the last part of the wooden banister, she picked up all the things and without further ado she started up the stairs, leaving the blonde girl in the middle of her furious speech. At Louise's attitude, Doritha let out an angry snarl in frustration and she began shouting at her, trying to call her attention. Yet, Louise carried on without paying any heed to her threatening words. She might be compelled to do a job that she abhorred, but she still had her own dignity. Despite her responsibilities and obligations at the hotel, she was her own person and nobody had any right to boss her around at their beck and call. If that snotty lady wanted to make a complaint to Mr. Grigson, then let her do so.
Fuming as she was, Doritha never heard Kid approach and only when he was by her side in the middle of the hotel staircase did she notice his presence. After finally managing to carry the heavy trunk inside, Kid had realized that there was something funny going on with Doritha. Her mood seemed to have changed and leaving the big trunk in the middle of the lobby, he had run towards her. "Anything the matter, honey?"
"That ... that girl insulted me!" she replied in a shrill voice.
"Who?" Kid asked, lost at the meaning behind her words as he didn't see anybody around.
"That... that stupid servant," she replied, still in the same agitated mood. "She was here a minute ago and had the nerve to insult me," she continued.
The sound of light steps coming from the upper floor reached Kid's ears and directing his eyes upwards, he caught a glimpse of a small hand clutching the banister, the lower part of a faded brown dress and a chestnut braid swinging back and forth. Kid then had no doubt who the girl Doritha was talking about was. It was the same one who had also spoken some not very kind words to him a few days before. Irritated he wondered why on earth that girl had to be so nasty and disrespectful to everybody she came across. Doritha continued her angry harangue by his side, oblivious to Kid's internal thoughts.
"As sure as eggs are eggs, I'm going to make a formal complaint to the hotel manager about this absolutely improper treatment I have suffered."
Kid admitted that Doritha was right in her opinion. However, he voiced his objections to her intentions, "Don't trouble yourself with that, honey, not on our first day together."
His words didn't seem to convince her and she added, "Kid, how can I just overlook and act all breezy about this absolutely detestable behavior towards me?" She was not used to being treated this way; actually nobody had ever dared to contradict her or disagree with her. She was a lady belonging to a high social status and deserved proper treatment. It just made her blood boil to replay the words of that ignorant girl. She hadn't even addressed her in the way she should have; not once had she used 'ma'am' and instead Doritha felt that she had talked to her as if she was at her same level. What nerve!
"Doritha, she's probably a poor girl who has just vented her frustration on the first person she has come across, which happens to be you," Kid insisted, strangely feeling it would be wrong to report this girl to her boss, especially after seeing the way Mr. Grigson had treated her. He knew that with all probability Doritha was right to be livid, after all he had a similar episode with the same girl. Yet, on the other hand, his fiancée might well have taken the girl's words and attitude too hard. Here in the west formalities were quite different to how things were done in Virginia, and Doritha needed to begin getting used to those differences.
At his words the blonde girl smiled for the first time and said, "You haven't changed a bit, Kid. Always thinking the best of everybody."
He blushed to the roots of his hair at her remark and tried to change the direction of the conversation. "Come on, why don't you go to your room while I finish with your luggage? You can rest some."
Doritha flashed her brightest smile at recognizing the care behind his words and leaning over she planted a quick kiss on his cheek as she said, "Oh Kid, I love you so much." And without waiting for his reply she hitched up her long green skirt and scampered up the stairs. Kid stood on the same spot in the middle of the stairs for a few minutes, a grin plastered on his lips and feeling the luckiest man on earth.
That evening Kid picked up Doritha from the hotel and took her to the station to meet his Express family. Before that, the blonde girl had spent the rest of the day with her fiancé after washing up and resting for a bit. Kid felt in high spirits and talked at lengths about the last years in his life. He knew that he was babbling, but he just couldn't help it. Doritha was finally in front of him for real and it felt so good. The conversation had especially focused on his present day to day as a Pony Express rider. He told her everything about the men and woman he had come to consider as his family and how the job could be dangerous but extremely gratifying.
Doritha listened to him without faltering as if she were mesmerized by his words. No matter what he told her, she was just happy to be in his presence. She had never wanted a man as much as she longed to be part of Kid's life. He might not have much to his name nor her class but he had something that she hadn't found in anybody else. It didn't matter if she had to travel thousands of miles, leave her family and come to live in this godforsaken city full of ignorant bumpkins. As long as she was with Kid, she could accept everything.
The atmosphere in the bunkhouse was jovial and cheerful as conversation flowed freely among the riders. Doritha felt amused as her fiancé's friends teased him and tried to get her to tell them Kid's real name. The blonde lady was pleased to be the center of attention in the room as she told story after story of her and Kid's shared childhood. She always looked back at those times with deep fondness and the pride she felt was obvious in the way she talked about them.
Kid's friends were quite amiable, Doritha thought as she watched them sharply, but they were nothing special compared to her fiancé. Actually, everybody out here was really different from the gentlemen she knew back in Virginia. It was obvious that Kid had changed in several ways in these years, but he still had that special gentleness and decorum of a true Southerner. Doritha supposed that she had to get used to this way of life, unless she ultimately managed to persuade Kid to go back to Virginia. In case that failed, she needed to make do in Rock Creek and the first step was to get on well with his friends. It was obvious that they were very important to him and even though she couldn't understand what her dear Kid could have in common with these men other than the job, she was clever enough not to voice or show her true opinion.
Truth to be told, she had been taken aback by their rough appearances and their unusual characteristics but at least they were quite friendly, contrary to what she had initially thought. They weren't for sure the kind of men that she'd choose to have as friends. Anyway, it seemed that Kid also had a good relationship with Rock Creek's marshal, which at least was something to Doritha's opinion. It was a good thing that he had befriended somebody that important in town, the only authority; that was the kind of company that she wouldn't mind to seek. Apparently, Marshal Hunter was usually at the dinner table with the rest of the riders as he was also the station master, but apparently he was busy in town tonight. Doritha couldn't wait to meet and make acquaintance with the marshal and with all probability he could put her in contact with other high personalities in this town.
Anyway, the only person Doritha didn't seem to warm to and obviously the feeling was mutual was Rachel. The older lady had welcomed her cordially but the younger woman could constantly feel her wary eyes over her. The girl had been shocked as she had first caught sight of the woman; in her opinion no decent lady would dress in such a flashy way, at least not in the place she came from. In the attire Rachel was wearing people would think she was a woman of easy virtue, to say the least, especially about one living among a bunch of young men. It really annoyed Doritha to think that Kid was in such close contact with the station mistress. In his letters he had spoken highly of Rachel and now that the younger woman had made her acquaintance, some jealous feelings were stirring inside her. Definitely she didn't want to make friends with a woman like her and hoped to eventually drive her fiancé off such a company.
In that moment Rachel rose to her feet and walked to the stove where she had previously left the cake they'd have for dessert. The conversation at the table kept going on and Cody's loud voice resounded over the rest, guffawing at his own jokes about Kid. It was then that Rachel exclaimed annoyed, "Oh shoot!" Her grunt drew the attention of those sitting around the table and Jimmy asked, "Something wrong?"
"Naw, nothing wrong. Just forgot the dessert plates in the house," the lady replied and letting out an amused giggle, she added, "Lately my mind is like a sieve."
As she shook her head at her own absentmindedness, she began walking towards the bunkhouse door but Kid rose from the bench he was sitting on and broke in, "Don't worry, Rachel. I'll fetch them." And without waiting for her consent, he shot out of the bunkhouse and ran across the yard towards the main house.
Doritha had a smile on her lips as she thought that Kid still had the same gentlemanly behavior she was so familiar with. She remembered how he was always the first to offer his help in any petty matter to Miss Patricks, their teacher, or how he spent every Saturday afternoon giving a hand around the house of those elderly neighbors of his. His noble and gentle nature had been what had made her fall so deeply in love with him since a very tender age but sometimes she thought that he was too naive and people took advantage of his kind heart. All of the sudden, her memories stopped as she noticed that Rachel, who had sat down across from her, was talking to her.
"So, Doritha, you think you will like it here?" the older woman asked, not taking her eyes off her.
"I think so," Doritha replied tentatively, choosing her words carefully, hoping that they couldn't read through her half-truths. "I already love this town."
"It must be quite different from Virginia," Noah added.
"It is indeed," the girl simply said, getting secretly annoyed by all their questions as though they were putting her through some kind of test.
"You looking forward to becoming a rancher's wife?" Jimmy added his question with a crooked smile, feeling that the lady didn't fit the image he had of a woman up for hard work. He hadn't mentioned his opinion to his friend but definitely Doritha had no clue what she was getting into. Maybe her willingness and love for Kid would help her to adapt herself to the new life awaiting her.
"Well, marrying Kid was all I've ever wanted," she answered, slyly answering the question in her own way.
"You know, he's planning to become a horse rancher. Talks about it all the time," Buck added.
"Well...," Doritha answered, these annoying remarks getting the best of her. "There's nothing definite, and nobody can say what the future will bring us." She realized late that she had let her true feelings pore through her. Now it was too late to take that back, but anyway, there was nothing wrong in stating her own ambitions. Of course, she couldn't give away that she wanted to make Kid go back to Virginia, but other than that, there was no shame in stating her opinion.
"What do you mean?" Cody asked with a frown. Everybody knew that becoming a rancher was Kid's lifetime ambition, and he was sure he hadn't made a secret of it to the woman who was going to become his wife in the near future.
"Well... I know that Kid lacks ambition, and he's just happy with accepting just the petty things coming his way," she explained with a proud stance. "I know he can do so much better than that, and I'll be there to make sure that he believes in himself and make most of life. I'm sure we can reach really far and who would just content themselves with something simple when there's more you can get?"
Rachel and the riders looked at each other, uncomfortable with the young lady's words. It was clear that Doritha didn't share her fiancé's interests and plans, and what was worse was that Kid had no clue whatsoever of her true feelings. The Southerner never stopped talking about his intention to marry Doritha and live with her in their own horse ranch. Anybody could see that only that would make him happy, but apparently dark clouds were in store for him if the woman he wanted to share everything with would try to drag him from his dreams.
Silence had settled in the bunkhouse after Doritha's declaration as all the riders and Rachel kept exchanging wary glances. None dared to say anything, not sure how to contradict the lady, especially when none thought it was their place to meddle in their friend's matters. It was clear by her resolute stance that Kid's fiancée was certain of what she was saying. Rachel stared at her, not believing that the girl was clearly stating that she planned to wrangle Kid for her own whims and benefits. The older woman knew that the Southerner was a kind soul, and she feared that he'd renounce to his own dreams for the woman he loved. It was obvious that he was head over heels in love with her; he kept staring at Doritha as if he were mesmerized.
Rachel just hoped that he had enough sense to distinguish his girlfriend's intention and he didn't end up suffering in the long run. To tell the truth, the station-mistress had to admit that she had felt a sudden dislike as soon as she had laid eyes on Doritha. It was surprising as Rachel considered she had an amiable nature and usually welcomed everybody warmly. Yet, there was something in this girl that made her dislike her and now that Rachel had heard her speech, she guessed that her suspicions hadn't been completely wrong. As the station mistress wasn't one to hold her tongue when something concerned her riders, she got ready to talk her mind, but in that moment the door clicked open and Kid reappeared.
"Here you are, Rachel," he said, handing the dessert plates to the lady.
"Thank you, Kid," she replied, taking them and rising to her feet to serve the cake she had prepared. There was no way she could say anything now in front of Kid. All Rachel hoped was that this girl wouldn't bring any problems to the rider.
Kid sat down next to Doritha again while he asked her, "Getting acquainted?"
The young lady plastered a smile; she hadn't missed the looks the riders cast in her direction, and even now Rachel was glaring at her plainly but Kid was too wrapped up in her that he never noticed anything going wrong. Doritha didn't really care what these people thought about her. Kid was hers and nobody would come between them, not even those people he called his family. They've been separated for five long years by thousands of miles and if that hadn't managed to pull them apart, nothing would. She would see to it that he never left her side whatever it cost. Hooking her arm around his, Doritha smiled even more widely and said sweetly, "I'm sure I'm going to be so happy here."