Chapter 7

Isabelle hurried herself into getting dressed. She was meeting Ezra in ten minutes at the hotel and she had just gotten out of the bath. "I wouldn't be so late if Mary hadn't been so mean," Isabelle muttered under her breath as she slipped into her undergarments. Mary had yelled when she got home, asking where she had gone, if she had thought about the repercussions of her actions, etc. Isabelle had told her she went to apologize to Vin and to the church. She left the ride out of it, and told Mary she had made plans for dinner. Mary had almost refused to let her go until Belle had told her she was going with Ezra to the hotel for dinner. Then Mary had to be coaxed into it. Finally, she consented and let Belle get clean.

Belle's shoulder-length blonde hair was in pulled back, ringlets framing her face. She slid into her new pink dress, looking very much a lady. The dress was more suitable for dinner than it had been for during the day, like she purchased it for. With healthy pink cheeks and bright eyes, she didn't need to make herself up to look any better; in her opinion, she was really pretty. She grabbed a shawl out of the closet and left her bedroom.

Belle walked up to her nephew and squatted down in front of him. "Hello, you handsome thing. Can Aunt Belle have a good night kiss, since you'll be asleep when I come home?"

Billy giggled at her. "Uh-huh." He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly. They had made fast friends that afternoon between Mary's yelling and chiding.

Isabelle squeezed him tightly and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Billy boy." She tussled his hair. He was so smart and sweet; just like his daddy. It brought a tear to her eye. She stood back up and approached her sister. "Curfew?"

Mary pursed her lips together. "I don't think that's necessary. Ezra, while slightly unscrupulous, will have you home at a decent hour. He is a gentleman, after all." She reached out her hand and placed it on Belle's cheek. "You look so much like her." The tears welled in Mary's eyes.

Belle flushed at the compliment. "Thank you," she murmured. She turned back to Billy. "And he'd be proud of him, Mary." She smiled back at her sister, knowing she understood. "Proud of you too."

Mary hugged her. "I am still glad you're here, Belle. I love you. Have fun."

Isabelle squeezed back and walked toward the door. "I will. Good night."

Belle hurried up the street, blotting her eyes on her hankie in her wrist purse. Silly sentimental moments, she thought, approaching the hotel's dining room. Inside, she could see Ezra already at a table, glancing apprehensively at the door. She smiled and went inside out of the cool night air. Ezra's jaw dropped as she approached the table, slowly standing as she reached her seat.

"I'm so sorry to have kept you, Ezra." She slid in front of her seat and the waiter pushed it slowly beneath her as she sat. "I was kissing Billy good night."

Ezra returned to his seat. "That's quite all right, Miss Manning. You are worth waiting for."

Belle flushed slightly and picked up a menu. "What's good here?" She glanced at each item fleetingly.

"Well, that depends. How do you feel about sub-par food selections?" he drawled in his deep accent. His eyes were still resting on the woman before him. She had transformed from a lovely, lively young lady into a gorgeous young woman. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to be dining with, quite possibly, the most beautiful woman in the entire territory.

Belle put down her menu and looked at him. "Why do you keep staring at me? It's making me feel self conscious." She fidgeted as if to prove her point.

"I apologize, Isabelle. You are just so… breathtaking." Ezra nodded: that was the perfect word for it. He took his eyes off of her and glanced at the champagne he had ordered and was sitting in ice nearby. "Would you like a libation?" He pointed to the bottle.

Belle wrinkled her nose. "I suppose I can have one glass." She smiled as Ezra poured her a small class of the liquid. "How sweet of you to get champagne, Ezra."

"Not at all." He finished pouring his own glass and raised it toward her. "To new friendships and getting acquainted."

Isabelle clinked her glass softly against his. Then, she took a dainty sip. It was sweet and the small bubbles tickled her tongue. She giggled softly.

"May I take your order?" The waiter had returned, poised and ready for action, trying not to stare at Isabelle.

"Ladies first." Ezra motioned at Belle.

"Oh!" Belle reopened her menu and glanced over it. "I'll have the…spaghetti, I suppose."

"And for you sir?" The waiter wasn't even trying not to stare anymore.

"I'll have the New York Strip, please." He handed the waiter the menus and watched him walk dejectedly away. "I believe you have a new admirer, Isabelle."

Isabelle laughed. "I don't understand it. I'm not all everyone makes me out to be. I'm just a girl."

"I wouldn't say girl, my dear. Maybe woman is more appropriate at this juncture in your life." Ezra sipped at his drink.

"I suppose." Belle furrowed her brow. "if only my parents saw me that way."

"Are you referring to the stipulation in their wills that require you to live at your sister's abode until you are nineteen years of age?" Ezra raised a brow.

Belle nodded. "It's not fair to Mary. She has so much else to worry about." Belle's eyes got sad.

Ezra reached out a hand and held hers softly. "Your sister is an incredible woman. Your parents would not have sent you to her if they didn't think she could handle it. Besides, if they hadn't told you to come here, I never would have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance."

Belle smiled at Ezra and squeezed his hand. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you."

Vin was on patrol, watching for Connelly. There was no way he'd get his hands on Belle, not if Vin was watching over her. He walked slowly down Main Street, eyes alert. As he passed the hotel's dining room, he looked inside. There sat Ezra, talking animatedly with a woman. Vin smiled and thought "About time," until he got a better view of the woman. It was Belle Manning, looking beautiful in a pale pink dress with her eyes shining brightly. His breath got in his throat.

"What is she thinkin?" Vin stormed past the window as he watched Belle grasp Ezra's hand. "Doesn't she know he's a thief??"

"Who's a thief?" A gruff voice said from the shadows.

"Howdy, Josiah." Vin stopped and tipped his hat in a hello gesture.

"Who's a thief?" He repeated in his drunken state. "D'you need any help?" He stumbled a little.

"Hitting the bottle a little early tonight, Preacher." Vin held out a hand to steady him.

"After the day I've had, I needed a little relaxation." Josiah started walking toward the church with Vin on his heels. "Young woman came to confess today. There's such a sadness about her. No human being I have ever met has been that saddened before." Josiah stared up into the stars. "She's learning a valuable lesson."

Vin, assuming Josiah was referring to Belle, looked at him in question. "What do you mean?"

"Well, normally I wouldn't divulge another's confession to a third party, but she has me very troubled." Josiah sighed and continued to view the stars. "It seems as though she hasn't the capacity to love. She plays with human emotion, and she knows it." Josiah sighed. "But then, when she least expected it, she found someone she could love. That's why she's here. To find him. And that's why she got tangled up with Terrence Connelly. To get here faster, to be with him." He glanced back at Vin. "God as helped her to see the errors of her ways and has done something to fix them. Unfortunately, he doesn't care for her. And I'm afraid that it'll cause her to revert to her old ways."

Vin understood her a little better now that he knew this information. But he was confused. "Do you know who she loves, Josiah?"

Josiah shook his head. "She only told me that he was one of the men her sister wrote their mother about."

"One of us." Vin thought for a moment. "And it's not you because she wouldn't have told you if it was. And it couldn't be Ezra if she's sure he doesn't care for her."

Josiah looked him in the eyes. "Why can't it be Ezra then?"

"Because Mr. Standish is currently entertaining Miss Belle at the hotel's restaurant." Vin couldn't keep the venom out of his voice.

"Ah, the thief…" Josiah's eyes held a look of recognition. "I believe she's captured your attention, Mr. Tanner."

Vin scoffed. "Don't bet on it, Josiah." He tipped his hat. "Gotta get back to my job. Can you make it to the church ok?"

Josiah nodded. "Yeh, I think I can manage. Don't stay up too late waiting to make sure she gets home alright. It might make you irritable tomorrow."

Vin grumbled a response and headed back to the main strip. Ezra had Belle on his arm and was walking her back toward Mary's. Vin stepped back into the shadows, listening quietly.

"I cannot believe your mother did that!" Belle's tone was light as she carefully stepped onto the dirt street.

"Well, my dear, you have also yet to meet my mother. She's a very interesting character." Ezra smiled slyly.

"Obviously." Belle's eyes glowed dreamily. "My mother was beautiful. Even on her death bed, she was gorgeous." Her voice got quiet as her demeanor changed. "Mary says I look like her. I think that's too great of a compliment for me."

They were quiet for a moment as they continued their walk. Ezra's heart went out to the girl; Belle was reminiscing about her mother; Vin wished he was the one guiding her reassuringly up the street.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Isabelle." Ezra stopped and turned to her. "It must have been very hard for you."

Belle shrugged. "A little. I mean, I've lived at home my whole life. I love them very much. And I miss them." A tear ran down her cheek; Vin only noticed it by the way the nearest lamp hit her face.

Ezra shifted uncomfortably. "Is there anything I can do to help you in your grieving process, Miss Isabelle?"

Belle smiled and wiped off her cheek. "I'm alright, but thank you. Shall we?"

They walked in silence to Mary's door. Ezra clasped her hand. "It has been a pleasure, Isabelle." He kissed her hand softly.

Belle smiled at him warmly. "The pleasure was all mine. And I apologize for that last episode. I didn't mean to put a sad note on the end of our night."

Ezra shook his head. "Not at all. I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to express your emotions to me."

"Thank you for understanding. Good night, Ezra." Belle opened the door and went inside.

Vin watched disappointment flood across Ezra's face. He'd been expecting a kiss, it seemed. Vin smiled as Ezra walked toward the saloon, shaking his head in disbelief. Vin would have gone after him, and taken great pleasure in taunting him, but instead he leaned against the nearest post, getting comfortable. He'd stay there all night, if he had to, just to make sure she slept undisturbed. He saw the lights extinguish inside. "It's going to be a long night…"