Chapter 9

Belle spent all day in her room, crying her eyes out. Mary could hear her but the door was locked and Belle wouldn't let her in. It broke her heart to hear her sister being so tormented, but she couldn't help until Belle wanted her to. Buck returned with Billy close to sunset, arms full of fish the two of them had caught. She asked him if Belle had been alright that morning when he picked up Billy.

"Why, yes, Mrs. Travis. It was darn near the prettiest scene I ever did see."

"Excuse me?" Mary was very confused.

"Why, Miss Belle was cooking breakfast. Billy was sitting at the table, cutting into a pile of flapjacks and looking like he was really enjoying them too, with syrup all over his face. And Mr. Vin Tanner was sitting there next to Billy, sipping a cup of coffee. Looked quite homey in here." Buck smiled at her.

"Mr. Tanner was here?" She watched Buck nod. "Did he leave with you?" Again she watched Buck, but this time he shook his head no. "Maybe he can tell me what happened to Belle. Would you mind watching over Billy for a while, while I run over to the Sheriff's office and talk to Vin?"

"Not at all, Mrs. Travis. It would be my pleasure." He tipped his hat to her.

Mary nodded and grabbed her shawl by the door. She kissed Billy's head and told him to be good, then left the house. She was desperately hoping Vin could tell her what had made Belle so very upset. She wasn't usually this emotional.

Mary reached the Sheriff's office in record time and walked purposefully to the desk where Vin was seated. His feet were on the top of the desk and he was reclining back in the chair. He appeared to be taking a nap. Mary tried clearing her throat to get his attention. When that didn't work, she said his name.

"Mr. Tanner?"

Vin sat upright quickly and looked up at her. "Mrs. Travis. What can I do for you, ma'am?"

Mary smiled and got directly to the point. "Was my sister all right when you left her this morning?"

"Ma'am?" Vin was nervous about the direction this conversation was headed.

"I know you were eating breakfast with Billy and Belle this morning. Buck told me when he brought Billy home. The reason I ask is because Belle has locked herself in her room and has been crying for as long as I have been home, at least. I was wondering, since you were the last person with my sister, was she all right when you left her?" Mary hated to think ill of Vin, but she had a sneaking suspicion that he had something to do with her sister's tears.

Vin cleared his throat. "Actually, Mrs. Travis, she pushed me out the door and slammed it in my face not ten minutes after Billy and Buck left."

"Pardon?" Mary couldn't imagine Belle being so rude.

"We had some words and I upset her. We were talking about the situation with Charlotte." Vin's face got red. "And I got a little defensive. And she got defensive right back. And she told me she never wanted to speak to me again and pushed me out the door and locked it behind me. I tried to get her to open the door and talk to me, but she wouldn't do it." Vin looked sheepish. "Has she really been crying all morning?"

Mary nodded. "Apparently, since you left. I can't get her to talk to me at all. All I hear is sobbing coming from behind her door."

"I'm awfully sorry, Mrs. Travis." Vin stood up and shifted uncomfortably. He didn't mean to make her this upset. He didn't mean to upset her at all. "Can I do anything to help?"

"Perhaps. Would you be willing to come over to the house and try to talk to her? Maybe apologize?" It couldn't hurt to try. Belle might even still be mad at Vin and want to confront him some more, which would at least get the door open.

Vin rubbed the back of his neck. "I suppose I could try. But, Mrs. Travis, she was really serious this morning about not wanting to talk to me, so I'm not sure how much this will help."

Mary smiled warmly. "Just trying is enough. Can you come now?"

"Of course." Vin grabbed his coat and followed Mary out of the building and toward her home.

Vin had no idea how he was going to get her to open the door. She would probably open it long enough to throw something at him. He still wasn't even sure about what he did. He walked into the Travis home and saw Buck playing cowboys with Billy. His friend smiled at him encouragingly.

"Has there been any change, Buck?" Mary looked frantic for good news.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Travis, but she wouldn't come out for me. Billy even tried."

Billy looked up at his mother. "Why is Aunt Belle crying?"

Mary squatted down and brushed his hair out of his face. "Aunt Belle and Vin got into a fight. And Vin came to apologize and try to make her feel better."

Billy looked up at Vin and he smiled down at the little man. "I forgot to apologize before."

Billy stared straight into his eyes. "Please make her stop crying. It makes me sad too."

Vin sighed and nodded at him. "I'll sure try, Billy."

Vin left the room and went up the stairs to where Belle's room was. As he got closer to the top of the stairway, he heard her sobs get louder. Each one was like a knife in his heart. He could understand why Billy wanted her to stop crying: it would kill him, too, to be in this house with her crying that way. He reached the door and knocked softly. Belle made no notice of it. He tried again.

"Miss Belle? Won't you come out, please? Your sister's worried sick and your nephew is almost in tears."

Belle stopped crying abruptly and jumped off the bed. She stood behind the door; Vin could see her shadow under the doorway.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Tanner? I thought I said I never wanted to speak to you again."

"Well, you aren't doing a very good job of that, are ya?" Vin had to smile. "Why are you crying?"

"Girls cry." Belle did not want to let him know that pushing him out of her life had been the hardest thing she had ever done. It killed her, ignoring his pleas when she had slammed the door in his face. She couldn't believe how easily she had just given in when he knocked on her door, how happy hearing his voice made her feel. No one should have this power over her.

"Belle," Vin whispered. "Please, open the door. Talk to me. I'm sorry about what happened earlier. Just please tell me what's wrong."

Belle put a hand over her mouth to keep down a sob. She couldn't give in to him. She couldn't bring herself to face him after all she had said. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Please go away."

"Not until you talk to me." Vin crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall.

"Well, then you'll be waiting a while, Mr. Tanner." Belle mirrored his motions on her side of the door.

"So be it." Vin continued his casual lean. He wasn't giving up this time. It had to be a good sign, didn't it, that she stopped crying to talk to him, when she hadn't for anyone else?

Belle bit her lip and stared apprehensively at the door. She was being silly and she knew it. She should just resolve this quickly and get back to her life. Once he was gone, they could put this whole thing behind them and she could move on, perhaps to California. Belle sighed, and unlocked the door, opening it and seeing Vin. "What can I help you with?"

Vin's heart broke when he saw her tear-streaked face. His arms dropped to his sides and he had to fight desperately to not grab her and hold her tightly. He cleared his throat. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Belle smiled softly and felt in her skirt pocket for a hanky. "I must look horrible."

Vin took a step toward her and wiped one of her cheeks clean gently. He saw her eyelids flicker subtly, as if she was fighting the urge to close them. He felt her ragged breath on his nearby his fingertips.

Belle felt her heartbeat quicken as Vin brushed off her cheek. Her was the sensitive man she'd been looking for; the Vin Tanner she had come here to find. She had to break away; he couldn't find out what she was hiding. But it was too late.

"I'm the one, aren't I?" Vin's voice was still a whisper, the realization dawning in his eyes.

Belle moved her head, facing another direction and avoiding his gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about." She went to move away, but Vin grabbed her upper arms.

"You do know, Belle." He pulled her close. He wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her fast, the other brushing off her other cheek, then slowly moving up her face to stroke her soft hair. "It's me." He locked eyes with her. "Thank God."

And then Vin leaned in and kissed her.