Chapter Thirty-Six: Leaving Town

Since Obi was busy running errands he was being fairly secretive about, I was the one who was retrieving the horses who'd been boarded in the stables on the corner for the past few days. I had carefully wrapped the two lovely purple dresses Obi had made for me and placed them in the bottom of my saddlebag.

Our bedding was rolled up and tied behind the saddles and the rifles put into the scabbards. I had my new pistol in my holster attached by a long chain that hooked to my belt. I was once again in my traveling skirt, vest, and hat, and was amazed at how comfortable I was to be dressed this way again. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed dressing up and looking feminine again, but on the trail, wearing the outfit I had on, I didn't have to worry about it getting dirty, sweaty, or stained.

I had stepped back inside to check on Quinn who was trying his best to scratch the bottom of his foot – the one on his injured leg. I volunteered to help, though had to use a lone spur lying on his desk to do so.

"Thank you!" he breathed out heavily in relief.

"Do you know when Obi will be back?" I asked him.

"He mentioned something about checking on some posts and stopping by the telegraph office, why?"

I wasn't sure. I was feeling a little on edge like something was telling me we needed to get out of town. "No reason," I assured him.

I stepped back outside into the street near the horses to check for his return, only to see Martha walking my way. She was once again bearing gifts, which I had no doubt was food for the Marshall. However, the items this time were wrapped in a towel, and she stopped and handed it to me.

"These are for your trip. Some fresh flapjacks, dried pork, and a little honey. Matthew told me what you're trying to do and I pray ye' will be safe."

I smiled kindly at the woman and surprised her by embracing her warmly. "Thank you. Someday, I hope we can return and things will be different. Maybe by that time, you'll have knocked some sense into that lawman and convinced him to take you to the altar."

Martha chuckled in my ear and released me. Her smile was as attractive as she was and I thought she and the Marshall would make a handsome couple.

"I'm working on it. Many a change takes place on an unlikely day. I'm not about to give up."

"Don't," I encouraged her. "A husband that is so easily caught, often isn't worth catching," I assured her, although she probably knew more about such things than I did. "Obi certainly took his time and I wouldn't give him up for anything in this world."

"You two look out for each other and I'll watch out for this one."

"Go on in," I tried to persuade her. "He's a little cranky, but only because I think he's tired of sitting around doing nothing."

Martha smiled again and took my advice. I turned away from her just in time to see Obi making his way down the street toward me. He didn't look worried, so I imagined there was nothing for me to worry about either.

"I've got us all packed and ready," I informed him once he strode up and kissed my cheek.

"You didn't have to go to all that trouble. I would've helped."

"That's okay. I'm feeling a little anxious and just ready to go, I guess."

Obi's grin was somewhat lopsided and sympathetic, but I knew he felt the same. I liked this town, but as long as there was a bounty on my head, I didn't feel necessarily safe here.

"Let me go tell Quinn we're leaving," he told me, his boots stomping across the porch.

I watched as he opened the jail door, only to shut it again quietly and rush back to my side.

"On second thought, let's just go. He's already expecting us to leave. I'll send a telegraph as soon as we get the chance to let him know how we are."

My interest was piqued. "Why? What's going on?"

Before he answered, Obi mounted Banjo. I did the same and was sitting astride Diamond before he answered me.

"Remember your wish of him marrying that widowed hotel owner?"

"Martha? Yes. She went in to check on him a few minutes ago to make sure he's doing okay."

"Oh, he's doing okay," Obi told me, blushing slightly. "He may be a little out of breath, but trust me, he's doing just fine."

I smiled with playful curiosity as I clicked my tongue to urge Diamond forward. "They weren't…" I stammered, unsure how to word my question without sounding crass. "You know…participating in amorous congress…were they?"

Obi chuckled and glanced at me comically. "Amorous congress? Do you mean, taking a flyer? Was she riding St. George? Or perhaps he was buttering her bread?"

"Stop it!" I laughed, swatting him with the loose end of the reins. "Where on earth did you grow up? In a brothel?"

"I hung around Matthew Quinn quite often if that gives you some idea," he told me. "Other than that, I was pretty much on my own. And to answer your question; No, they weren't having amorous congress. They were merely kissing."

"Oh," I stated, my exuberance somewhat deflated. "Well, that's a start. She's a patient woman."

"She'll have to be," Obi stated. "The man is made of marble."

"Maybe we had an effect on him," I argued as we rode beneath trees, forcing us to lower our heads.

"He's in his fifties and most men who want to be married have already gotten married by now. Martha's going to have her hands full."

"I think she realizes that," I argued. "Just as I realized what I was getting into when I said yes to you!"

"Oh, really? Compared to Marshall Quinn, I figured I was simple!"

"Simple, you say? You toss your boots around and leave your gunbelt the first place you drop it. Some changes will have to be made as soon as we have children. I won't have my babies shooting guns at each other before they learn how to walk."

I didn't realize that Diamond and I were riding alone for a little while, but once I did, stopped him to glance back.

Obi looked shocked. Afraid even. Were there bandits in the woods? Did I miss something?

"Are you…expecting?" he asked, looking as if he'd swallowed a bug or something.

"No, not yet, but someday."

"Oh," he answered with too much relief for my comfort and prodded Banjo with his boot. "Don't get me wrong. I'm looking forward to having a family, but not right now. Not until I can provide them a proper home."

"Good," I sighed myself. "I thought there for a second that you weren't happy with the idea."

"Of course I am. I can't wait to see what our kids look like. Hopefully, they'll take after you and they'll be beautiful."

A day rarely passed without Obi telling me how attractive he thought I was, or how much he loved me. I was a lucky woman.