by Daria Wright
“This way, ma’am,” she said, as she led Annie into a large, formal dining room. “I will alert Master Brighton that you have arrived for dinner.”
Annie smiled politely and turned to look at the splendor of the decor in the dining area. The walls were covered in rich velvet tapestries and paintings were hung all over the place. To the right was a small sitting area with a large fireplace where the men probably had brandy and cigars after dinner. Above the fireplace was a painting of what looked like Brighton and his parents. He was much younger in the canvas, and his grimace was painted on nicely; she would recognize that frown anywhere. Annie chuckled to herself and jumped at the sound of Brighton’s voice behind her. She quickly turned around to face him, but he was no longer the dirty stable hand she had met a few days ago.
“My Uncle painted that portrait and thought it was only fitting to include my infamous frown,” Brighton said, laughing. “I am sure you are starving, let’s eat.”
Brighton held out his hand, and Annie politely took it and was led to a seat at the large dining table set for two. There were all kinds of food, enough to feed an entire town, and Annie couldn’t take her eyes off of the sweet potatoes piled in the center next to the roasted pig. Brighton moved his seat next to Annie’s, since the food was blocking any face-to-face contact and they sat quietly, filling themselves after their long day.
“So,” Annie said, swallowing the bite of bread she had stuffed in her mouth. “Why, with a lifestyle like this, would you need to work as a stable hand to a big jerk like McShaw?”
“Oh,” Brighton said, as if he were preparing for a long story. “Our town Mayor and Sheriff heard about what he is doing to your town and your people, and they are outraged. We wanted a way to learn as much about him as possible without giving away our intentions. So, I volunteered to get a job with him and be their spy. My father is a major investor in this town, and so they let me sit in on meetings sometimes.”
“So,” Annie said inquisitively, “what are your intentions?”
Brighton turned towards Annie and caught her eyes with his and for a moment, neither of them moved. Annie began to fidget in her seat, and she moved her eyes back to her plate and acted as if she hadn’t noticed that moment of awkwardness where her heart nearly stood still. Brighton turned back to his plate and cleared his throat.
“Oh, um, the town’s intentions,” he said as if he had been contemplating some other intentions. “We are going to march on your town and drive McShaw back where he came from as well as arrest your Sheriff and your Mayor for treason against the people. We have just been waiting for the right moment. Tomorrow I am going to give your father the details, find out where McShaw stands, and then hopefully by the end of the day Monday, two days from now, we will have them all in a cell in the town square.”
“My father is part of this?” Annie’s eyes grew wide and filled with excitement. “So, in a couple of days, I can go back home to my family?”
“That’s the plan,” Brighton said, smiling at Annie’s enthusiasm.
Annie was more than excited, and she spent the next hour drinking wine and telling Brighton about growing up on the farm in her town. He listened intently to every word she said, and never interrupted even though in normal circumstances her talkative behavior would be frowned upon. When Brighton watched Annie talk with passion, he began to feel it, too, and was mesmerized by her enthusiasm. Eventually, however, she began to tire, and a yawn escaped her mouth as she took the last sip of her wine.
“You must be exhausted,” Brighton said as he waved for the help to come forward. “Celia will take you upstairs and assist you to bed. I will not leave until you have awoken tomorrow; I have a surprise for you.”
Annie smiled as Brighton helped her to her feet and she leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. His face turned bright red, and Celia smiled to herself as she led Annie up the stairs and to her room. When Annie entered the room, the dresses were put away, and there was a nightgown in its place. Celia helped Annie undress and get into bed, where Annie was asleep before Celia could blow out the lamp on her bedside. Annie hadn’t slept like that in years, and the sound of crickets on the window sill left a feeling of warmth in her chest as she slipped into dreams.
Chapter 6: Finding Those Blue Eyes
When Annie’s eyes opened, the sun was far above the horizon and birds playfully chirped outside her window. She stretched in her comfortable bed and lay there for a moment going over the events yesterday had brought. Normally, she would be on her way home from church with her family by now, and she wondered what her mother and father were doing this morning. Annie’s heart ached a bit as she thought about her parents being thrown from the farm and she yearned for her father’s protective hugs.
Annie’s thoughts turned to Brighton and butterflies shot through her stomach thinking about greeting him this beautiful morning. She sat up on the bed and looked over at the dressing table where Celia had placed a dress and slippers for her to wear that day. The dress was a beautiful emerald green and on the table, next to her hair brush, was the yellow ribbon Annie’s father had given her one year. She jumped out of bed and grabbed the fabric from the table and held it close to her chest; her father must have sent it with Brighton when he came to pick her up.
Annie got dressed and washed her face in the fresh basin of water that had been left for her and slowly made her way downstairs. Annie walked towards the sitting room where she was sure she would find Brighton waiting, but the room was empty, and the lamps had not been lit that day. She wandered around the enormous house until she finally came to a swinging door that she assumed belonged to the kitchen. She opened the door and found Celia standing, peeling potatoes at a small kitchen table.
“Well, good morning, Miss Annie,” Celia said kindly. “I will make you some breakfast.”
“Thank you,” Annie said with an air of disappointment. “I was wondering if you could tell me where I could find Brighton. He said he would wait until I had woken up before leaving.”
“Oh, yes,” Celia said, reaching into the front of her apron and pulling out a key. “Master Brighton told me to tell you he couldn’t bear to wake you this morning and that he had to get to town before McShaw noticed he was missing. He said to give you this key; it opens the door to your surprise. Go to the second floor and it is the third door on your left. Oh, and I will bring breakfast up to you since I have been told you probably won’t leave that room all day.”
Annie took the key with a look of suspicion at Celia’s chuckling face. She turned slowly but then bolted in excitement towards the stairs and up the bannister. She counted the rooms to her left and placed the key in the door, slowly turning the doorknob. As the door flew open, Annie couldn’t believe her eyes; it was a library full of books. There were even ladders that would allow her to climb to the top of the ten-foot bookcases to get down leather-bound copies of some of the most amazing books from all over the world.
Annie took her time picking out a stack of them and plopped down on the large armchair in the middle of the room. She became so engrossed in her books, she barely noticed Celia bring breakfast up, or lunch for that matter. Annie sat in the library all day without a thought of McShaw or the town or anything but the lines in the books she was reading. Before long, the room began to darken as the sun set and Annie stood up stretching and turning the lamp higher so that she could see the words better.
A knock came from the open doorway and Annie looked up to see Brighton standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe, smiling wide at the books that were now spread out in front of Annie on the floor. Annie, without thought, jumped up from the floor and ran across the room, throwing her arms around Brighton and hugging him tightly. Brighton stood there for a moment, taken aback by Annie’s excitement, but then wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air, squeezing her back. He sat Annie down and she blushed, realizing her excitement had gotten the best of her.
“This was,” A
nnie said panting, “the best surprise I have ever received. I could live in this room.”
“Well,” Brighton said, rubbing his head, “if I get that kind of greeting from you every day, then I’ll build you ten libraries.”
Annie and Brighton looked at each other awkwardly and then burst into laughter. Brighton motioned for Annie to follow him and he led her to a dressing room at the back of the hall. Annie stepped in, and Celia was waiting for her with a smile and a rack full of dresses.
“What is all of this?” Annie asked, confused.
“Well, since we take back your town tomorrow, I thought it would be fun if you had a real, formal dinner in the Cantori Estate before you leave us for the farm life,” Brighton said with flushed cheeks.
Annie blushed and nodded as Celia shooed Brighton away from the room and closed the door. Brighton stood patiently for what seemed like hours outside of the chamber while Celia prepared Annie for her first formal dinner. Finally, Brighton heard the doorknob turn and quickly swivelled to face the door, nervously straightening the jacket he had put on. As the door opened, so did Brighton’s mouth at the sight of Annie standing demurely in the light of the lantern.
Annie’s blonde hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders and was pulled partially back to keep from falling in her eyes. She had applied a slight rouge that made her pale skin glow and the white powder around her eyes made them seem bluer than the ocean. Annie’s dress choice was from an island south of Italy, and it was very risqué for the Old West, but she wore it with class and charm. The neckline scooped down, and the edges of the neckline barely sat on her shoulders. The dress was a sparkling blue and fell straight down to the floor. Her face shimmered brighter than the dress as she saw the look on Brighton’s face. He reached his hand out to her and tipped the edge of his brimmed black hat. Annie giggled and gently took his hand as he led her down the master staircase and into the dining hall.
The grand dining room looked even more elegant with hundreds of candles lit all across the room and the sitting area had been converted into a dance floor where three of the men Annie saw earlier gardening were now dressed and playing violins. Instead of leading Annie to the large table, Brighton kept walking towards the large glass doors at the back that led out onto the balcony. There was a small table set for two with candles stacked along the gilded railing. Annie looked up at Brighton with excitement and sat sweetly in her chair as he pushed it in underneath her.
The only male help Annie had met besides the gardeners came to the table dressed in the finest black uniform with tails, and poured Annie a glass of white wine. Annie smiled at him and took a sip of her wine, looking around her and noticing that small chandeliers had been hung in the garden below, illuminating a path she hoped she would get to walk through later. Annie turned to Brighton with an expression of excitement and gladly took his hand as he reached for it.
“Annie,” Brighton murmured. “You are such a woman. I spoke with your father at length today about you and the farm. We are leaving at dawn to take down McShaw and then you can return home.”
“That’s great news!” Annie said with excitement. “I can’t wait to see the look on his face.”
“Your father told me you would want to come,” Brighton said chuckling. “He told me not to try to stop you. McShaw put out a notice in town that he was giving you 24 hours to show up, and he would forgive you. He still thinks you are hiding in town.”
“Yeah, right,” Annie said, snorting. She put her hand up to her mouth in embarrassment realizing how forward she had spoken.
“You are like fire,” Brighton said laughing. “I have very much enjoyed the time we have spent together, and I wanted to ask if you wouldn’t mind if I stayed in town for a bit and spent a little more time with you.”
“Oh,” Annie said, surprised but pleased. “I honestly couldn’t think of anything better.”
“Wonderful,” Brighton said with excitement. “Now, I am starving. Let’s eat!”
Annie and Brighton sat on the porch, talking and laughing as they ate their dinner and drank their wine. Annie felt completely comfortable there with Brighton, the same feeling of protection she got at the farm, but with an added spark of excitement. Brighton loved how open and honest Annie was and how her spirit lit up the porch brighter than any candle he could have placed there.
After dessert, Brighton took Annie’s hand and led her down the terrace steps and into the garden that was lit as if it were an enchanted forest. They walked closely, and Brighton listened as Annie talked about her idea of love, of life, and of her future. Her eyes lit up with the candles in the moonlight and Brighton couldn’t help himself any longer. As they approached the fountain, Brighton reached for Annie’s hand and turned her towards him. He stepped in closer and Annie gulped down her nerves as he took her face in his hands. Slowly, he moved forward, meeting her lips with his, and a feeling that Annie could only have imagined erupted inside of her.
After the kiss had ended, Brighton pushed Annie’s blonde ringlets from her shoulders and sat next to her on the edge of the fountain as she gazed at the reflection of the moon in the water. They had, somewhere amidst the chaos and fear, fallen in love with each other and Annie couldn’t be happier. Brighton walked Annie back into the house and to the base of the staircase where he gently kissed her goodnight and, without a word, walked back into the study.
Annie beamed with happiness, and she nearly floated up the staircase and to her room where she quickly got dressed for bed and tucked herself into the softness. She watched the lights flickering outside of the window from the garden, and all she could think about was how she had fallen into one of the romance stories she used to read at the farm. She hugged one of the many pillows that covered the bed and watched the stars twinkle in the sky. After a few moments enveloped in her world of romance, Annie began to think about the next day and showing McShaw that he couldn’t bully her town and get away with it.
Annie thought about what would happen if things got violent, she thought about protecting her mother from all of it, and how she was so excited to see her father again. Annie knew McShaw wouldn’t go down without a fight, but she wasn’t sure about the Sheriff and the Mayor, who always seemed cowardly to Annie, even before the days of McShaw. As these thoughts streamed through her mind, she slowly fell asleep, love resonating in her chest and nervousness encompassing her mind. Tomorrow was the day she finally stood up for what was right.
Chapter 7: Annie and the Smoking Gun
Annie was up and dressed even before the service staff was moving around, except for Celia, who never seemed to sleep. Energy surged through Annie in a way she never knew before, and she wasn’t sure whether it was because she was getting ready to take her life back or because she had unexpectedly fallen in love with a blue-eyed boy from two towns over. Whatever the reason, Annie was on a mission, and she couldn’t wait to get these events started.
Annie tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen to grab an apple and some fresh water. She walked out into the garden and sat on the edge of the fountain, thinking about what her life would be like if she chose to marry Brighton. Sure, his house was beautiful, he never tried to calm her down or filter what she said, and books would be her world, but the thought of being so far away from the farm hurt her heart. Before Annie could talk herself out of love, she looked up at the terrace and saw a tall, beautiful man dressed in black pants, boots, a button-up shirt, and a tight fitting vest, all of which showed off the muscles he had gained from working out in the hot sun with McShaw for the last several months. Annie’s heart skipped a beat, and she realized none of the other stuff mattered if she could be by Brighton’s side.
As if Brighton could hear Annie’s thoughts, he zeroed in on her gingerly sitting on the edge of the fountain dressed like a cowgirl in brown riding pants and a top that resembled a corseted dress, the back flowing down past her knees. Annie’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and that same yellow ribbon was tied tightly in a bow. Anni
e could see Brighton wave at Annie, and she smiled as she took a bite of her apple. She stood up and walked towards Brighton as he ascended the staircase and jogged towards Annie with a smile. They met in the middle of the fruit tree path and their lips met without thought.
“Are you ready for this?” Brighton asked as he pulled back and looked deep into Annie’s eyes.
“I have been ready for this since McShaw stepped foot in my town,” Annie said with defiance.
Brighton and Annie grabbed their satchels of belongings and headed out to the stables to ready their horses. The sun was not yet up, and it still seemed like the middle of the night even though the birds had started to awaken and begin their morning songs. It would take a few hours to get to Annie’s parents’ farm, but Annie was looking forward to the long ride since she hadn’t been able to take her horse out in a couple of days.
They started their journey at a slow pace, making sure to save their energy for what lay ahead at the farm. The plan was to meet Annie’s father at the farm where the rest of the townsmen from Brighton’s town would congregate as well. Then they would move into the town, led by Brighton and his Sheriff, to confront McShaw and his gang of lawbreakers. Apparently, no one in Annie’s town was told about the uprising because they had reached a political point where Annie’s father, Richard, wasn’t sure whom he could trust anymore.
It wasn’t long before Annie and Brighton had accumulated a following of horses since his townsmen had caught up with them on the road. They travelled in silence down the dusty trail as the sun began to peek over the horizon. There were, surprisingly, several women in line who, after hearing of Annie’s bravery, decided they couldn’t just sit by and let this injustice ensue. Annie rode along the trail with pride beaming from her face, knowing she had inspired other women to stand up for themselves and others.
