Silver Belles and Stetsons

by Caroline Clemmons

  Eric ached to take her in his arms, smother her in kisses. But, she belonged to someone else now. His heart broke. If he hadn’t left, she would be his and Larissa would be theirs.

  Penny watched him leave with a heavy heart. Walt had deliberately deceived her by not passing on Eric’s message. Not hard to work out what had happened to the letters Eric claimed to have sent. Walt being on the stage, he would have easy access to the mail. He would have intercepted them, then destroyed them. Why? Because he loved her? More likely he was jealous, and he only wanted what Eric had. Once he had her, he didn’t want her. She had got used to his selfishness. He was like a child, wanted a toy someone else had, but once he got, didn’t want it anymore.

  Chapter Two

  Five years later.

  Walt watched as four horsemen rapidly approached the stage. It carried a huge amount of cash today, sixty thousand dollars. His shotgun lay across his lap.

  “What the hell?” Curly, the old driver exclaimed. His horses were trotting, the old man wouldn’t be able to slow them enough to turn the stage back to town. He hoped he might be able to run right past the four outlaws and open up some distance while they slowed their horses to turn. He cracked the whip forcing the four horses into a gallop.

  Walt reached for his shotgun but when one of the men began shooting, he ducked down under the seat. He’d never been brave.

  Curly cried out as he was hit in the chest and toppled from the stage.

  The gunfire ceased and one of the men called out, “slow those goddamn horses down, Walt.”

  Walt crawled out from where he’d been hiding, grabbed the reins and brought the horses to a stop. The four men crowded around him.

  “Jim, Shiny, Bill, Al. You were supposed to let me kill the driver. Why did ya come in shootin’? One of those bullets could have killed me.” Walt clambered down from the stage while the four men dismounted.

  “We were making sure,” Jim said. In other words, Jim knew Walt was a coward and couldn’t be counted on. “The shipment?”

  “Inside the stage. The seat lifts up and the box is underneath,” Walt answered.

  Jim nodded his head and Shiny moved to the stage. He opened the door and stepped inside. The rusty metal box was under the seat just as Walt had said. He lifted it out and dropped it to the ground at the other men’s feet.

  “How much?” Jim asked Walt.

  “Sixty thousand,” he answered.

  “I thought you said one hundred thousand?”

  “It usually is. Don’t know why it’s down this month.”

  “I told ya we should have hit the stage last month,” Bill growled.

  “I wasn’t ready,” Walt snapped.

  “You weren’t in enough debt ya mean. That gives us fifteen thousand each,” Jim told the men.

  “You’re wrong. It’s twelve thousand, Jim.” Walt corrected.

  Jim pulled his gun. “I reckon you’re the one who’s wrong. You were the one who made a mistake so you can go without.”

  “I gotta pay, Carl. I need the money.” Walt was desperate. Carl was a gambler who had no tolerance for men who owed him money. Rumor had it, he wasn’t averse to hiring a professional to solve his ‘problems’. Walt owed him almost ten thousand dollars, and if it wasn’t paid by noon the next day, he was a dead man.

  “Ya should have thought of that when ya refused to take last month’s shipment. We were ready to go. Your hesitation ain’t gonna cost us,” Jim said.

  Walt reddened in temper and lunged toward Jim. The outlaw didn’t think twice about pulling the trigger. The shot went straight through Walt’s heart and he dropped dead at Jim’s feet.

  “Jeez, boss. Was that necessary?” Shiny asked.

  “Get that money in the saddle bags. We gotta get outta here,” Jim snarled.

  Al lifted wads of money from the box and stuffed them into the men’s saddle bags. They would divide it up evenly when they got back to their hideout.

  “Do ya wanna check the driver?” Bill asked.

  “He’ll be dead. That stage was moving too fast for him to survive the fall.” Jim said as he mounted up.

  Walt’s body was left on the ground where he dropped. Buzzards circled above.

  ***

  Penny sat in her shabby living room sewing while her five year old daughter, Larissa, attempted to put a wooden puzzle together. Once finished it would depict a picture of a brown pony with white feet. The child desperately wanted a pony of her own. But, Penny, Walt and Larissa lived in a small rented house in town. There was no room for a horse, nowhere for a little girl to ride safely and no money to house one at the livery stables down the street.

  Penny hated the tears that welled in her daughter’s big grey eyes – her father’s eyes, when she tried to explain why her dream of a pony for Christmas couldn’t come true. Walt boasted that before long they would live on a ranch and the little girl could have as many ponies as her heart desired. Walt’s rash promises and boasting caused many arguments between them when Larissa was out of the room. She had begged her husband repeatedly to stop giving her daughter false hope, but he wouldn’t listen. He never listened to her.

  Walter gambled and he wasn’t a winner. He had used his charm and blond good looks to get his own way. Had done for years, but Penny knew that underneath the charming profile he presented to the world, he had a darker side. To make ends meet, put food on the table and clothes on their backs, Penny took in laundry and sewing. She hated having to do this, but there was no choice. She had made so many foolish decisions in her life, and Walt had been the biggest mistake of all.

  “Mama, look. It’s Socks.” Larissa clapped her hands then pointed at the completed puzzle on the floor in front of her.

  Penny laughed, “you have put Socks together and pulled him apart so many times, I believe you are clever enough to do that puzzle with your eyes closed.”

  Larissa hopped up from the floor and leaned over her mother. She placed her tiny hands on her mother’s knees and watched as she sewed a beautiful wedding dress for Muriel, the town socialite and snob.

  “Mama, I’m hungry,” she complained.

  “Your daddy will be home soon. The stage was due in over an hour ago so he should be here any minute. Supper is ready and we’ll have it as soon as he arrives.”

  “But, mama. I’m hungry now and it’s nearly dark outside.”

  Penny shifted her eyes to the window. It was almost dark. She hadn’t noticed as she worked with a lantern beside her so she could see the intricate stitching without straining her eyes. The light from the lamp settled over the room masking the approaching darkness and threadbare furniture. It was long past Larissa’s supper time. Where was Walt?

  “You may have a cookie, but, only one.”

  Larissa jumped up and skipped from the living room.

  Penny frowned. Walt should have been home by now. He always came home to eat before going out gambling. Apprehension washed over her. Something was wrong. Her hands t

  Larissa rushed back in with a chocolate cookie clutched in her hand. A piece already bitten off, chocolate crumbs coating her lips.

  Penny packed her sewing away. The pale lemon silk didn’t need chocolate cookie stains. Muriel would not be amused. The girl had a great deal of influence in Bare. One bad word and Penny would lose all her clients. No-one dared to cross Muriel. She most certainly couldn’t afford to fall from grace with this particular client.

  A sharp, loud rap startled Larissa and her mother. They both turned their heads towards the door. Larissa reacted first and raced from the room. Penny followed, attempting to push stray tendrils of hair back in their place.

  Turning the handle, Larissa wrenched the door open.

  Eric stood facing Penny and her daughter.

  “Finny.” Larissa launched herself into Eric’s arms, smacked a sloppy kiss on his cheek and squeezed him in a hug. The greeting she gave him was always the same. Her arms were firmly wrapped around his neck as she pulled back to look at his f
ace. Cookie crumbs decorated his cheek.

  “How’s my baby girl?” he asked. He adored this child, he felt a deep love for her which he couldn’t explain. He figured it was because she was a part of Penny. She was tall for her age with beautiful light brown hair that hung to her waist in waves. Her smile lit up her face and her grey eyes sparkled when she was happy, like her mothers’. Larissa was clever and inquisitive, always asking questions. She had what his father would have called ‘an enquiring mind.’

  “I put my puzzle together. Come and see.” Larisa wriggled to be put down.

  Eric lowered her to the floor, she grasped his hand and dragged him inside.

  As he passed Penny, their eyes locked. “We need to talk,” he said.

  His tone was serious. His eyes revealed nothing, adding to Penny’s worry. Something was wrong, every instinct she possessed, alerted her to this.

  ***

  Penny stood in the kitchen stirring a pot of beef stew. It was completely dark now and she wondered again, where Walt could be. He was notoriously unreliable, but mostly arrived on time for his meals. If she fed him, he didn’t have to spend money on food at the diner. More money for gambling.

  She heard the tap of the Marshal’s boots on the wooden floor as he returned from inspecting the puzzle. Penny swung around.

  “Come and sit.” Eric took Penny’s hand and guided her to a carved wooden chair. She sat down. He sat beside her and gathered her hands into his.

  Eric was still such a handsome man. At thirty five he was a few years older than Penny who was only twenty six. His weathered face bore witness to the time he spent outdoors. He had a spring in his step and could outrun those half his age. His muscled chest proved his fitness. She wondered why he stayed single. If only things could have been different, but she was a married woman and as such, a relationship between them was forbidden.

  “Penny,” he drew her from her pondering.

  There was a frown on his face and a somber, pity filled look, clouded his eyes. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he held hers, lines of worry etched his face.

  “Where’s Larissa?” Penny glanced around.

  “I asked her to go upstairs and play with her toys while we talk.”

  “I better check on her.” Penny’s gut told her she didn’t want to hear what Eric had to say. She admitted she didn’t and never had loved Walt but what would become of them if something happened to him?

  Eric prevented Penny from standing by squeezing her hands tighter. “She’s fine.” He inhaled noisily. “Walt’s stage was held up ten miles out of town. The money to pay the miner’s was stolen.”

  Penny gasped. “Is that why Walt is late? Is he doing the paperwork for the bank? Couldn’t it have waited instead of worrying me?”

  “Honey, I don’t know how to say this so I’m just gonna say it. Walt’s dead. One of the robbers shot him. The bullet went clean through his heart.”

  Penny didn’t hear Eric say he was sorry. Her life, although far from good was crumbling around her. She was a widow. Twenty six years old and alone. No one to turn to. Darkness descended.

  Eric caught Penny before she slid from the chair to the floor. He scooped her into his arms, strode to the sitting room and laid her down on the sofa. He spread a blanket over her and stroked her hand.

  Eric had always thought Penny was beautiful. Tall and slender but curvy where she should be with perfect sized breasts. Her silky hair hung to her waist and he loved it when she wore it down. Her brown eyes shimmered gold in the sunlight and hypnotized him. He was totally captivated by this woman. He had been from the moment they met.

  How had things gone so terribly wrong? Why hadn’t she waited? She knew how much he loved her. He’d thought about her every minute he’d been gone. Dreamed how it would be when they were married. He’d saved the money to buy his ranch. He wanted to raise their children where they could ride, run about, build a tree house and swim in the river. He now owned the ranch, ran six hundred head of cattle and the river that wound through it was perfect for swimming in. He had it all, except, he didn’t have Penny. Larissa should have been his. Walt barely acknowledged the child and his heart broke for what he had to love from afar.

  He would always regret taking the assignment that had cost him his happiness.

  Larissa burst into the room and slid to a stop when she saw her mother laid out on the sofa. “Mama!” she screamed. The toys in her arms crashed to the floor. She dashed to her mother before Eric could reach her. Her small hand patted Penny’s. “Mama, wake up.”

  Eric scooped the child onto his lap. She buried her head into his chest. Cries and sobs wracked her tiny body as she tried to make sense of it all. After a few minutes passed she stared up at the man holding her. “Why is mama dead?”

  Eric’s heart lurched in his chest. He sat Larissa back on his lap to get her attention. He patted the tears from her face. “Your mama’s not dead, baby. I had to give her some bad news and she swooned.”

  “What bad news?” she asked, wiping her eyes and runny nose on the sleeve of her dress.

  Eric reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and cleaned the little girl’s face.

  “What bad news, Finny?” she persisted.

  “Baby, it’s news your mama needs to tell you. If I told you, she’d be mighty mad and we don’t want that do we?”

  “I ’spose not. When will she wake up?”

  “Hopefully real soon. How about you give her a big kiss and see if that wakes her up?”

  Like the handsome prince in the fairy stories?

  “Yes baby, something like that.”

  “But I’m not a prince.”

  Eric laughed. “You can be the special princess that wakes up your mama.”

  Larissa hopped off his lap and moved to kneel near her mother. She brushed Penny’s face and kissed her cheek.

  Penny moaned.

  Larissa turned to Eric. Excitement lit up her face. “It’s working, Finny. Mama’s waking up.”

  Eric smiled at her excitement.

  Penny’s voice drew Larissa’s attention back. “Larissa.”

  “Yes, mama.”

  “Will you pick up your toys and take them upstairs so I can talk to Finny?”

  “Okay.” Larissa scurried around collecting her toys. She skipped from the room. Happy that her mother had recovered.

  Penny sat herself up and fixed her eyes on Eric’s face. “I’m sorry. It’s not like me to swoon.”

  “You’ve had a big shock. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “My head is spinning. How am I going to explain this to Larissa? Explain she no longer has a father. He was never a good father. Never paid her the attention she deserved but, he was the only father she knew.” She drew a handkerchief from her apron pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

  Eric moved to sit next to her but stayed silent. He mulled over Penny’s strange comment. “The only father she knew?” He wanted to take away her pain but what could he say? He’d been a bachelor all his life. He had no idea what to say to make it ‘better.’ It wasn’t the first time he’d had to break news like this to a young woman, and in his job, it certainly wouldn’t be the last. But, it was the first time he’d had to give such tragic news to the woman he loved.

  Penny sobbed harder.

  Eric gathered her into his arms and she buried her head into his chest. He rubbed his hand over her back in what he hoped was a soothing motion.

  “What am I going to do? I can’t stay here, I have no way to pay the rent. At least Walt gave me some money to cover it even if he gambled the rest away. I have a little money saved and I have the laundry and sewing but, it’s not enough. It won’t be able to provide for us for any length of time.” Her sobbing intensified.

  Before Eric could say anything, Larissa returned. She stopped in front of the adults. “Why is mama crying?”

  Penny sat back and mopped at the tears. She held her arms open and the child launched herself onto her mother’s lap. Sh
e brushed the hair from Larissa’s eyes before speaking. “Mama has had some bad news, sweetheart.”

  “Finny said that. What bad news mama?” Her eyes were fixed on her mother’s face, a frown marred her sweet little mouth.

  “You know daddy was looking after the money on the stage that was coming to town?”

  Larissa nodded.

  Penny swallowed. “Some bad men held up the stage and stole the money.”

  Larissa thought for a moment. “Did daddy get deaded?”

  “Yes, darling. The bad men shot and killed daddy.”

  Silence.

  Penny held her breath and waited for her child to burst into tears.

  Larissa turned to Eric. “Did you catch the bad men, Finny?”

  “Not yet, baby, but there are men out searching for them,” he answered. “I promise you we will get them.

  More silence. Larissa seemed to be pondering.

  Penny was still waiting for tears.

  “Will Finny be my daddy now?”

  The question shocked them. Penny and Eric exchanged startled looks. She wondered if she should tell Eric, Larissa was his child now Walt was dead. Would he even believe her? She should have told him when he’d returned to town two years ago. Would he turn his back on her? She couldn’t bear it if that happened.

  Eric’s mind was bombarded with thoughts. Thoughts he shouldn’t have. Penny was free. She could be his now. Larissa could be his like she always should have been. What kind of man thought like this when his friend hadn’t even been buried? He had the ranch. Would Penny accept his offer to live there if he asked? Was it too soon? Would it push her away if he moved too fast?

  Penny said gently, “no, darling. You don’t have a daddy now.”

  The dam burst. Tears came in torrents.

  Penny held her daughter close.

  “I want a daddy. Sarah doesn’t have a daddy and all the kids say she’s a barted. They won’t play with her. I don’t want to be a barted.” Her sobbing resumed.

  It clawed at Eric’s gut watching the woman he had loved for all of his adult life, and her daughter, so broken hearted. He’d been jealous beyond reason when he’d returned to find Penny and Walt had married. He’d been a good friend to the family although he and Walt had drifted apart. He’d persisted in retaining some form of friendship because, if he couldn’t have Penny being near her was better than nothing.