by Linda Bridey
“Right. You live in a tipi. You don’t need furniture,” she said with a self-deprecating smile.
“No. I have no need for it.”
“Don’t you get tired of sleeping on the floor? Sitting on the floor?” she asked.
“No. It’s how we’re raised and I prefer it to sitting on chairs or swings,” he said with a smile.
“I might be safer in a tipi since there’s no furniture to trip on,” she said.
He laughed. “Yes. That might be a good idea.”
“What’s it like sleeping in a tipi?”
“You should come sleep in Uncle Dean’s tipi and find out,” Raven said.
“I couldn’t do that,” she said.
“Sure you could. We’ve got everything you need.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He nodded. “Ok. I have to go to my other job now. Have a good night,” he said and stood up.
“You, too. How’s your horse?” she asked as she grasped his hand to prevent him from leaving just yet. A little thrill ran through her as their hands made contact.
“He will be fine in a few days. It is just a sprain. I have a different horse tonight,” he said. He enjoyed the feel of her hand in his.
“Oh, good. I’m glad he’ll be all right. I hope it doesn’t rain tonight,” she said.
Sudden impulse took hold of Raven. He tightened his hand around hers and tugged a little. “Come with me tonight.”
The unexpected request greatly surprised her. “What?”
“Get your banjo and come with me. It is early. I don’t know why Will dropped you off already. You will be bored sitting here at home with Auntie. Come with me. Joe will be singing. You will have a good time,” Raven insisted.
Zoe grinned. “Ok. I’ll be right back.”
“Do not run. I don’t want you to sprain your ankle or something.”
She giggled and went inside. After giving Pricilla and John a brief greeting, she hurried upstairs and retrieved her banjo. Zoe was half afraid that Raven would leave without her, but he was waiting when she left the house.
“Ok. I’m ready. Wait. I don’t have a horse,” she said.
“It’s ok. We can ride double.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Yes. Come. I don’t want to be late.”
“Ok.”
She followed him down to the horse and he mounted.
“Give me your banjo,” he said and took it from her. “Use the stirrup and I will lift you the rest of the way up so you can ride in back of me.”
She had no fear that he would drop her as she remembered how easily he had picked her up last night. Putting her foot in the stirrup, she took his arm and was quickly swung up in back of him. Instinctively, she put her arms around his waist and marveled at how solid he felt. She scooted herself closer since she didn’t want to slide off the horse’s rump onto the ground.
“All set?” Raven asked.
“Yes.”
He kept the horse to a walk until they got farther from town and the road was mainly rut-free. Raven found that he wanted to hold her hand, but didn’t. He tried to ignore the fact that she was pressed tightly against him, but he didn’t completely succeed. She shifted a little and he almost groaned, but caught himself in time. He began to wonder what had come over him that he insisted she come along. Suddenly he felt guilty because she was supposed to be Will’s. He also didn’t know how Will would feel about her going off to the bar with him.
Then he told himself that they were just two friends, and he was trying to show her a nice time. Raven sighed as he admonished himself for trying to lie to himself. The fact was that he found her cute and yet beautiful with her auburn hair that reminded him of the flame of a fire and eyes the color of storm clouds. He didn’t understand Will. He knew he shouldn’t judge, but if she had been here for him, he wouldn’t let her go home until very late because he would want to spend as much time as possible with her.
Her thighs pressed into the backs of his and created a stirring of desire within him and he sighed. Why did he have to want a woman who was off-limits to him, and why was it so soon after meeting her? He urged the horse into a canter, his intent to get to the Watering Hole as quickly as possible.
*****
As soon as Zoe walked into the Watering Hole, she fell in love with it. Raven introduced her to Jake, half-owner and bartender extraordinaire. Jake gave her a friendly greeting and a sarsaparilla on the house. Raven led her into the main barroom and she stared around wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Zoe tried to take everything in at once, but it was impossible. The stage area drew her attention first. Two pianos stood on either side of the stage. One was a beat up upright while the other was a beautifully crafted baby grand. Zoe walked up onstage without any self-consciousness and ran a hand over the upright and experimentally hit a couple of keys. Despite the piano being old and well-used, it had great sound quality and she could tell that it was kept in excellent condition.
The baby grand was spectacular and she didn’t even let herself touch it for fear of hurting it. Someone put a hand on her shoulder. She started and gave a little cry. She turned to see a very handsome man holding a hand over his chest. His hazel eyes regarded her with amusement and the grin he gave her captivated her.
“Dear Lord, you scared me as bad as I did you, I think. Sorry about that, ma’am.”
She laughed. “That’s all right.”
“I’m Joe Dwyer and you must be Zoe, judging by the banjo case you’ve got there,” Joe said.
“That’s me.” She liked his drawl and how smartly he was dressed. “That’s a very nice suit.”
“Why thank you, Miss Zoe. That’s very nice of you to say so. You look very pretty, yourself. You remind me of Jamie with all that rich auburn hair, but you’re taller,” Joe said.
“Thanks.” She blushed at his complement. “This is a wonderful place. I’m so excited to be here.”
“You are just full of compliments,” Joe said. “Thanks, again. Jake did a heck of a job with it, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did. I’ve never been in a saloon before, but I love it already,” she said.
He laughed at her enthusiasm. “I’m very happy to hear you say that. So did you come to play or just watch? I’m hoping it’s the former since you brought your banjo along. Seth has been singing your praises.”
“I hope I live up to your expectations.”
“If Seth says your playing is excellent, then it is. He always knows what he’s talkin’ about when it comes to music,” Joe said. “Where’s your man?”
“You mean Will?”
“Yeah. Is he here?” Joe asked.
“No. He, um, couldn’t make it tonight, but he’ll be here Thursday night,” she said.
“Oh. Did you come alone?” he asked.
“No. Raven brought me. He thought I’d like to play,” Zoe replied.
Joe grinned. “So one of my very brave braves brought me a banjo player. I’ll have to thank him.”
“A what?”
“Very brave brave.”
Zoe ran that through her mind a moment and then said, “Oh! I get it. That’s funny.”
Joe laughed. “It’s what I’ve called his cousin, Reckless, ever since I met him. Well, I’ll let you get settled at a table. My wife, Lacey, is here. You could sit with her. I don’t know that you want to sit at the bouncers’ table. It might not be a good idea.”
“Ok. Thank you.”
“She’s right over there,” Joe said pointing at a table and waving at the pretty woman sitting at it. She waved back.
Zoe could tell that the two of them were very in love. “Thanks, Joe.”
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Zoe approached the table with a smile. “Hi, I’m Zoe.”
“Nice to meet you, Zoe. Have a seat,” Lacey said, patting a chair beside her.
“Thanks.” Zoe liked Lacey’s pretty brown eyes and dark brown hair. “Joe seems like a
fun guy.”
“Oh, he’s that all right,” Lacey said with a smile. “You’ll see. He’s really excited about you playing.”
“Me, too.”
Raven appeared beside her followed by another brave, who wasn’t quite as tall as Raven.
“You must be Reckless,” she said standing up.
Reckless smiled. “Yes, and you are the lady who gets stuck in porch swings.”
Zoe smacked Raven in the stomach with the back of her hand. “Do you have to tell everyone?”
The two of them laughed.
Reckless said, “Jack told me.”
“You were very quick to blame me,” Raven said. “You should apologize.”
Zoe said, “Not on your life. Just because you didn’t tell him doesn’t mean you didn’t tell someone else already.”
Raven smiled. “I might have.”
“I knew it. I don’t think I like you anymore,” she said feigning hurt feelings.
Reckless laughed. “Many people feel like that after only knowing him a little while.”
Raven frowned at him and shoved him a little. Far from intimidated, Reckless laughed.
“So you are Joe’s very brave braves, huh?” Zoe said.
Reckless grinned. “Yes and my sister is his very brave bravette. We don’t really have such a thing in our culture. He made up the word.”
“Why does he call her that?”
“Because she acts more like a brave than a maiden. She’s much happier hunting and fighting. She is doing neither right now since she had a baby last month,” Reckless said. “Congratulations, Uncle Reckless,” Zoe said with a smile.
“Thank you,” Reckless responded. “She had a girl and they named her Star.”
Raven said, “My sister, Winona, has yet to find a husband. She will make a good wife. She spoils our father. Have you decided what you will make him?”
“Yes, but I’m not telling you,” Zoe said as an arm came around her shoulders and she looked up at Seth.
“I thought we weren’t gonna see you until Thursday?” he asked. “Not that I’m complainin’ any, mind you.”
“Raven said I should come play so here I am,” she said.
“I’m glad he did. Where’s Will?”
“At home,” Raven said. “I thought she would have more fun here than with Auntie and John.”
Seth laughed. “Yeah, they’re not the most exciting people.”
“She is too young to go to bed at eight,” Raven said.
“There are some times I think I’m too old not to,” Seth said stretching his back.
Reckless said, “Stop whining. You are no older than Uncle Black Fox.”
“Yeah, but I think he’s in better shape than me,” Seth said. “Well, gentlemen, I’m gonna steal this lovely young lady and we’re gonna go warm up.”
*****
Even just hearing Zoe warm up gave Joe pleasure. He hadn’t heard a really good banjo player in a while and Zoe certainly fell into that category. Seth caught his eye and arched an eyebrow at him. Joe grinned in response as Zoe went over a difficult piece of playing just to limber up her fingers.
“Joey!” The mayor turned to see Jamie running over to him. She kissed him and said, “I see you found Zoe. Good.”
“Raven brought her so we could give her a try,” Joe said.
“Good man, that Raven,” Jamie said as she waved to the bouncers who were roaming the barroom.
Luke came up on stage and purposely kicked Seth’s boot to make him mess up the scale he was playing.
“Knock it off, Junior,” Seth said.
“You know, I could kill Rick for startin’ that,” Luke said.
Joe grunted. “I could just kill Rick period. He better not come sauntering in here with that rat tonight. He doesn’t work here anymore so he has no reason to bring it.”
Zoe stopped playing. “Rat? Someone brings a rat here?”
Luke chuckled. “No. Our friend Rick used to work here as a bouncer and he used a ferret to help keep the peace. It’s hard to explain.”
Seth said, “I’m with Joe. I hate that thing. It looks at you with those beady little eyes and you just know it wants to bite ya.”
Jamie tried to contain her laughter, but couldn’t. “Two big, strong men afraid of a little ferret. I’m sorry, fellas, but it’s hilarious.”
Seth glowered at her. “Hilarious until it latches on to someone. I’ve seen him sic it on guys before. It’s vicious.”
Joe shivered and said, “Ok. We gotta stop talkin’ about this or I’m not gonna be able to sing.”
Zoe said, “You let me know if he comes in here. I don’t know what a ferret is, but I don’t think I want to.”
“Smart girl,” Joe said. “Ok, Zoe, are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she said, suddenly gripped by nerves.
Seth reached out an arm and pulled her chair closer to him with her still in it. “Don’t worry. You’ll be just fine. Just pretend we’re sittin’ in Tessa’s place like we were the other day.”
“All right.”
“Now, look,” Joe said, “I’ll introduce you before we play, ok?”
Zoe nodded.
He patted her shoulder. “Good girl.”
Seth leaned over and said to Zoe, “Now you’ll get to see why he’s mayor, among other reasons. It’s ‘cause he knows how to run his mouth real good.”
She had to muffle a giggle.
“Hey, folks! Quiet down there! Have we got a treat for you tonight! She comes to us all the way from Wisconsin and plays a damn mean banjo. I present to you, Miss Zoe Fontaine!”
Zoe stood and curtsied a little while the crowd cheered and stomped. She sat down with a big smile on her face. Looking over at Seth, who winked at her, she laughed and got ready.
*****
Reckless kept watch on the barroom, but though rowdy, no one was fighting or arguing. Most people were either clapping along with the music or dancing. Raven roamed around between the tables, but he really didn’t need to. Still, it was his job, so he did it. Reckless’ eyes shifted quickly between his cousin and the redheaded banjo player on the stage.
He’d noticed how Raven’s eyes returned to her again and again, and it made him uneasy. Every so often, he’d catch a small, slightly lopsided smile on his cousin’s face that Reckless recognized. It usually signaled that Raven was attracted to someone, and that his cousin might be attracted to Zoe would spell nothing but trouble. Wakan Tanka knew their family didn’t need any more trouble than they’d already had.
Reckless also knew that if he were to talk to Raven about it, it would only push him in the wrong direction. Raven was more daring with women than Reckless had ever been, and he enjoyed himself with them. That Zoe had come to marry Will might or might not stop Raven from making a huge mistake.
There was only one person outside of Raven’s father who could make him see reason; their cousin Mike. The problem was that Mike wasn’t due to come home from college until next month when the summer break started. Reckless sighed. He didn’t have Mike’s level of influence over Raven. Reckless tried to think like Mike, tried to find the right words, but it was no use. The best thing for him to do right now was stay still about it until action was needed. He would have to keep an eye on the situation.
*****
Zoe was enthralled by being surrounded by musicians who shared her passion and she had more of a sense of belonging than she’d ever felt before. While she might not be graceful on her feet, except when ice skating, her fingers were nimble on her banjo and created music that brought others joy.
She was too caught up in performing to notice Raven’s perusal of her. Seth and Luke smiled at her often, letting her know that she was playing well. Jamie and Joe also offered her praise in the form of smiles and winks.
When they took a break, Joe turned around and said, “Zoe, you are a breath of fresh air and we’re fortunate to have you with us.”
“Thank you. I’m having the time of my
life!” she said.
Seth patted her shoulder and said, “I knew you would. C’mon and let me buy you a drink.”
“All right.” She followed Seth to the bar and sat by him.
Jake grinned at her and said, “That was some fine playin’, Zoe. You’ve got real talent.”
“Thanks, Jake,” she said and watched as he sat a shot glass in front of her. He poured her some whiskey. “I don’t know if I can drink that.”
Seth nudged it over to her and said, “Just one. Sip it. We don’t need you too drunk to play.”
“I’ve never had whiskey,” she said and took a tiny sip. She coughed a little and Seth laughed.
“Go easy on it,” he said. “So your pa taught you how to play, huh? Does he know you’re here?”
Zoe shook her head. “Nope. He and my mother are divorced.”
That made Seth’s eyebrows rise. “Divorced? What for?”
“He ran off with another woman and abandoned Mother and me,” Zoe said and looked down at her drink.
Anger burned within Seth upon hearing her words. What kind of man does that to not only his wife, but a sweet kid like her? I don’t blame her mother one bit. Damn his hide, wherever he is. “Well, he’s missing out, Zoe. Don’t worry about it none.”
“I don’t really anymore. We had to go on with our lives and now I’m here,” Zoe said with a smile.
“I’m glad you are and I’m sure Will is, too,” Seth said.
Zoe nodded. “That’s what he tells me.”
“Good.”
Zoe finished her drink and thanked Seth. She went to the restroom and then went to stand outside for some fresh air. It was warm in the bar and the cooler air felt good. She looked up at the moon and smiled. The fact that it was out meant there wouldn’t be any rain for the ride home. She was having such a good time playing and was happy that everyone thought she played well.
The door opened behind her and Joe said, “Hey, there, Miss Fontaine. Are you having a good time?”
“I am,” she said.
“Good enough that you’d like to make it a permanent arrangement?” Joe asked with a grin.
She looked up at him and said, “Yes!”
“Well, that was easy,” Joe said. “I usually have a harder time talkin’ people into stuff. I wish they were all as easily convinced as you are. Let’s go back and do the next set and then we’ll talk money, ok?”
