Chapter 5

Elise hugged Nellie one last time before boarding the stagecoach.  Although she was not looking forward to the grueling journey back east, she was excited about leaving the hardships of the undeveloped west behind her.  Her father, although stern with his words, assured her she would be welcome once again in his home.  He even went so far as to send her the funds for her return passage, along with extra for necessities along the way.

Since all she had from the wardrobe she brought west with her was the traveling gown on her back when she arrived -and she had no desire to disclose to her family the simple gingham gown she wore daily that Nellie was kind enough to provide for her-  she immediately purchased a few well-made gowns, a hat, and other items to complete a modest, yet quality wardrobe.  Once she was back home, she had no doubt her father would outfit her properly so that she could return to society with her head held high.

She found it difficult to believe that only eight months had passed since she secretly became Mrs. Douglas Meacham by proxy and allowed Eliza Farnham to quietly whisk her away. It felt more like eight years.

After waving goodbye to her dear friend until she was no longer in sight, Elise settled back into the seat and closed her eyes while she remembered the comfort and luxuries of her home back east. After being forced to sleep on a thin straw and corn husk mattress for so long, she vowed to climb into the thick cotton mattress on her four-post bed and sleep for a week.

Her fellow passengers were a warm and friendly older couple.  Because they were also headed for the train station in Oklahoma City, she was confident her ride would be easy and safe.  This was not always the case with a woman traveling alone, especially on a stagecoach in the west.  Passengers of public transit were forced to ride alongside whoever happened to purchase a ticket.  She considered herself fortunate that the three of them filled the coach and there was only room for one more passenger for the duration of their journey.

Guilt crept in as she thought about leaving Nellie alone to worry about where Jake might be and when he would be getting home.  Nellie made light of the subject, but, since it was two days since he left on yet another run with the posse to hunt down the renegade Indians and still had not returned, Elise knew better than to think Nellie was not worried.  She offered to postpone her trip until Jake returned, but Nellie would not hear of it.  She pointed out that Elise’s family was eagerly awaiting her return and would be worried sick if she was not on the train as expected.  She assured her that, although Jake came home every night for supper no matter who he was with or what he was doing, she still was not worried.  She said she had a feeling in her gut that they got a good trail on the Indians and decided to just stick it out and get it over and done with once and for all. She was glad for it. Those renegades were rustling far too much of their cattle for anyone to sit quiet and let them continue.  It had to be stopped.

The horses were fresh and healthy, so the coach made good time.  They pulled into the way station at Lawton in time for a late supper of mutton stew and warm biscuits.  After a day of dusty, rutted roads with only an occasional stop to allow them to stretch their legs and relieve themselves and a small wedge of cheese, bread, and water to stave off the hunger, the stew was well received.

The drivers originally spoke of resting a few hours, changing horses, and then continuing on, but when they learned of the Indian trouble just two days earlier, they decided it was safer to wait until daylight to travel the stretch of land that would take them through Indian country. Elise and the other passengers agreed that it was better to be safe than sorry.  Even in the daylight, they ran the risk of a raid, but at least they would be able to see their surroundings in the event they had to defend themselves.  The word was that the army was in the area.  Giving them another night to search for -and hopefully capture- these renegades made sense.

The arrival of three Pinkertons brought excitement into the small way station.  When she looked into the handsome face of the very aloof Nate Kimble, Elise immediately regretted her decision to travel in the faded gingham gown and save her new clothes for her arrival in Boston.  She smoothed her bodice, skirts, and hair as inconspicuously as she could as the Pinkertons settled in.

Elise sat quietly in the corner of the large room while she observed the newcomers who were deep in conversation with the stage coach drivers and the keeper of the way station.  They all looked to be in their early to mid-twenties.  They could all claim to be handsome.

The one who was introduced as Joseph Kennedy was the shorter of the three.  His sandy hair was cut short and his face clean-shaven.  Brown eyes twinkled when he spoke, but Elise sensed there was a seriousness about him that ran deep.  Oliver Sullivan was as handsome as they came and someone she was sure was popular with the ladies wherever he went.  His blonde hair glistened in the firelight in a way that made his pale blue eyes look watery.  His thick lips moved in a way the made it look as if they wanted to kiss whoever he spoke to.  He carried his tall, slender frame with the air of an aristocrat.  Elise could easily imagine his commanding presence stealing the hearts of all the women attending one of those tedious balls she missed so much.

She found Nate Kimble to be the most striking of the three.  Even after a full day’s ride, his raven hair settled nicely along the collar of his Pinkerton coat. It was not long enough to pull back into a pique, yet it was still a good length.  Perfect brows accentuated his deep-set, crystal blue eyes, straight nose, and smooth, thin lips.  His jaw looked strong, but not square.  She was sure that, if she stood next to him, he would tower over her by at least ten inches. Of the three, he seemed the least impressed by the fact that she was amongst the company.  Where his companions tried to make polite conversation with her, he openly ignored her with an attitude that bordered on disdain.

If she lamented once about not wearing her finer traveling outfit, she lamented fifty times while she watched Nate from the corner of her eye and made polite small talk with the rest of the room.

***

“You’re being a little rude to that young widow, don’t you think?” Oliver said as he stepped out onto the porch next to Nate, rolled a cigarette and lit it.

“She’s doing fine with the rest of you,” Nate replied.

“She’s a pretty thing,” Oliver said. “Get her out of those rags and I’d bet she’d clean up right nice.”

“Don’t you have enough women to worry about?” Nate growled.

“Jealous?” Oliver chuckled.

“Fed up is more like it,” Nate replied.

“I see her looking at you,” Oliver said.

“The last thing I need is a penniless widow to contend with,” Nate scowled.  “I plan on returning east when this assignment is over.”

“What’s that got to do with it?” Oliver asked. “She’s a widow, not a maiden.  Get a good tumble from her and then go your merry way.”  When Nate simply chuckled he added, “If you don’t, I will.”

“As if she’d have your sorry ass,” Nate teased.

“She only wants you because you’re playing hard to get,” Oliver protested.  “Women seem to love that sort of thing.”

“Is that so?” Nate said as he lit one of the last of his pre-rolled cigarettes, leaned his back against the building, and raised his knee so that the sole of his boot was flat against the wall.  “I’m not playing.  After Lilith’s little game, I have no desire to get myself entangled with a female.  If I did, I can guarantee you she’d be a society woman and not some waif traveling alone on a stagecoach.”

“Oh ho!” Oliver laughed, “Getting a little uppity since your inheritance, eh, Kimble?”

“I did my fair share of mingling with Philadelphia society right alongside you,” Nate replied.  “It’s only right I want my wife to be of fine stock.  It’s not as if I was raised a waif.”

“Like Joseph?” Oliver asked.

“Now who’s uppity? His parents were respectable farmers and you know it.  He can’t help what happened,” Nate said.

“At least he still has the farm,” Oliver said as he pursed his lips together. “Those poor bastards in the south lost everything.”

“Even the high society gals came down a peg,” Nate observed.

“It makes me sad to hear how bitter you sound,” Oliver admitted.

“I’ll get over it,” Nate said as he tossed the remains of his cigarette into the night.  “The wounds are too fresh, that’s all.”

“You had a name and money before your inheritance,” Oliver said with disgust.  “It just was not enough for that gold digger.”

“Now, I could buy that husband of hers several times over,” Nate said with a chuckle.

“If that cherry only knew,” Oliver said in a tone that sounded more like he was talking to himself, than to Nate.

“She won’t,” Nate said.  “No one will until I’m ready to tell.  It only brings gold diggers on your tail.  You promised to keep your mouth shut and I expect you to honor that promise.”

“I intend to,” Oliver said as he raised his hands in the air as if to surrender.  “Shit, you’re touchy. Go grab that widow and get yourself a piece.  It’ll relax you.”

“A woman shouldn’t be traveling alone,” Nate said with disgust. “Not a proper woman, anyway.”

“She’s not with that old couple?” Oliver said with surprise.’

“I don’t think so, but maybe she is,” Nate said with a shrug.

“I hope not,” Oliver said as he rubbed his hands together with anticipation.

“You’re a dog.  You surprise me with your attitude toward women,” Nate scowled.  “Remember, you’re a Pinkerton.”

“No harm if she’s willing.  Easy is as easy does,” Oliver said with a light-hearted tone. 

“Providing she’s easy,” Nate said.

Oliver adjusted his pants in the crotch and mumbled, “I could use some relief.”

“You only left that girl two days ago,” Nate said with surprise.’

“She wasn’t easy,” Oliver said with a smirk and a shrug.