Chapter Two

      A platform had been constructed smack dab in the center of an intersection. On the four corners sat the Cattleman Hotel, a bank, the Cowboy Café and what looked like another hotel called Drover’s Place. All the buildings were wood structures, some had wood awnings and most boasted glass windows with gold lettering. Men of all sizes and dress filled the boardwalks and gathered in the streets. It appeared the entire town and its outlying residents had shown up for this momentous event.

      A cowboy band played “Sweet Nightingale” with dulcimers and fiddles as the four women and Reverend Taggart were escorted to the platform. The song reminded Leah so much of home, of afternoons and evenings in the company of her family, that her throat grew thick with tears. Her gaze met Daniel’s, and he signaled the band. The strains of that song faded away, and they played “Lincoln and Liberty.” Men’s voices joined the instruments and swelled until the singers drowned out the musicians.

      “Hurrah for the choice of the nation!

      Our chieftain so brave and so true;

      We’ll go for the great Reformation—

      For Lincoln and Liberty, too!”

      The song ended and the crowd cheered.

      Will moved to the front of the platform. Leah searched the gathering of men, easily spotting a pretty dark-haired young woman watching with rapt interest. Was she Will’s fiancée?

      “Our newest residents have had a long trip,” Will began. “So we’re going to get them settled in their rooms at the boardinghouse. Their belongings should have been delivered by now.” He turned back to their guests. “Welcome to Cowboy Creek, ladies and Reverend. We hope you’ll find your accommodations comfortable. Our town is safe for women and families. We enforce a no-gun law in town, so if any of you are carrying a weapon, you will have to check it with Sheriff Davis.”

      A rumble of male laughter rolled through the crowd at Will’s announcement. A broad-shouldered, lean-hipped fellow with a huge mustache gave a mock salute from the corner of the platform.

      “That’s our sheriff, Quincy Davis,” Will continued.

      Willowy little Pippa Neely made a show out of patting her pockets and checking the roll of reddish-gold hair on the back of her head as though searching for weapons. She peered into the beaded reticule that dangled from her elbow, then shrugged and shook her head. Even traveling by train she’d managed to make her hair and clothing look lovely. Leah had felt rumpled and dirty since the second day out of Chicago.

      The men in the crowd loved Pippa’s pantomime and laughed uproariously. The vivacious young woman had been great fun on the trip west. Always cheerful and often playful, she made the best out of every situation and had bolstered the spirits of the other passengers when the trip grew long and tiresome. Reverend Taggart just shook his head and grinned at her antics. He’d grown accustomed to Pippa’s mischievous showmanship.

      “How about you, Reverend?” someone called from the crowd. “Are you packin’ a gun?”

      The reverend raised both hands in the air as if prepared for a search.

      Daniel stepped forward. “We figured you’d be tired after the long journey, so the Cowboy Café will bring a meal to each of your rooms. After today, Aunt Mae will be planning on your eating at the boardinghouse, unless you tell her differently. Let’s go get you settled.”

      The crowd applauded as the newest residents made their way down the stairs onto the boardwalk and headed to the next block. Eden Street boasted several businesses. On the right was a telegraph, a barber and a doctor’s office. They passed the sheriff’s office and a newspaper office before reaching Aunt Mae’s boardinghouse. It wasn’t a fancy structure, but it was two stories with an abundance of windows and two sets of stairs, one leading to a balcony that covered the front of the whole upstairs and the set on the side leading to a second floor entrance. The building was freshly painted and someone had planted fledgling rose bushes on either side of the entrance.

      The short stocky woman who greeted them was every bit of sixty, with a square face. Her gray hair held a few remaining streaks of reddish brown. She wore a green dress with a white collar and white trim. When she smiled her cheeks folded into wrinkled pleats to match her lined forehead.

      “Welcome! Welcome to Cowboy Creek. Oh, just look at the lot of you. You’re as welcome here as a rain on an August day. Tell me now, who is who? You’re the reverend, of course.”

      “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

      “Shoosh now, not ma’am. Just Aunt Mae.”

      The women introduced themselves and Aunt Mae greeted them as though they were family, exclaiming over their dresses and hair.

      “You’ll meet my permanent boarders soon enough. Gus and Old Horace spend their days sitting on benches in front of the mercantile, but they never miss a meal.” She explained about meal times and continued, “There’s a bathing room beside the kitchen. You can heat water on the kitchen stove. I have a lad who brings in wood and empties the tub. I figured you’d all want baths today, so I have water ready and will keep the kettles full.”

      Aunt Mae gave them their room assignments. “Mrs. Swann, you’re on the south corner in front. Miss Hannah, you’re right beside her. The fellows carried up your trunks. There’s soap and toweling ready. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

      Hannah, looking especially tired, thanked their hostess and trudged up the stairs.

      “I’ll help you settle in, dear.” Aunt Mae gathered the hem of her skirts and followed. Pippa thanked everyone and climbed the stairs behind them.

      Leah met Daniel’s piercing green eyes. Looking at his tanned face and chestnut hair bleached gold from the sun, she noticed a few lines that hadn’t been there last time she’d seen him. He was broader and more muscled than Will, his strength unrestrained by the fabric of his neatly pressed shirt, but his features were harder, leaner than she remembered. The war had seasoned his still-handsome face, but it was now a man’s face. No doubt they’d both lived a lifetime in the years that had separated them.

      Overshadowing her relief at seeing his familiar face was a rush of regret and loss. As youngsters the three of them had been close until Will had declared his feelings for her. He had seemed a good choice for a husband. His family were merchants, and he had a head for business and figures. Daniel had been the adventurous one, the one talking about heading west and starting a ranch. Back then thoughts of the unknown seemed reckless and frightening.