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certain to have every lawman within six hundred miles hunting him. Annabelle stood. She put her hands to her small hips. “That big Indian that came in earlier ready to skin yo hide, well he’s the closest thing I got to a pa left. His name is Red Sun, and he hates two things in the world, anybody that hurts me and Ms. Kitty is the first.”
    “And the second?” Jeremiah asked.
    “White men. If he sees ya, he’ll kill ya on the spot and make a belt out of that pony hair of yours.” She giggled. Jeremiah shook his head, unable to keep the smile from his face. She was so refreshingly different her charm worked at healing him better than whatever potions she put on his injury. She crossed her arms and continued. “You have ta shave, clean up, and we got to cover that hand of yours. Stay here and be hidden if he ever comes back. If you try anything and he finds out about it, you caint run fast enough or far enough to keep him off you. So don’t even think about it.”
    Jeremiah stared at her. “Is that all?”
    “Nope. Feed yer’self, bathe yer’self after this shave I give you, pretty much tend ta yer’self. I’m your nurse not your slave,” she said and emphasized the last word.
    “Why, Annabelle? Why are you my nurse? Shouldn’t you be afraid of me?” he asked.
    She dropped her hands to her hips. “I told you, I’m like my real pa. Now stay here while I go fetch the things from Red Sun’s tent to clean your face.”
    “My things!” he said sharply. “You know what they are. The gold, where is it?”
    “I’s got it,” she teased. “And you won’t have it until you’re out the door. That way I know you’ll behave.”
    With a toss of her chin she turned and marched out of the door. Jeremiah checked her handiwork and had to admit it: her nursing was curing him. He winced and got up from the cot. Holding his side he made it to the door and opened it a crack. He could see her walking over to his horse. She grabbed the top of the saddle and put her foot in the stirrup. Without assistance she heaved herself up and flung her leg over to mount Randy. He loved that horse, and that saddle belonged to his father. The animal was all he found left when he returned home from the war.
    Annabelle seemed to love the animal as well. She leaned in and whispered to it, stroking the horse’s mane. Randy didn’t let anyone ride him. He was patient and docile with her.
    Jeremiah leaned a bit to watch the bond forming between them. And then she rode out of the gates of her land. He opened the door wider as she kept on. The town was further ahead, but close enough to be seen. A town run by blacks and Indians? Possibly the safest place for him to be? That was indeed interesting.
    4.
     
     
    Cora looked up from behind the bar in time to see Annabelle push through the swinging doors of her saloon. Her arrival turned the heads of every gambler and gunslinger in the saloon. The young girl who once wondered around town trailing the mean Indian in bare feet with long braids had grown into a very beautiful young woman. In fact, Joshua and Jacob had to remind the Blue Moon’s gentlemen callers when Annabelle performed for the saloon that she wasn’t on the menu. It never went over well.
    The darkest girl in Cora’s place was Honey. Annabelle’s skin was a shade darker than hers. Flawless. Though her dress was neat and well made, the swell of her breasts and curvy hips clearly defined her hourglass figure. She was graceful when she walked, not burdened with slumped shoulders from an oppressive life or lack of confidence. Cora envied her natural beauty and presence. Annabelle wore her hair in two parted thick braids that reached just past her shoulders. She only loosened the braided hair when she performed.
    Cora shook her head. They’d have to get her married off soon. God knows Henry had tried on several occasions to catch her attention.
    Annabelle’s long lashed dark eyes swept the scattered tables of customers before