chapter 3

Ian sat on the porch

whittling a small stick, Audrey quietly made her way to him and sat down by him

on the step wrapped up in the blanket still with bed head and sleepy eyes. Ian

chuckled at her then quickly turned his gaze away when she was looking at him.

Ian cleared his throat and threw the stick down beside him and finally said,

“Well we only really have a few days to clear your father’s name, where do we

go from here? Where was he tried?” Audrey woke right up and wrapped her arms

around Ian’s neck, “Oh really Ian! You’re going to help me! What made you

change your mind?”

He tried to pull away

from her with no luck and replied, “I gotta do one good deed in my life, might

as well do it now so I don’t have to do it later.” “Oh, thank you, Ian! Thank

you so much! You won’t regret it!” She pulled Ian to him and planted a big kiss

on his cheek and jumped up, “I gotta get dressed I will be ready in a few

moments I won’t slow you down I promise!” Finally getting to his feet Ian

walked back into the little house and went for his coat. His shirt was tattered

and ripped up the back from the storm last night; it was his only good shirt he

owned and hoped that the coat would protect his back from any more bad weather

since his shirt was of no good use anymore.

He was cursing himself

when Audrey walked up and tapped him on the shoulder and handed him something.

“I found a whole chest of clothing. Try it on it may fit. I found a couple of

lovely dresses if you don’t mind me bringing them along with us.” She smiled up

at him when he took the shirt and tried it on. It was a little large for him

but that was good for traveling in his mind. Audrey put the dresses down on the

table they were cornflower blue, golden yellow with brown flowers, and green

with stripes. He began to wonder who these people were when she came back from

the little room she was in and put down two more shirts and two pairs of pants

and a pair of long johns. “I ain’t wearing no man’s britches sister. I’ll take

his shirt and pants but I gotta draw the line somewhere.”

She chuckled at him and

placed them on the bed. Grabbed a blanket and wrapped up all the clothes in it

and gave it to Ian to tie to the back of the saddle. Climbing up onto the

saddle he helped Audrey on behind him, the dress she had on was similar to the

one that got destroyed in the storms it was a little darker blue with white

dots on it and sleeves that stopped at her elbows. Ian thought it to be a

tasteful dress, he didn’t like the ones with poofy shoulders or sleeves to the

wrist he liked to see a little skin even if it wasn’t in the chest area. He

noticed she added the apron to her outfit as well probably trying to protect

the dress as much as possible when it came to being out in the open and rain

and dust.

They had made it a great

distance by the time the sun was above them in the sky. Finding a shady spot to

rest Ian dismounted and helped Audrey down and removed the saddle from Caesar’s

back for a break. “So now that we are part of this campaign where are we

going?” Ian finally said after completing his chores. “Fort Collins.”

“Colorado?! Seriously? That’s six days away sweetheart! I don’t have that kind

of money to get us there!” Audrey sat silently on the log by the brush and then

smiled after a moment. “I can pay you for all your troubles once we get to

Colorado, that’s where my inheritance is as well as information on my father.”

Ian scratched his head

pushing his Stetson farther back on his head; “You can’t pay me if you don’t

get married before getting that inheritance so it will be all for nothing on my

end.” Ian grew quiet for a moment, “Unless I turn you over to your step-father

and he gives me that five grand on your head.” Audrey jumped up, “You wouldn’t

dare! You said you’d help me!” Five grand would be nice to have and would be

more than enough to get him to D.C. to find his brother and let him know about

who was behind the shooting of Harrison. A telegram would be easier but it

would be nice to see Nick face to face again after three years.

He frowned at the thought

of his brother fighting for the Union and doing nothing to save him from

prison. Audrey was beside him hitting him in the arm and chest when he came out

of his thoughts. He grabbed her arms to stop her from hitting him. “I know I

know I said I would help you and I will now stop hitting me.” As they began to

argue Caesar began to walk away from them, looking at each other and then back

at the horse they decided it would be smart to follow him. Caesar had heard the

creek even though all their shouting and went down to drink. “I’ll go grab the

saddlebag you gather up some dry wood and we can make camp closer to the water

away from the path. It will be safer.” He said back to her as he made his way

to their initial resting spot. “What was your father doing at Fort Collins

anyway?” “He was there on business far as I know but other than that I know

nothing of his doings. I know his lawyer is there and his will.” She added as

she handed him a few small branches.

“Branches darling, not

twigs this ain’t gonna keep a fire going all night,” Ian replied breaking one

of the twigs in half. Audrey turned red and went for more wood, Ian pulled his

coffee pot out and frying pan and looked for a little food he had left in the pouch.

“We need to get to a town and get supplies.” He said to her once she came back

with an arm full of branches. “I can see about catching a fish or two I only

have one slab of salt pork left and that won’t feed us.” She put the branches

down and watched him get to his feet and disappear. The sun was nearing the tops

of the mountains when Ian returned to their little camp with a single fish and

rabbit. “It’s not much but it will get us through the night.”

He replied as he made his

way back into the camp and watched her face, “We’ve been here all day I told

you I wouldn’t be a bother to you so why are we camping out all day?” Audrey

sat quietly with her head in her hands waiting for his reply. He cleaned and

gutted his catches and put them over the fire. Taking a deep breath in and

pulling out his cup and pouring the coffee into it looked up at her. “We were

being watched when we left the little house so I wanted to get off the road and

hide for a while. That’s why I was gone so long I was making sure that our

tracks were covered.” “Do you think it’s the people Clifford sent after me?” “I

don’t know. You’ve got such a huge bounty on your head and a target on your

back I didn’t want to take any chances.”

Audrey smiled at him he

did care but she wouldn’t make a big deal about it for him. “I am going to go

wash up, I won’t belong,” Audrey said as she got up and gathered her clothing.

Ian pretended not to care, but he watched her walk towards the water and

disappear behind the bushes. Getting a smug expression on his face he downed

his coffee and followed her. If I can’t touch, I can at least look. He thought

as he chuckled to himself and snuck his way over to her bathing area. He

watched silently as she removed her layers and tried to get in the water in one

swift motion. It was freezing and he laughed to himself when he heard her scream

from the cold. Ian looked up at the sky like he did the night before, the stars

filled the sky as the sun was still setting and it painted the sky pinks

oranges, and purples then turned black and the stars glowed brightly. It was

quiet except for the peepers and the crackling of their little fire. The small

splashes Audrey made helped Ian feel at peace.

He closed his eyes and

listened as much as he wanted to enjoy the view the silence was all that he

ever wished for, in his head it was always loud here it was calm it had been

quiet since she came crashing through Hershel’s doors the other day and he

wanted to savor the silence as much as possible. He heard Audrey coming out of

the water and Caesar clopping around and branches breaking. Opening his eyes

immediately he looked around the area for Audrey and saw her at the bank and

two lanterns on the other side of the creek coming their way, he jumped up and

raced to her as quietly as possible grabbing her around the waist and covering

her mouth he had her and her belongings in the bushes before she could think

twice.

“Shh! Someone is coming.

Look.” He held her close to him when the lanterns came to the water’s edge. It

was an elderly couple and their dog getting water for the night. They watched

them for a while in silence until the lantern light vanished back into the

woods. Audrey pulled his hand off her mouth, “Could you please release me?”

“Why would I do that?” He grinned, she could hear the enjoyment in his voice,

“Because you are holding me and I am not covered, I need to get dressed.” “Now

why would you want to do that? I am greatly enjoying this moment with you.” He

gave her a bit of a squeeze when he was finished taunting her. “Ian I am cold!”

Ian wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him as closely as possible,

“Then I guess I will keep you warm then!” “Ian… My breasts!” she screamed

trying to wiggle her way out of his grasp, he was enjoying himself too much to

see the real struggle she was putting up to be free of him.

They sat motionless in

the bush for a while longer the silence around them was defining, Ian softly

moved her hair from her neck to the side of her destroying the barrier between

them. He leaned forward and kissed her neck and shoulder as tenderly as he

could, the kisses made her frantic and her hair stand on end. Her breathing

became erratic and her skin grew hot where he touched her with his lips,

panicking she pushed away from him and ran back to their little camp in the

safety of their firelight. Ian gave her some time to get dressed and forget

about their brief moment together before he rejoined her at the camp. He looked

down at her wrapped in her blanket fiddling with her hair, she refused to look

at him. He got the hint and leaned up against his saddle and covered his eyes

with his hat and folded his arms across his chest and slept on the opposite

side of the campfire.

The morning came on them in

deep reds and purples with a little chill in the air, it brought with it

hooting and hollering from a large group approaching the little camp. Audrey

popped up from under the blanket and smacked Ian in the face when she heard the

pounding of a bunch of horses coming towards them. “Ian! Ian wake up!” Ian shot

up and pulled his gun on her, she pushed it out of her face and lifted his hat

off his eyes. “What!?” She covered his mouth hearing the horses coming he

jumped up and kicked dirt over the smoldering fire and grabbed her to her feet,

“Get everything packed up and I’ll see if they will follow my tracks, I will be

back just pack up quickly and I’ll lead them away.”

Audrey grabbed his arm

before he tried to leave her, “Please come back for me!” He leaned down and planted

a kiss on her lips and ran down to the water to his Morgan and jumped on his

back and took off upstream. Audrey had the saddlebags packed quickly and the

blanket and their clothes wrapped up and ready to leave she hid out near the

water just to be safe. As she hunkered down waiting for him, she realized that

two men had made their way down to the steam before she could think of an

escape.

One man was large and had

a face that was entirely beard and his companion was the complete opposite,

scrawny and hairless and his clothes hung off him like he hadn’t eaten in

decades. They splashed around in the water and began to vocalize their disdain

for their leader. “If I gotta hear one more order from that idiot Major I swear

to Christ I’m gonna shoot him myself.” The larger man said throwing water on

his face. The scrawnier man stood in front of her hiding spot and dropped his

pants to his ankles and began urinating. “I dunno, I reckon he ain’t that bad.

I mean I get paid every month and I gets to go buy things I like.”

The bigger man bent over

the water and began to sniff. He did not enjoy what he was smelling and looked

over to his friend, “God damn it, Fred! I’m washing my face here go piss

somewhere else!” He yelled throwing a large stone at the man with his pants

still around his ankles. “I was just peeing. What’s your issues, Paul?” “Your

piss smells awful you need to get that check! God damn it! Now I gotta wash up

again.”

He yelled throwing

another rock at his companion it went past him and hit Audrey in the forehead.

“Hey, Paul did you hear that?” Audrey covered her mouth after she let out a cry

of pain. Making his way back to the camp Ian stopped in his tracks when he saw

the two men. Realizing they were right on her hiding spot Ian thought quick and

made it up around them and before he could do anything to help Audrey, he heard

another man yelling for the two by the water. “Carter! Miller! Get your asses back

up here now and back into formation! This break wasn’t for you to wash your

asses!”

The two men stopped feet

from Audrey and glared at one another. “I really hate that man,” Paul growled

as he turned and pulled Fred with him back to the one yelling. He had his hands

on his hips and wore his army blues and looked as if he had never seen a day of

hard work in his life. Ian rolled his eyes he hated men like this, didn’t know

how to fight or command, had the cleanest uniforms and the brownest noses. Ian

waited impatiently for the platoon to move on before he made his way back down

to the creek bed. “It’s clear. Come on out.”

Trying to carry

everything out with her from her hiding spot Ian jumped down from Caesar’s back

and grabbed up the saddle and bags and belongings from her. Looking at how

pitiful she looked with her hair a mess from the branches and twigs he turned

to his saddlebag and pulled his canteen out and poured it over her face and

wiped the blood from her forehead. “I took a rock to the face.” He smiled at

her, “I know and you did well staying quiet too; lord only knows what they

would have done to you if they got their hands on you.” Audrey rubbed her right

arm and looked away from him. “Not only do we have to worry about Clifford’s

men we have to worry about the army as well.”

“Why do you say that?”

Ian asked closing up his bag, he turned to her and turned her face to his, “You

don’t like them.” She replied, “I have my reasons for not liking them but they

are the ones that command these lands and are supposed to keep it safe some men

are just evil and will take advantage of anyone. Especially a woman alone in

the wilderness. Don’t look at me like that I didn’t do anything wrong I did my

job as a soldier and that was that.” “I was told Confederate soldiers were

arrested and tried for treason after the war.” “Maybe some but I got outta

dodge as fast as I could and made it out here. Besides my brother wouldn’t let

any of those assholes arrest me anyway, he’s one of them over in D.C. and he’d

stop them.”

Ian winked at her then

helped her onto the saddle and climbed up behind her and took off from the

little creek and followed the mountain range north. By the time the sun was

going down Ian thought it would be good to stop again the wind was beginning to

pick up and it was cold, they were on the outskirts of a town about a mile

away. “You don’t want to sleep in a bed tonight?” Audrey asked trying to

stretch and pop her back. “I have enough money to get us supplies not a room,”

Ian said squatting down feeling around in his bag. “Well, I am tired of

sleeping on the ground I want to sleep in a bed.”

“Well sweetheart start

walking, you may be able to get a bed but I sure as hell won’t.” He grinned at

her, she pushed past him and unrolled the blanket and the clothing she had

gotten at the house and pulled out a little pouch, and threw it at him. He eyed

her as he opened the little pouch and produced three large broaches covered in

diamonds with a large ruby, emerald, and sapphire in the middle of each of

them. “Where did you get these?” He questioned holding one up to get it in the

light better. “I found them in the chest when I was looking for clothing. Do

you think that will get us a room and a bath?”

“Honey, you could

probably buy the whole hotel with these,” Ian replied still looking at the

broaches. Audrey pulled on Ian’s arm begging him to take them to town, her only

convincing was of Caesar getting food brushed down and a clean stall for the

night at the livery. “We need to take these to the pawnshop,” Ian said once

they got on the main street walking towards the town’s hotel. He pulled out the

sapphire broach and kept the other two covered and placed them back in her

hands. “Don’t want anyone seeing what we got or we may get robbed.”

He whispered to her.

“Where should I go waiting for you?” “Come with me you can look around while I

work something out with the owner,” Ian replied putting his hand on her back

and pushing her into the pawnshop. Ian went right to the counter and Audrey

walked around looking at all the trinkets and photographs that were on display

or in cabinets. She enjoyed the glass items and bronze sculptures and feathered

headpieces of the native Indian war chiefs that were probably stolen… “That was

traded to me!” The old man yelled as she got close to the headpiece. “Don’t you

touch it either!” Audrey took a step back, Ian and the man turned back to each

other, “Damn women always touching stuff. You’d think they’d learn by now not

to do that.”

The old man harped; Ian

smiled at the man trying to agree with him to get a better than a fair deal for

the trinket. “Your wife really wants to trade this?” the old man questioned.

“Uh. Yes, we were robbed on the trip out here and that was all we had left of

our belongings and she’s quite set on sleeping in a hotel tonight.” The old man

looked Ian up and down a few times and shrugged. “None my problem but I don’t

have much to trade this is a very good piece you got here. Give me a moment

I’ll be back.”

Ian turned to watch

Audrey as she slinked around the small room trying not to knock anything over

with her dress skirts. She had to touch everything she saw. It was like

watching a child seeing something shiny and new for the first time. The old man

returned and barked at her and she jumped and knocked several items off of a

desk breaking them all. Her face was blood red when she looked up to face Ian,

she quickly made her way out of the small shop and waited for him by the door.

“That’s gonna cost you.” The old man growled. Ian wasn’t surprised but still

made out with a pile of money that would get them to Fort Collins and back

several times.

Opening the door and catching up to Audrey at the end

of the sidewalk he grabbed up her arm and strolled her to the hotel. “We can

get a room and dinner tonight once we get cleaned up. I’ll order you a bath

once I go back down.” Ian placed their belongings in the doorway of their

little hotel room. It was nice forest green wallpaper covered the walls with a

just as dark quilt on the bed. The floors creaked as they walked in it had

enough space for the tub that would be brought up shortly and a chair and small

table alongside the bed.

“It’s only for one night

so don’t get too excited over it,” Ian said sarcastically. “I won’t. I’m just

so glad to not be sleeping outside for once on this trip.” Audrey replied as

she sat down on the bed. The springs were not new in the bed and she sank right

in and got stuck in it. Ian chuckled at her and grabbed her arms and pulled her

out with such force that she fell into his chest. Looking up from his chest to

his face hers began to glow red hot as she realized that she was touching his

bare chest.

She panicked and gave a

good shove to get out of his grasp, “I’ll meet you in an hour?” Audrey nodded

and he grabbed up the spare clothes and made his way to the door. The room was

nice once she looked around it again this time taking her time to really look

at it. The one window was adjacent to the bed and the wallpaper had more

details on it than she previously noticed with outlines of lilies and Japanese

cranes. She was pulled out of her study by a rapid knocking at her door when

several people rushed in with a tub and buckets of water; they left as quickly

as they appeared with no word. Audrey didn’t think much of it and stripped down

and climbed into the warm bath; moments later the old woman that came in

directing where everything should go grabbed up her clothes and took them out

leaving a few towels behind for her.

This was much needed

after the first few days of this journey and Audrey was not going to let it go

to waste. She sat in the tub until her fingers and toes began to prune and then

she remembered what Ian had said, rushing out of the bath she toweled off and

dressed in one of the dresses she had found at the house. The golden yellow one

was her favorite and put it on as quickly as she could and managed to find some

pins to put up her hair in a bun on the top of her head. Looking in the mirror

she frowned. ‘I look like an old maid.’ She thought to herself and undid her bun,

now she looked like a child she began to panic then heard the clock chime in

the hall and gave up and put her hair in a quick braid and ran to the door.

Ian looked at the clock

on the wall and downed his second whiskey. He had only been standing there for

fifteen minutes but his nerves were getting to him. He had been around her for

a few days now why was getting a bath and cleaning up to eat a real dinner so

nerve wreaking to him. Hearing fumbling down the stairs he already knew it was

his companion trying to make it on time. “Ian! I am so sorry I am late I didn’t

mean to keep you waiting!”

He finished his last gulp

and took her arm, “I made reservations before you went up so we should be able

to eat quickly.” He said as she was flattening the front of her dress to look

presentable for dinner. Ordering dinner for the both of them Ian had his

whiskey refilled and was studying Audrey as he sipped his drink. She sat

opposite him at the table and she was playing with the table cloth, she seemed

anxious and uncomfortable and he was glad he wasn’t the only one feeling that

way.

When their dinners were

set before them Ian started to eat, he had ordered the roasted duck with mashed

potatoes and green beans and dinner roll slathered in gravy he was in heaven. Halfway

through his mindless eating, he looked up to see Audrey still staring behind

him and twisting the table cloth. Now he was alone with his anxiousness as he

watched her and she was somewhere else. He very much enjoyed the cornflower

blue dress she wore but the golden yellow one suited her well with her dark

blonde hair framing her face bright blue eyes she was a sight he enjoyed

looking at.

She had probably never

seen a hard day’s work in her life or even slept on the ground before let alone

the frontier and it wouldn’t even show if she had lived out there her whole

life. She was simple in her pleasures and understanding of his silence and ignorance

when it came to caring for another human which he gave her all the credit for

and even only after a few days he thought that he knew and understood her, he

had never felt that way with another human, not even his brother or Harrison.

“Audrey, honey what is going on?” Ian asked in his best manners trying to break

her trance. “The painting.” He turned to see what she was talking about when

the waiter walked back up to offer them dessert.

The waiter noticed what

she was looking at and told her it was of the owner and his partner who

established the town. He put the pitcher of water down on their table and

walked away. Ian looked at the picture of the two men and then back to Audrey.

“What’s wrong?” “That’s my father and step-father.” Audrey left her place at

their table and walked over to it and glared at it for a long while, other

diners started whispering about how weird she was and it was unusual for a lady

to act like that.

Ian paid the bill and

made his way over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders and told her it

was time to go. Making it up the stairs to their room Audrey just stood in the

doorway looking into the green room like she had never seen it before. “I…I

didn’t eat dinner.” She said after a moment. Ian pushed her into the room, “I

had them take it back to the kitchen and send it up with dessert here in a few

minutes. Do you want to tell me what that was all about?”

He asked taking off his

vest and hanging it over the chair. Audrey still stood still in the middle of

the room. Ian unbuttoned his shirt and his pants; he had eaten too much and

crossed his legs waiting for her to answer him. “Come sit down honey and talk

to me I cannot help you if I don’t know what is going on in that tiny little

head of yours.” Without thinking about it she walked over to him and sat on the

edge of the bed. “I didn’t even know my dad and Clifford knew each other let

alone were friends.”

She finally said with her

hands on her knees, she looked at Ian as if he had the answers. Ian put his

hands behind his head and yawned, “Maybe they were friends before you were born

and Clifford stole your mom from your dad.” Audrey glared at him. “I doubt it.

There were another couple of men in the picture but I didn’t know who they were.

I wonder if they had anything to do with my fathers’ conviction?” Ian shrugged

and got up and got the door when he heard a knock on it.

A young boy came in with

her dinner and dessert plates. “I guess that’s my cue for the night.” Ian

tipped the boy and grabbed his vest. “You aren’t staying here?” Ian grinned at

her. “You want me to stay with you in the same bed?” “We slept together out

there.” She replied without thought he grinned at her, “It’s not the same

sweetheart. I won’t be as protective of you in here as I was out there.” “Why

not?” She questioned as her eyes grew larger. “Because you will get more than

just a kiss if I stay here.” Her face grew bright red and she tried to cover

her cheeks with her hands. Ian chuckled and closed the door behind him and made

his way down the stairs back to the dining room, he wanted to take a look at

this painting that made such a huge impact on their dinner.

The dining room had all

but emptied for the night and Ian had the room to himself. Walking up to the

painting he saw Clifford with the big belly and the man on the left of the

painting was Audrey’s father but who were the men in the back? Why would there

be a painting of these men anyway thinking Ian said Audrey said her father was

in Colorado why would he be out here. Ian turned and grabbed a lantern off one

of the tables near him and held it up to the painting and almost dropped the

lantern.

Hearing a commotion, the

hotel manager walked over to Ian to see what the noise was about. “You alright

son?” He asked as Ian turned around pale as a ghost. “I…um got startled when I

saw the painting. I did not mean to alarm anyone.” Ian replied trying to catch

his breath. The man looked at the painting with Ian and sighed. “The two men in

front were business partners, David Claymont and Clifford MacDavonson. The men

in the background are Ted Macomber, myself…” He paused for a moment then smiled

softly, “My lover Harry.”

 Ian looked back at the painting. “What

happened to them?” The man watched him for a moment longer. “Clifford and David

got into some pretty big fights when we were all out here looking to get rich.

Harry and I were going to try to start up a town and bring people in, the train

would be coming through here within two years and he thought it would be a

great way to settle the west and make a good life.” The old man rubbed the back

of his neck. “David and Harry had found a mine and realized it was covered in gold

they swore to not tell Clifford or Ted due to their huge gambling debts they

racked up back east that needed to be settled. They agreed to split all costs

and fortunes between each other fifty-fifty and become business partners and

run Clifford and Ted off.”

Ian looked back at the

old man and then back at the painting. “What happened? Why are you sad?”

“Clifford and Ted figured out their plans and were furious and wanted to get

revenge on them and take everything from them. This was a year after they had

found the gold, Harry and I had already started the process of building the

hotel and livery.” Ian watched as it pained the man to bring up such details of

his past. “Clifford attacked them at the mine with Ted and several other thugs

he hired, and all I know is Ted was killed and Harry barely got away with the

skin on his neck, he came to me and told me to run with him. I told him I

couldn’t leave what we created, this was our home and I had our first guests

and even was able to hire on help. Harry left in the middle of the night before

anyone knew what had happened to David or Ted and what Clifford had done.”

The old man eyed Ian, “It

was a while before I found out what Clifford had done. With Harry gone,

Clifford told the Sheriff that David killed Ted and Harry and took off with the

gold. They were on the run for a bunch of years I don’t know whatever happened

to David but I know Harry was doing well he wrote me once about a terrible

issue he came across one night on the planes and took in two boys.” Ian

chuckled. “I got the notice of his murder five years ago and almost sold the

place.” The old man wiped his tears away. “David was arrested shortly after the

murder and was hung two years later, I tried to stop it but no one would

believe me. Some anonymous tip to several marshals in the connecting states

found David up in Colorado and hung him without trial.”

Ian watched the man get a

hold of his emotions after a moment. “Why would you tell me all of this? I am a

stranger to you.” The old man ignored Ian’s comment and walked back to the

parlor; Ian followed a few steps behind him. “I’m not stupid son. I saw your

last name and put two and two together.” Ian gave him a sheepish grin. “And the

woman?” “Is David’s daughter, I’d know those eyes and nose anywhere.” The old

man smirked; Ian kicked the bottom of the desk for a moment then looked back at

the man in front of him. “As much as I want to talk about Harrison, I need to

keep her safe… I don’t think her father killed pop.”

The old man shook his head

‘no’ in agreement. “There is another issue to this as well,” Ian said shaking

his hat at the old man. “Clifford is her step-father.” The old man’s eyes grew

large. “I…” The man was cut off when a huge crack of thunder shook the

establishment and spooked them both when the doors flew open and someone was in

the entranceway drenched from the rain. “YOU ASSHOLE!” Came the growl out of

the wet figure, Ian and the man looked at each other then back at the door.

Audrey was drenched so through that she could barely walk with how heavy her

dress was and stomped her way to Ian’s side and dropped her skirts on his dry

boots and pants. “Every time it rains you always find a way to get soaked and

force me to get wet with you.”

He put his hands on her

soaked shoulders and pushed her out of his space. The old man went for a few

towels. “What were you doing outside?” Ian asked as he moved her bangs out of

her face, “You didn’t hear the banging upstairs? I broke a lamp and the table

in there when someone came through the window into the room!” “You broke my

table?” The old man whined out as she ripped the towel from his grasp. “How did

you not hear me?” She repeated, Ian scratched his head and looked up at the ceiling

to avoid eye contact with her. “I just assumed someone was having a good time.”

He glanced back down at

her and grinned.” She was clearly not amused by his statement. Clearing his

throat Ian changed the subject. “Well since you’re here now, I found out some

information about that painting but I guess you were finding out some other

information.” The look on Audrey’s face could kill a man at that moment and she

reached up grabbed his collar and pulled him down nose to nose with her, “The

men from the posse found us, Ian! We need to leave!” The old man looked at her

and studied her for a moment. “Your David’s only daughter huh?”

Audrey grew silent. “It’s

ok doll you can talk to him, he’s on our side.” “I…Am his only child. My

brother Eric died in the war.” The old man bent down behind the desk and pulled

out a pile of wrapped letters and untied the string holding them together and

laid them all out on the desk. “Your father and I were in correspondence for

years, once your brother passed, he ran from the army out here that was the

last letters I got from him but he did talk about his beautiful daughter’s

birthday on the 3rd of April hoping to see her before he fled west.”

Audrey was confused. “I was born on the 24th of April. My birthday

has always been celebrated on the 24th ever since I was four years

old…When my mother remarried and became Clifford’s wife.” The old man shook his

head. “The 3rd is tomorrow.” “Your inheritance will be

lost if you don’t get married!” Ian and Audrey began to panic, Clifford was

going to get everything for lying about her birthday. “What do I do I didn’t

solve my father’s murder! How can I get married after that promise and now it’s

too late to get married and all of my father’s hard work will go to Clifford

and my mother and I will be left with nothing!” Audrey put her hands on her

head and began to pace the room. “I believe I can help with that.” The old man

finally said after a few more outbursts from Audrey, “You can? I’ll do anything

to save my father’s fortune and hard work!”

“The reverend Jacob

Taylor owes me a favor; I can have him here in five minutes and marry you.”

Audrey looked at him in awe, “You can? But who would I marry?!” The old man

rolled his eyes at her comment, “You can marry Ian, or I can get the local

drunk Ludwick Coy, who by the way smells like a barn.” Audrey’s face glowed

bright red as she stared at the two men, watching the old man walk out the back

of the room she still faced Ian. “Am I no better than the town drunk?” Ian

asked not looking at her, “Don’t play with my emotions Ian you don’t want to

get married you even said that you were not thrilled with helping me! That I

was more of a nuisance to you than anything!”

She began to pace again.

He smiled softly at her. He did say that but she had ties to Harrison that

couldn’t be overlooked and keeping her by his side he could help her stay safe

from her step-father and still get all the information he needed. He stopped

her in the center of the room placing his hands on her shoulders and held eye

contact with her. “I… I think it would be in our best interest to do this.

Clifford already lied to you about your birthday, he won’t know if you get

married and we can catch him off guard, I’m guessing he is already on his way

to Fort Collins to get the inheritance. Plus, once we get to Fort Collins you

will have a copy of the wedding certificate with the date on it to make it

legal and binding to your father’s wishes.”

Ian backed off a little

bit, “Besides I didn’t say I hated you, I’ve been keeping my distance because I

don’t want to keep my hands off of you. I didn’t think you’d appreciate getting

groped every time I got close to you.” Audrey pushed her bangs back a little

and looked up at him, noticing more of his facial features and characteristics,

she liked the stubble she didn’t notice at dinner let alone the last few nights

they were together, or the scar on his left cheek. He was covered in scars and

realized that he had lived a hard life, she frowned at him.

Had he even known a

peaceful day at all in his life? Would being married give him that bit of normalization

that he needed? He survived the war and lived through that hell, being married

was a totally different animal than both of them didn’t even think about. A

twinkle in his green eyes came out when he smiled. He didn’t smile much but he

was doing this for her, not for the inheritance but for her sake, maybe this

would be good if they get to Colorado and fix everything if he wants to go on

his way after he will be fine to do so she wouldn’t need his help then… that is

if he didn’t want to stay with her. The silence around them was broken when the

old Priest cleared his throat. “I’m only doing this for a favor so the two of

you better get over here or I’m leaving, I hate being woken up this late.”

Ian and Audrey shuffled

over to the man in black and were given their vows and signed a paper as

quickly as the Priest could get them to sign it and he was gone. Ian ran after

him to talk after the ceremony. Audrey stood silently in the parlor with the

owner. He looked down at her wringing her hands together and walked over to her

and gathered her hands in his. “I had this ring made when I was with my

husband. I know it is not spoken of but there it is. Give this to Ian it is

sentimental to him.” “I had no idea.” The old man smiled at her, “You will when

the time comes.”

 He left Audrey’s side when Ian came back to

join them. “Did you at least get her a ring?” The old man asked Ian looked at

him like a child. “No this was kind of spur of the moment…We can get one on the

way out of town in the morning.” “We are leaving?” Audrey asked spinning around

to face Ian, he pulled on his suspenders and grinned at her. “I got a bone to

pick with that new father-in-law I just gained, might be a mighty good time to

meet him.” Audrey folded her arms, “Do you think he had anything to do with my

fathers’ conviction?” “I sure do, and a lot more.”

Audrey rubbed her arms

again then looked up at her husband, “I need to go pack I still have the

dresses upstairs.” “We don’t have time for it we will get you new dresses when

we get to Fort Collins.” He grabbed her hand and started to pull her out the

door, “Ian wait!” she stopped him in his tracks and handed him the wedding

band. “The old man said this may be sentimental to you and wanted you to have

it.” Ian smiled at it and had her put it on his left ring finger. Opening the

door to the hotel they were stopped in their tracks by a large bull of a man.

“Clifford?” Audrey whispered as Ian backed up pushing her into the wall behind

him out of the way of the large man.

He had pushed his way

through the door and stopped and looked at Ian and the tiny head that was

peering up from behind him. “Is she by any chance named Audrey Claymont I was

told she was staying here.” the monstrous man bellowed, “Nope this is Daisy

Florence and we just leaving BYE!” Ian replied pulling her out from behind him

and pushing her through the door. The man grabbed Ian by the shoulder with his

big hand Ian peeked back at the man over his shoulder, “What’s your name

friend?” The bull asked, “My name? Its Uh… Mick… Yeah, Micky Florence nice to

meet you pal but the missus and I need to be going, have a good night!”

They made it around the corner

and hid in between two buildings that were adjacent to the livery. Ian squatted

down behind the building near some barrels and rubbed both sides of his face

trying to figure out what to do. “I don’t know how many men Clifford has

working for him,” Audrey replied folding her arms. He looked up at her and

realized she was freezing she had dropped the towels while they were in the

hotel.

He took his coat off and

threw it around her. “I’m going to cause a distraction.” Ian glanced over at

the livery. “I’m gonna get Caesar and then make it up from there.” Ian began to

move when Audrey stopped him, “You’re just going to wing it?” “What else am I

supposed to do? You need to get to Colorado and I need to find Clifford I think

he is the one that took out Harrison not your father. If I can delay him as

much as possible you can get to the fort before Clifford and not have any

issues between the lawyer and your father’s will.”

Audrey was shocked to

hear that Ian believed Clifford to do something like that. Clifford was an

idiot but he never acted like a killer. “Here is the bag with the broaches in

it and a ticket to get on the coach to get to Beaver Creek it’s a day away from

here I can meet up with you there, it leaves in three hours if you can hide

until it gets here get on it and go.”  “Ian stop!” Audrey yelled after him as he ran over to the livery and

disappeared inside.

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