Amiville.
The sun shone in my window and I blinked at its brightness. Before I could even wake myself up properly there was a knock on the door and I went to open it. I had to blink a couple of times, not at the light outside but at the man who was standing outside my door. “Dutch... Hey there, darlin!”
“I love your cabin,” he smiled at me, speaking as if no time had passed since we’d last seen each other.
“Isn’t it great? This is the office area downstairs... I live upstairs,” I said with a wink.
“It’s very nice.”
“See there? Your book is top and center on the shelf.” I looked over at him and said, “Did I mention I’ve missed you so?”
“Did I mention I fell in love with ya the night I met you?”
“Did you...” I was amazed at the declaration. “I was so speechless that night...”
“To the point of breathlessness,” he nodded.
“I’m breath whenever you’re around... Find myself at a lost for words, ‘cause I just can’t believe we’re together at last...”
“We are, as it was meant to be I think,” he smiled that winning smile at me and I got lost in his eyes all over again.
“I always knew you were alive. I felt it. Something in my heart knew...”
“I’m glad you did. I had me doubts.”
“No one believed me... They all thought I was crazy...”
“Ya weren’t,” he said, sitting on the couch beside me as we moved to the living room. “Here I sit.”
“Indeed you do...”
“Breathin’ and everythin’.”
“There’s still just one question that remains,” I told him. “Well, two really.”
“Ask away, love. If I got the answer you’ll git ‘em.”
“You never were expectin’ to be a father, were you? Bravo just made that up to shut me up, right?”
“Not that I’m aware,” he smiled.
“That’s a relief, darlin’...”
“Oh?”
“Not that I wouldn't love a child... I just don't know if I'm the mothering type...”
“Well only if it’s a child of both our making,” he said making me blush. “I’m rather picky that way. Never had a child.”
“That’s good,” I nodded.
“If and when I do it must be right.”
“Ready for the other question...?”
“Sure.”
“Who wanted to kill you They obviously thought that Justin was you...”
“Mmhmm... Gittin’ to my question. Why they kill him?”
“Well they thought he was you...”
“That’s obvious,” he agreed.
“So someone wanted you dead. But who? And why?”
“But why would anyone kill me? I mean, damn...” he swore and I reached over and placed a hand on his thigh. “I’m lovable and stuff.”
“That ya are,” I leaned over and kissed him passionately.
“I don’t git it,” he said and kissed me back.
“What do you say I show you the rest of the place?” I asked longingly.
“I would like that Ma'am.”
“Ma’am?” I chuckled. “After all this I'm still 'ma'am'?”
He kissed me softly and said, “The best ma’am ever.”
“Follow me, darlin’,” I said, leading him upstairs.
“I will. To hell even if ya ask.”
We continued to kiss as he pinned me to the bed and we made out passionately and intently, as if the time between us had only made our affection for one another grow. Eventually we sat up and decided to go dancing at the saloon. Before we got to the saloon though, Dutch went into the marshal’s office to talk with Stacie. I waited outside and wished that I knew what they were talking about inside.
Corri came over and I smiled, telling her that Dutch and I were officially together. I showed her the necklace Dutch had given me while we had been at my house that morning and she mentioned another woman that was Dutch’s girlfriend. I was surprised, not having thought that Dutch was seeing anyone. Dutch came out of the building and I asked him who the woman was she was talking about, and he said that it was Gaide’s ex-girlfriend, Mercy Solo’s mother.
I shook my head and said, “Yer family tree has more branches on it than an octopus has legs, Dutch.”
“And?”
“So ya ain’t still with her like Corri there thinks?” I asked, confused.
“Corri knows better,” he said and I reached over to hold her hand. “Last time anyone seen her she was in Japan or some damned place.”
We went into the saloon together and as we danced, Corri told us that Clifton’s pa and her ma knew each other, and that she wasn’t a Beaumont like she thought. She said that Clifton was her brother and Dutch almost fainted of shock. I took him over to the table where we ordered a drink and Corri told us that Clifton is the Earl of Islay which makes her a countess.
“Hmm... Does that make Clif family? I can get outa jail free now, right?” Dutch asked and I chuckled.
Rosa walked into the saloon and looked around, “Hello Trin, Corri, and dun think I dun see ya, Dutchi!”
“Shit...” he swore, giving up on hiding and sat up in his chair.
“No point in hidin’ now that yer back, darlin’,” I chuckled.
“Hi Rosa. Lovely as ever, Judge,” he smiled.
“And I swear a god ya even look at me wrong and this here bottle going up somewheres you won't like,” Rosa threatened, making Dutch gulp nervously.
“What grave ya tryin’ to dig out of, darlin?” I winked at him.
“I ain’t wearin’ no gun, dear. Play nice,” Dutch requested.
“I ain’t either. I dun need a gun to put this bottle up yer backside.”
“I dun turned in my badge,” Dutch announced.
“You turned in your badge?” Corri asked, surprised.
“Rosa, I’d really rather ya didn’t do that,” he said to Rosa.
She sat at the counter and started reading, then without warning slammed the book on the counter. “Somethin’ wrong, Rosa?” I asked and Dutch cringed.
“Ain’t done with it yet, but I suspect I ain’t gonna like the ending.”
Dutch and I both crouched in our chairs and I said, “But ya gave me some good advice near the end, Rosa...”
“Weren’t my fault,” Dutch defended himself.
“And we proved we weren’t crazy...”
“Save it,” she held up her hand to me. “I will read the book.”
“Shushing now,” I chuckled.
“You’re such a lovely character, Rosa,” Dutch said. “How can a soul not just love ya blue?”
“What I trying to figure out is where the hell was yer brother that was so called suppose to come in town? If I dun see another Solo again, it will make my day.”
“Ouch,” Dutch cringed.
“Ya know, if I weren’t a judge I’d kill ya myself right now,” Rosa said pointedly.
“Can’t figure why.”
“Darlin’, a blind man could figure out why.”
“I might heckle ya some but never did anything to wrong ya.”
“Well I ain’t read the book, but I know what happened that day.”
“Keep readin’, Rosa. I told ya he explains everything.”
“And thank yer brother fer me fer not showin’ up while yer at it!” Rosa was clearly upset. Dutch glared at her, as if he knew how feisty Rosa could be. “Dun give me that look, Dutch Solo!” Rosa yelled and then she looked to me. “Is it gonna explain how I seen him as a ghost? Is it gonna explain how he told me his brothers were gonna be here and never show up? Is it gonna explain how the whole town looked at me like I was nuts?”
I looked from Rosa to Dutch, then back to Rosa and said, “They thought I was nuts too, Rosa. Remember?”
“By the way now that ya mention brothers,” Dutch started. “Anyone seen Gaide?”
“I was the one who said he’d been alive that whole time. I said it from the beginning.”
“Ta hell with Gaide, and ya can tell him I said so!” Rosa yelled.
“If I find him, I will,” he glared up at Rosa again.
She turned her back on us and I reached over to grab Dutch’s hand and he held my hand tightly. “Rosa promise me you'll keep reading... It'll end well, I assure you.”
“Like there ain’t enough going on in this town to make me sick,” Rosa said with her back still turned.
“Trin,” Dutch looked over at me. “Care for a dance?”
“I’d love to,” I stood up and followed Dutch to the dance floor.
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