Walkers Creek - A Western

'So nobody ever tried to rob the bank?'

'Do you plan on trying Mr. Tanner?'

'Maybe.' He says with a wink and a smile.

'Well then it'd only be fair to warn you that the sheriff has plenty of men.'

'A dozen deputies,' says Mr. Keyes.

'And you don't see too many of them about, but they're watching. They know you're here and are better at guessing where you're from and what you're up to than Mr. Keyes and me. You mark my words, if you really were here to rob the bank, you'd...' the barber trails off as the door jingles and man in a smart brown suit and an impressive mustache comes in.

'Morning Mr. Humby,' says Mr. Keyes.

'Morning Keyes,' says the new arrival in a deep and slightly too loud voice.

'I think we're done here.' The barber snatches the last of the towels from around Logan's neck. Taking his cue, Logan gets up from the chair and pulls out some coins to pay for the shave. 'Oh, don't worry Mr. Tanner you can pay me next time.' he says with a conspiratorial smile.

'Wait a moment,' says the mayor, a devious looking smile on his face. Logan stops, one hand on the door. 'If you're going to be robbing our bank Mr. Tanner, you can at least do it with a decent hat.'

Logan looks down at the battered hat in his hand with a little embarrassment and wonders how much of his conversation had been overheard.

'Take yourself down to Mannion's store at the end of the street. Tell him I sent you,' the mayor adds, chuckling to himself as he settles into the barber's chair.

A new hat would certainly seem to be in order if everyone was mentioning it. Logan can see he isn't going to make the right impression at the wealthy hotel with this old thing, even after a good shave. So he thanks the mayor for his advice and goes looking for Mannion's store.

CHAPTER FOUR

'Ah Miss Nixon! Hello.'

Emily smiles and returns the greeting to the store owner as she steps in through the door.

'Are they still tormenting that poor dog out there?'

'I'm afraid so, although to be honest, I think the dog's enjoying it as much as they are.'

'You could be right.' he says, perching his spectacles back on the end of his nose. 'Do come in. Let's take a look at you. Well now you're looking mighty fine today if I may say so.'

'Why thank you Mr. Mannion.'

'A lovely dress...'

'You should be less free with your compliments Mr. Mannion if you want me to buy anything new.' She laughs. She has come here first to be certain of a nice welcome from at least one person in Walkers Creek. Mannion hasn't disappointed.

'Was there anything in particular you came in for today? A new hat perhaps?' The front window of the store is filled with a fine array of hats of all sizes and colors. That is to say hats that would look good on a ranch hand, not on a lady.

'Do you think you have any hats that will suit me?'

Mannion laughs, the smile reaching to his eyes. 'Perhaps I have something new from San Francisco. I'll pop in back and take a look.'

She is used to this routine. There are plenty of hats and boots, and a few rolls of cloth in the front of the store. He keeps the best stock out at the back so that he can have the luxury of choosing which of his favorite customers gets to look at it first. There are wealthier customers in Walkers Creek, but her friendship with Mannion is based on more than just how many dresses she buys.

'Mr. Mannion, please come back. I didn't really come here for a dress.'

'Miss Nixon, you sound rather serious all of a sudden, is everything alright?'

'Come here, I want to show you something.' She beckons him to the front of the store.

'Those children out there? You're not pining after children of your own again are you Miss?'

She shakes her head, but he's right, she does wish for children of her own.

'That's just as well because you know no man will offer to marry you all the while Mr. Humby is pursuing you.'

'No, no, it's not that. It's a different sort of pursuit. I'm certain someone followed me from the ranch this morning. I want to show him to you when he rides past so you can tell me I'm not imagining him.'

'Is this about that business with McLaren? Tell me that wasn't you was it? That wasn't your doing, blowing up his house?'

'If people think it was my doing, and that works in my favor, then I'm not going to be wasting my breath telling them otherwise. The ranch is mine and it'll stay that way and if the likes of McLaren can see that I've got the wherewithal to defend it then maybe they'll back off some.'

'You're sounding more like Humby every day, maybe you should marry him after all.'

'Don't say that.'

'Just be careful then that you're not descending to his level.'

'Look! There!' she says suddenly, pointing out of the window. A rider in a dusty black shirt trots his horse quickly up the street, waving his hat angrily at the scattering children.

Mannion lets out a sigh and shakes his head.

'What is it? Tell me I didn't imagine that man? He's been following me all the way here, trying to keep far enough back that I wouldn't know he was there. Who is he? Why would he do that?'

'That's Wilson. One of the sheriff's men.'

'Or one of Humby's men?'

'They're the same thing. It might work in your favor that McLaren thinks you dynamited his house, but if the sheriff or Humby thinks it was you then you could be in for a rough time. If you're right and Wilson has been keeping watch on you then I'd say you're under suspicion already.'

'Maybe Wilson isn't the only one.' she says cryptically.

'Exactly. There's probably a deputy watching the ranch as we speak. You need to be careful. I've told you before that you shouldn't travel alone the way you do. And they'll be after your household and your friends as well.'

'I'd better go then, I don't want to make trouble for you.'

'Don't worry about me. They've been watching me all the time ever since I refused to sell to Humby but at least the ones that watch me come in and buy stuff from time to time. Wait, don't go yet.'

She stops at the door.

'We need to get you a dress first Miss Nixon, we can't have you leaving my store without buying a dress, otherwise people really will be getting suspicious!'

The selection of the dress is a joyless experience for both of them. Emily turns down the nicest dress saying she doesn't like the color. It reminds her of the color of the sheets at the ranch when that young boy had bled all over them. She settles on a green dress that he assures her will look lovely. She doesn't bother to try it on. Mannion ties up the box with ribbon.

'Sometimes I get scared.' she says, taking the large box from him.

'Try not to, Miss Nixon. It's when you get scared that you're most likely to do something silly.'

'Thanks Mr. Mannion. You're a good friend.'

She takes a deep breath, puts her shoulders back and looks at herself in the hat mirror to check that she looks confident and unconcerned. Not too bad. She knows the fear is still there, but there is a good chance that others will miss it.

She steps out of the door, struggling a little with the dress box that gets in her way. It means she doesn't see the dog until it is too late. It charges at her, still over-excited from the children's tormenting. It's bark surprises her and she steps back into the door, dropping the box. Playfully, the dog lunges at her and she steps away with a little shriek as the dog gets a mouthful of her skirt and starts to pull on it.

'Stand still Miss. Stand still and try to stay calm and quiet.'

She looks up to see a stranger, a man in a battered hat, walking quickly towards her.

'Hey dog!' he shouts as he approaches.

The dog turns to the noise and growls a little, still pulling on her skirts. She wants to say something but is startled into silence. The man, now that he has the dog's attention, walks calmly towards it, talking all the time in a low and barely audible voice. The dog pins back its ears but the growling stops. Still talking softly and holding the dog's gaze he crouches down close enough to touch the dog.