A twist in the plot

[Lovely]

June 29, Year 1


Two days had passed since Kingswell had 'caught' Elizabeth and Everitt together in the compromising position. He'd been patched up nicely by Doctor Carlisle and was now well enough to be on his way, but he'd not yet left town. In fact he'd gotten a room at the boarding house and appeared to setting himself up to have a long stay in Atasco.

Of course Ame hadn't yet had a chance to tell them about Kingswell coming in and it was a bit of a shock when he stopped by the school house to see Elizabeth. Luckily Everitt had also stopped by and was there when Kingswell arrived. Though this development meant that Ev and Elizabeth were going to have to keep up appearances for a bit longer than they had first planned. Elizabeth and Ev were standing together on the walk, outside the schoolhouse, talking quietly when Kingswell walked up.

Gertrude was raised to eye level and Ev smiled at him... "Thought I done tol' you... git y'self on outta town?"

"Everitt.." She whispered softly, sort of cowering behind him.

"I told you.. I have business to take care of, and I will not be leaving till I have... taken care of things." He replied cooly.

"If you're meanin' people, s'not too kindly of you to call 'em things, now is it? Only 'thing' you should be caring about is your back side that outta be on the train headed east this evening."

"Listen carefully Mister... what is you name? I don't believe I caught it... and I'm quite sure mister Murphy will be wanting to know it." He smiled, almost smug, but at the same time easy. "He'll be wanting to know who his daughter has shacked up with.. the sort of family she's connected to his."

"Well... this here's Gertrude," he grinned, pulling the slide, letting the shot fall in place. "And I suppose you could call me Destiny."

He shook his head. "Am I to assume you have no regard for Miss Murphy's family or respect for her father? You won't even tell the name of the man he is to call son? Are you ashamed to tell me your name? Is it so pathetic?"

He shook his head. "Only men deserving of my respect are Mister Death, Father Time, the Blacksmith and that little Jamison boy who never learned to talk but shines all the shoes in the train station for a penny a day and a smile. The ladies all deserve more respect than someone buying them up with promises and trinkets. You want a name for her daddy, I'll give you one... tell him it's.... tell him it's Hercules."

"I see... " He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes on Elizabeth who stood just behind Everitt's shoulder now. "This young man has no respect for your family or your station. I would not believe you'd lower yourself to such a level or disgrace your family so.. with the likes of him. Your poor mother's heart will be broken." He shook his head, as if regretful, but the look in his eyes was menacing. "Well.. young man... I do have letters from her family and some things they sent for our... Would you allow me to drop them by your place? Where are the two of you living? Please tell me it's not the hole I found you frolicing in.."

[Lovely]

"You'd be meanin' to drop that by the estate then," he nodded. He glanced over his shoulder to Elizabeth and grinned. "Wouldn't want to break her mother's heart, now." He shot a look to the man and conceded. "She's been stayin' at the place her daddy saw fit to set her up in... alone without a guardian. Now you tell me who lacks the respect. Wasn't quite proper to invite a single woman to live with my brothers and myself, so I keep an eye on her and her place and leave her to her privacy as a gentleman... of honor, sir."

Her eyes widened a bit and she gasped softly as Everitt spoke and she could do or say nothing at the moment. She merely stared at him, somewhat shocked, too afraid to look at the other man.

His head tilted just so and his eyes narrowed a bit, a thin grin curling his lip. "Am I hearing you correctly sir? A single woman.. and she does not reside with you.. and you have been... acting honorably?"

"She was until this," he said, showing the ring again. "I said I could not invite a single woman to rightly stay in the company of myself and my brothers. The situation, you might say... has been remedied."

"Has it?" His grin was filled with malice as his eyes traveled over Elizabeth.

She felt herself shiver as he looked at her, but did her best to hide it. "Yes sir, it has." She spoke in a clipped, though still respectful tone, keeping her gaze averted.

"You think she's married beneath her station... I understand. Perhaps you'd feel better knowing who my brothers are in this town, sir. The livery.. that's ours... the theater too. The blacksmith.. the one deserving of my respect is my own daddy. One brother.. he's the preacher and another here's the good doctor himself. Now seeing as that leaves two stations of honor and respect in this town, I'll leave to guess whether my station is the sheriff or the saloon keeper and I'll give you a hint. The saloon keeper has a nasty temper, but one of the prettiest sets of ankles in the county."

"You're.. the sheriff?" He tossed his head back and laughed out, then returned to posture and shook his head. "Oh dear... Well.. I suppose an apology is in order... for my thinking you were the scourge. Her father would be put at ease knowing the very sheriff of this town has been looking after our.. his girl. Though I can't say he'll be very happy to know she's run off and married... you are still far below her station..."

"I asked... the choice was hers, but I asked. Give the lady what she wants, sir, if you want to see her happy. Make her do what her daddy wants... and you'd as soon let her and Gertrude have a little heart to heart."

"I'll be sure to include that in the letter back to her father." He said in a dry voice. "She is a woman and until her father gives her away in marriage, then she should be doing as he tells her." He eyed them both. "Am I to assume since your family, appears to run much of this town... taking care of my business will be met with difficulty?"

"Only if you make it difficult on yourself by outstayin' your welcome," he grinned.

"Mister Murphy has put me in charge of his affairs in the territory." He smiled with sarcastic sweetness. "So I'd be able to stay closer to my new wife... he was hoping to have us back home for the holidays.. and eager to see grandchildren within this next year... I suppose I'll leave that part to you now, young man." His eyes moved over elizabeth once again. "I will be staying for some time to attend mister Murphy's affairs and await further word on what he would have me do.. now that I am not to marry his daughter."

[Lovely]

"Best be on your way then, Mister King'Swill'," he said subtly. "We have our own business to attend to."

He hummed softly and narrowed his eyes on Everitt, before turning his gaze to Elizabeth. "Since I don't have a proper name to call you by... I'll bid you a good day miss Murphy. I'll be dropping by the estate with those things I mentioned for you." He gave a nod of his head and turned off to go compose another letter to Elizabeth's father.

"Thank you." She nodded in return, watching him walk off. She was quiet, chewing her lip softly and waiting till he was well away from them before she spoke. "I am very sorry... I have gotten you involved in all this.. thinking.. I don't know what I was thinking... it's turning into quite the complicated mess." She looked down at the dirt, scuffing her shoe in the dusty ground. "You do know... he means to watch me and report every move back to my father... and he will show up at your home... to call upon me, and drop my things there..." Several thoughts of all the things he might and most likely would do, were running through her mind. As those thought ran through her mind others came, as to what she would have to do and to what she was 'causing' Everitt to do. "I am a terrible person... so selfish in trying to... in this.. in trying to have things my way... to go against what my father wanted me to do... and look at the trouble I've caused."

"What trouble would that be?" He asked, grinning broadly now that the man had left. "The fact that my brothers, while some are who I say are not necessarily all kin and that the estate owned by the late Mister Livermore is on the market waitin' for a new owner? That's not trouble, Miss Liza.. that's opportunity knockin'."

"Opportunity.. how so?" She glanced in the direction Kingswell had gone and then looked to Everitt. "Are you suggesting, what I think you may be? That you become more deeply entangled with me?" Her voice was soft and questioning.

"Suggestin' you become more deeply entangled with me, I'd say," he did say, with a wink and a clever grin that curled as he thought. "That is if you can fancy yourself keepin' after a tin star and his boys."

"Define keeping after and.. his boys?" A bit of a grin curled at her lips, though it did not fully display. "What is it.. you are thinking?" Her eyes found his with a trusting and curious gaze.

"Would you like to stay with me and the boys, miss Liza? If its a show he wants, a show he'll get. But, just so we're clear.. it ain't all show," he said, turning to face her fully and pulling her into a kiss. "Said it all along... you're my girl, Miss Liza... ain't no puttin' on when I say that. He's not getting past me to get to you."

She made a soft 'oo' as he pulled her into the kiss and stiffened for a second or two, until his lips were on hers. She melted then, her lips soft and parting a bit as she... oh goodness, she thought as she kissed him back. She slowly pulled back from him her eyes remaining closed for a few seconds. She blushed lightly as she opened them and looked up at him, nodding in agreement to his question and his statement.

"That mean you're accepting the offer, Miss Murphy? An unwed woman in the company... of wolves, let's say... would have to be on her guard or be trusting to have me as her guard... tin star and all."

She glanced down and took a deep breath, bringing her gaze back to his. "I suppose, I haven't any other option really, unless, I want to be dragged off by and forced into marriage with mister Kingswell... and I'm sure swift punishment for the trouble I've been." Licking her lips and then nodding once more, she continued in a less bitter tone. "If you're willing to stand by me and see me through this, then I am also willing to do what has to be done. As for living arrangements.." She winked. "I am your wife.. so there is no reason why I shouldn't reside with you. And it will be a bit of both.. my being on guard and trusting you to guard me."

"Honor bound, miss Liza... I should have listed one more that I respect and that's the Lord. I may not play by all his rules, but I do respect your honor until you decide otherwise in his witness. Now, I'm in no hurry... but if it comes to it to keep you here, I'll take you to the church myself before he even bats a lash and make it real."

She almost stepped back, but more leaned back to look at him. Blinking in surpise at his words and then looking at him more closely, she tilted her head to the side. "Did you just say..? I.. you really mean that, don't you.."

"I'm a man of my word, Liza Rose...," he nodded. "And if need be, I'll see to it that grandbaby is on the way... if that's what it'll take to please him. Sure as heck know it would please me... if I could be bold in saying, Elizabeth."

She blushed, her sweet, shy smile showing as she turned her face to the side. "I.. I.. didn't know... didn't realize, you felt quite like that.. that you thought of me... " She was a bit flustered as she turned her face back. She was chewing her lower lip slightly as she looked him over. "We'll.. " She blushed a bit more. "Talk about grandbabies... later. It's not proper to discuss such private matters in the middle of the street."

[Lovely]

Elizabeth glanced over at him. "I'm 18.. nearly.."

Everitt was smilin'. "... don't make me rob no cradle, now.." He teased her.

"18 is not that young.."

"true..nearly an old maid. tsk tsk... better get to marryin' quick, then." He grinned resting Gertrude against his shoulder. "Meant it... if that's what it takes, miss Liza."

blushes, and glances away, then back. "But only if you have to.. as a last resort?"

He shook his head, "No, miss Liza... meanin' it as it sounds, but just because I'm sure don't mean you are, now, does it? I'm in no hurry."

She nodded and looked him over again. "How is it.. that you're so sure about it?"

He shrugged again, letting the rifle come down and rest across his lap as he leaned on the rail. "If I told you, you likely'd think I done lost my mind," he said, looking down and running a hand down the barrel 'dusting' it off.

"Well... actually I think that most days, as it is." She smiled softly at him, a small chuckle escaping. "I don't think it could hurt to tell me. And I would like to know... " She stepped a bit closer to him, her skirt swaying gently around her legs and brushing lightly over the tops of her shoes. "I suppose you could say, there is much.. I'd like to know about you... you could start with telling me this." Her small hand came to rest lightly over his and she looked to him with warm sincere eyes.

He grinned lightly at the first comment. He probably had lost his mind with everything he'd seen out here, but she seemed interested to know more. His hand turned up from the barrel to clasp her fingers and rest against the metal. He chuckled. "You believe in them fortune tellers, miss Liza? You know.. the ones with funny talking birds and the smelly smoke an' all?"

"Do you mean.. like gypsy folks? Father always said they were criminals and swindlers.... Though.. I have never met one myself." She shrugged her shoulders and gave a bit of a smile. "And since I try not to judge anyone I don't know.. I can't say either way.."

"Yeah... gypsies. Well a traveling show came through not too long before you arrived here to take up the schoolin'. I lost a hand against Sloane and that bast... goodness... wash my mouth out with the lye soap now... I'm sorry. That... scoundrel... made me talk to the old witch. She said some interestin' things, though, I'd say."

She appeared interested in what he was saying, as she leaned closer. Her expression was curious and attentive. "She did.. what did she say?"

Looking up in her eyes, he grinned bashfully. "Everythin' what's come true so far, I'd say... down to Kingswell's buttin' in."

Her brow furrowed a bit. "What?" She breathed it softly and looked to his eyes. "I'm not sure I'm understanding correctly.. but then maybe I am.. and... Would you tell me what she told you... what of it has come true?"

[Lovely]

His cool eyes narrowed gently, searching over hers. "A bold woman, she said, of upper standing... bright eyes, desert sunsets in her hair and eyes that have not seen rain until another...a pointed man... dark... comes in the future." He sighed. "They're supposed to be vague... anything can be anything, I suppose, but it seems true. She read more in some of these picture cards she put out in the oddest gin hand you ever did see. Said everything... smarts and all that... and that you're the prettiest thing I ever did see."

She listened, nodding and tilting her head as she took in his words. She blushed a bit at his comment about her being pretty. Her fingers in his hand, curled a bit tighter around his. "I don't know what to say.." Her voice soft with a slight awe to it. "You think.. I'm the one she spoke of? She told you I.. some one was coming, you were going to meet? What else?" She seemed to grow more curious the more he told her, scooting a little closer to him.

He chuckled, only half believing it himself and looked to the floor. "She said enough to make me certain, miss Liza... enough about me to know she was right... 'bout most of it, anyhow."

Her eyebrow raised. "Aww now you can't say some thing like that and not tell... what do you mean.. about most of it?" Pouting a little at the way he hesitated to tell her, she stamped her foot lightly. "Not fair.." She sighed and a small smile came to her lips. "I'll make a deal with you... if you don't want to tell me now.. it's fine.. but promise you'll tell me all of it.. one day soon?"

"I'll promise if I can trust you to believe me that I will tell you," he teased. He set the rifle to the ground, leaning it up against the rail beside himself, pulling Elizabeth closer into a nearly risque pose, his knees resting to either side of her skirt.

She looked at him and bit her lip nodding. "I trust you, Everitt." Her smile was shy as he pulled her closer. "Much more than I would have ever thought, when I first arrived in town." She glanced down at the position they were in. "Now Everitt.. what are people going to think, with you holding me like this?"

"That I'm a very happy man," he winked, pulling her into a public kiss with a knuckle beneath her chin.

"You're.." She was cut off as he kissed her, her lips clung to his lightly before she slowly pulled back. Her first instinct once the kiss ended was to lean towards him again. Then it was to slap him for kissing her right there, where any one could have seen and for boldly kissing her at all. She blinked and gazed up at him, the hand that started to lift for the slap, coming to rest on his arm. "You.. do things to me, that I don't understand, at all." She whispered, about the way he made her feel inside whenever he was close and how her heart was racing at this moment. He was different from any man she'd ever met and not like the men she'd been raised up marry.

He chuckled softly and slid down from the rail, brushing against her skirts briefly in such a way that even through the layers, she could tell the things she did to him in return. "Not to question why, Miss Liza.... maybe it's not to be understood, hm?"

"Perhaps not." She agreed, averting her gaze for a moment as she took a deep breath, trying to avoid a blush and ignore what she'd felt when he brushed against her. "Everitt.." She began softly. "Might I ask you something?"

"You might.. and I might even answer," he teased. He pulled the rifle up into his hand and popped the shells out, leaving the gun cocked open over his arm as he put the shells in his pocket.

[Lovely]

She chuckled and shook her head. "Alright... Do.. do you think I am too bold... too independant or strong willed?" She bit her lip a moment. "Father.. and mother always saw it as a flaw in me... that I wasn't delicate and meek... Do you think I step out of line too much... or that I should keep my place, as I am merely a woman?" She sighed and glanced about. "I did not fit in back home... but I do not feel as though I am fitting in very well here... at home I wasn't proper enough.. and here.. I feel as though.. sometimes I am too proper... rigid even.."

He snapped the rifle closed and pulled the slide, raising it to his eye and gazing lazily down the barrel to something down the street before lowering it again. "For the arms of society... bold is a curse, Miss Liza... but out here, it's a necessity." He raised the gun again and the shot rang out. The dog with the chicken in its mouth fell to the ground at the end of the street, other chickens raising and scattering at the suddenness of the sound.

She jumped at the shot, startled by the sudden loud sound. She nearly growled as she sighed and folded her arms. "Sometimes.. I think you just do things like that on purpose." Her hand rested over her chest and she slowly lowered it as her heart fluttered. "So you do not think me too bold? But.. do you think me too proper.. or strict? I don't want to.. always be an outsider here. Much to my father's apparant dismay.. I came out here, with the intention of staying."

"Sorry about the shot, Elizabeth," he said, looking to her in the afterthought, realizing he'd like to near scared her to death. "Da... er... darn chicken thievin' dog... been after him for a week now."

"It appears.. you got what you were after."

He picked the casing up from the walk and pocketed it, replacing the spent shell again and closing the rifle. He looked to Elizabeth, hearing her words like he'd heard the gypsy fortune teller's words. "Not yet, but my aim's improving some," he whispered, stealing another kiss from her perfect lips before grinning and stepping away to clean up the mess.

She was left standing there, speechless for a moment, before she moved to follow him. Cringing slightly at the sight of the mess, she took a step closer and offered her assistance if he should need or want it.

He strode to the coop by the livery and rested his rifle down. The chickens were meant for sale and for the fresh eggs at the store. The dog was barely recognizable as the animal it had been, but the chicken was intact. He handed the limp bird to her and scooped up the dog in his jacket to carry to the edge of town for the scavengers. "You know what to do with one of them, miss Liza?"

She glared at him in mock anger that he'd asked her such a question and then sighed, letting the small smile play at her lips. She slowly shook her head. "I have never dealt with a bird in this state before."

"I understand... being as you just came out here an' all, but can you dress it?" He looked back over his shoulder as he carried the other animal. He'd misunderstood and he chuckled. "I meant... can you prepare it fresh from the coop or does the schoolmarm need a little schoolin' herself? I'd be happy to show you."

She nearly threw the dead thing at him, holding it out from her side, her hand gripped around it's legs, she carried it as she walked beside him. "I am from a wealthy family... the servants dealt with such unpleasantries." She dramatically stuck her nose in the air. "I do belive you'll have to show me.. as any bird I've prepared.. looked nothing like this one."

[Lovely]

-----------------------------


They returned to the little house which had been provided for Elizabeth when she came to be the town's school marm. Considering the circumstances and the information that had been shared, Ev and Liza's conversation had turned it's focus on where she should stay. "Sooo" She began lightly, as they stood in the small parlor of her little house.

"hmmm... " His deep voice came from near the window.

"Umm.. Everitt since we're.. gonna be livin in sin and all... umm where, when, and how are we going to do this?" If she was moving they were going to need to hitch up the wagon and get some strong boys to carry her things.

"let you keep your little hovel?? or bring you to live with me and the boys?"

"little hovel?"

"boys boys everywhere.."

"insulting where I live?"

"heavens no. just when you come from a house full of boys... anywhere else seems small... well.. big, really.. but small."

Nods "Well which would you prefer? My small house.. or for me to join you at your family's home?" She smiles, softly. " Where do you think.. it would be best for me, us to stay?"

"Considerin' King-swill? Best you come hide behind me and my brothers. When he's had enough and finally goes home, then we'll talk about a nice quiet place in the woods somewhere, just you and me."

"Kingsw-ell, darling.. you must remember he is an associate of my fathers.. and it is best we remain as polite as possible." She patted his arm lightly as she passed, giving him a smile. "Then to your home it is.. I will gather a few things... " She looked around a slight worried expression, she feared leaving her nice things behind for too long. Her little house was not right in town and could easily be plundered, if someone got the inkling to do so.

*laughs*... hmm what will it take... diamonds and pearls? a golden chariot? House on the hill with servants and such??? The boys can manage a little finagling .. what with an empty property and the right... gumption..

"I.. will pitch in all my money to buy and fix up that property.. I don't want to go back."

"Well now, miss Liza... looks like we've got a bound and determined woman on our hands to keep herself out of the hands of a most unhappy everafter, hm? Tell me what you need.. and I'll show you a group of boys willin' to help out the prettiest schoolmarm what ever crossed this county line."

"Everitt... I come from a place.. much different than where we are." She frowned. "I hate to say it.. but perhaps all that will please my father, is to see that I am being kept in the manner he thinks I should be.. in the manner I was raised." She looked down at the floor. "You must think I am just some spoiled... my family is wealthy Everitt... very wealthy... I suspect my father wants to make sure I am still... Nothing out here.. could quite be the same as back east. I don't know.. if anything less, will please him."

[Lovely]

"Well money is all for show, but it don't necessarily take money to put on a show, now does it? There's an estate on the market that folks out here just can't afford to scoop up... the natives don't want it, the bank can't profit from it being empty and frankly, not many even like it... it stinks of money that no one here has, miss Liza. But... it could be borrowed, I suppose... for a few months."

She twisted her fingers and lifted her gaze from the floor. "How.. much?" She stepped to him and leaned to his ear to whisper the amount of money she had... a large sum which she held in a saving and in allowances... she'd been wise and not hardly spent the money her father had sent her with to set up.. he'd been generous by the standards of those here, but not by what he could have offered her.

He gave her a curious look, not surprised, but rather calculating and stepped to the door, pausing and turning as he took his hat from the peg, patting the lining and twisting the brim a moment. "Miss Liza... I won't share that information outside of this room and best you don't either if you don't want anyone to try and get past me to get you in your sleep for it.. not that they would... but I think the bank here will be mighty obliged to hear that old rotten lot just got itself a new owner... for a mite longer'n a few months... I think you done bought it straight out with enough to staff it and polish it's walls to gleaming gold with that sum."

She was blushing darkly as she looked to the floor again, almost embarrassed at how well off she was. "Not me.." She said quietly. "My husband.. as rightly should be... all that is a woman's becomes her husband's.... and I trust you with it."

"Well now... Mrs Carlisle... I think we best get the boys over to fix up the place... don't you?"

She nodded, smiling though tears welled in her eyes. She almost rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled back a little after a moment and tipped up on her toes to kiss him softly.

He slid his hat on his head and scooped her up firmly by the waist, lifting her from the floor. "We'll make this work," he smiled, planting a deep and playful kiss on her.

"I do hope so... I don't want to have to leave.. you." She held on as he lifted and kept her feet from the floor.

"You won't be.. don't you fret none."

"I'm worried.. all the trouble Kingswell is stirring up.. and lord knows what else he could cause.."

"His own early demise, hm? Told you.. don't fret.. now stop. Now, I gotta go... pay a visit to some of the.. townsfolk, maybe stop in on the Palmer boys... Sloane's pretty handy with a hammer and nail. I'm sure he knows a few others."

She paused and licked her lips, giving him a small smile. "What can I do.. to help?"

"Promise you'll make an honest man of me if we pull this off, Liza," he winked.

She laughed. "Heck.. I'd make an honest man of you tomorrow if you wanted... no worries there."