A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
By Jo
Part Six:
In the mornin' Ben was up early and down in the hotel restaurant. He'd been in a
hurry so's he wouldn't miss bein' in there when Cora might come for breakfast.
Eppie had still been sleepin' and he let her lie. He'd rather be alone anyways
when Cora came in. He'd sat there, starin' at the base of the stairs for about
half an hour when he saw her comin' down them. Straightenin' in his chair, he
watched her with hawk eyes, mostly holdin' his breath to see if her damn brother
was right behind. Didn't seem to be and so a smile began to widen on his face.
As Cora walked into the dining room, he stood, tipping his head slightly. "Mornin',
Miss Cora. You got no escort today?"
Cora looked back at the stairs. "I'm afraid Frank's head is bothering him this
morning. He gets migraines from time to time and said he didn't wish to eat
anything."
"Ah, such a shame," Ben smiled, coming around his table to pull a chair out for
her. "Please, join me then. I'm alone myself."
"Are you not expecting that young woman you were with at dinner last evening?"
"Oh, she's just, well, she's like my, um, ward, kinda like my little sister. Got
no parents so's I took her under my wing. She's not eatin' this mornin'
neither."
Just then Eppie came down the stairs and while Ben was seating Cora, whose back
was conveniently toward the steps, Ben sent Eppie a warning glower that clearly
said Stay away!
Eppie hadn't studied Ben's expressions for two years without knowin' what they
meant. Sighin', she turned and went back to their room, pullin' an old biscuit
out of her saddlebag.
"Now," Ben said, taking his own seat and smiling broadly, "what would you like
to eat?" This was perfect, was just what he wanted.
"Tea," she smiled in return, enjoying his pleasant mood. Frank was so often
grouchy. "And maybe some toast and an egg."
For himself he ordered a big plate of eggs with hash browns and lots of bacon
and sausage. And several fresh biscuits. He much preferred eatin' in restaurants
than the dull meals one had beside some campfire. As they ate, he watched how
she handled her tea cup. This one was a real lady. He liked that. Nearly every
woman he'd ever bedded had not been. He smiled to himself, rememberin' how
entirely not they'd been.
Cora watched his smile, wondering what he was thinking. He'd lowered his eyes as
he'd smiled and she let out a little breath. When he was looking at her
directly, which was most of the time, she felt...what? What did she feel? Caught
up? Yes, that might begin to describe it. Caught up in him. With merely his eyes
on hers, she felt like his hand were sliding up her inner thigh. No man had ever
made her feel such things before. When he returned his gaze now to her, she
flushed.
He saw it and his lips twitched. He knew women, knew what would make one do
that. He had her, already he did. All he had to do now was reel her in
careful-like, not scare her off. Ladies took a bit more care but he was in the
mood to do that. Knowin' the outcome as he did, the process would be fun. This
one was worth it, worth everything it took. He found himself wantin' her, wantin'
her more than he'd ever wanted a woman.
She wished to know something more about him. He was still for the most part, a
total stranger to her. "Where are you from, um, Ben?" she asked, not used to
calling a man by his first name so soon.
He thought a moment. "Yuma," he replied. "That's where I come from. Yuma."
Actually he'd come from there twice and narrowly missed having to come from
there a third.
"And...and...what is it you...do?"
He grinned. "Bankin' mostly. All kinds of finance."
"Finance?"
"Mostly involvin' transportation. Stage lines, railroads, that sorta thing."
"You don't have the look of a banker."
"Well now, Miss Cora, I didn't say I worked IN a bank, leastwise I don't spend
much time in them. Little as possible. In and out. Sorta like that. I do what
business I need to and then I'm on my way." That was the truth, perhaps too
dangerously the truth.
It never crossed her mind to follow his line of thinking, however. "It must be
nice, not having to sit in an office all day. I can't picture you doing that."
"I don't," he smiled. "Not my kinda life at all."
"Frank does. I think that's probably why he gets migraines so often."
"Headaches ain't good for a man. Freedom. That's what matters."
"Are you free, Ben?"
Under the tablecloth, his right hand rubbed his left wrist. "Yeah, you can say
that. I tend to make sure of that."
"I notice you wear a gunbelt."
"Out here, Miss Cora, a man's purty much got to less'n he wants what he makes in
his...bankin' ...to get taken away. I ain't much on havin' what's mine taken
away." Especially not his freedom.
He leaned forward. "And what's yours, Miss Cora? What in this life belongs to
you?"
No one had ever asked her such a question. Her lips parted in surprise. "Mine?
Well...."
Frank walked up behind her, gripping her upper arm, pulling her slightly out of
her seat. "Cora, it's not appropriate for you to be dining with some man you
don't know. What are you thinking? Are you trying to embarrass me?"
Ben pushed back his chair, standing and slowly setting his cloth napkin near his
plate. "Now, Frank. This fine lady here may be your sister, but that don't give
you no right to manhandle her."
Frank, not releasing his grip on Cora, glared across at Ben. "This is none of
your business, mister! This is between my little sister and me."
"Beg your pardon," Ben smiled, "but I was the one dinin' with the lady. That
makes it my business."
Frank's eyes narrowed. The man's hand was hovering near his right hip. "Pah!" he
spat, letting go of Cora's arm. "I knew I should never have brought you along on
this trip with me. Have you no care not to bring shame to the family name?"
Cora twisted her head, looking up over her shoulder at her brother. "Frank, I am
merely having breakfast with him. He's a respectable banker and no harm has been
done you or our family name."
"Banker?" Frank snorted. "Looks more like...," but the look in Ben's eyes now
cut his sentence off. "Well, whatever. Breakfast is over. Come along with me."
Cora looked at Ben. "I'm sorry. I think I'd better go now." She stood and Frank
took her elbow, steering her out the front door of the hotel, leaning close to
her as they walked, obviously continuing his chastisement.
Ben pressed his lips together, settling slowly back into his chair, watching
them.
TO BE CONTINUED...