A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN
By Jo
Part Seven:
"Cora, that man is no banker!
You must stay away from him, you hear me! Stay away from him!"
Frank had stopped in front of the mercantile, still gripping his sister's
shoulder. He recognized the look in the man's eyes. Bankers didn't have the
slightest idea how to look like that.
"Why?" she protested. "He's never been anything but kind to me. If he says he's
in banking, then I believe he's in banking."
"You little idiot! The man's dangerous. Bankers don't wear guns like his. You
stay away from him!"
She stuck out her lower lip. "And if I won't?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Then I'll have to make sure he stays away from you."
"You...you wouldn't hurt him?"
Hurt him? No, he'd have the bastard killed if he didn't leave his sister alone.
He shoved her toward the door. "Go on in. Act like a decent woman. Buy some
material or something! Just don't go back to the hotel right now. I've got a
meeting at the land office and need to know you're here. So BE here!" Damn
woman didn't have a brain in her head! Banker? He'd laugh at how stupid that was
if the man hadn't looked at him like he had. Wasn't a very funny look at all.
Ben stood by the front window of the hotel, watching as Frank talked with Cora
and then gave her a push toward the door. His eyes narrowed. Man didn't deserve
a fine sister like that. His eyes followed Frank as he walked to the land office
and went inside. Smiling, he left the hotel, crossing to the mercantile.
Eppie, too, had watched the scene from their bedroom window, also saw Ben
saunter across the street like he owned it. She sighed. Bee to the honey tree.
How many times she done seen that? This seemed different, though. He was more
intense about it than ever. She didn't like that Frank feller none, so decided
she'd just mosey out herself and hang around outside the land office, see what
he might be up to.
The little bell on the mercantile door jingled as Ben entered. He tipped his hat
slightly to the man behind the counter. "Mornin'," he said pleasantly, his eyes
quickly moving on past two older women examining buttons to where Cora stood
alone at the far end of the store, looking at nothing but her own feet.
She didn't see him coming. "Cora?" he said softly, lightly touching her arm.
"You all right?"
Startled, she turned large green eyes up to him. "Ben! You...I...he...."
"I take it brother Frank ain't none too happy 'bout you keepin' company with
me," he smiled.
"He told me he didn't think you were a banker, Ben, but I said that if you said
your business was in banking, that would be the truth."
His smile broadened. "I am, Miss Cora, most definitely in the bankin' business."
"He wants me to stay away from you."
"Now, why is that not surprisin'?"
"You're not planning on that, though, are you?"
"You want me to?"
She studied his face, the light in his amazing eyes. "No, Ben, I don't want you
to." The damn flush crept up her pale skin again. "But I don't want you to get
hurt, either."
"I ain't worried none 'bout your brother hurtin' me, Miss Cora. Don't you go and
worry 'bout that neither." He wrapped a loose ringlet of her hair around his
forefinger, leanin' forward to smell it. "Roses," he whispered. "Perfect."
"I...I'm supposed to stay in here till Frank comes for me after his meeting."
"You want to stay here?"
She looked around the store. "No. But...."
"Then you come with me," he grinned. "There's a woman just down the street makes
the most beautiful hats you'll ever see. Let me watch you tryin' them on."
"You...you'd like that?"
"I'd like that fine." He stepped back so she could precede him up the aisle to
the door.
"What if Frank...?"
"Frank's in a meetin'. We'll worry about Frank later." He opened the door,
holdin' it for her, likin' the swish of her full skirt against his legs as she
passed through. "This way." He pulled her hand gently through his arm as they
walked.
Eppie standin' outside the land office saw Frank lookin' through the window
after Ben and the woman. Saw, too, the huge scowl form on his face. She'd seen
other men look at her Ben like that. She was stickin' close to this'un, makin'
damn certain sure she knowed what he was up to!
Ben opened the door to Mabel's Millinery Shop. It was a small place with a
mirror on one wall, hats on shelves, hats on stands, a couple of chairs. Mabel
came out from behind a burgundy curtain at the back of her store. Ah, a lady
accompanied by a gentleman. Always a good sign! And when the lady was as
beautiful as this one, the gentleman was invariably in an indulgent mood.
"Good morning to you," she said, trying to control the expansive width of her
eager smile. She looked at Ben. "You're wanting to buy your lady a hat, sir?"
"Mornin', Ma'am," he replied. "Mind if I sit here while she tries some of 'em
on?" He winked. "Has to be just the right one, you know."
She did know. "Of course! Of course! I'm sure we can find something that'll
meet your discriminating taste, sir."
He smiled and settled in the chair. Within moments he was enjoyin' himself,
watchin' Cora lift her arms, puttin' on, takin' off hats, tippin' her head,
turnin' this way 'n that. He studied the form of her torso as she moved, the way
her breasts lifted as she raised her arms. Yes, watchin' a woman tryin' on hats
was a pleasant occupation, indeed! And she was happy, smilin', obviously havin'
forgotten about her brother.
"Try that one," he said, pointin' to a straw chip hat with pink roses and a wide
satin ribbon.
Mabel handed it to Cora, who set in on her head, standing there with her hands
still up on it as she turned for his inspection. The pose accented her cleavage
nicely. "You like it?" she asked.
"I like it fine," he smiled. "All of it." He looked at Mabel. "We'll be takin'
that one, Ma'am."
"But, Ben! I thought I was just trying them on. I can't let you...." But he was
already paying the shopkeeper.
"It's not right, Ben. It's...."
"You like the hat?"
"I love it, but that's not...."
"You afraid of Frank? That it?"
She pressed her lips together. She was not afraid of him so much as of his
words. "He won't like it, not at all."
"Just keep it in its box for now, then. You like it, you should have it."
Frank was ignoring his meeting, staring out the window, waiting for the hat shop
door to open. It seemed to take forever, and when it did, Cora came out with the
man and he was carrying a hatbox. "What in...?" Damn him! He had no right, no
right at all!
They walked back to the mercantile where Cora asked if he'd take the hatbox back
to the hotel, get the clerk to keep it behind his desk until she called for it.
"You'll be all right here alone?"
"I'll be fine. Frank never actually hurts me. He just tends to get a bit, um,
firm with his words."
"I'll be seein' you later then, Miss Cora," Ben smiled. "Don't you go lettin'
him get away with causin' you any grief."
She stood just inside the store, watching Ben walk back across the street with
her hatbox. Eppie watched, too. So did Frank.
TO BE CONTINUED...