Ask anyone in Laramie to describe Claire Jackson and chances are they would use the word ‘beautiful’. Ask the same people to describe Em Stevens and the word ‘nice’ would be used.
Oh Em was no ugly duckling. Just the contrary. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Em Stevens was beautiful. But in a different way from Claire. They were as opposite as two women could be. Both attractive. Yet Em seemed to always be labeled nice. Never pretty or beautiful. Just nice.
Slim Sherman didn’t want to compare the two women but with one sitting beside him and the other sitting across from him, Slim couldn’t help himself. There was no doubt about it that Claire was beautiful. Em pushed back a stray hair. She too easily drew a man’s attention. Both had always been pleasant. Still Slim liked Em the best. She always had a smile and a kind word to say to cheer a man up. But she wasn’t smiling today. She hardly said a word since she had climbed into the stage coach.
“So you’re moving to Medicine Bow?” Slim asked.
Em nodded and smiled. But her lips trembled slightly.
Claire wrapped her arm tightly around Jess’ arm. “Jess and I will have to visit you once you get settled.”
Though Em offered a small smile, her eyes were cold.
Slim glanced at Jess. Jess appeared stone faced. But Slim knew Jess too well. He knew his friend was uncomfortable.
Slim tried to start conversation. Em again politely responded. Claire joined in the conversation, her tone so friendly that honey seemed to drip off her words. Jess was beginning to have difficulty hiding his discomfort. He responded to all of Claire’s comments, but his manner was stiff. Claire though, was affectionate, her hand resting intimately on Jess’ arm. She occasionally stroked him as if he was her prized possession. Slim couldn’t help but wonder if Claire was more interested in Em’s reaction than Jess’ feelings. It had been no secret in Laramie that Jess had courted Em. Courted her so long that even Daisy had made the comment that a wedding was soon to take place. But from the moment Claire Jackson had arrived in town, she had gone after Jess with full steam. Some had even described her attention as brazen. Jess hadn’t minded. In fact at first he had been amused at all the attention he had received from Claire. And quickly his amusement had turned to interest. Slim had been surprised for he had known Claire before she had left for boarding school. Her father, who owned Laramie’s only bank, had insisted that Claire get the finest education. Em had not been so lucky. Her parents owned the general store and Em had spent many long hours waiting on customers. When her parents had died, Em had taken on the store by herself and had made a success. So it had been a shock and a loss to everyone in Laramie to find out that Em had sold the store and was leaving town. It had been Jess’ misfortune that all had decided to take the same stage. With each mile, the tension had grown until now eyes dared not meet. So there they all sat in silence. Jess and Slim on their way to the Cattlemen’s Association. Em leaving town to escape Jess. And Claire traveling to Medicine Bow to spend a few days with her aunt. A last minute decision made when Claire had discovered Jess would be spending a few days in Medicine Bow.
Mose cracked the whip, spurring the horses forward. All inside the coach were jerked. Jess so hard that he fell forward, practically landing in Em’s lap. Jess jumped back as if she had been hot coals. Jess’ face reddened slightly. He yelled out the window, “Mose, this ain’t a race!”
All could hear Mose’s laughter. “What’s wrong, Jess? Ain’t you enjoying the ride?” More
laughter.
Jess leaned back against the seat. “Wait until this stage stops. I’m going to give Mose a piece of my mind.”
Slim said calmly, “Mose don’t mean no harm.”
Jess snapped, “I get tired of putting up with that old man. He’s always riding me about something. I tell you he’s too old to be driving a stage.”
Slim immediately disagreed, “Mose is a fine driver. And a good friend to you.”
Jess argued, “He’s the kind of friend I can do without. I think I got whip lash from his driving.”
“Or the rocks in your head hit you hard when the stage jerked you back there,” Slim countered.
Jess’ eyes narrowed.
Em couldn’t stop the giggle.
Claire tightened her hold on Jess. “I think Jess is right. This stage ride is far too bumpy. I shall speak to my father once I get home.”
