Another hot day in the Four Corners. Same ol', same ol', Vin thought as he poured himself a shot of whiskey. For some reason, Vin thought didn't feel like it was going to be just another day. He was feeling edgey and trying not to let it show. He was watching Ezra play a group of cowboys who were passing through. Josiah and Nathan were working on the church, which Vin thought was a little crazy, considering how hot it was. JD and Casey were out riding. He hadn't seen Chris or Buck all day and didn't know where either of them were.
Vin was just finishing his whiskey when he heard a stage coach roll to a stop outside. Curiously, he strolled outside and leaned against on the the poles supporting the awning over the saloon. He watched as a beautiful woman stepped out of the coach. His sharp eyes recognized her at once.
"Amelia," he whispered. Angrily he stomped over to the coach where a man was helping her get her lugage down.
"What are you doin' here?" he demanded. She gave him a startled look.
"Vin, I thought you'd be glad to see me!" Amelia Anderson exclaimed.
"That's b.s. You know I never wanted to see you again!" he spat.
"Such language. You haven't changed," she said, smiling.
"Neither have you. Get back on that stage right now and get out of here. We don't need the likes of you ruinin' this town," Vin growled.
He got madder when she gave him the smile that had once melted his heart.
"Vin Tanner, I have every right to be in this town if I like. Besides, what kind of harm can I do? There's nothing wrong with a lady gambler," Amelia said, still smiling.
"No one said there was. All I said was 'get out' and I mean it," Vin said.
Buck and Chris choose that moment to walk up. Chris noticed the angry expression on Vin's face, but Buck was taken by Amelia.
"Howdy, ma'am. Can I help you take those bags to the hotel?" he asked.
"Oh, thank you. Vin obviously wasn't going to. You are?" she asked.
"Buck Wilmington, at your service," Buck said.
"I'm Amelia Anderson," she said. Buck gaped at her.
"Amelia Anderson, the lady gambler?" he asked.
"The very same. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wilmington," she said.
"No, it's my pleasure," Buck said. Amelia started walking toward the hotel, leaving Buck to carry her lugage.
"Buck if you know what's goot for you, you'll stay away from her," Vin warned, a dark look on his face.
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Buck asked. Vin didn't answer, just scowled and turned to walk back into the saloon. Chris followed him. They took their usual table in the back.
"What's on your mind, Vin?" Chris asked.
"She's trouble with a capitol "t", Chris. Buck had better leave her alone," Vin said.
"Why's that?" Chris asked.
"I met her before Tuscosa. She pretended to be in love with me an' I fell in love with her. Then I got framed an' she hired men to hunt me down so she could get the bounty money. I almost got killed by them," Vin said.
"Looks like you made it out all right," Chris observed. Vin shrugged.
"Nothin' more than a broken heart an' bruised pride."
"She's here now. What do you think she wants?" Chris asked.
"Never can tell with Amelia. Hope she don't think she's gonna claim any bounty on me now," Vin said.
"I don't think she'd try, with us around," Chris said.
"You don't know her, Chris," Vin said. Ezra joined them.
"Why to long faces, gentlemen?" he drawled.
"One of Vin's old friends is in town," Chris said.
"She's no friend of mine," Vin denied.
"Whom is this person you speak of?" Ezra asked.
"Amelia Anderson," Chris said.
"The Amelia Anderson?" Ezra asked.
"Yeah," Vin muttered.
"Why, Mr. Tanner, I had no idea you have such refined friends!" Ezra exclaimed.
"I already said, she ain't no friend of mine, more like an enemy," Vin growled. He poured a shot of whiskey and downed it, pouring another and downing that one too. Chris explained the situation.
Vin sat in the saloon for the better part of the day, drinking and thinking. He barely acknowledged when Chris and Ezra left. It was a long time before JD came back, but he sat down beside Vin.
"Howdy, Vin. Did you hear, Amelia Anderson is in town. I've read all about her in my dime novels. Kind of excitin' ain't it?" JD asked.
Vin gave JD a cool look. "Bet you didn't read how she tried to get an innocent man killed so she could have the bounty on his head."
"You know Ms. Anderson?" JD asked.
"Too well," Vin said.
"Why'd she want to go an' do a thing like that?" JD asked.
"Cause she likes money, JD. Cause she's a bad woman," Vin answered. He poured himself another whiskey. JD seemed puzzled over the situation.
"Brother Vin, I hear you're in a spot of trouble," Josiah said as he and Nathan came in.
"Not me. The whole damn town, as long as she's around. The last town I was in got torn to hell. All those 'bounty hunters' she hired ripped it apart lookin' for me," Vin said.
"What are you gonna do?" Nathan asked.
Vin didn't answer right away, he downed another whiskey and stared at the bottom of the glass.
"Gettin' drunk isn't the answer," Josiah pointed out.
Vin looked at Josiah, his eyes already bloodshot and reddish. "That's my business," he said. He lifted the empty glass and slammed it down on the table. JD jumped at the bang it made, but the glass didn't break. Vin got up and walked out of the saloon, leaving the three men to stare after him.
(C)1999