Another Time in the West

There were a couple of stops at smaller settlements before the train reached Cheyenne City and from the first one, they telegraphed ahead. So, when the train rolled into the station, Seth wasn't surprised to see the Sheriff himself, along with a few deputies and the undertaker. Natalie had made sure her clothes were in order and had managed to get a little nap while Seth calmly observed her and kept guard even if there was nothing to guard against.

When Natalie and Seth got out of their wagon they were both surprised to be greeted by Mr. Landon himself. He was there to oversee the opening and unloading of the barred wagon, that had been the goal of the robbers. A bag with sticks of dynamite was found on the wagon clearly the robbers had been prepared to both blow their way into it but probably also to blow any safe open. The wagon was opened and two armed guards that had been inside stepped out. The wagon was not defenseless but the two armed men would likely just have been killed by the explosions that had been planned to get into the wagon.

"I have been told that I have to thank you again, Seth, for yet again having saved the day" Mr. Landon said smiling at Seth. Seth smiled back and grinned as he pointed at Natalie.

"Well, it was team effort, if Natalie hadn't had my back I would most likely have died for my troubles." Seth said honestly. Natalie smiled but blushed at Seth so honestly passing along the credit for the result of the shootout on the train. The Sheriff came up to the three of them and interrupted them:

"There are substantial rewards on the four men you killed, the three of them are known by name and face as part of a gang where the leader of the gang has always managed to keep his face and name unknown" he said to Seth, who again was quick to reply that Natalie was the one that had taken the leader down. The Sheriff didn't have the wanted posters with him, but he was thinking the three added up would be around $4000 with the leader probably worth double that.

"Well, you will both be rightly rewarded by me as well, I will have the bank manager set up an account for each of you for the reward, I take it you mean to split it" Mr. Landon said to Seth, his face clearly showing that he was surprised and almost upset by the notion of Natalie being the one to receive half his intended reward. He shrugged mostly to himself when Seth readily nodded and acknowledged that Natalie was entitled to half.

Natalie always had a sharp mind that picked up what happened around her and she realized that Seth had just made her the recipient of what was likely a reward of around $8000. This had her so baffled that she didn't pick up on the last part about both Mr. Landon giving them a reward in a bank account at the Cheyenne City Bank but also that Seth made sure that they each got half. This reward, from the look on Mr. Landon's face, was probably more impressive than the reward from the killed criminals.

The undertaker with assistant started carrying pinewood coffins toward the wagon with the dead criminals and the single engineer. They took greater care of the train engineer over the dead criminals but as they were carrying the first criminal towards their wagon. The assistant slipped and the coffin dropped, the lid came off and instinctively the four of them standing there talking looked in the direction. Seth was the only one to notice the look on the face of Mr. Landon, he clearly knew the leader of the bandits. Seth saw this face go through several emotions. Starting with surprise, recognition, shock, anger, worry and very clearly ending in fury.

"Sheriff, I want the remainder of this gang that rode off captured" Mr. Landon suddenly said in a tone that showed this was an order than was to be carried out and that he clearly wasn't in the mood to debate it. For a moment the Sheriff looked like he wanted to object, to show that he as the leading law enforcement officer of the city was not for anyone to order around, except the Mayor and City council could give him guidelines he had to follow. But before he could say anything in response to the order, Mr. Landon added:

"I will triple the fee of every deputy you send, and I will give you five of my men to join the posse." Mr. Landon said it calmly and with a face that showed fierce determination, and all could see the fury brewing below the surface. With these words he clearly expected to see the Sheriff setting into action immediately. His face then seemed to get cooled off and he turned to look directly at Seth before he smiled and greeted him and then Natalie by lifting his hat and saying:

"My wife and I are both looking forward to your company this evening, good day" He smiled and where off, just hesitating long enough to see Seth respond by raising his hat back.

Natalie didn't really get all that was going on at that moment. She had had one wild train ride, literally. She just thought of the help she could be to her mother with the reward money. It dawned on her that Seth as always had been amazing, that none of the men there had expected him to share the reward. She moved close to Seth and hugged his arm to be near him as Mr. Landon greeted them and left.

"Let us get back to the hotel, so I can have a bath and get ready for dinner" Natalie smiled and looked up at Seth with so much love and adoration. She quickly added that they could also get coffee for Seth, and maybe some cake too. Seth leaned down and kissed the top of her head, loving her very much and knowing she had a sweet tooth but also that she deserved it.

Natalie carried the basket with the scarves and things acquired in Laramie City, and had her arm under Seth's right arm, so he could walk with his left hand ready for anything. Natalie had at times while in the city thought this ever being vigilant and ready for action was uncalled for, had come to realize, and to tell herself never to doubt Seth and his reasons.

When they arrived at the hotel, Jess was there with Mr. Greer, rumors of what had happened on the train and who was involved in the shooting was spreading like wildfire around the city. Jess hugged Natalie close instantly, and Natalie hugged her back. It wasn't until this hug that it really dawned upon Natalie that she as well as Seth had been in danger. She started to tremble as she reached into the basket and took out her parcel with her two bandanas, and the other objects they had bought. She smiled at Jess but her still realization of the dangerous situation they had been in, kept her from talking as she was trying hard not to show. She handed Jess her nicely wrapped gift and then let the basket they had gotten with provisions stand on the counter.

"Could you have Henry set up a bath for Natalie, please. And have Jess bring us a tray with coffee and cake, cake for the two of them, Natalie would really appreciate Jess' company" Seth said not commanding or harshly but in a calm tone that seemed to show how unaffected he was from it all. But really Seth had felt almost caught off guard when he had turned to see Natalie threatened with a revolver pointed at her head. He had felt helpless in the situation and unable to do anything to save her. He so loved Natalie, her grit and her calm grace under pressure. And how she had resolved the situation herself.

Natalie seemed reluctant to let go of Jess but did when she felt Seth wrap his arm around her. She smiled at Jess and knew that she would be up shortly with coffee and cake. They had barely entered the room when Henry knocked, and Seth let him in. Natalie was pulling at her boots, but Seth came to her and assisted her, letting her lay back on the bed for a moment while the bathtub was being filled with extra warm water.

Henry was busy setting up the tub and Jess arrived with the tray with coffee, cups and plenty of cake. Natalie smiled at her but even as she seemed like she wanted to get up and run to Jess like she usually did, it was like her body was made of lead and she lay there unmoving. Jess could see Natalie was affected by what happened earlier and went to the bed and put the tray down on it. Natalie started to eat cake and slowly seemed to regain strength from it. She soon was sipping coffee too. Jess walked to Seth with a cup of coffee. She smiled at him and curtsied to show that she was in fact wearing the red silk scarf, or bandana that they had bought for her. She thanked him for it and he smiled at her and gave her a nod towards Natalie to make sure she knew that Natalie was the real one she should be thanking.

The tub was soon full, and Henry left clearly observing the girls on the bed. Natalie motioned him over and offered him a piece of cake, as there was plenty. Seth gave him a full dollar, being in a great mood but still shocked at way life had become, suddenly worrying about the life of Natalie. He walked off with a big smile, dollar in one hand and cake in the other. Natalie had gotten a couple of pieces of cake and half a cup of coffee and seemed revitalized. She finally got up and stood on the floor and smiled at Jess, as she gestured for her to undress her.

Mr. Greer had added a bottle of whisky and a couple of glasses to the tray, and Seth took his cup of coffee along with the bottle and a shot glass along with him to the balcony. He relaxed listening to the happy and joyful chippering of the two young women inside. Soon Natalie was splashing in the tub, while eating more cake and drinking more coffee. Jess was enjoying the bath almost as much as Natalie was. She was kneeling on the floor behind the tub, washing her hair and tending to Natalie with so much affection.

The girls soon after heard a low snoring on the balcony and they giggled but Natalie took special notice of this. This wasn't usual for Seth, and she realized that while he had never feared for his own safety that he cared so much for her that her in danger had clearly affected him. That and the fact that she later saw that he had drunk a third of the bottle of whisky.

Natalie had a long, lovely bath letting Jess tend to her. At first, they were both very chatty but at one point Natalie just got silent and just let herself enjoy Jess, tending to her. Jess made sure her hands and fingers washed every part of Natalie, and that she caressed every inch. When she had been done a while finishing with her feet, Jess stood up and looked at Natalie with love and admiration.

"Are you done?" Natalie finally asked, having half drifted off but came around when suddenly everything was silent. She smiled at Jess and stood up and stepped out of the tub, arms to the side and waiting for Jess to wrap her in a towel and dry her off. Jess was prepared for it. She wrapped a towel around Natalie's perfect and petite body, then used a second towel to dry her hair and then left the towel wrapped her head in it. She then took the first towel off Natalie to dry her off carefully and making sure to do it everywhere. She smiled at Natalie as she sometimes kissed Natalie on an area of skin at random.

By the end Natalie pulled the towel off her hair to throw it on the floor and then took the other from Jess and threw that on the floor too. She embraced Jess and they just kissed softly and hugged being very close for a while.

"Help me get dressed for tonight, we are going to dinner at the Landon's so the newest dress and everything, I need to be perfect" Natalie said to Jess. This would take a while but as they we starting to get done with setting the hair and the simple make up, Natalie went to the balcony to wake up Seth. He woke at her approach and smiled at her and nodded at her to show that he was aware of the time and that he too needed to be ready. He looked at the whisky bottle and frowned to himself at how much he had let himself have to drink but knew why. Smiling to himself as he watched his beautiful woman walk inside.

He washed himself quickly and put on a brand-new shirt along with the new clothes he had gotten when they had arrived in Cheyenne City. He wore everything he normally would wear, vest with knives and his weapon belt with holster and revolver. He found one of Natalie's Derringers, checked it was loaded and gave it to her, so she could have it in her bag. She didn't even flinch or consider necessity but just did it instinctively. Seth was smiling at her proudly when he watched as he had mentored her well, as she accepted the gun from him, but she too inspected the weapon handed to her, so she knew herself that it was loaded, but uncocked when she placed it in her purse.

Jess cleared the room and took the tray with her, leaving behind the couple as they walked downstairs. Mr. Greer greeted them and wished them a lovely evening. He handed Seth a bouquet that he had asked to have for Mrs. Landon. Natalie gave Jess a little wave, goodbye before taking the arm of Seth and they walked down the street toward the residence of Mr. Landon. Natalie at first was silent just enjoying their closeness and excited to be dining with very rich people, never having done so before. They made a quick detour by the barber who Seth tipped generously for a quick shave with added bay rum to soothe the skin and for the fresh scent. Natalie waited patiently and with a slight hint of nostalgia, as she recalled how she as a little girl watched her father shave and at the end often applying something that smelled very similar to this.

Natalie was chattier after visiting the barbershop and talked about how she was getting nervous about dinner at a fancy house like this, that it made her nervous, she had never done that before. Seth smiled at her and surprised Natalie by saying that he had been to dinner a few times at house of people that were well-off but never anyone as rich and powerful as Mr. Landon, but he just smiled big as he pointed out that the Landon's were the lucky ones, by having the two of them visiting.

Natalie saw that there were men here and there, but Seth had to point out to her, that this was all men hired to keep an eye out for the Landons. They saw other people arriving, a few couples walking the same way Natalie and Seth did, but one couple arrived by carriage. They came up to the house and the same servant that had let Seth in a couple of days ago was there to open the door again. He greeted Natalie and Seth, letting them in. He took the coat from Natalie and looked surprised when Seth handed him his vest that clearly was rather heavy. Seth noticed how gun belts were left here on a table and saw how the last arriving man that was armed was handing his belt to a maid that brought it to the table. Seemed like all men were expected to dine unarmed. The one Seth handed his vest gestured to Seth to keep his gun belt when he saw that Seth reluctantly starting to take it off.

"Mr. Landon said that true men of honor aren't required to hand in his weapon" he nodded to Seth and respect was clear to see in his eyes, clearly this was something that rarely happened.

Seth gave the bouquet to the maid who smiled and went off to arrange them in a vase, and to bring them to Mrs. Landon so she could see them and tell the maid where to place them. As she was doing this, Seth with Natalie at his arm proceeded to enter the main room where Mr. and Mrs. Landon stood to receive their guests. Natalie curtsied both with a pretty smile that even made the elder and experienced Mr. Landon take notice and return. Natalie never having curtsied much, was glad that few noticed this lack of practice as they were more aware of her smile and eyes. She felt more nervous right now than she ever recalled being on the train that afternoon.

"Seth, Natalie, we are very happy to see you both" Mr. Landon said with clear respect in his tone, he looked at Seth first and shook his hand firmly. He continued the handshake as he nodded to Natalie as she curtsied and then looked back at Seth as he finished the handshake. The maid arrived with the vase and showed it to Mrs. Landon who smiled at Seth, clearly loving that Seth for the second time this week had brought her flowers. She gave the maid some instructions and the maid was off.

Mr. Landon gestured for the two to walk inside and a servant with a tray with glasses of champagne stood there to offer them a glass. Seth took two, one for each of them, handing one to Natalie before they went inside to walk around to greet the various guests. The mayor was there, the bank manager, a couple of owners of some of the bigger businesses in town. All with their wives. There were a few other people. They could see the dining room, and Seth could see that the table was set to seat a full score of people. Nine on either side with Mr. and Mrs. Landon at either end.

Seth and especially Natalie adeptly mingled and started to talk to this couple and that. Everyone knew about the two situations now where Natalie and Seth had been involved in shootings that in a way had affected Mr. and Mrs. Landon. Natalie was happy to tell the story without being to graphical and descriptive but making sure to get the details of how dangerous or exciting it had been. Natalie seemed to become the center of attention, which she didn't notice but handled with grace and great elegance. After a bit the Sheriff arrived along with a young man in Army uniform, a younger looking officer.

A servant rang a bell briefly to get the attention and Mrs. Landon invited everyone to be seated. Servants skillfully guided all the guests to their respective seats; Mr. Landon having ensured that Seth came to sit on his right with Natalie next to him. The Sheriff got to sit on his left. There were more men amongst the guests so either side of the table had five men and four women, but they sat appropriately placed, so every woman had a man on either side. Seth noticed the young officer came to sit on Mrs. Landon's right, and it was obvious after a bit that he must be their son, probably their youngest child.

There was talking around the table at first but then silence fell as the appetizers were placed in front of everyone. In a commanding and clear tone, Mr. Landon said grace with all guests, most of whom had visited before, joining in and at least saying amen at the end.

"Welcome, we are very happy to have you all here. This dinner was planned a couple of weeks ago when we learned that our son would be home, but it became a little bigger because of the events of the last few days" Mr. Landon started and as he said the last he nodded to Seth and smiled at Natalie before going on "I raise my glass to you all and hope we have a few hours in good company, bon appetite, as my dear wife has told me is the proper way to say it" he smiled at greeted everyone around the table before taking a sip and then raising his glass again checking that all were happy before sitting down and everyone acknowledged their appreciation of being welcome and invited to eat.

They all started to eat the hot soup that was the first meal served, tasted amazingly as Natalie later would say to Seth. Slowly conversation started up again, mostly small talk and idle stuff. Every so often someone at the table would have something more interesting to say and Mr. Landon would cough to generally silence the room so everyone could get to hear whatever story or information that was being shared.

After the first meal was finished and as the servants and maids took away the bowls and spoons, Mr. Landon nodded to his wife having seen her signal and he gently tapped his glass and announced that his wife would like for them to sing a hymn. Mrs. Landon herself took the lead in starting to sing a commonly used hymn in the household and frequently heard in the church. All guests that had been here before, had likely sung it here too before. At the end of the hymn Mr. Landon got up and cleared his voice before speaking:

"My wife and I want to start wishing for all to raise their glasses to our son that is home having finished West Point and having been given his commission. He is to be stationed at Fort Laramie" he lifted his glass and made sure all had a chance to do the same and greet their son, who under the proud look of his mother happily accepted their congratulations. Mr. Landon continued: