My Cowboy

**Allie**

"Allie please do be a dear and help me carry my packages to my wagon," Mrs. Hilton said as she finished paying for more of her silks and linen. She was known to keep up with the latest fashion and was always complaining about my lack there of. I carried her parcels to the waiting team of stately bay horses with their heads tied up. It was a disgusting fashion where a horses head was tied up to look more respectable. It couldnt lean its head forward to relieve the pressure nor could it give its all into pulling the cart up a hill putting more strain on its back.

I knew better than to say so to Mrs. Hilton though. She was all about fashion. As we speak she is ridiculing my simple taste in clothes and lack of a hat. I despised the things as they always got in the way. I also refused to wear one of those rediculous bonnets. The most i wore my hair up was having it braided down my back or only a few pieces around my face braided to keep it out of my face.

I placed her parcels in the back before giving her a brief goodbye and heading back to the safety of the store. My father was the only merchant for a good two days ride, a fact i was very proud of. It kept us busy though and i was constantly helping my father with this or that. I mostly delt with the women unless Papa needed me for something different.

My mother worked the register and was currently motioning for me to come to her. "Yes Mama?" I asked as i stepped beside a very handsome man. I barely spared him a glance though, i was too busy helping my family to worry about men.

"Ah there you are. As i was saying my daughter here is a very good option for a wife. She is the best cook, everyone says so, she knows how to take care of a house hold, she can speak..." I cut Mama off mid sentence, "what are you doing Mama? I told you i'm not going to marry just anybody no matter if there handsome or not."

"But.."

"No," i cut her off again, "i will marry for love and love only. You will not choose my husband." With that i turned and left my mother who was shocked. I dont know what the man thought since i didnt spare him a second glance.

For the rest of that day i avoided my mother and kept busy carrying parcels and showing off the best fabric. It was getting dark when i finally looked over at my father who looked exhausted. Sweat covered his face and his eyes were droopy as he lifted another box onto the self. I walked over to him and wrapped him up in a hug. I felt him sigh and i smiled up at him.

"Go home Papa. I'll finish straightening up the store and lock it up. You need some sleep," i demanded softly giving him "the look". He knew when i gave that look i was serious.

He kissed my head and ruffled my hair annoyingly before grabbing his coat and was walking out the door when he turned back, "you should consider the man your mother was talking to today." With that he left me completely speechless.

Papa never agreed with Mama on her husband search. He hated almost every man she chose. For him to actually agree with her was enough to shut me up and make my head spin. What was it about this man that made both my parents want him for my husband? I didnt even know what his face looked like.

I shook it off and proceeded to close up the store making sure all the doors and windows were locked. That done i grabbed my wrap and headed out the door making sure to lock it as well. Spring was here, but it was still a bit nippy.

Nighttime was just as busy as the day time as the town was a popular stop for cattle drivers as well as a growing city. Buildings glowed with candle light and i warily walked past the saloon on the far street. Men became drunken idiots inside and spilled out into the streets and were not always kind to innocent women and young girls.

I sighed with relief when i turned the corner at the block with no problem, that was until i fet a hand cover my mouth and drag me into the dark depths of an alleyway. I struggled against the person holding me only to get a nose full of the stench of alcohal and a slap across the face.