Western Flower | ✅

Chapter 3 - Trouble At Noon

For a moment there was such strong tension in the room that it was almost suffocating, the red-head women looked at Bill fondly, Bill looked back longingly.

"Morning Rose, I am so sorry to hear about your parents," said Bill with a tone of sadness.

With that, the other people in the saloon tried to bust themselves in conversation but were gripped by the tension between the two. Bill and Rose suddenly became aware of their surroundings and aware that they had become the centre of attention.

"That's mighty sweet of you Bill, are you in town for long? When did you get back?" replied Rose, eagerly awaiting Bill's response.

"I got back yesterday, I am just here running errands. I have to go visit the gunsmith then on to Cody ranch before heading home," answered Bill with a wide smile.

"I see, be sure to give your dad my regards. It's good to see you," Rose replied with a hint of sadness to her voice.

Bill didn't respond. He simply tipped his hat before setting his glass down on the bar, nodding to Amos and walking out of the saloon. As he stepped out the door he stopped with a slight pivot back towards the saloon and paused - he grunted, thought for a moment, and continued on with his day. His visit to the gunsmith was short and sweet, he would have stayed for a chat, but was eager to get on with his day and get back home. One thing was for sure and that was Bill had been affected by seeing Rose, he tried to put their encounter to the back of his mind.

As Bill climbed on to the wagon he felt a sense of sadness leaving Cedar, if he was being honest with himself he was sorry to leave Rose. He knew after speaking to Silas she had fallen on hard times, but it pained him to know that such a strong and proud woman like Rose had become a whore. He knew she was better than that and it's not a decision she would have taken lightly.

Time was getting on, Bill had made it to Cedar in good time and was eager to get to Cody's ranch. He worked Coal harder than normal, he was aiming to get to the Cody's and take care of business there as soon as possible.

Bill could see the ranch fast approaching in the distance. With that he took the reins in one hand, he grabbed his shotgun in the other and fired off a shot in the air he then waited a moment and then fired a second shot. After firing the second shot he worked the reins harder, as he approached the threshold of the ranch he slowed the wagon down as he came to the barn. He halted his wagon and was helped by a disgruntled ranch-hand who helped unload the supplies. He was almost finished when an elderly man met him; not tall but short, a very stocky build and wavy silvery-white hair.

"Damn Bill was that you firing off shots?" Asked the man, sounding slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry Peter, I need to get back to Cedar as quick as possible and I'm burning daylight" replied Bill with an air of urgency.

"Fair enough Bill, you sure did give some of my men and the animals a scare. But, we really do appreciate this. Much obliged, and give my regards to Silas," said Peter.

Bill climbed back on top of the wagon and tipped his hat to Peter and set off again. He only had one thing on his mind that was Rose, ever since he saw her in The Star Inn it's all he could think about. Bill decided that although he wanted to get back to Cedar soon, he didn't want to face the wrath of an angry horse. Bill set off from Cody ranch at a gentle pace, he felt bad as he was always happy to see Peter and visit the Cody's whenever he could, he hoped that one day the ranch that he and Silas had built would be on a similar scale. If he was being honest with himself he had let his heart affect his decision making, which was normally ruled by his head.

With the wagon now less than half full Coal was moving a lot faster, Bill didn't know if it was because he had left early or it was the anticipation of seeing Rose but the return journey from the Cody's to Cedar seemed to take a lot longer than it did to get there.