After an uneventful week, the day of Bette’s dinner with Peggy Peabody finally arrived. Once again Bette found herself putting on her finest. Thanks to Tina’s suggestion, Sonya had more help and Bette had clean clothes to wear. Bette didn’t really want to show up for dinner with an East Coast matriarch with guns slung over her hips, but there was no way Bette would chance riding out to the ranch unarmed. Bette had taken a few bottles of Chateau Margaux out of the cellar earlier and had Sonya wipe them as clean as she could and wrap them in cloth. After plaiting her hair and tying it back in a ribbon, Bette walked through the house and into the kitchen, she picked up the bottles of wine and her riffle and walked out to the stables. “Is he ready to go Johnny.” “Yes Sheriff, fed, watered, brushed and saddle polished.” Bette loaded one saddlebag very carefully with the wine, repositioning it several times and slipped the riffle into its case. “Alright Johnny, don’t wait up for me, I’ll be home late.”

Bette arrived at the spacious cabin on the ranch that had belonged to the Fosters until Peggy Peabody came into to and bought it lock stock and barrel. Lack of patience was something the elder Mrs. Peabody shared with the Sheriff, she didn’t want to stay at the small inn in town and there was no way she could wait until a proper home had been built so she bought the best one could she find. Western living even at its finest did not suit Peggy and planned on returning to the East when it was prudent to do so. A stable boy came out to meet her and take the horse. Bette took the wine out of the saddlebag and patted Night Wind and tipped the boy who led him off.

A uniformed maid opened the door before the Sheriff had a chance to knock. She curtseyed as she said “Good evenin’ Sheriff.” The maid led her through a large room with animal fur rugs, antlers and animal heads mounted on the walls, Bette had a feeling it wasn’t exactly Mrs. Peabody’s taste. When they arrived at smaller room decorated with a few European antiques, the maid announced “Sheriff Porter ma’am.”

Peggy was sitting on a settee and rose to greet the Sheriff. “My, my Sheriff are you here to work or to dine, I told Jose not to report those missing cattle, the last count was probably off or some beast got a few.”

“I didn’t hear anything from Jose about any missing cattle Mrs. Peabody and as you can see I’ve brought wine.”

“Yes, I see, then do you always show up for dinner with a friend armed to the teeth? I’m not harboring any fugitives, I assure you. Although, I may want you to arrest my chef, Lara, if she overcooks the quail.”

“I mean no offense Mrs. Peabody, it’s not safe for me to travel unarmed and I’m always on the job, my deputies know where to reach me if I’m needed. If it makes you feel any better I can check my belt with the maid.”

“I think that would be most civilized.” Peggy rug a bell and the maid came back, Bette took off her belt and carefully handed it to her, while Peggy took in the site of Bette in all her glory. “If only I was 20 years younger,” thought the heiress.

Peggy led the way to the dining room. “I hope you brought your appetite Sheriff and Lara does justice to the wine. Do you mind my asking how you obtained Chateau Margaux in this wilderness?”

Bette laughed. “Well between you and me Mrs. Peabody being Sheriff has its perks. Sometimes when you arrest bandits the contraband can’t be returned to its rightful owner. Don’t get your hopes up too high, often wine doesn’t survive the journey, I’ve had this in a cellar in the ground for a while, let’s just hope it’s still good.

The meal started off with a delicately flavored soup and a wine to go with it. “I see you aren’t managing too badly Mrs. Peabody this is delicious.”

“I brought out some provisions with me of course, but I’m not sure I could ever get used to these primitive conditions myself. How did you adjust?”

“Well compared to camping on the frontier when I’m hunting outlaws or game, I find the time I spend in my cabin to be quite a luxury.” Bette replied evading what she believed was Peggy Peabody’s true intent behind the question, finding out more about how she lived back East.

The second course arrived a perfectly moist stuffed quail, root vegetables roasted in butter and the red wine now that it had had a chance to breathe was poured from a decanter. Bette moaned a little when she took a bite. As much as she appreciated Sonya’s cooking Bette had not had a French style meal in at least ten years.

“Tell me about the native crafts in your home. Did you purchase them from a dealer? I’m quite an art collector and would love to add some native items to my collection while I’m out here.”

“I traded for or bought everything myself. I’ve always had an affinity for the craftsmanship and culture of the Indians. I spent a lot of time getting to know tribes, gaining their respect, trading with them, I’ve been collecting for many years.”

“The headdress you have in your living room is quite spectacular. I know a collector in New York who would be willing to pay top dollar. If you threw in a few more rare items it would enough to send your nephew to Paris.” Peggy said it nonchalantly but the message was clear, Peggy had been doing her homework, gathering information about the Sheriff and her family.

“It’s nice of you to offer, but my collection is not for sale, each piece has meaning to me and I would certainly never part with the headdress. We’re quite pleased with the training David received in New Orleans, he saved my life not long ago.”

“I suppose it’s good enough for out here but doesn’t the young man wish to study in Paris?” Replied Peggy.

“What intelligent young man doesn’t want to study in Paris?”

They women moved onto desert, a lovely white flour cake with a unique flavored icing Bette couldn’t quite place. Bette wasn’t sure she had ever tasted anything like it or if it had been so long that her taste buds had forgotten.

“Mrs. Peabody, I’ve got to hand it to you, my cook is quite capable, but I haven’t eaten a meal this good in years. Please send my compliments to the chef.”

“I certainly will Sheriff and now that we’ve dined together I hope you won’t be a stranger, years won’t have to pass for you to taste fine French cuisine, of course Lara has to make due with she can find out here, it’s just not the same.”

“It would be my pleasure Mrs. Peabody.”

“And maybe in return you’ll introduce me to some of your Indian friends?”

“Mrs. Peabody, please don’t ask me again, I know you mean well, but I thought I explained to you that I’m a Sheriff not an art dealer. I’ll see what I can do to find you someone reputable but I can’t introduce you myself. I would never hear the end of it from Reverend Fairbanks.”

“I suppose that in of itself would be a good enough reason to deny me,” Mrs. Peabody Laughed.

“Thank you again for dinner Mrs. Peabody.” The maid Bridgett had just returned Bette’s gun belt and she was taking her leave. Bette felt that Mrs. Peabody in her expensive golden hued silk dress, pearl drop earrings and double strand pearl necklace had the upper hand in this situation a position Bette never liked being in.

“Goodnight Sheriff, I wish you would agree to spend the night especially since you refuse to spend the weekend here with your friends. I think the only person I know who is more stubborn (excluding myself of course) is my daughter Helena, do travel safely.”

A groom had brought around Bette’s horse and was holding him by the reins for her. She put on her gun belt and placed a shiny black boot in the stirrup and gracefully hoisted herself into the saddle. The moon was full and the sky was clear and the horse and its master probably knew the way blind folded set off for home. Bette was in a rather open spot when she heard the crack of a riffle and a shot wiz by, she dug her heels into Night and he took off at full speed heading for a bend and some cover she knew was ahead. She wondered if she should keep riding or stop and hope that whoever shot at her came after her, she’d like to know who was trying to end her life this evening.

She rounded the bend and slowed up at the cover and took her riffle out of its’ holster and opened the saddlebag to get extra ammunition to find it practically empty. “What the fuck! That bitch fed me a last supper and now she’s trying to have me killed.” Bette knew she had 10 shots with the pistols, but they wouldn’t help her too much in this situation where she wanted the safety of shooting at distance and she only had a couple shots with her riffle. She just hoped there wasn’t a gang after her. She concentrated on calming her breathing and waited to see what was coming. Two horsemen came galloping by and she overheard one of them yelling.

“You stupid, horses ass, what kind of idiot are you, are you trying to get our asses kicked into the fire” Bette couldn’t make out who the men were. She stayed hidden in the cover for another half an hour, they didn’t circle back and look for her so set out back on the trail and cautiously made her way home.


*****

While Bette was being wined and dined at the Peabody Ranch things were in full swing at the Saloon. The lamps were lit and the place was filled with ranch hands, fur trappers, prospectors, homesteaders, and men passing through seeking some respite from their long journey and for the most part they were a hardscrabble bunch but there were shop keepers, tradesman and ranchers partaking in the nightly entertainment the Saloon provided as well.

Kit smiled as she surveyed her world. Marina was busy at the bar, men were playing poker and weren’t drunk enough yet to start pulling punches or their pistols on one another, the girls were dancing, Carmen and a few of her girls were milling around the place trying to drum up business and then she noticed Carmen stop by Shane and Tim’s table. Shane and Tim were drinking beers and laughing about something and Carmen was giving Shane a dazzling smile. Kit sent a up a silent prayer hoping she wouldn’t need the deputies services later she doubted they would be sober enough to help. She made her way over to he pianist and corrected his tempo and made her way backstage it was almost time for her to sing. It always made Kit nervous and yet it was her favorite time of the night.

*****

Bette rose early and was tired and cranky. Sonya, the chickens, dogs and cats all knew to stay clear of the foul mooded woman. Johnny quickly saddled Night Wind and led him out of the stable while Bette drank her coffee and talked in hushed tones with Kit.

“What’s so important that you needed to wake me at 6:00 in the morning Bette.”

“Peggy Peggy is sniffing around our family history and I think she tried to have me killed last night. I want you to take some money out of the bank and increase our emergency fund and get a few bags ready to go incase we need to leave.”

“You can’t be serious. Even if Peggy found out the truth about Ivan and me you wouldn’t have to leave, there’s no way she can know the truth about who your mother is.”

“Kit, I don’t know that for sure and if you have to leave then I doubt I’ll be able stay, no matter what I’ll go with you, we’ll rebuild our lives together somewhere else.”

Bette not only worried about what would happen if the word got out that not only was Ivan a woman but that their Sheriff was the half black, illegitimate daughter of Melvin Porter and Rachel Carter. Elizabeth Porter died of her various illnesses having never given Melvin an heir and the servant Rachel Carter died giving birth to the child two nights later. Upon seeing her fair skin Melvin decided he could safely pass her off as Elizabeth’s child. He had kept everyone but Clara away from Elizabeth during her last illness knowing that Rachel was pregnant with his child. Nobody was told of Elizabeth’s death until after Rachel gave birth.

Bette rode Night straight to schoolhouse and marched through the doors with ire in eyes and oozing from her very being. Tina took one look a Bette knew a whirlwind of anger had just entered her domain and she was none too pleased about it.

“Tina your friends the Peabodys tried to have me killed last night. If the time you spent with me, as part of my family, means anything you won’t spend the weekend at their house and you’ll believe me when I tell you that a friendship with Helena is ill advised and if you won’t do that I ask that you refrain from ever talking about me and my family in their presence.”

“Bette, you have got to be kidding me. Peggy Peabody talks about you constantly. I swear either she wishes you were or daughter or she’s half in love with you. She was in such a state of anticipation over your dinner last night that Helena came into town and stayed at the inn because she couldn’t take hearing about it anymore.”

“Then how did I come to be shot at last night on way home with a saddlebag empty of munitions?”

“Well did you check your saddlebag before you left to go to Mrs. Peabody’s ranch?”

“Of course, I always check” Bette stopped and thought about it, no she hadn’t checked, she had been so busy carefully packing the wine so it wouldn’t break that she didn’t check for spare ammunition. “Well, no I didn’t check, but why would it be empty, I checked in the morning before I went to work.” Then it hit Bette, Johnny had cleaned her saddlebags and had probably forgot to repack them properly. “It could have been Johnny’s fault, but that doesn’t change the fact that I got shot at after leaving dinner at their ranch.”

“Bette, I know you think Helena is the Frontier Nightingale and Peggy may very well want to protect her daughter and family name and Helena likes to rankle you but don’t you think having you killed is a little extreme. You have many actual enemies on this frontier and you were riding alone on a night with a full moon, it wouldn’t have been too difficult to identify you if some guy who has a beef with you saw you riding by or it just could have been a bandit looking to steal your horse.”

Bette calmed down considerably she had to concede that it might be unlikely that either Helena or Peggy Peabody had arranged for her ammo to be stolen and for the men to follow and shoot her last night but she was still angry. “Tina, Peggy is digging for dirt on me and my family, she let all sorts of hints drop last night as she was stuffing me full of quail, she’s dangerous, more dangerous to me than Helena perhaps. I’m sure she has plenty of society contacts back east that she is corresponding with it’s only a matter of time before she starts putting more of the pieces of the puzzle together. Kit, Ivan, David, we could lose everything we’ve worked for.”

Tina felt that Bette was over reacting to the Peabody situation and she didn’t want to give in to Bette and end a friendship that was enjoying but Tina still cared deeply about Bette and her family. She looked into Bette’s eyes, “Bette, your family is my family that has not changed just because I no longer live in your house. I would never betray you, not for love or money or under physical duress that’s the truth of the matter. There’s nothing the Peabodies or anyone else could ever say or do to change that, I swear.” Children started filing into the schoolhouse, laughing chatting away. “Please go so I can get the children settled, if they think you are here for another talk, I’ll ever get them to focus.”

Bette left only partially satisfied. Tina had not said she wouldn’t visit the ranch this weekend and she doubted that Tina would refrain from ever uttering a word about her or her family. Now she had to go put the fear of God into Alice who was also going to be at the Peabody ranch for the weekend and when she got home she was going to rip Johnny a new one, mistakes like those could easily cost her life or someone else’s. When Bette arrived at the station James ran outside as she was tying up her horse to tell her that Jaffe and bunch of other wealthy ranchers waiting to see her. “Jesus Christ, does it ever fucking stop.”

Bette adjusted her hat and vest and put her game face on and entered the station to find Jaffe, Bradshaw, Bush, Deveaux, Jackson, Samchuk and the Mayor were all waiting for her. Bette led them to her office, laid the riffle across her desk and took a seat behind her desk. “Gentlemen.”

“Sheriff, I think you know whey we are here.” Jaffe spoke. “We all had livestock pilfered this week from our land. Last night one of my prize bulls was taken. You have got to stop this Frontier Nightingale this is no joking matter to us.

“Gentleman, there are more pressing matters and more dangerous outlaws on the loose right now. If I take my associates and set up stake outs for this petty thief we are leaving the town open for attack while the Franklin gang is still at large operating in the territory. We have no way of knowing that the Frontier Nightingale was behind all of these thefts. Last night I saw two men I couldn’t identify not far from the Peabody ranch in fact I think one them took a shot at me.”

“Why didn’t stop them?” Jackson asked.

“An unforeseen difficulty prevented me from pursuing them.”

“You let those bastards get away and then they probably stole my bull.” Jaffe angrily stated. “You owe us Porter we’re all tired of suffering losses. If you don’t agree to get serious about these thefts we’ll find a Sheriff who will.”

“So let me get this straight you all are willing to leave the bank and the town basically unprotected while a notorious bank thief and killer is in the territory so I can stop a woman from stealing a few of your precious cattle. Is that what you want Mr. Mayor.”

“Yes it is Sheriff.”

“Well then, I’ll get to work on a plan and organize the men, we’ll set out in two or three days. I’ll send you a list of supplies we’ll be needing.” Bette stood up and all the men took this as their dismissal and made their way out of her office. As soon they were all gone Bette yelled “Shane, Tim, in my office now!” The deputies scurried into Bette’s office.

“Do you mind telling me how I just got blindsided by that little cabal?” Why the fuck did we not have an inkling that this was afoot. Shane, Tim what the hell have you been doing with your free time? Tim, I thought you were taking care of the Mayor’s office and Shane, I know Jaffe’s wife and daughter have crushes on you.

“Well, Sheriff, my fianc is in town and I’ve been spending my free time getting our cabin built so we can get married.”

“Shane what’s your excuse.” The exasperated Sheriff asked.

“Uh, I’ve been pretty exclusive with Carmen and Jaffe told me if he saw me sniffing around his women again my body would never be found.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.” What the hell do I pay you idiots for, did neither of you think it might be important to tell me that you had stopped doing your fucking jobs so you wouldn’t offend the women in your beds. And you Shane, you’re an officer of the law and you just let Jaffe threaten you and get away with it? For the love of god, why didn’t you arrest the son-of-a-bitch?”

“Sheriff you know it’s not that simple.” Shane was going to stand up for herself to the irate Sheriff, badge or no badge one couldn’t take a threat from Jaffe lightly. He had a lot of power and wealth and could easily arrange to have his ranch hands to scatter her body parts all across the frontier. “No judge would let us keep Jaffe in jail let alone stand trial for a threat nobody else heard, it’s not easy to arrest a man like Jaffe and you know it. Maybe I shoulda told you I hadn’t been receiving much information from his women folk lately, I’ve put my life on the line for you many a time, but you can’t expect me to risk my life and the ire of my woman so you can keep track of his business.” Shane kept her head held high and even her posture was straight as she made this declaration to the Sheriff.

TBC….