Natali ambled down the elevated sidewalk of Kansas City, glancing mindlessly at the shop windows. Everything she wanted, was everything she would never be able to afford. Even a simple calico dress was beyond her meager self-given budget. A beautiful blue taffeta dress caught her eye with neat white French lacing and pearls around the collar. Stopping, Natali gazed at it, fingers fidgeting and twining themselves in the apron at her waist; wondering how it would look on her, how it would fit, and if it would happen to catch the eye of the man she fancied.

Perth Jones was someone she’d had her eye on for a while. It panned out for her well enough that they worked at the same place in town. Perth was the barkeep and she was the kitchen help. Every evening, around nine, they took their meals together with a few other co-workers. Perth could have sat by any number of people, but he made it a point to always sit by her.

Closing her eyes, Natali envisioned herself in the blue dress and Perth asking her to dance. Perth spinning her about the dance floor, his keen blue eyes on hers, as he remarked on how beautiful she looked. From there, her mind took her from a dance to a moonlit walk where, on a bench, Perth proposed.

Someone shoved her forward, shoving her into the glass of the shop. Not today, her mind reasoned. Sighing, she walked away. She didn’t dare take a glance at her own dress; it was a fright. Patched holes lined the bottom hem and sleeves. Natali touched her hair, making certain her sunlight-blond braids held tight the slippery fine strands.

Working in the hot kitchen made her hair fall out of other hair styles. Braids were the only style that held her hair back off her face through her long shifts. Natali crossed her arms and continued walking. Rounding the corner to the left, she maneuvered her way past the throngs of people getting off the train toward her workplace. The Silver Spoon dining hotel had a line to the door.

It’s going to be a crazy night, Natali thought begrudgingly.

More than likely, she wouldn’t get home until midnight and their supper would get pushed back to eleven. Then after a brisk walk home, she had to hem her Ma’s dress; and it couldn’t be put off, no matter how tired she happened to be.

Natali clenched her fists. Ever since Ma married Joel Benson, life changed for the worse. Joel stole most of her earnings stating a young woman should not have so much because money made young women frivolous and no family member of his was going to be so shallow. Joel took her earnings and claimed to put them toward the homestead, but she never actually saw what good they did their home. Natali, not wanting to make trouble for Ma, handed over some but not all of it. She hid what she could in the ratted hems of her dress. Whether Ma and Joel ever figured it out, they never let on. Natali hoped what she saved would be enough to take her to Colorado, and hopefully with Perth as they both had spoken about getting away. In Colorado, she would have a new life, starting with a new dress.

Natali went around the side to the kitchen area. Opening the door, Natali groaned. Already there was a plethora of dishes to be washed and dried. Grabbing an apron off the peg, she tied it around herself. She walked to the washing tub already filled with hot water and lye.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” exclaimed the head cook Marta.

Natali smiled, plunging her hands into the soapy liquid to scrub dishes. The salty woman rarely expressed her gratitude for anyone. She dared not add a comment knowing Marta would spread whatever her reply was quicker than melted butter.

Stacking the clean plates on the drying rack, her body relaxed, relieved to be here working and not at home. Her step-father more than likely was already intoxicated and rambling about something gone wrong. Natali grimaced, setting another dish in the rack.

She lifted her voice just barely enough to be heard over the other kitchen sounds when she asked Marta, “Where’s Sally?”

Marta sighed loudly. “Never showed up. That girl knows Thursday nights are the busiest.”

Natali kept her mouth shut. Marta loved to go on, gossiping about whomever wasn’t doing their job to the fullest, if a person was late or did something wrong. It drove Natali crazy that someone could stir trouble and complain like Marta did. Most of the time, Natali managed to block out her prattle, but every once in a while, it got to her. Natali scrubbed the dishes harder then hung them to dry in a wooden rack above her wash bin.

“Natali,” Marta called, “Prep three slices of apple crisps and a slice of peach pie to go out.”

Drying her hands, she got down four dessert plates. She made the plates pretty with a sprig of mint from the potted plant growing on the window sill. Satisfied with her artistry, she cut into the apple crisp first.

Big as a deck of cards, she thought. Marta would go on for an hour if she got the wrong size.

The door to the back burst open. Natali paused where she was, mouth open when she observed her mother standing on the other side of the now open door. Her mother’s lip was split wide, the blood dripping down her chin. A bruise covered her left eye with a goose egg forming on her forehead. Her emerald eyes were glassy with tears wanting to be shed. The relief on her face when she saw Natali was palpable.

“Ma?” Natali whispered.

Her mother sunk to her knees with her back blocking the back door, tears streaming down her discolored face.

Natali didn’t know what to think. Out of her interactions with Joel, he didn’t seem like the type to strike. When he drank, he was a mean drunk, with words though, never with a fist. He was also a pillager of money, but that abuse was never seen on a body. Despite his mean words and overbearing ways, he worked hard on the farm Ma owned after her no-good Pa passed away. And in all, appeared to be a decent enough fellow more so than Pa ever was. But as she watched her Ma’s tears, she realized appearances and impressions were often deceiving.

“Mama?” Natali whispered.

“My heavens, Mrs. Benson,” Marta paused her cooking, coming over to Evonne with a stool. “What happened?”

Fresh tears continued to line the edges of her mother’s emerald eyes only to spill over her mottled cheeks. “Natali,” she said softly, looking around Marta, ignoring her question. “We need to leave Kansas City.”

Natali blinked a few times. What she had in her pockets wasn’t much. It was enough for her train ticket to Colorado, a few days of food and maybe a room if she found one cheap enough. She had serious doubts it would support them both all the way to Colorado.

Despite her doubts, Natali nodded. She would figure it out. She had to. She would sneak back into the house and check all his hiding spots. Surely Joel hadn’t spent all he’d taken from her? She breathed out softly, her resolve firming. It didn’t matter. Natali would find a way to provide for them both. Her Ma needed to be safe and away from the monster he’d revealed himself to be.

Natali’s stomach churned. The last time she’d seen her mother this way was when her Pa was living. The Good Lord took Pa the following day from a snake bite when she was eight. Now, at nineteen, it felt like she was reliving that day all over again.

Wrapping her arms around her mother, Natali simply held her while she cried blocking everything else out for just a few minutes. Natali sniffed, blinking away the tears from her own eyes. It stung her heart someone, a person who promised to love her mother forever, could do this. Were all men this cruel?

Banging came from the door her mother’s back leaned against, rattling the dishes on the shelves. “Evonne!” Joel called. “Come out, let’s talk.”

Natali grabbed her mother’s trembling hand and whispered, “To the back where storage is.”

Evonne stood shakily and wobbled to the back of the kitchen area. Once out of sight, Marta opened the door.

She narrowed her eyes at him and demanded, “We are in the middle of dinner service. What do you want?”

Joel stepped in, wringing the brim of his hat in his hands, looking worried and concerned to anyone who didn’t know Evonne had rushed in here bruised and battered. “I followed Evonne. Is she here?”

Natali shook her head. His voice was gruff, as it always was, although there was a hint of sorrow behind his words. Didn’t matter. Her Ma promised her after Pa died no man would hurt them again. Or Ma for that matter. And he did. Natali had prayed that her mother finally found a love she deserved to have; that this time around, she would be happy. At first, they seemed happy. But the wolf Joel was finally ambled out of the sheep’s clothing and it was dark and menacing.

Straightening her back, Natali glared at Joel. “No, she is not,” she seethed.

Joel’s expression turned dark, his brown eyes radiating hatred, “Watch your tone with me, young lady.”

Natali harrumphed. “Be gone from here. We are in the middle of dinner service.”

Joel stepped toward her. Marta blocked his path, holding up a thick wooden spatula. Her wispy gray hairs produced a halo around her head. Marta’s eyes crinkled, emphasizing lines along the creases as she stared down the angry spouse.

“Look for her elsewhere, Mr. Benson.”

Joel glared daggers at each of them. His calloused hand grabbed the door roughly and slammed it behind him. Natali nodded a thanks to Marta but the woman didn’t notice as she went back to her tasks.

Natali kept quiet. She’d seen the way her mother looked at Joel and loved him. Her mother made the man her world and the love she received in return was a strike to the face. Natali cringed, feeling icy tickles crawl on her skin. After watching her mother go through violence with Pa and now Joel, Natali decided right there she would never marry. All it led to was heartache; if she were so fortunate heartache was all she would receive. There was no such thing as love, only ownership.

“Three apple crisps and a peach pie, dear,” Marta called out.

Natali plated the dessert. “Ready to go.”

A serving girl came in, grabbing the plates, taking them out on a tray. The choking sobs of Natali’s mother filtered in through the back. The kitchen stayed silent as each worked at their own pace, calling out orders in between cooking and washing dishes. Evonne stayed where she was, sobbing intermittently while apologizing through the storage door to her for failing as a mother. Natali’s heart tightened when she heard the repeated apologies. Ma hadn’t failed her. The man who promised to love her forever did.

Natali’s mind wandered on what to do. After tonight, they had to go home. There was nowhere else to go. And Natali needed to see if she could find the money Joel took. A train wouldn’t come into Kansas City or leave until morning anyway. The earliest one would be eight and Joel would be asleep. Perhaps she could time it where they came home after he slept and left before he woke. Could they both escape safely to Colorado? Would Joel follow them?

And what about Perth? Natali thought.

She glanced over her shoulder to where Perth would be, her mind’s eye seeing past the walls and the staircase to the other side of the Silver Spoon dining hotel. She would make a point to speak with him tonight. No matter what, she felt Colorado calling her. Hopefully Perth would agree, but even if not, she had to make a move for both herself and her mother.

The train rocked back and forth. Natali stared mindlessly out the window, trying her best not to think of anything at all. Her head and heart ached too much. Natali lifted a kerchief to her eyes, dabbing at the tears threatening to fall.

Her mother stayed behind in Kansas City. Natali didn’t understand it. She got her money back when Joel fell asleep drunk as a skunk. It was then her mother told her she was staying, but urged Natali to go. Natali wanted to argue. Truthfully, she protested a little, but her mother simply smiled then grimaced as her bruises and split lip pulled taut and shook her head. Natali handed her mother a handful of coin dollars, hoping Evonne hid it well enough so Joel couldn’t find it.

Natali snorted, he’ll find it, the horrid man. She dabbed her eyes again, sniffling quietly. I don’t even know where to begin to process it all. She inhaled slowly, Oh Mama, I wish you were safe with me. And I could use a hug right now.

Her mind wandered to Perth. Last night she discovered his feelings for her were not genuine or at least not of a type for a gentleman’s courtship. Perth’s preferences went against the Bible. It shocked her at first when he broke down in tears, confessing and apologizing for leading her on. It stung her heart. She’d loved Perth. Had been willing to break her vow to herself never to marry because she’d loved him so much. She shook her head. More like she loved the idea of being with him. And she thought, hoped really, his feelings for her were as genuine as hers. Her naïve heart was put into place although Perth had tried to do so gently. The first few hours stung her heart more than she cared to admit. Now, she made her peace with it. Thinking more about it, she saw where she’d turned a blind eye. Every interaction she recalled pointed Perth in this direction. She hadn’t seen it because she hadn’t wanted to. She looked out the window and resolved to let it all go.

She sighed, I need to give it all to God. Lay it at His feet for He will sustain me. God, please keep my Mama safe and in your loving hands.

Feeling a bit more peace about her Mama and Perth, she turned her mind to her trip. Staring at her hands and inspecting her dry skin, Natali realized she hadn’t a clue what she would do once getting to Colorado. Procuring a place to stay was at the forefront of her thoughts. She needed a safe place, somewhere sensible to last her awhile financially. Then, she would go about seeking a job where she could respectfully support herself.

Scowling, she stared out the window. The train whistle blew loudly. The city of Denver came into view as they passed around a sloping hill. Nervousness scuttled on her skin like ants.

“Denver, Colorado!” the conductor announced. “Stay seated until the train comes to a complete stop.”

She leaned forward in her seat, nervousness and excitement coiling in her gut. When the train stopped, she stood, grabbed her bag with her few possessions and began filing behind the people in front of her.

The crisp, almost autumn air was a pleasant relief as she alighted the stuffy train. She looked up at the darkening sky, and breathed in deep, loving the smell of pine and rain. Colorado prickled her skin with adventure and an energy she hadn’t imagined. She felt alive, ready to take on the challenges she knew would come.

Whirling on her heel, Natali ambled up the slight hill, staying on the right-hand side of the road. Natali took in all the new store fronts, her eyes scanning rapidly for any kind of “help wanted” sign. Scowling, she passed many mercantiles, and other stores to no avail. Clutching her small suitcase in front of her, Natali stayed to the right, going up a slight corner bending to the left. Looking to her right a large building with a sign reading ‘Whitman Hotel’ caught her attention. A carving of a roaring bear stood guardian outside the hotel. No sign of needing help was in the window.

I better start trying someplace and if not, I can at least get a room here, she thought. I wish Mama came with me.

Sighing and gathering her determination, she went up the steps. Taking a deep breath with her hand on the knob, she yanked the door open. Stunned at the small foyer, she walked in five steps and opened the next door, letting out another breath she forgot she was holding.

A tall, lanky man sat behind the counter. He stood at her approach, fixing his shirt collar and straightening his sleeves.

Clearing his throat and speaking softly, he greeted her, “What can I do for you, Miss?”

Natali stepped forward, biting her lower lip. “I’m looking for employment.”

“You will need to speak with Jane McCarthy. In the meantime, can I offer you a room? Basic ones are fifty cents a night.”

Natali nodded. “Basic room please. When will I be able to speak with Ms. McCarthy?”

The lanky man pulled out his pocket watch and stated, while handing her a room key, “After the supper rush. My name’s Bartholomew. Your room is up the staircase to the right. Room number two-hundred one. If you want a bath, it will be twenty cents, and will be outside the door, over there,” he pointed, “and to the left.”

Natali nodded, handing over some coins. “Thank you, I would like one.”

“I’ll let the staff know you’re coming for a bath. It will be ready in about fifteen minutes.”

Bobbing her head, Natali spun on her heel, heading up the stairs. The soft clicking of her shoes followed her, the only sound she heard in the giant hotel. Hand on the smooth mahogany rail, she cautiously ascended the stairs. The first time on her own, in a new and wondrous place, made her skin crawl with nerves and tingles of excitement.

I can do this, she told herself. Then I will have fantastic stories to write Mama. Taking a deep breath, she rounded the stairs to the right. A giant painting of who she assumed to be the owner and his wife, hung in the middle of the wall. Natali swallowed at the stern looking man. The soft elegance of his wife brought a smile to her lips. She seems kind, she thought.

A dark, brown haired woman came down the steps chatting with a blond woman with a high-necked dress.

“Good evening!” the dark-haired woman exclaimed.

Natali smiled. “Good evening,” she replied quietly, dipping her head as she continued to her room.

The dark-haired woman stopped, spinning on her heel. “Just arrive in Colorado?”

Natali paused, close to the top of the stairs. “Yes. I came from Kansas City. If you don’t mind me asking, are any places hiring around here?”

The blond woman perked. “Yes, this hotel is hiring for a laundress.”

“I can start tonight,” Natali said hurriedly.

“What’s your name, dear?” the dark-haired woman asked.

Natali dipped into a small curtsy. “Natali Hawkins.”

The woman clapped her hands. “Isn’t this splendid, Jane?” she asked her blond companion. “Whenever we talk about needing someone, God provides.”

Jane’s mouth twitched in a small smile. “Agreed.”

The dark-haired woman came toward Natali, taking both her hands in hers. “I am the owner, Audrey Whitman. It is a pleasure to meet you Natali, come with me. Employee’s sleep down here. Pay is a dollar fifty a week.”

Natali followed Audrey and Jane down the stairs. Bartholomew rose politely at their approach, a timid smile on his lips.

“Bart, could you be a dear and refund her monies?” Audrey asked. “She is our new hire for laundry.”

Bart nodded, bringing out the monies promptly, handing it to Natali.

“Thank you, Bart,” Audrey said chipperly. “Follow me to your room.” Audrey paused mid-stride. “Bart, could you send a note to Katie at Madame Comtois’ telling her I will be by later for dresses?”

Without looking up, the man behind the counter, promptly scribbled the note on a piece of paper and walked out the door to the hotel. Natali followed the owner who practically jumped out of her own skin with happiness. Audrey walked down the hotel, going around to the left.

“Your room is in here with Eliza,” Audrey said. “Go freshen up, and meet me by the front desk when you’re readied. I’m going to treat you to a new dress. Don’t be alarmed,” Audrey continued not bothering to look at her as she walked away, “I do this for all Whitman family. See you in a bit.”

Natali stood on the entrance to her room. Good Graces, this is certainly an interesting day, she thought, putting a hand on the knob, and entering her room.

Rolling up the sleeves on her new dress, Natali dunked her hands under the hot, soapy water. The owner of the hotel insisted upon a new dress for her. The kindly woman bought her a simple green one, and her old threadbare and raggedy dress was thrown into the fire, after she got the money out of the sewn pockets, of course.

Everyone here was more than kind to her. Already she met everyone working in the hotel, by Audrey showing her around. It was different from the polite gruffness of Kansas City. She preferred the people here. Her roommate Eliza was quiet in the evening, preferring the solitude of a book and tea to talking. It didn’t bother her. She enjoyed a moment of peace and honestly enjoyed the fact that she wasn’t wanting to talk all the time. Natali didn’t think she had much to say herself.

Glancing up above the washing tub, Eliza came, taking the cleaned linen from her and running it through a press. Natali scrubbed the rest of the linen sheets from room 205. The lye tingled her nose, and made her hands feel itchy and slimy.

“When we get done with laundry, we either go out and tend the garden or help in the kitchen,” Eliza stated. “Which one do you want to do?”

“I’ll help in the kitchen.”

Eliza breathed out relieved. “Thank you. I cannot stand the kitchen. It’s too hot and Claudia can be a pain.”

Natali smiled. “She is probably no worse than Marta at the Silver Spoon in Kansas City.”

Eliza chuckled. “Yeah, maybe.

Natali finished the linen she was working on, handing it over to Eliza. Her friend ran it through the press, taking it promptly inside to dry by the woodstove. Natali brought up the hems of her dress to above her ankles, moving back a touch. Tipping the washing barrel over, all the dirty water rushed past her bare feet.

She watched the water trail down in a zig-zagged path to the rock covered pathway leading from the hotel to the stables. Natali frowned, thinking of her mother hoping she was doing all right. Natali wanted to send her money to take care of herself but she didn’t want Joel to take it.

Mama, I hope you’re ok, she thought.

Natali moved the wash tub back inside the laundry room then dried her hands on a towel. Shucking her shoes back on, she quickly tied up the laces. Heading inside the Whitman Hotel, she made for the kitchen. Humid heat struck her face upon entering. Ada and Claudia slaved over the hot stoves and an oven, pumping out supper orders rapidly.

Claudia banged on the bell, a deep scowl creasing her face. Ada took a towel, dabbing her forehead. Lena came into the kitchen from the dining side, a brow perked and meeting Claudia’s annoyed gaze evenly.

Claudia is almost as bad as Marta, Natali thought.

“Where’s Mary?” the cook boomed at Lena.

“Taking orders. Why?”

Claudia crossed her arms, leaning over the counter scowling even fiercer. “She needs to write it down. She shouts the order and leaves.”

Lena sucked in her lip, turning to Natali. “Can you write?”

Natali nodded. “Yes, I can.”

“Go get Mary, please.”

Natali strode out the door into the almost packed diner. Her heart rate pulsed. Oh goodness, she thought. Tonight, is going to be extremely busy. Poor Mary, the woman is doing her best.

“Mary,” Natali said quietly.

The woman left the table she was at with a wide-eyed gaze and a huff. Natali beckoned her with a nod toward the kitchen. Stepping to the side, she allowed Mary first, regretting the decision almost instantly with Claudia’s ill-intended glare at Mary. The ornery old woman went to open her mouth but Lena shut her down instantly with a look she didn’t know the kindly woman was capable of.

“Mary,” Lena began, “for supper service, we like to write down the orders when the diner gets packed as it is, since there are many plates going out at once. Natali is going to take over for a bit. You’ll still get your tips and some of mine.”

Mary’s face fell. Her eyes bright blue and shining, wavering on unshed tears. The woman nodded. Lena wrapped her arms around her and squeezed slightly. Natali put her hand to her mouth.

Poor Mary, she thought. Her insides rumpled together like crumpled paper. Natali grabbed an apron off the peg, sticking a pad and a lead pencil in her pouch.

“I didn’t think it would get this busy. I am so sorry Mary,” Lena muttered, holding her in a tight embrace.

Mary pulled back. “Not your fault,” she said with a drawn smile. “You’re always helpin’ me and I… appreciate it kindly.”

Natali gave Mary a wan smile, heading out into the packed diner. Starting on the left-hand side where she first spotted Mary, she began talking with the diners and taking orders on the pad. She apologized for the confusion and misunderstandings, telling those who were too upset to speak to Jane.

Gulping, she rushed back and forth from dining tables of people back to the kitchen. Claudia’s face relaxed making her look less ornery. However, whenever the old crone glanced in Mary’s direction, she scowled.

Natali kept her head down, taking out orders to people quickly. This was all new to her. She’d always been in the kitchen and never this side of the dining room as wait staff and she prayed she didn’t make any big mistakes.

The busyness of Denver surprised her. Denver itself was smaller than Kansas City and the people seemed less hurried, yet the diner was packed and always seemed busy and there were always people on the streets and in the stores. Natali jumped as the windows shook. Peeking out and into the sky, she grew even more confused. The noise sounded like thunder booming, yet no rain or dark clouds hung in the setting Colorado sky. Glancing down to the steps coming into the diner, hundreds of cattle mooed and jostled, moving through town at a trot.

The bell to the kitchen rang loudly, breaking her away from her awe at the sight of so many animals. Taking more plates out to the diners, the people quieted as they began to shovel food into their faces. Natali's own stomach rumbled and she threw up a quick prayer of thanks for having found the Whitman Hotel. She never got much in the way of food at the Silver Spoon. One meal a day for her since she was trying her best to save her money to get away from Joel. Now, she had two meals a day, eating with her co-workers like a family and it didn’t cost her extra.

Diners got up, clinking money down on the tables and leaving. Natali swept the money into her apron pocket while clearing the plates to take to Mary.

“You ok?” Lena asked as Natali turned around with the plates, smiling with rosy cheeks.

Natali nodded, heading back into the kitchen. She grabbed their food and a pitcher of coffee. I did not think a town like this could be so busy, she thought.

Taking the last plates of food out, she set it down, promptly filling the diner’s cups with coffee. Glancing out the window, she was disappointed to see the cattle long gone. A cowboy twirled in his saddle, scanning the area behind him. Natali spied him curiously, watching his horse’s feet dance in the dusty road. The cowboy raised his hand to her, taking off after the last of the cattle. Heat crept to her already rosy cheeks.

Picking up the last of the dirty dishes, she went back to the kitchen, her cheeks flaming from the busyness of the supper rush. Setting the plates by Mary, she went over to a hutch where a cup for each of the kitchen workers sat. She grabbed her cup and brought it to her lips taking a large gulp of tea, ignoring as a little dribbled down her chin. She wiped the excess drink and sweat off her face.

Going back out with a soapy rag, and a bucket of soapy water, she wiped all the tables down. Starting on one side of the room, she worked her way front to back. Lena came out, taking care of the last customer while she went around setting cups and saucers, and silverware wrapped in cloth napkins.

Natali went back into the kitchen, finishing the last of her drink.

Lena came in behind her. “Last one just left.”

She met Lena with a smile, fanning her face. “Tables are cleared and set.”

Lena nodded, walking up to the hutch to grab the broom.

Claudia waved her hands, “Stop,” he said decidedly. “Have a good night. We’re done. Mary let those pans alone.”

Everyone went silent, relishing the stillness for a moment.

The clink of a plate clattering on another echoed in the small kitchen area. “All right,” Mary replied.

“Night,” Lena called, promptly exiting the kitchen.

Natali took off her apron, setting all the money down on the counter. Claudia counted it, brusquely explaining the cost of meals. The extra money was made into small change and Claudia handed it to her.

“What’s this?” Natali asked.

“Your tip,” Claudia replied, her eyebrows raised, and in a tone suggesting her question was stupid.

Natali nodded, taking the money. She remembered some of the ladies from the Silver Spoon Dining Hotel handing her some change here and there for being nice. Natali divvied up her money, wanting to share her tips, making it fair between Claudia, Ada, Mary and herself making sure each woman knew which pile was theirs.

“Have a good night,” Natali said, going out the kitchen door to her room.

I could send this to Mama, she thought. She grimaced, her face pulling down into a moue. Joel would steal it. I need to figure out a way to take care of Mama without Joel getting a penny.

Wyatt set the hat back on his auburn head, his hands folding into fists over the reins on his horse. His mount danced excitedly on his hooves, ready to go and keep the cattle moving the last few miles to Elk Creek Ranch outside of Denver. Wyatt and the other hands had ridden hundreds of miles, herding cattle from Hartford City, Indiana to Denver, Colorado. And finally, their journey was almost over.

His horse trotted alongside the cattle, moving them through the sleepy town. A woman in a window, with her face pressed against the glass, stared at him awe struck. Wyatt smirked, raising his hand to her. The woman disappeared back inside what Wyatt saw to be the Whitman Diner.

Wyatt turned back in his saddle, focusing on the cattle. Pretty woman, he thought.

The last of the cattle moved past his horse. He followed sending up a shrill whistle and a whoop now and again, encouraging the cattle forward. Wyatt sympathized with the stragglers. The fatigue seeped deep into his bones too, making the last leg to the Elk Creek Ranch a weary one, but the sooner they arrived, the sooner they'd all get to rest. He breathed out a sigh of relief. Almost there, he thought.

With a renewed sense of determination, Wyatt spurred his horse into a trot, giving a few enthusiastic "whoop whoops" to get the slow plodders to gain some speed.

Only a couple miles more, cows. Come on. Let's go! He laughed at his own thoughts. He was more tired than he realized. Or lonely if he was imagining talking to the cattle like that.

Heading out of the small town of Denver was strange. The city felt like it could be a booming, bustling town, but was sleepy at the moment. Like the week had exhausted the people of the town and they were all tucked in early on a Friday evening instead of just emerging for the night and weekend like he was used to seeing.

Wyatt turned his attention to the lead man, Kain, and scrunched his face as he guided his horse over the train tracks and headed north. The lead man, and also his cousin, had been following a winding path north, but now he was turning slightly east, the way they came.

Is Kain lost? he thought. Or a looney?

Kain’s horse barreled toward him. Wyatt’s cousin’s mean-tempered mare had its ears back, always looking ready to dump Kain in the dirt. Reining in quick, the horse’s haunches dipped toward the ground.