Chapter Eight

Susie stepped into the bank and Justin looked up from his window where he was currently tending to an elderly widow named Penny Yates who lived just outside of town. Susie gave him a small wave and he smiled in greeting before putting his head back down and going back to his customer.

Susie knew that Sally and Liza were waiting outside to help her if she needed them but she was determined to do this herself. It wasn't fair to herself or to Justin for this to continue. She sat down on the bench against the wall and waited for him to have a free moment.

It was nearly ten minutes later before he finally made his way to her, "Susie, to what do I owe this surprise?" he asked.

Susie patted the empty space on the bench beside her and he sat down, "Mr. Vicks, I'm afraid that you and I have to talk."

Justin wiped his hands on his pants as he sat down, "About?"

"I think it would be best if you didn't come to court me anymore. I do not think that we are right together and in order to be fair to us both I feel we should end this," Susie blurted everything out at once in one quick rush of air.

It took Justin several moments to realize what she was saying. It wasn't the first time he'd been told to leave a woman alone. He wasn't exactly the best catch and some women, even the desperate ones, would rather be alone than be with him.

"Can I ask what brought about this sudden change of heart?" he asked though it hurt him to have to be kind when what he wanted to do was yell at her for being a tease and go nurse his wounded ego.

"Well I... Um..." Susie floundered for words. How did you tell a man that you couldn't see him anymore because there was another man that you liked more than you liked him?

"There's another man isn't there?" Justin demanded with hurt in his voice. He honestly hadn't thought he'd have any competition for a woman like Susie, "I really care about you, Susie. I was hoping we could become more than what we are."

"Even if there wasn't someone else, I would still feel the same way," Susie assured him, "There simply isn't a spark between us, Justin. Wouldn't you rather be with someone you have a spark with?" Susie realized with horror that Justin was about to cry as his blue eyes widened and became wet with tears.

He looked down at his shiny, polished shoes, "I felt a spark," he sniffed, "Who is the man? Who is the man who stole you away from me?"

"He didn't steal me away, Justin. You and I were never serious," Susie reminded him.

Her words only served to make him angry and more hurt. He had no right to be hurt seeing as how he was married and only interested in using her for a quick rut and a bit of company, but he was hurt just the same. He had actually sent a letter to his father-in-law this morning saying that he had moved to Wyoming in hopes that the man wouldn't come here looking for him because he had wanted to give himself more time with Susie. Now she was telling him they couldn't be together.

"Who is he?" he asked again.

Susie sighed. This was not going how she had hoped it would. Justin was crying... Which startled her greatly. She had never seen a man cry. The closest she'd ever come to seeing tears in a man's eyes was when Brody had come to the farm all those years ago and seen with his own eyes that his wife wasn't dead.

Susie Atkinson had made a man cry. That had to make her a monster.

"Ryder Hampton," she replied softly.

That name meant nothing to Justin, "What does he look like?"

Susie seemed confused, "Huh?"

Justin looked up at her as he swiped a hand across his cheek. No doubt Ryder Hampton was tall, dark and handsome. Everything Justin was not. He stood up quickly and glared down at her, "Well have a nice life then, Miss Atkinson. I was willing to give you the world," perhaps that was a slight exaggeration but he didn't care at this point, "And you just spit in my face," he finished. He turned on his heel and stormed away.

Susie sat there in shock. She didn't know much about love and romance but wasn't the woman supposed to be the one that got emotional and angry and stormed away in a huff? Susie stood and smoothed out her skirt and blouse before walking out of the bank.

She found Liza and Sally standing beside the cart waiting for her, "Did you do it?" Liza asked.

"Do I need to hurt him?" Sally added with a smile, "Just ask Thomas, I have a very good left hook."

Susie couldn't help but laugh at her sister's antics, "No you don't need to hurt him. It's over. I told him we couldn't be together anymore."

"Did he ask why?" Liza asked.

Susie nodded, "Of course he did," she replied, "And I told him."

"What's wrong? You look more upset then I thought you'd be," Sally admitted laying a gentle hand on her sister's arm.

Susie bit her lip and then frowned, "He cried."

Liza and Sally shared a look and then burst out laughing. Susie shook her head at them and wondered if they'd lost their minds.

"He's a woman!" Sally exclaimed as she wiped tears from her eyes and tried to catch her breath, "A man doesn't cry over something like that... It's not like you were married or even in love!"

"He's just sensitive," Susie said in his defense and Sally and Liza laughed again and then climbed into the cart.

Susie climbed in as well and Sally wrapped her arm around her sisters shoulders, "You're too cute, Sue."

***

"Stop right there!" A man with a big gun called out from beside the gate to the Tortulla rangers station.

Ryder pulled his horse to a stop and smiled at the man, "What seems to be the problem?" he asked.

"You aren't allowed to just ride on in! Who are you?" the man demanded.

Ryder pulled his hat off and ran his hand through his hair, "Names Ryder Hampton. My brother is a ranger here. We don't really look alike though 'cause he's old and soft and I'm young and fit."

The man lowered the gun and scratched his head, "Huh?"

"Ryder! What are you doing here?" Ty demanded as he came out of a barrack house and strode across the dusty ground.

"You know him?" the first man asked.

"Yeah, Ben, he's my brother."

Ben nodded and allowed Ryder to ride through. Ryder put his hat back on and tipped his head at Ben as he rode by, "Nice to meet ya, Ben."

"Ryder what are you doing here?" Ty asked again as Ryder jumped from his horse with that normal agility that had always amazed Ty.

"I need your help."

"Are you in trouble?" Ty asked, his eyes narrowing. He'd always been around to keep his brother from getting into too much trouble. He had been worried about how he was faring on his own.

"No," Ryder replied.

"Are you drunk?" Ty asked, more out of habit than anything else. Ryder certainly didn't look or act drunk.

"No," Ryder replied as he crossed his heart, "I haven't drunk a drop!" Ty's eyes narrowed and Ryder grinned sheepishly, "I may have had a swallow or two but I'm not drunk right now."

"So what's wrong? Why do you need my help?"

"I'm in love," Ryder replied wistfully.

Ty rolled his eyes and shook his head, "You're always in love with somebody, why would you need my help this time?"

"This time it's different," Ryder insisted.

Ty grumbled under his breath, "You don't expect me to really believe that, do you? Hell Ryder, I could take you down to the saloon in town and you'd fall in love fifteen times before we leave."

Ryder shook his head as Ty motioned with his hand and a short Mexican man grabbed his horse and led it toward the barn, "This is different, Ty," Ryder insisted, "She's the one. I know she is because ever since I met her I haven't wanted to look at any other women."

Ty had heard this song and dance before so he wasn't buying it, "Your Ryder Hampton and can get any woman you want. Why would you need my help?" he asked as he led Ryder toward the barracks.

Ryder's gaze went over to the family cabins and all of the kids running around while the women hung clothes out on lines. He had never really thought about getting married and having kids of his own before; at least not until he had seen Susie walk into that jail. Ryder felt like he was going out of his mind being away from her. He had always been hyper and full of energy...It made him different, left him feeling wore out, alone and unable to relax but when he had held Susie in his arms, he had suddenly felt calm and peaceful. The constant whirring and spinning inside his brain had stilled and he had simply stood there, perfectly content and happy. He wanted to feel that again and he knew that only Susie could give it to him.

Ryder tapped his fingertips against his thighs, "Her brother didn't see what he thinks he saw and he ran me off. I need you to help me get back in with the family."

Ty flopped himself down on his bed and looked at Ryder who was busy picking up and touching everything in the place as if it belonged to him, "Some of the men wouldn't take too kindly to seeing you touching their belongings," he warned. Ryder stopped and then stood in front of his brother leaning from leg to leg and tapping his fingers on his pants.

Ty's eyes narrowed. Ryder had always been odd but right now he seemed worse than usual. It was like his nerves were on edge and he couldn't hold still without bursting, "Are you okay?" Ty asked.

"No!" Ryder exclaimed, "I need her. She makes me feel better."

"I thought alcohol helped do that and that's why you always drank so much," Ty replied, sitting up and eyeing his brother thoughtfully.

Ryder chewed on his lip and scratched at the back of his neck, "I'd rather have her."

"What makes you think I can help?"

Ryder clicked his tongue against his cheek several times and picked at a knot on the wooden wall, "Well you're a big, tough, serious law man and her brother is a big, tough, serious lawman... He'd probably like you and you could speak good for me."

Ty shook his head, "I'm not helping you fix this one, Ryder. You always get yourself into trouble and I'm always the one that's gotta find a way to get you out of it. You're on your own this time."

Ryder's shoulders drooped, "Really? That's not what I thought you would say...I thought you'd help me."

Ty stood up, "How about you and I go into town, visit the saloon, relax a while and then figure out what you can do to fix the mess you've made?" He knew that if he got Ryder to the saloon, Ryder would fall in love at least five more times and he would no longer be worried about whoever this other woman might be.

Ryder had never been able to say no to saloons and whiskey. Besides if he got his brother loosened up a little he might be able to get him to agree to help, "Let's go."

***

Ty stood outside the saloon in the darkness and could hear the commotion going on inside. He had purposefully left his brother alone so he'd loosen up, but it had been a couple of hours and it was time to call it a night.

Ty stepped into the saloon and it took less than a second for him to spot his brother. Ryder was at a center table and was standing in the chair, with a big mug of beer in one hand and a handful of money in the other, "Anybody else wanna go?" he asked the crowd loudly.

It was plain to see that he'd had a bit too much to drink as he weaved a little in the chair, "What's going on?" Ty asked a cowboy standing beside him.

"That man there has challenged and beaten just about every man in here at arm wrestling. I think there's some men getting a bit upset at having their faces rubbed in it," the cowboy replied.

"Don't feel bad!" Ryder exclaimed with a friendly smile, "You should be proud that you got your asses kicked by me!"

Ty saw the way several men in the corner bristled and he rolled his eyes. Ryder was at it again--just looking for a fight. Ryder seemed to realize that no one else was going to take him up on his offer and he took a big swig of beer and jumped from the chair, "Bunch of big babies," he muttered with a grin.

Ty grabbed him by the arm, "It's time to go."

Ryder shook his head, "No. I want to play some poker."

"Ryder, you have to quit trying to piss people off. If you think I'm getting into a damn saloon fight just to protect you then you're wrong." Ryder looked hurt, "One, you're my brother so you're supposed to have my back and two, who says I'd need you?" Then he smiled and patted Ty on the back, "Relax, big brother! We're all friends here! Now let's go play some poker."

Ty blew out a breath and nodded. The brothers took a seat at a poker table and the dealer dealt them in. After nearly an hour of play Ryder had won even more money and Ty had realized his brother wasn't as drunk as he had thought he was.

Ryder stood up pushed himself away from the table and stood up, "Well I'm ready."

Ty frowned. Ryder had not spoken to nor flirted with a single saloon woman all night, "You sure?" Ty asked and he smiled when he saw the petite little red head making her way toward them. Ryder might say he loved all women but Ty knew his brother had a type that he preferred and she was it. Short, thin, small perky breasts, slightly rounded hips and a smooth clear complexion.

"Hello there gentleman. I couldn't interest one of you into coming upstairs could I?" she whispered in a throaty, breathless voice. Ty was more than tempted but he wanted to leave her to Ryder.

"Not me," Ryder said with a shake of his head as he tossed a coin up and down in the air.

"Why?!" Ty demanded. He had never seen Ryder turn down a woman before.

Ryder smiled at his brother and pocketed the coin he'd been tossing. He reached out and adjusted the collar of his brothers shirt and then patted him on the jaw as if he were a child, "Because, I'm in love. Nice try though. Getting me drunk and hoping I'd forget about Susie... It's not gonna happen."

Ryder reached back in his pocket, grabbed a coin and tossed it to the saloon woman who caught it and quickly pocketed it herself, "Have a great evening, ma'am," he said and then he left the saloon, leaving Ty standing there feeling both shocked and foolish.

"As I walked down the streets of Laredo! As I walked in Laredo one day...."

Ty interrupted Ryder's singing when he brought his horse up beside him, "Where is this mystery woman of yours?"

Ryder grinned sheepishly, "Um... well.. That's the thing. She's actually in Bakerstown."

"Bakerstown?" Ty asked as he thought about where he'd heard that town's name before. Recognition dawned and he sent his brother a tired gaze, "Bakerstown? The town with the jail that I had bail you out of?"

"The one and only," Ryder agreed as he stood in the stirrups to stretch out his legs.

"Wait.. Didn't you say that her brother is a lawman?"

"Yes. Yes, I did say exactly that," Ryder replied, avoiding his gaze.

"The sheriff's sister?!" Ty demanded. "What were you caught doing with the sheriff's sister?! Didn't you learn your lesson after the senator, the congressman or the damned US Marshall?! Now it's a sheriff?!"

Ryder shook his head and waved off Ty's concern, "This time it was different. I didn't do anything to the woman. I would have if that big, blockhead hadn't showed up when he did," Ryder noticed the anger on Ty's face and grinned, "I just saved her from falling in the river but he didn't believe me because her nightdress got ripped and well she was pretty darn happy to be in my arms."

"You're not in love. This is just lust like all the other times," Ty argued, even though he had never seen his brother swear off other women for one of his many loves before.

Anger flashed in Ryder's eyes, "I'm sick and tired of no one believing me! I love her. She makes me feel...."

"What? Hot? Bothered? Tempted?" Ty offered.

Ryder sighed, "Peaceful. Calm. Complete."

Ty just sat there in flabbergasted silence. He still wasn't convinced it was love but his brother sure seemed certain that it was. They rode in silence for a long time and then finally Ty reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to Ryder who took it but couldn't read it in the darkness.

Ryder pulled a match from his pants pocket and struck it on his pants leg. He held it up to the paper and read it over, "I know him! I know Thomas Cooper. He's married to Susie's twin sister. Of course they're not identical twins--Susie's prettier."

Ty nodded and took the paper away, "This is from the Governor of Texas for Thomas Cooper in appreciation for his service to the rangers. I was going to just mail it but since you want to go back to Bakerstown, and you think I can help, why don't we take it to him together?"

Ryder's smile was infectious and Ty found himself smiling back, "Thanks Ty! Just wait 'til you see her! She's perfect!" Ryder exclaimed.

Ty just sighed. His brother was going to be the death of him yet.