The Wild Bill Hickoks: Lucy - Chapter Three

The round-up hadn't been half bad. Seemed like everyone from about a fifty mile radius showed up to hear us play. The place had been packed and the dance floor had been put to good use. We played the likes of George Straight, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, and Alison Krause late into the night, getting lost somewhere in the music.

The next morning we were up at the crack of dawn. We had a long day of traveling to get us to where we were meeting up with Easy Pickin' Boys and their crew. As happy as I was to be getting out of nowheresville, I was dreading where we were heading. Every mile brought with it a new memory, and before too long I was drowning in them. By the time we pulled into the motel I was so ready to get outta my own head, I almost didn't care that I'd soon be facing the man I'd spent the past five years avoiding like the plague.

We unloaded our bags, leaving our equipment in the back of the van, and checked ourselves into the motel. This time Rae and I would be bunking together. I was pretty sure that was a strategic move on the girls' part, as Rae was the best at keeping me in line.

It wasn't long before there was a knock at our door, and Rae was letting Lo in. “Well, I've made contact,” she said, jumping right to the point.

“With who?” Rae was the first to ask.

“Frank had only given me the one number, which turned out to be Wyatt's. He thought it'd be good if we met up in one of the suites they have checked out for the band, and I agree. He'll round up the band and some of their key crew so we can do a quick meet-and-greet. We don't have to, but it'd be to our advantage to get to know the guys who'll be handling our equipment for the next couple weeks.”

I fought for control, not wanting to outwardly react. I knew I'd have to see him soon, I just didn't realize how soon. I could feel both of them eyeing me with concern, which was enough to snap me outta it finally. I was Lucy Smithson, d****t. I wasn't afraid of anyone, and certainly not Wyatt Earp Jackson.

“Screw this, he ain't worth getting worked up over. Meeting the crew is a good idea, so meet them we will.” I said, feeling more like my confident self again.

“That's my girl,” Rae said, given me a proud smile.

Twenty minutes later, Jane was knocking on the door to room 318. Before she'd even finished her second knock the door was thrown open and a familiar face peered out at us for only a second before Jane, then Lo, was swept up in a giant bear hug by Adair Gunner.

Adair was the Easy Pickin' Boys' drummer, and had been for as long as the band had been together. He was a great big, loud, Scottish guy, with red hair, a full beard, and a laugh that was contagious. Despite his foreign roots, he had a love of country music and all things southern, especially the women. Of all of Wyatt's boys, he'd always been my favorite, and I couldn't stop the giant smile I knew was plastered on my face at the sight of him.

He greeted Rae before finally turning, pausing at the sight of me. “Lord, who's this wee angel in front o' me? Tell me she's real and nae a figment of my imagination, otherwise my heart will be breaking.”

“What, I don't get one of your famous hugs?” I asked, when he just stood staring.

“C'mere, mo ghaol,” he said, before sweeping me up in his arms. For a minute we stayed there like that, me wrapped safely in his giant embrace, before he leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I gave him hell, darlin'. I gave him hell … and then I beat the tar out of him for ya.”

Caught off guard by his words, I hugged him even tighter before Wyatt's voice, calling out from in the room, ended the moment. “Stop harassing them, Dair, and let them in the damn room.”

“He's been a wee bit miserable since finding out ye lasses would be joining us,” Adair whispered conspiratorially.

“He's the one who asked for us, why the hell would he be miserable once we got here?”

“Lass, it's one thing tae want something in theory, it's another tae have tae face it in reality. I'm sure he never thought ye lasses would actually be accepting his offer.”

“Well that makes two of us,” I said dryly, as we headed in.

Unable to stop them, my eyes scanned room until they landed on Wyatt. He had a chair turned backward and, though his posture was relaxed, he somehow radiated powerful control. If I'd had to pick the alpha male in the room, he would've been my first choice. Somehow he managed to dominate the space around him, as if he owned it.

He had on a plain white tee that hugged his upper body in a way that accentuated every one of his clearly defined muscles. Not that the damn things needed accentuating. It was clear he'd spent a lot of time working out over the years.

His russet hair was cut short and styled in a way that should've looked like an unkept mess, but instead made him look like he'd just rolled out of bed and was totally willing to roll back in there with you, if you'd only ask him to. And then there was his eyes. Oh god, his eyes. I'd almost forgotten how striking they were. He had the most beautiful gray eyes I'd ever seen on a person.

It was petty of me, but I'd really been hoping he'd put on about fifty pounds or so over the years, or had lost all his hair, or gone all wrinkly. Instead, it was like he'd matured into his body and his earlier good looks had turned into full-blown sexy.

I shifted uncomfortably, knowing that after a long day of travel in the back of a VW bus, I looked the worse for wear. I had on a little blue babydoll tee that read “Ride It Like You Mean It" written on the front, paired with a little jean skirt. I'd picked both out this morning for comfort, so they weren't exactly my sexiest clothes, and by now they were both wrinkled as hell. I didn't even want to imagine the mess my hair must've looked.

Impulsively, I reached up to run my fingers through it but, catching Wyatt eyeing me with a knowing smirk, I dropped my hand and rolled my eyes at him. What did I care how I looked? I should've been happy I was a mess, let him know I wasn't here to impress him.

Adair cleared his throat, pulling Wyatt's attention away from me. “Right,” he began, “so some of you already know the girls, and some of you don't. For those that don't, this is Shiloh, Raelynn, Jane, and Lucy. Together they make up the Wild Bill Hickocks and, as you already know, they'll be finishing out the tour with us. I hope you make them feel welcome, and help them out with anything they might need.”

“Ladies, you remember Dair, obviously. And Tommy and Marcus are over by the kitchen. Drew left a couple years ago, Avery here has replaced him on mandolin and fiddle.”

The last was said while pointing to a tall, gangly, freckled, towheaded guy. In greeting, he whipped his stetson off his head in a flourish, giving us a little bow before plopping the hat back on his head. It should've looked cheesy, but somehow Avery managed to pull it off. It helped that he had an obvious twinkle in his eye, letting us know he wasn't taking himself too seriously. Despite the situation, I decided I was gonna like Avery.

“The guys will do the rest of the introductions, ladies. If you'll excuse me, I've got some business that needs attending. Welcome to the tour and thanks for joining us.” With that, he was gone.

My eyes narrowed at the door as it silently closed behind him. That wasn't what I'd been expecting.

“Coward,” Adair whispered, the laugh evident in his voice.

“You think that's what that was about?” I asked, unsure. Seemed just as likely it was meant as an insult.

“Aye. I know it. I think seeing the four o' ye walking in through the door after all these years probably just made things more real than he was ready for.”

“What's he planning, Dair? I mean, he has to have a reason for bringing us here like this. From what Lo's been saying, ya'll could've had your pick of more popular bands to open for you. So why us?”

“Can't say. I've been asking him since he told us he called Frank, but he's being mighty tight-lipped about it.”

Turning, I scanned the room for the girls and found them making the rounds. Catching Rae's attention, I signaled that I was heading out. I could tell from the look on her face that she wanted to know where I was off to, but as she was chatting it up with a couple people she wasn't able to come ask. Which is what I'd wanted. I knew what I was doing was stupid, but I was gonna do it anyway.

Seeing me signal to Rae, Dair asked, “What are ye up tae?”

“Don't ask questions you already know the answer to, Dair.”

“Lass, maybe this isn't the best idea.”

“It needs to be done and you know it. Better when it's just the two of us so there isn't a repeat of last time.”

He wanted to argue, I know he did. Wyatt and I were an explosive mix even on the best of days. But he also knew I had a point. Add the girls and things got downright outta control. So, instead, he asked, “You going tae be able tae find him?”

“I've got an idea of where to start. If the girls ask, just tell them I decided to call it a night. I don't want them coming in, guns blazing.”

“Aye. Well, this should be a fun couple o' weeks. I was feeling a might bored, anyway.”

#

“No surprise, finding you here,” I said, as I took a seat next to Wyatt at the downstairs bar. The place was mostly empty, though I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Less people meant less witnesses should this conversation go sour. It also meant less of a reason for us to try to stay in line.

“Considering I came down here to avoid you, I can't exactly say the same,” he said, without any real rancor in his voice.

I was saved from having to decide on a response by the approach of the bartender. We both sat silent while we waited for the arrival of my Red Stripe. I didn't ask what Wyatt was drinking, though from the looks of it I'd guess a Vodka and Tonic.

“What'd ya want, Luce?” he asked, once we were alone again.

Deciding there wasn't much point beating around the bush, I asked, “Outta all the bands you could've asked to join y'all on tour, why us?”

“Does it matter?”

His voice was oddly flat, making him sound almost defeated. Which was strange, considering he held all the cards.

“To me, it does. Especially if you've got some kindda revenge in mind.”

Turning to look at me for the first time, I could see some of the fire come back. “What the hell would I want revenge for?”

“Last time I saw you, I was trying to run you down in your own damn pickup. Came close, too, if I remember. Dair saved your life that night. So, yeah, pretty sure a lot of people would wanna get back at someone for something like that.”

“Yeah, well, it's not like you didn't have your reasons. And if I'd had revenge on the mind I would've come after you long ago. I'm not exactly the type to sit on something like that.”

And there was the crux of the matter. I knew the truth in his words. He wasn't the type to wait on something like that. “OK, so if not that, then what? There's no way you don't have some goal in mind with this.”

“Yeah, my goal was to find a band to open for us. Della's Rose had to drop off the tour last minute and we needed someone to fill their spot fast. Y'all were available and we had an existing relationship with your band.”

At this it was my turn to snort, prompting him to add, “I didn't say it was a good relationship. But there's a history there. You know us, we know you. We've had our differences, but I figured we could all be mature enough to work together for a few weeks.”

“Yeah, cause 'mature' is often a word I'd associate with any of us.”

“If you didn't think it'd work, why'd you agree to it?” he challenged.

“You know why. For the girls.”

“OK, look, maybe I feel like I owe you. Me and the boys, we're at this place where we're about to take off and suddenly our opening band has to drop out. It seemed like a good way to try to right some wrongs. We'd ask y'all to join us on tour, and hopefully that'd help get you noticed, too.”

“And that's the only reason?” I pushed, eying him skeptically.

“Yup.”

Even if it wasn't, there was nothing I could do about it now. We were already committed to finishing out the tour, no matter what his reasons behind it might be. With a silent nod, letting him know the topic was closed, I finished the last of my beer and put a couple bucks down for the bartender before getting up to leave.

At the last second I turned back to him, saying, “Sorry I tried to run you over with your truck.”

“Sorry I broke your heart,” he answered, quietly.

“Yeah, well, I should've known better than to give it to one of the Jackson boys, anyway,” I said, before walking away.

Reviews

[Riding the Rainbow]

OMG!!! Just now I've understood the all situation between those two! Dude?? Breaking a woman's heart? Wrong move! We're fierce and we want revenge when someone breaks our heart. Can't wait for more chapters;)