Chapter 10: The Town Gossip
The midday sun blazed down on the dusty streets of Redstone as Abilene and Buck rode into town. The air was thick with the scent of horses, gunpowder, and the unmistakable tension that always hung over the Wild West. Despite the blazing heat, the town was bustling with activity. Cowboys were huddled around the saloon, traders were hawking their wares, and the occasional gunshot rang out from the direction of the shooting range.
Abilene was on edge. She’d felt it since they’d arrived. Something was off, and she could sense it in the way the townsfolk avoided her gaze, whispering behind their hands as she passed. Her instincts told her trouble was brewing, and she wasn’t about to let it catch her off guard.
Buck, riding beside her, noticed her unease. “You’re quieter than usual. What’s got you riled up?”
Abilene glanced over at him, her eyes narrowing.
“Haven’t you noticed? The way everyone’s actin’. Like they’ve got somethin’ to say but don’t wanna say it to my face.”
Buck looked around, finally catching on to the suspicious glances being thrown their way.
“You think it’s about us?”
“Who else?” Abilene muttered.
“I’ve been hearin’ whispers. There’s a rumor goin’ around, Buck. Somethin’ about you and another woman.”
Buck frowned, the lines on his face deepening.
“Rumors are a dime a dozen in these parts. You know that. Probably just someone stirrin’ up trouble.”
“Maybe,” Abilene said, though she didn’t sound convinced.
“But I’m not lettin’ it slide. I wanna know who’s behind it.”
As they reached the center of town, a familiar face emerged from the crowd. Daisy Mathers, the town’s notorious gossip, was standing by the general store, her arms laden with freshly folded laundry. She was known for sticking her nose in everyone’s business, and if there was a rumor to be found, Daisy was usually the source.
Abilene’s eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on Daisy.
“There’s our culprit.”
Buck sighed, recognizing the look in Abilene’s eyes.
“Abilene, you’re not seriously thinkin’ of—”
But Abilene was already dismounting her horse, her boots kicking up dust as she marched toward Daisy. Buck muttered a curse under his breath and followed her, knowing that once Abilene had her mind set on something, there was no stopping her.
Daisy spotted them coming and immediately tried to back away, her eyes wide with fear. “Now, now, Abilene, I don’t want no trouble!”
“Too late for that, Daisy,” Abilene said coldly, drawing her revolver. She pointed it at the laundry line strung up between two posts, filled with freshly washed clothes.
“I’ve been hearin’ some things, and I reckon you’re the one spreadin’ ‘em.”
Daisy’s hands trembled as she held up her laundry basket like a shield.
“I didn’t mean nothin’ by it! I just heard from Lucy over at the saloon that Buck was seen with—”
Abilene didn’t let her finish. With a sharp crack, she fired a shot, hitting one of the clothespins on the line. The pin exploded into splinters, sending a shirt tumbling into the dirt.
“You wanna try that again?” Abilene asked, her voice dangerously low.
Daisy yelped and dropped the basket, her hands flying up in surrender.
“Please, Abilene! I was just repeatin’ what I heard! I didn’t make it up, I swear!”
Abilene fired again, this time hitting a pair of pants. They fluttered to the ground like a fallen flag. “You’re makin’ a lotta noise for someone who ain’t got her facts straight. So I’m gonna ask you one more time—who started it?”
Buck stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation.
“Abilene, maybe we should—”
But Abilene cut him off, her eyes never leaving Daisy.
“Stay outta this, Buck. I want answers.”
Daisy, now thoroughly terrified, pointed a shaking finger toward the saloon. “It was Lucy! She said she saw Buck with some woman out by the stables last week! That’s all I know, I swear!”
Abilene’s grip on her revolver tightened. “Lucy, huh? And where’s she now?”
“Inside the saloon, I think,” Daisy stammered. “Please, Abilene, I didn’t mean no harm!”
Abilene holstered her gun, her face set in a grim expression.
“You better hope that’s the truth, Daisy. ‘Cause if I find out you’re lyin’, I’ll be back and I won’t be shootin’ at clothes next time.”
Daisy nodded frantically, her face pale as a ghost. “You won’t see me again, I promise!”
Abilene turned on her heel, striding toward the saloon without another word. Buck followed her, keeping his distance as they approached the batwing doors. He knew better than to try and stop her now. Abilene was like a storm once she got going, all you could do was ride it out.
They pushed through the doors, entering the dimly lit saloon. The smell of stale beer and tobacco smoke hung in the air, and the piano player halted his tune as they walked in. The patrons fell silent, their eyes flicking between Abilene and Buck with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Lucy, the barmaid, was wiping down the counter when she spotted them. Her eyes widened, and she quickly tried to retreat into the back room, but Abilene was faster. She grabbed Lucy by the arm, spinning her around to face her.
“Lucy,” Abilene said with icy calm, “we need to have a talk.”
Lucy swallowed hard, her gaze darting to Buck and then back to Abilene. “Abilene, I—”
“Save it,” Abilene snapped. “I’ve been hearin’ some mighty interestin’ things ‘bout Buck here, and your name’s been comin’ up a lot. So why don’t you tell me what you saw or thought you saw before I lose my patience?”
Lucy trembled, knowing there was no escape. “I…I saw Buck talkin’ to a woman by the stables last week. They were talkin’ real close, and I thought…well, I thought maybe somethin’ was goin’ on between them.”
Abilene’s eyes narrowed. “Who was this woman? Did you recognize her?”
Lucy hesitated, clearly struggling to recall the details. “I…I think it was that new girl who works over at the hotel. Name’s Clara, I think. She’s been around town for a few weeks now.”
Buck, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
“I remember Clara. She was askin’ me for directions to the general store. That’s all it was, Abilene. Nothin’ more.”
Abilene turned to face Buck, her expression softening just a fraction.
“Is that the truth, Buck?”
Buck met her gaze, his voice steady.
“I swear it, Abilene. You’re the only woman I’ve got eyes for.”
Abilene held his gaze for a moment longer, then finally nodded, her shoulders relaxing. “All right, then.”
She released Lucy, who looked like she was about to collapse with relief.
“You better make sure folks know the truth, Lucy,” Abilene said.
“I ain’t in the mood to deal with any more rumors.”
Lucy nodded vigorously.
“I’ll set it straight, I promise! I’ll tell everyone it was just a misunderstanding!”
Abilene stepped back, giving Lucy one last hard look before turning to leave the saloon. Buck followed close behind her, a small smile playing on his lips.
As they stepped out into the sunlight, Buck chuckled.
“You really know how to make an impression, don’t you?”
Abilene shot him a sidelong glance, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips too.
“Just makin’ sure folks know where we stand.”
Buck reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “And where do we stand?”
Abilene looked up at him, her eyes softening. “Right where we should be.”
They shared a quiet moment together, the tension of the day slowly melting away. Whatever trouble had been brewing, they’d faced it head-on and come out stronger on the other side.
As they mounted their horses and rode out of town, the whispers that had once followed them were now silenced. The townsfolk knew better than to cross Abilene, and the gossip that had threatened to drive a wedge between them was nothing more than dust in the wind.
Abilene glanced over at Buck as they rode side by side, her heart swelling with a fierce sense of protectiveness. She might not have been one for many words, but when it came to Buck, she’d fight anyone and anything that tried to come between them.
And heaven help the next person who dared to spread rumors about her man.