The next morning, as the other men filtered out of the bunkhouse, Rex stayed behind.

She was aware of his eyes on her as she picked the plates up from the table. She didn't acknowledge him until he cleared his throat and finally spoke.

"Hey, Rose, what are your plans today?" He asked, leaning against the counter.

"It's flora... and Ruby is going to give me a haircut after lunch."

"Cancel."

She pushed her mess of curly blind hair from her face. She knew he was a man, but surely he could see how much of a hazard her hair was and how it was constantly in her way.

"What?"

"Cancel it. I'm taking you to town."

"Why?"

"I got stuff to do, and Mr. Wilder wants you in some good boots and your own clothes."

"I...thats not nessecary."

"It wasn't a question. Get ready."

He strode out of the small bunkhouse, and she watched him go. She didn't want to ride into town with him. He frightened her, and being alone with him seemed like a bad idea.

She took her time pulling on a pair of jeans from Ruby, her boots that she never realized were worn completely out and a plain grey t-shirt from Ruby.

She finger combed her hair with a heavy sigh, she wasted enough time, and by now knew the other cowboys were probably gone.

When she exited the bunkhouse, he was already waiting in a large black Chevy truck. She hesitated before opening the door and climbing into the passenger seat. She snapped on her seat belt without a word.

"We don't go into town much, so get whatever it is you're going to need for a few weeks."

"I don't really have the money too..."

"Mr. Wilder will cover the tab."

"Oh.. but..."

"He does it for everyone he hires. He likes yo make sure his men are comfortable and properly dressed."

She fell silent as they drove. It was almost an hour to town, and she hoped that it would become less awkward as they drove.

"So, you going to tell me where exactly you came from?" He asked.

She looked at him and then glanced out the window at the rolling mountains.

"Doss it matter?"

"Yes."

"I...I lived on a small ranch...near Buffalo creek."

"Why would you live way up there?"

"Because my father was...he liked to be alone." She said finally.

"Do I know him?"

She shrugged but didn't answer. The truth was everyone knew him. Nobody liked him. He'd once been a prominent rodeo cowboy, then booze, gambling, and drugs finally took their hold. He stole land, cattle, whatever he wanted.
He got in fights anytime he went to town, and he spent his days drinking.

"When we get into town, go wherever you need to go, I have to go get some medicine off the vet."

"Okay."

He adjusted his jacket and shifted I'm his seat, and she shrunk a little closer to the door. Trying not to look at him, trying to make herself small.

He settled in the seat, glancing over at her only once. One hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on his leg, he didn't move anymore the rest of the long and quiet trip into town.

He parked on the main street in front of an expensive boutique that she had once watched in the windows.

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open to pull out a credit card. He handed it to her.

"Buy whatever you need. Just keep the receipts."

She carefully took the credit card and he opened his door. She didn't move. She sat in her seat, looking at the stores around town.

"Are you getting out?"

"Yeah."

She opened her door and slipped out onto the street. Main Street wasn't particularly busy, but people walked in all directions.

He closed his door and walked in the direction of the vets office. She looked around again, nervous of bumping into anyone who might know her father, one man in particular.

Carefully, she walked to the sidewalk, glancing at all the stores for one that would pique her interest.

She briefly stopped at a large boutique, in the front window was a long white dress. Cotton and flowing, red flowers hand embroidered on the long bell sleeves and the square neckline.
It was the perfect dress in her humble opinion but not practical, and as her father pointed out, it was not nearly plain enough for her.

She always had a secretly feminine side. She longed for dresses and a beautiful kitchen to cook in, some babies to care for and husband to come home to her, but those dreams seemed further away than ever now.

She left the window without going inside the boutique heading instead to the regular western wear store.
Once inside there she picked herself a few pairs of jeans, some heavy socks, a new pair of brown boots, a few T-shirts and a few button-up shirts.

When her total appeared on the screen, she found herself shaking as she handed over the credit card. The back of her mind playing tricks on her that the card would decline and she'd be left alone to try and salvage her dignity.

The clerk swiped the card with no issues, and a few seconds later, a recipe began to print.

The cashier slipped the revipet into the bag and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said softly.

The clerk didn't reply. She was just another customer here. Nobody knew her past or where she came from. It was refreshing in a way.

She exited the store and headed to the small pharmacy next. She didn't usually go to the pharmacy. Her father had always done most of the shopping. She walked up and down the aisle, taking in everything that she had never seen before. The many different brands of everything.

She spent twenty minutes picking out a soap, realizing now she didn't n ow what she liked. She smelled each one before picking a sweet plum selling soap.

She continued this ritual with shampoo until she found one that complimented the soap she selected.

Then she wandered down the aisle of feminine products, once again overwhelmed by the variety. She picked the box she recognized from being at home. Her father had always treated her time of the month with disgust and disdain, and she blushed as she put the box in her basket.

She picked herself a cheap toothbrush and some toothpaste and then went to hair products.

She picked out a new hair brush and briefly looked at a small bunch of hair scrunched. She knew how to braid her, but her father had forbidden braids in his house. Cutting it seemed to be the best option, so she returned them to the rack.

After paying, she wandered the streets awhile. She saw a women's store at the end of the street, long negligee and teddies in the window.
She went inside, intenting to buy herself a pair or two of underwear.

Once stepping inside, she froze mannequins, displaying barely there articles of under clothes everywhere.

"Can I help you?" A young sale associate walked forward.

"No...I don't think so," she turned to leave, and the woman caught her arm.

"What are you looking for, sweetie? Don't be overwhelmed."

"I...I work on a ranch..." She said softly.

"Okay, so you need comfortable and practical. I can do that."

She gave a small nod, eyeing a black lace number in the corner.

"Come on, let's find you what you need," the woman said, gently steering her towards the back of the store.

"I don't have a boyfriend or anything, I dont... need any of these things," she said softly.

"Listen...lingerie can be for you. You're a young, healthy woman. You deserve to feel good in your own skin. Even if it's your own private little secret what's underneath." The woman said honestly.

She bit her lower lip and glanced around again, a few items sticking out.

"We can start easy. What's your favorite color?"

"Uhm...light blue."

"I can work with that," the woman said with a warm smile.

**************************************

Rex was leaning against the truck, and he checked his watch. It was getting late in the afternoon and he'd finished his shopping. He had no idea if Flora was coming back.

Maybe she took the credit card and ran. She would have a few hours of a head start.
He should have stayed with her.

"Damn," He muttered to himself, pulling his cell phone from his jacket pocket.

He heard a commotion and looked up from his phone.

Flora was walking quickly down the sidewalk. She had several bags from shopping. Two large men were on either side of her, both yelling.

He hesitated a second, then pushed away from the truck, rushing to meet her. He was a few yards away when he saw she was crying.

"Hey!" He grabbed the man on her left by his jacket, slamming him into a brick wall.

"Back the fuck off!" He yelled giving the man another shove.

Flora rushed to get behind him, staring wide-eyed at the scene in front of her. The man from her right moved forward, and Rex pulled out his switch bled knife, holding it out.

"Go to the truck, now."

She turned and rushed to do as he saw, only when he heard the door slam did he back away from the two men.

The one who he had originally pushed against the wall spoke.

"Where the hell did you find her?!"

"That's none of your business," Rex said, turning to walk away.

"It is my business, she's my fucking wife."

Rex stopped then slowly turned towards the two men. The one speaking was younger than him, probably closer to Floras' age than his own. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and a 5 o'clock shadow. He was twitching slightly, his clothes looked dirty anyone who saw him could tell he was an addict.

"Your wife?" Rex asked.

"Yeah, well...not yet but she will be. Her daddy already gave me her hand and she gave me her word then the bitch up and disappeared on me."

"That's not your wife son, I suggest you learn the words you're using."

"Hey, I don't know you. Maybe you kidnapped her. She's known me since we were kids she wanted to marry me just last week."

Rex glanced over his shoulder at his truck where Flora was watching from inside.

"Come on," He said to the men.

They followed him to the truck, and as he walked around to her door, he didn't miss the way she shrank back against the seat. She was scared. He didn't know if it was him or the men behind her.
He opened the door and she turned her tearfully gaze to him.

"Sweetheart, I got a real problem here," He said, leaning against her door.

She didn't reply as she glanced at the men behind him.

"This man here says that you're engaged to be married to him. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"I can't be stowing away other peioles wives on the ranch," He said.

"Okay," she said softly.

"Do you still want to marry him?" He asked.

She shook her head no, and he watched her a second.

"Okay," He backed up and shut her door, making sure to stand between her door and the men.

"Well, that settles this, then. Gentleman, it hasn't been a pleasure.

"Hey, you can't do that. He daddy promised me!" The first man yelled.

"Then I suggest you take it up with him. There's no way in hell I'm letting her here."

He walked around to the truck aware they were still standing on the sidewalk but refusing to give them anymore of his time. He climbed into the truck and backed onto the street, easily putting them and the town behind them.

"You wanna tell me who that was?" He asked once they drove awhile.

"Thomas..." She said softly.

"And you were going to marry him?"

"Yes," she said softly.

"Is he the one who did that to your face?" He asked, motioning to the fading bruises.

"No, he wasn't. My dad promised him a few weeks ago that...that I'd marry him to pay off some debts."

"Okay,"

"My father is...hes...Bubba Baldwin."

Other than a tightening in his jaw and the way he suddenly gripped the wheel tighter there was no outward reaction. But she could sense the sudden tension and change in him instantly.

"And he offered you up like a prize fucking pony," He said through a clenched jaw.

"Yes."

"I don't want trouble on the ranch. I can't have drama affecting everyone else's way of life."

"I'm sorry," she said.

"But Mr. Wilder wants you there. You're a hard worker. As long as this ends here today...then that's it."

"Yes, sir."

"I don't need to tell you. Your father has no place on the ranch."

"No."

He fell silent again, but he didn't relax the rest of the ride home. Seeing him on edge and so tense put her on edge, until they reached the ranch she ached from the tension waiting for the first blow that never came.