Chapter Twenty-Two

Cavanaugh looked around the dusty bar as they entered it and realized that while it might be a bit cleaner, more well lit and have several things he didn't recognize, saloons hadn't changed much in the last hundred and some years. It still smelled of beer, sweat, perfume and crowds. There were men laughing and talking and scantily clad women hung off their arms or lounged in the corners.

"This is the most honky tonk place I could think of to bring you all," Nicole informed he and Ian.

Cavanaugh nodded and put his hand on his hip, missing the feel of his gun resting there. Nicole had told them that it was illegal to bring their guns into the bar and so he and Ian had left them in the car.

Ian had no idea what 'honky tonk' meant but he could smell beer, he could see women and he could already taste the whiskey!

"I want you to have fun, Ian, but please remember that whiskey and beer cost a lot more than a nickel and dime now and I am not a rich lady."

"Where's a poker table and I'll earn enough money to buy my own beers," Ian replied and Nicole shook her head.

"There are none. You're not really supposed to gamble in public anymore except at casinos and there aren't any of those in Kentucky." Both Cavanaugh and Ian looked shocked and Nicole rolled her eyes, "If a poker game is what you all want then I will set one up at my house for Saturday night but until then please try to stay out of trouble."

"Of course m'lady," Ian replied with a wink as he grabbed her hand and kissed it gently. Cavanaugh growled next to her and Ian grinned up at him, "Just practicing, big brother. I want to be at my best when I find me a woman to grace with my presence."

"Be careful there, Ian, or your head will get so damn big we won't be able to get you back out the door," Cavanaugh warned.

Ian just laughed and then disappeared into the crowd of people. Nicole led Cavanaugh to an empty corner table and the two of them sat down. Nicole couldn't help but notice that Cavanaugh didn't look nearly as comfortable here as Ian did.

"You look a little out of place, cowboy," she teased as she grabbed a pretzel from the bowl on the table.

Cavanaugh chuckled and nodded, "A little. I never was the saloon type," he admitted. "Leah would have thumped my head good for it and then once we had the children I never wanted to waste time at one. When they were killed I threw myself into ranch work once I was healed up. Jamison and I didn't get whatever made Ian and Andrew like the liquor so much."

"Thank goodness. I like a beer now and then but I'm not a big drinker because of what happened to my father and I couldn't be with a man who drank a lot....." Nicole voice trailed off and she bit her lip hard when she realized the direction her statement had just taken their conversation. What was wrong with her?! She grabbed a pretzel and shoved it in her mouth to keep her from saying anything else and she looked across the bar in search of Ian.

A loud smack drew her eyes toward the scarred up wooden bar and she saw Ian rubbing his face and a blond in a mini skirt and low cut tank top glaring at him, "Don't touch me again," she warned.

"Sorry, darling, I mistook you for a saloon maid," Ian replied over the sound of the jukebox. "Perhaps if you didn't display yourself so openly those kinds of things wouldn't happen."

Nicole groaned and stood quickly, crossing the crowded dance floor and pushing her way through patrons at the bar to reach him, "Excuse my friend, he's not from around here..." she said apologetically to the woman who looked ready to claw Ian's face off with her long black fingernails.

"You better keep control of your friend there," A large, bald, tattoo covered man in denim and chains stated in a gravely voice as he came to stand behind the woman.

"I will," Nicole assured them as she grabbed Ian's arm and pulled him toward her.

"You better," the man repeated as he cracked his knuckles.

Nicole just swallowed hard and turned quickly, dragging Ian with her. She nearly ran into Cavanaugh's chest when she realized he had come to stand behind her. He sent an angry glance at the bald man and then grabbed Ian's arm himself and dragged him back to their corner table.

"Ow!" Ian exclaimed as Cavanaugh released his hold on him and tossed him down in a chair.

"We haven't been here a full ten minutes yet and you already almost got yourself killed!" Nicole declared as she shook her head and sat down.

"How was I supposed to know she wasn't a saloon maid?"

"Is that a polite word for whore?" Nicole asked with a raise of her brow.

Ian grinned sheepishly, "Yeah but I didn't want to use that word around you," he replied.

Cavanaugh shook his head and grumbled as he sat down and Nicole realized that he moved his chair so he was sitting closer to her, "I think I need to let you know that prostitution is illegal nowadays. There are no 'saloon maids' here," she informed Ian.

His face fell and Nicole was reminded of a kicked puppy, "Well why in the hell would the law wanna go and do something like that?" he asked sadly.

Nicole shrugged and grabbed a pretzel, "They hate free enterprise," she replied and while Cavanaugh wasn't entirely sure what that meant it made him chuckle just the same.

"Well I don't have to pay for it to get it," Ian said standing back up. "I'm gonna go buy some whiskey and work these charms and see where it gets me."

"The emergency room is my guess," Nicole muttered under her breath and Cavanaugh laughed again. Ian gave her a look and then walked back off into the crowd. Nicole sighed and leaned back in her chair.

"So are you as upset as your brother about the loss of 'saloon maids?" she asked.

Cavanaugh and he shook his head and grabbed a handful of pretzels, "I didn't get my brothers affection for those types of women. Of course back in our time some women didn't have a choice but to be what they were so I didn't look down on them either. I just never had any use for them."

"Never?" Nicole asked skeptically. Didn't all cowboys get a little action at the saloon or the brothel?

"I was still fairly young when I met Leah and she was my first. I never betrayed her with another woman and I've kept myself busy the last few years and haven't had time for those kinds of things."

Cavanaugh realized then that lately he'd been talking more and more about Leah and he was surprised that it didn't hurt every time her name left his lips. He had avoided mentioning her name for over three years because of the pain but now the pain seemed dulled somehow. He looked over at Nicole as she went about chewing the salt of her pretzel and watching Ian scan for women and he had to wonder if maybe she was the reason.

"What is that?" he asked, pointing to one of three big tables toward the back of the bar. The other two tables had people with sticks knocking brightly colored balls around it.

"A pool table. It's a game. You want to play?" Nicole replied and Cavanaugh nodded.

"You'll have to teach me." he replied. Nicole smiled.

"I can't teach you how to play good but I can teach you how to play," she replied and Cavanaugh found himself chuckling again. Seems he did that a lot around this woman.

"That'll be just fine, ma'am."

***

Ian scanned the bar and felt like his mind was going to blow. So many scantily clad, beautiful women to choose from and so little time. He hated knowing that he couldn't just offer them a bit of coin and take them upstairs. He preferred whores since they didn't expect a relationship or anything more than some simple rutting.

Then he saw her. She was sitting at the bar alone and the light was shining through the dusty air and making her black hair glow. She was wearing black pants that seemed to be made of shining cow skin and they fit her like a glove. Her red top was short and showed the dark tanned skin of her tight stomach.

She had the face of an angel, perhaps a fallen angel with all that paint on it, but an angel none the less, with big full lips, wide dark eyes and high cheekbones.

He quickly tossed down the rest of his whiskey, grabbed his beer and made his way through the crowd toward her. He didn't look at her as he climbed onto the stool beside her and sat down his beer. He could feel her eyes on him and he fought to hold back his smirk. He might be around one-hundred and fifty years old but he still had it.

He glanced at her and she quickly looked away, "Hello, beautiful," he said with a slow drawl.

"Hello," she replied, though he couldn't tell by her tone what she was thinking. Dammit women nowadays were too independent and hard to read. Most women back in his time would already have been jumping into his arms just because he was Ian McEllis.

"Can I get you something to drink, ma'am?"

"Sure can," she replied with a bat of her long, thick lashes.

Ian signaled the bartender with a wave and the middle aged man walked over and placed his palms on the bar, "What can I get ya?" he asked.

"Get the lady here whatever she wants to drink," Ian replied with a smile. The bartender nodded and the lady ordered something that Ian wasn't familiar with. "Just put it on my tab." Ian stated once the drink was poured and the bartender nodded before walking away.

"So where are you from, cowboy?" the lady asked as she turned on her stool to face him.

Ian found his eyes drawn to her rather impressive cleavage, hanging out of her tight halter top, "I've been a little bit of everywhere," he replied with a wink. She laughed and batted her lashes and the two fell into an easy back and forth banter.

Ian was feeling very good about his chances of getting a tumble between the sheets tonight, all he worried about was the price and the consequences come morning. Would the woman want commitment? Because Ian was allergic to that particular word.

"So, cowboy, why don't we just cut through the small talk and get right down to the heart of the matter. Are we going to my place or yours?"

"I ain't looking for settling down," Ian warned as he leaned toward her and caught a floral scent.

She smiled and ran her nail down his bare forearm, "I'm not either. Just some fun for the night."

Ian couldn't believe his luck. He moved in even closer and pressed his face against her neck, "And Nicole said there were no more whores, shows how much she knows," he said teasingly.

"Excuse me?!" The woman exclaimed angrily as she jerked away from him.

Ian was confused as he stared at her, "What did I......?" He was shocked speechless when suddenly her hand connected sharply with his face. What was going on? Two smacks in one night? He had lost his touch.

"How dare you call me a whore!" she spat and Ian didn't say a word. He simply stood up and with slumped shoulders and dragging boots he found his way to his brother and Nicole who were busy playing billiards.

"Ian, what's wrong?" Nicole demanded with worry when she saw him. He looked thoroughly downtrodden and depressed. She had never seen his big brown eyes that were normally full of a charming mischievousness look so sad.

"I've lost it," he stated lamely as he slumped down in a chair beside the table they were playing on.

Nicole frowned as she leaned against her pool stick, "Lost what?" she asked.

Ian looked up and saw his brother come to stand beside Nicole, "My charm. My way with the ladies. Everything that ever mattered to me. My greatest talent. My one true calling. Need I continue?" he asked.

Cavanaugh rolled his eyes and poked him in the arm with the pool stick, "You're just having an off night," he assured him.

"Yeah," Nicole replied, trying to fight back a laugh. "It's not you, it's them," she added.

She and Cavanaugh shared an amused look and Ian nodded as he stood up with a sigh, "I'm sure you're right."

"Come on, little brother. Nicole taught me how to play this game and it's actually kind of fun. It's called pool."

"You mean you actually got workaholic, depressed, brooding Cavanaugh McEllis to play a game?" Ian asked Nicole with surprise.

Cavanaugh grumbled while Nicole nodded, "Yes I did," she replied as she nudged Cavanaugh with her shoulder.

Ian saw the way Cavanaugh smiled down at Nicole and the way he didn't distance himself from her and he smiled. Looked like there might just be some hope for Cavanaugh after all. So that meant Jamison was fixed. Cavanaugh and Andrew were on their way but what about Ian? What in the world was he doing here and what was he supposed to be figuring out?!

"Well let's play then though back in our day we called this billiards," Ian said as he grinned and threw his arms around both their shoulders. "I can't let Cav have more fun than me."

***

"I don't know about you men but I'm about ready to call it a night," Nicole said as she knocked the eight ball into the corner pocket and ended the game.

Cavanaugh grunted, "You said you couldn't teach me how to play good and I just assumed that was because you couldn't play good but now I'm having my doubts." he stated.

Nicole grinned and gave him a wink, "I can't give away all my secrets," she replied. "Now I'll go pay the tab, you both put the pool sticks up and meet me by the door."

She walked off into the crowded dance floor to head toward the bar and Ian nudged Cavanaugh, "I'm proud of you. Looks like you and the lady are getting pretty friendly with each other," he said with a grin.

Cavanaugh glared at him, "She's a special woman," he replied.

Ian's smile grew broader, "I remember teasing you about Leah back when you first met her and that was the exact same look you gave me and those are the exact same words you said."

"You think you're so smart," Cavanaugh stated as he jerked the pool stick from his brother and walked over to the wall to hang it up.

"I don't think it, Cav, I know it," Ian replied with a laugh and then he moved out of the way quickly when Cavanaugh reached out to shove him. Ian grinned and Cavanaugh couldn't help but chuckle at his slightly idiotic brother.

***

Nicole walked up to the barkeep, who also happened to be the father of one of her best friends from school. He smiled when he saw her, "How are you doing, Nicole?" he asked as he stacked some freshly washed cups behind the counter. "I haven't seen you around in a long time."

"I'm doing good, Earl," she replied. "Some of my friends finally convinced me to come out of the house for a while. I've been living as a bit of a hermit I'm afraid."

"Yeah, I heard about the cowboys you got staying with you," Earl said with a bit of a frown. "You sure that's safe?"

"I'm a grown woman, Earl," she reminded him. "And I'm sure it's safe. They really are harmless."

"If you say so," he said skeptically.

"So how is Allie doing?" Nicole asked, referring to his daughter who had been one of her best friends in school but now lived a couple of states away with her marine core husband and their three children.

"She's doing great. She's coming down next month and bringing my grandbabies to see me," Earl replied, his face lighting up.

Nicole smiled, "Well what's my damage tonight, Earl?" she asked. Earl pulled a notepad from his pocket and took his time tallying up some numbers, "One hundred and fifty dollars."

Nicole's eyes nearly bulged from her head, "What?!" she exclaimed. Earl frowned and held out the paper. Nicole saw whiskeys, beers, cosmos and more and the total truly did come to one hundred and fifty dollars. "I'm gonna kill me a cowboy," she growled as she pulled her tiny change pouch from her pocket and fished out the money. Earl was chuckling as he took the bills and then Nicole waved and turned back to face the crowd.

She saw Ian and Cavanaugh over by the doors. She started that way, intent on making Ian bleed and then she was stopped in her tracks when she saw two familiar people on the dance floor. The song that had just begun coming from the jukebox was a slow one and they were holding each other close as they spun in circles and gazed into each others eyes.

Nicole felt as if the world stopped turning in that instant. She had gone out of her way the last few years to never, NEVER, see Brian or Lisa and now she was seeing them both at once. Together and very much in love.

Nicole couldn't seem to catch her breath. Her eyes were burning from the tears she was fighting to keep from falling. Damn that man and damn her best friend! They did not deserve to be so happy together after what they had put her through.

Nicole nearly screamed with shock when she felt a hand close over her shoulder. She turned her head and realized it was Cavanaugh. She looked back at the dancing couple, "Who are they?" he asked gently as he followed her gaze.

"Brian and Lisa. Brian was my boyfriend for a long time and Lisa had been my best friend my entire life. When my mother was dying they found comfort in each others arms and continued to find that comfort for years behind my back before I caught them. Now they're getting married...." Nicole felt so ignorant, so naïve and so blind when she said those words out loud. What kind of person didn't notice when her man and her best friend were screwing each other behind her back?

She felt Cavanaugh's hand tighten on her just a bit and his breath washed over her ear, "They aren't worth those tears you're fightin' back. That man has to be a million kinds of a fool and that woman is just a whore dressed up like a lady."

"I was an idiot," Nicole countered and Cavanaugh turned her around and smoothed a stray strand of hair from her face, sliding it behind her ear before running his knuckles across her cheek.

Nicole stared up into his blue eyes and suddenly she forgot why she had felt so sad moments before. Cavanaugh smiled and pointed at the dance floor, "I'm not much of a dancer but it seems we just spin around in a circle and I think I can manage that so can I have this dance?"

Nicole smiled and nodded happily. Cavanaugh took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor before wrapping his arms around her waist. Nicole slid her arms around his neck and laid her ear against his beating heart. She forgot all about Brian and Lisa. Truthfully she forgot about every other person in this bar other than she and Cavanaugh. In his arms she felt safe, protected and warm. His big palms, caressed her back as he spun her slowly in time with the music.

Cavanaugh's heart was in his throat as he held her soft body in his arms. He knew what was happening. As much as he thought it could never happen, he was falling in love. Nicole was everything he could have ever wanted in a woman. Different even from Leah. Leah had been a lady in every sense of the word. Soft spoken, sweet and proper and he had loved her with all his heart but in Nicole he found something more.

She had a soft and caring side but she also had a spunk that he admired. She knew how to take care of herself and yet didn't hesitate to take care of others. She loved horses and knew about guns. She had a wry sense of humor that kept him chuckling and on his toes. Somehow she had begun to break down the walls he had built so high around himself and he found himself wanting to let her do it. He just didn't know for sure that he could.

Nicole let herself get lost in the feel of his body against hers even though she knew he was only dancing with her to make her feel better. She let herself believe it was more because she needed so desperately for it to be more.

As the song came to an end, Nicole realized that Cavanaugh seemed reluctant to let her go and she buried her face against his shirt, breathing in the scent of his Stetson cologne and tobacco. He didn't smell like the chemical tobacco that was in cigarettes nowadays. Cavanaugh only liked pure tobacco with nothing added in.

"Nicole?" Nicole stiffened and felt Cavanaugh's arms tighten around her when Brian's voice came to her ears.

She took a deep breath and pulled away from Cavanaugh, turning slowly to face the man who had thoroughly ripped her heart to pieces all those years ago, "Hi, Brian." she said, forcing a smile onto her face, "Lisa," she added stonily.

"Who is your friend?" Brian asked as he looked down at her.

Nicole cursed him and his quarterback good looks. Brian had always had those boyish good looks that made women fall at his feet. And he had a smile that drew people in and made them trust him. But he was a snake in the grass.

"I'm Cavanaugh McEllis," Cavanaugh replied as he held out his hand. He didn't like the way that Brian had asked that question and he didn't like the way Brian seemed to be pointedly ignoring him and staring instead at Nicole.

Cavanaugh was happy to see the man's brown eyes finally look at him. He was shorter than Cavanaugh by a few inches and while he was lean he was not nearly as broad as Cavanaugh.

Brian shook his hand quickly and then looked back at Nicole, "I heard you had four men living with you," he stated.

"I wanted to see how the other side live," Nicole replied without missing a beat. "You know the side that just chases after sex wherever they can get it and doesn't care one bit about honoring promises or keeping their word?"

"This again?" Lisa demanded with exasperation, "Honestly, Nicole, it's been years! You should be over this by now."

Cavanaugh felt his hand twitch and it surprised him. He had never before been tempted to hit a woman.

"You're right," Nicole replied with a half shrug. "I'm a little bitter." Lisa sighed, "Nicole you were my best friend for a long time. I want us to at least be able to be friendly with one another again. I want you to come to the wedding next weekend."

Cavanaugh was surprised by the loud bark of laughter that came from Nicole's mouth, "I would rather chew a cactus, but thanks," she replied. Lisa rolled her eyes as Cavanaugh chuckled at her statement and realized that Ian had come to stand on the other side of Nicole, "Nicole, what else can we do to make up for the past? I mean we waited almost five years to get married to give you time to get over it.." Lisa said with desperation.

Brian waved his hand dismissively, "Nicole doesn't know how to get over anything." he stated.

Cavanaugh was about to give the man a piece of his own mind when Nicole took a step forward, "Do you know what you could have done? You could have not slept with my boyfriend while my mother was dying! You could have been a true friend and a true boyfriend and stood beside me and supported me instead of fucking each other behind my back every chance you got! You could have admitted what you were doing and walked away from me during the two years after that while you were still sneaking around but instead you just kept at it until I caught you. And then I split up with Brian. Lisa, you are a fool! If I hadn't split up with him then it would be him and I getting married and you would still be the side woman."

"How dare you!" Brian yelled. He raised his clenched fist as he stepped toward her. "I oughta..."

"What you oughta do is lower that damn hand and take a step back, friend," Cavanaugh growled as he stepped in front of Nicole.

Ian nodded in agreement and came to stand beside his brother. McEllis boys defended what was theirs and as far as they were concerned Nicole was theirs.

"I won't let that whore speak to my fiancée that way," Brian said, standing toe to toe with the cowboys.

Nicole was about to defend herself against the insult when she glanced at Cavanaugh's face and saw the way his jaws were tense and the muscles jumping. His fists were clenched and the muscles in his bare forearms were bulging. This was not going to end well.

"A man never calls a lady a whore," Cavanaugh warned.

"Who do you think you are?" Brian snorted, "You need to just go on back to Texas or wherever it is your from. I know it isn't sex that has you hanging around her like some kind of lap hound because she doesn't give it out very often and when she does it usually isn't very good."

"I've only seen that look on Cav's face a couple of times but usually what follows ain't that good. You better quit running your jaw," Ian warned.

"I think you should listen..." Lisa said as she grabbed Brian's arm but Brian jerked away from her.

"He ain't gonna do a damn thing." he scoffed. "Are you cowboy?" Brian reached out and shoved Cavanaugh in the chest. Ian shook his head and Nicole jumped forward, intent on stopping what came next but it was like trying to stop a raging river by throwing a pebble into the waves.

Cavanaugh fist shot out and caught Brian hard in the jaw, snapping his head back and sending the man stumbling backward. Screams broke out in the place and everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to stare as Cavanaugh (who obviously didn't think one punch was sufficient) leapt forward and tackled Brian to the floor.

Nicole was yelling at him to stop and then another man, a large man with tattoos covering his bald head stepped up to Ian, "Did you call my woman a whore?" he demanded.

Ian frowned. He was more than a little drunk and couldn't remember, "I'm not sure," he replied with a shrug.

"Not good enough," the man replied and then Ian was receiving his own punch to the jaw.

"Stop it!" Nicole screamed but if they could hear her they gave no indication as both Ian and Cavanaugh threw punches and took punches on the dirty barroom floor.

Nicole ran for the door, her truck was parked not far from the entrance. She only knew one way to get an angry cowboy from 1875 to pay attention. She opened the truck door and pulled Cavanaugh's .45 from its holster before running back inside where the boys were still going at it and a crowd had gathered cheering them on.

"Do I need to call the police?" Earl asked Nicole as he nodded at the fight.

Nicole shook her head, "Please don't. I'll put a stop to it," she promised. She walked over to the brawling men and when she cocked the revolver Ian and Cavanaugh stilled instantly, "I. Said. Stop." she stated slowly.

All four men stood and turned to look at her, wiping various amounts of blood from their lips. "Cavanaugh, Ian, we're leaving. You," she pointed at the bald man. "Ian is stupid and drunk and whatever he said to your woman, he's sorry. And you," she pointed at Brian who's eye was already blackening and whose nose was bleeding freely. "I won't be at the wedding."

Nicole released the hammer on the gun and then turned and left the bar with Cavanaugh and Ian following behind her as soon as they had located their hats.

"Nicole, I...." Ian started once they were in the truck and heading home.

Nicole held up her hand, "I don't want to hear you speak." she warned. "That was very foolish. You could still be arrested you know and you don't even have a way to prove who you are. You'd be in a lot of trouble." Silence fell over the truck.

***

"I'm going to bed," Ian said once they arrived at the house and then he went up the stairs leaving Nicole and Cavanaugh alone in the living room.

Nicole looked at Cavanaugh welted jaw and sighed. She went into the kitchen and filled a bag with ice before wrapping it in a towel and returning to the living room.

Cavanaugh was sitting on the couch and he gave her an apologetic smile when she sat down beside him, "Sorry about what happened," he said. "I shouldn't have hit him."

Nicole laughed lightly as she pressed the ice to his cheek and he winced, "No, he deserved it." she assured him. "I've never seen his head snap back that way before. It was actually kind of funny."

"Funny?" Cavanaugh asked with a smile. "I've never heard a woman say that men fighting was funny. Most women stick their noses up at it."

"Yeah well I'm not most women," she replied with a wink and then her breath caught in her throat when his eyes suddenly became much more serious.

"No you're not."

Nicole felt his hand on her cheek. She felt him leaning toward her. His warm breath washed over her face as her eyes slid closed. Sparks of awareness burned through her body as his lips lightly caressed over hers and then a throat was clearing next to them and had them flying apart.

"Nicole, can I get one of those ice packs?" Ian asked, pointing at the towel and ice that had fallen onto the couch.

Nicole stood up and poked him hard in the chest, "You need to learn how to stay upstairs and stop coming into this room at the wrong times!" she warned.

Ian chuckled as she stormed around him and off to the kitchen to make him an icepack, "Cav, you need to learn how to have your private moments in private."

Cavanaugh stood up with a growl, "You better just turn and walk away the next time you walk in on something like that, little brother, or else I'll make your left eye match your right one."

Ian raised his fingers gingerly to his tender right eye and smiled, "Are you saying you plan on ending up like that with Nicole again?" he asked.

Cavanaugh grumbled and shoved past him, "I'm saying I'm going to bed," he said and limped away up the stairs with Ian's chuckling behind him.

Ian grabbed the forgotten ice pack off the couch and put it over his eyes, "Never mind, Nicole, I'll just use this one." He turned and headed for the stairs, quickening his pace when he heard something slammed hard against the freezer door.