Tarnation!!! 15 minutes in this confounded town and already this dusty ranchhand was making a move. Liisa understood men as well as any woman, but all she sought were some supplies to take back to her new lodgings at the boarding house.

"Ma'am, I can see you are trying to be polite, but I'd rather hear the sound of your charming voice than be ignored."

"Isn't the saloon a more appropriate place to seek your entertainment for the evening? Must be a whore there that appeals to you."

"Ma'am, I think you have the wrong idea. I merely wanted to assist you in settlin' in, that's all."

Liisa could have sworn his mustache drooped. She suppressed a grin and kept watching Mrs. Potter collect the items she had requested.

"Buck, leave the poor girl alone."

"Mrs. Potter, you know your beauty leaves me breathless, but you have refused me so often that my poor heart seeks comfort from another lonely soul."

"Oh pshaw, Buck Wilmington! Get out of my store and leave us be!"

Liisa was finding it harder and harder to keep from laughing. Was this man for real? Maybe he was part of a carny troupe? Bryn shouldn't have left - this was the most amusing thing she had seen in weeks.

"Buck? That your name?"

"It is, ma'am. Never liked it 'til I heard it from your lips, clear and sweet like the voice of a..."

"If you want to help me out, you can start by shutting that blowhole. I don't take to flattery. You can help me bring these packages to my room. Why don't we both help Miz Potter bundle all this up nice and tight instead of standing here gawking at her?"

"My apologies, ma'am. And to you, Mrs. Potter."

Buck immediately began bundling the salt pork, apples, and trifles in brown paper, tying them neatly with string. Liisa offered her finger as he was tying the knot, and received such a brilliant smile that she couldn't help but return it. Shaking her head, she dropped a few coins and two bills into the proprietess' hand, tipped her hat, and gathered up her bullets, new shirt, and a small jar of peppermints.

"Let's go, Buck."

"Ma'am.... bye my love."

"Out, Buck!!"

"Why, Mrs. Potter...."

Backing out the door, which Liisa had closed in his face, Buck scurried across the street to catch up to her. She was dusty, and her hat was about to slide off of her head. Buck wondered if her hair really was the color of gold or if that was just a trick of the sunset's light. He looked at her smoothly rounded face, noting the chapped lips... and licked his own lips, wishing he could...

"Buck, this is the boarding house. You can leave my things here in the foyer and I'll gather them up myself. Thanks for the help."

"Ma'am, I haven't even gotten your name."

"Bull. You heard Bryn in the store."

"No, ma'am, I didn't. I don't eavesdrop on other folks' conversations. Especially two lovely ladies who would think I w'n't a gentleman."

Liisa walked up to him and looked up into his face, staring unblinkingly right into his eyes. She noted the twinkle in his eyes, but also discerned sincerity and honesty. Harmless, but not innocent, she thought. He actually must get somewhere with all this malarkey. She continued to stare up at him, seeing the harsh effects of a western life in the lines on his face, the bleached eyebrows, the mop of hair hanging on his forehead, sorely in need of some pomade to restrain it. Rapscallion was the word that came to her mind. She had read it in a book one time and it seemed to fit somehow. Despite herself she began to feel a tinge of warmth towards him. Voices caused her to turn...

A lady in Southern dress was striding towards her on the planks that passed for a walk in this town, walking next to... next to... her mouth suddenly went dry. The mellow tones of a rich Southern accent came to her as she took in the red jacket and fitted black pants that looked so out of place in a cowtown. The jaunty angle of the black hat and the gunbelt slung carelessly across his hips spoke to her of confidence and pride. The two came closer and her heart began to beat a bit faster as she saw his bright eyes... what color were those eyes? She could not tell - they were pale but full of life... she forgot herself, staring as the two walked past her, and on towards the saloon.

"Ma'am? Your name?"

She caught herself and looked back at Buck, blushing just a bit at having been distracted so easily. Buck obviously misunderstood, causing her to chastise herself and altering her mood rapidly.

"Why, ma'am, your pretty pink cheeks remind me of a wildflower out near..."

"Do you ever shut up?!"

Liisa looked up into his handsome face, felt rotten about her behavior, but she couldn't stop herself. She genuinely liked this man already for no earthly reason, but was overwhelmed by the emotions of the last half hour. She did not like feeling out of control and had to get inside before anyone else noticed. She turned hard on her heel, her ponytail whapping Buck in the chest as she was standing so close to him, and opened the door to the boarding house. Buck followed her inside, dutifully putting his parcels down as she had ordered.

"I'll be taking my leave now, ma'am. Hope to see you again soon."

"Oh stop calling me ma'am. It's making my belly churn. My name is Liisa."

"Miss Liisa."

"Just Liisa."

Buck touched his hat brim and backed out the door, bumping into Bryn as he did so. Begging her pardon, he went on his way. Bryn gathered up the rest of Liisa's things and walked upstairs with her, surprised that things had gone as far as they did. She supposed Liisa might be a bit less of a loner than she had presumed.

"You should come to the saloon tonight and hear me sing. Maybe the two of us can keep all these handsome men at bay," Bryn winked.

"I'm quite fine, thanks. I'd like to get some shuteye. I think I might leave in the morning."

"F' Finian's sakes why, lady?"

"Just don't feel comfortable here."

"Because you're being treated like a lady? Begorrah! You've obviously been long without decent treatment; don't shy 'way from folks now. Come and meet Lily, mistress of the saloon. I'll introduce ye. And I'll introduce ye to my good friend Ezra Standish. He's a gentlemen through and through, not like yon' Buck."

Liisa sighed. She knew she needed a rest but Bryn was right about one thing - it had been long since she had looked at any man... or woman for that matter... without suspicion. She nodded and shooed Bryn out, wanting to sleep for a while. She'd wash the dust off her face but that was all.

She knew wearing her range clothing would give the impression she was passing through and allow her to judge the locals. Folks usually treated women travelling alone a bit more freely than those they knew were staying around. Yes, she would go to the saloon and make her decision to stay or leave.

"All right, lassie, I'll see you in a couple hours."

"Lassie? That's Scot, not Irish, me lady! See you then. I'll buy you your first Irish whiskey."

"Nay, " Liisa mimicked Bryn's brogue. "I'm afraid I'm a few bottles down the well already."

Bryn left her to her unpacking, and Liisa dozed off in a matter of minutes, forgetting to clean her face. She did not wake until a commotion outside sent her to the window, blinking to hasten her vision in the darkness.