GOLD RUSH DAYS/DAZE

HOT TIME IN 'FRISCO.....by Terri

"OW! Just what do you think you're doing, kiddo?" Lil yelled.
Rose sat her down. "Look, I was hired to reorganize you women and deal at the gambling house. Land's End. Now I don't know what is expected of me. Where is your...Madame? Is that you?" Lil sniffed. "Ain't got one. Not since Molly Diamond got plugged."
"Plugged?"
"Yeah--plugged!" Lil crossed her hands on her throat, crossed her eyes and made gagging and strangling noises."
Rose said disgustedly."That's not plugged. That's croaked. Plugged is shot."
Lil uncrossed her eyes. "Dead is dead. We're free-lancing. For now. We were told by Hopkins that you'd replace Molly."
Rose started laughing. She couldn't stop. "I--I was hired to be a Madame?" She started coughing. Lil pounded her on the back. She smiled. "Oh, if only Montgomery could see me now!"
Rose looked at her watch again. It's 7:30 pm back home. John, wherefore art thou? I'm getting a little anxious and I want to go home! And I have three and a half hours until my dinner date. Is this considered adultery even if I don't..you know..
Lil asked her, "Montgomery?"
Rose said, "Never mind. Just a possessive ship that crossed my wake. First of all, how fast can you assemble the uh, 'soiled doves' together? Lil smiled a crooked smile. "In ten minutes. They are anxious to see who is in charge now. They were afraid you would be like Dolly Merchant, she's a tough cookie."
Rose shouted back at her, "What makes you think I'm not?"
Lil gave her a thumbs up and ran out of the room. Rose sat there, ordered a whiskey from Amos and said to him, "Ever wish you were somewhere else, Amos?"
Amos spit in a glass and polished it. "Always."
Within ten minutes, Lil came back with the girls. They were Chinese, American, Mexican, French. And boy, did they need help!
Rose told Amos, "Saloon is off-limits for the next two hours, Amos. You'll still get paid."

Rose clapped her hands. "Ladies! Let me introduce myself. I am Miss Katherine McGuire. But you may call me Miss Kitty. Now! From what I can see, you girls are in dire need of a make-over."
"Make-over? What's that?"
Rose dumped her purse out. All sorts of makeup fell all over the table. The women were fascinated. Rose told Amos she needed water--lots of hot water and some baths drawn upstairs. "Come, doves--let's turn you into swans!"

Rose used Lil to demonstrate various lotions and cleansing agents. Lil languished in a bath while Rose washed her hair. She enhanced Lil's hair with conditioners and highlights. Deftly she cleaned her skin with herbal scrubs and masks. She used her Lancome cosmetics and then laid out some new clothes for Lil. Inside of an hour, she showed the girls. "Voila! This is Miss Lily Weston of Newport Rhode Island!"
Lil protested. "I'm not from Rhode Island." Rose narrowed her eyes and said seriously, "You are now!"
The girls were excited and for the next two hours under Rosamond's supervision, the girls did make-overs on each other. By the end of it, Rosamond had the best looking girls around. "I'm charging everything to Mark Hopkins since I found out he is the silent owner of this, er, establishment."
Lil hugged Rosamond and said, "You may look young but you are wise in years!"
The girls stood up, clapped and gave Rose a standing ovation.
Rose said, "Tomorrow we talk about a health plan and insurance for you girls!"
She waved goodbye to them, dusted off her hands in satisfaction and said to herself, Forgive me, John! I know you'd be ticked off to have your little bride become a madame, but these girls need help! She laughed to herself. But I'll bet Daniel would think it was funny!
She looked at her watch again. It was now 7:00 pm. Ten o'clock back home. She didn't know whether to be mad or panicky. She looked up at the stars from her balcony. John, where are you? And why haven't you come for me yet?

Meanwhile:

John checked in on his children. Will was sound asleep, hugging the puppy. The puppy looked up at John with baleful eyes. He looked in the crib, Julie was sound asleep. Hard to believe she was six months old. A lot has happened in the last six months, he thought. His cellphone rang, he quickly picked it up. "Hello?"
"John, it's me."
John's heart dropped to his feet. "Alan! Have you seen her?"
Alan hesitated. "Noo...not exactly. Her car was found in a parking lot two doors down from Classy Ladies. John, something happened between the parking lot and the salon. You said she never made it in there. I've filed a missing persons report and we have an APB out on her."
Silence.
"John, are you there?"
"Yes. I'm here. Alan, whatever it takes...bring my wife home to me."
"Sure, John. I have to ask though...has she ever disappeared on you before?"
John thought back. There was Austin...there was New Orleans... "Well, before we were a couple...but there was a good reason."
"Did you argue, John?"
"No, Alan--for Pete's sake, we're newlyweds!"
"Any insurance on her?"
John exploded. "And what is THAT supposed to mean? You think we had an argument and I clubbed her and threw her into the river?" Alan tried to calm him down. "Sorry, John, these are just the standard questions that I have to ask. Did she mention any place she wanted to go? Friends she wanted to see?"
John answered negative.
"John, could she have had a breakdown, maybe things just got too much? She WAS awfully high-strung when she went after Wanda Sue Skaggs."
John said, "No, she was fine. Alan, I'm really worried. Are there any...weirdos in the area?"
"Always are, John. But try not to worry and let us do our job. I know, you'll worry anyway. I'll be in touch."
John walked out to the balcony out their sliding glass doors. He looked up at the sky and said out loud, "Rosamond Gwinnett....just where the hell are you? Or maybe WHEN the hell are you?"
He walked back inside, tried to unbutton his shirt, just tore the buttons off in frustration, laid down on the bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Meanwhile:

Rosamond pulled off her calico dress and flopped down on the bed. The sides immediately caved in over her. What I wouldn't give for that nice big rice-bed in my room. With John beside me. She struggled to roll over to the edge. She looked at her watch. It's 7:30, 10:30 back home. John worked all day, he's probably snuggy-bunny in bed thinking I'm OK and will be back. But where is he? Why isn't he here? A half-hour until Marshall Matt Dillon comes to take me to dinner. Is this cheating on my husband? No, I have to eat! Rose covered her eyes with her arm and tried to stem the rising tide of panic. Fifteen minute later she got up, splashed some cistern water on her face and applied fresh makeup. She looked in her armoire at some of the dresses that were there. Here's one that is understated. It's simple and elegant and doesn't scream TAKE ME!

She slipped it over her head, belted it and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. I must remember to look in the antique stores when I get home. This one is super! It was oval and it tilted. Maybe when John comes and we go back, I can tuck this under my arm...The dress had a white voile longsleeved blouse and a full black skirt. She pulled out a pair of high-top shoes. These are so weird--but comfortable. She used the hook to fasten them. Pretty cool.
At eight o'clock sharp there was a knock on her door. She opened it and there stood Marshall Matt Dillon, in a black suit and holding his Stetson in his hands, looking nervous.

"Hello, Marshall Dillon! My, you're very punctual!" Rose quickly closed the door to her room. Dillon bowed stiffly. "Would you care to dine at the Delmonico? I understand they have a very good steak."
Rose murmured, "Sounds wonderful!" Why do I feel so guilty? Marshall Dillon offered Rosamond his arm. They walked over to Delmonico's, Rosamond wrapped in a shawl. As they entered, all eyes were on the new couple. Rose whispered, "Why are they staring?"
Matt Dillon grinned self-consciously. "Because they all wish they were in my place. I guess I beat alot of them to the punch and they aren't about to tangle with a lawdog."
The proprietor gave Rose and Dillon their menus. Rose scanned hers quickly. She looked up and Marshall Dillon was staring at her hand. Rose looked down. On her hand was her engagement ring and wedding band. She said, "OH! I--I guess I should explain. You see, I lost my husband..."
Dillon cleared his throat. "Oh, no need to explain, Miss Kitty."
Rose went back to studying her menu. Dillon, after a few minutes of silence, said, "How long ago did you lose your husband, Miss Kitty?" Rose was pre-occupied, looking at the menu when she absent-mindedly said, "Oh, it was yesterday....I do believe I will have the Delmonico steak!"

Marshall Dillon sat there and wondered, did she say she only lost her husband yesterday? I must have heard wrong. Their steaks were brought to them, along with beer. Dillon was very solicitous. He asked Rosamond, "What are your plans for everything, Miss Kitty?"
Rose took a sip of beer. Yuck--bitter! "Well, Marshall Dillon..."
"Please--call me Matt." He reached over and touched her hand. Rose thought, I think I'm in trouble here. She withdrew her hand discreetly, like she was reaching for her napkin. "I don't have any plans for the gambling house, it pretty well runs itself. Mark Hopkins wants me to deal faro and monte, occasionally blackjack. As far as the saloon, Amos seems to be doing a good job. But the, uh, ladies are a different story. They need guidance. I have some ideas for them. To make their lives better. I realize that I can't stop them, this is the way they make their living. But I plan on giving them lessons in etiquette, and beauty. Clothing and how to carry oneself. I plan to implement a health and insurance plan."
"A what?"
"Tomorrow morning first thing I plan to see Doctor Carlson. I am going to arrange it so the girls pay him one ounce of gold dust once a month. In return, he will care for the girls to see that no harm comes to them. I realize all sorts of diseases run rampant in a mining town. Also each girl will deposit two ounces of gold a month in the Bank of Yerba Buena as a savings account. In case they get ill or for some reason cannot work."
Dillon blurted out without thinking. "You seem to know alot about this!" Rose looked at him hurt. He stammered, "I didn't mean..oh, I meant...what I thought.. Oh damn! It came out all wrong! What I meant to say is that you seem to want to look out for the 'soiled doves'"

Rose said quietly. "Someone needs to. Obviously the men could care less. Men will be required to bathe before reaching a business agreement with the woman. It's only fair. Some of these men look like they haven't bathed in a month and the scratching leads me to believe they may be harboring little pets of their own. Oh, and by the way, the girls' rates have just doubled."
Dillon took a sip of beer at that time and sprayed beer all over the table. He grabbed a napkin and coughed into it." "You WHAT?"
"I raised their rates. Doubled it. Hey, in the next few days, these girls will be fantastic looking and very polished. I aim for them to be out of the business in the next six months. I am sure each one will receive at least ten marriage proposals. Or they can go into business for themselves. And not that way. They can open up a flower shop. Milliners. Hey, if that Howard Johnson can do it with one ice cream flavor, so can these girls!"
They had ordered cherry pie and coffee to relax with. Men were still staring at Rosamond. She was beginning to feel discomforted by it. She asked Dillon, "So enough about me and the girls and the business plans. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Where are you from, who are your family, things like that."
He looked down at his pie and played with his fork. "Not much to tell. I grew up in Virginia, headed west and lived in Dodge City for a while. My--my wife died in childbirth with the first one."
Rose laid her hand on his gently. "I am so sorry to hear that, Matt. How awful for you!"
He smiled bitterly. "That's why I am in San Francisco. Putting miles between me and the memories."
They ate their pies in relative silence. Rosamond looked at her watch. Almost 9:30.
It's 12:30 back home. Looks like I am dealing faro tonight. Dillon and Rose walked through the streets. As they entered the lobby, Rose stopped to speak to Hiram. "Anyone or any messages for me, Hiram?" she asked hopefully. Hiram shook his head no. Rose felt her stomach drop to her feet. "Problem, Miss Kitty?" Dillon asked.
"N--no, I've been expecting my cousin and he is late."
They climbed the stairs to Rosamond's room. She took the key out and fumbled with the lock. Dillon said, "Allow me." and unlocked the door. He hesitated by the door.
"Uh, Miss Kitty? I had a real nice evening. First time I have been out with a lady since Mary died. Thank you." Rose smiled and extended her hand. "It was a pleasure, Mr. Dillon. Matt." But Marshall Matt Dillon didn't end it there. He drew Rosamond to him and gave her a kiss goodnight. He seemed surprised by his own actions. Rosamond stood there with her mouth open in surprise, too. He said, "I'll be seeing you, Miss Kitty. Goodnight."
Rose murmured "Goodnight, Matt." She closed the door and burst into tears. John! Where are you? Why haven't you come for me?


Rose went downstairs to the lobby. Lounging against the post was a cowboy, very blond and very gorgeous. Blue eyes under a black Stetson and straight white teeth.
"Miss Kitty McGuire?"
Rose answered, "Yes. What can I do for you, Mr....?"
"Longbaugh, Ma'am. Harry Longbaugh. Marshall Dillon wanted me to escort you to the Land's End saloon. Shall we go?"
Rose tightened her shawl around her. "Yes. Thank you." They walked in silence down the street. Rose tried casual convesation. "Do you live in San Francisco, Mr. Longbaugh?"
"Temporarily, Ma'am. My family is in Telluride, Colorado right now. You from Boston?"
"Yes. Although my family is in New York. Do your friends call you Harry?"
He smiled fleetingly. "No, ma'am. They call me Sundown. The Sundown Kid."
Rose said, "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kid."
He laughed, "Just Sundown. I'm supposed to meet my friend Skip Cassidy here. He should show up at the Land's End tonight."
True to his word, Sundown delivered Rosamond to the side door of the Land's End. She slipped into the dressing room and put on the sapphire blue gown. It was made of satin and tulle. She walked out to the main floor of the gambling room.
As she walked by, the men parted like the Red Sea. She smiled beguilingly at them, picked up the cards at the table and shuffling them, said, "Shall we play a little cards, gentlemen?" They cheered and threw their gold dust down. Rose looked at all the dust flying around and got an idea. When things get heated up tonight, the liquor is flowing freely and they are feeling...pretty good, I just may offer to help clean up. Do a little dusting.

For two hours, Rose dealt and supervised the gambling. Dust was carelessly being flung everywhere. Rose thought, I may not wash my hair when I get home, just vacuum it! She began to feel the need of a break. She motioned for Amos to come over.
"Amos? I need a break, a drink to relax. Would you mind taking over for the next fifteen minutes?"
"Sure, Miss Kitty!" She walked over to the bar where another bartender was taking over. "I'll have a whiskey," she ordered.
A voice next to her said, "Are you free tonight or will it cost me?" She turned slowly and next to her stood Shadow Skaggs. He had a few and was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Rose groaned. Why does all this sound so familiar? Kind of a deja vu.
Shadow leaned over and said, "Can we have breakfast together tomorrow?" Rose looked at him unbelievingly as he said, "Shall I call you or nudge you?" She shook her head incredulously and as she walked off with her drink, he yelled, "Do you want to have flapjacks and sex?" She kept walking and he hollered, "What's the matter? You don't like flapjacks?"

She thought, where have I heard all this before? She came back to her table. "Gentlemen? Are you ready? Then get your bets down." More dust flew. Rose continued to deal blackjack. Before she knew it, two more hours had passed and it was now 2:30. The men were still going full steam.
At her next break Sundown brought his friend Skip over to her. "Skip? This is the new dealer. Miss Kitty.This here is Skip." Skip had a friendly face and a smile that would melt your heart. He shook her hand. There was a sudden noise in the corner and Sundown whipped out his gun. Skip said, "Hey, cool it, Sundown!" To Rose he said, "He's a little high-strung." Rose gasped when she saw the gun Sundown had. "That's beautiful! May I...please?" He grinned and handed her the gun butt first. (The gun's butt!)
She handled it carefully, turning it over. In the barrel she saw the engraving "H.L."
Yep! That's the one! The one that Montgomery had. The one John took from me. Bet he put it in his safe. Rose handed it back to him. "What a beautiful piece! Where can you get the ammuntion? At Target? K-Mart? I don't think Wal-Mart would carry it but you never know, they have everything else there..."
"Ma'am? Oh...this is special to me. I intend to leave it to my little boy. He's only two now."
"You have a son?"
"Yes Ma'am. His name is Harry Longbaugh Jr. Just turned two. He's at home in Telluride with his ma."
By the time 4:00 came, the place was closing down. Rose yawned and leaned against the bar with her whiskey. She sleepily looked at her watch. Seven o'clock back home. She was getting homesick. I should call John and tell him Julie has a doctor's appointment. Wait! I can't call him. I must be REALLY tired tonight. I should. I've been up over 24 hours. One hundred fifty-four years and twenty four hours, to be exact. One more time she heard that same voice next to her.

"Look, I can play a whole scenario for you. I could ask you to dance. I escort you home. We move on to the next date, a dinner at Delmonico's. We graduate to a walk on the desert in the moonlight. I am fighting these incredible urges and you are too.
We have unbearable tension and we finally give in to our passions. It is intense and wonderful. I ask you to marry me because I want to make an honest woman of you. You accept because you feel guilty and are not really that kind of girl. Well, you really are but you just don't know it yet. So Saturday night I take a bath and on the Sunday morning we are standing in front of the preacher man, you in a white dress which you feel guilty about wearing because you feel you don't deserve it and I am in a store-bought black suit. You quit this job as dealer because you feel it isn't respectable. I strike it rich in the goldmine and we buy a house over on the hill overlooking the bay. You find out you are with child, which you didn't know you were when we said 'I do". I start gambling more and you are bored. You start having babies one after the other. You start to nag me and I start visiting the sporting houses and come down with a loathesome disease. I take some hideous medicine like mercury tincture but you are afraid and kick me out of our bed. I continue with the fancy ladies but you stay married to me because I am making money and I am leaving you alone as you fear childbirth. We are both miserable. But we stay together. Now I say, let's skip the dancing, the dinner at Delmonico's and just got straight out to the desert. That way we avoid alot of grief."
Shadow leaned forward, ran his finger up and down Rose's arm and whispered, "What do you say?"
She whispered back, "Let's drink to it first. Amos? Two whiskeys, please!" Amos set two whiskeys in front of Rose. She looked smolderingly into Shadow's eyes. They clink glasses and Shadow drank his in one gulp. Rosamond leaned seductively towards Shadow, pulled the waist of his Levi's towards her. Shadow was smoking!
She picked up her drink and poured down Shadow's pants and said, "No thanks, I've seen the desert!"
She turned to Skip Cassidy and the Sundown Kid and said, "Would you gentlemen be so kind as to escort me back to the hotel?"
They laughed and said, "Sure, Miss Kitty!" As Shadow stood there with whiskey dripping down his pants legs and making a puddle on the floor, wondering what the heck happened, Rose said, "Put it on my tab, Amos!"
When she reached her room, Skip and Sundown unlocked the door for her.
They tipped their hats and said, "Goodnight, Ma'am."
"Goodnight, gentlemen, and thanks!"
She peeled off her dress, left it crumpled on the floor and looked at her watch. Holy smokes, 5:00 AM here. She laid down on her bed and cried herself to sleep.


SALLY PUSHES HER LUCK.......by Coralynn

Jerry rings the doorbell and hears it chime inside the house. It is early, he looks at his watch, concerned that he's come too early and is waking everyone.
The front door opens and Sally Jennings, still in her robe, invites him in.
"Is there a problem with my house?" her face registers frown lines.
"Quite the opposite! Since you paid for the house in cash, and the owners moved out two weeks ago, we're closing on the deal in one hour and you can move in any time after that!"
"That's fast!" Sally is excited, "But I have no furniture to move in.....not yet anwyay!"
"Can Eleanor or Marilyn take you shopping after we close on the deal?" Jerry asks.
They notice Eleanor yawning and stretching as she comes into the living room, "OH, Jerry, you startled me! What are you doing here so bright and early?"
"We close on Sally's house in one hour. Then she can move in!"
"Wow! What are you going to use for furniture, though, Sally?"
Sally asks in a soft, pleading voice, "Could you take me to some places that sell furniture, El? Can you make a list of what I'll need? Back on 1733 we only bought beds and tables and chairs, maybe a sofa is we had a lot of money. But you have those big things in the kitchen, what do you call them?"
"Appliances," Eleanor tells her. "Yes, you'll need a stove and refrigerator, a dishwasher, a microwave, a blender, a mixmaster...."
"ALL that?!"
"Don't worry. I can help. Of course the person who furnished this house, Rose, who's a expert shopper, is missing, so I'll have to do."
"Rose is missing!?" Jerry is concerned, "When was she last here? Have you called the Police?"
"She was last seen yesterday morning. Said she was going to the Classy Lady beauty parlor. Never showed up there. Never came home, either. When we find out who is resposible for this we are going to kill him or her, very slowly and very painfully." she glares at Sally, who bats who big blue eyes.

"This is terrible! Are the Police out looking?" Jerry is alarmed.
"Yes, they've been notified and an APB has gone out."
"Be right back, Jerry, after I get dressed!" Sally flounces off.
Jerry sits on the couch beside Eleanor, who tells him in a low voice, "We all suspect that Sally has sent Rose somewhere.......some other timeframe......to get back at her for sending Sally to the Exodus."
"What?!"
"You know, the Exodus: Moses and all that."
"Rose did that?!"
"Yep. She wouldn't admit it, but she and Sally took an instant dislike to each other. Stronger than dislike, actually, more like hatred. Rose struck the first blow by sending Sally to the desert, and now Rose is missing, which only leads me to believe that Sally has returned the favor."
"Have any idea where and when or what or...."
"No. Celeste's crystal ball is on the fritz, so she can't contact her. She's taking it in to be cleaned this morning, so maybe tonight....."
"In to be cleaned?" Jerry laughs.
Eleanor signs and shakes her head, "I guess."
"Anything I can do to help?" Jerry puts his arm around Eleanor, who gladly rests her head on his shoulder.
"Can't think of anything right off hand, Jerry, but if I do I'll dial your pager."
"Isn't everyone frantic?"
"Yep. Everyone but Sally Jennings, who, as you see, is flouncing around like a southern belle because she's bought a house, and only two streets over, of all things. She can walk over here in five minutes, which is not a good thing."
"I thought you liked her," Jerry looks at El intently.
"I did, but then this craziness began. At first I was angry at Rose, and I'm still not happy with what she did to Sally, but sending Rose off, who has two small children who need her, is going too far, way too far!"
"John must be a basket case!" Jerry sympathizes.
They hear banging upstairs and see John starting down the stairs at the same time Sally is coming out of the upstairs powder room. Sally sashays by him, smirking up at him, which is the last straw. He pushes her forcifully, which sends her tumbling down the stairs.
Jerry and Eleanor leap up and rush over to where Sally is lying in a heap at the base of the striarcase. "Are you hurt?"
She grins, gets up, dusts off her jeans and replies, "Ohhhh John, be careful! Someone could get hurt!" and gaily goes out the front door.
Jerry's mouth gapes open as John, with a grim look, watches his enemy leave.
"I think he knows," Eleanor whispers to Jerry as they also go out the front door. He gives her a quick hug and whispers back, "The sooner Sally Jennings gets out of your house the better. John looks homicidal. Are you going to take her shopping for furniture after she gets back from the closing or are you too angry at her?"
"Listen......I am totally angry, but.....the sooner she gets the furnishings, the sooner we can be rid of her and go back to normal."
"I hate to be glib in something this serious, El, but 'normal' is not exactly a word I think applies to your household."
She tries not to grin, but loses. "Get going, Jer. And make sure that house closes. No matter what......get that closing!"

As Eleanor closes the door and heads back toward the stairs, Celeste emerges from one of the chairs with the levers on the side. She startles Eleanor, "Oh Celeste! I didn't see you there!"
"I saw what just transpired between Sally Jennings and John. He acts like he must know she did it to get back at Rose, and if he thinks that, then he must also realize that Rose was responsible for Sally's disappearance."
"I know. He didn't want to come right out and accuse Rose of dumping Sally in the desert, but even Mike, who is nothing if not fair, told us there was no other explanation."
"You have to get Sally Jennings out of this house," Celeste says pensively, "Even without a functioning crystal ball, I can see that."
"Going to get it cleaned today?"
"Right after I have breakfast I'm taking it in. If they can clean it today we may have an answer by tonight!"



MOVING DAY..........by Coralynn

John, stunned at his violent reaction to Sally Jennings, goes out in the back yard where William is sipping his morning coffee, and sits down next to him.
"William, I think I'm losing it. I'm so anxious about Rose's disappearance, I just pushed Sally Jennings down the stairs."
"You did what?!"
"She came out of the upstairs bathroom and pushed past me, and before I knew it, I'd pushed her down the stairs. I know she's responsible for Rose's kidnapping."
"Was she hurt?"
"No. She got up like nothing was the matter and left."
William shakes his head, "John, I'm almost as alarmed at Rose's disappearance as you are, though you have to be going through first class hell. Pushing someone down the stairs is not your style, so you must be at the breaking point. I have yet to hear any news from the Police. They said if they found out anything they'd phone right away. I think you're correct about Sally Jennings......she's no doubt trying to get back at Rose for sending her to the desert, which Rose did, no matter how much she denies it."
"I know she did, too," John says sadly, "She must have used my coin. I'm going to have to put it in a locked safe so it can't happen again."
"Good thinking......put it in my safe. It's in my room and cannot be broken into no matter how determined a person might be to do so. Celeste is taking her crystal ball to be cleaned today. I know, this sounds bizarre, but she says it needs refurbishing, and she should know."
"Eleanor said she's taking Sally out shopping for furniture today. I hope she buys a mattress with hidden spikes in it!"
"John! You don't sound like yourself!"
"I know, I know, but Rose is my life. Rose and the children are what I live for."
William pats him on the back and nods that he understands.

"Time to go!" Eleanor yells at Sally Jennings, and not in a friendly manner. She makes a mental note to try to be civil to the other woman, which is going to be extremely difficult under the circumstances.
Sally bounces out of Marilyn's room, smiling broadly, "Let's go!"
They get in Eleanor's car and take off down the road. Eleanor can't come up with a civil word to say, so she remains silent.
"Where are we going?"
"To a large, large store that has so much furniture that you can't help but see something you like. Very similar to the one Rose went to when she picked out the furnishings for our house. She has an eye for decorating, you know. At first she bought bunk beds for Bethia and me because she was angry at me. Those were pretty funny, too.......had little sailboats on the bedspreads and even a little lamp with matching sailboats on it. Of course we took it all back and bought proper beds, but it makes me laugh, thinking back on it. Rose and I are very close friends now, you know. I would do anything for her, and I do mean anything!"
"How lovely for you!" is all Sally replies.
Eleanor feels like reaching across to the passenger seat and strangling the woman, but resists, as they pull into the large parking lot in front of the furniture store.
"Here we are," she says as they get out and walk to the store.
When they enter, Sally's eyes all but pop out of her head, "This is huge! How can I ever choose?"
"First off.......the bedrooms are arranged like they're already in actual rooms. When you see a room you like, buy it. Don't bother looking at all of them, it would take all day. The first one you like....buy. Same thing with the kitchen and living room. They even have appliances for the kitchen in this place, which the store Rose went to did not. This is a new store and is like having three or four stores in one. Walk over here........see that bedroom?"
"Ohhhh yes, how lovely!"
"Good. Buy it." Eleanor tells her as she copies down the order number displayed by the bedroom full of furniture. "Now, see over there? Living rooms, dining rooms."
They have to walk a ways, as the living room furniture is on the other side of the cavernous store. When they get there, Eleanor instructs her, "Just start walking and stop when you see something you like."
The fourth room Sally sees makes her eyes light up.
"Good. Buy it!" Eleanor says, then whisks her off to the dining room area.
Sally has a harder time there. "Should I get a large table or a small one that has those extenders?" she muses.
"Small one with leaves you can put in if you ever have guests over for dinner," Eleanor says decisively, then wonders who in their right mind would ever want to be a dinner guest at this vicious woman's house anyway.
Sally makes her choice, and off they go to the kitchen appliances.
"OK, buy GE. Everything. Stove, refrigerator, dish washer, washing machine, drier, microwave, blender, mixmaster........."
"Really, why?!"
"They come with a warranty, plus we'll be here all day if you go one appliance at a time."
"Are you in a hurry, El?"
It grates on Eleanor that she's calling her by her nickname, but manages to unclench her teeth long enough to reply, "I have a date with Jerry, and I don't want to be late."
"Are you in love with Jerry?" Sally looks at her with surprise.
"Sure! I'm wild about him. My whole life revolves around him! I cannot live without him!" Eleanor pours it on, as she knows this kind of attitude makes Sally Jennings crazy.
Sally makes a sour face, which only spurs Eleanor on to add, "I melt at his touch, I worship the ground he walks on. Just the sound of his voice makes my body tingle and vibrate..." Eleanor stops there. That oughta do it!
Sally is definitely turned off. Eleanor can feel the air between them freeze. Good!

Sally says little on the drive back. The furniture is to be delivered right away, so she tries to think about that, not the mental picture she has of Eleanor and Jerry in an amorous scenario. Good God, she thinks, Even Eleanor! What's the matter with these women that they're so easily taken in by these men, these monsters!
Eleanor can tell that Sally is having these thoughts and smiles sweetly at her, saying, "We must find you a fella, Sally! How about Hotspur? His name is quite apropo, if you know what I mean!"
Sally's face registers shock and distaste as they pull into the driveway at the big house on Winding Willow.


GOOD RIDDANCE.............by Coralynn

"But she has a moving crew that can carry in her furniture," William insists as Hotspur and Rafe offer to help.
"Truthfully, William, I'm just a bit curious about this house she bought," Hotspur tells him, "I want to see where the witch is living."
"Me, too!" Rafe chimes in.
"Oh alright! But keep a low profile. Don't say anything rude!"
Hotspur and Rafe look at each other and make silly faces, not lost on William, who ends his advice giving with, "Just don't make the morning headlines is all I ask!"
As William walks away, Hotspur suggests, "Hey, Mike and Jack might want to help, too. Let's find them."
Mike and Jack are duly found. Hotspur puts it this way to them, "Want to help us move that miserable Sally Jennings into the house she bought? You know she sent Rose time traveling against her will. You knew? OK, then, better yet........let's go over and case the joint."

Within an hour, the four men are at Sally Jenning's house. The large truck from the store is just then beginning to unload the furniture. They quickly offer their assistance, which the two men from the store are more than eager to accept.
Sally Jennings, who has no car, is dropped off by Eleanor and Marilyn, who, when they see the four men from the group lugging in the furniture, decide to join to see what's up.
Marilyn whispers to Mike, "Why are you guys over here?"
"Casing the joint, or at least that's what Hotspur said."
"Uh-huh! Well, since everyone seems to be 'casing the joint' as you say, I might as well take a look myself. Coming, Eleanor?"
"Ohhh yeah, wouldn't miss it!"
Sally Jennings frowns when she sees so many people from the big house going into her house, but decides to pretend she's pleased.
"Come in, ladies, see what a nice little house I bought!" she smiles and gestures for them to follow her in.
"OH NO, put the couch over there!" she instructs Rafe, "You can't put it against a window! You sure don't know much about this stuff, do you?"
Sally is so busy telling everyone where to put the furniture, that Eleanor and Marilyn wander through the place independently.
"I'll say one thing......whoever lived here before left it clean!" Marilyn runs her fingers across a window sill. "Wonder how long it'll take Sally the Trash Can Queen to dirty it up again!"
"Now Marilyn, be nice!" Eleanor laughs, then adds, "Look in this bedroom! It's enormous! She could have an orgy with 30 people in here!"
"Yeah, like that's apt to happen!" Marilyn gets the giggles and can't stop.
"NO, PUT IT OVER THERE!" they hear clear upstairs as Sally is obviously still telling the movers where to position things.
"Wonder if she'll tip these guys who are busting their humps for her, or will she maybe send them time traveling to repay them for their work?" Marilyn says grimly.
"Why did we like her in the first place?" Eleanor tries to remember.
"Well, we give people the benefit of the doubt, but now there is no doubt that we have a monster on our hands. We've just gotta find Rose! Celeste has her crystal ball back, and later she's going to try to find Rose again. Of couse Sally knows where Rose is, no one is dumb enough to believe her little-girl innocent expression. Those blue eyes look so trusting, so pathetic........and she uses them, just like she uses everything and everyone. How do you think she got all those jewels and coins? I shudder to think who she used!"
"NO! NOT BACK AGAINST THE WALL!" comes the loud dictatorial voice again.
Marilyn and Eleanor hear a loud crash and rush down the stairs to see what happened.
In the dining room, the table is sitting askew, as one leg as broken off. Hotspur is standing by it, trying not to bust out laughing.
"YOU DOLT!" Sally stands in front of him with malice on her face, while Hots tries vainly not to laugh.
"Ahhh, madame, the leg seems to have broken from your table! Let me put it back on!" Rafe rushes over and tips the table up, picking up the broken leg. "Too bad, oh this is just too, too bad. It cannot be reattached! Now, whatever shall we do?"
"I know, wood glue! Duct tape!" Hotspur says through his laughter, "Let me go home and get some for you, fair lady!" he rushes out of the house, howling with laughter, Rafe right on his heels.
Marilyn and Eleanor also go outside to join in the fun.
"Did you do that on purpose?" Eleanor accuses Hotspur.
"Why, why of course not!" he grins, "Why would I want to damage the property of such a fine, upstanding lady?"
As they get in the car to go back for the wood glue, Rafe yells out, "Yes! A fine lady, one of those that you find in the front parlor of a house of ill repute! Not that I have ever been......you understand!" The car roars off. Marilyn and Eleanor chuckle, get in their car, and return to the big house.

When they reach the big house, Celeste isn't in any of the common rooms, so Eleanor and Marilyn knock on her bedroom door. "Come in, El and Mar!" they hear.
"Any luck with the crystal ball?"
"I'm getting a picture of Rose sleeping. She's on what appears to be an old-fashioned bed, you know, the ones that sag in the middle. You can barely make her out, but it is her. Hard to say where she is, and, because she's asleep, I can't ask her. I'm going to try every couple hours or so, and hope I can get her when she wakes up so she can tell us where she is. But she is alive, that's a given."
"We thought she was alive, but a hot lot of good that does her children!" Eleanor comments, "Little Will was asking for her this morning. I told him she'd be back soon. For a child, 'soon' means in the next ten minutes."
"I know. He's been following me around, clinging extra tight. Told me that he hopes I don't go away, too," Celeste says with sympathy, "Poor little tyke! Julie is getting fussier than usual, too, and I know it's because she misses Rose, though she isn't old enough to put it into words!"
"Well, we helped Sally Jennings move, or at least Hots, Rafe, Mike and Jack did. Hots broke the leg off her new dining room table. They just came back here for some wood glue and duct tape. Ohhhh, they're driving out again, must be going back to repair that miserable witch's table."
Marilyn adds, "I have a feeling we're going to find Rose and have her back by this evening. Good thing Sally Jennings is out of here. I wouldn't trust her not to send Rose off again. Ya know, Celeste, we tried, we really tried with that woman. But she sealed her fate with the mean thing she did to Rose. I hope all the legs fall off her furniture!"
She looks at Eleanor, and together they chant, "I know, be nice!"


WHAT IF...?.....by Terri

John opened his office door and just collapsed in a chair. He leaned back and closed his eyes. He kept seeing worst case scenarios playing through his mind. What if Rose never comes back? If she was bounced to another time frame and doesn't come back--ever---will she find someone new? Remarry? NO! Impossible! Because I'll never stop looking for her. At this point I have to cool it. Let Celeste work her magic with the crystal ball. Or maybe El and Marilyn can sucker Sally Jennings into revealing where--and when--she dumped Rose. Dammit, Rose, why did you have to dump her in the desert with Moses, of all places? He unscrewed the top of his bottled water and took a long drink. Daniel stuck his head in. "Hey, you finally showed up."

John looked at him. "What do you want, Daniel?"
"You ARE in charge here, aren't you? It's nice to see you showed SOME interest in the place. By the way, Rose IS going to teach the 11:00 aerobics class, isn't she?"
"No, she isn't."
"What did she do, quit? Oh, you want to keep the little wifie chained to the kitchen sink!"
"Daniel?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up." John leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"What's YOUR problem?" Daniel asked.
"Rose is gone."
"Really?" Then he said to himself, "I would have given her at least six months."
"What?" "Nothing. What happened, she take the kids and bolt?"
"Kids are still here."
"She left the KIDS?"
"Some things have gone down. Bad stuff. We have a new...occupant in the house. She and Rose took an instant dislike to each other and to make a long story short, this woman bounced Rose into another time frame. Just where and when we don't know."
Daniel grew alarmed. "But---but she could get hurt--or worse!"
John rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. "Yeah, don't I know it!"
"When did you last see her? I mean, are you SURE that's what happened? I mean, she HAS left before."
John exploded. "Daniel, can you imagine her leaving Will and Julie without a by-your- leave? She told me she had a 10:00 AM appointment to get her nails done. She didn't come home by late afternoon, she never called. When it got dark, I went over to Montgomerys' ranch thinking he may have kidnapped her."
"Maybe he has her down in Louisiana."
"No. The look on his face told me all I needed to know. He honestly didn't know where she was. That dirt-bag Wanda Sue had a far-out theory that Rose was making time with Robin Hood."
"Robin Hood?"
"Yes."
"THE Robin Hood? Robin of Sherwood Forest? Robin Hood of Merry Men fame? Robin with the green tights?"
"That's just a rumor. The tights bit. I think they can thank Errol Flynn for that one."
"But how..? Why...?"
John said, "how..why...what, Daniel? WHAT?"
"Yeah, I can see her with Robin Hood. Yeah."
John looked at his brother unbelievingly. "Alan Carson said her car was found two blocks from the salon. The salon said she never made it there. She didn't even have an appointment."
Daniel bit on his nail worriedly. "What are you going to do, John?"
John took another drink of water and stared at an imaginary spot on the wall. "Celeste took her crystal ball to be refurbished. It was on the fritz. As soon as I find where and when she is, I'm going to get her."
Daniel asked, "John? What if she doesn't want to go back?"
"Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"Go to hell."


TRYING TO CONNECT.............by Coralynn

Bess and Marthy and Jack sit at the table, picking at their food.
"I miss Rose. Where could she be?" Bess whines.
"Celeste will find her," Jack tells her confidently, "Let's see if she's made any progress."
The three go back to Celeste's room and gently knock on the door, "Come in, Bess, Jack and Marthy!" they hear through the door.
As they enter, Jack asks, "How did you know who it was, Celeste?"
She winked, "A little birdie told me! Now, sit down and be very quiet while I try to find Rose."
They do so, and give rapt attention to what Celeste is doing with the crystal ball. The clouds lift and a picture forms of a woman lying crossways in a bed.
"She must have been awake at some time to have moved her position that much! How frustrating! If I'd known, I could have talked to her."
"She looks uncomfortable," Marthy whispers.
"I doubt there is a comfortable way to sleep on one of those saggy mattresses. Let me see if I can wake her up. ROSE! ROSE! Wake up! This is Celeste!........that didn't work."
She tries calling out to her a few more times with no positive results and puts the cloth over the ball. "I'll keep trying. She can't sleep forever!"
"She must have been up really late to be sleeping all day!" Bess remarks.
"I wonder why?" Marthy adds.
"We'll find out in due time," Celeste says, then adds, "Now, youngsters, go do something fun! Go to the mall! I'll let you know when I get a breakthrough."
They leave her room, discussing how hard it would be to sleep crossways on a bed, and Celeste is left alone in her room.
"Now to get tough!" she says to herself as she takes the cloth off the ball again and, when she sees Rose, yells, "FIRE!!"
Rose rouses and tosses in the bed, but doesn't open her eyes.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" Celeste tries that one. Same thing.......Rose tosses but doesn't wake up. She replaces the cloth and sighs heavily. Rose, Rose, will you ever wake up so we can find out where you are and come get you?

Meanwhile:

"YES! I have a phone now! Can you come over? Wait'll see you my new house! It's all mine, too!"
"What's the address?"
"123 Sycamore!"
"Be there in a flash!" WandaSue hangs up and struggles into her coat, then grabs up her purse and car keys and leaves her apartment in Pleasantville.
Sally Jennings walks around admiring all her new possessions. She turns on the television, something that still amazes her. How do they get those people into that box anyway? How do you work this thing they call a 'romote'? She starts pushing buttons on it and the channels change. It's so much fun, she pushes the + button over and over. Various programs flash before her. When the novelty wears off, she pushes the off button and goes into the kitchen.
This is the first time she's had to get her own meal since coming to the 21st century, and she's confused. She has a box of Cheerios, some bread, and a half gallon of milk. That doesn't seem quite enough. Well, she thinks, WandaSue can help me figure it out.
She's seen others at the big house cooking. Seems to me they put a pan on the stove-thing and twisted a dial. Hey, I can do that! She finds a pan, places it on a burner and twists all the knobs. Soon she sees the elements turning red. Good. But the pan is sending out a burning aroma. She quickly turns the knobs back the way they were. I think I'm going to need a lot of help! she thinks, as she opens the windows to air out the aroma of burnt pan. The air is cold today, too. Wonder if I have to put wood into the fireplace so I don't get too cold. Where would I get the wood? I see some trees back of the back yard, maybe I'll go out and chop those down.
She sees a car pull into the driveway and rushes out to greet her only real friend.
"Come in! Wait till you see!" she enthuses as they walk inside. "I tried to cook. I think I need help. You can show me! I don't think I have much food here, either. Can you drive me to a store?"
WandaSue realizes she has a very dependent person on her hands, and is not thrilled, but hey, this dependent person has a time travel coin, so why quibble?
She walks around the living room, commenting, "Nice couches......nice pictures on the walls......this room looks like you hired a profesional decorator."
"Eleanor took me to this huge store and they had stuff sort of already in rooms, so I just bought a room. Everything came with it. Look at the kitchen!"
WandaSue is prone to carrying very large, heavy purses, though recently she hasn't felt the feed to haul burglary tools in it, but still it is quite a load. She flings it onto the dining room table on her way to the kitchen, which causes the table to buckle and fall over.
"What's with the table?!" She asks as she tries to right it again.......what is this? Red duct tape?
"That guy they call Hotspur broke it when he moved it in. He fixed it, he said, he said it was good as new. What's that red stuff?"
"Duct tape, my dear, the hillbilly way of fixing things! I'm an expert on the hillbilly way of doing things, being an ex-hillbilly myself! Hotspur should be ashamed of himself. He should buy you a new table. But, tell me.........what I havta know, have they found Rosetramp yet?"
"I don't think so. I don't live there anymore, so I'm sorta, sorta....."
"Out of the loop!" WandaSue finishes it for her. "Well, now, that's too bad. But........I have an idea.......we can phone up the house on Winding Willow and ask for her. If she comes to the phone, then we know they found her."
"That would annoy them, too! I like it! I like it!"
"Before you do that, could you please take me to a store so I can buy some food?"
"Shurrrrre, come on! A few new duds wouldn't hurt you, either, kid. Let's go!"


ROCK ON, GOLD DUST WOMAN......by Terri

Rose woke up sleepily. She looked blearily at her watch. One o'clock. Holy cow, I'm late for Julie's doctor's appointment. She felt the spot next to her. Empty. She sat up with a start. I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Or Chappaqua.
She flopped back down and stared at the ceiling, complete with water stains. I could have sworn I heard someone yell FIRE! What an intense dream! She stumbled over to the shaving mirror and looked at herself. Her eyemakeup was smudged under her eyes and her lipstick was smeared. She washed her face in the cistern water and got out her eyemakeup remover. She took down her hair from the French Twist she had last night and brushed it out. I look like Death warmed-over. Oooh, my head! That Kentucky grain alcohol packs a mean wallop. I can't stand it anymore. I think I'm going over to the public bath house. What I wouldn't give for my walk-in shower and a jacuzzi!
She threw on her calico dress. I don't care what I look like. It won't be written in the history books will it? I can just see it. Page 124 of American History. "...and the dealer of the Land's End, Miss Kitty McGuire, looked a real mess in the morning...."
She ambled downstairs and Hiram sang out, "Good morning, Miss Kitty!"
Rose fought the urge to say, "Go....." but she bit her tongue and said, "Hello, Hiram. I don't suppose my cousin showed up and you put him in another room, did you?"
"No, Ma'am, but Marshall Dillon did stop by to see if you were up and to take you to breakfast. Also a Mr......Skaggs. Something about having something better for breakfast than flapjacks. But what can be better than flapjacks, I don't know."
Rose muttered, "I'll bet Skaggs knows."
Hiram continued. "He also said he would like to take you for a walk on the desert tonight. That sounds right lovely, Miss Kitty!"
Rose said, "Yes. It sounds like ecstacy. A trip to the moon on gossamer wings."
She said, "I'm heading for the bath house, Hiram. If anyone asks for me, please tell him---uh, them---that I have some errands to do and I will check my messages in a bit."
"Will do, Miss Kitty. Meantime, all you need to do is show up at the bath house. They have hot water and towels and soap."
"And privacy?"
"Guess so."
She groaned to herself and headed down the street, her fresh clothes in hand.


AFTERNOON......by Coralynn

William is going over a new recipe for his cooking show when he hears the phone ring. "Will somebody get that?" he yells out. Nobody does.
Grumbling under his breath, he goes to the phone in the kitchen and, just in case it's someone other than a telmarketer, says a polite 'Hello, William here."
A muffled female voice with a thick accent, which accent he is not able to acertain, says, "Is this the residence of Rose Mon....uh, Gwinett?"
"Yes."
"May I please speak with her?"
"No."
He hangs up. Kids. Pranks. Halloween is just a few nights away and they're practicing up. He goes back to his recipe.
*RING*
Sighing, he again picks up and this time uses a rougher voice, "William here!"
A crisp, cold woman's voice says, "Collect call for Miss Rosamond Clifford."
"Give up, you kids. You're not very funny!" William growls into the phone and again goes back to tweaking his recipe.
Celeste comes in from the back yard and looks over his shoulder at the recipe, "I think you have a touch too much cinnamon in that, William."
"But they're cinnamon cookies, Celeste. Cinnamon cookies, Medieval style."
She laughs, "There's an actual medieval style cinnamon cookie?"
"No, but if you tell anyone I made it up I will roast you slowly over a spit.......", he laughs as well.
The phone rings. Celeste picks up. "Good afternoon, how may I help you?"
William groans. Why does she say that; she sounds like she works in a department store!
She hears a low voice, hard to tell if it's a man or a woman, say, "Rosamond Clifford Gwinett, please."
"Who shall I say is calling?"
"Ummmm, uhhhh, her Uncle Joe."
"She has no uncle Joe. Bye!"
"Was that call for Rose? I just got two of them for her. Kids. Pranks. Halloween. I'll be glad when it's over!"
"These aren't kids, William, they're Sally Jennings and WandaSue."
"How do you know that?!"
"Same way I know who's knocking on my bedroom door before they say a word."
William makes a woooo wooooo thermin sound, which causes Celeste to smack him over the head with a newspaper.
"HEY!" he protests, laughing, as she goes back to her room to check on the crystal ball.

She rubs her hands together and closes her eyes to concentrate. This time she has to come up with useful information.....she has to talk to Rose!
She can see Rose walking down a street.........which isn't paved, and the sidewalks are planks. She calls out, ROSE! Rose looks to the right, then proceeds.
Celeste yells "ROSE!" and Rose looks behind her, then, seeing no one, goes on.
Celeste also sees a few signs, and copies down the names.......Yerba Buena Bank, and Lands End Saloon. Then the globe goes dark.
"You couldn't have hung on just a little longer, could you, Crystal? Noooooo, you are still not up to par! I took you to be cleaned, refurbished, tended with care, and you reward me with this behaviour?"
She takes the paper upon which she wrote the names of the establishments she saw in the crystal ball, and goes to Eleanor's computer. Doing a Google search, it takes no time at all to find out that San Francisco is the probable location. But WHEN? It's not recent, as the streets are primitive, as was that horrible bed Rose was sleeping in. Has to be a hundred or so years ago, but I need it pinpointed more closely than that.
As she goes into the living room, the phone rings again. She picks up and hears, "This is the announcer on KJZZ, and Rosamond Clifford, you have just won One Million Dollars in our giveaway! How do you feel about that?"
"Stuff a sock in it Sally!" Celeste says with passion and slams down the receiver.


ROCK ON AGAIN.......by Terri

Entering the bath house, Rose sees a woman tending to it. She was a plump matronly looking woman. "'Ello, dearie! Come to see about a bath?" Rose couldn't help but smile at her. "English?" " 'at's right, lovie. From Birmingham. I detect a note of the old Motherland in your voice, duck. Where ye hail from?"
"Northumberland."
"Ah! I see, lovie. Home of the Percy family. Notorious womanizers, they were! 'Specially the one they calls ' otspur'. A total randy lad, that one were! Tried to claim the de Tonei lands by deceit and deception, I 'ear. 'E tried to lay claim to them lands. IF you get me double meaning. But you're too tender in years, lass, to know the whys and wherefores! Anyways, lassie, ye'll be wanting a good soakin' I get. Ye the new gamblin' marm over at Land's End, eh? Men been buzzin' about it, I can see they's right!" She bustled around, getting towels and soap. "Right this way, love. M'name's Mrs. Buchanan. But they's call me Mrs. Bee. 'Cause I buzz around!"
She laughed at her own joke. Mrs. Bee led Rosamond down a hall into a steamy wooden room. Like a sauna. In the middle sat a copper tub. " 'Ere's the bath, duck! ' At'll be 25 cents. Pay when you leave, lovie."
Rose quickly stripped off the calico dress and her undergarments, put her hair up and slid luxuriously into the hot water. She added a few drops of bath oil and foaming bubble bath. Kicking her feet, she made bubbles. She took the washcloth, folded it and put it across her eyes. Ahhhh! I could fall asleep here. That's a nice window, glad they have a shade. Mmmmmmm!
Ten minutes later there was a shattering of glass. Matt Dillon came crashing through the glass window, rolling on the floor and shooting out the window.
"AAAHHHH!" Rose screamed and plunged under the water. PIng! Zing! Bullets were hitting the side of the copper tub and shattering the glass bottles that lined the wall. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!! Marshall Matt Dillon was returning the gunfire. Rose was glubbing in the tub until she had to peer over the side of the tub. Lord help me, I'm going to get shot--naked in this copper tub! she thought. Dillon fired off a volley at the retreating horse hooves. He took off his hat and wiped his face.He looked at his Stetson and examined the hole in the top of it. "Well, that was a close call!" He turned and saw only Rosamond' eyes wide in fright peering over the top of the tub.
He grinned and said, "I told you I'd be seeing you, Miss Kitty. Just a lot more than I thought I would so soon, though!"

Matt handed Rose a towel. She tentatively took it. "It would help immensely if you would turn your back, sir!"
He laughed self-consciously and turned his back. She stood up quickly and wrapped the towel around her. Then she totally lost it. She started beating on his chest and swinging, all the while trying to keep the towel from slipping down. "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"
Dillon caught her by the wrists, narrowed his eyes but he was trying to keep the laughter out of his voice. He said, "I could get you for assault on a law enforcer but since you are obviously in shock and scared, I won't!"
Rose's chest was heaving. "What was that all about? You just can't come crashing through a window! You just can't come in to a bath and start shooting! Are you crazy? Is this whole place CRAZY? Has the whole world gone NUTS?"
He took Rose into his arms while she was fighting off tears. "It's OK, honey. It was only Jesse Dalton and his gang. They're back and blowing off a little steam. Nothing for you to worry about. Really!"

Rose realized where she was--in Matt Dillon's arms and she pushed him away. She grabbed at her towel and said, "No--NO! This is all wrong! I---I can't. I just can't! You--you have to go. Leave. NOW!!" She pushed him out the door and slammed it behind him. She heard his boots walking down the hall. John! Oh, John--PLEASE! Get here fast--like yesterday and take me out of here. Why aren't you here yet? I swear, I'm going to punish you, make your life miserable for a little while. Like 30 seconds before I dissolve into your arms.

Rosamond angrily threw her clothes on. How dare they! How DARE they! Come into town and shoot up the place! I could have been killed! And that Marshall Dillon! Thinking he can just come in anytime without regard for a woman! I can't believe he held me like that! Damn you, John! RESCUE ME!

Mrs. Bee came bustling out. "Dearie, I am so sorry! This happens on a regular basis, though. Replaced that window five times last month, I did!" Rose shook her head, paid her 25 cents and left.

She walked down the street until she came to where Hiram had told her there was Dr. Carlson's office. She confidently pushed the door open. Inside she heard a man scream. Her heart fell to her feet. Dr. Carlson came out, his shirt sleeves rolled up and blood over his shirt. "Be with you in a minute, little lady! Just extracting a bullet from this man's shoulder." He yelled back into the room,"If it still hurts, take a swig of that there whiskey. If it hurts still, drink more. Keep drinking till it doesn't hurt anymore, Clem!"
He went back inside the room. More screaming. Rose yelled out, "I'll wait outside!" Within fifteen minutes, Clem came out, bandage on his shoulder, arm in a sling, sweat pouring off his face and stinking of whiskey. He tipped his hat to Rose and slurred, "G'day, ma'am." Rose gave him a quick smile and sidestepped him. She went back inside and called, "Dr. Carlson? Are you busy?"
He yelled back, "Be right out, little lady!" He came out a few minutes later, in a fresh shirt and wiping his hands on a towel. "What can I do you for, Missy?"

Rose drew herself up and said, "The name is Miss McGuire, Dr. Carlson. I prefer to do business on a basis of mutual respect." Dr. Carlson looked her up and down and said, "Quite the little firecracker, aren't you?" Rose said "I prefer to think of myself as a force to be reckoned with." He gestured for her to sit down and took a seat himself. "OK, I know you just came into town the other day. I'm figuring you are in the family way and your kinfolks sent you out here to have your baby and come back as a widder-woman. Since your husband passed away just yesterday." "What? Passed away?" Dr. Carlson waved the question away and went on. "It's either that, or you need some laudanum for your nerves and frequent headaches."
"No, sir, it's neither. I want to make a business deal with you." Dr. Carlson stared at her hard. She continued. "I--I seem to be in charge of some of the 'fallen women' in this town. The ones that used to belong to Molly Diamond. I want to make some health insurance arrangements." Dr. Carlson looked at her incredulously. "Health insurance? What might that be?" He filled a pipe and drew on it.
Rose went on to explain that for an ounce of gold per month per girl would guarantee he would look after their health and dispense medication. He would make frequent checkups on them to see that they didn't come down with tuberculosis or cholera or anything that may be, er, transmitted. Including lice."
He frowned. "I don't know, little lady, isn't this a novel idea? I mean, it COULD work.."
Rosamond was earnest. "These women have no one to care for them. Some months they may not even need you. That would be gold free and clear in your pockets. It could catch on. What do you say?"
Dr. Carlson broke out in a smile. "You've got a deal, little lady! I mean Miss McGuire."
Rosamond gave him a smile and said, "Thank you very much! I am putting Lil Weston in charge. She will give you the names of the ladies and be in charge of putting the gold dust into a special account at Yerba Buena Bank on the first of the month each and every month. I want them treated with respect, Dr. Carlson."
Dr. Carlson walked Rose to the door. "I'll do what I promised, Miss McGuire."
As he closed the door, she heard him say, "HEALTH insurance? Damn hell, you say!"

Rosamond walked into the sunshine. She resisted the temptation to whip out her sunglasses. Determinedly she walked into the Yerba Buena Bank and asked for a Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson, a dour tall man, approached her. "Yesss? May I help youuuuu?" He looked down his pince-nez glasses.
Rosamond straightened her shoulders, removed her gloves and said in her best business voice, "Yes, you may. I am here to negotiate several business accounts with your bank." She explained what she wanted done. The health insurance accounts deposited to Dr. Carlson. The savings accounts for the 'girls'.
He shook his head no. "I'm sorry, this is out of the ordinary--and out of the question!" Rosamond gave her best winning smile and said,"I understand, Mr. Donaldson. I know Yerba Buena Bank is the oldest in this town and has a reputation to protect. Out of courtesy, I gave you first preference. However, Mr. Baldwin at Sacramento Valley Trust has offered to go along with our proposition. Thank you and good day!"
Mr. Donaldson grew flustered, "Uh, uh, please, Miss McGuire---run this by me again? I, uh, I think I may have misunderstood what you wanted to do..." Rose thought to herself, Heh, heh, heh---gotcha!
After an hour, Rosamond got what she wanted for the girls. She shook Mr. Donaldson's hand.
"Thank you. The gold dust will be deposited by the end of the week. I am now on my way to Mr. Rafferty, the lawyer. All papers will be drawn up and he will be executor of all these transactions. Any problems you are to see him."
As he closed the door, Mr. Donaldson wondered out loud, "Have I been bamboozled?" He laughed to himself. Better not tell Maude about this one...

Rosamond let out a deep sigh. That was tougher than I thought! She went down to Mr. Rafferty, tried the same trick on him. It worked. All the loose ends for the girls were tied up. They had their health plans, they had their savings/insurance accounts, they had their lawyer to enforce their issues. She smiled in satisfaction. At least I did something right! I wish someone had done that for me when I was Henry's mistress! I might have walked away with a little more than Will. Although Will was certainly worth it. Rosamond got a pang of homesickness. My babies! What must they think of me? And John! Would he think I ran out on him? Surely he must know.
Why hasn't anyone used the crystal ball to get me?

It was 4:00 PM by this time. Rosamond stopped in the Delmonico to get something to eat. As she walked in, every head turned and stared. She said to Pierre, the maitre d', if that's what you could call him, "I'd like a table for one, Pierre."
Pierre hem-hawed around and finally whispered, "Miss Kitty? No unescorted ladies are allowed to dine here. It is against house rules. We have a, uh, reputation to protect."
She exploded. "WHAT? This is discrimination! It would be different if you had a Mc Donald's! But you don't!"
Pierre scratched his head. "McDonald? You mean that crazy coot who's panning for gold and sits by the campfire and takes his meat between two slices of toast? He even shreds his potatoes and deep fries them in lard. Said there's nothing like it, someday he is going to open a restaurant, he said. Plans on calling it the Golden Arches!"
Rosamond said, "Well, until he does, do you intend to let me starve? I've got to eat!" Pierre started again to explain the protocol. A voice at Rosamond's elbow said, "Please. Allow me to accompany you to a table." Pierre let out a sigh of relief. Marshall Dillon to the rescue again!

Rosamond's eyes flashed. "I'd rather go down and eat with Mr. McDonald, thank you very much!" as she tried to push her way past him. "You'll never come out alive in a mining camp on the outskirts of town, Miss Kitty. Especially one as pretty as you." He held out his hand. "Come. I haven't had much pleasant company lately and you would be doing me a huge favor." Rose said, "I'll join you--but only because I am hungry!" She ignored his outstretched hand.
"Two, please, Pierre."
Rose said to Pierre, "Please--put it on my tab." Both men stood there, shocked.
She looked at them. "What's the matter, you never heard of a woman paying?"
She realized her faux pas, she was 154 years ahead of the times. Matt Dillon pulled out the chair for her, Pierre handed them menus and Rose studied it intensely. She told Pierre, "I'll have the roast chicken." Matt said, "I'll have the same."
A man walked by and Matt stopped him. "Doc! How ya doin'?"
Doc coughed. "Not too bad. A little damp here, my lungs are acting up. Who's the calico?"
Matt colored and said, "Miss Kitty McGuire, meet Doc Holliday."
Doc extended his hand. "Nice taste, Matt! Haven't seen you with a woman since Mary..." He stopped short. "Well, nice to meet you, Calico!"
Rose started to laugh. Matt said, "What's so amusing?"
"Ohhh, just the assorted nicknames I seem to pick up. I had some friends that used to call me 'Tequila Sunrise' and stuff like that. Now...CALICO??"
"Tequila Sunrise?"
"It's a drink I used to order in a saloon back in my hometown. It's 1 1/2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz grenadine, 4 oz of orange juice. Packs a powerful whallop."
"It's nice to hear you laugh, Miss Kitty!"
Rosamond frowned. "I'm still upset by you barging into my bath this morning."
He grinned. "Sorry. It couldn't be helped. I don't know who was more surprised, you or me? And pleasantly, I might add."
Rosamond ignored it and ate her dinner, just answering his questions. She was missing John all the more, even though Matt Dillon was very attractive.
After dinner, Matt pulled her chair out. "May I escort you somewhere, Miss Kitty?"
Rose said, "I've got three hours until I have to be at Land's End. I'm going back to my room to take a nap and freshen up."
"I'll walk you back to your hotel."
"Suit yourself." What is going on here, she asked herself. John, you'd better come... and quickly!
Rosamond stopped at the desk. "Hiram....?"
"No, ma'am." he shook his head to her unasked question.
Matt walked her to her room. She took the key out. I'm not used to these rusty keys and locks. Matt said, "Allow me." and deftly opened it. She said "Thank you." and turned to go in her room. He gently spun her around and laid a kiss on her that you wouldn't have believed out of Marshall Matthew Dillon.
Rose stood gasping for air. "Kitty, aren't you going to invite me in?"
Rose said incredulously, "Certainly not! What kind of a woman do you take me for?"
Matt stumbled around. "But...but you manage these girls. You had to have risen from the ranks..."
"I BEG YOUR PARDON?" She slammed the door in his face.
He knocked gently. "Kitty? What will it take? I---I want to marry you!"
Rose stood inside her room and couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Wha---what did you say?" she whispered.
"I want to marry you."
"But-but you don't even know me! I've only been in town less than 48 hours."
"Things happen fast in San Francisco."
She said from the other side of the door. "I--I'll have to think about it."
"Well, that's better than a flat-out 'no'. I'll see you at the Land's End tonight. Remember what I said."
Rose said nothing. She heard his boots traipse down the stairs. She flopped back on the bed and covered her face with her hands. John--oh, John, you have GOT to get me out of here! It's getting too weird. And when you do come, please, please, play along that you are my cousin! Lil told me of more than one occasion where a husband was shot so the woman would be available for marriage. John, if you don't get me out of here in the next 24 hours, I don't know what I'll do!"
And she drifted in and out of sleep, in between her nightmares.

EARLY EVENING.....by Coralynn

"Any luck, Celeste?" John asks hopefully.
"Just a little, John. I saw a street with signs and did a Google search on them. She must be in San Francisco, but just when I'm not sure. It's not recent though. The streets are muddy and they get around on horseback."
"Want to try again?"
"You know, I was just about to. Come back with me and we'll look. They go back to where Celeste has her crystal ball, and she warms it up. "It's been temperamental lately, even after I had it cleaned, so I hope it shows us where she is."
They see a saloon, a gambling hall.
"Now it's showing 'Gunsmoke' reruns!" Celeste says, annoyed. She smacks the globe a few times, but still the same scenario is there. "There's Matt Dillon, there's Doc Holliday, I don't see Miss Kitty yet, but she must be there somewhere! Blast! Let me cool this thing off and try later. I didn't know it got TV reception!"
"This is the second day Rose has been gone, and I'm at the end of my rope, Celeste."
"I know we'll find her tonight, John. I saw her walking down the street, but she couldn't hear me calling out to her.....this was back this afternoon. But she's O.K....."
"But I'm going nuts!" he responds, "Call me the minute you see anything new."
"I will, even if I have to wake you up in the middle of the night! I am not giving up till I contact her, John."
"I just don't know what we'd do without you, Celeste. Don't ever go away, OK?"
"Not going anywhere, my lad. I am in this family to stay!" she hugs him, then they go out to tell the others the latest.


DUSTED....by Terri

Rosamond woke up at 7:30 PM. If that's what you could call it, because she didn't really get much sleep. She rolled over and sank to the middle of the bed. She gave one mighty push and rolled over to the edge. But she just kept on going and ended up on the floor. "Ooof!" She picked herself up and walked over to the washbasin. Looking in the mirror again, she criticized her face. Circles under my eyes! I should be at home playing with my chidren, going to the studio, shopping, and loving John in the night. When am I ever going to wake from this nightmare? I keep feeling like I am wrapped in something...something..like a cloud. Like a cloud that the sun is trying to break through. But what could it be? Do John and I have such an intense bond that he's trying to break through to me?
She gathered her purse and headed down the stairs. Hiram shook his head before Rose even opened her mouth. She muttered, yeah, yeah, I know...no messages.
She was starting to get aggravated. And more than a little scared by now. With a dash of panic thrown in, and a garnish of depression. As she walked across the lobby, Sundown and Skip Cassidy waited for her. "Beggin' your pardon, Miss Kitty, but Marshall Dillon wanted to make sure you were escorted." "That's fine, thanks, guys." Rose made small talk with them and learned that Cassidy also had a son. His name was Robert LeRoy but they called him Butch for short. Sundown and Cassidy told stories about their children. Sundown volunteered, "When my boy was born, his name was Harry Jr. but an Indian midwife delivered him and gave him the Indian name of 'Sundance'. Our kids play together, Butch and Sundance. Old Man Place lives down the road, he has a granddaughter who comes over sometimes, pretty little thing named Etta."
Rose went to the side door. She thought, if I'm going to implement this new plan, I had better wear the red dress. It's such a bizarre notion to these cowboys and I don't know how it's going to go over with the management. She slipped into the red velvet dress. She gasped. Either this dress is purposely this tight or I have to lay off some of those whiskeys. She French-braided her hair and twisted it up the back. A few minutes before 8:00, she knocked on the door of Mark Hopkins.
"Yes, come in!" She went in and Hopkins looked her appreciatively up and down. He said, "I did right by hiring you, Miss McGuire. The revenues in the gambling hall doubled that night you worked here." Rose smiled.
He handed her a bag of gold dust. She gasped--and not because her dress was too tight. She didn't expect this. Hopkins said, "That's 10% of the profits. You are entitled to it. If you want, I'll keep it in the safe."
Rose smiled widely. "No, I have a safer place. Just turn your back!"
Hopkins turned but sneaked a peek. Rose attached the bag of gold to her garter and smoothed down her dress. Very resourceful woman, Hopkins thought.
Rose sat down. "I have an outrageous idea that will cost you but in the long run will give you more gold." Hopkins smiled. "Turn me into Midas so that everything I touch turns to gold?" Rose laughed, "Now that would be impractical when you went to...relieve yourself, woudn't it?" Mark Hopkins laughed. Bawdy sense of humour, too.

Rosamond continued, "What I propose is for two hours, from 7:00 until 9:00, you offer drinks two for the price of one. And throw in some popcorn, too. Gets their thirst up, they drink twice or three times as much, get looser and more sloppy in their betting and careless with their dust. You lose in the liquor department, make up for it in the gambling department. And when you sweep the floors, too. What do you say?"
Hopkins stroked his moustache. "Hmmm..you may have something there....two for one, they get drunk quicker....let's try it for an hour tonight." Rose smiled, "What about now? From 8:00-9:00 and you can see how it goes."
Hopkins said slowly, "What shall we call it?"
Rose laughed, "HAPPY HOUR!"
And with that she flung the door open. "It WILL work! You'll see!"
Hopkins stared at her retreating back. Nice girl....wonder if she's available?

When the new plan was advertised to the men, they couldn't get enough. And it showed. The betting got heavier, the men got more careless, and Rosamond could see that the profits were going up. She felt kind of bad, like she was taking advantage of their drunkeness, but she reasoned that if they DID win, they won bigger. It was all a luck of the draw, a turn of the card.
It was 10:00, she motioned Amos over to spot her for a little bit. She walked over to the bar. Who should be sitting there with his elbows propping up his head was Shadow Skaggs. "Hello, darlin', " he slurred. Rose groaned to herself. Here we go again! "Hey, you promised me a walk in the desert!" Rose didn't even look at him.
"I did no such thing."
"If you get cold out there, I can be your blanket! You know how to use a whip?"
Rose took her drink to the far end of the bar. Without looking to see who was there.
Marshall Dillon was sitting in the semi-shadow. Rose was sandwiched between a man who was anxious to slip a ring on her finger and a man who wanted to slip down her dress. You know, John, she thought, it would be a real opportune time to come pick me up.
Matt Dillon moved over and sat next to her. "Hello, Kitty. Have you given any thought to...to what I mentioned?"
Rosamond pretended a shy stammer. "I am flattered, Matt, really I am...but I just got into town. You're going to have to give me a little more time to think about it."
Matt's face turned dark. He fingered his gun in his holster. "I sure hope you aren't contemplating any of these cowboys, Kitty. They are just miners, most of them. Not worthy of you."
From the end of the bar, Shadow drunkenly yelled out, "Hey, Miss Kitty! Want to go halves on a bastard?" Matt stood up and started over to him. Rosamond put her hand on his arm to stop him. "He's drunk, just let him be. I'll handle him."
She walked over to where Shadow stood. She said in a voice of controlled fury. "Listen to me, Mr. Shadow Skaggs. I'm going to give you a piece of advice. Find yourself a nice girl and get the heck out of California. Go back to Texas. That is where your future is. I mean it. Raise yourself a nice little family."
Shadow took a drink. "Ya know, I kinda think you're right, Miss Kitty. I miss my kinfolk. If I don't strike it rich in the next month, yeah, I'll head home." As she turned to go, he yelled out, "Wanna have my babies?"


CONNECTION AT LAST........by Coralynn

Celeste looks grim as William and John ask her if she's made any progress contacting Rose.
"I keep getting Gunsmoke reruns! I know, I know, you don't know about that TV show from the late 50's, early 60's.....it was such a hit that many young men delayed the start of their Saturday night dates until they'd seen that show. That aside, this stupid TV reception is gumming it up so that I can't find Rose. But I'm determined to try every half hour till I succeed!"
William ponders what she said and suggests, "Let John and I help when you try the next time. OK? For moral support! You're wearing out your nerves, Celeste."
"That's very kind of you, William. Yes, in about 10 minutes I'm going to give it another go. If you and John are there, you may be able to figure out why I keep getting Gunsmoke reruns, too."
William is thinking, What she's seeing may actually be where Rose is, but she's so tired out that she's jumping to conclusions. Wonder where John is anyway.
"Jack, have you seen John?"
"He went up to take a nap about a half hour ago, William. Said to wake him if you found Rose."
"Thanks."
William rejoins Celeste who is now sitting in front of her crystal ball. He smiles and says "Take a few deep cleansing breaths."
"Good idea. OK, now......" she waves her hand in a circular motion above the globe, and the scene of the saloon reappears. She sighs in exasperation.
"Now, now, let's take a closer look before you dismiss this, Celeste. Look at all the people and identify them. Do it slowly and calmly."
"I see Matt Dillion, Doc Holiday, some stringy guy who looks like Slim but without the wide shoulders, there's Miss Kitty..."
"Look closer at her."
"Why....why.....by God, it's Rose!!" Celeste, tired as she is, becomes animated. "ROSE! ROSE!" she shouts.
"She can't hear you over the din in that place. Just a minute.....I see a gent reading a newspaper. Does this thing have a zoom lens?"
"It used to, but anymore who can say? I'll try..."
"See if you can read the date on the paper!"
"Good. It's getting closer.....I see October.....24th.....18...1849!!"
"YES!" William says in triumph. Now what's the name of the bar?"
"In Gunsmoke it was the Longbranch, but I saw a sign saying Lands End. Maybe they got it wrong in the TV show."
William writes it all down: "Lands End bar, San Francisco, Oct. 26, 1849."
"JOHN!" he yells over and over as he runs up the stairs. John barrels out of the bedroom and all but collides with William.
"We found her!" William shoves the paper into John's hands. "Quick! Put on this buckskin jacket, these cowboy boots and hat, and GO!"


SHE'LL BRING YOU TO YOUR KNEES....by Terri

John went back into the bedroom and opened up the wall safe. Inside he had put his travel coin. He also drew something out of a case. Inside was a .357 Magnum. He took out two boxes of gunshot, loaded it and put the extra ammo in his jacket pocket. He tucked the gun in the back of his jeans. He didn't want William to know he had it. Why upset him? But there's no way I am going into the fray without being armed. Looks like a rough crowd. And Rose is probably out of her mind, scared to death. When we get back, there will be a major score to settle with that witch, Sally Jennings.
He came downstairs. In the kitchen William and Celeste sat. Celeste looked totally exhausted. John came up and gave her the biggest hug. "You truly are our mom, you beautiful woman!" He gave her a hug and kiss. William had a sober look on his face.
"John, grab that girl and get the heck out of Dodge City as fast as you can! If there are any...complications, Celeste will keep her crystal ball on. Just find a quiet place and we will monitor it. Bring our little girl home to us, son. Godspeed, lad!"
John clapped William on the shoulder. "I'll be back with my woman in a flash, William. And when I get there, I'm going to find out why she is dressed in that....that red dress! She's better have a darn good explanation for it!"
John and William walked out to the back yard. William said, "Son, I am more than willing to go with you." John unconsciously felt for the gun in the back of his waistband. Better make sure the safety is on or I could blow my butt off and Rose wouldn't like THAT!" He shook his head. "No, William, I think this is a one-man operation. Less people to worry about. I'm venturing into a very volatile time-frame. Don't worry, I'll be very quick, very careful and very discreet. I just need to grab my woman and go."
William watched as John stood a few feet from him. He watched as John closed his eyes and repeated "San Francisco, October 26, 1849...." The air swirled and glowed.
Before William's eyes, when the glowing ceased, there was an empty spot where John had stood.

John found himself in the middle of a dirt street. He looked around. Planks for sidewalks. Horses--double-parked. Music from a tinny piano filled the air. Rose is supposed to be at the Land's End saloon/gambling hall. He looked up and saw the hotel. One hotel. In San Francisco? Hard to believe that Rosamond and I were here last month. He walked into the hotel lobby. Subconsiously he felt in his waistband for the gun. I'm glad I kept these boots. Yeah, I guess I look like I fit in. He walked up to the mousy little man behind the desk.
"May I help you? A room? For how many and how many nights?"
John put on a friendly face. "I'm.....looking for someone." Hiram leaned over the desk and said, "Aren't we all, pal?"
John shook his head. "No, I'm looking for a woman who may or may not be registered here. She's about 5'4", blue eyes, long blond hair..."
Hiram broke out in a grin. "YOU! She's been waiting for you anxiously. You're...." Hiram tapped his finger on his chin. ".....John! Her cousin! She said you'd be here! Miss Kitty will be so pleased!"
John said, "Miss Kitty?"
HIram said, "OH! She said you would know her under the name she used to work in Boston. Rose. Rose Gwinnett!"
John smiled. "Yes! That's her! Is she up in her room?"
Hiram snorted. " 'Course not! She's down yonder at the Land's End. Dealing."
John had headed out the door and stopped in his tracks. "Dealing? What? Drugs?"
Hiram looked at him strange. "No, sir. Cards. She's the new dealer at the Land's End gambling hall. Mr. Hopkins hired her to attract more clientele. She's a right pretty addition, I must say."
John said, "Yes, I must say, too." He backed up. "Wait a minute. Did she say I was her COUSIN?"
"Yes sir, come to pick up his wife and she said you'd be getting together for an evening. To reminisce." John tipped his hat and said, "Yes. That's right. Reminisce. Before I kick her butt."
"Sir?"
"Never mind."
John went out in the cool air. October. Nice breeze but chilly. He headed down Pacific Avenue. A working girl stopped him. "Fancy a tumble, cowboy?"
"No, thank you ma'am. Pardon--where's the Land's End?"
The girll pointed to the end of the street. "That's it over there. Business been bad ever since SHE came to town."
"Who?"
"New dealer. Kitty McGuire. Men all been flocking down there."
"You don't say. Guess I'd better check it out."
"Yeah. You and the entire male population of this booming town."



John walked in. He scanned the place quickly and saw a myriad of men in all sorts of outfits. Some in fancy suits. Some cowboys. Some miners. He inched his way up to the gambling table. There at the head of it, laughing and having a good time stood his very own wife. Rosamond. Wearing that red dress. He saw she was busy. He asked the man next to him, "Hey, does she ever take a break?" The man looked at him. "Sure she does. But ye'd best stay away. That one has the brand of Marshall Matt Dillon on her. We's been warned to stay away from his woman."
"His woman. HIS WOMAN??"
"Aye, cowboy. They's been seen in the mercantile store together, Delmonico's twice for dinner and Hiram--he's my cousin behind the desk at the Overlook Hotel--he says Marshall Dillon walks her to her room everynight. Says he didn't see him leave." The man winked.
John asked the bartender for a piece of paper and a pencil. On it he scribbled, "You'd better take a quick break and meet me at the end of the bar in the next fifteen minutes or I come over and kick your butt." He had the note passed up to the table.
Rose shouted, "Gentlemen? Place your bets!" She was handed a piece of paper. Probably a deaf mute who can't speak his bet so he wrote it down. She opened it and read it. Her face radiated joy. He's come! HE'S COME!

She quickly took their bets, dealt their cards, and cleaned up. When the round was finished, she motioned for Amos. "Amos? I need to take a break. It's 11:00 PM."

Amos gladly obliged. Rosamond ran to the end of the bar. There leaning on the bar counter was a man in a buckskin jacket, a Stetson pulled low over his eyes, and nice, tight jeans. Rosamond walked up, grabbed his butt and whispered, "I'd know that butt anywhere!"
He slowly turned to her, whiskey in his hand. "A little fantasy role-playing, honey?" She threw her arms around him and kissed him. "I knew you'd come for me! I just knew it! Oh, darling! It's been HELL!"
John took in her red dress. "What's with the dress, darling? And mind you, you'd better have a damned good explanation for it."
Rose talked very fast. "Oh, John! They thought I was this woman Katherine McGuire. I didn't have a place to stay and I thought you'd be here in a couple hours to pick me up. Where WERE you?"

"Celeste's crystal ball went on the fritz. We couldn't find you and then Celeste saw you sleeping so she knew you were OK. She got the globe cleaned and...WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"
Rose shushed him.
"Telling them I was your COUSIN? Are you out of your mind? And I've been informed that Marshall Matt Dillon has been squiring you all over town!
You're DATING? OH! and that he's been spending the night in your room!"
"WHAT? Now that is an outright lie! Darling, if you give me a minute, I'll explain it to you."
"Explain back home, Rosamond. We're leaving now. Your children, Will especially, are beside themselves."
Rose said, "Let me go back to my room and get out of this dress and get my jeans and my leather coat."
"OK, but let's hurry! We can time travel in back of the hotel."
She grabbed his arm and squeezed it. She was practically in tears with relief.
As they were turning to slip out, a hand grabbed John on the shoulder and whirled him around.
"Just what are you doing with my woman?"

"Your woman?"
Rose stood next to John, silently pleading with him. Shut up, John. Please shut up and play along.
John continued. "Hell, she's not your woman. She's my wife!"
Rose threw her hands up in the air and exhaled loudly. "Well, now you blew it!"
John looked at her incredulously. "Are you out of what's left of your mind?" To Marshall Dillon, he said, "Hey, Pal, she's my wife. Has been for the last month."
Dillon turned to Rose. "You said he passed away yesterday."
Rose was shocked. "I said nothing of the sort. I said I lost him...but he's not lost-dead. He was lost-lost. Or I was. Whatever!" She grabbed John's hand. "I'm sorry, Marshall Dillon, but I need to explain something to John."
Dillon narrowed his eyes. "Like telling him you are marrying me?"
Rose yelled, "WHAT? I said nothing of the sort! You read all sorts of meanings into anything I said!"
Dillon was furious. "You said you didn't know. It was too soon to answer."
Rose said hotly, "I was stalling for time until my husband came here to take me away."
Dillon and John balled up their fists. Dillon threw the first punch and John ducked.
Rose screamed, "OH, JOHN! NOT ANOTHER FIGHT!"
John threw a punch that caught Dillon in his midsection, Dillon bent over and then gave John an uppercut that sent him flying across the bar. John then picked up a whiskey bottle and smashed it over Dillon's head. The fighting continued. As they wore themselves out, and stood there trying to wipe the blood off their faces and catching their breaths, Dillon said, "Let's take it outside. Last man standing gets the girl."
Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. "JOHN! NO!"
John wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Bring it on."
Rose was pulling on his shirt and pleading. "Please, John! NO! Think of the children!"
Dillon whirled on her. "Children? You two have children?"
Rose implored, "A little boy and a baby girl. Please, Matt, let him live!"
Matt Dillon looked at her coldly. "Should have thought of this before."

A crowd gathered around. All through the crowd the murmurs were heard. "Did you hear the Marshall is going to gunfight?" "It's her HUSBAND!" "Looks like there'll be hell to pay for this one!" "Think she'll be a grieving widow?"
Dillon and John walked outside. Dillon picked up his guns and made sure he had them loaded. John whipped the .357 Magnum out of the back of his waistband. Rose just about fainted. "John," she had a hard time finding her voice. "wh-where did you get that?" He said, "A little something I kept in the safe." He checked the barrel. Loaded. Rosamond was in tears. "Please, John, please! Let's just go home now!"
John grimaced. "And have him shoot me in the back? Not on your life!" The walked out in the middle of the street. Gas streetlights shone, illuminating the road.
Marshall Dillon and John stood back to back. Rose was being held back by Amos and the other bartender. They counted off ten paces, turned and faced each other.
The seconds hung in the air like hours. They stood there, each staring at the other. The tension was unbearable. Rosamond was about to faint.
Suddenly, Dillon yelled "DRAW!!"
GUNFIRE!
John fell to the ground.
"NOOOO!" Rosamond broke free of Amos and ran to John who lay crumpled on the ground. He was bleeding, having taken a shot in the shoulder. Dillon stood there, smirking. Rose tried to stanch the flow of blood, getting blood on her hands and on her dress.
"Ro-Rose? Darling?" I've always loved you. You and no one else." he whispered weakly. Rose took the .357 magnum and shouted, "DILLON!!"
He turned around and stood there. Rosamond stood up, the gun shaking in her hands. She fired away, shooting Dillon in the kneecap. He screamed and held his knee.
Rosamond crawled over to where John lay bleeding and searched his pocket for the time travel coin. She found it, held John tightly and whispered frantically, "224 Winding Willow, Chappaqua New York, October 26, 2003."

on to next part of STORY
Back to Table of Contents


[ Read / Sign my guestbook ]
Get a free Guestbook