The Ocean’s City

Dalton made his way outside to the other men. I slowly snuck up to peer out the window. There stood Ian, shaking the sheriff’s hand.

“Well, I be… I don’t know what kind of luck that is other than the luck of the Lord on our side. You and your cattlemen showing up like that.”

“Just happy to be here at the right place and time.”

I noticed there were a significant number of cowboys on their horses on the street. Had Ian created them?

The sheriff tipped his hat to Ian and Hutson before getting to work with the town.

“That son of a bitch, Willie, escaped during the gun show.”

Hutson nodded his head as he registered.

“I’ll see if he is still around.” Ian offered.

Dalton touched his shoulder as if to thank him in his own way. “I will be back. Please watch Silvestia for me.”

They both nodded. “Hurry,” Hutson added.

Dalton went one way, and Ian tried to go the other way, but Hutson caught his arm. “Wait a minute. I know you think you are protected, but… once you get as strong as Dalton, you will be as much a threat as Dalton is. Think about it. It’s better to have allies than enemies.”

“Why did you two come here?”

Hutson’s eyes filled with sorrow. “They found us and took Daniella.”

“Shit! Hutson, I’m sorry. I will help in whichever way you need.”

Hutson gave him a long nod. “Find Willie.”

Ian didn’t nod; he used his eyes to speak an unspoken language and turned on his heel to move down the street, whistling as he did.

A horde of cowboys waited for him to get on his horse, and then they rode out. The first signs of sunset barely touched the desert sky.

Hutson took me for a walk around the town as the sunset. It wasn’t until it was dark that Dalton returned with a bleak expression that demolished any ounce of hope I may have had.

“We will stay here tonight.” He explained as he gave Hutson one of his famous silent conversations. Dalton put an arm around me as Hutson excused himself and walked away. I couldn’t help but see the disappointment in his steps.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, full of care.

I kept walking as I nodded my head. “I’m okay… I guess. Just…”

“Just what, Silvestia?”

“Overwhelmed. Not every day someone is pulled from one reality to the next.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

I stopped. Dalton took a few more steps ahead of me before stopping and looking at me. I gave him a long look. “I mean, it’s a lot of change. One day, I’m drinking in a club in the city, getting over a breakup, and the next… I’m dodging gunfire in the Wild West.”

Dalton gave me a look of concern. “You never have lived in a city. Much less ever left our little town here.”

My eyes narrowed on him, angry that he would try to do this after everything we had been through. My fist balled up at my side.

“And what’s a club?”

My fists released. He’s pretending. He’s pretending. But his stance and expression looked far from acting. With a look of concern, he approached me, taking my hand. “You bumped your head pretty hard. Let’s recheck you by the doctor and then get you home.”

He attempted to rub comfort into my arms, but I glared at him like a snake about to attack. I gave him a curt nod. A rotten feeling bubbled in my stomach as we walked hand in hand to the doctor.

The doctor didn’t break character once like he had earlier with Ian. He asked me to do several small tests. My eyes kept flying to Dalton, watching his every move. He would lean on the table, walk, or even talk like he lived his whole life here, and this was the only place he fit in. I knew he was pretending. All I needed was a small sign of how he behaved back in Ocean City to confirm. Shortly, the doctor gave me the okay to go home and sleep.

I found myself in what looked to be Harlem. It was right across from the saloon, and ladies filled the room, wearing their best clothing and perpetuating their breasts. Drunk men from the saloon staggered over, and the girls were eager for the men’s attention.

Dalton got a room. A tall lady with a green, vibrant dress guided us up. We passed rooms making all kinds of noises, sounding almost animalistic. She stopped down a hall that seemed significantly quieter. “Right, here you are, suh. Just holler if ya need anything.”

We entered the room, and the moment the door closed, I turned on my heel, ready to give an interrogation. “What did we find out?”

Dalton gave no sign that he knew what I was talking about. Instead, his face scrunched together. “Find what out, darling?”

“About Willie! And about Dannie!”

His expression fell all the more. “What are you on about, woman? And who are these people?”

“Dalton!” I growled, stalking towards him with my finger in the air. “I swear to god… cut the crap.”

He shot his hands up like I was the most vicious creature. “Now, sweetheart! I’m being honest with you. I ain’t know who the people are. You hit your head, darling. No need to get upset and start all kinds of ruckus. You need sleep.”

“I’ll sleep after I know what the plan is!” I screeched.

Dalton put both of his hands on me to calm me down. “I’ll go get us some tea.” He tilted his head down to get a clear look at me. “Now be a good wife and do what you are supposed to do… wait.”

The secret message was clear to me, but why were we speaking like how we were in Ocean City? “Dalton,” I begged, but he was already leaving the room. As the door closed, I looked down at my hand. I completely forgot that the ring was still there, as bright and shining as when he first put it on me.