Especially the small one, Lou, had stared at her behind his glasses and the rogue of the bunch, Jimmy, had barely been able to hide his mistrust. Well, she could live with that. It was harder to accept the friendly smiles and greetings from the others.

The Southerner, Kid, had been every inch a gentleman, showing her the stables when she had ventured inside after breakfast, and the silent one, whose name she had learned was Ike, never let her pass without a friendly smile on his lips. Then of course there was Cody, ready behind every corner with a joke or a stunt, anything to get her attention. She was sure it wasn't so much for her sake as for the opportunity to show off. She had to admit he had made her laugh, though.

Then there was the Indian, or half blood. She had purposely kept out of his way, and she had a feeling he did the same. She'd never really seen many Indians, except a few who had apparently taken to the white life and worked as hired hands at the ranches around the town where she grew up. She only remembered them as quiet, glum and somewhat intimidating when they came into town on payday. Occasionally one of them had too much to drink and there was a brawl, but that happened almost every payday, so she never paid much attention.

But of all those she had met, the one she feared most was Emma. She had a feeling the older woman could see right through her. She nervously touched the fabric of her skirt. Emma would be out with a cup of tea any minute now, and for once Rawnie didn't know what to do.

A steady drizzle still fell, but it was nice to sit under the roof on the porch. She could barely make out the silhouettes of two riders trying to fix a leak in the roof of the barn, or the man standing beneath them, yelling instructions. She found herself wishing she were included in the group working, for, although Teaspoon might sound harsh, there was concern in his voice and she knew he was merely there to see to it that they didn't fall down or get harmed in any other way. Nobody had ever cared about her that way, not even her mother.

Emma's voice startled her a bit and she looked up as a steaming cup of tea was held out before her. She mumbled a soft 'thank you' before she bent over the cup, sipping the hot liquid. She more felt than saw Emma sit down next to her. She heard Emma telling her about Sweetwater and the weather, but all she could do was mumble non-committing responses. Sooner or later the hard questions would come, and Emma would know she'd been lying about her mother and her reasons for being here. She closed her eyes for a second. ‘Just get some money,’ she thought to herself. ‘Just get enough money so you can get out of here. You’re not wanted.’

Emma stopped talking and stole a quick glance at the girl. She had been silent for some time now and Emma wondered what was on her mind. There was more to this girl than she had let them believe; a sadness in her that she did her best to conceal. Emma had seen it despite the girl’s efforts to hide it. Behind that sullen countenance and the harsh surface was a scared, little girl and Emma was determined to get to know her too.

“How did you find Mr. Spoon?” she asked, finally getting the girl’s attention.

“Huh?” Rawnie looked up and found she was looking into Emma’s friendly eyes.

“I asked how you found our Teaspoon?”

“Oh. I heard some people talking about it, that’s all. Guess I was lucky.”

“Where did you hear this?” Emma asked gently.

“I don’t remember,” Rawnie shrugged.

She couldn’t tell Emma that it was one of her mother’s customers who had told them about Teaspoon’s whereabouts. She was not wanted here and there was no reason to add contempt to it.

“Oh,” was Emma’s only reply. She knew the girl was hiding something, but it was too early to push her. Besides there was more sad news for the girl. She looked up as she saw Teaspoon walk up to them. Emma rose.

“I believe Teaspoon would like to speak to you,” she said. Turning to the stationmaster, she continued, “Would you like some coffee, Teaspoon?”

Teaspoon nodded and removed his hat as he stepped up on the porch and Emma left them. Teaspoon pulled up a chair and seated himself opposite Rawnie,

“I hope everything is well?” he asked.

“Yes, everyone has been very kind to me,” Rawnie said.

“Good,” he mumbled. “Well, Rawnie, there is something I must tell you.” He scratched his neck. “I know this must come as sad news for you, but I’m afraid your father, my brother, is dead.”

Rawnie bowed her head. It wasn’t a surprise to her, and she tried to arrange her face into a sad look.
“Oh,” she said.

“I’m sorry.” Teaspoon placed a hand on her arm and squeezed it lightly.

“How did he die?” Rawnie asked.

Teaspoon sighed. She would find out sooner or later, but for now he preferred a somewhat less cruel answer.

“He was involved in a fight somehow. I don’t have the details. I’m sorry, Rawnie. I know you wanted to meet him.”

“Well, that’s life ain’t it?” she said lightly. She hesitated for a second. “Did he ever ask about me?”

Teaspoon looked out over the yard before answering. “We lost contact before you were born. I wish I could answer you, but I can’t.”

Rawnie swallowed. She had told herself she would not be hurt, but it did. Her father had not cared about her, so much was clear. Well, she had asked for it, hadn’t she? She decided not to ask about him again. She bit her lip tentatively.

“Did he… leave anything? Like a keepsake or something?” She looked at Teaspoon. “Even if I didn’t know him, he was still my father. I would like to have something to remember him by.”

Teaspoon felt his heart fall. His brother had not left anything behind except heartache and it hurt him to think about it. Heartache and two lost children, who by some chance had ended up with him. ‘It was true,’ he pondered, ‘blood was thicker than water.’ This girl was his family and, no matter what he thought about his brother, he owed her.

“Rawnie, my brother was not God’s best child. He was in a lot of trouble and when he died he didn’t have anything. I’m sorry, I really am. Do you have any relatives on your mother’s side?”

Rawnie shook her head. She didn’t know anything about her mother’s family and she didn’t care.

“Anyway, I want you to know that you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need. I’m your uncle and I wanna be here for you.”

Rawnie looked at him and nodded. ‘Liar,’ she thought, ‘you don’t know how fast you can get rid of me – well I’ll show you.’