Strictly Taboo(122)

“Hot enough for ya?” Buck said from behind her. Clara turned and looked at him, a look that by now, Buck knew meant that he would get no verbal answer. He smiled broadly and she turned back around, scanning the platform for any sign of Andrew Montague.

El Paso station was most certainly one of the busiest stations on the line out west. A fact that Clara was learning quite quickly. As she stood on the platform searching the faces, a large porter dragging a dolly behind him, shoved her out of the way.

“You can't stand there, Miss!” He shouted as he continued on his way. Clara pursed her lips angrily, so far her journey had been everything she hadn't expected and she was quickly tiring of it all.

Clara shuffled forward, making sure not to touch anyone for fear of everyone in El Paso being like Buck and her giving them the wrong impression. When she was, what she deemed, a sufficient distance from the train, she stopped again and stood on her tiptoes. Scanning the faces, she saw no one who even remotely resembled Andrew Montague. Perhaps, she thought, he was late. A man like Andrew Montague was likely a very busy man and it wouldn't surprise her if he had meetings to attend and important business to take care of before collecting her from the station. Convincing herself that this was exactly what had happened, Clara carried her suitcase over to a small wooden bench and sat down to wait. After all, it wasn't as though she knew where she was going.

After the Texas Express pulled out of the station, and the crowds of people had all but vanished, Clara still sat patiently waiting. Andrew Montague was now more than an hour late to collect her and she couldn't help but begin to feel shunned.

“Excuse me?” Clara flagged down one of the station porters. “Do you know Mr. Andrew Montague?” She asked hopefully. The porter’s nostrils flared.

“Wouldn't have nothin’ to do with the fella even if he paid me.” He said before rushing off. Clara sighed heavily and looked around for someone else who might be able to help.

“Still here?” A familiar voice came from behind her once again. Turning around Clara came face to face with Buck.

“Yes.” She said. “As you can plainly see, I am still here.” Buck laughed.

“Well, I can see waitin’ around ain't changed yer disposition.” He said. “Whatcha waitin’ for anyhow?” He asked. Clara set her suitcase down on the ground and brushed her hands against the front of her dress.

“If you must know, I am waiting for my fiancé.” She said. Buck’s eyebrows shot up.

“A fiancé? What a lucky man he is.” He said, his sarcasm passing straight over Clara’s head. “And where is this fiancé?” He asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he seems to be running a little behind schedule.” Clara said, reaching down and picking up her suitcase once again.

“Seems to me…not that it's any of my business,” he added, “that a fiancé shouldn't keep a his lady waitin’” Clara turned to check the platform for any sign of Andrew Montague before looking back to Buck.

“You're right,” she said. “It isn't any of your business.” And with that she took her small suitcase back out to the bench on the platform and sat down to continue waiting. No sooner had she sat down, however, than Buck appeared beside her. When she looked at him angrily, he shrugged.

“You're waitin’ and I'm waitin’, seems only right that we might wait together.” He said. Then, staring out at the tracks he mumbled, “who knows, maybe while we’re here we might see an armadilla?” Clara laughed. She couldn't help herself and God knows she tried to suppress it, but the vision of an ‘armadilla’ standing out on the platform waiting for a train crossed her mind and she laughed. She laughed until Buck laughed. She laughed until her sides hurt. And she laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. She hadn't laughed like that in years. And then she offered him her hand.

“Clara James.” She said with a smile.





Chapter 3

Buck regaled Clara with plenty more Texas culture as they both sat on the platform, Clara waiting for Andrew Montague and Buck waiting for…something. It was only after an hour passed, that Clara realized that Andrew Montague was now more than two hours tardy to fetch her from the station.

“I'm afraid that I don't think Mr. Montague will be coming to collect me.” She said. “Perhaps I mistook the day…” both she and Buck knew that that wasn't the case because if she had, then the conductor wouldn't have accepted her ticket.

“Perhaps…” Buck said, “Something important came up. He is an important man here in El Paso.” Clara’s eyebrows shot up.