DECEMBER 18, 1861

Tyler would have liked to have gone and hunted for those fugitives, but it meant more to her to stay around Dreamville to mend fences with Jennifer. She had been the only good friend that Tyler had ever had. Her inner self was beating her self up for destroying their friendship, but she had tried apologizing to Jennie, but she wouldn’t forgive her. She didn’t know how she was going to get Jennie to like her again, but she wasn’t about to give up yet. She would stick around and try to think of something.

Meanwhile Tyler needed a paying job. Even though Jedidiah Davis had paid her, one could always use more money. So while in the dining room of the hotel eating her breakfast, she was looking over the newspaper ads. Her eyes went wide when she saw an advertisement for a cook at the very hotel she was staying in. This would be perfect because Jennie worked here, too. Besides tracking wanted men, she had one other thing she did very well. Something she had learned from her ma, and that was cooking. She finished her breakfast, and then went in search of Mr. Simmons. She found him in his bank office.

Mr. Simmons invited Miss Canyon to enter his office and offered her a seat. She sat down. “How may I help you Miss Canyon?”

“I think I might be able to help you Mr. Simmons.” She replied.

“Oh, and how’s that?” he smiled at her. She was a very lovely lady, and he suspected that she would be even more beautiful if she wore a dress instead of pants.

“I would like to apply for the cook position that you’ve advertised in the paper.”

Walter was stunned for a minute, but then he said, “But I thought you were a bounty hunter.”

“I am, but it’s winter time, and I think I’d like to not travel around so much.” It wasn’t quite the truth, but she really had never liked the cold season anyway.

“Alright, go on over to the hotel kitchen and tell Desiree that I said to put you to work.” He stood up and escorted her to the door.

“Thank you, I really appreciate this.” Tyler said as she followed him to the door.

“I’m the one who really appreciates it. We don’t have very many people traveling through here in the winter time, so I wasn’t sure if I’d get anyone to apply for the job.” He stated as she walked out. She turned and smiled and then headed over to the hotel. As she stepped down onto the road, she saw the stagecoach pulling in to town. Only one man stepped out of it. I guess Mr. Simmons was right. Not very many people are coming to town now.

As she walked across the street to the hotel, she got a closer look at the man. He seemed familiar, but she couldn’t figure out who he was. She watched him grab his bags and head into the hotel. As she entered the hotel, she saw him going up the stairs. She still had the feeling that she knew him, but she didn’t have time to try and figure it out now. She had to get to work, so she went on into the kitchen to see Desiree.