Vivid Read Online Free PDF Page A

an
answer."
    "Somehow I already knew that,"
he answered. "These your things?"
    Vivid looked to where he indicated.
"Yes."
    "All this?"
    Vivid nodded.
    She watched him run his gaze over her
possessions. She was about to explain that most of the crates held books and
medical supplies when he asked, "Where do you keep the tame animals?"
    Vivid stared back, confused.
    "There's enough stuff here for a
circus," he explained.
    Vivid was insulted, but upon taking an
objective look at all the items she had stacked against the depot wall, she
realized she did resemble a traveling show. She smiled sheepishly. "The
animals arrive tomorrow."
    He simply shook his head. "I have to
fetch the buggy. Wait here."
    Vivid watched him walk away.
    Moments later, he returned driving a small
horse-drawn buggy. He jumped down and walked across the tracks and gravel to
where she stood waiting on the edge of the platform.
    "Are you ready?"
    Tall as he was, he loomed over her like a
city building and she could only hope all Michigan men weren't as tall.
"Mr. Grayson, I don't believe your buggy's going to be large enough to
haul my circus."
    "I've made arrangements with the
depot agent. He'll store the majority." Then, looking down at her, he added, " If you can convince me to let you stay on, you can
send for the rest later."
    Vivid ignored his verbal challenge for
now. She hadn't counted on being separated from her things. She'd shepherded
her circus cross-country without losing even one piece, and now she was being
asked to abandon it to a stranger. Suppose it did rain later? She had medical
supplies in some of her crates, and they had to stay dry.
    Nate must have sensed her worries because
he said, "The agent is a good man. You really don't need to be
concerned."
    "He must make certain nothing gets
dampened."
    "Everything will be taken care
of."
    Vivid didn't want to leave her belongings
behind, but she could see no other way out of her dilemma. With a small sigh,
she began to search through the stacked luggage.
    "Bring whatever you think is
essential," he told her.
    Vivid looked until she found the big brown
valise that held some of her clothing and toiletries. She also picked out a
slim black case that held another essential. She passed it to him.
    "And this is?" he asked.
    "My rifle."
    "Your what?"
    "Rifle," Vivid stated
succinctly. "My mother doesn't let me or my sisters travel without one.
Here, take this also."
    He took a small green case from her hand
and asked, "What's in here, your bullets?"
    "No. Billiard stick."
    The answer rendered him speechless, Vivid
noted with a small smile. Good. "I'm ready to depart now, Mr. Grayson."
    Vivid thought he had the oddest look on
his face. It was a familiar odd look. She'd seen it on the faces of her
teachers and professors back in San Francisco. She'd seen it many times on the
faces of the men she beat at billiards, especially those who wagered and then
lost large sums of money after playing with her. Her mother called it the look
of a man meeting an unconventional woman. To break him out of his stupor, she
handed him her brown valise, saying, “You wanted to beat the rain,
remember?"
    He shook his head as if to clear it, then,
staring at her with a shocked expression on his face, replied, "Yes,
you're right. This way."
    Vivid grabbed her black medical bag and
followed him back across the tracks.
    He placed her essentials behind the seat,
then held out his hand to help her step into the buggy. Vivid placed her gloved
hand into his palm, swept up her green skirts, and let herself be assisted
aboard.
    He climbed in. Vivid hazarded a look his
way and found him observing her very intently. She thought he might speak but
he did not. He studied her a few moments longer, shook his head again, and
turned his attention to his horses. He slapped the reins across their rumps,
and the buggy lurched into motion.
    It was a humid day, and less than an hour
later Vivid could feel the sweat beginning to stick to the