Nellie Belle of Kenson Kounty

The funeral was simple--those who came for something to do, others who knew him, somewhat. That wasn't the concern of the townsfolk when the funeral ended. Knowing that Nellie Belle loved him, as much, it was shocking that she never showed up for the funeral. She would now be under suspicion as the prime suspect to the murder of Boot Slinger.

Maggie Hanson's stagecoach arrived on time. There was a funeral; it seemed to her, going on at the only graveyard in sight. Most of the...
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The funeral was simple--those who came for something to do, others who knew him, somewhat. That wasn't the concern of the townsfolk when the funeral ended. Knowing that Nellie Belle loved him, as much, it was shocking that she never showed up for the funeral. She would now be under suspicion as the prime suspect to the murder of Boot Slinger.

Maggie Hanson's stagecoach arrived on time. There was a funeral; it seemed to her, going on at the only graveyard in sight. Most of the people in Kenson were attending, leaving transcribes estranged.

The stagecoach driver impatiently helped her step out of the stagecoach, all the while, she looked at what the people of Kenson Kounty were doing, graveside.

Dust suddenly overwhelmed her as she figured the red heart shaped necklace around her smoothed youthful neck. The driver of the stagecoach left her and she found herself lonely in a town that didn't care or didn't know her. With the one bag she brought, she leaned forward away from the gusty wind. Once she brought herself to some kind of composure, she emotionally fingered her bangs and with a great effort, she managed to get inside of Nellie Belle's Saloon & Motel.

Maggie came to an almost ghost town because she had received a telegram for her Aunt Nellie Belle, saying that she felt her life was in danger. She had only attended two funerals in her entire life. The roads were dirt, dirt.... dirt! Maggie was used to a better way of life even though she was an adopted child. "Room 4," said the bartender named Tony, adding, "It's the only room without...whore." He added, "It was, is...Nellie's room. She's gone for a spell. Does it about once a month or so. Not sure." Tony was your usual town bartender, full handlebar mustache, nice looking. He kept to himself but laughed at everyone's bad jokes and always, smiled and catered to the ladies. As a curly red head who learned the city way of dressing, she was often camouflaging as someone who might be working the streets. Maggie didn't respond to his...whatever...and walked the stairs to her aunt's room. As she settled in, she couldn't help from staring out her room window, watching the townsfolk making their way back from the graveyard. Her concerns now were about her Aunt Nellie Belle. No one just simply disappears without a little something from a friend. She was going to find that friend before she left Nellie Belle's life back to her own.

By the time Sunshine was sixteen--so said her tribal elders, she was to marry. It was the unspoken law amongst them--she was to wed the chief's son, YSUN.

YSUN was a gorgeous man, with sparkling brown eyes and a muscular body that all the women in the tribe would die for. Marriage were usually arranged by the young man's parent's after which the couples courted--although young people sometimes chose their own mate. Unmarried women found a way to meet at ceremonies. When a young man wished to marry, he asked a relative, often an old woman, to approach the woman's family. If his offer was accepted, the young man presented her family with gifts--horses, blankets, or guns. The bride's family then presented a smaller number of gifts for his family.

YSUN had more than once revealed his attentions to the elders; his personal wants for her. It would be good for the tribe as well as him personally. It truly amazed her how they never commented to her needs. For three days and four nights the tribe drank boot legged whiskey and danced around a blazing camp fire in celebration of the upcoming marriage of ...on the fifth day she was gone.

She always felt out of place, her family and friends were brown, she was white. Ever time she ask her grandfather, Running Bear, she merely heard that her God gave men many colors. He had nothing to do with the way people choose to live.

He was a wise man, who had ventured the world for nearly 85 years.