the mail order bride.

He saw her sitting at the Coach Station from a ways off. He was on horseback, wearing a wide-brimmed black cowboy hat. His shirt was the color of dust, his vest black leather. A pair of six-shooters hung from his hips. He wore chaps, and those were black leather, too. His face was carefully shaven, a mustache and soul-patch his only facial hair.

He was leading a horse alongside, which had an empty saddle on its back. The horse he was riding was black. The horse he was leading was white.

He led his horse up to the station, until he was in front of her, blocking out the sun for her weary eyes.

"Cassandra?" he said, but it wasn't really a question.
 
Sir Cecil Blackhall dismounted, walked over to Cassandra. He bowed deeply before her. "The pleasure is mine," he said, and she recognized an English accent, the first one she had heard in months. He looked up at her, righted himself, and offered her his hand.

"I was told you would be a proper English lady. I can't stand these American wenches," he said. "Sir Cecil Blackhall's my name. Please, join me. If you don't know how to ride a horse, you're about to learn. It's the only way we get around."
 
"Well, that's no good at all," he said. Poor thing, he thought. She's terrified. I hope she gets used to it. "Texas is nothing like London, I'm afraid. There are worse things here than horses." He hopped up into his saddle and leaned down, offering his hand to his new bride.
 
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"I thank you for that, Cassandra. And please, I have enough people that call me Sir. My wife will not be one of them." He kicked his spurs into his horse's flank, and the beast took off. The other, white horse was chasing after them. They rode through town, and he was holding her tightly to his body.

"Welcome to Frisco, Cassandra! This town is drunk on gold, and growing fast." There was a lot of construction, new roads being laid down, houses and stores. She also noticed an overabundance of saloons. She could spot a house of ill-repute a mile off. She was surrounded by them now.

Cecil rode on, the drunks and whores blurring around Cassandra as he spurred his horse on. They were soon outside of town, surrounded by Texas hills, on a wide road that, for a while, ran parallel to a set of train tracks. They continued on for a few miles before coming to a gate, set well back from the rode. At the top of the hill was a large manor. Several horses, cattle, sheep roamed the hillsides. And men, on horseback, holding rifles.

"Welcome to Blackhall Manor," he said, and opened the front door for her.

They soon came to the front of the manor. Cecil gently set her on her feet on the ground and then hopped off.
 
He took her hand and led her into her new home. She was greeted with a wide foyer, servants who took her coat and the few items she had brought with her. He led her into the main hall. People were rushing about, fussing with this and that. There was a large table, and it was clearly being prepared for a giant feast.

"Tomorrow, my dear, we shall be married. This is all for you, for us." He turned and looked into her eyes. "You are more beautiful than I ever dared to hope, Cassandra. Your father was too kind. I believe I got the better end of the deal."

A tall, skinny man dressed in a dark brown long jacket walked up to Cecil. "Sir, there's been an issue with a shipment."

"Which one?" Cecil demanded.

"Black dog, sir," the man replied.

"Dammit, man, that needs to be fixed immediately. I don't care how many men you need, take twenty if you need them."

"Sir, it's more complicated than that--"

"Don't give me excuses, Billy."

Billy nodded in understanding. "Miss," he said, bowing slightly to Cassandra. "Pardon my interruption." He turned and quickly left, putting his hat on as he ran out the door.

Cecil turned back to Cassandra. "Don't worry yourself, dear. Let me show you to your room. I mean, the room you'll be staying in until the wedding."
 
"all the best that Frisco has to offer, for my Cassandra," he said. "I shall take my leave of you now. Please, dear, make yourself at home."

Cecil then closed the door, shutting himself out. He turned and walked back to the main hall and started giving orders. Everything needed to be just right. He was really worried about the shipment. That could cause some serious problems for him. He made his way out to where the men were gathering, under Billy's charge. They were well armed. Night was falling rapidly, and they would have the cover of darkness. Cecil was pleased, and Billy led the men out into the night.

Cecil wandered back into his big house. He paced empty hallways. His whole body was tense.

His thoughts wandered back to Cassandra. She does not think she is beautiful. 'tis a shame, really. He was certain she had a most wonderful body under all those clothes she was wearing. He couldn't wait to find out just how wonderful it would be. He couldn't wait to claim her as his own.
 
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The morning light was breaking through her windows, and Cassandra slowly came awake to the sound of knocking at her door.

"Miss Cassandra, this is Maria, we must get you ready for your wedding!" A short, plump, pleasant Mexican woman entered her room, carrying a pristinely white dress. "Miss Cassandra, there is much to be done today, before the Pastor gets here!"
 
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Cecil paced back and forth, chewing his cigar as he smoked the fat stogie. There were people everywhere. He felt as if everything was coming together, totally out of his control. He tried to relax in his study, but he just kept pacing. Soon enough, it was time to get dressed for the big evening.

He was dressed to the nines: black linen slacks, black leather boots, cumberbun and white shirt and black bola tie, long black jacket, tall black hat. He crushed out his cigar under his boot as Billy came to tell him the pastor had arrived. Cecil went out to meet him.

The pastor was a rugged old priest, his skin weathered and tan from so many days travelling with the pilgrims. He had been to San Francisco and back to Texas three times. He was a hardy man, but starting to wear down. When the bishop offered him the job as pastor in Frisco, Texas, he was quick to agree to it, but the wanderlust was still in his feet.

Cecil slipped the pastor a wad of cash dollars when he shook his hand as he greeted him. "Thanks, Padre," Cecil said. "I do believe the bride will be down any moment now."

The ceremony was to take place in the main hall. It was packed with people, at least a few hundred. There would be more revelers as the night wore on, certainly. Cecil dispatched Billy to bring him his new bride.
 
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