His attention boosted her ego, the ego that Evan Montgomery had squashed like a bug under his boot. The captain appeared pleasant enough, and while he was not as handsome as Evan, he was pleasing to look at. “Perhaps we can. Good day, sir.” With a toss of her hair, she left the room. She smiled at the young soldier in the outer office and then walked out into the bright sunshine. That had been a waste of time. She made her way slowly back to the hotel.
Perched on his stool at the front desk, Homer smiled at her. As she opened her mouth to ask about Evan, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but he ain’t come back.”
Embarrassed that he’d known what she was going to ask, she raised her eyebrows in question. “Who hasn’t come back?”
“Evan.”
“Oh, him. I was merely going to ask when supper was served.”
Homer’s grin said he didn’t believe her. “Eight o’clock.”
“Thank you.” With what pride she could muster, she climbed the stairs.
And wondered where Evan was.
And who he was with.
****
That night Angel took extra time with her appearance before she went down to dinner. If Evan should happen to show up, she wanted him to know she wasn’t pining away in her room for him. So what if he’d left without a word? That didn’t mean her life was over.
After many tries, she managed to get her unruly hair under control, piling it high atop her head, leaving wispy tendrils curling around her face. She studied her reflection in the mirror and frowned at the face she saw there. Her cheeks still showed sunburn in places, and her dry skin flaked in tiny spots around her eyes. Tomorrow, she’d have to see if she could find some toiletries. But until then... With head held high, she marched down the stairs and into the dining room.
A hush settled over the room as all heads turned to watch her. She notched her chin higher. She threaded her way through the tables and chairs to an empty table by the window. The waiter appeared by her side and held the chair for her. After she had ordered, she studied the patrons. Every segment of Deadwood was represented, from miners to merchants to ranchers to soldiers. Captain Jenkins and two officers sat at a nearby table. He nodded at her, and she smiled at him.
A few minutes later, the waiter appeared with a glass of wine. “Compliments of Captain Jenkins, ma’am.”
She glanced at the officer and nodded slightly. He rose and walked over to her table. “May I join you?”
“Why, yes, Captain, please sit down. Thank you for the wine.”
“My pleasure, Miss Devereaux.”
“Please call me Angel.”
“The name fits you. If you’ll call me Warren, I’ll call you Angel.”
She smiled. “All right, Warren. How long have you been here in Deadwood?”
“Two years now.”
“And do you like it here?”
“It’s a tough assignment, but the country’s beautiful.”
“That it is.”
“Have you been to see the Citizens’ Committee?”
“No, not yet, but it’s on my agenda. Did you know my father?”
“No, ma’am. I did not. At least, not personally. I saw him around town. He was hard to miss with that red hair.” He grinned at her. “It’s fantastic hair, you know. After you left my office, I started thinking, and I remembered something. A while back, some of my men got into a fight, and I took a squad to break it up. On the way there, I saw your father, and he was arguing with a woman.”
“A woman? Who?”
The captain’s face reddened. “Oh, well, it was Mary; I don’t know her last name. Evan Montgomery’s woman.”
Angel sucked in a breath. If he’d slapped her in the face, she couldn’t have been more surprised. Her father had been arguing with Mary. She dropped her hands to her lap so he couldn’t see them trembling. “Do you know what they were arguing about?”
Jenkins shook his head. “Nope. Wasn’t none of my business.” He rose to his feet. “I hear that you’re going to stay out to your father’s cabin.”
Her mouth gaped open. “Where in the world did you hear that? Why, I’ve only been in town for a day.”
He grinned. “Rumors fly, especially when they pertain to a beautiful woman who rode into town with the man who killed her father and the first night she’s here, someone breaks into her room.”
Her mouth tightened into a frown. “Homer?”
“Yep. He’s been talking all over town.” His eyes twinkled, but a hint of curiosity lurked in their depths. “Listen, Angel, you might want to reconsider and stay in town. It’s safer here.”
“I’ll think about it. Thank you.”
“Good night.”
****
The next morning, Angel dressed in Chad’s clothes and carefully packed her new dress. After retrieving her horse from the livery, she left Deadwood and galloped up into the mountains. As she rode through towering pines, across deep ravines and clear mountain streams, the wild beauty took her breath. Her memory proved accurate, and soon she saw her father’s cabin. Her cabin now. Movement below caught her attention, and she stared down at the dilapidated building where four or five men walked around the yard. She dismounted and led Domino into a strand of pines. She pulled her rifle from the boot and worked her way slowly down the slope, keeping out of sight, until she found a vantage point where she could see below.
To her surprise, the men were not ransacking the house, rather, they were repairing it. Two men on the roof hammered shingles back into place while another man replaced the missing boards on the porch. A man walked out of the house. His slight build looked familiar. Chad.
She jumped to her feet and stepped out into the open. She yelled, and he glanced in her direction. She waved, then scampered down the hill. “Hi there, it’s good to see you, but what’s going on?”
“Hi, Angel.” He pointed at the cabin. “We should have it at least livable by sundown.”
“That’s wonderful. Thank you.” She hugged him, and he blushed.
“Thank Evan. It was his idea.”
“It was?” Emotions did a tug of war in her chest. How could Evan be so cold and heartless at times and yet do something so wonderful like this? “But I thought—oh, never mind.”
“He said you were so stubborn he knew you’d move in pronto and that we’d best beat you here. I see he was right.” He pointed at the rifle in her hands. “You can put that up.”
She smiled. “I’ll go get my horse. Then I’ll get to work.”
Late that afternoon, a tired but jubilant Angel stood on the porch and said goodbye to Chad and his men. The cabin still needed a lot more work, but at least she could stay here now. It was as clean as she could get it in one day. The door now locked, and the windows had shutters. She’d be safe.
She went inside, closed and bolted the door. She plopped in a chair Chad had brought and stretched out her tired legs. With a smug smile, she surveyed the one room cabin. The bed sported a colorful quilt thrown over it. A braided rug covered the center of the floor. Both castoffs, Chad told her. Food now lined the shelves near the stove.
A bouquet of red and yellow flowers on the table brought a smile to her lips. Chad had picked them before he left. She’d kissed him and embarrassed him in front of all the men. This was now her place. The first thing she’d ever owned in her entire life. Had her father been happy here? Had he sat here and thought about her and her mother? Or had he not given one thought to the wife and child he’d left behind? Thinking back, she realized her mother had never said one word against her father. Not one. All she ever said was “one day when you’re older, I’ll explain everything.” But her mother had gotten sick and died before she could explain anything.
Those thoughts disturbed her, and she pushed them aside. Although every bone in her body ached, she struggled to her feet and grabbed her rifle. She headed out the back door and down the slope to the stream for a pail of water. She’d use some to make a pot of coffee and the rest for a spo
nge bath. As she passed the lone grave under the spreading branches of the pine, she stopped and knelt beside the mound of dirt. She brushed leaves and twigs away. “Daddy, I need to know why you left us. Was it because of me? Why?”
The whisper of the wind through the pines was her only answer. She stood, her heart filled with sadness. But, as Eleeza always said, brooding over things you couldn’t change did a body no good. With renewed determination, she marched into the house.
After eating some of the provisions Chad had left, she bathed and then climbed into bed.
And wondered where Evan was.
Was he even now with Mary? Had she forgiven him for his transgression? Angel’s thoughts returned to her night with Evan, filled with beautiful, passionate love. Had it been wrong?
No—at least not to her.
Her conversation with Captain Jenkins came back to her. Why had her father argued with Mary? Well, there was only one way to find out—ask her. And Angel intended to do just that.
****
The falling temperature chilled Evan, and he wrapped his poncho around his shoulders. He leaned back against the tree, cradled his rifle in his arms and stared down the slope at Angel’s cabin. A pale moon lit the sky, and he could see the house and the surrounding area clearly. Some gut instinct told him she was in danger. Whoever had searched the place had been looking for something—and that something must be valuable.
Even though winter was some ways off, the damp cold seeped into his bones. Briefly he considered making a small fire but quickly discarded that idea. If someone did plan to pay another visit to the cabin, he didn’t want to scare them away before he got a glimpse of them. Below, the light went out, and shadows crept from the darkness. He jumped to his feet and walked to the edge of the ridge. But it was only the wind riffling the tree limbs. He exhaled a long breath and returned to sit at the base of the tree.
His visit to see Mary that afternoon filled his mind. It had not been a particularly pleasant visit. Mary had cried and wanted assurances that he loved her, and not Angel, but he hadn’t been able to give them. The guilt still rode heavy on his shoulders, but he wouldn’t lie to her and give her false hope. While he cared for her, he didn’t love her. Then she’d gotten angry and ordered him out of her house.
Did he love the Lady Gambler?
If thinking about her every minute of every day was a sign, then, yes, he did. If dreaming about her every night was any indication, then, yes, he did love her. If longing to hold her in his arms meant anything, then, yes, he did love her. Face it, Evan Montgomery, you’re in love with Angel. You’re a fool if you don’t tell her—before you lose her. He rubbed his jaw. How would she react? After all, he’d taken her virginity, chased her halfway across the country, threatened her, killed her father, and embarrassed her in front of Mary, Chad, and his men.
He and the Lady Gambler were like oil and water. They didn’t mix. She was hard-headed and independent—just like him. He was used to being in charge, and she didn’t take orders. In fact, she usually did the opposite of what he wanted. She was used to life in the big cities. Life on his ranch couldn’t compare to life in New Orleans or St. Louis.
With all his worrying, his head pounded, and he rubbed his temples. This fretting was doing him no good. He scrambled to his feet and paced the ground, keeping an eye out for any activity below.
The night passed uneventfully. When dawn broke, flooding the valley with pink and golden hues, he mounted Buck and rode for home.
****
Angel stood on the porch and gazed out at her land. For someone who’d grown up on a riverboat, her happiness amazed her. This was her land. But how much did she own? She knew her small holding couldn’t compare to Evan’s huge ranch. She pulled the deed from her pocket and studied it, but it was like reading Greek. She’d have to ask Ev…someone…to interpret it.
But first there was a lot more work to do on the cabin. A fresh coat of paint would do wonders. And curtains and bedding, and the list went on and on. Later, she’d make a trip into town and purchase what supplies she could. But first, more chores demanded her attention.
Later that afternoon, she investigated an outbuilding that evidently served as a barn. Inside, she found a wagon and squealed with delight. It was light enough for Domino to be able to pull it. She swept the dust from it and washed out the cobwebs. When she went into town, she’d take the wagon to carry the supplies.
Later that same day, a milk cow appeared and took up residence in the barn, and the cow was in need of milking. But she’d never milked a cow before—and had no idea where to start. She sat down on the milking stool. The cow turned to stare at her as if she were loco. After several attempts, she finally got a half bucket of milk. Proud of herself, she headed for the house.
Two days later, in need of supplies, she rose early and headed for the barn to harness Domino to the wagon. The mare nickered her welcome, then nuzzled her hand for a treat. “All right, all right.” Angel pulled a cube of sugar from her pocket and held it out to the animal. “You’re spoiled. That’s what you are.”
As she led the horse over to the wagon, a wave of nausea rose in her throat. She hurried to the side door and upchucked her breakfast. Not a good time to come down with sickness. Too much to do around the ranch.
After cleaning up and donning her only dress, she headed into Deadwood. As soon as she sold her father’s claim, she’d buy another dress.
As she rode down the main street, some of the townspeople stopped and stared at her. Since everyone knew of her presence, there wasn’t any need to keep her activities hidden. She wanted to see the mayor—and the Citizens’ Committee.
The mayor wasn’t available so she plodded down the street to see Martin Fletcher, the president of the Citizens’ Committee. He greeted her with a smile. “Miss Devereaux, may I welcome you to Deadwood and although your presence here is due to dreadful circumstances, we need refined, sophisticated ladies like yourself.”
“Thank you.” After she explained the reasons for her visit, he nodded gravely. “Yes, sad, sad. I remember the incident well. I remember that Mr. Montgomery was quite upset. He said he did not know your father and had no idea why your father would fire upon him.”
“Did you do an investigation, Mr. Fletcher?”
“Yes, we did. As much as we could, that is. We talked to some of his friends, especially Jasper Johnson who worked a claim right next to your father’s claim—”
“I spoke with Jasper earlier. He wasn’t able to tell me anything.”
“I’m sorry. As you probably know by now, there’s no civil law here in Deadwood, and that’s one of the reasons why the Citizens’ Committee was formed. To deal with this lawlessness.” He walked over to a cabinet in the corner and pulled out a bundle wrapped in a red bandana. He walked back to the desk, untied the bandana and dumped the contents onto the desk. “This is what your pa had on him at the time of his death. I saved it, just in case someone came to claim it.”
“Thank you.” Angel gazed down at the few remnants of her father’s life. A watch, some money, a few coins and some gold nuggets, so little to mark a man’s existence. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she swiped at them with the back of her hand.
She picked up the watch, turned it over and read the inscription. It shocked her. “To my loving husband Jake with all my love.” Husband? Had her mother and father been married? Memories of a happier time when they’d been a family swirled in her mind. She quickly locked those memories into a corner of her mind. She’d deal with them later—when she was alone. She slid the watch into her reticule and then picked up the gold nuggets. “You think these mean anything?”
“You mean, like, did he make a big strike and he was killed for it?” At her nod, he continued. “We thought about that, but if he did find gold, Miss Devereaux, he never told a soul about it and never took anything to the assayer’s office. Besides, most of the surface gold is gone. It’s gonna take the big mining companies to get to it now.”
“Thanks, Mr. Fletcher. You’ve been very kind.” She picked up the bundle of clothing with her father’s items and left the office. For a few moments, she paused to get her bearings, then glimpsed the general store. She started in that direction but changed her mind and detoured to the freight office. It was probably too soon to expect the money from Amelia, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
Disappointment met her at the freight office. With a wan smile, she thanked the young man who couldn’t seem to take his gaze from her and who volunteered to bring any message out to her cabin. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the attention, she declined his offer and hurriedly left the building and made her way to the general store. Just as she opened the door, another woman walked out. Mary. Not knowing exactly what to do, she stepped back and motioned for the woman to pass.
“Thank you, Miss Devereaux.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I was just going to get a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. Won’t you join me?”
Angel hesitated. While she didn’t want to dine with Evan’s lover, she aimed to prove she wasn’t afraid of Mary, and that her brief relationship with Evan meant nothing. And she wanted to ask some questions. “Why, yes, thank you.”
They entered the hotel restaurant, and Angel’s spirits sank. The entire population of Deadwood seemed to either be in the restaurant or loitering outside. Whispers, whispers meant for her to hear, filled the air. “Watch out, folks. Both of Evan’s women together” and “Feathers are gonna fly.”
“Pay no attention to those idiots,” Mary said in a raised voice as they walked to an empty table. “They’ve got nothing better to do than stand around and gossip.”
Once seated, Angel stowed her bundles on an empty chair. After they ordered, Mary turned to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t invite you to join me so you’d have to suffer those rude comments. In case that’s what you’re thinking.”
Angel grinned sheepishly. “It had crossed my mind.”
“I’m not like that.”
The waiter arrived with two cups of coffee and two pieces of apple pie. She took a sip of the coffee and waited for Mary to continue. She had a hunch the other woman wanted to talk about Evan.
Gambling on Love Page 16