Jewel's Gems (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Maggie Ryan

  “Is one of my whores,” Tompkins provided. “I’ve been waiting for her to come crawling back.”

  “Crawling back?”

  “Yes, Della has been a very bad girl, but will be given a final opportunity to learn how to behave,” he said, his words drawing forth the first sounds from the woman as she gave a soft moan. “If you wish, I can show you the contract that proves my ownership…”

  “You can’t own a person! Slavery is not legal in California!” Jewel yelled, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

  “A signed contract is perfectly legal,” Tompkins said, “now, I have other things to attend to. Put her in the carriage or put her down, but get your hands off her now.”

  “No.” Gabriel’s one word had Jewel’s heart filling.

  “I’ll have you arrested for theft,” Tompkins said, his voice finally moving from its patronizing tone to one of barely concealed rage.

  “You can try.”

  Jewel saw Cedric’s hand moving at the same time she saw Gabriel’s drop. Though he was holding the dead weight of the girl, she suddenly feared that she was about to witness a gunfight.

  “I’ll buy out her contract!” she blurted, reaching out to grab Cedric’s arm.

  “What?” Tompkins’ gaze fell on Jewel and she met his eyes, forcing herself not to show her fear.

  “I said I’ll buy out her contract. You do it for men who wish to wed one of your girls.”

  “Ah, so my first thought was correct,” Tompkins said, his look causing her stomach to flip. “I told you that you need not be ashamed of your desires, Jewel. There’s no need to spend your money on this one. I’m positive that you’d find one of my better whores far more receptive to your needs… not to mention, they are quite a bit cleaner.” Turning away, he motioned for his driver. “Get Martin and David. Oh, and tell Janice that she’ll have a client…”

  It took everything within her not to attack the man. He was not only a bastard; he was a heartless one. “How much?”

  “For a toss?”

  “You know exactly what I’m asking,” Jewel said. “How much for Della?”

  “More than you have, I’m sure. After all, clean her up and…” His words were drowned out by a hacking cough coming from Gabriel’s arms. He shifted Della higher onto his shoulder, easily able to hold her weight with one arm as his gun hand moved to gently pat her back.

  “I’ll buy her.”

  “Gabriel, no…”

  “Ah, so we have some competing bids,” Tompkins said, giving a chuckle.

  Jewel reached her boiling point. “Listen, you piece of shit,” she hissed, “name your price or I swear to God, I’ll open my house directly across the street! I don’t care how many contracts you have, not a one will be paid on when men realize that women who work for me aren’t having to pretend they aren’t terrified. I’ll make it my life’s work to see you brought down!”

  Tompkins’s laugh was more of a snort. “God, you are so fucking naïve. Do you think men actually care what a whore thinks? Hell, all they want is a hole to fuck.”

  “You can have my share of the mine,” Gabriel said.

  “Gabriel, no! You can’t…” Jewel began and then nodded. “Thank you.” Turning back to Tompkins, she said, “You can have my share as well.”

  “I have no interest in some mine, especially one you are both so quick to give up,” Tompkins said. “I have no desire to grovel in the dirt or pay men to work it and others to guard them and all that shit for some measly flakes of gold. I have men plopping down nuggets every single night.”

  “I’ll pay cash.” When Gabriel’s head whipped towards her, she met his gaze before turning back to Tompkins. “We’ll go to the bank now.” Looking at the shadows they were casting, she silently asked for Della’s forgiveness and then added, “I’m not a doctor but I promise you, this girl is very ill. I don’t care what lessons you will try to teach her; she won’t be in any position to learn them if she is dead. You talked about waste… not selling her contract is a waste of your time and money. Come with me now and I’ll pay whatever is owed and an additional fifty dollars.”

  “Make it a hundred extra,” Tompkins said.

  “Fifty and I won’t open my house across the street.”

  Tompkins didn’t answer for a moment but when Della began coughing again, he shrugged. “Fine, let’s go.”

  “Get the contract,” Gabriel said, something Jewel hadn’t considered.

  “I’ll take care of destroying it when…”

  “Get the contract.”

  “We don’t have time… Hey, what are you doing?”

  “Taking a carriage,” Gabriel said, taking Jewel’s arm and guiding her towards a carriage that had stopped across the street. “We’ll meet you there.” Ignoring the man’s protest, Gabriel continued walking as the driver opened the door. Jewel called out the name of the bank and then climbed into the carriage. As Gabriel joined her, never releasing his hold on Della, Jewel watched as Tompkins stormed into The Broken Mast.

  A half hour later, Jewel’s recently opened bank account was closed. It had taken every dollar in it to pay the contract as Della had not paid but five dollars towards it. Taking the contract from Tompkins had been worth every penny. Tearing it in half and then in half again, she tucked the pieces in her reticule.

  “You are a strange woman,” Tompkins said, tucking his much fatter wallet into his coat pocket. “I’ll give you a piece of advice. You wouldn’t have made it as a madame. You can’t let these girls run all over you.” He sneered and then chuckled. “But then again, I won’t have to worry about you opening a house. Not when you waste all your capital on some worthless whore.”

  “Let’s go, we’re done here,” Gabriel said. Jewel took his cue and didn’t look back as they left the bank. If she had a gun, she feared Tompkins would have been correct. She’d never open her own house because she’d be in prison for his murder.

  She laid her head on Gabriel’s shoulder as the carriage began to move. Tears slid down her cheek, the intense stress of the past hour finally releasing.

  Gabriel didn’t speak as the arm he’d wrapped around her pulled her closer against his side and she felt his lips press against the top of her head. Reaching down, Jewel laid her hand on Della’s arm, offering her unspoken comfort as well.

  The girl in his lap finally opened her eyes and Jewel’s heart caught in her throat as she said, “Thank you,” before her eyes, which were indeed brown but flecked with gold closed again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “I’m concerned that she hasn’t really awakened,” Gabriel said, shifting Della again in his arms as he followed Jewel around to the back of the boarding house. Though she had roused in the carriage for a moment, Della had yet to do more than give a few soft moans and an occasional bout of coughing. “She doesn’t seem to be in any real pain, but still. I think we need to have a doctor look her over to make sure she’s not injured.”

  “We will,” Jewel said as they approached the back of the house. “Mrs. Emory is about to give birth and a doctor comes in daily. He can see Della then.” She continued to talk as she opened the door, stepping into the room backwards. “I’m sure a meal and a good night’s rest will do wonders towards improving…” She gave a short cry when she was interrupted.

  “Child, where have you been? Who are you talking to?”

  “Nettie, you scared the life out of me!” Jewel said, whipping around to see Nettie standing behind her and then realized she’d almost slammed the door in Gabriel’s face. Wrenching it open, she said, “I’m sorry, come in, Gabriel.”

  “Ah, I see you found your man,” Nettie said, her smile showing her pleasure but when Gabriel turned, her smile dropped away. “Laws, what on earth?” Nettie wiped her hands on her apron and brushed a hank of hair off Della’s cheek. “What happened to the poor creature?”

  “I can explain, but first I need to get her…”

  “Miss Nettie, is that cake ready?” The three t
urned to see Mr. Emory walking into the kitchen, rubbing his hands together and smacking his lips. “I’ve been waiting…” Seeing them, he paused and then his eyes grew wide. “What is going on here?”

  Jewel put on her best smile. “Oh, hello, Mr. Emory. I was just going to come look for you. I would like another room…”

  Walter shook his head. “I don’t have any more rooms…”

  “She can share mine,” Jewel said instantly.

  Walter continued as if she hadn’t interrupted, “Even if I did, I won’t have some dirty street rat…”

  “She’s not a street rat,” Jewel said. Seeing his head begin to shake and his mouth to open, she hastened to add. “Her name is Della… she’s a friend of mine.”

  “A friend? Well, I can’t dictate who you choose to associate with, but, I run a respectable house. The Missus won’t have a… well, a tart staying here.”

  Jewel was about to protest his statement but the sight of Della’s calves and arms, totally bare except for the streaks of dirt were evidence that the woman was not exactly dressed as a ‘proper’ woman. When she gave a soft moan and Gabriel adjusted his hold, she knew that Walter’s eyes couldn’t help but see the swell of Della’s breasts accentuated by the tightness of the corset she was wearing.

  “Please, you can’t just kick her out. She needs to rest and see a doctor,” Jewel protested.

  “Jewel, I’ll take her to the hotel,” Gabriel said. “I’ll get her a room and you can tell the doctor…”

  “I’m coming with you,” Jewel interrupted.

  “I’m coming too,” Nettie said, her hands already working to untie her apron.

  “Where are we going?” The group in the kitchen turned to the door to see John, Opal and Amy joining them. “Jewel, what’s going on?” John asked, striding across the floor.

  “You can’t leave… it’s almost time for dinner!” Walter said, his voice almost lost as the rest crowded around Gabriel and Jewel.

  “I’ll explain everything,” Jewel said, turning to Opal. “Mr. Emory isn’t able to accommodate us any longer so if you and Amy will pack everything, John can bring you over to the hotel…”

  “Now wait just a minute. I didn’t say you had to leave…”

  Ignoring Walter, Jewel continued, “We’ll take rooms and give our friend…” she did take time to shoot their host a glance, “…a few days to rest before we move on.”

  “Okay, we should be ready within a half-hour or so,” Opal agreed without question.

  “We’ll be ready in a flash,” Amy said. “John, we’ll pack your bag as well.”

  “Nettie, are you going to need help packing? I know you have used several of your own things down here,” Jewel said, motioning to the counter where a few jars were sitting.

  “Won’t take me but a moment,” Nettie said, as she swept the jars into a basket. “John can you bring that pot? I know it’s hot but just dump it out…”

  “What? No! That’s dinner!” Walter said, “My boarders expect…”

  “I expect this poor girl needs my help more,” Nettie said, her hands on her hips. “Oh, and John, don’t forget that chocolate cake.”

  As Walter sputtered, his eyes glued to the three-layer cake Nettie had just finished frosting, Gabriel pushed past him, stopping only long enough to transfer Della into a startled John’s arms. Jewel was about to ask what he was doing when she saw him rush across the floor just in time to keep Mrs. Emory from falling when her legs seemed to buckle.

  “I-I think it’s… it’s time,” she moaned, her face twisted with pain, a hand splayed on her belly.

  A flurry of activity followed with Walter’s face blanching as he watched his wife being lifted into Gabriel’s arms.

  “Where’s your room?” Gabriel asked, repeating the question when Walter just stood there. “Your room? Sir, your wife needs you now.”

  “I’ll show you,” Nettie said, “it’s down the hall on the right.”

  Jewel moved to place a hand on Walter’s arm as the two disappeared. “She’s going be fine. You’ll be a father soon. Go to your wife. I’ll take care of everything here.” Giving him a final pat, she said, “Opal, you and Amy find some towels and soap. I’ll put more water on. John, run for the doctor… oh…” she stopped speaking with the realization that John was still holding Della who was beginning to stir. “I think she’ll be fine in a chair for now. I’ll get her some tea… that’ll have to do until we get this babe…”

  “No,” Walter said, taking a deep breath, then another as the color began to return to his face. “Take her upstairs… she… she is somebody’s child. She can stay.”

  “Thank you,” Jewel said, giving the man a hug before he left the room. “John, please put Della in my room. We’ll figure everything else out later.”

  ***

  It was very late by the time the group gathered in the kitchen again. Faces that had been a bit drawn before were now relaxed. Walter Emory, Jr. had finally made his appearance with a very lusty cry only to have his father add his own as he was handed his son. The rest of the boarders had cringed with every cry as Mrs. Emory endured the pain of bringing a new life into the world but hadn’t allowed the ongoing labor to keep them from their dinner. After giving praise for the delicious meal that had made it to the table with Opal’s and Amy’s help, they’d scattered as quickly as possible. Jewel tried to insist that Nettie sit as she’d spent hours running between Mrs. Emory’s room, helping Jewel get Della settled, and supervising in the kitchen.

  “Just let me serve this cake, child,” Nettie said, waving them all to seats. “If you don’ get a piece now, our new papa will eat it all up.” The others laughed, Jewel explaining to Gabriel that Mr. Emory had taken the ‘eating for two’ to heart. Once everyone had a huge slice of the chocolate cake and a cup of tea or coffee, they turned to Jewel.

  She explained how she and Gabriel had come to an understanding during luncheon and then how they’d come across Della. “The doctor is not sure if her cough might be a sign of a more serious illness, but for now he says she needs rest and nourishment. She could barely stay awake long enough for her bath…” She paused as she remembered how she’d had to hide her shock once she and Nettie had the woman undressed and in the tub. She was so incredibly thin and as the dirt was gently scrubbed away, she appeared even more fragile, almost as if the grime had been holding her together. Her hair had been washed and carefully dried, Della dropping off in a doze several times as Jewel combed out the tangles. Nettie helped her pull one of Jewel’s gowns over her head and then they tucked her into bed. Della was no longer ‘brown’, instead she was almost colorless. Her hair gleamed and was a rich chestnut brown but that only emphasized how very pale she was; blue veins visible beneath translucent skin.

  “I don’t want to rush her recovery so we’ll need to stay a few days,” Jewel said, taking a sip of her coffee. “That will give Gabriel and me time to pick up whatever he needs for the mine and arrange for another wagon. There is no way all of us can ride in one.”

  When Jewel had finally introduced her friends to Gabriel, she’d been pleased to see how effortlessly they all seemed to meld. It was as if Gabriel had been with them for months instead of only hours. She listened as Gabriel took over and he and John discussed the fact that the trip would be more arduous as they would need to traverse foothills and streams before reaching Culpepper Cove. They also discussed protection and Gabriel was pleased when John assured him that not only could he shoot, he had no compunction about doing so if the need arose.

  “We need to talk about personal safety,” Gabriel added. “Jewel has got to stop walking around with her head in the clouds. This city is not safe for a woman to be unescorted.”

  “What do you mean, walking?” John interrupted, shooting a glance to Jewel. “We already had this discussion. Jewel assured me she wouldn’t and I assured her what would happen if…”

  “And we don’t need to have it again,” Jewel interrupted, rising to take her dishes
to the sink, refusing to acknowledge the glance that John and Gabriel were exchanging. “It’s been a hard day and I know everyone is tired. Let’s get some sleep.”

  “We’ve talked about it,” Opal said, “John will move in with us and you can have his room… that means you’ll have some privacy…”

  Jewel quickly cut off that train of thought. “That’s fine but Nettie can take it. It’s not right that she has to share a bed. I’m the one who brought Della here…”

  “Nonsense, I’m gonna stay with Della. That child has slept for hours and is gonna wake up soon. I’ll make sure she eats and drinks somethin’.” Nettie said, standing and bringing more dishes to the sink. “We might work for you but you are the one taking care of us, child. You best let us help.”

  “Nettie, that’s nice but…”

  Nettie ignored her, lifting a finger and shaking it in Jewel’s direction. “…but if I hear of you walking these streets alone again, I won’t hesitate to take my spoon to your behind.”

  Jewel felt her face flush as Opal and Amy giggled and John whole-heartedly agreed by stating he’d even fetch it for her when needed. The only one not heard from was Gabriel and yet it was his silence that had Jewel’s stomach tighten and her buttocks clench. When she lifted her gaze, it was to see her four supposed friends slipping out the door. Shaking her head, she began to wash the dishes and gave a little start when a large hand appeared and gently placed a stack of plates in the water. Neither spoke as he picked up a towel and began to dry, taking each dish from her hand that was trembling slightly. Between the two, it didn’t take long for the kitchen to be ready for the next day. Finally folding the rag she’d used to wipe down the table, she lifted her head.

  “Thank you. Not just for the dishes; I mean for everything today.”

  “You’re welcome,” Gabriel said, reaching to tuck a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “Consider this your last warning, chiquita. These people are looking to you for guidance. It is your responsibility to make sure you set a good example. The next time you put yourself in harm’s way, I promise Nettie won’t need a spoon. I’ll redden sus nalgas tan bonitas, understand?”