He rinsed his mouth then dumped the rest of the water in the pitcher over his head. He stepped from his room just as Lily was leaving hers. From the twitch of her nose and the flicker in her eye, he looked nearly as good as he felt and smelled even better. He was just making one spectacular impression after another with her. Right now, he didn’t give a damn.
“You’re a quiet drunk; I’ll give you that.”
“Gracias.” He headed for the stairs.
“I didn’t even know you’d come back.”
“It is my gift.”
“You owe me for that whiskey.”
He faced her. “Put it on my account.”
“You don’t have one.”
“I have no money, either.”
“How do you expect to live?”
“Day to day, same as always.”
She opened her mouth, but he got there first. “Excusa. I must find Carrie.”
“Your little girl?”
“Not mine. Though she would argue that I am hers.”
Her brow furrowed, but Rico had no time to explain even if he could.
Nate and Cash waited in the saloon. When he nodded and walked on by, they got up and followed. It was then that he realized they were both dressed and armed at the shiny hour of eight a.m.
“Where are you two going?”
Cash lit a cigar. “Wherever you are.”
“Why?”
“You think we’re going to let you go anywhere in your condition?”
“I am fine.”
“I’m the Queen of Sheba. Let’s ride.”
“It is not necessary. I can find her.”
“Six eyes are better than two.”
“And ten are better than six.” Reese stood at the door with Sullivan. None of them were going anywhere—except wherever Rico went.
His eyes burned. He hated the morning after.
“Too bad Jed isn’t here,” Nate observed as the five of them tramped outside. “It’d be just like old times.”
“I think the old times are gone for good,” Cash said.
“And maybe that isn’t so bad.” Reese headed for the stables.
Everyone followed, which was as close to old times as they were probably going to get.
* * *
Lily huddled at the top of the stairs and eavesdropped shamelessly. The five men had a bond only tragedy could forge and nothing would ever break. She envied them that.
Laurel stumbled from Nate’s room. She didn’t even glance at Lily. Instead, she knocked on Cash’s door. When Kate answered, she went in.
Why even give the two their own rooms if they continued to sleep with Nate and Cash, or Cash and Nate, as the case might be? Neither of them seemed to take a turn with Rico, which made her wonder. The man oozed sex from his skin; he flirted as easily as he breathed, yet he did not partake of two willing women. He had said he didn’t like to share, which she found an odd quirk for someone like him.
She had to quit wondering about Rico. He was nothing to her. She needed to clean up this place and get it ready to open. But first, she had to see how much credit she could charm out of the shopkeepers in order to buy supplies. Then she could use her cash to purchase the perfect dress for opening night. She must look the part of a prosperous entertainer if she ever hoped to become one. In her business appearances counted for a whole lot more than they should.
A thud downstairs, followed by the murmur of women’s and children’s voices, something not usually heard in a place like this, made Lily descend. Yvonne, already polishing her precious bar, stared at a tall, thin, brown-haired lady holding the hand of a cherubic blond toddler. Directly behind her stood a woman, with a baby on one hip and three older children gathered ’round.
Looked like the committee on morality had come to call. Lily had met them before in every place where she’d lived—ladies who had never had to do anything on their own but felt compelled to tell others the appropriate way to live.
They would berate her for her lifestyle, her occupation, her very being, and when she asked them how she should make enough money to eat they would quickly find a reason to leave. They knew what she should not do but were of little help in telling her how to do anything else.
“Good morning, ladies.”
Yvonne rolled her eyes. She’d obviously met women like these before, too, and had little use for them now.
“I’m Lily Fortier.”
The second woman, a tiny blonde, came forward. The children followed as if they were one being. “Welcome to Rock Creek. We’re so excited you’ve come.”
Lily blinked. “Huh?”
“I’m Eden Sullivan. This is Mary Reese. We thought we’d get acquainted since all the boys went off together.” She turned to Yvonne. “You must be Yvonne. Daniel’s mentioned you. I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to say hello.” Eden indicated the children. “Between these four and the hotel, I barely get a chance to talk to Sin.”
Yvonne just stared at her as if she’d sprouted two heads.
“I think we might have come a bit early, Eden,” Mary said. “The children pull us out of bed with the sun. But since you work late, our arrival at this hour must border on rude.”
Lily wondered if there was a veiled insult in there somewhere. But Mary’s blue gaze was as clear and friendly as... as... Lily couldn’t think when she’d seen friendlier eyes, unless they were Eden’s.
“Would you like some coffee?” That ought to send them running quickly enough.
“How lovely!” Eden cried. “I brought some biscuits, figuring there wouldn’t be much in your kitchen yet.” She settled the older children nearby with some of the food then took a chair at the same table Mary had already appropriated.
The little girls in their laps reached across, trying to grab each other’s hands. Eden’s girl babbled nonsense, and Mary’s giggled and shouted, “Fi, fi, fi!”
“All right.” Eden set her daughter on the floor; Mary did the same. Then Eden handed each a biscuit, which they promptly began to gnaw, grinning at each other all the while. They reminded Lily of happy little puppies with bones.
“Georgie and Fiona have been the best of friends since the first time they saw each other,” Mary said. “It’s uncanny.”
Lily glanced at Yvonne, who looked as confused as she felt. “I’ll get the coffee and some cups.” Yvonne fled.
Lily joined the two women, waiting for the sneers to begin. They just kept smiling. It was a bit frightening.
“Sin said you own this place.”
“Sin?” Lily repeated.
“My husband, Sinclair Sullivan.”
“The sheriff.”
“Yes,” Mary answered. “My husband teaches school. Have you met him? He came by to get Rico and the others this morning.”
Lily remembered the deep, commanding voice that had belonged to no one she’d known. “I didn’t see him.”
“Well, you’re bound to run into each other eventually. How have you been getting along with Cash?”
Lily couldn’t help but make a face.
“That’s what we thought,” Eden said. “Don’t let him push you around. He’ll try until you push back.”
“I already shoved him hard enough to meet his gun.”
“He pulled his gun on you?” Eden asked.
“I’d have done the same. I think we have an understanding.”
“Hmm,” Mary said. Eden just looked concerned.
Yvonne returned with a tray of cups and a pot of coffee. She set it down and turned to leave.
“Would you like to stay and talk with us?” Mary asked.
“No, thank you, ma’am. I’ve got work to do.”
Traitor, Lily mouthed.
Yvonne smirked and left the room.
“Tell us what you plan to do here.”
Here it comes, Lily thought, the snide comments, the sneers, and the threats disguised as suggestions.
“I’m a singer. I plan to perform every weekend.”
&nbs
p; “Wonderful.” Mary clapped her hands, and her daughter did, too. The other baby was busy chewing on Georgie’s shoe. Everyone beamed gentle smiles and friendly eyes. “Rock Creek is going to become something to see, isn’t it, Eden?”
“I always thought it was.”
“What can we do to help?” Mary asked.
“Excuse me?”
“You can’t expect the men to do things right. Nate won’t last long sober, and Cash never lifts anything heavier than his pistols. Though Rico might be of some use other than decoration.”
“I doubt it,” Eden said dryly.
“He’s of great use in certain instances.” Mary’s secret smile left no doubt what she was referring to.
“None of which apply here.”
Lily couldn’t resist. “What instances?”
Mary glanced at Eden. Eden glanced at the children then lowered her voice. “You’ve seen him. You’ve talked to him. The man’s a walking, talking temptation.”
“He thinks he is.”
“From what I’ve gathered, Rico’s main occupation, when he wasn’t with the boys, was beautiful women—one after another.”
Lily had known Rico was that type of man. Why, then, did the truth annoy her?
“I’ve often wondered about Rico,” Eden said. “How good is great?”
“Eden!” Mary gasped. “You’re married.”
“But not dead. He is beautiful, with more experience than any man I’ve ever heard about. It doesn’t hurt to wonder.”
Mary didn’t look convinced. She smoothed her hair, then her skirt. “What else did you have planned, Lily?”
Lily wasn’t sure what to say. The subject of Rico now closed, the two women seemed serious about helping her with the place and not in any mood to leave.
She couldn’t believe ladies like these would want to pitch in and dirty their hands on an entertainment venture. Why weren’t they preaching hellfire and trying to save her from herself? Could it be they didn’t understand exactly what she meant to do here?
“There’s still going to be a saloon and gambling as well as music, dancing, and singing.”
“Of course,” Mary said. “How else would you make a living?”
Lily knew how most women like Mary believed she made her living. But without even asking, Mary assumed that Lily was exactly who she said she was—a businesswoman, a singer—nothing more or less.
The slam of a door and the patter of bare feet made Lily tense. Kate and Laurel stopped dead when they saw Mary, Eden, and the children.
Lily got to her feet and placed herself between the visitors and her employees. Kate and Laurel might be fools, but they were her fools. She wasn’t going to let anyone hurt their feelings or talk down to them in her place.
“Hello, girls,” Eden said. “How have you been?”
“Good,” Laurel answered. “You?”
The four made small talk—wary, polite, but friendly enough. Lily just stood there, unable to believe her ears or eyes. The ladies of the town and the ladies of the evening spoke to one another, knew one another’s names, did not consider one the other’s enemy.
What kind of place had she come to? Why couldn’t every place be like this?
Laurel and Kate drifted off to find breakfast. Lily returned to her seat.
“Did you think we were going to throw stones at them?” Mary asked.
“Perhaps get the tar and the feathers or a rail to run them out of town upon?” Eden continued.
“I wasn’t sure.” Lily met their eyes. “But I certainly wasn’t going to let you.”
Mary glanced at Eden. “Oh, I like her.”
Eden kept her gaze on Lily. “Me, too.”
Chapter 6
In Lily’s line of work, women competed—for jobs, men, money. They did not pitch in and help strangers clean the grubbiest place in town. In Rock Creek, they did. Or at least that’s what Mary and Eden said.
Even the children helped. The older ones—Teddy, Rafe, and Millie—dragged loose boards outside; they also watched the younger girls until the two fell asleep on a blanket in a heap of chubby legs and sweet-smelling curls.
Cute as they were, Lily kept her distance. Children were beyond her understanding, out of her reach, and there was no reason to taunt herself with what would never, ever, be.
Yvonne shook her head whenever her path crossed Lily’s, but she couldn’t argue that Mary and Eden were hard workers and a lot of fun to be around. Once in a while Lily caught her smiling at something one of them said or something one of the children did.
Lily set Johnny to work upstairs. She wasn’t sure how the other children would react to his silence, and she didn’t want him teased. He’d had little contact with anyone his own age or younger. Until they were settled and he felt comfortable, she’d keep him away from strangers, and she would always protect him from everyone and everything with all that she had. She’d never felt so deeply about anyone, and while such emotions for another human being disturbed her, there was nothing she could do to stop them now.
The place nearly spotless from top to bottom, Lily put her hands on her hips and smiled with satisfaction. “Now I need curtains, food, and a new dress for the opening. Can you ladies direct me to the general store and the seamstress.”
“The store is past the church.” Eden rubbed sweat from her brow and left a long line of dirt across her forehead. “There isn’t any seamstress, but you can get good-quality calico at Sutton’s.”
“Calico? I need satin, if not silk. And if there isn’t any seamstress, how do you get clothes?”
Mary raised her brows. “By sewing them.”
“Sew?” Lily had never so much as lifted a needle.
She sat down. She wouldn’t be defeated by the little things. She had no curtains. She’d get by. But because of her pride, she had brought very few clothes from R.W.’s place and nothing suitable to wear at the gala opening she envisioned. She could not dazzle the crowd in a torn and tattered shirtwaist. She might be good, but she wasn’t that good.
“I can sew.” The quiet admission came from Kate as she took a seat on the opposite side of the table. “My mama taught me.”
“How well?”
“Mama worked for a modiste in Charleston before the war. She was all the rage.”
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Eden asked. “Problem solved.”
Kate’s face brightened. “If you get the material, I’ll make you a dress. I love to sew. I’ve missed it.”
“You know, I could use a new dress, and so could Millie. What about you, Mary?”
Mary watched Eden with a speculative gleam in her eye. “I wouldn’t turn one down.”
“Between working here and sewing you could make a pretty good living, Kate. In fact, I bet you’d need help.” Eden turned to Laurel, who had just finished sweeping the last of the dust out the front door. “Can you sew?”
“Enough.”
“Eden,” Mary warned. “Cash isn’t going to like this.”
* * *
“Thought you knew where she was.” Sullivan got off his horse and allowed the animal to drink from the river while he filled his hat with water and dumped the contents over his head.
The calendar might say spring, but the sun screamed summer, the chill bite of the wind yesterday a mere memory today. The five of them had ridden all over the area—from the river to Wishing Rock, even part of the way to Ranbourne with no sign of Carrie.
“And I thought you were an Injun scout,” Rico flung back.
His headache had not improved in the sun, and his tossing, turning stomach had only gotten worse as each place he knew Carrie to frequent came up empty.
“If the two of you can’t find her, she ain’t gonna be found,” Cash pointed out. “Chalk her up as missing and let’s get a drink.”
“Here, here.” Nate toasted the idea with a canteen that fooled no one. Nate never bothered with water—straight up or as a mix.
“She can’t have gotten far.” Reese wa
shed his face in the river. “She might even be in town. Somewhere we haven’t thought to look.”
Reese was trying to make Rico feel better. He knew how much Carrie meant to him. Not why, of course. Rico had told no one about his past so that no one would have a reason to look at him with the disgust he’d seen in the eyes of his father. He’d been a worthless son, a useless caballero, the worst brother in the world. He had to live with that, but he didn’t have to live with everyone knowing it.
Rico had ignored Carrie yesterday so he could flirt with Lily. He might have been kissing Lily’s neck as Brown lay dying. He might have been whispering improper suggestions to her as Carrie cried.
“Kid, stick your head in the river until you’re cooled off enough to quit sighing like you’ve lost your best friend.” Cash wheeled his horse and trotted toward town, Nate at his heels.
Rico followed Cash’s advice. Though it had been suggested with a sneer, the idea was a good one. He felt much better after sticking his head into the spring-cold river.
Sitting down on one of the larger rocks that lined the water, he let the sun warm his wet hair. Reese joined him on the right side and Sullivan on the left.
“You taught her well,” Reese said. “Maybe too well if you can’t find her.”
“Why would she hide from me?” Rico hung his head between his knees. “Why would she not run to me?”
“She might have run to you, and discovered you passed out or busy with the new saloon owner,” Sullivan suggested.
“No to the second.” Rico raised his head. “She does not want me for any money. She does not want me for free, either.”
“She hasn’t been around you long enough. You grow on a woman, or so I hear,” Reese said.
“She is not impressed with my face or body or reputation, as most of the others. Even my kiss only made her—” He paused, in no mood to recall how she’d told him no. He still ached in places he should not.
“So there is one woman with taste in the world.”
“Gracias, mi capitan. Please feel free to kick me some more as I lie dying.”
“Perhaps we should get in on that bet with Nate and Cash.”
Rico (The Rock Creek Six Book 3) Page 6