“That’s a wonderful idea, Mea Ann,” Xenia said. “But I’m like you. I already feel like Johnny’s part of the family.”
Chapa passed the bowl of eggs to Lily. She took it and spooned out a small amount. Hiram knew she was too nervous, or maybe scared, to take more.
“So,” Ty said as he buttered a biscuit, “what was it you wanted to talk to us about, Lil…y?”
Lily glanced at Hiram. He nodded at her.
She bit her lip and said, “When I was trying to slip away this morning, I heard Seymour and Sassy Sue talking. He said he was paying one of the hands on this ranch to let him know when it would be a good time to take one of his nieces.”
Ty looked at her. “Did he say his name?”
“No. He just said he was an Indian.”
“Was that why I was attacked this morning?” Mea Ann asked.
Wilt took her hand. “Probably, honey, but thank goodness Ty was in the barn and it only took me a minute to get out of the house.”
“I’m sorry we interrupted, Lily. Please, go on.” Ty smiled at her.
She told them about hearing Seymour say cutting the fence to draw the hands away didn’t work as he hoped it would, and also about the wire to Seymour’s brother-in-law.
“Oh, no. That means Father will come here.” Mea Ann looked at Wilt. “He’ll try to take me back to Richmond.”
Wilt put his arm around her shoulder. “There’s no way I’ll let him do that.”
“Mea Ann’s right, he’ll try. When Father decides on something, he’ll make it happen. I wouldn’t put it past him to shoot you if he has to.”
“Then we’ll get married before he arrives.” Wilt looked at her. “That is, if you want a fast marriage, and if you think it’ll keep him from wanting to take you home.”
“Of course I want to marry as soon as we can,” Mea Ann whispered.
“Father probably wouldn’t make her go home with him if she was married. He wants Mea Ann and me to be sweet and pure until we’re married to the man he chooses for us.”
Hiram said, “I think we should tell you something else.” They all looked at him, and he went on, “As we were leaving town this morning, the stage came in. It must not have made it in last night, and came on early this morning. Anyway, a man dressed in a black suit carrying a fancy walking stick and wearing a derby hat got out with who I assume was his wife dressed in an expensive looking purple silk dress and a hat with flowers and feathers.”
Mea Ann gasped. “Mother and Daddy.”
Chapa sat back and smiled at all of them. “It looks like we better start making some quick wedding plans if we’re going to get the jump on Mea Ann’s mother and father.”
Chapter 17
Hiram pulled the buggy away from the Eldridge ranch and glanced over at Lily. “Are you alright?”
She nodded.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
“I’m just thinking.”
“May I ask what you’re thinking about?”
She glanced up at him and smiled. “About that Indian woman and the sisters who are staying at the Eldridge ranch.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “What about them?”
She swallowed. “Did you notice how nice they were to me?”
“I sure did.”
“I ain’t never had nobody be that good to me, especially nice women like them. I figured they’d run me out of the house as soon as we showed up, but they didn’t. They set me at the table and fed me like I was one of their friends who had just stopped in for a visit.” She shook her head. “Even when you went outside with Ty and Wilt, the women continued to talk to me and even served me a cup of tea. I just can’t get over them being so nice to a saloon girl.”
“It don’t surprise me, Lily. You’re a nice person, and I bet they saw that in you.”
She looked at him with surprise in her eyes. “Do you really think I’m a nice person?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think so.”
She was quiet for a minute, and Hiram didn’t say anything. Finally, she whispered, “I think you’re a nice person, too, Hiram.”
They rode for a while in silence. Both lost in their own private thoughts. After a while, Hiram broke the silence. “I told Ty and Wilt that you were going to go to work with me in the saloon. I also made it clear to them that you wouldn’t be going upstairs with any men.”
“What did they say?”
“Said it was a good idea because they both liked you and thought you’d be a help to me.” He chuckled. “I told them about the spittoons you mentioned for the saloon.”
“Did you, really?”
“I did.”
“What did they say?”
“Said it was a good idea.” He turned the buggy to a road leading to the backside of town.
She frowned. “Why are we going this way?”
“I haven’t told you, have I?”
“Told me what?”
“While I was outside with the men, Wilt asked me to go by the preacher’s house and ask him to come to the ranch tonight. Since the church is on the other side of town, this is a quicker way to get there.”
“Oh.”
“It seems he plans to marry the one named Mea Ann tonight. He wants to make sure her daddy doesn’t take her home to Virginia with him.”
“Mea Ann told me they were going to get married before her father found out where she and Xenia were, but I didn’t know the wedding would be tonight.”
“I guess Wilt didn’t want to take a chance on losing her.”
“That’s so romantic.”
Hiram glanced sideways at her and there was a tickle running down his spine when he saw the smile on her face. She looked so innocent. So pure. Then he remembered she’d been one of the women who worked upstairs for Seymour Longstreet. He jerked his head around and didn’t realize he’d jerked the reins as well.
Lily grabbed the side of the buggy. “What happened?”
“I’m sorry. It was a boulder I wanted to miss hitting.” It was a lie, but he couldn’t tell her what he was really thinking.
“That’s alright, Hiram.” She gave him a smile.
Damn. Why does she have to grin at me like that? She’s so pretty and looks so sweet and kind, but I must remember who she really is. It upsets me to no end to think she’s smiled at a lot of men just the way she now smiles at me. I wonder if she was ever with…
Her soft voice drew him out of his thoughts. “Hiram, I need to ask you something.”
“What, Lily?”
“Do you want me to stay in the buggy when we get to the preacher’s house?”
He frowned. “Why would I want you to do that?”
“I don’t think the preacher would want me to come in his house.”
Hiram couldn’t stop himself. He reached over and put his hand on her arm. “Listen to me, Lily. Stop thinking of yourself as someone not good enough to go anywhere you want to go. As soon as we get to the preacher’s house, I’m going to hitch the buggy, then I’m going to help you down and we’re going to walk up to the door together and knock. If the preacher, or his wife, or whoever opens the door doesn’t let you come inside, then I won’t be going in, either.”
Tears came to her eyes. “Oh, Hiram, you’re so sweet. I always thought you were a good man, but I never dreamed you had such a big, kind heart.”
He swallowed. “It’s not hard to be kind to you.”
“Well, I appreciate it. It’s the first time I’ve had anyone be kind to me when they didn’t have to be, since my mother died.”
Before he could stop himself, Hiram blurted, “How about the men you entertained? I’m sure some of them were kind, and you had to like them.”
Her face fell, and she looked down, but she said nothing.
Hiram knew she was crying and he wanted to slap himself. “I’m sorry, Lily.”
She jerked her head up. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she stared at him. “You’re right. A few of them were probably nice, but
I didn’t see their nice side. They were only men who were using me. Most of them didn’t even know my name, or didn’t care what it was, if they did. Once they left my room, I’m sure they couldn’t have picked me out on the street. And to be honest, I can only recall a few names, myself. I don’t want to remember any of them because I hated every man that stepped across the threshold of my room. I tried to erase them from my mind as soon as they were gone, but it wasn’t easy. I thought when I left the saloon today, I’d be out of that life forever, but it seems like I was wrong.”
Hiram shook his head. “It seems I keep saying ‘I’m sorry’ to you, but I am, Lily. I don’t mean to keep bringing it up. I guess I just want to be sure you’re not dreaming about some cowboy and hoping he’ll rescue you. Maybe…somebody like Ty, or Wilt.”
Her tears stopped and stared at him. “Are you asking me if one of the Eldridge men ever went to my room with me?”
He felt bad, but said, “I guess I am.”
“Are you going to ask me if I’ve ever entertained every man you meet? How about the preacher? Do you want to know if I’ve given him my favors? Or how about that banker you mentioned? Is there no end to the men you will ask me about in the future? If so, then you might as well set me up a room upstairs in your brand new saloon and then you can come in now and then and…and…” Her voice choked up, and she couldn’t continue.
Hiram jerked the horse to a stop, then turned to reach for her, but she slid away from him. “Please, Lily. Don’t get so upset. I’m a fool for making you talk about something you hate. Please, forgive me. I swear, I’ll never mention another customer of yours again. If I slip up and do it, you have my permission to hit me over the head with one of the liquor bottles in our saloon.”
She looked up at him. “We don’t have any liquor bottles yet.”
He reached over and rubbed the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “Then grab a stick of wood or one of those spittoons you ordered. Anything you can get your hands on. I’ll deserve whatever you do, because you are a special person, and I feel like cutting out my tongue for hurting you with my words.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, Lily. I mean it with all my heart.”
She moved closer to him and he folded his arms around her. “Thank you, Hiram.”
He lifted her chin, tilted her head back and covered her mouth with his for a brief kiss. He then pulled away. “Thank you for being you, Lily. As I said before, you’re a special woman. Don’t ever change.”
He then picked up the reins and started the horses on their way.
Lily leaned close to him and slipped her arm through his. They rode in silence for a few minutes, then she whispered, “No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I know you’ll always wonder so I’m going to tell you. I never entertained either of the Eldridge men in my room. I served them drinks and sat on their laps a few times, but that was it. Nothing more.”
He smiled. “You didn’t have to tell me that.”
“I wanted you to know.”
He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, but as far as I’m concerned the subject has been dropped.”
They were silent until the preacher’s house came into sight. Before pulling into the yard, Hiram stopped the buggy.
“Why are we stopping again?”
“I’ve been thinking, and I want to discuss something with you.”
She let go of his arm and sat back. “Alright. What is it?”
“Since we like each other and we’re going to be working closely together and…well, since we’re here…I mean…I have that beautiful apartment in the Blooming Cactus…”
“For heaven’s sake, Hiram. What are you trying to say?”
He took off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. Then he put his hat back on. “What I’m trying to ask is…well, Lily, while we’re here why don’t we get married?”
She stared at him. “You want to marry me?”
“I do. That is, if you want to marry me. I know it’s a big commitment and we’ve just found our freedom from the Golden Door and…”
He had to stop because Lily threw her arms around his neck and looked directly into his eyes. “You better be serious, Hiram Albright, because I’m saying yes. I want to marry you.”
Hiram pulled her closer and gave her a serious kiss. He then grabbed the reins. “Now that I know I have a wonderful future with a new saloon and a beautiful woman to be my wife, let’s hurry. I want to get you in front of that preacher before you change your mind.”
****
Kerry opened his eyes and squinted at the mid-day sun. Closing them again, he put his arm across his face and groaned. His head throbbed so hard he wondered why it didn’t go ahead and fall off. After a few deep breaths, he pushed himself to a sitting position and looked around.
He recognized the area as a spot about half way between the ranch and town.
In spite of his pain, he forced himself to get to his feet, cursing as he did. “How the hell did I let that little sonofabitch get the better of me? The bosses are going to be furious, and I don’t blame them. They may even fire me.”
He saw his hat a few feet away, and retrieved it, slamming it on his head. “Since he took my horse, I might as well start walking. But which way? If I go to town, there’s no way I’ll be able to find Bullins.”
Shaking his head and wishing he hadn’t, he turned and headed for the ranch. He knew he’d tell Wilt and Ty the truth, but he hoped they wouldn’t think too harshly of him.
It had happened before he could react. Maybe he’d been too sure Bullins was in no shape to try an escape that he let down his guard. All he could say was that his horse had picked up a rock and started limping. He got off to dig it out of the hoof and didn’t pay any attention to his prisoner. Somehow, Bullins had slid off his mount, picked up a rock or a stick or something and hit him in the head while he was bent over with his horse’s foot in his hands.
Now, he didn’t have a horse. His gun was gone, as was the prisoner. The one thing he was sure about was that the Eldridges were going to be furious.
****
Franklin Poindexter walked into the Golden Door Saloon and immediately turned up his nose. He’d smelled liquor before, but never the scent of whiskey mixed with cheap beer and offensive body odor that permeated this room. It was horrible. How could anyone stand it?
Before he could pull out his linen handkerchief to cover his nose, a woman wearing a bright yellow dress trimmed in red feathers and with plumes of red and yellow feathers and bows in her dark red hair eased up to him. “Hello there, handsome. What brings a good-looking fellow like you in so early in the day?
He stared at her, and couldn’t believe his eyes. The dress came only below her knees, and she wore black silk stockings and black shoes with shiny red bows. The top of the dress barely covered the nipples on her ample breasts. Franklin’s eyes grew big and he swallowed. “Lady, I—”
“Well, listen to that. I like you already. You called me a lady, and that makes you my friend. What can I get you to drink?”
“Well…I guess…I mean…”
She laughed. “Don’t worry, honey. I bet you’re used to the best liquor money can buy. I’ll get you a drink from Mr. Longstreet’s private stock. Let me guess. Bourbon is your drink.”
“I do drink bourbon now and again.”
“I thought so. Now, have a seat and I’ll be right back. Our bartender hasn’t come to work yet, but I know where the good stuff is kept.” She headed to the bar.
Franklin shook his head and dropped to a chair. What in the world was happening? He wasn’t used to going into sleazy places like this. And bourbon was something he sometimes enjoyed after his evening meal. Usually with a cigar. He certainly never drank bourbon or any other strong drink this early in the day. Why, it was just past noon!
Before he could tell the fancy lady he didn’t want anything to drink, a door in the end of the room
slammed back against the wall and a man yelled, “Has that sonofabitch, Hiram, showed up yet?”
“Not yet. I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” Sassy Sue hollered back at him.
“He better be.”
Franklin stared at the man. He hadn’t seen Seymour in over ten years. Was this him? If so, he’d aged. Though his black suit was well pressed and his black bolo tie hung at the right angle over the red quilted silk vest, there was no mistaking him for a prosperous businessman. Franklin was used to dealing with affluent people, and this man didn’t have the air about him that well-to-do men always had.
The woman came from behind the bar carrying a bottle. “Calm down, Seymour. You’re getting worked up over nothing. Hiram usually stops at the sweet shop after going to the bank.”
“Well, he’s going to have to break that habit. The saloon is open, and I want him behind that bar. He’s going to be sorry that he decided to lollygag in town today.” He frowned. “Where are you going with my bourbon?”
“I’m going to serve some to that gentleman over there. He looks like a bourbon drinker to me.”
Franklin took a deep breath as his brother-in-law turned toward him. “Hello, Seymour.”
For a moment, Seymour looked stunned. Then, he recovered and moved toward Franklin and held out his hand. “Hello, brother-in-law.”
Franklin ignored his hand. “Forget the pleasantries. Where are my daughters?”
Sassy Sue walked up to the table and stared at them. “He’s your brother-in-law?”
“Afraid so.”
“Oh, hell. I thought I’d found some rich dude who’d spend good money on me.”
Seymour laughed. “Not this man. He’s as likely to take your money as he is to spend any on you.”
“Oh, hell.” Sassy Sue slammed the bottle and the two glasses she had on the table and walked away.
Seymour pulled out a chair and sat facing Franklin. “Since the bottle and the glasses are here, how about joining me in a drink?”
“I don’t want a drink. I want my daughters.”
“All in good time, Frank. All in good time.”
Xenia’s Renegade Page 21