She sat across from him but over to the side and smiled as she arranged her skirts out of his way. “You’ve never ridden in a carriage like this before?”
He shrugged. “I’ve never ridden in a carriage.”
She tried, but she couldn’t quite hide her surprise and only just managed to stop herself from gaping. “Surely you jest.”
Shaking his head, he said, “No. Never had any carriages on the reservation. We used packhorses and the occasional buckboard.”
“And after you left?”
“I travel light.” He grinned.
She nodded her understanding, but he was sure she didn’t. A woman like her had to be accustomed to just about any luxury she could want. She had running water, electric lights, an actual telephone. All of them more things that separated them. He scraped his hand over the back of his neck, messaging the tension there. He was making himself dizzy with his back and forth over her.
He changed the subject instead of thinking about it. “Do I need to do something about Harvey? What does he want anyway?”
She gave a bitter laugh and stared out the window. “The same thing they all want. Power and money. He thinks he can scare me into giving him control of Victoria House.”
He thought she gave herself too little credit. Even without Victoria House she was prize enough for many men, especially men like Harvey who needed trophies and accolades to guard against his insecurity. “You’re not worried about him then.”
She shook her head. “No, not really. I’m more concerned about the upcoming vote and what it’ll mean for Victoria House. It’s no secret that Helena is becoming more civilized. There’s less tolerance of saloons and other houses of vice. I very much doubt Harvey will have the means to save it though.”
“What do you plan to do? Would you close?”
“Able and I have taken steps over the years to guard against this. We’ve expanded the dining and gambling business to help stay afloat once the inevitable happens. Though I can’t say it won’t hurt if we have to close the brothel. The brothel funds 100 percent of the boardinghouse and relocation expenses of the women and children we help.”
He frowned as he wondered what changes the next year would bring for her and Able. Would she be able to dodge her past without the safety of Victoria House to protect her? She’d created her own little kingdom there.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you about my conversation with Charlotte this morning.”
“Oh?” A worried crease appeared between her eyes and her hands tightened to fists in her lap as if she were bracing herself for whatever he had to say.
“She claims to have had a conversation with a man who asked her to deliver a letter to you.” He quickly relayed the story of Charlotte talking to the man downstairs. “She thought it was a love note.”
Glory frowned as she studied the beaded reticule in her lap, anxiously plucking at a tassel. “You believe her?”
“I do. Does the timeline sound right to you?”
After a moment she nodded. “We were busy that night. You remember.”
He inclined his head and breathed a sigh of relief that the story seemed to check out. It would be better for Glory if the conspirator were a stranger and not in any way associated with someone she knew. It’d be painful otherwise. “Do you believe Charlotte?”
She nodded again. “Yes. I only wish I remember seeing the man she described. I don’t remember talking to him. Does she know who the man was? Did she get a name?”
He told her the description of the man, but he’d come directly from his talk with Charlotte so hadn’t been able to search. “I’ll make a sketch tonight with Charlotte’s help and go to the hotels. Maybe someone will remember him.”
“Let’s start with The Baroness. Martin Hines, he’s the manager there. He runs that place with an iron fist. Show him the drawing and he can tell you if the man stayed there. I’ll ring him when we get home and he’ll come right over. How long do you think you’ll need for the drawing?”
Zane tried not to show it, but a flare of jealousy sprang to life inside him at how casually she spoke of Hines and how confident she was that he’d do her bidding. Zane saw her every night downstairs at Victoria House charming the customers. She knew Sainsbury, Harvey and probably every man they drove past. It was her job, and the jealousy wasn’t fair but it was there nonetheless. “That’s a good plan. Shouldn’t take me longer than an hour, depending on how much Charlotte remembers.” Which didn’t seem like much from what she’d told him earlier.
His words must have come out stiffly because Glory frowned, cocking her head to the side as if she was trying to figure him out. Then she gave him a knowing smile. “My employees are very conscientious.”
He frowned, wondering what the hell that had to do with their conversation.
“Martin Hines. He’s an employee. That’s why he’ll come right over when I ring him.”
He heard what she was saying but he didn’t know how her words fit in their conversation. How was Martin Hines of The Baroness Hotel her employee?
“I own The Baroness, Zane,” she said, putting him out of his misery.
He couldn’t react, he could only stare at the woman across from him. She’d amazed him yet again.
She shrugged in response to his unspoken question. “I bought it early last year when the talk of statehood picked up. I created a company with which to purchase it, that’s why it’s not common knowledge that I’m the owner. Seemed to be a good investment at the time.”
“You own The Baroness?” He couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around it. It was one of the best hotels in town. In a town filled with mining riches, that was saying something.
“And a few buildings over on State and over on Sixth. I lease them out.” She sighed. “So you see, losing Victoria House will hurt if it comes to it, but I’ll hardly be destitute. My main concern is for all those who depend on the House. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up the boardinghouse without it. With my funds tied up in real estate, they’re not very liquid.”
By all accounts she’d arrived here with nothing. In scarcely more than a decade she’d been able to do what so many others wouldn’t have been able to accomplish. “You really are something.”
She blushed again and shrugged. “You say that, but you also saw what happened back there with Harvey.”
“I did. I saw how brave you were.”
“Not brave. I couldn’t move. God knows what would’ve happened had you not been there. I couldn’t have stopped him.” She gave a bitter shake of her head and looked out the window.
He moved quickly before he could think better of it and sat on the seat beside her. “Glory, I can’t pretend to know what you’ve been through. Since you won’t tell me I can only guess and I pray that my guesses are a hundred times worse than reality. But on the off chance that they’re not...” He tipped her chin up so that she’d look at him. He waited for her eyes to meet his, a thrill of pleasure tingling down his spine at the heady contact. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, and what you’ve been able to do with your life... I can hardly fathom it. Even queens need knights to protect them sometimes.”
Her full bottom lip trembled before curving into a soft smile. “Is that you...you’re my knight?”
He stared at her mouth, wanting to take it beneath his. Needing to dip his tongue into her heat and taste her again. The two sides of him were at war again with one side urging him to indulge while he could and the other warning him away from the horrible pain he’d experienced with Christine. She wasn’t Christine. She knew her own mind and wouldn’t let her family stand in the way. But the truth was that nothing good ever lasted, he’d learned that lesson long ago.
She was Glory, and for the moment that lesson didn’t matter. She was good and kind and fiery. She was everything. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt, dr
awing him closer. He leaned down, her breath was hot and sweet on his lips. The tiny gasp she made curled down into his belly, tightening and pulling him even closer to her. The second his lips touched hers the carriage came to a jarring halt. The heavy tread of boots on the cobblestones outside the carriage had them jerking apart just as the door opened. Victoria House loomed above them.
Her eyes were wide in shock but he couldn’t tell if it was discomfort that he’d tried to kiss her or surprise that they’d nearly been caught. Whichever it was, he allowed her to flee and sat in the carriage for a moment, trying to catch his breath.
Chapter Thirteen
Glory sat at the bar in the large dining room waiting for Sally to join her for a chat before the evening rush began. It was very early in the evening yet and other than a few men playing cards in one of the gaming rooms and a private meeting in one of the salons, the house was quiet. Sally was set to perform again later tonight, so Glory expected the rush to come closer to the performance time. Since many men had undoubtedly left town after the faro tournament the day before, it’d likely be a less hectic night.
For that, she was grateful. Gone were the days she and Able were anxious about a few slow nights. Madam Marin had left them with some debt and had cleaned out the bank account before leaving for her retirement in San Francisco. That first year had been agonizing and full of constant worry about paying back the loan while keeping the staff in food and clothing. Glory was grateful they’d made it through.
Now she could sit in peace and chat with an old friend. It really was the little things in life for which she’d learned to be grateful. Sally planned to leave in the morning and Glory felt as if she’d barely been able to see her friend with the shadow of uncertainty looming over her this week. Taking a deep breath, Glory resolved not to think of that letter for the next few minutes. Instead she closed her eyes and listened to the peaceful notes of the piano coming from the ballroom. Janie sometimes liked to practice in the early evenings before they got too busy.
“He’s rather partial to you, you know.”
Glory turned from her seat at the bar to see Sally walking across the room toward her. If the woman had spoken any louder, the entire room would’ve heard her. The entire room consisting of Penelope behind the bar, Zane sketching as he spoke to Charlotte near the cold fireplace and a customer eating a solitary meal across the room. He glanced up at Sally but went back to eating and reading the book opened on the table next to his plate. Penelope gave Glory a knowing smile, but, thankfully, Zane and Charlotte seemed undisturbed by the proclamation. With any luck, he hadn’t heard Sally.
Waiting until her longtime friend had made her way through the maze of empty tables to find a seat beside her, Glory said, “I suppose I don’t need to ask about whom you’re referring.”
The woman gave an unladylike snort and threw her head back. “Penelope, be a dear and get us a couple of brandies.” Getting herself settled on the well-padded seat of the stool, she said, “I think you know very well that I mean tall, dark and handsome across the room there, doll.”
Glory followed her gaze to Zane. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips forming a nearly straight line as he focused on the sketch. The graphite pencil held between his surprisingly long and graceful fingers moved skillfully across the page.
“Do you think he’s so focused in bed?” Sally’s whiskey voice interrupted her study of him.
“Sally!” Glory felt her cheeks flame.
“What?” The woman managed to look perfectly innocent until she smirked, her gaze drifting over to him again. “Can’t you imagine all of that intensity focused on you?” She gave a shimmy of delight that made Glory laugh. The sound drew Zane’s attention. Frowning, he looked up to see what the ruckus was all about, and Glory turned back to her friend, feeling very much like a schoolgirl caught watching him.
She could very much imagine what Sally had said. She could imagine it so well that she didn’t need any help from Sally. “That’s inappropriate.” Her scolding lacked any heat though, especially when she couldn’t stop herself from glancing back at him.
“Come now.” Sally gently shoved her shoulder against Glory’s. “It’s not that inappropriate.”
“He’s an employee.” The shop had sent over the suit earlier, so he was wearing it in preparation for the evening. The coat was spread tight across his shoulders, and the waistcoat emphasized his narrow waist. It looked good on him. More than good. He looked like he’d been born to the suit, while somehow retaining that untamed sense of danger that was such a part of who he was. Maybe it was the scar on his face, hinting at the wild things he was capable of.
“Bah. He’s not going to be here for long, is he?”
“No, I suppose not.” The words came out a little more forlorn than she’d have liked.
Penelope set down their brandies and leaned forward. “I have to agree with Sally. He’s smitten.”
Was their attraction that transparent? Even if it was, she had a hard time attributing such a tame word to him. Smitten didn’t suit him at all. Zane simply wasn’t a man to become smitten with anyone. He might like her. He might want to sleep with her, but he’d never be smitten. Those were two very different beasts. Lust was lust. Smitten implied something more and she wasn’t ready to believe someone like him could feel that way about someone like her.
They were different. He was the wind, traveling the world wild and free; she was a tree...she frowned at the analogy. Maybe not a tree. A flower then. A rosebush with her roots firmly in the ground. Their paths might cross from time to time when he rustled her petals, but it wasn’t something that could last. He might be all tender and gentle with her now, but the truth of the matter was that he wouldn’t be around long. He wouldn’t have the patience for dealing with her and her particular issues. Even if he did, what would be the point? He’d be leaving. She didn’t want something frivolous and fleeting. She was surrounded by that every day.
He’d made it clear he wanted more, at least physically. They’d kissed. That didn’t mean he was smitten, but she couldn’t help but wonder what the others saw. Picking up her brandy, she took a small sip, telling herself that it didn’t matter. The liquid warmed her as it went down to settle in her belly. She hardly ever drank the stuff, but tonight was special since Sally would be leaving tomorrow. She meant to talk more about her friend, but when she opened her mouth that’s not what came out.
“What makes you say that?”
“I asked him back to my room a few days ago and he turned me down.” Penelope shrugged. “Said it was because you told him to keep his hands to himself while he’s here, but I saw the way he watched you.” She gave Glory a good-natured smile. “He’d have turned me down anyway.”
Glory couldn’t stop the smile that curved her lips, so she took another sip of brandy to hide it. She told herself it was because she was glad he’d followed her rule of not fraternizing with her staff, but deep down she knew it was because she didn’t want to think of him with another woman. “It’s nothing. Obviously, he’s handsome. I think he does find me attractive, but we’re not schoolchildren. We know that it’s not meant to be.”
Penelope raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment as she turned back to finish stocking the bar for the evening rush.
Sally drank some of her brandy and shook her head, opened her mouth, and then closed it only to shake her head again.
“What do you want to say?” Glory prodded. The woman had never been known to keep a comment to herself.
“Only that some things never change, I guess.”
“What does that mean?” Glory was afraid that she knew very well what that meant. Her celibacy, while no one’s business, had seemed to become an interesting topic of conversation of late.
Sally grinned, turning her glass around and around on the polished mahogany of the bar top. “You try to keep yourself too safe, Glory. That
’s all I meant. Live a little. You like him, and it’s no secret he likes you. See what happens.”
“It’s not quite as easy as that, believe me, if it was I might take your advice.”
“Oh, really?” Sally raised a doubtful eyebrow. “How come it’s not so easy? Have a little fun. You both clearly want to.” She grinned and whispered, “In case no one has told you, you don’t have to be married to explore your physical urges.”
Glory rolled her eyes at the woman’s crude snicker. Then she raised her shoulder in a defensive shrug and took another sip of brandy to keep from answering right away. The truth was that some demons were easier not to face. Did she like kissing him? Of course she did, but she didn’t like the panic that had followed that kiss. She didn’t like all the strange feelings she didn’t know how to handle. The fear, the doubt, the nearly overwhelming certainty that all of that wasn’t worth the passing pleasure of kissing him when he would be leaving her life anyway.
“I...I have issues with...” It was as close as she’d ever come to admitting the truth to another living soul.
“With men,” Sally finished for her. Turns out everyone had probably already figured that out as well. “I know. But you’re missing out on something you clearly want, doll. Give it a try. See what happens. Do you trust him?”
Glory nodded without even having to think about the question. She did trust him.
Say yes to me. She could still hear his husky voice as he uttered that command. A shiver of longing worked its way through her body, and she glanced over at him again. He must have sensed her attention because he looked up from the sketch. The heat of his gaze warmed her cheeks like a tangible caress. How could he do that with only a look?
An Outlaw to Protect Her Page 13