by Mimi Milan
“Mujer,” He joked, “you’re going to kill me like the raccoon.”
“Hey!” she poked him hard. “I didn’t kill that horrible little thief.”
He laughed again. “Now he is a thief, too?”
She groaned. “Just like a man to never listen. I told you that before. He stole the coin. Remember? It was a gold one.”
A strange look came over his face. “A gold coin?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. Although I don’t know where in the world he could have found it. I cleaned this whole place. There’s no gold anywhere in it.”
“No,” he said, a strange look reflecting in his eyes. “You are right about that. There’s no gold in this house.”
Chapter 8
Noelle, Colorado
December 31, 1876
Minnie Gold giggled, her voice echoing off the walls of Madame Bonheur’s bedroom. At first, the women had been timid about entering the owner’s room. However, they got past that once they saw it was the nicest one in the house. Minnie looked up at Fina’s reflection in the large oval mirror they stood in front of and laughed again. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so excited.”
“Neither have I,” said Birdie. “Now please stop moving so I can finish this.”
Fina commanded her feet to stay still. “I’m so sorry, ladies. I’m just so excited… and nervous, too.”
“Why?” Minnie asked. “I thought you said Nacho was ‘la crema en el café.”
Fina laughed, enjoying how the woman’s accent played with the Spanish words. “He is and I’m sure that soon you’ll be finding the ‘cream for your coffee,’ too. Yes?”
She winked, but the hopeful bride waved her comment away. “Today isn’t about me, dear. It’s about you.”
“Not quite,” Birdie reminded them both. She pushed another pin into the fluffy dress. “She isn’t getting married today. They’re exchanging vows on… Fina, what did you call it again?”
“Día de Los Reyes,” Josefina explained. “It’s also known as Epiphany. It’s when the three wise men visited the little baby Jesus in the manger and brought him wonderful gifts to celebrate his arrival.”
“What a marvelous day to get married,” Minnie gushed. “And with the little flowers I’m embroidering onto the dress, Mr. Villanueva is going to think you are the ‘crema en el café.”
The women giggled again and Birdie stood up.
“That should do it. You can go ahead and take it off now,” she instructed Fina. “I’ll get sewing straightaway and should have it done by tomorrow. Then I’ll give it to Minnie to finish off.”
“Yes, and it won’t take me but a few hours to do the flowers. So, you should have the dress by tomorrow evening – certainly in enough time for your wedding day.”
“That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much, ladies, for helping out. I know you’ve got your own lives to attend to – especially with you being newly married yourself, Birdie. Are you sure Mr. Peregrine won’t mind?”
“Not at all. Jack knows how much I enjoy being a seamstress.”
“Then if you insist—” Fina lifted her arms and waited for the women to pull the dress up over her head so she could slip out of it. Left standing in her cotton shift, she reached for the plain day dress draped across a chair. She grinned. “I guess it’s back to this old thing until I exchange vows with Nacho. Speaking of which… I better hurry up and get down to the restaurant. I promised I would help with the dinner rush this evening.”
“But that’s not for hours,” Minnie said.
“I know, but Nacho and I are decorating the restaurant before then. You wouldn’t believe some of the beautiful paintings I found at his homestead. You ladies should definitely stop by!”
“If we did that, then we wouldn’t finish the dress,” Birdie joked.
“But I’m sure we’ll be in eventually,” Minnie added. “I love that sweet bread they serve up in the mornings.”
“Then I’ll be sure you both have the best piece waiting for you tomorrow,” Josefina said as they bid their farewells. She finished dressing and took one more look in the mirror. Strands of hair had worked their way out of her usual braid. She did her best to pat them back into place and then slipped on her coat, ready to head down to the diner.
“My, don’t you look quite the sight.”
Fina spun around, glaring. The last person she wanted to see was Madame Bonheur.
“Don’t worry. I was just leaving,” Josefina said.
“Oh, I’m not worried at all, dear.” The Madame gave her a smile that could only be described as the remnants of kindness after it had been thoroughly maimed and then killed. “You, on the other hand, should be.”
Josefina rolled her eyes. “And why is that?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I would be very concerned about my fiancé finding out I was no better than a common…” The Madame trailed off as she slowly walked around the room, straightening one knickknack after another. “Really, you girls have made such a mess here. Is this the kind of shambles you kept your room while entertaining clients?”
Josefina gasped. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, but your reaction tells me you do know… as did a little birdie.” The Madame motioned to the air beside her head, her fingers fluttering as if a bird had just flown away.
Josefina gritted her teeth. “I was a dancing girl.”
“Yes, I’m sure you were. Rather, I’m sure that’s how you started out. You see, I’ve traveled all over this country and I specifically recall seeing a woman perform once – a woman who looked very much like you, Miss Fina. And her dancing? So similar to your own style that it could never be mistaken for any other. Now let me see,” the Madame tapped her chin. “If I recall correctly, I do believe they introduced her as ‘The Marvelous Maria.’ Ring any bells?”
For the second time since her arrival in Noelle, Josefina felt ice in her veins.
“I can tell by the look on your face that it must,” the Madame continued. “And if that much is right, then I’m sure it’s equally true that you’re still under contract… to a certain Mr. Hank Harvey of Hank’s Whisky River Saloon. Oui?”
Josefina fell completely silent. She didn’t know what to say. She could only manage to shake her head in denial.
“Come now. There’s no point in lying about it. I’ve already spoken with the man myself. In fact, I’ve even seen the contract.”
“But… how?”
A wicked grin slithered across the woman’s face. “You should know better than anyone. Working women such as ourselves have always been good at keeping secrets.”
Josefina slowly pieced together what the Madame was saying. “The strangers people have been talking about… the men… That’s Hank and his men.” She looked at the woman, incredulous. “They’re staying with you!”
“Well, of course they are. With Seamus’s saloon already full and this house still overrun with unwanted women, where else could they possibly stay? It didn’t take long to find out what he was after once I got him and his men settled in.”
“And what is it that he wants?”
Irritated, Madame Bonheur huffed. “Well, that’s kind of obvious. You made him a lot of money.”
“And what is it you want? Why are you telling me all this anyway?”
“Honestly? I couldn’t care less if the man gets you back or not. However, I understand the sentiment of wanting revenge after something’s been stolen from you. After all, no one likes their wallet being picked.”
“I don’t understand. I never took anything from you.”
“No, you didn’t. That’s why I’m willing to make a little deal with you.” The Madame brought herself to her full height and glared down at Josefina. “You didn’t steal anything from me, but Nacho most certainly did. You see, Colette was one of my girls… and no one takes anything from me without eventually paying for it. So, you have a choice. I know full well that Nacho has a little stash of go
ld somewhere – Colette herself told me about it. You’re going to get it for me as payment for losing one of my girls. In exchange, I’ll keep the men tied up long enough for you to slip away out of town.”
“What kind of plan is that?” Josefina asked, distraught. “I’m getting married next week.”
Madame Bonheur laughed. “Do you really think he’s going to marry you after he learns the truth?”
“Why not?” Josefina challenged. “As you already said – he married one of your girls.”
“True, but the man knew what he was getting involved with from the beginning. She didn’t lie about who she really was all the way up to her wedding day,” the Madame crowed. “You, darling, are so much worse than a dancing girl or a whore. You’re a lying one… with absolutely nothing to offer. I mean, even Colette had a card to play with that pregnancy of hers – God only knows who the father really was. She saw right through Ignacio Villanueva, though. She knew he’d step right up to the responsibility of playing dear daddy. But you… you have none of that to offer the man. Now add thievery to the list. Do you really think he’ll still marry you after you’ve stolen all his money, too?”
The room spun around Fina. She reached out and grabbed hold of the bed post to steady herself.
“Careful, my dear.” Madame Bonheur feigned concern. “We wouldn’t want you to lose that pretty little head of yours. At least, not until after we’ve carried out our plan. Oui?
Dazed, Josefina only nodded.
“Good,” her rival responded. “I overheard your plan for when you wish to marry. So, you have until the day before then.”
Madame Bonheur looked her up and down once and then shrugged, mumbling something about men having no taste as she left Fina standing there in the middle of the room, completely bewildered.
She numbly went about gathering her things to head out to the diner, her mind reeling. Surely there was something she could do to get out from under the Madame’s thumb – not to mention Hank’s – without betraying Ignacio in the process.
But what?
She was still rolling the question over in her mind as she departed La Maison and headed down the street, but was no closer to finding a solution when she finally reached her destination.
Nacho greeted her with a soft kiss on the hand. “Hola, chiquitita. I’ve been waiting all morning to see you. Come in out of the cold and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Josefina passed through the entrance, waving away his offer. “I couldn’t possibly eat anything right now.”
He examined her with a look of concern. “You are not getting ill. Are you?
“No.”
His apprehension heightened. “Are you getting nervous?”
“Nervous? What would I have to be nervous about?” she asked, fighting to keep the edge out of her voice.
“About the wedding. Is everything going well with the fitting? You know, it doesn’t matter to me how you look when we get married. I think you’re beautiful all the time.”
“Ay, Nacho. You say the sweetest things.” She looked away in an attempt to keep him from seeing the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes. “It just that… well, look! This place isn’t nearly finished and I was hoping to have it done before the dinner rush.”
“That’s no problem. It’s still several hours before the first customer will arrive… and the pork is already simmering in a pot. We’ll hang the rest of the paintings now and still be finished in enough time.”
“But how? We don’t even have all the paintings.”
Confused, Nacho looked around the restaurant. “I’m sure I packed all of them. Which one is missing?”
“La Virgen.”
“La Virgen? I thought you said that one had no business being in a restaurant. Too religious.”
“I changed my mind,” she explained. “With the new recipes and new year and everything else… Well, it’s like a whole new business. No crees? Don’t you think a new business needs a little blessing? Surely la Virgen looking down on us every day will do just that.”
Nacho raised his hands, shrugging. “Esta bien. If that’s what you want. I will ride out and pick it up right now.”
“No need to trouble yourself. I can do it.”
“Are you sure? First, you sprain your ankle and then you fall in the pond – not to mention that raccoon you had to fend off. Maybe it’s not such a good idea for you to be venturing off by yourself. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you – especially with the wedding only a few days away.”
“No te preocupes. No pasa nada.”
“It’s hard for me to not worry, amor. Those things that happened weren’t ‘nothing’ occurrences.”
Determined, she crossed her arms and frowned. “Por fa, Ignacio. It’s not like I’m going to be dancing around or trying to walk across the pond again. And I’m sure the raccoon is more afraid of me than I am of him by now. Besides, it’s not like you can protect me from everything. I’m sure there will be plenty of occasions in the future when I’ll have to make trips into town by myself – or remain at the homestead alone like the other night – and I’ll make due just like I did then… The same as I always have. I hope you don’t think that marrying you means you can start telling me what I can and cannot do.”
“Ya, Fina. It’s not that,” he defended himself. “I was only showing my concern. I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. If it will make you that much happier, then go on and get the painting. I’ll be here – hanging the rest of them. De acuerdo?”
“Thank you, Ignacio.” She embraced him, a small feeling of guilt worming its way through her. She felt bad for using the opportunity to go search for the gold – his gold coins. It was the only time she would be alone to do so, though. She excused herself. “I’ll return shortly.”
He followed her outside, helping her climb into the buckboard and then bid farewell. She tried calculating how much time she had to get out to the homestead and search for the money before he started worrying about what was taking her so long.
This is wrong, her conscience gnawed at her. What you’re doing is terrible – and you know it.
She tried to mentally shake away the thoughts echoing in her mind, but it was hard to deny the truth. No matter how much she tried to justify her actions, it didn’t change the fact that she was not only lying to Nacho, but she was stealing from him as well.
“It won’t be a lot,” she whispered to herself. “I’ll only take a few coins and tell Madame Bonheur that she’ll have to make do with the little I could find. Then I’ll still be free to marry Ignacio.”
But what about Hank Harvey?
She mulled the question over her mind as she pulled up to the homestead and climbed out of the wagon. She hadn’t been fortunate enough to have a copy of her contract with the saloon keeper, but there must have been some way out of it.
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” she mumbled and set out for the task at hand, entering the cabin to begin her search – so desperate to find the solution to her problems that she didn’t even shut the door behind her. However, even the cold air that blustered in behind her wasn’t enough to cool her hot pursuit of the money. Rationalizing that the raccoon had been downstairs when she first heard him, Fina figured that there was no need to search the bedrooms. Besides, she had already given both a thorough cleaning. Whatever the hiding spot was, it needed to be in either the sitting room or the kitchen.
She searched around the living room first – breaking a light sweat as she ran her hands along the fireplace mantle, bent low to peer under the chairs and table, and knelt on the floor to feel along the carpet, inch by inch, for any secret trapped doors.
Secret trapped doors?
Josefina stood and groaned.
“Estás loca? You can’t do this! What are you thinking?”
She plopped down in one of the chairs, burying her head in her hands. Madame Bonheur was right. If she took even a single coin, then there real
ly wouldn’t be any future with Nacho. Why hadn’t she trusted him to begin with? Maybe he would have understood. Maybe they could have—
She felt her chair suddenly tip back. A hand on her shoulder firmly clamped down on her.
“Wha—”
She turned just as the other large, calloused hand of a strange man clamped down over her mouth, thwarting her attempt to scream. Her feet left the ground as she was pulled right up out of the chair.
“Hello, Fina.” A deep voice commanded her attention. She turned her head what little she could and Hank came into view. He glowered at her, his long, auburn mane falling over his shoulder, making him look like a lion ready to attack. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
He motioned to the man holding her and he released her. She stared at him, shocked into silence.
“Well, aren’t you going to say hello?” he asked, feigning a friendly character.
Josefina swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Hello, Hank.”
The man clucked his tongue at her. “Aw, come on now. You can do better than that. Can’t you?”
He quickly grabbed her and pulled her close enough for her to smell his morning booze lingering on his breath. She turned her head just as he lowered his, missing her lips to plant a rough kiss on her cheek. He glared at her with disgust. “You know, you used to welcome my kisses.”
Finally finding her voice, she turned back to him. “That was before you started selling me out. Remember?”
“Hey, you didn’t have it so bad,” he said. “Not like some of the other women… Remember?”
He gave her a slick, sick smile that made her stomach churn. “I’m not like the other women.”
“You’re right. You’re not. That’s why I rode all the way out here with my men to find you.” He sighed and dug into his pocket to pull out a cigar. He bit the end of it and spit it out onto the floor beside the hearth. The man that had grabbed her rummaged about in his own pocket and pulled out a match. He lit it and then held it out for Hank. The man puffed on his stogy until the end turned cherry red. He blew out a thick cloud of smoke. “You’ve cost me a lot of coin, Fina. Money you’ll have to pay back somehow. In fact, I was here the other night to collect. I saw that Mexican fella leave and thought it might have been the perfect time to enter, but then I heard all kinds of thrashing going on and remembered how wild you could get sometimes.”