Kiss Of The Night Wind

by Taylor, Janelle

  “I’m certain I will, Mrs. Thayer. Thank you,” she responded. “What do you charge for rent and when is it due?”

  “I charge fifteen dollars a month for board and ten for food, due the first day of each month you plan to live here. You’ll be wanting to take your meals here because the restaurants are higher and my food is better.” She laughed merrily and her pale blue eyes twinkled. “Leave your key with me every Monday for changing bed linens and cleaning up your rooms. The other days are your responsibility. I don’t allow no cussing or drinking or misbehaving.” The fifty-year-old woman laughed again as if she’d told a joke. “There’s a laundress down the street who does a good job of washing and ironing, and her prices are cheap. It might be better to hire her rather than doing your own clothes. But if you like, you can use my washtub and iron. If you have a guest for a meal, it’s fifty cents extra. You can have gentlemen callers in the downstairs parlor, but you have to leave your door open for decency if a man visits you up here. Any more questions?”

  Carrie Sue returned the woman’s warm smile. She liked the grandmotherly landlady. “Today’s the eleventh, so how much do I owe you for May?”

  “The town council is paying until the fifteenth, then you can pay for half a month’s charges. If you need anything, let me know. I have to get back to my supper. We’ll talk more over a hot meal.”

  The moment the owner left, Carrie Sue examined her surroundings. The front room, a small private parlor, was clean and decorated nicely. It contained a short couch against one wall and matching chair in a floral print on one corner. Beside each was a round table with a glass lamp. In the middle of the floor before the couch was a thick rug which looked several years old but was in excellent condition. In another corner was a desk and chair, and Carrie Sue wondered if this set of rooms had been reserved for the new schoolmarm, or had Martin Ferris requested it after meeting her earlier? She wanted to know what he and his man had said, and what the man had told the owner of this fine boarding house.

  There was a window on one side of the room which overlooked a side street. The bedroom had two windows for fresh air, one which looked out over that same side street and one which overlooked a quiet back street. Situated away from the main section of Tucson, it should be a serene home. The structure, two stories high, was built of sturdy wood. The walls were covered with a pale floral wallpaper and the woodwork was painted a light yellow, giving the rooms an airy and bright effect which appealed to Carrie Sue. The floors were scrubbed and the furniture was polished. It was clear that Mrs. Thayer took good care of her property and would expect her guests to do the same.

  The bedroom was furnished with a double bed, a small side table with an oil lamp, a braided rug, a squatty chest with a second oil lamp, and a washstand with a pitcher and bowl and a mirror mounted over it. Surprisingly the room had a large closet for storage, which meant no hanging of clothes behind a curtain in one corner.

  Carrie Sue twirled around, eyeing everything once more. Her daring ruse was working! Everyone believed her! At last, her dreams were coming true. She had a real home.

  She lifted a bag to the bed to begin unpacking. A knock on her door halted her. She froze and panicked. Then, she heard Mrs. Thayer call out to her. Carrie Sue took several deep breaths to steady her jittery nerves before she opened the door to find Martin Ferris’s two men standing there with the older woman.

  “They brought up the trunk which you had sent ahead. Carry it into the bedroom, boys. After you unpack it, if you don’t have space for it in your closet or bedroom, you can store it in my shed out back.”

  “You’re most kind, Mrs. Thayer. In all the excitement yesterday and today, I almost forgot about it. Thank you,” she told the men as they departed.

  Mrs. Thayer remarked, “They told me about the holdup and Indian attack. You’ve had a rough time getting here, but you’re gonna like Tucson. Why don’t you relax in a nice bath before supper? You can settle in tomorrow when you’re rested.”

  “That’s an excellent suggestion,” Carrie Sue responded.

  “You’ll find towels and soap in the water closet. Don’t forget to wash out the tub when you’re done. There’s a chamber pot under your bed. I have a Mexican girl who empties them every morning and helps me around here. You’ll meet her tomorrow.”

  After Mrs. Thayer’s second departure, Carrie Sue fetched her string-purse and retrieved the key to the lock on the trunk. First thing, she needed to make certain there were no clues inside of it to her and Carolyn’s identities. If so, they must be destroyed immediately.

  To Carrie Sue’s surprise, the clothes inside the trunk were prettier and nicer than the ones in Carolyn’s travel bags. She examined each one with pleasure and interest. There was even a riding skirt and three lovely nightgowns. Of course, there were more books, and one picture: Carolyn with her family. Carrie Sue studied it and decided it had been made several years ago. She hated to get rid of it, but she looked nothing like the parents or girl there.

  Taking her knife from another bag, Carrie Sue entered the closet and knelt. She searched for a loosened board on the floor and found one. As quietly as possible, she worked it free. In the space between her floor and the ceiling of the room below, she concealed the picture and her weapons. She had the most trouble with her rifle, which barely fit because of the support beams. With great caution, she replaced the board and sat the empty bag atop the disturbed area. The clothes from it were placed inside the chest of drawers to be sorted later.

  After deciding which dress to wear tonight, she put the other bags near the large trunk at the foot of the bed. Tonight, she would bathe, eat, and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow she could unpack at her leisure, after her meeting with Martin Ferris.

  Chapter Four

  Friday morning, Carrie Sue dressed with great care for her meeting. She donned a lovely pale blue day dress from Carolyn’s trunk and placed a matching sunbonnet on the bed, which was straightened neatly. As she brushed her hair, her mind drifted back to last night.

  Her lengthy bath had been wonderful, but she hadn’t washed her hair because there hadn’t been enough time for it to dry before supper. She had met the other guests during a splendid meal. Mrs. Thayer had not boasted deceitfully about her cooking, and Carrie Sue had savored each bite of chicken and dumplings.

  On the second floor were two more sets of rooms similar to hers and two single rooms for traveling men, who “don’t need as much space as a woman or a couple,” according to the genial owner. One set was occupied by a young couple who was awaiting the completion of their new home; they were too much in love and excited over their bright future to take much notice of her. Another was occupied by a couple whose home had recently burned; they were too depressed to take much notice of her. One of the single rooms was rented by a man who was having his home repaired and painted for his bride-to-be who was to arrive soon from El Paso, and he couldn’t stop talking about her. The other single room was vacant. Mrs. Thayer’s private rooms, into which she invited very few people, were located on one side of the first floor. The other side of the large house contained a kitchen, dining area, large social parlor, and a small sitting room for privacy.

  There was a storage shed built against a small barn for the residents’ horses, to the rear of which was a small corral. At the back of the house had been attached two more single rooms, both of which were rented by men who were going to be in Tucson long enough to make staying here cheaper than renting hotel rooms. Both men—one married and one single—were taken by Carrie Sue’s beauty and presence, and each did his best to obtain her full attention until the evening ended.

  Mrs. Thayer had introduced her to everyone at supper and had shown her around afterwards. Carrie Sue had been impressed by the woman’s property and success. She had learned of Mr. Thayer’s death a few years back and of the woman’s determination to keep the boarding house.

  The redhead braided her hair again, twisted it into a ball near her nape, and covered it
with a thick brown net from Carolyn’s trunk so only her fiery bangs were exposed. Carrie Sue checked her image in the mirror and smiled; it was an excellent disguise for her flaming locks. Once her sunbonnet was in place, she concluded happily, no one would be overly aware of her hair. It would be wise to do this every day.

  Last night she had gone to sleep thinking about Darby and T.J., wondering what both men were doing. To imagine never seeing either one again pained her deeply. Was freedom worth such a high price? She thought about the horror stories of women in prison and—

  Someone knocked at her door and interrupted her mental study. She tensed, but not as much as she had yesterday afternoon. She was far away from Texas and her crimes. She had been accepted here as the new schoolmarm. She had fooled everyone. She had to calm her fears and worries. She was Carolyn Starns now, and forever.

  But what would happen if she opened her door one day to find Quade Harding standing there, or one of his hired hunters? The lovely fugitive reprimanded herself for her cowardice. If it happened, it happened, and she must deal with it that day! She couldn’t live her new life in constant terror of discovery and capture. Yet, realistically she knew she would be looking over her shoulder for a long time.

  The knock came again. Carrie Sue responded to find a dark-haired girl standing there. “Señor Ferris waits downstairs for you.”

  “You must be Maria Corbeza, Mrs. Thayer’s helper,” Carrie Sue hinted. The young girl smiled shyly and nodded. “Tell him I will be down shortly. Thank you, Maria.”

  Carrie Sue checked her appearance once more, gathered her hat and purse, and went to join the man. She assumed he was picking her up to escort her to a council meeting.

  Martin Ferris had other plans in mind. Carrie Sue found him awaiting her in the private parlor. “Sit down, Miss Starns, and well complete our business quickly. Then, I can show you around.”

  “What about the rest of the town council? Don’t they wish to meet me and question me?” she inquired.

  “It isn’t necessary. They trust my opinion. Would you care for some coffee or hot tea?” he inquired, as if this were his home.

  “No, thank you. What do you need to know about me that wasn’t included in our correspondence?” she asked, getting down to business.

  “Relax, Miss Starns, there’s no rush, or need to be afraid.” Carrie Sue didn’t like his tone or his lecherous gaze. “I’m certain we’ll become very good friends. If you satisfy me, the rest of the town council will go along with my wishes.”

  Carrie Sue recognized his kind of man. He was a cruel and greedy tyrant who took advantage of weaker people, especially defenseless females. She wanted and needed this job badly, but not badly enough to cow to a man like this! With Carolyn’s money and identity and credentials, and with her determination and wits, she could find another job, even another town farther west, if this one didn’t work out as expected. She couldn’t allow him to get the upper hand this early in their relationship, or she would have trouble with him from now on! She had to be firm, but cautious.

  In a pleasant tone and with a calm expression, she asked, “Why should I be frightened, Mr. Ferris? Either you hire me or you don’t. If not, I can look elsewhere. From your recent experience, I’m sure you realize that well-trained teachers are in great demand these days and that it’s difficult to lure them to a town in the desert. One point confuses me—it was my understanding that I had already been hired through the mail by Mr. Payne. Am I mistaken?”

  Martin Ferris studied her intently, especially her eyes and hair. “Not exactly, Miss Starns. But I do need to interview you further before placing the children of our town in your hands.”

  “How many children do you have, sir?”

  “None,” he responded, but not a glimmer of sadness was exposed in his piercing brown eyes.

  “You’ve never been married?”

  “My wife met with a fatal accident years ago and I haven’t remarried. I’m sorry to say she was unable to give me children.”

  Carrie Sue mentally scoffed, Just like you to blame her for having weak seeds! “Ask your questions because I would like to get our matter settled as quickly as possible. I’ve had a long journey and I’m still fatigued. Too, I have a great deal of unpacking and planning to do.”

  “Right to the point—I like that in a person. I’ve gone over your credentials and correspondence. You didn’t say why you left St. Louis.”

  “Another woman wanted my job, and she had a powerful father who made certain she got it. I can assure you the school there will suffer greatly for hiring her; she isn’t as qualified as I am.” Carrie Sue wanted to demand, if you read the correspondence, why don’t you know those facts? Fortunately Carolyn had kept a copy of every letter to and from this town, so the redhead knew Martin was lying.

  “Confidence and courage are good traits to have, Miss Starns. I’m certain every word you’ve spoken and written is the truth.” He watched for her reactions as he continued. “The salary is one hundred dollars a month. I know you were quoted sixty in the letter, but I convinced the council that isn’t enough for a lady to live on in Tucson. It’s a growing town, getting more expensive every week.” Naturally Martin didn’t tell her he was supplying the additional forty dollars, not yet anyway.

  “I’m delighted to learn your town council is so generous and wise, Mr. Ferris. Most teachers are terribly underpaid for the difficult job they perform. The salary is most agreeable. What else?”

  “The school is open Monday through Friday from eight until four. Since the children have been without a teacher for some time, we expect you to begin classes on June fifth. You can give them August off, then resume teaching in September. That allows you three weeks to get the schoolhouse in order and get settled here. I’m sure you know from experience that the care and cleaning of the schoolhouse is part of your job, unless you hire a helper from your salary. You will also receive a small budget for supplies. Is that part also agreeable?”

  “Certainly.”

  “There will be a trial period of two months, June and July. If all goes well, your position becomes permanent in September. I have been appointed to drop in occasionally to observe your methods and control of the children. We do expect good results, Miss Starns.”

  Appointed, my rump! Carrie Sue’s mind refuted. She didn’t need to spend time and energy on this offensive distraction when she had so much to do! “I assure you that you’ll have them, Mr. Ferris. But it’s my policy to hold a parent’s day once every month so they can see how their children are progressing. At that time, any problem either of us has can be discussed and resolved. I’m afraid your presence in the classroom would be most distracting to the students. Most of them, especially the older ones, are shy about participation in front of strange adults. I’m certain you don’t wish to disrupt the class over something you can observe one Saturday a month.”

  Carrie Sue sensed the man’s annoyance at her quick wits and obstinance. She had been playing Carolyn Starns for weeks and her old life seemed far away, so she had the courage to battle him.

  The well-dressed man stood and said, “I’ll show you the schoolhouse if you’ll follow me.”

  Carrie Sue tied the ribbons of her sunbonnet beneath her chin and trailed Martin Ferris to the door. A carriage was waiting outside with a driver, a black man who was as neatly dressed as his boss. Martin turned to assist her into the carriage. Carrie Sue did not want to sit so close to him, so she suggested, “Is it within walking distance? I can use the exercise.”

  “It isn’t far, but you must learn to be careful in this sun. It can be a killer. Newcomers don’t realize the danger because the heat dries up warning perspiration so quickly. Always remember to keep plenty of drinking water available for you and the children. We’ll take the carriage today, so we can head on into town afterwards.”

  “I would ra-”

  Martin did not let her finish her refusal. “There are plenty of people eager to meet you, and you need to learn your w
ay around. I promised to bring you by for introductions after our talk.”

  The desperado did not believe him, but she couldn’t call. him a liar. She reasoned politely, “Couldn’t we make our visits tomorrow or Sunday after I’ve settled in?”

  “Some of the council members and important people live outside of town. It’s best to catch them at their stores and offices today.”

  Carrie Sue felt trapped by the ride and his demands, but she had to yield. “As you wish, Mr. Ferris.”

  The wealthy man thought it was the bright sun which made the beauty beside him squint her eyes, tighten her lips, and flush her cheeks. He did not know that the exquisite redhead had a temper as fiery as her hair, one which Carrie Sue had learned to leash on most occasions. He felt the heat of her body, touching his from thigh to shoulder, and passion for her blazed into life.

  They reached the schoolhouse soon, three blocks away, an easy walk for anyone except a man who didn’t like to sweat or work. It was a stark wooden structure. The boards were weathered by harsh nature and its dull facade was unappealing. If schools were prettier, perhaps children wouldn’t be so frightened by them! she mused as she followed Martin’s lead around the outside of the building. There were windows on all sides for fresh air flow, including one near the apex of the front roof and one in the same place on the back to allow the rising hot air to escape.

  The earth around it was dry, rocky and nearly barren, except for a tall saguaro cactus near the front door and a few small scrubs here and there. A bell beneath a cover was attached to the roof near the front, and two steps—over which was nailed a sign that read “Tucson School”—led inside to the one large room. Behind the school was an outhouse which looked as if it would collapse if it weren’t repaired soon.