"That's right, wait until I've done all the work," Zac said, panting from his exertions. He grabbed Lily and pulled her to him. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine. We've got to release Jack. Can we free the rest of the men, too?"
"That's right, don't ask me if I'm okay. I've only had to fight off two men the size of Telegraph Hill, and all you can think about is Jack Lofton."
"But I can see you're fine."
"My hands aren't fine," Zac said holding them up for her to see. "It was like hitting a brick wall."
Lily dropped the pistol, which fortunately didn't go off, and took his hands in hers. "You're bleeding. Do they hurt?"
"Of course they hurt."
"You poor man. As soon as we get back to the saloon, I'll bathe them in warm water and wrap them in soft bandages."
Lily should have known better. Zac reacted like every other man. He wanted sympathy, but when he got it, he didn't know what to do with it.
"It's not as bad as it looks. They'll be just fine. We've got to get you and your friends out of here."
"Don't forget Jack."
"How can I with you shouting his name in my ear every five seconds."
He looked around, but the fight was over. Someone had brought the captured men on deck. Asa had found the keys and was unlocking their manacles one by one. Zac collected his pistols from the dock and from Mrs. Thoragood.
"Get them on their feet," he said to Sarah and Julie of Harold and Hezekiah. "We've got to get out of here. This whole area is about to go up in flames."
Several more ships had been set afire. Kitty embraced her husband when he stumbled down the gangplank into her arms, but the other men looked lost.
"We can't just abandon these men," Lily said.
"Hezekiah and Mr. Thoragood can take them back to the church," Zac said. "Feed them, get them some new clothes, and let them sleep around the clock."
"We're not equipped to take care of so many men," Sarah Thoragood objected.
"I don't imagine they'll stay very long," Zac said. "They must have families of their own."
"They can stay as long as they need," Hezekiah said. "No one will be turned out."
Sarah and Harold Thoragood looked at each other, but neither dared contradict Hezekiah.
"Well come on," Zac said. "We need to hurry."
Men were racing all around them. She could see boats full of them moving silently through the water.
"Where did all of these men come from?" she asked Zac.
"The Little Corner of Heaven and dozens of other saloons," Zac said. "They heard you were in danger, and they came to help."
"But we're safe now."
"A lot of men have disappeared in the Barbary Coast, many of them brothers and friends. I think they mean to find as many as possible tonight."
THE BAY CHRONICLE
San Francisco, July 27th
An event unique in the history of San Francisco occurred last night along the docks situated near Clay Street. A large number of men, apparently mostly from saloons and gambling houses in the vicinity of Pacific Street, attacked about two dozen ships suspected of having shanghaied men from the dives in the Barbary Coast. The mob beat the crews, released the captives, then set fire to the ships known to be using forced labor. Their captains were forced to watch before being thrown into the bay.
Although it's the policy of this paper to deplore violence, this reporter is glad to see something finally being done to curb this terrible practice of shanghaiing hapless visitors to our city and condemning them to a life chained to the bottom of some ship.
No one seems to know who or what set the events of last night into motion, but it's rumored that a woman marched down to the docks to demand the release of her husband. I've been unable to confirm this rumor, but several observers remember a striking blond woman. No one has come forward to identify her.
"But why are we moving to the hotel?" Lily asked. "You hate it there. You've never wanted to be away from the saloon."
"Because of this," Zac said, tossing the newspaper at her.
"I've already seen that, and I don't see--"
"You never have," Zac said, sticking his head out of his closet, where he was systematically removing everything from drawers and hangers. "From the moment you set foot in this town, you haven't understood anything I've tried to tell you."
"For goodness sakes, Zac, the paper doesn't say a thing that didn't happen. I'd be proud for them to know I was responsible for helping put an end to such reprehensible practices."
"See! That's exactly what I mean. You don't care if your name becomes a byword for half the city to toss around over beer and cards. You don't care if half the men in the Coast recognize you on the streets. You'd probably stop and ask about their wives or beg them to bring their babies over to the saloon so you could hold them for an hour or two."
"I can't help it if I like babies," Lily said, "and I'm not ashamed to know or be known by any man as long as he's honest and--"
"That's just it!" Zac shouted. "They're not honest. They're not honorable. You shouldn't know them or their babies."
"You know them."
"I'm a man."
"Why should that make any difference?"
"That's something else. You persist in thinking a woman can do anything a man can do. Just because everybody in Salem knows you and looks out for you, you expect the same thing to happen here. It won't. They'll be more likely to take advantage of you. Half of them would cut your throat for the price of your clothes. Can you imagine what Captain Borger would have done with you?"
"I knew you would come."
Zac understood why some men could be reduced to pulling their hair out by the handful. It did no good to explain things to Lily. She simply saw everything in a different light. So far it had proved impossible to convince her that her view of life in San Francisco was flawed. She was certain she had right on her side. She was also convinced that was going to make everything okay. Zac had done all he could to make her understand that wasn't so, but she wouldn't listen. He had no choice. He had to move to the hotel and keep her there. Maybe if she never came near the saloon again, she wouldn't get one of them killed.
"You were right when you said it wasn't proper for a man and his wife to live apart. We should have moved into the hotel the minute we got married."
Lily's smile was so radiant he felt like a criminal for not being able to say he was moving to the hotel because he loved her so desperately he couldn't think of being separated from her.
"Now you'd better go say good-bye to all the girls. You won't be seeing them again."
"Why?"
"You won't be coming back here."
"But surely--"
"You don't think I'm moving into that hotel so you can keep on coming here, do you?"
"But there's no reason for me to stop working here."
"Yes, there is. I'm about to introduce you to society, what I should have done in the first place. They won't let you in the door if they know you run off to a gambling saloon every chance you get."
"Will they let you in?"
"Rich men can do all kinds of things women can't."
"Especially if they're good looking."
"It helps."
"Suppose I don't like these people?"
"You will. Besides, I expect Fern and Madison to arrive any day. Fern can take you around. She knows everybody."
"I thought you were going to be with me."
"I am, but I can't be there all the time."
He supposed she'd be more resigned if he told her he'd be at her side every minute, but he couldn't. He still had to take care of business. In fact, he ought to be downstairs right now.
"You're making a mess of your clothes," Lily said. "You'll never be able to wear them again without being pressed."
He tossed the last of the clothes on a chair with complete disregard for wrinkles. He had never been able to pack.
"It doesn't matter. I'll get
everything repressed after we get to the hotel. I've got to get dressed. I should have already been downstairs.”
* * * * *
Lily watched Zac get ready to go to the saloon.
"I can't sit around here doing nothing all day," Lily said while he tied his tie.
"Don't worry. You'll soon have lots of new friends. You'll be going places and doing things with them." He adjusted his tie to his satisfaction then started to brush his hair.
"I want to do something useful, not spend the day shopping or talking about somebody else's children."
"Ask Daisy. She knows--"
"Daisy's too busy to worry about me. Please, Zac, why can't I help you with the saloon? I was happy doing that."
Zac turned around and looked at her with a sternness she'd come to dread. "You're not returning to the saloon, and that's final." His look softened. "I know things are hard for you just now, but you'll soon be so busy you'll hardly believe you complained about having nothing to do." He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "I've got to run."
"Do you want me to wait up for you?"
He took her in his arms and kissed her again. "No. I'll be late as usual. Just make sure you've got everything packed."
Whenever she was in Zac's arms, Lily could almost believe things were going to work out. He had such a satisfying way of holding her tightly against his body. For a few moments, she was his and there was no doubt about it.
She liked his kisses even better. He would begin by playfully kissing her eyelids, nibbling her ear lobe, nipping her neck with his teeth. But it was never long before his lips found her mouth. The kiss would begin slowly, languorously and then quickly change into something hot and breathless as their bodies pressed hard against each other, as their tongues danced sinuously, darting, tasting, exploring. It never failed to leave them breathless.
"Now I've got to go," Zac said, holding her away from him, his breath gradually returning to normal. "Get a good night's sleep. I'll be back about six o'clock." He winked.
Lily felt all the warmth go out of the room when she closed the door behind Zac. Her life as his wife had been reduced to parties she didn't want to attend, a quick kiss at night, and lovemaking in the morning when she was half asleep and he was dog tired.
Zac desired her, but he didn't love her. It was time she stopped trying to kid herself. Every time something happened that seemed to bring them closer together, she'd be certain he loved her, or was on the verge of loving her, or would soon start to love her. Yet it was clear from what he'd just said, he was still setting her apart from him.
She'd thought when he came to the dock after her, when he'd fought so hard to protect her, it meant he loved her. Now she realized it was merely Southern chivalry. She should have seen that. She'd been around it all her life. Her father would have done the same thing. Zac thought he was protecting her, but he was keeping her and the saloon in separate corners of his life. She wanted all of him, but he offered only part.
Zac was just as stubborn and obtuse as her father, but he covered it up better. When her father smiled at you, he always seemed about to correct you for some misdeed. What Zac smiled at you, you felt like committing a few extra misdeeds.
Maybe that's what caused her to marry him, not her arrogant decision to save his soul. She couldn't think of that now without embarrassment. Zac had never wanted a wife. He had never wanted to be married. Her being married to him hadn't changed his behavior in the least -- if it even needed changing.
She didn't know a thing about saving people. She had no right to assume she knew what was best for someone else. She'd made a terrible mess of her own life. She had no reason to believe she could do better with someone else's.
There was only one thing to do. She had to leave Zac. She had to divorce him. She couldn't deny him the chance to find a woman he could love completely, one who didn't drive him crazy.
A sob escaped her throat. She didn't think she could stand it. She might have come into this marriage the wrong way and for all the wrong reasons, but it would be impossible for her to love Zac any more deeply. She didn't know how she could stand to let him go. She found she was not nearly so selfless as she had believed.
Instantly visions of Zac blissfully happy in the arms of some beautiful brunette assaulted her mind. She saw children, a big house with a view of the bay, Zac proudly at the center of it all. It was too much. With a choking sob, she fell on the bed.
When Lily had finally cried herself out, she got up, washed her face, and sat down to think.
* * * * *
Zac's footsteps dragged along the corridor. He was more exhausted than ususal. He had to get someone to help him with the saloon. Maybe he could talk Dodie into coming back. He certainly couldn't leave Lily to anyone else. Every time he did, it was disastrous.
He also had to do something about finding Windy Dumbarton. He guessed it was time to think about hiring a Pinkerton. With the changes in his life, he didn't have time to dash around San Francisco peering into every bar and dive. He was desperate to make sure the marriage was properly registered. He simply couldn't face explaining to Lily why they had to do it all over again.
He entered the room without turning on the light. He undressed in a hurry. He wanted to get a few hours sleep before he had to move to the hotel. He wasn't looking forward to that, either Lily's reluctance or the explanations Daisy would demand of him. He'd sent her a message saying they were coming, but that was never enough for Daisy. She had to know everything.
Zac knew Lily wasn't there the minute he got into bed. He reached across the bed but wasn't surprised when his hand encountered nothing but cold bedsheets.
He jumped out of bed and turned on the light. The room was empty. His clothes were no longed piled all over the chairs and sofa. He looked in his closet. Everything was neatly restored to its place. Everything except Lily's clothes. They were gone.
He raced out of the room and was halfway down the hall before he realized he was naked. Cursing, he hurried back, threw on a robe, and practically ran to Kitty's room. He pounded on the door without regard for the dozens of girls sunk into exhausted sleep before he remembered that Kitty no longer lived in the saloon. Cursing again, he raced up and down the hall until he came to Leadville Lizzie's room.
"Go away," called an irate voice in response to his pounding on the door.
"Open up, it's Zac."
When the door didn't open immediately, he started pounding again.
"Keep your britches on. I'm coming."
The door opened a crack. A face devoid of color, hair in a purple gauze net, peered at him.
"What's wrong? The place burning down?"
"Lily's not in our room. Do you know where she went? Did she go to the hotel already?"
Lizzie's eyes gradually focused. When they did, her expression turned hard. "No, she didn't go to no hotel. She moved back to Bella's. She's left you."
* * * * *
Zac's heels thudded angrily on the boardwalk. He could hardly believe that after all he'd done for her, Lily had left him. He'd be the laughing stock of San Francisco. The sophisticated lady's man turned out by a naive innocent from the mountains. That ought to keep people tittering for months.
All because he wanted her to move into the hotel! Hell, he liked her more than any woman he'd ever known. After turning up without an invitation and trapping him into marriage, that was more than she had any right to expect.
But she wanted to stay in the saloon. She wanted to work, to feel useful, or nothing else mattered.
Well, she'd soon find a great deal more mattered. When she did, she'd be damned sorry. She'd come to him on her knees. He'd take her back, but he'd make her suffer a little bit first. Nobody treated Zac Randolph like an old shoe.
Not even a female who'd managed to work herself firmly into his thoughts, waking and sleeping.
* * * * *
Bella was furious at being waked up.
"What are you doing here at this time of night?"
Bella demanded.
"It's morning," Zac pointed out. "See, the sun's up."
"That still doesn't explain what you're doing here."
"I want to see Lily."
"Don't be absurd. She's asleep." Bella's eyes narrowed. "Besides, why should I let you see her? You must have done something awful to make her run away."
"Let's get one thing straight right now," Zac said. He was in no mood to tolerate Bella's interference. "I'm going to see Lily. Either I see her in your parlor and we have a nice quiet conversation, or I see her in her room whether you're screaming at me or not."
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
"I want to talk to her. She ran off leaving a lot of questions unanswered."
"You can't go around bullying people."
"I'm not bullying her, but she is my wife."
"I don't think she realizes that."
"That concerns us, not you. Now are you going to ask her to come down, or am I going up?"
* * * * *
Lily was in bed when Bella knocked on her door, but she wasn't asleep. She hadn't been able to sleep all night.
"Zac's downstairs," Bella said.
That didn't surprise her. She had been expecting him. "Did you tell him I didn't want to see him?"
"Sure I did, but Zac never listens to what he doesn't want to hear. I'm afraid you're going to have to come down. He won't leave."
Lily would have given just about anything not to have to talk to Zac just now. She knew it was cowardly, but it had taken all of her courage to leave the hotel. She didn't know if she had enough left to face Zac. She threw back the covers, and got out of bed.
"You want me to go with you?" Bella asked.
Lily reached for her robe. "Yes, but this is something I must do alone. What I have to say may hurt him."
"You can't hurt Zac Randolph. Nobody can. He doesn't have any feelings."
She wrapped the robed around her and tied the sash. "Yes, he does. He just keeps them well hidden. People like that are harder to reach. But when you do, they're more vulnerable."
"You couldn't prove it by me, but I guess you know him better than I do."
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