The Courting of Widow Shaw

by Charlene Sands

  “I didn’t bring you up here to seduce you,” he stated plainly.

  “I hope that’s true because there could never be anything between us. I am nothing to you.”

  Steven shot his head up and she witnessed the flash in his eyes. “You’re wrong about that, Glory. You are something to me.”

  “What could I possibly be to you?”

  Steven peered out the curtain one last time. He faced her again and spoke with purpose. “You’re my…responsibility.”

  Chapter Nine

  Gloria sat on her bed in Rainbow house, too restless to sleep. It had been two nights since Steven had taken her to Piper’s Opera House. Two nights since he’d carefully escorted her home, leaving her at the bedroom threshold, his farewell a polite tip of his hat. She’d endured two lonely nights without Steven, so when the knock resounded this evening, Gloria bounded up and moved toward the door with unwelcome eagerness. She shouldn’t want to see him. She shouldn’t anticipate his company. It was best that Gloria keep her distance, but gladness filled her heart thinking of Steven on the other side of the door. She opened the door and stared into the somber face of Lorene Harding.

  She swallowed hard and stood like a statue in her nightclothes at the bedroom door. Seeing Steven’s mother this evening was the last thing she had expected. Although she knew the woman would arrive home soon, Gloria had banished their eventual meeting from her thoughts.

  And now, Mrs. Harding faced her with a Bible in her hand. She stood with stately grace, wearing an elegant gown, her once-blond hair silvering at the temples. Her dark eyes were rich with color, so much like her son’s. “Hello, Gloria Mae.”

  Gloria flinched at the familiar tone the woman took with her. Her shoulders stiff, she didn’t know how to respond. She was living here in her house, eating her food and taking refuge in Steven’s bedroom, although she hadn’t seen him since their time at Piper’s Opera House. “Mrs. Harding.”

  “I want you to know that I’m glad Steven took you in. He did the right thing. I know all about your troubles, the girls filled me in. But that’s not why I’m here now.”

  Gloria swallowed. Mrs. Harding, the woman whom she’d scorned since the day her father died, spoke to her with softness in her tone, a generosity Gloria couldn’t return. “Why are you here?”

  “It’s Merry. I’m afraid she took a heavy dose of drugs. She’s in a bad way.”

  “Oh! Dear Lord.” Gloria pressed her hand to her heart. “What happened?”

  “I suppose she got her heart set on this young fella, Bud McKenzie. And the man came here tonight, telling her he couldn’t see her anymore. He’s marrying one of those picture brides he sent for.”

  “Oh, mercy. Merry was so sure he’d marry her.”

  “Ruby told me she’d warned her over and over not to get her hopes up. I’ve done the same myself.”

  “Well, how is she? Is she going to live?”

  “We had the doctor come out. He purged her stomach, but she’s weak. I’m afraid she’s lost the will to live.”

  “Dear Lord, that poor girl.” Gloria’s heart ached at the thought of the rejection and terrible disappointment that young red-haired girl must have endured tonight. Gloria shook her head, distressed at this turn of events.

  Lorene peered down at the Bible she held. “The girls said you’re good with prayers, just like your father.” She glanced up to meet her eyes. “Would you sit with Merry and say a prayer?”

  “Of course. Just let me get dressed.”

  “Here, please take this. You’ll need it.” She handed her the Bible. “Ruby, Emmie and Carmen are sitting with her now, but I think you’ll have the words to help her.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Gloria said before closing the door. A tear dripped from her eye, then another. Gloria couldn’t weep now. She had to be strong for Merry’s sake. She wiped away her tears quickly then dressed. Lifting the Bible again, she noted a marked page. She opened to a verse of Matthew, finding the marker that held the page of interest.

  It was funny, but she was sure her father had one just like it, Gloria thought, glancing at a thin strip of white lace with an embroidered red rose in the center. He used to mark all of his pages with it.

  But that marker had been set inside his Bible on his favorite verse and placed in her father’s hand when he’d been buried.

  Gloria shook off that thought for the moment. She dashed out of her room and raced down the stairs to Merry’s room with the light yellow door.

  When she opened the door, all eyes shifted to her and then to the Bible in her hand. Carmen walked over to her and squeezed her hand tenderly. “It is good that you came. Sit with Merry. She is in need of your prayers.”

  Gloria nodded and took the seat closest to the bed. She glanced at the ladies surrounding her. All of them were there now, waiting with hope-filled eyes. “Merry needs all of our prayers.”

  Gloria peered down at the fragile young woman in the bed. Seeing her freckles fading into the paleness of her wan skin, Gloria ached deep inside. She took hold of Merry’s cold hand. “Merry, it’s me… Glory.”

  She didn’t mind using the name everyone at Rainbow House insisted on calling her, since she was beginning to think of herself that way as well. Besides, Merry knew her as Glory and that was fine with her at the moment.

  Merry opened her eyes. She spoke slowly, like a child just learning how to formulate sentences. “Bud…isn’t…coming…back.” She closed her eyes. “Ever.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. We’re all sorry. All of your friends are here. And Lorene, she’s here, too. And the Lord is with you. The Lord wants you to live. He wants you to get better.”

  “I am not…the Lord’s child.”

  “Yes, yes you are. All of us are. He loves you.”

  “Nobody…loves…me.”

  “Oh, yes, many love you. The Lord loves all of his children. But we love you, too. All of the girls are here, praying for you. Will you listen to my prayers?”

  Merry opened eyes devoid of life.

  It was the best answer she would get, so Glory opened the Bible and went to Psalm 116. She began reading quietly, “I love the Lord, because he hears my voice and my supplications. Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I shall call upon him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!’ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate…”

  Glory read until well after Merry’s face grew peaceful and she fell into a deep sleep.

  Ruby rested a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, Glory.”

  The other women as well, took turns to speak to her with kindness, thanking her for her prayers.

  When the room emptied, Glory turned to find Lorene watching her. They stared at each other for a time. Glory’s heart and mind filled with such sorrow and regret, and it appeared, Lorene Harding, too, mirrored her feelings.

  “I’ll sit with her through the night,” Glory said, shifting back to face a sleeping Merry.

  “I know how you feel about me and the girls here. But as you can see, we aren’t such a bad lot. We all have feelings, just like those you consider decent folk.”

  Glory lowered her head, her thoughts swirling around like a threatening thunderstorm, moving far too fast to make much sense of them.

  “Merry ran away from the farmlands in Kansas when she was fifteen,” Lorene explained. “She wanted to live a different life, to see something of the world, but things didn’t go as she’d hoped. If I hadn’t taken her in, she’d be on the streets now, or in one of the awful cribs barely making enough money to feed or clothe herself.”

  Glory’s insides quaked. She still couldn’t fathom what manner of desperation would bring a girl down so far that she’d take her own life. “Shouldn’t there be more than that?”

  “Yes, for some. But Merry had no skills and no means of support.”
>
  “You could have sent her home,” Glory said firmly.

  “I tried. She didn’t want to go home.”

  Glory turned to Lorene. “I’ll never understand that.” She waved her arm in the air and spoke with quiet resolve. “Or what goes on here.”

  “I know.” Lorene put her hand on the doorknob. Before exiting the room she added, “But don’t judge the girls too harshly. They all have their reasons. And so did I.”

  Glory sat with Merry that night and into the morning. She’d asked Mattie to bring some supper up, and she managed to spoon-feed Merry a portion of broth. And when Merry was up to it, Glory got her talking, willing her to hang on to the life she was so eager to discard. They talked for hours about anything and everything, important matters and frivolous things. By the end of the third day, Merry had improved considerably.

  “Want some more soup?” Glory asked.

  Merry shook her head. “My stomach’s still acting up.”

  Glory grasped Merry’s hand and a sad smile played on her lips. “Morphine and laudanum will do that to a stomach.”

  Merry sighed heavily. “I guess that was a pretty stupid thing to do.”

  “As long as you don’t ever do that again.”

  Merry looked away, toward the window, but night had fallen so she stared blankly into the hollow darkness. “I might have if it wasn’t for you.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  “It’s just that… I loved Bud McKenzie. He hurt me real bad.”

  Glory sat in deep concentration, recalling so many of her father’s teachings. She’d been her father’s pupil, learning the scriptures well and remembering how truly wise her father had been. “My father once told me that the only true and pure love is with the Lord. That sometimes earthly love fails you. My mama died giving birth to me. I think that’s what he meant. And for me, well, my marriage to Boone failed me. So maybe Father was right. Although, sometimes I question my own faith and the Lord’s wisdom.”

  “You?” Merry asked, snapping her head around, her eyes sparking with great surprise.

  “Yes, Merry. I’m afraid I’m not entirely like my father. I couldn’t devote my life to my faith, not after the way he died,” she confessed solemnly.

  “You blamed us for his death and tried to shut us down.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “And yet you helped me. If it wasn’t for you,” Merry began, tears welling up in her eyes, her face flushed now with rosy color. “If it wasn’t for what you did… I would have surely given up.”

  “The others care, too, Merry.”

  “But you…you hate Lorene and everything about Rainbow House.”

  The words cut straight through her. Glory leaned back in her chair, allowing the thoughts she’d so heartily refused before to finally come through. She knew now that the women at Rainbow House had souls. They hurt. They bled. They cared. For the first time since Steven had brought her here, Glory could look upon the women who sold their bodies for a price with a little more clarity. She couldn’t condone their actions or their profession and she probably never would. But now, as she’d gotten to know them, she saw them differently.

  It put her at great unease. The tight cord of morality that she’d been raised to believe in, virtue and principle, decency and integrity, was beginning to unravel in her mind.

  “And that’s what makes what you did for me more remarkable,” Merry said softly.

  “I don’t hate you. Or the others.” Glory found truth in that revelation. And the dawning knowledge left her a little bewildered. She didn’t hate Ruby, who had given her such a hard time when she’d arrived, or Carmen, who had a rash tongue, but who sang the supper prayers like a melodious songstress. And how could she hate Emmie, who had helped her heal, given her clothes and befriended her? “I don’t hate anyone.”

  The tiny curly-haired animal that had been sleeping by the foot of the bed decided it was time enough to join his mistress. He jumped up, wiggled his rump and plopped himself down beside Merry.

  “Buddy has missed you, Merry.”

  Merry lifted her mouth in a small smile. The very first she’d seen on the girl in days. Then she raised her arm to stroke his head tenderly and Glory felt relief at the strength her patient exhibited.

  “I think I want to change his name.”

  Glory chuckled softly. “I think that’s a grand idea. But let’s do that tomorrow. It’s late and you need to rest some more.”

  Glory said good-night to Merry then donned her black cloak, making sure to cover her head with the hood. Rainbow House had reopened last night and by all appearances it seemed business as usual. She’d been sitting with Merry in her room on the Rainbow floor. Leaving would be tricky. She had to be sure not to be noticed.

  She opened the door slightly and peeked out. When she determined the hallway was clear, she exited the room and took a step up the stairs, heading for the third floor.

  “Hey, w-what’ve we got us ’ere,” a slurred voice from behind called out. Glory felt a tug on the back of her cape. The strong scent of whiskey assailed her. She froze on the step, fearful her movements might cause her cloak to fall, but even more afraid of turning around to face the drunken man standing just inches behind her. “Lorene’s h-holding out on us, eh? Gots a new gal she ain’t allowed us to m-meet.”

  “Hands off, O’Malley. This one’s mine tonight.” Steven stepped onto the landing and faced the man. Stunned, Glory stood motionless until Steven grabbed her hand. With a tug, he guided her up the step and whispered in her ear. “Just don’t turn around.”

  “Aw, that’s j-just plain ain’t f-fair.”

  “Better get yourself down these stairs. Marcus is heading up here and he doesn’t look too happy.”

  With that, Steven lifted her into his arms and carried her up the rest of the stairs. Heart pounding hard against her chest, Glory had trouble taking her breaths. Mercy, she’d almost been caught. And she’d tried to be so careful.

  Steven nearly kicked the door down, getting her inside. He set her on the bed and cursed up and down until Glory thought her ears would burn right off her head. He paced in front of her for a time giving her a chance to calm down. But his next words jolted her into shock.

  “You can’t stay here any more.”

  Chapter Ten

  “When I brought Glory here, I really thought I could keep her safe,” Steven said to his mother.

  He’d left Glory last night in his room wearing a surprised expression. He’d told her to get some sleep and they’d talk in the morning. Problem was, Steven didn’t have any easy solutions to the problem, but he didn’t want to frighten Glory anymore than she’d already been last night when Floyd O’Malley had almost spotted her. Good thing the man was too falling-down drunk to recall the incident. And Marcus had escorted him out before the town merchant could ask any questions.

  Lorene sat on a crimson velvet settee in her bedroom and patted the chair, willing him to sit beside her as he had so often when he’d been a youngster. “We need to talk about Gloria Mae.”

  “Time for talk is over, Mother. I have to do something. With the sheriff nosing around, Ned Shaw making accusations about her murdering his brother and Glory almost getting caught last night, it’s getting too dangerous for her to stay here.”

  “Sit down, Steven,” his mother repeated. “And calm down.”

  Steven plopped onto the settee and spread his legs wide, sinking his head down, searching for a solution.

  “You did the right thing in protecting her, Steven. From what you’ve told me, she had cause to kill her husband. But my heart tells me she didn’t do it. Jonathan Caldwell didn’t raise his daughter to murder.”

  “Even if it was in self-defense?”

  His mother shook her head, not even an iota of doubt creeping into her expression. Steven wished he could be as sure. “She didn’t do it.”

  “You didn’t see her injuries. She’d been badly beaten. Any woman would take a knife to protect he
rself from that kind of treatment.”

  “Steven, no matter if she did or didn’t kill her husband, she’s wanted for his murder. And now you say it’s too dangerous for her to stay here.”

  “It is, Mother.”

  “You saved her life when you rescued her from that fire. You brought her here. Why, Steven? And I want the truth.”

  “I told you why once already.”

  “Yes, I know you said you felt we owed her that much. And we both do. But is it more than that, Steven? Are you—”

  “I’m not. I never could be.” Steven bounded up from the seat and avoided his mother’s knowing eyes. “She has no use for me, you or Rainbow House. She’d still shut you down if she had the chance.”

  “I’m not worried about that. But I want to know about you and…her.”

  “Like I said, there’s nothing to know. Nothing to say.”

  Lorene stood and walked over to him. She put her hand on his arm and held on to him. “You know why I started this business. You know how I wanted you to have a better life than anything I could offer you. I had little choice when I was younger, much like many of the girls here now. But you’re a fine man, Steven. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “I’m not ashamed, Mother. But I can’t change the way other people see me.”

  “Can’t you?”

  “If you’re speaking of Glory, the answer is no. She’s dead set against who and what I am.”

  “Steven, are you saying there’s no feelings between the two of you?”

  Steven frowned, realizing that he’d held out hope for Glory to see him differently. But he knew in his heart she’d never accept him. She deserved more than he could give her, anyway. He only hoped once all this was resolved, that he’d have the will to let her go, so that she could live a happy life. “That’s what I’m saying, Mother.”

  Lorene smiled and Steven wasn’t sure he liked the reason behind her smile. “Okay, then. The answer is simple. If there’s nothing between you, no way you’d compromise her, then you can hide her away at your ranch.”