Something Like Love

by Beverly Jenkins

  The sight of all the projects needing her attention only added to her mood. Two months ago, life had been calm and uneventful; she’d had her sewing and her committee work. Now, life was filled with so many dramatic twists and turns she may as well be an actress on the stage.

  Neil looked up at her entrance and knew by the furrows in her brow that she was troubled by something. “Your parents here already?”

  “No.” She then related all that had happened in the four and a half hours they’d been apart.

  “You’ve had some morning.”

  “I want you to shoot Griffin Blake the next time you see him.”

  He grinned, “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I know.” He walked over and eased her back against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he placed a tender kiss on her temple. “You weren’t too hard on him, were you?”

  “No.”

  “Good, because he would walk through fire for me and I for him. And don’t worry about Judge Parker either. What will happen, will happen, but I won’t go to prison. Not willingly.”

  She turned to face him. “What will you do if you’re sentenced?”

  “Head for the Mexican border.”

  She studied his eyes.

  “I spent most of my life under some entity’s thumb—not adding the state of Kansas to the list.”

  “Neil—”

  “Your parents will be gone by the time Parker gives his ruling, so what happens to me won’t affect that.”

  But it would affect me, she wanted to say. She didn’t, though, because this marriage was just pretend and they both knew it. “Well, I came home to eat. Did Delbert drop by?”

  “Yeah. He checked the stitches and said he should be able to remove them in a couple more days.”

  “That’s good news.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  He gave her a kiss on the neck and said, “Let’s get you fed. You’re going to need your strength tonight, Mrs. July.”

  His words made her sparkle inside. To reward him for taking her mind off her troubles, she gave him a long, sweet kiss.

  He made her a ham sandwich. She added a cup of coffee, along with a small slice of leftover wedding cake, and declared it a meal.

  Neil sensed that his plan to go to Mexico didn’t sit well with her, but his mind was made up. He’d already done his time: on disease-filled reservations, in degrading government-run schools, and as a member of the Negro Seminole scouts. None of those experiences had been positives ones, and he knew a stay in prison, no matter the length, would not be either.

  Olivia finished her food, then stood. She wasn’t looking forward to returning to her office, but she had no choice. “Has your brother visited you this morning?”

  Neil shook his head. “No. Not yet. I figure he’ll show up soon enough.”

  Olivia decided he was probably right, but she wondered if Two Shafts would follow his brother to Mexico. “Well, I need to leave.”

  Neil nodded her way. “Everything will work out for the best, you’ll see.”

  “I wish I had your optimism.”

  He walked over and gave her a kiss, then murmured, “If you need me, send someone.”

  “I will,” she promised, then departed.

  Old Man Gardner’s coach usually arrived from the Ellis train station around three in the afternoon, and as the time neared, Olivia grew increasingly nervous. How angry would her father be? Would her marriage to Neil be enough to send Horatio Butler packing for good? Whose side would her mother take? So many questions and no answers. She was tempted to run home and get some of Neil’s kisses to help raise her spirits, but she knew that for all of their magic and power, they couldn’t delay the inevitable.

  At ten minutes past three, Olivia heard the horn blast that signaled the coach’s arrival. She put on her hat, drew on her gloves, and, after picking up her small fabric handbag, left the office.

  The big brown coach was parked in front of Sophie’s hotel. Olivia saw a few passengers disembark, then stop and peer around, as if attempting to evaluate the surroundings. Then her father stepped out. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, and his fat mustache made her smile. She watched him assist her mother, and Olivia’s heart swelled seeing them again. When her mother looked up and met Olivia’s eyes, she smiled, and Olivia hurried to greet her. They embraced each other with a rocking motion. Olivia’s eyes were wet with happy tears, and her mother’s brimmed with the same.

  Eunice gushed, “It is so wonderful to see you, child.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you, too.”

  Then she looked at her father. His icy demeanor told all. “Hello, Papa.”

  He nodded, but before he could speak, Olivia’s attention was grabbed by Horatio Butler alighting from the coach. He looked prosperous in his reverend black suit, his walking cane, and bowler hat. He peered around at the storefronts and the people strolling on the walks, and as his face took on a look of disdain, Olivia’s temper began to simmer.

  He seemed to finally notice Olivia standing there. The coolness in his gaze mirrored her father’s, but Butler’s eyes had a quiet fury in them as he beheld her.

  “Olivia,” he said, raising his chin. He was ten years younger than her father, and the gray in his hair was almost as prominent as his receding hairline.

  The chin-raising motion was as much a part of him as his other personal habits. Olivia guessed he thought it made him taller, but it didn’t matter; she still towered over him enough to look down onto the top of his head. “Mr. Butler.”

  Her mother, trying to keep the peace, said, “What a quaint town.”

  “We like it.”

  “Is there a boardinghouse where we might get a room and freshen up? Then I want to see your shop.”

  Butler once again looked up and down the street, then quipped sarcastically, “Talk about running away to the ends of the earth.”

  Olivia snarled inwardly, but outwardly her face was placid. “You might prefer the hotel here. Sophie Reynolds runs a fine establishment.”

  Her father scanned the ornate front on the Henry Adams Hotel and asked, “They don’t rent to whores, do they? The newspapers say the hotels out here are full of them.”

  The unexpected question took Olivia by surprise. Because his remark was rooted in an ignorance of the town and of Sophie, she held onto her calm. “No, Papa. No whores.”

  Before she could usher them inside, up the walk came sixteen-year-old Liza Pierce and her friends, Pearl Dobson and Sylvia Simmons.

  “Mayor Sterling,” they called out.

  Olivia didn’t look to gauge her father’s reaction to the title; if he had indeed read her letters to her mother, he knew she’d been elected and would no doubt voice his thoughts on the subject later. She didn’t care about Mr. Butler’s reaction. “Afternoon, girls.”

  “How’s Mr. July?” Liza asked. Remembering her manners, Liza nodded a greeting to the man and woman standing beside the mayor.

  “He’s recuperating.”

  “Did you give him the pillow?”

  “Sure did,” Olivia lied—she had no idea where the thing was. She gave the girls a nod, then moved to escort her visitors inside when Pearl asked in an awed voice, “Did you and Mr. July really get married last night?”

  Olivia froze.

  Sylvia gushed, “I think that is so romantic, you marrying him.”

  Liza offered, “I do too, but my pa said he’d take a strap to me if I ever even thought about marrying an outlaw like Mr. July.”

  Olivia’s father began to cough violently. Olivia heard a thump behind her. She turned. Her mother had fainted! Ignoring the fury blazing on Butler’s face, Olivia knelt beside her mother and yelled out, “Sophie!”

  Chapter 14

  Smelling salts revived Eunice a few moments later. Still a bit disoriented, she looked around. When her eyes found Olivia, she said in a trembling voice, “Olivia Jean, how could you?”

  Olivia sw
allowed her guilt. “Mother, let’s get you inside.”

  By now, half the town was staring on curiously. Delbert, who’d come running after being informed of the problem, closed up his bag and asked, “Mrs. Sterling, can you walk on your own?”

  “I believe so.”

  Sophie said, “Then let’s get you up.”

  Eunice was soon on her feet, but Olivia noted how pale she appeared. James Sterling took her elbow and escorted her inside. Olivia thanked Delbert, looked at all the curious faces viewing her, and tried not to think about all the gossip this too was going to generate. Praying for strength, she hurried to join her parents and Horatio Butler.

  Sophie’s hotel was very grand. The frescoes on the walls and the beautiful chandeliers rivaled any establishment back east. Olivia could see her parents staring around like rubes at the fair.

  Eunice said, “Never expected such a beautiful place way out here—”

  “In the middle of nowhere,” Butler cracked.

  Olivia saw Sophie give him a studied glance before turning to Olivia’s parents and saying, “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, I’m putting you in the Presidential Suite.”

  Eunice looked surprised. “How much will that cost?”

  “Not a cent. You’re my guests.”

  James and Eunice appeared shocked.

  Sophie glanced Butler’s way. “Are you family as well, sir?”

  “No,” he said importantly. “I’m Horatio Butler, Olivia’s fiancé.”

  Sophie scanned him from the top of his black bowler to the soles of his store-bought oxford shoes, and Olivia noted that Sophie Reynolds didn’t appear impressed. “Fiancé, huh? I can’t wait for Neil to meet you.”

  Butler puffed up his chest, but that didn’t impress Sophie either. “Your room will be a dollar fifty a night.”

  He looked offended.

  Sophie said coolly, “It’s the special fiancé rate.”

  James interrupted, “May we go to our rooms, please. My wife would like to lie down.”

  Sophie nodded. “Certainly.”

  She rang the bell on the desk for the porter on duty. Young Frank Cooper Jr. appeared, dressed in his blue-and-black uniform. “Frankie, please show Mr. and Mrs. Sterling to the Presidential Suite. Mr. Butler there will be in Room five.”

  She then addressed the Sterlings. “Frank will bring up your trunks and bags.”

  James nodded. “Thank you.” He then turned to Olivia and said tersely, “Once your mother is settled, I wish to speak with you.”

  Feeling all of ten, Olivia nodded. “Yes, Papa.”

  Frankie led them to the stairs, and an unhappy Olivia followed. Sophie offered Olivia a smile of encouragement, but Olivia found little to smile or be encouraged about.

  As far as Olivia knew, the Presidential Suite had never housed anyone as august, but the spacious, well-appointed suite of rooms offered a sweeping view of the countryside. It was also the most expensive room to let in town.

  After Frankie left them in the main sitting room, departing with the promise to return with their trunks, Mr. Sterling settled Eunice into the bedroom. He returned, quietly closing the door connecting the bedroom to the main sitting room.

  James then turned his thunderous visage on Olivia. “Now, miss. I demand that you explain yourself. Do you know I thought you dead?!”

  She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry for the distress I caused, Papa, truly, I am, but I had to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t want to marry.”

  “Apparently you overcame that aversion,” he returned sarcastically. “Is this man truly an outlaw?”

  An angry Olivia turned her eyes to the window and then back. “My aversion was to Mr. Butler, not the institution, and yes, Neil robs trains.”

  Her father’s eyes widened. “Then it’s true?”

  Since she had already confirmed that, she simply nodded.

  “How could you disgrace us that way? You run away like a spoiled child and then you marry someone like that! Is he wanted?”

  “Yes.”

  Butler snapped, “We had an agreement.”

  Olivia turned on him slowly. “You had an agreement with my father—never with me.”

  Butler’s eyes narrowed. “How dare you use that tone with me.”

  Olivia didn’t respond.

  “Apologize, Olivia,” her father demanded.

  “I will not, Papa.”

  James stormed over and latched onto her arm.

  “Take your hand off my wife!”

  The soft, deadly voice grabbed the attention of everyone in the room, and they swung their eyes to the doorway. There stood Neil July, his steel-blue Colt drawn. Dressed in black leather, he looked ominous indeed.

  “I’m her father,” James snapped.

  “I’m her husband, and unless you want to be buried in that suit, you’ll do as I ask.”

  “I will not be threatened by the likes of you.”

  Neil pulled the hammer back on the Colt, and in the tense silence of the suite, the brittle click was as loud as a tree falling in the forest. “You might want to rethink that.”

  James slowly relinquished his hold.

  Olivia had forgotten about this side of her outlaw lover, but this demonstration served as a grim reminder. “I’m all right, Neil. Don’t shoot him.”

  “You sure?”

  A small smile peeked through. “Positive.”

  Neil swung his arm and trained the Colt on the terrified-looking Butler. “Who’re you?”

  Butler cleared his throat a few times as if trying to make his voice work. “Horatio Butler.”

  Neil looked the short and slightly trembling man up and down before saying, “Ahh, the writ-bearing, former fiancé. Can I shoot this one?”

  Olivia surveyed the man who’d come to Kansas to allegedly force a marriage upon her. “Maybe later.”

  “Good enough for me.”

  He lowered the Colt and said to James, “Name’s Neil July. Want to invite you and your wife to have dinner with me and Olivia after you get rested up. We can talk after.”

  Olivia saw her father take a quick look at the now docile Colt, then back up at Neil.

  “Where and what time?” James asked. There was less force in his voice, but it was obvious that he remained angry.

  Olivia answered, “At my shop. Around seven? Sophie can tell you how to get there.”

  Her father nodded tightly. “Is Mr. Butler invited?”

  Olivia didn’t hesitate. “No.”

  Her father’s lips thinned. “Very well. Seven.”

  Neil asked, “Are you ready to go home, querida?”

  “Yes.” She turned to her father. “I will see you at seven, Papa.”

  When he pointedly looked away, a saddened Olivia let Neil escort her from the room.

  Outside on the walk, Olivia could see people stopping and staring. She supposed it was to be expected; it wasn’t every day that the town’s mayor married a wanted man. “Thank you, Neil.”

  “Anytime. I’d come to meet them hoping we’d start out on the right foot. Guess not, huh?” He looked down at her.

  “Guess not. Too bad, really. Because I believe they’d like you given the opportunity to know you.”

  “Well, I’m not sure that will ever happen now, but I’m glad I got there when I did.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I expected your fiancé to be taller.”

  “He wishes he were.”

  Neil chuckled, and they walked the rest of the way smiling.

  Two Shafts and Teresa were sitting on the back porch when Neil and Olivia returned to the shop.

  Shafts asked, “Where’ve you been? Doc know you up and around?”

  Neil quipped, “Yes, Mother. Doc gave me permission today.”

  Olivia said, surprised, “You didn’t tell me that earlier.”

  “Wanted to surprise you.”

  “Well, you certainly surprised Papa,” Olivia noted.

  Teresa asked
, “Your father’s in town?”

  “Yep. My mother, too.”

  Neil added, “And a little bug claiming to be her fiancé.”

  Shafts said, “Sounds interesting.”

  Neil replied, “Very. Stay for dinner and see how much.”

  Teresa nodded. “Count me in.”

  At ten minutes to seven that evening, James Sterling drove up to the shop in a rented buggy. Seated beside him was his wife, and seated beside her was Horatio Butler.

  Two Shafts, standing on the steps with Olivia, asked, “That the bug sitting next to your mother?”

  A tight-lipped Olivia replied, “Yes. His name’s Horatio Butler and I specifically told him he wasn’t invited.”

  “Well, if he acts up, he can always be the after-dinner entertainment.”

  Olivia grinned and looked up into his twinkling dark eyes. She studied him for a moment, then confessed, “I don’t know who is more outrageous, you or your brother.”

  “Definitely Neil,” he told her with a straight face. “I’ve always been the quiet one.”

  The amused Olivia shook her head and waited for her parents to come up the walk.

  When they got halfway to the porch, their steps slowed. Olivia could see them staring at Two Shafts.

  Shafts said to them, “Welcome. Name’s Two Shafts. I’m Neil’s brother.”

  Her father’s lips thinned, but he nodded a curt greeting.

  Her mother looked a bit afraid but responded with a polite “Good evening.”

  Then Olivia turned her eyes on Butler. She wanted to yell at him for being so rude as to invite himself when he’d been told to stay away, but she decided to take the high road. As Shafts noted, Butler could always be the after-dinner entertainment. She looked away from him and said, “Come on in, everyone. Dinner’s just about ready.”

  Since cooking was Neil’s forte, he’d prepared the meal. There were two fat roast chickens, green beans flavored with ham and onions, and ears of sweet corn. Teresa, who apparently shared her brother’s acumen in the kitchen, had just put a large pan of biscuits into the oven when Olivia escorted her parents and the bug into the kitchen.