Milly stood there with a tray in her hand. “Mrs. Wilcox sent this to you. She knew you probably didn’t have anything out here to eat.”
He stammered, “That was nice of her.”
“May I bring it in?”
“Shore.” He stood aside and watched as she stepped through the door. His eyes quickly surveyed the bunkhouse. Most of the ten bunks there had tangled covers and there were dirty shirts and pants and even under garments strewn about. He wanted to tell her to wait outside until he picked up a bit, but he knew it was too late. She was already inside and setting the tray on the small table where the men often played cards.
She didn’t seem to notice the mess. “Beulah appreciated you bringing Mr. Win to the ranch.”
“Salty told me to bring him.”
“Would you like for me to pour your coffee?”
“If you want to.” He didn’t know what else to say.
She turned and smiled at him. “I guess that’s all I can do for you. I hope you enjoy your supper.”
“Thank you…Milly.”
She shook her head. “You’re welcome. And thank you.”
“What for?”
“It was nice the way you just said ‘thank you’ to me—a saloon girl.”
He shook his head. “That don’t mean nothin’ to me. I am confused, though. I don’t understand what you’re doing here.”
“Lottie made me bring her out here to warn Aaron about Brit Vance being his enemy. I guess with all the uproar of Mr. Win being in such a bad way, we never had a chance to explain everything to you.
“Well, it’s no matter. Why don’t you sit down and eat your supper? I’ll wait and take the dishes back to the house when you’re finished.”
He didn’t know what else to do, so he moved to the table and pulled out a chair. “You might as well set, too. Want some of this coffee? Miz Wilcox sent a pot full.”
“I wouldn’t mind a cup.”
He took a cup from the shelf above a bunk and poured coffee in it. “I’ll drink out of this one. It might have some whiskey left in the bottom.” He poured coffee in the cup she brought for him and handed it to her. He then picked up the spoon and began to eat the dumplings.
After a few bites, he stopped and looked at her. “I should’ve asked if you wanted some of this.”
“Thank you, but I already ate.”
He nodded. After a few more bites he looked at her again. “Can I ask you somethin’ Milly?”
“Yes.”
“Why does Lottie think Brit Vance is Aaron’s enemy?”
“Because he sent Cleg Keller to her room to kill her.”
“How do you know this?”
Milly took a deep breath and told him why they were sure Brit was a terrible person. She then went into detail about what happened when Vance showed up to visit Aaron.
When she finished, he said, “You mean you actually hid under his bed?”
“Yes.”
He began to laugh.
“Well, Mrs. Wilcox told me to.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh at you, but I can just see you scrunched under the bed and Lottie stuffed in a wardrobe.”
She smiled. “I guess it was pretty funny.”
“I can’t help wondering what Mrs. Wilcox thought with two ... ugh… women from The Swinging Door in her husband’s bedroom. Especially two women who had entertained him.”
Her smile faded and she glared at him. “I’ll have you know I was never with Aaron Wilcox nor any other man.”
He frowned. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” She stood. “Are you through eating?”
“I’m not quite through. Sit back down.”
She sighed and dropped in the chair. “I don’t mean to be so touchy. It’s just since Brit brought me to The Swinging Door I haven’t entertained any men yet. He only makes me dance with them and get them to buy whiskey.”
“Is that the truth?”
“Yes, it is, whether you believe me or not.”
“Don’t be offended. I’d heard you hadn’t been upstairs, but I weren’t sure. Why did Brit bring you to the saloon if he didn’t want you to start entertaining men?”
“Oh, I’m sure he expects me to start soon. He just wants the men to see me and want to visit me.” She sighed. “I only agreed to work for him because I couldn’t find anything else to do and I was alone and hungry.”
“That snake.”
“He’s a snake, all right.” She grinned at Gus. “Since I’ve been on this ranch I’ve seen a way of life I never realized existed. Beulah has been wonderful, and Mrs. Wilcox is such a special person.” She sighed again. “I wish I could have a life away from the whore house, but I know that’s impossible now. My mother saw to that.”
“What do you mean?”
“My mother and her sister ran a bordello in St. Louis. They wanted me to become a part of their business, but I didn’t want to. I thought if I ran away and came west I could make a different life for myself, but my mama was right. She said I’d end up in a whorehouse because it was all I’d be able to do to survive. I tried everything I could think of not to become a whore. But when you’re cold and hungry and have nowhere to go…well, you do what you have to do.”
“Maybe you can get away from it yet.”
“How? Everybody in Hatchet Springs knows I work at the saloon, even if I don’t work upstairs. Nobody would hire me. Besides, Lottie and me are going to have to go to some other town.”
“Where would you go?”
“I don’t know, Gus. Lottie said something about Phoenix.”
“You could get married.”
She laughed. “What man wants a woman like me? Oh, I’d make a good wife. I know I would! And I’d love him with all my heart, but he’d have to be blind and deaf to marry me.”
“You might be surprised, Milly.”
“No, Gus. It’s too late. When I agreed to go to work at the Swinging Door a few weeks ago, my fate was sealed. If I’m lucky, I’ll end up like Lottie and every man in town will want to be with me when they come to…”
Gus reached over and touched her arm. “Stop talking like that. You’re too special to waste your life like Lottie.”
She stared at him. “How do you know?”
“I just know.” He pushed back his bowl. “Now, you gather up this supper mess and go back to the house and let me think on this. Maybe I can help you figure out somethin’ that’ll please you.”
* * * *
Lottie was in the sitting room when Milly came in. “Where’s everybody?”
“Beulah took the old man and put him to bed. Mrs. Wilcox took Aaron some supper then washed the dishes. Last I saw her, she was headed up the stairs. I figured she was going to bed.”
“I’ll put these dishes in the kitchen. Gus was appreciative of the food.”
“Hurry back. We’ve got to make some plans.”
In a matter of minutes, Milly returned. “I washed them right quick. I didn’t want to leave a mess for Mrs. Wilcox or Beulah.”
“You’re too kind, Milly. No wonder everybody likes you.”
“Well, they’ve both been nice to us. We need to do what we can to help them while we’re here.”
“That’s just what I wanted to talk about. Nobody has said a thing about where we’re supposed to spend the night. I figured somebody would say something, but I guess it’s up to us to decide what to do.”
“We can’t just make ourselves at home, Lottie. I’m sure somebody will inform us what to do soon.”
“Well, I don’t intend to climb back in that wardrobe. I’m still hurting from being in there.”
Milly laughed. “I don’t think they’ll have us do that again.”
“I’ve decided if nobody comes to inform us soon, I’m going to ask Aaron.”
“I’m not sure you should do that.”
“Why not? It’s his house.”
“Yes, but his wife…”
“I’m not so sure she’s goin
g to be his wife long.”
Milly looked at her as if she couldn’t believe what she said. “Why not?”
“Didn’t you see how she looked at him when she learned he spent their wedding night with me?”
“No.”
“She was furious, and she looked at Aaron like she wanted to kill him.”
“She’ll forgive him. Especially when she learns nothing happened that night.”
Lottie gave her a coy look. “Who says she needs to know?”
Milly stared at her. “After the way she’s treated us I can’t believe you’d keep it from her.”
“Why not? It could be our answer.”
“How?”
“If she leaves him, he could want us to stay here. Wouldn’t you like to be Aaron Wilcox’s new maid?”
“No, Lottie. You might be that devious, but I’m not. If you don’t tell her, I will.”
Lottie frowned. “You’ve got a lot to learn, Milly. If you want to make it in our business, you’ll find if you’ve got to look after yourself. When you see an opportunity, you grab it and you don’t worry about nobody else.”
“Well, if that’s what it takes, I’ll never be a good whore like you.”
Before Lottie could answer, Beulah came into the room. “I got Papa Win settled. Now I have to make some arrangements for you two.”
“We appreciate it, Miss Beulah. Milly and I were wondering what we were supposed to do.”
“I’ll check with Mrs. Wilcox.” Beulah looked around. “Where is she?”
“I think she went to bed,” Lottie said.
“Oh, I doubt that. She wouldn’t go until you’re settled and she spent some time with Mr. Aaron.”
Before she could stop herself, Lottie blurted, “I thought she was mad at him.”
Beulah eyed her. “Why would you think that?”
“Well, she hasn’t been back to see him since Brit Vance left.”
Milly said, “Yes she has. She took him his supper.”
“Oh, I forgot.” Lottie shot Milly a hard look.
Beulah frowned, shook her head and walked toward the door. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
* * * *
Wearing her night clothes, Drina came down the steps as Beulah started up. “How’s Mr. Win, Beulah?”
“I put him in my bed and he’s resting fine. I’ll sleep on the sofa in there.”
“You can sleep in one of the bedrooms.”
“I want to be near him in case he needs me.”
“I understand.”
“Miz Drina, I was thinking of putting them women in the big room at the end of the hall upstairs. The one with two beds. What do you think?”
“That’s a good idea, Beulah.”
“I thought so. It would be easy to keep up with them in case they get some ideas about wandering around in the house after we go to bed.”
“Do you really think they’d do that?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me. ’Specially Lottie. I don’t think you can trust her.”
“You don’t think she’d try to …”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. She’s been itching to get back to Mr. Aaron’s room ever since you sent them out.”
“What about Milly?”
“She has me confused. She don’t seem to be hardened like the other one. I don’t think she’s been in the business long. With the right encouragement, she might be persuaded to change her ways.”
“Go ahead and send them to that room, Beulah. I’m going to check on Aaron.” Drina started to move on down the hall.
“Miz Drina.”
She turned. “Yes.”
“It might be a good idea for you to stay with Mr. Aaron tonight.”
She frowned. “Why, Beulah?”
“Call it my Indian intuition.” She smiled at Drina. “Now, I’ll go send the women to bed, then I’ll bring Mr. Aaron a cup of coffee. He likes one at night. I’ll also bring you a cup of tea.”
Chapter 16
“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming back, but I’m glad you did.”
“I said I would.”
“I know. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
She pulled up her rocking chair. “How’re you feeling tonight?”
“Much better. I haven’t had to have that medicine at all today.”
“I noticed. Is there anything you want?”
“Maybe a cup of coffee.”
“Beulah said she’d bring you one in a little while.”
He nodded.
“Aren’t you going to ask about your friends?”
“What friends?”
She made a face at him. “You know exactly what friends.”
“I’m afraid I don’t. You could mean Salty who has gone with the men to move the cattle. You could mean any of the hands who are all with Salty with the exception of Gus, whom I suppose is in the bunkhouse. If you mean Beulah, you told me yourself she had gone for coffee, and you, you’re right here with me and that happens to be all the friends I have on this ranch.”
She chuckled. “Maybe they’re not exactly friends, but you know who I mean. The women from the saloon.”
“All right, just to make you happy I’ll ask. What are they up to?”
“Beulah sent them to the bedroom at the end of the hall upstairs.”
He frowned. “I thought they’d be gone by now.”
“Where would they go, Aaron? There’s an icy rain out there. It’ll probably turn in to pure sleet tonight. It would take an awfully hard-hearted person to turn them out in that.”
He looked into her eyes. “And there’s nothing hard-hearted about you, Drina. Everyone can see that.”
“I can be hard-hearted when it’s necessary.”
He was slow saying anything, then he muttered, “You’re talking about what Brit Vance said about our wedding night, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Can you blame me?”
“No, Drina. I don’t blame you at all.”
“Well, aren’t you—”
A knock interrupted her. Beulah came in and gave them their coffee and tea. She then told them good-night and slipped out.
He lifted his mug to his mouth and sipped. He then said, “You were about to ask if I wasn’t going to do something. What was it?”
“I wanted to know what kind of excuse you were about to come up with.”
He took a deep breath. “I have no excuse, Drina. All I can tell you is that I was so angry I was almost out of my mind. I’d been forced to marry you, yes. I didn’t want to like you, but after sitting with you during our wedding supper, I was afraid I would. You looked beautiful in your pretty wedding dress and you had such a sweet smile, I felt I had to get out of this house to protect myself from my own feelings. I did what I often do when I’m upset. I headed to the Swinging Door Saloon. I remember grabbing a bottle or two of Beulah’s homemade wine and drank it on the way to town. Of course I started drinking whiskey just as soon as I went through the door. I don’t know how much I’d drunk when Brit came in. He goaded me into gambling with him. I think I won.” He turned to her. “And whether you believe me or not, I don’t remember a thing until I woke up in the early morning hours with my head about to fly off. I grabbed my hat, threw some money on the dresser and left.”
“Didn’t you get dressed?”
He frowned. “I didn’t have to. I had all my clothes on. Even my gun belt.” He continued to frown. “I wonder when I put them on?”
“You could’ve woke up, got dressed then fallen back asleep.”
He nodded. “Maybe.”
There was another knock. Knowing it wasn’t Beulah, Drina got up and opened the door. She was surprised. “Gus, what are you doing here with that couch?”
“Miss Beulah said you wanted me to bring it in here.”
“But…I didn’t…”
“Mrs. Wilcox, please let me come in. This thing’s heavy.”
“Oh, of course.” She stood aside.
Aaron watched the big man bring the
couch in and put it down in front of the window. “What’s going on, Gus?”
“Like I said, Beulah told me Mrs. Wilcox wanted me to bring it in here.”
“But I …”
Beulah walked into the room. “Thank you, Gus. You can go back to the bunkhouse now.”
“Thank you, Miss Beulah.” He hurried out of the room before anyone else could ask him anything.
“Now, you know there’s more quilts in the drawers, Miz Drina. I’ve got to lock the back door after Gus goes out. I’m afraid to leave it unlocked with all that’s going on.”
“Wait, Beulah. I need to…”
“Can’t wait now, Miss Drina. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night to you both.” She went out and closed the door behind her.
Drina turned and gave Aaron a bewildered look.
He was grinning. “Seems like Beulah wants you to stay in here tonight. I wonder why?”
“She said something to me about staying here, but I didn’t…I mean I thought…”Her voice trailed off.
“You’re going to stay, aren’t you?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Please, Drina. You can’t upset Beulah.”
“What about upsetting me? I’m not sure we need to spend a lot of time together. You’d probably rather have Lottie. Maybe I could send her down here.”
When he didn’t answer, she whirled around and was surprised to see a strange look in his eyes. Was it surprise? Hurt? Disgust? Sorrow? She wasn’t sure, and for some reason, she didn’t want to ask.
Without speaking, she walked to the chest of drawers and took out a couple of quilts, a sheet and a pillow. She then turned to the couch and made a bed on it. Still silent, she moved to Aaron’s bed. She looked down at him. This time there was no question what was in his eyes. He was completely surprised.
She still didn’t speak, but she turned and blew out the lamp. Then she did something that surprised her as much as it did Aaron. She leaned over him and touched his forehead with her lips and whispered. “Good night, Aaron.”
* * * *
It was close to midnight because Drina had heard the big clock in the hall chime eleven times, then once at eleven-thirty—and she still hadn’t gone to sleep. She thought it took Aaron a while, too, but he did start to snore gently an hour or so ago. They hadn’t talked any after she went to bed and she was glad because she wasn’t sure what either of them would say.
Drina’s Choice Page 17
