by Jade Allen
"Could you please send out the cook?" Hugh asked gently. "That was the best meal I've ever eaten. I want to shake the hand of the noble man who made this for me." His eyes were gentle, and he gave her another encouraging smile. Lizzie gulped and nodded, and Lucy felt an unexpected surge of warmth for the man, followed by ice-cold fear when she realized he was asking to see her.
She watched Lucy come toward her, panicking. "Wash your hands!" she was saying. "Give me that apron, oh goodness---wear your dress apron!" She dove into a cupboard and pulled out the crisp white coat that Lucy wore when she cooked for friends for parties or birthdays. It looked more like a long-sleeved white dress when you got it on, and Lucy didn't know any other cooks who wore anything like it, but she loved the way it hugged her curves and made her feel taller. She let Lizzie tie it on her, then she quickly re-did her ponytail.
"Okay!" Lizzie's eyes were frantic. "Okay, go on out! Go!"
Lucy's heart was pounding as she pushed through the doors. A cool breeze hit her, and she was grateful for it. Sir Hugh's emerald eyes fell on her immediately, and she watched a slow smile creep across his face at her approach. He was standing by the time she arrived, and he looked her up and down quickly. He pressed his hat to his chest and held out his hand.
"Ma'am," he intoned. "I do believe your meal has single-handedly made it possible for me to perform this evening. Hugh Riley." His voice was earnest and deep, and Lucy felt a jolt of energy pass between them as she clasped his hand. He brought it gently to his lips, and a rush of heart and desire weakened her legs momentarily. She giggled, and Hugh's face flushed with pleasure. They hadn't dropped each other's gazes since meeting eyes. Lucy felt bewitched.
"I'm flattered," she finally said. "I'm Lucy. Lucy Anthony." He released her hand, and Lucy felt a stab of regret at not finding an excuse to hold it longer. "You must have been trained by the best," Hugh said. He took a step closer to her. "I can't remember the last time I had a steak so juicy. And those potatoes!" he whooped, and Lucy laughed nervously.
"Just what my mama taught me," Lucy said modestly. Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so hard. "I'm so honored to hear that you liked it so well. I'd be happy to cook it for you again any time."
"I might have to take you up on that offer," Hugh said. His eyes were sparkling with mischief, but his smile was harmless. "I might have to steal you away and take you on the road with me!" His eyes were darkening, and they showed her he was only half joking. Lucy felt her body respond to the heat in his words before she could stop herself. Lizzie flapped her arms at her from the kitchen window, mouthing a word as though her life depended on it. Lucy finally realized the word was Flirt! Flirt!
"Well, I'd have to know what kind of show you put on," she tried, smiling coyly. Lucy couldn't quite remember how to play along, but luckily the cowboy had enough charm for the two of them.
"I guess you'll just have to come and find out," Hugh said, his voice thick with suggestion. A wave of desire struck Lucy again, and she gasped softly, passing it off as a laugh at the last minute. The smile on Hugh's face was less innocent now. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a square of paper.
"Here." He pressed the square into her hand. "I think you should come. I can show exactly what it is I do." He grinned at her and cupped her chin briefly, then tossed a handful of coins on the table. Lucy was rooted on the spot, watching his backside sway as he left the diner. The room exploded with noise as he left, all the women clamoring excitedly and shooting Lucy jealous looks. She finally regained the feeling in her legs and spun around, walking with a silted gait to the back room, where Lizzie was gaping like a fish out of water.
"Oh my gosh! What was that? What was that?" Her voice was the highest it had ever been, and she bouncing from foot to foot.
"He...invited me to the show," Lucy said, the reality finally dawning on her. Her face was burning, and her pulse was still racing. She touched her chin, where his rough fingers had gently held her face. He had definitely been flirting, but how much of it was for show? How much was reflex, and how much was actual carnal appetite? She shivered, remembering the way his green eyes scanned her curves, and his look of approval. She looked at the ticket realizing it was very near the front. She wondered why he had it in his pocket, and what person was now without entry to the show.
Lizzie's eyes bulged from her skull. "He liked the meal so much, he wants a little dessert. You're going to have to tell me how it pairs with Cowboy," she giggled, and Lucy pushed her shoulder playfully.
"Well," said a snide voice from the corner. Rosie was still sulking, but she'd emerged from the back room to observe the scene. She apparently hadn't like what she'd seen; her nose was turned up, and her lip was curled as though she smelled something foul, but she was still trying to smile. "It seems like loverboy chose his...target." She spat the word out so violently that Lucy stepped back, confused.
"What are you talking about, Rosie?" Lizzie said aggressively, stepping in front of Lucy and meeting the other woman's eyes. Rosie smiled with her whole mouth, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Guys like him pick a gal before the show, pick 'em out of the crowd or in front of the stadium," she said slowly. "Then they play 'em like a fiddle. Get 'em hooked, so they'll always come back to their show, and they'll always have a meal ticket. Don't feel bad," she said with mock concern, her eyes narrowed. She gazed held Lucy's gaze over Lizzie's shoulder. "Usually they try to make it a little worth your time. But don't get too attached. There's a million like you. There. Always. Are." She smiled as she spat out the last few words.
"You'd know!" Lizzie shouted furiously, turning a few heads in the diner. Her fists were bunched at her sides, and she was angrier than Lucy had ever seen her, stepping right up to Rosie's smug face. "You'd know wouldn't you, you---you---trollop! You good-for-nothing, back-alley tart!"
Rosie's eyes went wide with surprise, then a shadow of pain crossed over them, and they started to water. She let out a sharp sob, and Lizzie looked hesitant, realizing the effect her words seemed to have on the other woman, but then she doubled down, narrowing her eyes and taking a deep breath to speak again.
"Rosie," Lucy said quietly, and both of the girls jumped and looked at her. Lizzie immediately recoiled in shame, but Rosie stood tall, crying silently. "I think it's time for you to leave. We'll see you tomorrow."
Rosie tugged off her apron and threw it on the floor. She turned and sprinted out the door, and several diners let out nervous titters. Harold started to distract him from his place at the register, rushing to refill glasses of water, shooting the women questioning looks. Lucy was trembling lightly, running her hands over her ponytail and feeling numb, like she'd been encased in a block of ice. She felt Lizzie's hands on her shoulders distantly, and it took a moment to register her hug. She felt herself crying, and Lizzie's face contorted in fury when she pulled back and saw the moisture on her cheeks.
"I'm going to drown that evil witch," she said viciously, wiping at Lucy's face with a handkerchief. "I'm going to chop off her head---"
"Lizzie, what if she's right?" Lucy raised her eyes to the younger woman's, showing her all the pain and uncertainty Rosie had unearthed. "I'm just some dumpy old maid, of course he just looked at me and saw a gullible money clip! What else would he see?"
"You!" Lizzie said desperately. "Don't let that cow shake your confidence. Lucy, you're gorgeous. You know half the customers get crushes on you. Even if you weren't built like a real woman---" Lizzie blushed, but pressed on---" You shine so bright and honest, anybody can see you're an angel. You're worth twenty-five of Rosie. At least." She hugged her again, and this time Lucy returned the hug, feeling her spirits lift. Harold walked in just then and smile.
"It took her a week to throw a real tantrum, eh?" he said as they pulled apart. His smile was odd, fixed, like it was painted on. Then Lucy realized why, as soon as he spoke again. "And all over that cowboy." He shook his head and laughed, but it was too loud.
"Yeah,
and he invited us to come see him," Lizzie said, lying swiftly to spare Harold's feelings. "I'm pretty excited that Lucy finally agreed to tag along. You mind cooking for her tomorrow night, Harold?" her voice was relentlessly peppy, but Harold's smile still wasn't as warm as usual.
"Sure! No problem!" He walked toward the back office, not looking at Lucy. "You have a great time, Lucy."
"We will," Lizzie said nervously. The door shut before Harold could say anything else. "Damn," she said fervently. "I was hoping he didn't see that."
Lucy tried not to let it get her down again. She recalled the intensity of Hugh's gaze, his skin against hers, the heat in her body sharp and crackling. She couldn't protect Harold forever, not if she wanted to have her own life. And as she busied herself changing back into her dishwasher's apron, her mind kept seeing Sir Hugh's tall, broad body pressed against hers in the shadows of the stadium, kissing her deeply and chanting her name, she realized she wanted her own life very, very much.
****
The next day, Lucy was distracted for her entire shift, and when six o'clock rolled around, she took off her apron nervously and went with Lizzie to basement, where there was a small room they used for naps and bathing. They washed up from the tap that dispensed hot water, and Lucy put on the brilliant green dress that fell softly to the tops of her black boots. Lizzie wore a light blue dress and braided her hair with strands of gold, and she looked even lovelier than usual. She helped Lucy brush out her hair until it fell around her in frothy waves. Harold let out a low whistle when they emerged, his expression complicated with emotion.
"My, you two are a couple of princesses, indeed." He smiled gently and offered an arm to each of them as he walked them out the door. "Have fun. Be safe."
"Thank you," Lucy said gently. He retreated back into the diner, and the two women joined arms as they strolled toward the center of town. It was about a twenty minute walk to the stadium, and the show didn't start for an hour and a half, but they were too excited to stay in the hot diner. The air was brisk and fresh, and it made them feel more and more alive with each step. Lucy felt her heart grow with joy as she talked with Lizzie in a low voice, laughing about customers and the tricks they might see.
"I've got a ticket near you, maybe I can sit by you and no one will notice!" Lizzie said hopefully as they approached the tall stadium. It was the prettiest building in town, besides the courthouse, a pristine white that was re-painted at least once a year. There was already a large crowd out front, and the hum of conversation intensified as the women drew nearer. Lizzie saw someone she knew and waved them over enthusiastically, but Lucy was lost in her thoughts. She smoothed her dress over her curves, wondering if she should have worn make-up, like more of the women in the crowd. She recognized a few from the diner, and she saw some fingers point her way, presumably talking about seeing her converse with Sir Hugh the day before.
There was a larger version of the flyer on a huge sandwich board outside the stadium, and Lucy could see the floor of the arena from the outside, and the rows and rows of seats spiraling outwards around it, each row higher than the last. There was a gated area where the bull was already waiting, being brushed by a stable boy and chewing something slowly while his tail swished lazily from side to side. He looked incredibly bored. Some people were filtering in, and the higher levels were already filled. Lucy wondered how long they'd been there.
"Thirty minutes! Show starts in thirrrrty minutes!" A young man was weaving through a crowd and barking into a large cardboard megaphone, swinging a bell for good measure. He was wearing a red-and-white striped jumpsuit and a wide-brimmed hat. He winked at Lucy as he strolled by. "Thirty minutes!" His walk reminded her of Hugh's, rhythmic and smooth, all hips. A scene flashed before her eyes, unbidden: Hugh grinding his powerful hips against Lucy's body, moaning passionately as he sank inside her over and over. She felt a rush of juices between her legs, and she gasped softly. She tried taking a deep breath, pulling cool air into her body in an attempt to douse the flames of lust.
"Want to go in?" Lizzie asked, snapping Lucy out of her fantasy.
"Please," Lucy said quickly. She took Lizzie's arm again and walked with her to their seats, Lizzie looking around nervously to see if anyone would care that that she was a few rows off. People continued to filter in, and most of them didn't even bother to glance at their seat number before the ticket taker came around the pluck the squares of paper from their hands. As the stadium filled up, Lucy gazed at the entrance to the floor where Hugh would undoubtedly arrive. The barker was walking on the floor, and a hush fell over the crowd. Apparently they were starting early.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've just been told we do not have an opener this evening." Lucy could see that the young man was milky white under his freckles, but his voice betrayed no fear. "Originally, Patty the Clown was gonna shoot himself out of a cannon, but well...he's been fired." He made an apologetic face as the crowd burst into mild laughter. It seemed to encourage him, and his voice got a little stronger. "Our back up clown had to go the doctor, because he was feeling a little funny." More laughter, and some scattered applause. The barker grinned, ginger curls peeking out from under the brim of his straw hat, and he looked 13 if he was a day. "And of course, I tried to book you great people a magician, but he canceled on me, he told me he lost his hare!"
Lucy chuckled along with the crowd, and the young man grinned triumphantly. "So, without further ado, without any more hemming and hawing, before I wear out my welcome----"
"Get on with it!" a woman shouted, and the crowd screamed with laughter. The barker's words were swallowed up by applause, and he waved his arms with a flourish toward the entrance, where there was a small explosion and a puff of smoke, and Sir Hugh burst through the entryway on his noble steed. He had his cowboy gear on but also held a great wooden shield with a heart carved into its face. Lucy felt hers beat double time, and did a neat turn of the stadium on his shining chestnut horse, pulling a huge rose from his belt loop on his second go around.
"I search for the fairest lady in the lands." he called, his voice carrying across the crowd. "An immaculate flower to match the dazzling beauty of God's gift to mankind, the delicate rose, the sweetest bloom. Only then can I find the spirit to tame the beast---after a goddess has tamed my heart." He sighed wistfully. The women in the crowd swooned collectively and leaned forward, eyes locked on the rose. Hugh's eyes swept across the sea of rapt faces, slowing as he focused on one in particular. "Ah," he said, pulling his horse around to look at Lucy. "There she is." He tossed the rose to her, and her hand caught it, even though her brain barely had any time to register his words.
The stadium exploded with noise, and Lucy's face broke into a breathtaking smile. Sir Hugh touched his lips and held his hand toward her, holding her gaze a little longer before galloping to the other side of the arena. Lucy clutched the rose to her heart, smelling the intoxicating scent as it wafted from the petals. Lizzie was slapping her shoulders and laughing, her eyes bright with surprise and delight. Lucy barely heard or saw anything else until Hugh suddenly stepped down from his horse, and the barker led the horse away. Sir Hugh was slowly rolling up his sleeves, and his tanned biceps were bulging as he stretched his hands and faced the bull.
It was over almost too soon. He danced gracefully around the bull, and the crowd screamed in terror as the beast lumbered forward, tossing its head and throwing the points of it horns toward the muscled man. Hugh watched him with his sharp green eyes and seemed to anticipate his every move, and Lucy realized there was still a lot of art in rodeo. Certainly plenty of strength; it took Hugh a full minute to rope him even when he toppled him over, and the crowd gave an enormous cheer when he stood, breathing heavily, and raised his arms. The crowd called for an encore, but the barker came back out and said he had to give the junior cowboys a shot. Too soon, Hugh disappeared amidst a standing ovation, and Lucy's heart sank as he walked backstage.
"Wow!" Lizzie said in her ear. "He picked you! I just knew he
would, the way he was looking at you! What's wrong?" Lucy had been quiet since the end of the show, and she wasn't smiling.
Now she looked at the rose. "What if she was right? What if he's just....planting more roses?" She hung her head in shame. "I'll probably never see him again." She looked at Lizzie helplessly, wondering if it would be too much to ask to leave, but Lizzie was gazing over Lucy's shoulder in awe. "What?" she asked. Then she felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned and saw Sir Hugh, smiling at her with an unreadable look in his eye.
Damn, she thought. Just her luck.
****
"I do resent that," Hugh said as he led her backstage and down a short hall toward his dressing room. "I don't 'plant seeds', or anything like that. That's just a rumor jealous girls started when I didn't pick them to throw a rose at." He led her into the room, simple and plain, with a straw bed and a large, cloudy mirror. His eyes bored into hers as he closed the door softly behind him. Lucy felt like she was being examined under a microscope.
"Well, I'm sorry, I meant no offense." She looked up into his face as he walked slowly toward her. Her legs were shaking, and she searched for something to say, anything---and landed on thin air. She kept thinking about how full Hugh's lips were, and how he smelled of sweat and soap at the same time. "I really enjoyed the show," she babbled. "That barker was quite funny."
"Did you hear me?" Hugh asked quietly. He was inches away from her, and now he put one hand on the curve of her waist.
"Yes," Lucy said, and let out a nervous titter as his other hand moved her hair to one side, cupped her chin again, and led her gently forward into a kiss. She melted into it instantly, a fiery lust shooting through her body as his lips met hers. Both of his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her against his body firmly, and she felt a hardness grind between her legs. She gasped into his kiss, and he pulled back, panicked.
