Claiming Coral (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Maddie Taylor

  “He wants to marry his own niece?”

  “I’m not… not really. He’s a close friend… of my father.”

  Abruptly, she was upright, the hair that had come free of the pins falling into her face as he sat her on his lap. She yelped as her tenderized behind came in contact with his hard thigh.

  “Perhaps you should explain from the beginning.”

  It all came pouring out, everything. The same way she had told Jewel, in a long diatribe, but this retelling included tears pouring down her face and soaking into his shirt as she clung to him. When another wave of weeping struck, she could hear his soft cooing in her ear and feel his warm breath stirring her hair, and the long sweep of his broad hand up and down her spine.

  She didn’t stop until she had told him of Harvey confronting her at the saloon with the forged proxy in hand. “I’ve lost so… so much,” she sniffled into his collar. “And now they want to take this from me too. It was too much, Bo. So I came here, feeling I had no choice except to run again.”

  “You should have come to me, Coral. I’ve been trying to befriend you for weeks. I would have helped you.”

  “I thought—”

  “You thought what?” he prompted.

  “I thought you hated me.”

  “Why on earth?”

  “You were angry at the bank, and after we—. Well, you slammed out and haven’t spoken to me since.” She didn’t really want to mention the scathing look he’d shot her way when he tossed the three gold coins on her bed. She bowed her head and twisted her hands in her skirt. “I could see your contempt.”

  “That was anger, Coral. I was also hurt. I offered you marriage and you preferred to keep taking strangers into your bed.”

  “Oh, no, I never… It’s not as you think.”

  He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “What else could I think? I saw you leading the judge upstairs while wearing that damned red petticoat.”

  “I went upstairs with him, Bo, but we didn’t have relations. I swear.”

  “What then?”

  “I can’t say, I promised discretion. Although after tonight… Well, I still promised.”

  His brows gathered and his mouth formed a tight line.

  “It’s the truth. Other than the judge, I only danced and served drinks. I thought it was only for a while, so I could eat and have a place to live, until my funds came through. Now…”

  “So you were going to run, give it all up? With nothing except the clothes on your back, in direr straits than when you arrived?”

  It was her turn to frown. He was right. She hadn’t thought about anything other than getting away. She had four dollars in her skirt pocket, the rest of her money was in the bank. “I’m an idiot,” she said, another wave of tears threatening.

  “No, but you are impetuous. Your first inclination is to flee. I’ve seen it often in the encounters we’ve had. That needs to stop.”

  Sitting up, she wiped her cheeks on her sleeve. “What am I going to do?”

  “Answer something for me, first.”

  “Anything.”

  He chuckled suddenly and she realized she’d done it again. She bit her lip, chagrined.

  “Why have you been so resistant to getting to know me better?”

  “I have three dead husbands, Bo. Four if you count poor Nathan who did nothing more than respond to my letters.”

  “Your father married you off to old men, Coral. That is no surprise.”

  “Nathan wasn’t old.”

  “Neither was he your husband, and his death was a horrible accident.”

  “Still, men who get involved with me seem to wind up dead. I don’t want that for you.”

  “That’s why you said no, time and again? Did you think I’d die if we had dinner?”

  “Don’t be silly. They dubbed me the black widow in New York, and time and again it’s turned out to be true. I couldn’t risk losing my heart to you.”

  “Then you felt it was a possibility? That I’d steal your heart?’

  “I took you to my bed, Bo. What do you take me for, a loose woman?” As soon as she said the words, she wanted to reel them back. She was a dancing girl with a room upstairs at a brothel.

  His silent laughter moved from his chest through her body, shaking her slightly. She struggled to get up, but his arms clamped down tight.”

  “You aren’t cursed, Coral. There’s no such thing. A string of bad luck and ancient husbands, yes. I, on the other hand, am hale and hearty, and young enough to handle you without keeling over dead.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Your fortune is about to change.”

  She swallowed, her throat long since gone dry.

  “I’m taking charge of this mess you’re in and of you.” His fingers wound in her hair and he tugged her head back. Angling it just so, he lowered his mouth and took hers in a hungry kiss. The warmth of his strong arms surrounding her was so protective, and his lips, as they covered hers so possessive, she melted against him, surrendering to him, tired of dealing with it all on her own. When he lifted his head, too soon for her liking, he grinned down at her. “And that right there tells me everything else I need to know.”

  “It does?”

  “Yes, Coral, I’m claiming you. You’re mine now. Understand?”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but he smothered her lips with demanding mastery, kissing her until she was breathless and clinging to him. It was hard to think, let alone debate the risks involved, when he lifted his head.

  “Let’s try this again. Who do you belong to, Coral?”

  “You?”

  He shook his head. “Try again with a bit more certainty. Who do you belong to?”

  “I belong to you, Bo.”

  “That’s right,” he murmured against her lips. “And I take care of what is mine, have no doubt. That means no more running and hiding, no more traipsing around town after dark, and for damn sure no more red petticoats. Is that clear?”

  “As a bell,” was her muffled reply, his mouth still so close that their lips brushed with each word they spoke.

  He stared down at her, his blue eyes brilliant with intensity even in the low light of the stable.

  “Well, I for one am glad to see that’s settled. Jewel will be thrilled.” As one they turned to see Gabriel’s tall frame in the open door. His eyes homed in on Coral, his displeasure apparent. “As for you, young lady, I am very disappointed. You broke several house rules, again.” His eyes cut to Bo. “Has she told you what transpired tonight?”

  “Yes, and we have come to an agreement. I’ve seen to part of her punishment, but have yet to address her for running around after dark without protection, again.”

  “But, Bo, my backside is still on fire.” Her hand flew to her mouth as she realized what she’d just disclosed to her boss.

  Gabe grinned. “Good, saves me the trouble. With Jewel and a dozen gems to look after, my spanking hand could use the rest. If not for going out alone after dark, might I ask why she got her tanning?”

  “She tried to steal Jewel’s horse.”

  “Bo! You didn’t have to tell him that!”

  “Honesty, Coral. Something you’ll find I value highly.”

  “As do I,” Gabe said, although he didn’t seem put out, his grin saying he was actually pleased. “You’ll take care of the other?”

  “Yes, I promised her the belt the last time, and I’m a man who keeps his promises.”

  “Don’t I get a say?” Coral asked.

  “No,” both men replied at once.

  “I always knew you were a good man,” Gabe said over her squeak as Bo squeezed her hard when she would have mounted a protest. “I’ll leave you to it. You’ll escort her home when you’re through?”

  “She won’t be returning to the Red Petticoat. That ended tonight.”

  “Did she explain about Judge Stone as well? He was her only upstairs client, and we found out tonight he never has asked for what
you might think. I’m not at liberty to go into further detail about a client.”

  “She told me that, but was vague. I appreciate you backing up her story.”

  “I’m sitting right here, you know,” Coral said snappishly, tired of being discussed as though she wasn’t. A pinch on her sore bottom was her reward. She yelped, which only made Gabe’s grin broader.

  “I can see you have things well in hand. Let me remind you, Coral, everyone is gathered at the saloon to discuss your situation. The judge and Mr. Dixon are still waiting. It might be wise to return one last time to get things settled.” He looked at Bo pointedly, then without another word, was gone as quickly as he’d appeared.

  “You might have mentioned this meeting, raring.”

  “When? Before, during, or after you set my tail on fire?”

  That smart remark earned her another pinch. “I won’t tolerate disrespect, so none of that lip, Coral. Unless you want the burn reignited and extended to your thighs.”

  She closed her mouth sharply with a click of her teeth.

  “Smart girl. I still owe you a round with my belt for wandering alone at night, but that will have to wait. The judge’s input into this situation will be invaluable.” He lifted her to her feet and fished in his pocket for a hanky. “Wipe your face.”

  When she did and tried to hand it back, he tucked it into her dress, his fingers warm on the inner aspects of her breasts. She drew in a shuddering intake of air, her desire rekindled instantly.

  He must have felt it too, because his arms enfolded her and she found herself crushed against his chest as he plundered her mouth with his searching tongue. The man could kiss. As her hands crept up and wound in his hair, she heard his frustrated groan right before he set her away.

  “No more of that now, we’ve got business.”

  She was delighted to hear the hoarseness in his voice and see the rise and fall of his chest. He was as affected by their kisses as she was. The smile that curved her lips was unstoppable.

  “Coral…” he warned, not waiting to see if she had anything to say for herself. He took her hand, instead, and tugged her along behind him. At the last stall, he lifted her until she was perched on the high stall wall. “This time,” he warned, “stay put.”

  She nodded, the heat and tenderness of her backside a reminder of how he handled disobedience. He had his horse saddled in minutes.

  They had only a few blocks to go from the livery to the saloon. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to walk?”

  “We’ll take a moonlight stroll some other evening.”

  He tossed her up on top, not remarking on the hiss she let loose when her sore bottom connected with the saddle. Really, he had to stop doing that and then expecting her to ride. Then he mounted behind her and pulled her snug between his thighs. The hard evidence of his desire pressed against her tingling behind.

  “Besides, this way I can hold you, however briefly.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. Leaning back against him, she said nothing further as they headed out, traveling a short distance before turning down Main Street and arriving back at the Red Petticoat for more drama that surely awaited her.

  Chapter Ten

  “It all looks in order, I’m afraid,” the judge said, turning his concerned eyes to Coral.

  “So if I don’t marry him, I lose it all,” Coral restated.

  “Unless you can prove this is not your signature to the court of New York. That will require traveling there and filing a fraud and forgery suit against your father. An ugly proceeding for a daughter to sue her own parent, not to mention the expense of the travel and hiring an attorney. You must ask yourself, is it worth the effort.”

  “My accounts totaled fifty thousand dollars,” she whispered.

  Gabriel whistled. “That’s a lot to walk away from.”

  “There is no guarantee that she will win if she files suit, is there?” Bo asked.

  “No. If Mr. Dixon is to be believed, Evan Fulwiler is a respected businessman, and you, my dear, have a colorful past that has played out in the society page. Three husbands all dying suddenly where you inherited.”

  “I didn’t kill them! They were old. One of them tripped and fell when I wasn’t even at home.” She cast sad eyes at Harvey. “Why is Papa doing this to me? Does he hate me so?”

  He looked truly surprised. “Evan doesn’t hate you, Carissa. He loves you, and worries about you. You’ve always had your head in the clouds, I’ve heard him say it to you a dozen times. All he wanted was for someone to take care of you.”

  “I don’t see how marrying me to his old cronies would accomplish that.” His face flooded with color at her insult, but she was too angry and hurt to take back her words.

  “He made me your trustee if he passed, a long time ago. He wanted me to marry you before John, at the time I wasn’t ready. Now that I am, you took off. Traveling cross-country alone, for Christ’s sake. If that doesn’t prove you’re flighty and in need of a man to take care of you, what does?”

  “You won’t be that man,” Bo stated baldly. “Or any of her father’s choices.”

  “And you will?”

  “Yes. We established that tonight.”

  “We did?” Coral asked, stunned. Had she missed a proposal amidst her tears and the loud smack of his hand on her bare backside echoing in the barn?

  “Yes, raring, we most certainly did,” was his growled response.

  “I recommend you settle this matter between you and your father, my dear,” the judge stated as he rose. “Seeing you’re in the capable hands of Mr. Magnusson here, might satisfy his need to see you settled and he might release the purse strings.”

  “I am the wronged party here, judge, and I do not agree.”

  “Harvey! You’ve been like an uncle to me since I was a little girl. I could never see you as a husband.”

  “I could teach you to love me, Carissa.” His heart was in his eyes as he looked at her.

  “I’m sorry. The kind of love I feel for you isn’t going to change.”

  His face tightened, a shadow crossing it in what she recognized as ruthless determination. He was a businessman, and like her father, cutthroat in his actions when he wanted something. And that something was her. His eyes shifted to Bo who stood behind her, a strong hand resting proprietarily on her shoulder.

  “This isn’t over,” he muttered, before heading for the door.

  “Uncle Harvey, please, don’t!”

  He didn’t stop, instead, he snarled over his shoulder before he stormed out. “I am not your fucking uncle.”

  “We’ll marry tomorrow,” Bo declared once Harvey was gone.

  “I’d be careful, son. That man wants her. And I wouldn’t put it past him to do what he must, or take what he can, to get her.”

  “What do you mean take?”

  “Your livery and smithy.”

  “He could do that?” Bo asked, incredulous. “How?”

  “By suing. I’m not an expert in the laws of New York state, but many consider a marriage contract as binding as when marriage vows are said. It’s a stretch, but I have read about suits brought against a third party under a tort called criminal conversation, or seduction.”

  Coral gasped, understanding the implication.

  “Unless you can claim that you haven’t been intimate.”

  “No,” Bo said at once.

  “Hm…” The judge looked hesitant to explain further. “To be clear, this law usually applies to, well, ahem… virgin brides. Putting that fact aside and considering your current vocation, Coral, as well as the fact you’ve been married before, it would be an extremely difficult defense. Since there has been a breach of promise, the court may very well decide in favor of the wronged party.”

  “Even though I never agreed to any of this?”

  “Yes. Again, you would have to argue the validity in court. And, I’m not sure you would want to subject yourself to a public hearing. If Harvey wants to press his suit, he could e
asily drag your reputation through the mud, not only with your relationship with Mr. Magnusson, but he could easily find witnesses who saw you take a customer upstairs.”

  “And you wore that damn red petticoat,” Bo grumbled. He also gave the judge a surly look, knowing he was the aforementioned customer.

  Emory shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat before continuing. “There is something else.”

  “Of course there is,” Coral groaned.

  “The law has been on the books for years. Adopted from English law, which dated back to the Middle Ages. Fathers have been known to sue the thirty party as well if there is a dowry loss involved.”

  “I didn’t have a dowry!”

  “In this marriage contract, your father put up property, a house in town, and some jewelry was listed. It is the same as a dowry.”

  “It was my mother’s. He always said she wanted me to have it.”

  “It was named, so the court could consider that and the property as the dower goods put up in good faith that the marriage would be finalized. If Harvey wins, he could claim that as well, and your father could turn around and hold Bo responsible for the loss and demand compensation.”

  Coral staggered to a chair nearby. “This isn’t fair! It’s not Bo’s fault that I don’t love Harvey. He’s like family and that makes it practically incestuous,” she shuddered.

  “That may be true in your heart and mind, Coral, but not in the eyes of the law. And your father has your proxy.”

  She shot to her feet, her fists clenched in frustration. “I never signed that damned piece of paper.”

  “Raring,” Bo murmured close to her ear, “settle down. We’ll marry tomorrow as I said and deal with the repercussions after.”

  She spun to face him, tipping her head back as she curled her fingers in his shirtfront. Then for emphasis, she came up on her toes, needing the extra height to make sure he understood what she told him next.

  “It’s happening again, Bo. Don’t you see? I’m bad luck, cursed. Any man who gets involved with me finds trouble. If this doesn’t prove it to you, what will it take? My father selling off every horse in your livery and dismantling your smithy piece by piece until you have nothing left?”