Claiming Coral (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Maddie Taylor

  She paused for a moment, looking at Evan, then back at Coral with her nose wrinkled as though smelling something bad and not at all sure if she wanted it in her home. Her papa took the decision out of her hands by moving between his peevish hostess and the door. He cupped his hand beneath her elbow, and after a pointed look at Millicent, guided her through and on down the hall. The woman grunted as if offended, but said nothing as he closed the door onto the hallway, leaving them in private.

  “Carissa, my dear,” he began, waving her into a chair. “I’m glad you have come.”

  Once she took her seat, she fiddled uncomfortably with her skirt as she thought how to begin. She had it all planned out as she walked from the boarding house a few blocks away, but now, all those words fled.

  “I hope you’re here to tell me you’ve come to your senses and are ready to come home.”

  She looked up, meeting his eyes, the same ones she saw in her mirror every day. “Oh, Papa,” she sighed, exhaustion from the upheaval of the last few days weighing heavily upon her. “Don’t you see? This is my home now. Or at least Culpepper Cove is, with Bo.”

  “I won’t have my daughter married to a criminal! What if he loses control one day and turns his rage upon you?” He looked away, concern wrinkling his brow. “No. I won’t have it. Harvey will take care of you.”

  “I won’t marry Harvey. I love Bo.” He snorted, as she rushed on. “You mock my feelings, Papa, yet spoke the other day of your Annalise. You loved Mama with all your heart, I know that you did. And she loved you. Don’t you want the same for me?”

  His head jerked slightly, though he didn’t turn back to her. Coral swept across the room and knelt by his chair, her hand wrapping around his wrist.

  “Even as a small child I could see how much she loved you every time she looked at you. You were her world. And you made her happy. That’s what I have with Bo.”

  “Harvey can make you happy.”

  “No, Papa. Harvey is a good friend, but I could never feel for him like I do for a husband, like I do for my husband. Like you did for Mama.”

  “You’ll learn to abide with him, daughter. He’s a good man.”

  “I don’t doubt that he is, but he isn’t the man for me.”

  “You’ll change your mind when we get back to New York and you’re wed.”

  She gritted her teeth at his stubbornness. She was at her wits end trying to get through to the man who didn’t seem to have the tiniest crack in his hard obstinate shell that her pleas might have a chance of penetrating. But she wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Maybe she needed to try a different slant . In business, he used strong-arm tactics to win the day, perhaps that was what was called for here.

  “Bo Magnusson is the one I have chosen to spend my life with, to be the father of my children, and is the only man I will ever love. That isn’t going to change, however much you bellow and bluster about it.” She took a deep breath and lifted her chin before she determinedly went on. “I’m sorry that you don’t trust me enough to make my own decisions, or believe that as a widow three times over, I have earned the right to choose my own path in life. I’m also sorry to have to say that if you continue with this foolishness of law suits, legal chest thumping, and attempts at intimidation, if you force me and Bo apart, or somehow finagle a way to keep him behind bars, know that I will never forgive you. And worse, the love that grew from the little girl who thought the sun rose and set in her papa’s eyes to the woman kneeling before you now will be irrevocably destroyed.” She tightened her grasp on his arm, gazing up at him through watery eyes. “Don’t do this, Papa. Don’t drive such a bitter wedge between us that we can never recover. After all, I’m all the family you have left in this world, the only one who will love you into your old age, and your only hope for the grandchildren you want so dearly.”

  Silence fell over the room for long drawn out moments. It went on so long that Coral’s feet began to fall asleep, and she despaired that she had failed, once again, to get through to him. Then he moved, his free hand coming to rest upon her head, stroking her hair lightly as he’d done when she was a little girl.

  “How can I give you up?” he whispered. “And let you live a whole country away? You are my beloved baby girl, my sweet Carissa Anne. You are so much like her, daughter.” She blinked in confusion, for he had always said she looked nothing like her mama. “Oh, not in appearance. With your auburn hair and green eyes, you are a Fulwiler through and through. Yet my heart pangs every time you smile, because I see her in you. Or when you laugh, or in your exuberance for life, when you leap before you look. I would miss you, as I have these past few months.”

  Her head tilted in surprise at the hitch in his voice. And the tears she saw in her strong willed father’s eyes shocked her further. It was then that it struck her, in his own way, a very strong handed and controlling way, her papa did love her.

  She blinked back tears of her own, although not fast enough and several escaped. He caught them on his thumb, wiping them away.

  “We had spoken of opening a port office in San Francisco, Harvey and I.”

  She sat up, leaning in. “Really?”

  “Yes, for about two years now. We put it off, however, because neither of us wanted to leave the east coast. With you gone, I’d have no reason to stay.”

  Stunned that he would miss her so much that he’d consider moving to the other side of the country to be near her, warmed her heart. This was more like the papa she idolized as a girl. “Oh, Papa, would you really considerate? It would be wonderful, having you near. But you have to make amends with Bo and drop these ridiculous charges.”

  He grunted. “I don’t like the idea of you with that criminal.”

  “He was defending his mother. Surely you can’t fault him for that. And when you get to know him, you’ll see that he isn’t what you believe him to be. He’s a very upstanding honest man, and a complete stickler for rules when it comes to protecting me. In fact,” her eyes shot to the window, “he will be none too pleased if he finds out I came here alone after dark.”

  “Good. You need a man to keep you out of trouble.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You won’t have to worry about that.”

  His lips quirked, but he didn’t fully smile.

  “What about Harvey? Will he forgive this breach of contract? Maybe if I talk to him…”

  “That was a ploy. He’s not interested in the money. He wanted you. I can’t say he won’t be disappointed.”

  She couldn’t help feeling bad for him. “I don’t mean to hurt him. He’s just so…”

  “Old? So you’ve said.”

  She flushed. “He needs to find a woman his own age. Like the widow Thompson. She was always interested. She’s very beautiful, and at thirty-three, young enough to start a family with, if that’s what he wants.”

  “Helen Thompson?”

  “Yes. Hadn’t you noticed?”

  “Hm… I hadn’t.”

  “If you move to California, he’ll need to stay at home and keep his eyes open. There were other women interested, many of them, but he kept running off to parts unknown. If he stays put, he’ll have to beat them off with a stick as they say around here.”

  He chuckled. “Harvey Dixon. New York City’s most eligible bachelor. Who’d have thought?” He eyed her sternly. “I still want grandchildren. I’m not getting any younger.”

  “I know, Papa,” she rolled her eyes. “You’ll be glad to know Bo does as well. I’m sure they will come along very soon.”

  “Culpepper Cove is a long way from San Francisco. That won’t do at all.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “I’ll have to talk some sense into your young man. In the city, he can quadruple his business. Keep you in a lifestyle you’re accustomed to. Gowns, jewels, fancy parties—”

  “You know that doesn’t interest me.”

  “Hmph, you were always a little eccentric that way. Fine then… You can spend your husband’s money on books. Or that bookstore you
were always yammering on about. You can’t operate a successful retail business in a town the size of Culpepper Cove.”

  She’d already come to that conclusion. Not to mention, with the Crankshaw women around to spread tales of her and Bo, it might be better to make a fresh start. If he’d agree.

  “Let’s go find the sheriff and spring your man from the calaboose, daughter.”

  “Oh, Papa, thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rose on tip toe to kiss his cheek. He patted her on the back, uncomfortable with the display.

  “What about Harvey? Should we tell him?”

  “I’ll deal with him. You help soften up your big Swede and we’ll have this all worked out in no time.”

  “That I can do, Papa.”

  A few moments later she was leaving the Crankshaws’, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. Eager to find Jeb and share the news in hopes Bo could be released that very night, she hurried across the porch and was about ready to skip down the front steps, when the familiar scent of a cigar and its glowing red tip in the darkness had her skidding to a halt. She turned and found Harvey seated on the swing, the curtains from the open parlor window next to him ruffling lightly in the breeze.

  “You heard?”

  “I did,” he said, his tone calm, but with a hint of sadness.

  “All of it?” she countered with both relief that she or papa wouldn’t have to tell him, as well as dread over his reaction.

  He nodded, not moving any other way, the swing perfectly still. “It appears I waited too long to claim you. That was my fault.”

  “I never wanted to hurt you. Had I known…”

  “Your feelings for old Uncle Harvey would have remained the same,” he said with a heavy sigh.

  Coral took a step toward him, wanting to ease his disappointment. He’d been a steadfast part of her life for so long and she didn’t want that to change.

  “Helen Thompson, eh?”

  She started, then a small smile tilted her lips. “She’s very pretty, and has fancied you for some time. You didn’t know?”

  “My head was clouded with business, I suppose, and a pair of green eyes and Titian hair.”

  Her smile faded, hurting for him. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Naught to say except maybe congratulations to your blacksmith who seems to have won the day.” He rose, stamping out his cigar in an ashtray before heading her way. His hands rose to her shoulders and he dipped his head enough to kiss her forehead, as he’d done since she was four. “Be happy, rosebud,” he murmured, using the nickname she hadn’t heard in years. “Now, let me escort you to your lodging. I have a feeling when your man learns you’ve been gallivanting around town unattended after dark, he’ll be none too happy about that.”

  “He won’t know unless we tell him. Besides, I’d rather he focused his happiness on Papa dropping all these silly charges and accepting him as a son-in-law.”

  “Don’t hold your breath on that, girl.”

  “Oh, I think I can bring him around soon enough.” And she would enjoy doing it too, using sweet smiles and kisses, and all of the other wifely tricks he’d already taught her.

  * * *

  She spoke too soon, however. Bo was not forgiving after spending several uncomfortable days in the Shady Springs jail. Once he was released and the charges all dropped, he bundled her up on the back of his horse and left her father staring after them. Coral twisted around and gazed back at him, offering him a small wave and an uncertain smile, hoping she could somehow manage to convince Bo of their plan once his temper cooled.

  With her seated in front of him, he couldn’t miss the exchange. “How can you have such a sudden change of heart?” he demanded to know.

  “He’s the only family I have.”

  “Not true,” he grumbled, clearly offended. “You have me now.”

  “I know that, honey, but Bo… He’s my father. And though it’s hard to see sometimes, he loves me.”

  He grunted in disbelief.

  “He really wants what is best for me, in his own warped notion of what that is. I convinced him that you were what was best for me.”

  “And what is responsible for his sudden about face?”

  She didn’t tell him right away. How could she? He wasn’t going to take it well at all.

  “Coral,” her name, sounding like a low growl, was his warning low in her ear. “I asked a question.”

  “He decided to move to San Francisco and open a port office there.”

  “Jävla helvete.” She didn’t know what he growled in his native tongue, although she suspected it wasn’t an expression of his happiness at her news. “At least it’s a two days journey away from us.”

  “Um…”

  “What?”

  “He’d like us to move there too.”

  “Like hell!”

  “He has some good points. Business would multiply and I could open the shop I’ve been dreaming of—”

  “What shop?”

  “A book store. That’s what I planned to do with my inheritance after I found out Nathan had died. Papa is right, and I agree, I don’t think Culpepper Cove is big enough to support it.”

  He didn’t reply for a long time.

  “Bo?”

  “I’m too angry to talk about this now. Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to think straight when that man’s name comes up in conversation.”

  “But, Bo—”

  His arm tightened around her waist. “I’m serious, Coral. Not now, maybe not ever.”

  He put his heels to his horse and urged him faster, effectively cutting off any protests she might have. She lapsed into a brooding silence, realizing she had her work cut out for her.

  It was close to midnight when they arrived home. Bo slid from the saddle and reached up to lift her down. He then preceded her inside and lit the lamps, doing a quick walk through to make sure everything was in order since they’d been away for several days.

  “I’m going to see to my horse. I’ll wash up outside. You head on up and get into bed. It’s been a long, tiring week.” The next thing she knew the door closed behind him. She sighed as she climbed the stairs, feeling much older than her twenty-nine years. This wasn’t the homecoming she had imagined.

  After washing in cool water in light of the heat, she put on a thin cotton nightgown and climbed into bed. She lay there for a long time, listening for her husband’s footsteps on the stairs. She was dozing lightly when the door to their room closed with a soft thud, signaling his return.

  With the moonlight shining in through the open window, she was able to watch him move around the room as he undressed. He was bare from the waist up when he sat on the edge of the bed and she watched the play of muscles in his back as he began removing his boots. Ordinarily, she would have reached for him, running her fingers along the rippling, bunching movements until he turned and took her into his arms, but tonight there was tension between them, his born of anger and hers of uncertainty.

  Two heavy thumps sounded, before he stood and removed his trousers. The mattress shifted next as he slipped beneath the sheet and lay down beside her. He settled back on the pillows without making a move toward her.

  This was also unusual. Bo was very affectionate before all this mess with her father and Harvey, he slept curled around her back or would pull her on top of him, his chest becoming her pillow despite the summer heat. And except when they were separated by iron bars of a jail cell, he’d never gone to sleep without making love to her first.

  She rolled over onto her side, facing him. With one arm bent behind his head, the other resting flat on his chest, he was staring up at the ceiling, his profile illuminated by the moonlight. He was so handsome, it almost hurt her to look at him, but this silent brooding man and the distance between them was a drastic change. Was it permanent? Had he come to regret his sudden fascination with the new girl in town because of all the trouble she’d brought to his doorstep.

  T
ears made his image wavy, and although she fought to hold them back, a sob rose up from her chest. Instantly, his head turned and his eyes met hers in the shadows. At last, he reached for her and pulled her on top of him, his strong arms cradling her tight. That familiar gesture was enough to shatter the dam and the tears flowed freely.

  The deluge soaked his bare chest, although he seemed not to mind, rocking her gently while murmuring soft reassurances as his lips softly brushed her temple. They held each other until the storm passed and her breathing evened once again.

  “Are we broken?” she asked in a tone raspy from crying.

  “No, raring, never that, as long as you can forgive me for withholding the truth about my past.”

  Stunned that above all that had happened with her and her father, his worries were over the long ago incident in his own past, she moved quickly to reassure him. “Oh, Bo, what your mother went through… How could I, or anyone, fault you for coming to her defense against her abuser?”

  Reflexively, his arms tightened around her. As she rested her cheek against his broad chest, she listened to the beat of his heart, comforted by the steady thud beneath her ear as she idly combed her fingers through the light dusting of hair.

  “That’s why you never visited the Red Petticoat before you met me. And why you got so angry when I went upstairs with the judge.”

  “I was angry with your choices, Coral, especially when I was standing there with my heart on my sleeve practically begging you to come to me. You can be extremely stubborn when you have your mind set on something, wife.”

  “As can you, husband. You are also gallant, publically defending me and the other gems to the likes of Millicent Crankshaw. And although you might not like it, because of your mother, you understand how some women might have to turn to that vocation when left with few other options.”

  “My mother did what she had to do to provide for both of us after my father died. I was fifteen. Old enough to apprentice, though it only paid a pittance. She tried honest work, but as an immigrant, many were distrustful. And the trifle she made as a laundress, or as a scullery maid, wasn’t enough to put a roof over our heads and bread on the table.” His voice was rough with emotion as he spoke of his memories. “I didn’t realize how she was making her living until she came home bruised. She made excuses, but I was seventeen by that point and knew. He had his hooks into her deep by then. If only there had been a Madame Jewel for her to turn to. Maybe she would be alive today.”